Dear Families,

This week many of you will be able to join us for our Musical. Students (and staff) have been working very hard to ensure that they are ready for their performance. I have to give a special shout out to Mrs Naomi Wicks who has run rehearsals and supported the actors to learn their lines, as well as providing the resources for classes to practise their dances and has also put together the soundtrack for the night. I would also like to acknowledge the work of Mr Matthew Smith, who before leaving completed the script for the performance. A final shoutout to the staff who have been practising with students and to Steph and Lee in the front office who have organised ticketing and administration. I am sure it will be a great night and I am looking forward to seeing many of you at the matinee or evening performances.

After almost three decades at St Thomas Aquinas, Mrs Susan Magyar has decided to join her husband in retirement. Mrs Magyar has been a constant presence for many families, teaching hundreds of students over the years as a classroom teacher before moving into the Diverse Learning Teacher role. In this most recent role, Susan has supported many families as they transitioned to St Thomas Aquinas, underwent tests and diagnoses, returned to school after significant breaks due to illness or injury, as well as supporting students with additional needs throughout the school. Mrs Magyar also acted in leadership positions whenever required, with her most recent acting role in 2019 as Assistant Principal for Term 4. We will all miss Mrs Magyar but wish her all the very best as she begins this next part of her journey.

Mrs Michelle Mason will also be leaving at the end of this year to pursue a new adventure. Mrs Mason has been instrumental in reforming our school SRC and developing a wellbeing program for St Thomas Aquinas. We will farewell Mrs Mason at the end of the year.

We recently held interviews for teaching and learning roles within the school. Next year we will welcome back Mrs Louise Osborne-Goldsbourgh who taught at STA as a casual a number of years ago and most recently has been teaching at Holy Spirit in Nichols. We also will welcome Mrs Tara Sippel, who, like me, began her teaching life in secondary before retraining to become a Primary teacher. Mrs Sippel is currently teaching at Bungendore Primary School. Miss Alex Broekhuyse who completed her practicum in Year 2 with Angela McDonald and most recently has taught in Year 4, Year 3 and across a number of other classes, will continue with us in an ongoing capacity as a classroom teacher from next year. Miss Brittaney Ford was successful in gaining permanency at St Thomas Aquinas and so will continue with us next year and beyond. Mr Jeremy Finlayson will also continue with STA next year.

I am sure you will all make our new and returning staff feel very welcome.

Parents and Carers still have a few weeks to let me know about any considerations you would like us to make when forming classes for 2024. The school policy regarding this is attached in this newsletter.

Some of you may be aware that a number of staff have been away with illness over the past few weeks. We have done our very best to cover classes to ensure that teaching and learning continues. However, we understand that even having a different teacher can unsettle students and we appreciate your support in helping your children with this. We are also trying our best to prevent the spread of illness throughout the school with extra cleaning and sending students (and staff) who are unwell home as quickly as possible. If your child is not well, please keep them home to allow them to recover or if the front office staff call to ask you to collect your child because they are unwell, that you collect them as soon as possible.

Take care and God bless

October Birthdays

Sophie K, Logan M, Elizabeth H, Samantha T, Mia W, Marine T, Evie P, Benjamin G, Alana B, Lara K, Kuir K, Lucas S, Lilah W, Ivy M, Sebastien M, Manyuon C, Lily G, Santiago A,  Jayden P, Heath L, Harrison B-S, Harold M, Arleth M T, Ayla M, Daniel N

We wish to congratulate Emma S in Year 6 who sat the ICAS Assessment last term. 

Emma completed testing in Mathematics, Digital Technologies, Science and English. Please join us in congratulating Emma on a fabulous achievement. We look forward to presenting Emma with her Certificates at this week's assembly. 

This term students have been introduced to Ngunnawal vocabulary. This week students will be learning "La" meaning "Look". Thank you Miss Evans for continuing our learning of our Ngunnawal Country.

You are invited to the STA Musical Spectatular! Please note that this is a free event but tickets are required. Please note that tickets are limited to 2 per family due to space constraints. We can't wait to show you all our groovy moves and our amazing story telling talents! 

SCAN THE QR CODE BELOW TO BOOK

Transport Canberra bus timetable changes for Term 4, 2023

A new bus timetable will begin Monday 9 October to align with the start of Term 4. This timetable features more frequent weekday bus services, most of which will run at least every 30 minutes throughout the day.

A return to 30 minute daytime frequencies will ensure improved off-peak services can be provided between 9.30am and 3.30pm, while maintaining reliability.

The new timetable also includes refinements to 14 school services based on school and community feedback, and to align with updated school bell times.

There are no changes to weekend bus services or changes to light rail frequency.

School packs and timetables

Updated school packs and timetables are now available online to view and download. If your child is catching the bus to school, we recommend familiarising them with the updated morning and afternoon pickup times. 

Link to school packs.

School route changes for St Thomas Aquinas Primary School

Route 1062 – The afternoon service begins 20 minutes earlier.

For more information on school route changes, updated school packs and to view regular bus timetables visit the Transport Canberra website.

Keep in touch

Stay up to date with important Transport Canberra news, including changes to services and the latest project and event information. Sign up to our weekly e-newsletter or you can like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Class Allocations for 2024

During this term, we will be finalising our staffing arrangements for 2024. Below is a copy of the ‘Class Allocation Policy’ which aims to ensure there is a fair and just process in allocating students to classes for the upcoming school year.

We believe teachers are in the best position to decide a child’s placement because they know all the children in their classes and have a view of the ‘big picture’.

However, parents are invited to inform Mrs Taylor of anything that you feel needs to be considered, for your own child’s well-being or development.

When forming the class lists the following factors are taken into consideration:

• Gender
• Diverse Learners
• Work habits
• Cognitive ability
• Friendships
• Behaviour
• Health considerations
• Religion (to assist in achieving balance between classes, especially in Sacramental years) and
• Common names

Ideally, we aim for an equal spread of both positive and challenging characteristics. Where practical, parental requests based on educational concerns may be considered. At St Thomas Aquinas, we follow these principles and guidelines when considering placement of students each year:

• Every care will be taken to ensure that each child is placed in the best situation to enhance learning and social development
  
  
• Parents who wish to raise concerns regarding the placement of their children in particular classes for the following year, should put the concern in writing and email it to our Principal  (Leah.Taylor@cg.catholic.edu.au) by Friday of Week 4 (Term 4 - Friday 3 November). Parents cannot assume that requests from previous years will be taken into account. A new request will need to be made every year
  
  
• Parent concerns will be considered during the process. It must be clearly understood, however, that no definite guarantees can be given regarding parental concerns
  
  
• Where appropriate, advice will be sought from the Classroom Support Assistant, School Counsellor, Chaplain and current Class Teacher during this process
  
  
• Considering all the factors listed above, the current Class Teachers compile class lists from mid-term, Term 4. These are then handed to Mrs Taylor to confirm
  
  
• Children will be informed of their class placement for the following school year in December (usually the last week of school) and the opportunity will be provided for them to spend some time with their new class teacher. New students to the school for the following year are invited to attend
  
  
• Throughout this process, after appropriate consultation, the Principal reserves the right to make final professional decisions regarding the placement of children

If your child/ren is leaving St Thomas Aquinas at the end of 2023 please advise the school in writing.  This does not apply to students in Year 6 this year.

Attached here is the Student Transfer Notification form which needs to be returned to the school by 8 December 2023.

Thank you