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Join the Fete Adventure – Be a Volunteer Hero!
Calling all Superstars!
Want to be part of the most epic school event of the year? The Fete needs YOU!
Whether you want to help set up, run activities, or just spread some cheer, there’s a spot for you to shine! ✨
How to Join the Fun:
Scan the QR Code in the attached
Pick your role and get ready to make memories!
Get ready to be AWESOME at the Fete!
Date: Saturday 29th March 2025
Don't wait! Be the hero who makes this Fete unforgettable.
Dear St Thomas Aquinas community,
Well it's Fete Week! There's an excited buzz in the air. I'm thoroughly looking forward to this Saturday.
I want to offer a very big thank you to everyone who has been involved in preparing for this fabulous event. Each fete meeting I have been amazed at the organisation skills, commitment and collaboration of our parents. While there are many involved, I want to offer a very big thank you the Arianne Moylan and Tara Nolan, our fete convenors, who have been working towards this day for a long time. Thank you also to Ms Carmen Myles, Assistant Principal, for being the hard working arm of the school in supporting the fete committee.
No matter how much our organising committee works, the fete only succeeds when 
we have enough volunteers on the ground. I know that the committee appreciates every hour that a family can provide to help on a stall. If you haven't already volunteered, please do, even for one hour. Your contribution will help our fete be a success and your children will benefit from your effort.
Congratulations
Congratulatons to our Years 3 and 4 students who celebrated their first Reconciliation last Wednesday & Thursday evenings. Thank you to the parents for preparing their children for this milestone in their faith journey. Thank you to the parish for their organisation of the evenings and the staff who attended to show their support.
Congratulations also to our Year 6 students who where officially presented to the community as student leaders at a liturgy last Friday morning. They were called upon to receieve badges that symbolise this special role. These were pinned on them by their parents and the whole student body was present to bless them. Thank you to Mr Finn, Ms Smith and Mrs Myles for organising this special moment.
New Parish beginnings
At each of the masses over the weekend an announcement was made about the future of both the Kippax and Charnwood parishes.
You can read the announcement here.
The main points are:
- due to the current context, both parishes are merging to become the West Belconnen parish, though will keep their own church names.
- as a West Belconnen parish there will be:
- one Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Committee
- one parish newsletter
- one website
- centralised administration
- the merger has already begun with:
- one sacremental coordination team
- shared mass times
- all of the changes above are expected to be complete by the end of the year and a transition committee will be developed to guide this process.
Yesterday Megan Thomas (REC) and I met with the Fru Tru and Marian England (Parish Sacramental Coordinator) to review the First Reconciliation Program from a St Thomas Aquinas perspective. We had an excellent conversation celebrating what went well and looking at ways to assist our parents in helping their children prepare. It was a very fruitful meeting and we're looking forward to the next sacrament for preparation, Confirmation. I'm very grateful to be working with a parish team that are so committed to the sacramental preparation of our students.
I look forward to seeing everyone this coming Saturday at our 50th Anniversary STA School Fete! See you there.
Matthew Garton
Principal
| WEEK | DATE | EVENT |
| 8 | Tues 25/03 | Belconnen Regional PSSA Swimming |
| 8 | Tues 25/03 | SFX Enrolment Information Evening |
| 8 | Tues 25/03 | SCC Meeting + Fete Meeting at 6pm |
| 8 | Wed 26/03 | Last day to purchase Fete Mates |
| 8 | Wed 26/03 | Fete Meeting at 6pm |
| 8 | Thur 27/03 | Pet Rock entries due |
| 8 | Fri 28/03 | SRC badges presented at morning Assembly |
| 8 | Fri 28/03 | Week 8 Assembly hosted by Year 2 |
| 8 | Fri 28/03 | STA Fete drop off |
| 8 | Sat 29/03 | 50th ANNIVERSARY STA FETE |
| 9 | Thur 03/04 | Daramalan College Open Evening |
| 9 | Fri 04/04 | Progress Reports sent home |
| 10 | Tues 08/04 | STA Cross Country |
| 10 | Thur 10/04 | Try Darra Day |
| 10 | Thur 10/04 | White Token Lunch |
| 10 | Thur 10/04 | Principal Awards Assembly at 2pm |
| 10 | Thur 10/04 | Last Day of Term 1 for all students |
| 10 | Fri 11/04 | Pupil Free Day |
| TERM 2 | Mon 28/04 | Pupil Free Day |
| TERM 2 | Tues 29/04 | All students return |
| 1 | Fri 02/05 | SFX Try-A-Day - Year 6 students |
| 2 | Fri 09/05 | SFX Open Day |
| Parish Priest | Father Tru Nguyen |
| 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. |
The eSafety Commissioner (eSafety.gov.au) has released resources to help parents and carers from all backgrounds protect their families online.
