Dear St Thomas Aquinas community,

Thank you

Thank you to Year 3 for a lovely assembly last Friday. I was speaking with one of the Year 3 parents afterwards about how it was a reminder of how quickly they have grown since first starting in Kindergarten. Thank you to Year 3 teacher, Jess Cassidy, who prepared the children for this assembly.

I would like to thank Arianne Moylan for all of her time, effort and collaboration in running the SCC Community Events and Fundraising Working Groups in recent years. Arianne has been instrumental in ensuring that many of the community events we enjoy actually occur. She has supported others as well as taken the lead whenever required. Arianne will still be involved in preparing the Fete for 2026.

Congratulations

Congratulations to our staff member Katrina McClintock. This year Katrina celebrates being a teaching assistant at St Thomas Aquinas for 15 years. During that time she has worked with many, many children in either the ELC or the school. Katrina is always warm and friendly with all of the students she supports. Her continued teamwork and care have been a blessing. Thank you Katrina.

Please scroll down in our Newsletter to read about why we are also congratulating Sister Colleen and August S (Year 5).

New name for our Parish

Following a long process of consultation Fr Tru presented the Archbishop with the three preferred names for the amalgamated parishes of Charnwood and Kippax.

The Archbishop has confirmed that the new name for our parish will be Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.

The Origins of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

The title Our Lady of the Sacred Heart has a beautiful and meaningful history that

helps us understand Mary’s special place in the story of Jesus and our faith. This particular understanding of Mary began in France in the 19th century and was inspired by a priest named Father Jules Chevalier, the founder of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.

Fr. Chevalier had a deep love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus and believed that Mary, His mother, had a special role in helping people come closer to His love. In 1857, he gave Mary the title “Our Lady of the Sacred Heart” to show her unique connection to the heart of Jesus – a heart full of love, mercy, and compassion for all people.

He wanted everyone to know that Mary leads us to Jesus. In images of Our Lady of
the Sacred Heart, Mary is often shown pointing to the heart of Jesus, reminding us that she always guides us toward His love.

Today, the name Our Lady of the Sacred Heart is shared by many communities, now including ours. It reminds us that Mary is a mother who cares deeply, always bringing us closer to the love of Jesus.

Bishop Pat Power

It is with sadness we share the news that Bishop Pat Power passed away early

yesterday morning. Bishop Pat was to celebrate his 60th year as a priest in 2025. He was well known among Catholic parishes and families as an extraordinarily kind and caring person and an outspoken supporter of the poor and marginalised.

Local Support for Families

The West Belconnen Child and Family Centre at Kippax is a rich source of support for families in our local area. Our school counsellor, Emma Yu, is exploring ways for our community to access their services more easily. Please look at the brochure to see what is available and keep a look out for when they will be visiting our school in the near future.

Matthew Garton

Principal

Support for young people viewing violent and distressing online content

eSafety is aware that distressing material is circulating online showing the fatal shooting at Utah Valley University, which occurred last week.

Young people who encounter content like this online may be struggling to come to terms with what they have read and seen. It is normal for them to have questions or feel unsettled, and your support can make a big difference. 

Online spaces should be safe for everyone. If a child sees violent or distressing material, it is important to check in and talk to them about the content they have seen. We also recommend that children use devices in open areas of the home, rather than in their bedroom, so you can be attuned to how they are coping and what they are engaging with online. 

Here are some practical steps Australians can take if they come across this type of material online:   

• Report it to the platform: Most major services have reporting tools for violent and graphic content. Using these tools means harmful material can be flagged and removed quickly. 
• Report it to eSafety: Australians can lodge a complaint via gov.au. 
• Do not share the video: Even if your intent is to raise awareness, reposting graphic material increases the risk of trauma and amplifies harm.

You can find more guidance and information about distressing online content below. 

Our keen runners, of all ability levels, have enjoyed getting out and about.  Each Tuesday, we have been running a circuit around the school which is just over 1 km, then we do it all over again!  Running 2 + kilometres for a child is an accomplishment; it is even noteworthy for most adults. Well done runners.

Mr Finlayson and I have been incredibly proud of the mental stamina and heart that our runners bring to the event each week.  We thank and acknowledge our Year 3 - 6 runners and the Classroom Support Assistants and teachers who take on this additional 'duty' in their breaks - thank you.

Can't wait for next Tuesday to see who else joins us at Run Club!  Running shoes, a signed parent permission form and a willingness to have a go is all it takes.   See you there.

Thanks,

Mrs Scanlan

September

Jade J, Tilda B-C, Hannah M, Lucy T, Matilda H, William B, Edison B, Luella B, Elodie A, Hamiliton S, Charli C, Aden G, Leo R, Lincoln D, Emma F, Miriam K, Ebadat KS, Lucas P, Piper D, Chelsea T, Eleanor S, Chloe W, Harper E, Agot-Nyibol A, Thomas H, Mansirat K, Arianna D, Gabriel S-P