Dear St Thomas Aquinas community,

Thank you to our Arts Teacher, Ms Naomi Wicks, and our teaching staff for organising Thursday's Dance Concert. Thank you to our parents for supporting their children with costumes and a big thank you our students for their enthusiasm in practising and performing. I'm really looking forward to the experience. It will be a lot of fun.

Thank you to Ms Smith, parents and staff who enabled us to send Years 3 to 6 students to the OzTag Gala days this week and next. These are always optional activities in school life and having staff and families provide these opportunities is most appreciated.

How do we measure success?

Last week every priest, REC and Principal in our system came together to reflect on our purpose as Catholic schools. Our new Director, David de Carvahlo, spoke to us all. At one point he asked 'How do we measure success?' He told a story of Mother Teresa: 

Former US Senator Mark Hatfield told a story of touring Calcutta with Mother Teresa. They visited the ‘House of Dying’ where sick children are cared for in their last days, and the dispensary where the poor line up by the hundreds to receive medical attention.

Watching Mother Teresa minister to these people, feeding and nursing those left by others to die, Hatfield was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the suffering she and her co-workers faced daily. ‘How can you bear the load without being crushed beneath it?’ he asked. Mother Teresa replied, ‘My dear Senator, I am not called to be successful, I am called to be faithful.’

David has been the head of ACARA (who runs NAPLAN and determines the Australian Curriculum) as well as the head of NESA (NSW Educational Standards Authority). David knows how important literacy and numeracy development are to our students. He understands the value of the curriculum we teach. He knows how much this curriculum empowers our students.

David also reminded us that, in the end, we are called to help each child to flourish. Jesus said "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10). Our role in a Catholic school is to support each child to live as one who is 'made in the image and likeness of God'...and God is love.

The Catholic charism and lens by which we view life, people and the world permeates our day. We encourage children to see and respond to God's presence in their life; to look at the example that Jesus gave us and to continually treat others with compassion and kindness.

This is our call to be faithful as a Catholic school. We continue to undertake and love this valuable work.

Happy Week 4!

Matthew Garton

Principal

Library News – Book Week is Coming!

Week 5: August 18–22

Theme: Book an Adventure!

Book Week is just around the corner, and we can’t wait to celebrate the magic of stories and the joy of reading across our school. There are lots of exciting things planned!

Book Week Request - Contribute to our display

I would love to see photos of your children reading in their favourite places. Please take a photo of your child reading and send it to me at kristylee.kaden@cg.catholic.edu.au so I can add it to our display.

Monday 18th August

Whole School Incursion – “Treasure Hunt”

1:50pm in the hall

A fun-filled show to launch our Book Week adventure!

Friday 22nd August

Book Week Dress-Up Day

All students are invited to dress as their favourite book character!

Costume Parade – 10:00am in the Library

Family Picnic – 11:00am on the oval

Families are warmly invited to stay and share a picnic lunch with their children after the parade.

Thank You for Supporting the Book Fair!

In Week 10 of last term, our school held its annual Book Fair. Thanks to your amazing support, we sold $3,926.24 worth of books!

This means our library has earned $1,177.87 in commission to spend on new books and resources. A huge thank you to all our families for helping to grow our reading community!

Library Reminders

Please ensure all library books are returned each week. Many students have books on reserve, and timely returns help everyone enjoy the stories they’re waiting for.

Happy Reading!

Kristy-Lee Kaden
Library Coordinator

As we gear up to celebrate our 50th Anniversary, we’re on the hunt for some school treasures from the past!

Do you have:

• Photos with vintage hairdos?
• Old uniforms?
• Classwork that proves your spelling has improved?
• Trophies, badges, or that mysterious missing recorder from 1989?

We’d love to display any memorabilia that captures the magic of our school's history — the good, the great, and the gloriously embarrassing.

Please drop items  to the front office. Let’s turn back time and relive the memories — cringe-worthy or not!

Because nothing says “celebration” like a class photo with mullets and knee-high socks.

Thursday 14th August 2025

Our STA Dance Concert is just around the corner — and we can’t wait to see our talented stars shine on stage! 

REMINDERS:

• Costumes should be sent to school in a labelled bag before Wednesday this week. On Wednesday, we will be holding a full dress rehearsal. Costumes can be sent to school any time between now and Wednesday. Please contact your classroom teacher if you have any concerns.
  
  
• Students participating in the Year 5 and 6 Touch gala day are still welcome to join their class performance for the evening session.
  
  
• Parents must sign their child in for the evening performance. Doors open at 5:30pm and sign in sheets will be located on tables at the front of the school. Students can then make their way through the front office to their classroom. Families are to make their way to the hall via the external hall doors. ELC families, please follow the processes communicated directly by the ELC.
  
  
• Please enjoy all our performances. Student will remain in their classrooms with their teachers for the duration of the whole dance performance. In respect for all families, and especially our students, we ask that you refrain from leaving the hall mid way through the performance. It is anticipated that the concert running time will be approximately 1 hour.
• Collection at the end of the Dance Concert is from the external classroom doors. Please ensure you sign your child out by visiting the teacher before leaving. Year 3 families can collect children from the external doors near the canteen.
  
  
• Please ensure children have a meal or substantial snack before the night performance! They will need their energy to light up the stage!

We hope you can all make it on Thursday for either the matinee at 12pm or the evening at 6pm.

August

Thea J, Samuel B, Millie S, Chase M, Indyah M, Andre D, Ashton D, Aidan K, Angelo J, Ninganarr F, Ari U, Jack P, Aarsi M, Matilda P, Sophia H, Zoey M, Akur A, Sonny K, Sienna R, Axton C, Jaxson P, Grace M, Lachlan A, Rabik B, Michael P, Arya G, Meghan S, Flynn M, Ashea K, Gabriella S, Willow H, Erin H, Adeline B