Dear St Thomas Aquinas community,

Last week was a fantastic start to the 2025 school year. Congratulations to our staff, students and families on beginning the year positively, calmly and united. As the week progressed I met many more students and families and learnt a lot more about what our community values. I look forward to learning more and more each day.

Throughout last week teachers taught our beginning of year orientation program. This program aims to teach/review the values that underpin our school culture as well as the routines and behaviours that ensure St Thomas Aquinas is a place that children feel safe, happy and can learn.

On Thursday we joined the parish to celebrate mass; acknowledging the opening of our new school year. All the children prayed and sang together with great enthusiasm. Parishioners gave us a great deal of positive feedback about student behaviour and participation.

Our Parish in 2025

Many of you may be aware of the request early last year by the Archbishop for the msc priests of St John the Apostle Parish, Kippax, to also take pastoral responsibility for St Thomas Aquinas Parish.

Last year Fr Gerard became the priest in residence at St Thomas Aquinas while Frs Tru and Chung were based at Kippax. We were fortunate to have such dedicated priests.

Many may not be aware that at the end of the year Fr Gerard was asked by his order to take up a role elsewhere, leaving Frs Tru and Chung to care for both Charnwood and Kippax Parishes. This was announced and occurred during the school holidays.

Throughout last year there have been many conversations between members of both parishes, discerning how we will work all together. Families will notice this in the preparation of students for the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation.

With such big changes, we can expect some teething issues as the hardworking  priests and Parish Team endeavour to support both communities in their faith life. We here at St Thomas Aquinas School appreciate every effort and look forward to walking alongside the msc priests and Parish Team to help our students grow in their faith and spirituality.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Megan Smith, REC, or myself and we'll assist you.

Safer Internet Day

Today is Safer Internet Day. It is a reminder that we all enjoy the benefit of the digital system and technologies we use in our work, rest and play. The internet has provided us with the opportunity to make like easier as well as build connections between family and friends. With responsible use there is great reward in using the internet.

With that opportunity comes significant risk to our own personal privacy, safety and wellbeing. As a school we're particularly focused on risks to students who have the opportunity to play in digital spaces.

As a parent it can be daunting to know where to begin with helping young children to navigate these spaces. The e-safety commissioner is an outstanding resource provided by the Australian Government to help adults, children and families use digital spaces safely and responsibly.

I encourage all of our families visit the e-safety commissioner website. A few resources I have found very useful include:

• Family Tech Agreement - Explore and use the family tech agreements to set rules that suit the age and needs of children and young people, about how devices, like smartphones, tablets, computers, TVs and gaming consoles are used at home.
• Parental Controls - Find out some of the ways you can set up controls that help ease your mind about what and when your children can access the internet and various digital platforms. This provides practical advice.
• e-safety guide - Find out how to protect your personal information and report harmful content on common social media, games, apps and sites that children access.

For general parent information, including how to have conversations with your child about safe use of the internet and their devices, simply visit the e-safety parents page.

We're here to work with you in supporting your child as they learn and grow. Always feel free to reach out when you need some assistance. If we can't help directly, we'll assist you to find someone who can.

Matthew Garton

Principal

Friendly Reminder

Please note that school concludes at 3:00pm. Teachers are on duty, however they do need to attend meetings etc that takes place after children leave for the day. We would like to take this opportunity to remind families that it is essential that your child is collected at 3:00pm from either drive-thru or front pick up. Please chat with your child/ren about the pick up arrangements that work for your family. 

Those child/ren going to bus, walkers, bikes or front pick up will be escorted by teachers to the front of the school where parents can meet up with their child/ren. 

It is essential to the safety of your child/ren that they are not called to run through the car park to waiting cars. It is also essential that disable carparks are left for those who hold a disabled permit. The permit must be always on display. Please do not park in the two disable car parks if you do not hold a current permit.

We ask that you please support us by utilising the drive-thru or walkers options. 

Meet eSafety’s Mighty Heroes, who have learned to use four special powers to protect themselves online.

Wanda the echidna: I am responsible – I protect my personal information.

School Counsellor

Our school offers a counselling service to support the school community. Emma Yu, the school counsellor from Marymead CatholicCare, is available 5 days per fortnight: Monday (on even weeks), Thursday, and Friday.

SCHOOL COUNSELLING REFERRAL FORM

If you would like to refer your child to access the counselling service, please complete the online referral form.

The process involves two steps:

1. Fill out the online referral form. Once submitted, you will receive an email asking for your consent for your child to access the service.
2. Follow the link in the second email to enter your name and date to activate consent in our system. Please note that the counsellor can only meet with the student once the consent process is complete.

After both steps are completed, the counsellor will contact the parents to follow up on the referral.

Please note that the information provided in the referral form will be shared with both parents. For families with shared care in different living arrangements, both parents' consent is required for the child to access the services, and updates will be shared equally with both parents.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via email: emma.yu@mccg.org.au

Thank you.

February

Jack B, Seneca B, August S, Mackenzie R, Harris W, Lily H, Immanuel P, Jessica R, Dylan W, Aahaan K, Skylar W, Abbey T, Olivia O, Racheal P, Evelyn G, Audrey K, Emilia S, Savanna H, Austin K, George P, Lina H,
Isaac H