The Online Safety for Every Family resources cover how to:
• get started with social media
• enjoy safer online gaming
• help your child if they are bullied online.
And to make sure more families can start a conversation with their children about online safety, the resources are available in English, Simplified Chinese, Arabic, Burmese, Dari, Hindi, Nepali, Punjabi, Sinhalese, Swahili, Tamil, Tigrinya, Uyghur and Vietnamese.
The School Community Council (SCC) provides the opportunity for members of the school, Parish and Archdiocesan communities to support the mission of Catholic education in the school. Working with the Principal, Parish Priest and staff, the members of the Council and its committees provide leadership to the wider school community.
The Council of St Thomas Aquinas come together twice a term to support and challenge each other to ensure the best outcomes for St Thomas Aquinas. We have a united approach to continued school improvement.
The Council has a decision making role in certain policy areas and an advisory role in others. The policies of the school are always set within the mission of Catholic education.
The Council currently consists of a diverse mix of parents, teachers and parish members. The Council Executive is comprised of:
- Chair
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Principal (ex officio)
- Parish Priest (ex officio)
- Elected Parent representatives (At least one and up to four parent members appointed in accordance with the Constitution)
- Elected Staff representatives (Two)
- Members appointed by the Council (As many as three (3) other people appointed by the Council for their expertise)
A number of a valued members will step down from their current positions on the Council at the end of this year. Their time, dedication and commitment to the roles is truly appreciated and respected.
We are calling for nominations to fill the position of Chair & Treasurer to commence in Semester 2, 2025 by shadowing the current position holders before taking on the role from 2026.
We strongly encourage those parents of this wonderful school that have a genuine desire to be of service to the community, have the ability to work collaboratively and constructively with other members of the Council, have adequate time to give Council duties or perhaps have a specific skill or qualification that could be utilised within the Council, to consider putting their hand up.
Please reach out to one of our current Council members if you have any questions of would like any additional information.
Those who wish to nominate are asked to complete the nomination form below and return it to the school by no later than Friday, 9th April 2025.
School Travel Passes
Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply or update their details as soon as possible.
Students living in rural and regional areas will receive their travel pass from their nominated transport operator. It may be issued via their school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some rural and regional operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.
Students using School Opal cards must tap on and tap off in line with the Opal terms of use .
This includes travel within the approved times between 6.30am and 7.00pm from Monday to Friday on school days only. Students must use their Child/Youth Opal card for any travel outside these times.
All students are required to comply with the Student code of conduct. The code of conduct aims to ensure the safety and well-being of school children and other passengers. It is important that parents ensure their child is aware of this, as failure to comply with the code of conduct can result in a suspension from travel.
ICAS is an online academic competition that is designed to assess students’ higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling Bee and Digital Technologies.
Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition and development. Every student who participates will receive a printed certificate and an online results report. Top performers will be eligible for medals.
Learn more about ICAS here - https://www.icasassessments.com/products-icas
Please join us at our Morning Assembly on Thursday 10th April 2025 at 8:50 am to celebrate our White token recipients
| Sophia S | Geoffrey F | Violet W | Jamyang L |
| Ruhani P | Declan R | Lara K | |
March
Leo B, Zeke F, Molly W-S, Levi W, Darcy R, Sebastian C, Isaac R, Mary G, Jayson T,
Ava M, Archie W, Krystof M, Aariv C, Sophie W, Airlie M, Hugh P, Pearl P, Ellie H,
Johnathan H, Layne M, Jasper W, Frances H, Cameron C, Zara B, Chelsea R, Ashlyn T, Kupa M, Archie W, Maxine M, May R
