The spirit of Pentecost greatly influences the values and community at St. Thomas Aquinas Primary School. Pentecost serves as a reminder of the power of the Holy Spirit and calls us to live by its values in our daily lives.

Love: The spirit of Pentecost encourages us to love one another as Christ loves us. At St. Thomas Aquinas Primary School, we strive to create a loving and inclusive community where all members feel valued and supported. We promote a culture of kindness, compassion, and respect, fostering positive relationships among students, staff, and parents.

Unity: Pentecost emphasizes the unity of the Church, and this unity is reflected in our school community. We celebrate our diversity and recognize that we are all part of the same body of Christ. We encourage collaboration, teamwork, and a sense of belonging, where everyone feels included and appreciated for their unique contributions.

Service: The spirit of Pentecost calls us to serve others selflessly. At St. Thomas Aquinas Primary School, we instill in our students the importance of serving their community and making a positive difference in the lives of others. We encourage acts of kindness, volunteerism, and a sense of responsibility to help those in need.

By embracing the values of Pentecost, we aim to create a nurturing and faith-filled environment where students can grow academically, spiritually, and emotionally. The spirit of Pentecost influences our daily interactions, shaping our school culture and guiding our decision-making processes.

As a Catholic community, we are committed to living out these values, fostering a strong sense of community, and preparing our students to become compassionate and responsible members of society.

Together, we strive to embody the spirit of Pentecost and create a vibrant and inclusive community at St. Thomas Aquinas Primary School.

Students are introduced to new Ngunnawal vocabulary weekly. Special thanks to Miss Evans for continuing our learning of our Ngunnawal Country.

A gentle reminder for all our Year 6 families that the current enrolment period ends on 31 May 2024. Please ensure you have lodged your enrolment application for Year 7 2025 prior to the end of the period. You may be required to have supporting documentation with your application and as such we urge you to not leave the application process until the last day. 

At St Thomas Aquinas we are continually teaching our students about digital and online safety to help them become knowledgeable digital citizens. Each week we will be posting online safety tips to help parents and families build your knowledge and open discussion with your children at home. 

Online spaces should be safe for everyone, but you may sometimes come across content that is distressing – especially if it shows extreme violence or acts of terrorism. 

Inappropriate content may be an image, video or written words that can be upsetting, disturbing or offensive. Young people may encounter inappropriate content accidentally or deliberately. It is normal to be curious, but young people may be faced with concepts they are not ready for developmentally.

Inappropriate content may include:

• sexually explicit material 
• false or misleading information
• violence
• extremism or terrorism
• hateful or offensive material. 

The exposure of young people to inappropriate content is difficult to measure because many instances go unreported. A child may come across inappropriate content and not tell anyone due to embarrassment, confusion or fear. Given this, the percentage of young people encountering inappropriate or hateful content online could be higher than stated.

Reporting to eSafety 

Australian residents can make a complaint to eSafety about illegal and restricted online content. This includes child sexual abuse material and abhorrent violent material showing terrorist acts, murder, attempted murder, rape, kidnapping or torture.

Empower Girls With Our Selfie-Esteem Program

Facilitated by Madeleine West

Social media's influence is as pervasive as it is profound, the impact on young girls’ self-esteem is a growing concern that demands immediate and focused attention. The relentless comparison to unrealistic beauty standards, the distorted metrics of success, and the often toxic culture of body shaming can significantly impair their mental health and well-being. It is against this backdrop that initiatives aimed at empowering young girls to navigate the online interactions become not just relevant, but necessary.

Recent events, such as those at a Victorian school where boys objectified young girls influenced by misogynistic influencers ,warped social media beauty standards, serve as a chilling reminder of the urgent need for proactive measures. This objectification, underpinned by social media, and as we head into a world steeped in AI Generated filters spills over into the real world, manifesting in male violence towards women and other harmful behaviours. These incidents underscore a broader societal issue where online interactions influence real-life attitudes and actions, emphasising the need for a cultural shift towards healthier online habits and interactions.

Empowering and Uplifting Young Girls
Building resilience and self-worth in young girls is essential to counter the negative influences of social media. This begins with fostering an environment that encourages open dialogue, allowing girls to express their concerns without fear of judgment. It is vital to shift the focus from physical appearance to celebrating personal strengths and achievements. Implementing affirmations, positive reinforcement, and exposing young girls to role models who exemplify success through intelligence, kindness, and talent can significantly bolster self-esteem. Engaging them in activities that promote teamwork and skill development helps to reinforce their capabilities and inherent value.

The Transformative Journey with Madeleine West
Facilitated by Madeleine West mother of six, known for her relentless child safety and environmental advocacy as well as roles on stage and screen, the "Selfie Esteem" program offers a profound journey into self-discovery tailored for young girls and those identifying as female.

Madeleine's diverse experiences, both professional and personal, provide her with a unique ability to connect with young women, guiding them through the complexities of online interactions and self-perception.

Program Overview
The "Selfie Esteem" program is a comprehensive 90min session designed to tackle various aspects critical to developing a healthy relationship with social media and fostering a robust self-image:

Building Selfie-Esteem and Confidence
Participants engage in self-discovery, where Madeleine helps boost their self-esteem and confidence, crucial for navigating both personal and online spaces.
 

• Healthy Relationships with the Online World
  Strategies are shared to create positive online interactions, ensuring enriching and safe digital experiences.

• Resilience and Handling Online Stress
  The program covers effective coping mechanisms for managing online stress and cyberbullying, essential for maintaining mental well-being.

• Boundaries, Consent, and Selfie Love
  This module focuses on asserting personal boundaries, understanding consent, and promoting self-love, empowering girls to value themselves beyond their digital personas.

• Empowerment Now and Into the Future
  Encouraging proactive steps towards personal aspirations, this session empowers participants to leverage their strengths in all facets of life.

• Being Your Best Online and In Real Life (IRL)
  Bridging online personas with real-life identities, the session stresses consistency in values and ethics across all platforms.

• Emotional Intelligence and Online Leadership Skills
  Covering trust-building, vulnerability, and assertiveness, this part of the program nurtures leadership qualities, setting a positive example for peers online.

Why This Matters
The necessity of such programs is highlighted by the growing number of mental health and violence issues linked to social media use and low self-esteem. By empowering young girls with the tools to navigate their online presence confidently, understand privacy settings, recognise signs of cyberbullying, and engage critically with content, we foster not just safer online environments but also healthier mindsets.
 

Book Now
To find out more about booking the Selfie-Esteem program in your school please reach out today to: wecanhelp@safeonsocial.com

May Birthdays

Ella D, Jesse R, Cooper K, Lorelei M, Charles M, Declan W, Jack P, Gurnoor K, Alice T, Zahli A, Nikola G, Amelia M, Arianna RM, Oliver H, Connor W, Emily L-B, Brooklyn S, Ashan H, Scarlett F, Nate N, Mayen K, Toby N, Theresa V, Shaela S, Ryan P, Lyla M, Aston P, Evangeline G, Isaac P, Gabriel T, Tudor C, Chimaobi M