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- Year 6 Author Workshop with Jack Heath
- Author Visit - Aura Parker
- Save the Date! STA Dance Concert
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- News from 3 Blue
- Birthdays - August
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- 2025 Term Dates
- Ginninderra Rats
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As we navigate through this term, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all parents for your understanding and support during this challenging time. We have seen many teachers and students affected by the flu, and your patience and kindness towards one another have truly made a difference. Thank you for fostering such a supportive environment within our school community.
I would also like to express my appreciation to our wonderful teachers, parents, and students for your compassion and teamwork as we care for one another during this period. Your collective efforts exemplify the spirit of community that we cherish at St Thomas Aquinas.
A special thank you goes out to the Vinnies Night Patrol team, who visited our school last week. Your efforts to help our students understand the invaluable work you do with vulnerable members of our community are greatly appreciated. The opportunity for our students to explore the van and learn about helping others in kind and compassionate ways was truly enlightening. Additionally, I want to thank everyone who contributed winter woollies as a donation to St Vincent de Paul. Your generosity has provided a practical and much-needed gift to those in need.
Our Olympic Games displays in each classroom and corridor are looking fabulous! We are indeed blessed with talent that extends beyond Paris! The green and gold day celebration was a highlight of our week, and it was wonderful to see our students embracing the spirit of the games in such fine form.
Lastly, I want to congratulate our Kindergarten children on celebrating 100 days of kinder last week! The creative display of grey hair and walking sticks gave us all a humorous glimpse into the future. These memories are precious, and I encourage you to keep those photos for posterity—they will surely become a reality soon enough!
Thank you for being a vital part of our St Thomas Aquinas community. Together, we continue to create a nurturing and enriching environment for our children.
Warm regards,
Tim Cleary
| WEEK | DATE | EVENT |
| 3 | Thur 08/08 | Years 5 & 6 Boys Futsal Cup |
| 4 | Tues 13/08 | First Communion Retreat Day |
| 4 | Wed 14/08 | Year 3 & 4 Touch Football Gala |
| 4 | Fri 16/08 | Chinese Concert at 2pm - details to come |
| 4 | Fri 16/08 | Chinese Expo Day |
| 5 | 19/08 - 23/08 | Book Week |
| 5 | Tues 20/08 | Belconnen Zone Track & Field |
| 5 | Wed 21/08 | Years 5 & 6 Jamie Pearlman Cup |
| 5 | Fri 23/08 | Book Week Parade |
| 6 | Mon 26/08 | Kindergarten Health Checks |
| 6 | Tues 27/08 | Kindergarten Health Checks |
| 6 | Wed 28/06 | Aura Parker Author Visit |
| 6 | Thur 29/08 | Years 5 & 6 Sue Geh Basketball Cup |
| 6 | Fri 30/08 | Assembly 2pm presented by Year 2 |
| 6 | Fri 30/08 | Donuts with Dad |
| 7 | Thur 05/09 | Disco |
| 7 | 7 & 8/09 | First Holy Communion - Year 4 |
| 8 | Tues 10/09 | SCC Meeting in the Library at 6pm |
| 8 | Fri 13/09 | Assembly 2pm presented by Year 3 |
| 8 | 14 & 15/09 | First Holy Communion - Year 4 |
| 9 | Tues 17/09 | ACT Track & Field Championships |
| 9 | Wed 18/09 | STA Dance Concert |
| 10 | Mon 23/09 | Principal Awards Assembly |
| 10 | Mon 23/09 | White Token Lunch Celebration |
| 10 | 25/09 - 27/09 | Years 5 & 6 Camp |
| 10 | Fri 27/09 | Last day of Term 3 |
Religious Curriculum at St Thomas Aquinas
Year 5 have had a great start to their unit of work exploring the concept of charity. Our Winter Woolies Day provided them with the perfect springboard to looking at what charity is in action; who provides charity and who receives it. They have already examined the Scripture from Corinthians where St Paul explains what love is (Corinthians 13,:1-13 The Gift of Love). Whilst many of us are familiar with this text being used at weddings, St Paul is actually speaking of love as a general concept and value, not just romatic love. Be sure to chat with Year 5 students about what charity means to them and how they will perform works of charity.
Religious Life of St Thomas Aquinas
Winter Woolies
THANK YOU!!! A huge thank you to all in our very generous community who contributed to our Winter Woolies Day. We had so many donations the volunteers needed to call for a second car for our donations!! Well done everyone. A fabulous day being snug and cosy in our own warm woolies was enjoyed by all of us. The students were treated to having the Night Patrol Van visit and Sharkie shared with each grade level how the volunteers assist and support companions who visit the van looking for connection, conversation and community.
Feast of St Mary MacKillop
St Mary MacKillop is Australia’s own saint, the first Australian to be named as a saint. Her feast day is this coming Thursday, 8th August. St Mary MacKillop is loved and known for her passion in working with the poor, and in establishing schools across Australia and New Zealand. St Mary MacKillop teaches us to have everlasting faith in God and to share his love with everyone.
The whole school will attend Mass with the parish at 9:30am on Thursday 8th August. Families are warmly invited to join us in celebrating this special feast day.
Parish Life
First Communion
Thank you to the families with children in Year 4 preparing for their First Communion this year who attended our two Formation Sessions. We hope you found them useful and supportive. Please continue to work through the workbook and reach out if you have any questions. Books are due back, completed, at the beginning of September.
Our Year 4 Eucharist Retreat Day will be Tuesday 3rd September. More information to come soon.
Please ensure you have contacted Sharon at the parish office to book into your choice of Masses for the celebration of First Holy Communion – these will be on the one weekend of 7th and 8th September.
| Parish Priest | Father Gerard McCormick |
| Parish Secretary | Sharon Greaves |
| Telephone | 02 6258 1563 |
| charnwood@cg.org.au | |
| Address | 23 Lhotsky Street CHARNWOOD ACT 2615 |
| MASS | TIMES |
| Monday to Friday | 9:30am |
| Thursday - School Mass | 9:30am - one grade each week |
| Public Holidays | 9:30am |
| Saturday Vigil | 6:00pm |
| Sunday | 9:00am Children's liturgy is held during the school term. All families are welcome to attend. |
Year 6 students were invited to attend an Author Workshop with the #1 bestselling author, Jack Heath last Thursday. Thank you Mrs Hind for organising this awesome opportunity to hear from a local Canberra author. Jack’s books have been published in 10 languages, shortlisted for dozens of awards and adapted for the screen. His mission is to tell stories that inspire a love of reading in children and adults. Look out the latest Jack Heath books in the Library.
August Birthdays
Samuel B, Zanitha A, Millie S, Chase M, Indyah M, Jerron A, Mason M, Aidan K, Angelo J, Ninganarr F, Ari U, Frederick N, Aarsi M, Matilda P, Liam B, Zoey M, Sophia H, Gussy J, Archie J, Lachlan B, Jaxson P, Lachlan A, Rabik B, Michael P, Meghan S, Flynn M, Ashea K, Gabriella S, Willow H, Erin H, Adeline B,
Congratulations Sophia H who had a successful State Championships in Sydney over the weekend with the Jazzy Jumpers. She won multiple medals including a Bronze medal in the 10 years female freestyle. Well done!
