Dear Parents and Caregivers

As this term draws to a close, I write to you with a mix of emotions. It's difficult to believe that my time as Principal of St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School is coming to an end. While my tenure here has been much shorter than I had ever anticipated, a unique and compelling professional opportunity has arisen that I feel I must accept for the benefit of my family and my career. This was an extremely difficult decision, as I have genuinely loved my time with you all and will miss this wonderful school community immensely.

I want to express my deepest gratitude for the warmth and support you have shown me over the past two and a half years. St Thomas Aquinas is a truly special place, built on strong foundations. I feel incredibly blessed to have led a school with such a strong sense of community and commitment to its students. I would like to acknowledge the positive contributions of past leaders such as Peter McKenzie, Gary Norris, Mary-Lynn Lane, and Kayleen Petzer. They, along with the dedicated staff and leadership team who have worked alongside them across leadership transitions, have nurtured a beautiful spirit of faith and learning that I have been privileged to witness and build upon.

To our incredible students - thank you. Your excellent attitude to learning, your caring and kind nature, and your joyful energy in the playground and the classroom have been a constant source of inspiration. You are a credit to your families and our school. I will miss your bright smiles and thoughtful questions.

To my dedicated staff - thank you for your steadfast support and strong commitment to our students and the broader community. Your professionalism, passion, and collaborative spirit are what make this school so successful. It has been an absolute privilege to work alongside you, and I am so proud of all we have achieved together.

I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to Fr Sean Cullen for his unwavering support of both myself and our school community. His guidance and commitment to our Catholic mission are invaluable.

I am confident that the school is in excellent hands. I am pleased about the appointment of our Assistant Principal, Jo Robinson, as the Acting Principal. Jo has my full and unwavering confidence to lead the school through this transition until my replacement is appointed. Her leadership and deep understanding of our school's ethos will ensure a smooth and successful transition.

Thank you once again for this incredible chapter in my life. The memories I have made here will stay with me for a long time. I wish the entire St Thomas Aquinas community nothing but the very best for the future.

Yours in partnership

Principal

A new Attendance Policy has been implemented across all Catholic Education Diocese

of Wollongong (CEDoW) schools to support regular student attendance. CEDoW schools, in

partnership with families, are responsible for encouraging and supporting students’ consistent

attendance at school.

Attendance Levels

New attendance levels have been established to address students’ attendance patterns:

• Regular Attendance: 90% – 100%
• Targeted Intervention: 71% – 89%
• Intensive Intervention: 70% and below

We have developed specific processes for each of these levels and will contact parents in various ways to encourage and support students’ consistent attendance at school. This may include:

• Daily absence notifications
• Weekly reminders for unexplained absences
• Telephone calls to:
• understand the student’s situation;
• discuss learning and support needs;
• set a timeframe for attendance improvement;
• discuss unsatisfactory explanations for absences.
• Emails and letters

Targeted and Intensive Intervention strategies will involve parent meetings and the development of

Individual Plans focused on improving attendance.

The engagement of both parents and students in these processes is crucial for enhancing student learning, wellbeing, and future life outcomes.

Notifying Parents/Carers in Emergencies

In the case of an emergency and/or critical incident parents/carers will be notified via Compass alert and/or text message. Please ensure your contact details (i.e., mobile number and email address) are up to date. If any details have changed please contact the office at your earliest convenience.

Staff Development Days 

Following are the dates for the remaining staff development days for this year. Please note the student’s final day for the 2025 academic year is 17 December.

• 21 July (first day of Term 3)
• 13 October (first day of Term 4)
• 18 December
• 19 December

2025 School Calendar

The key date of events and celebrations for 2025 can be viewed in our online school calendar. The calendar can be viewed on our school website.

Upcoming Events 

• 30 June - 3 July Parent/Teacher Interviews

• 4 July Whole School Assembly (Prayer led by Year 6)

• • Final day of Term 2

• 21 July Staff Development Day

• 22 July Students first day for Term 3

• 24 July Athletics Carnival (at Tudor House)

• • Super Skippers commences

• 25 July Gymnastics Program commences 

• 29 July Mass with Bishop Brian (Year 6 students)

• 1 August 2:30pm Whole School Assembly

• 4 August Religious Literacy Assessment (Year 4)

• 5 August Athletics Carnival (back up date)

• 8 August CEDoW Zone Athletics Trials

• 14 August Year 6 Leadership Day

• 15 August Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

• • 2:30pm Whole School Assembly

• 21 August Year 5 Leadership Day

• 22 August Happy Birthday Milo - turns 1 today

• 28 August Western Region Soccer Gala Day (Stages 2 & 3)

• 29 August 2:30pm Whole School Assembly

• 5 September 8:00am Father’s Day BBQ & Prayer

• 8 September Year 3 Excursion

• 11 September Year 4 Excursion

• 12 September 2:30pm Whole School Assembly

• 15 September Kindergarten Excursion

• 16 September Year 5 Excursion

• 17 September Years 1 & 2 Excursion

• 19 September P&F Fundraiser (Colour Run) at Chevalier College

• 26 September 1:30-2:15pm Lunch on the Lawn

• • 2:30pm Whole School Assembly
  • Last day of Term 3

Sports News

Celebrating Success! 

The girls who attended the Netball Gala Day had a fun day learning new skills and meeting students from other schools in the Diocese. They entered into the spirit of the day by playing all games with a positive attitudeand trying their best.  Thank you to Mrs Weekes & Mrs Roberts who travelled to Minto to manage the students and the team managers, Mrs Smith, Mrs Staples, Ms McGookin & Mr Young.

The STA Athletics Carnival is being held at Tudor House on Thursday 24 July 2025 (Week 1).  Further details TBA.

The CEDoW Soccer Gala Day will be held on Friday 26 August at Picton Sports Ground.  Further details TBA.

Term 2 Calendar

REC Term 2 Message

REC Term 2 Message 284.06 KB

Save the Date

All families with or without grandparents,

Godparents and the elderly

are invited to a special Mass

to celebrate and honour

Grandparents

and the Elderly

(as instituted by Pope Francis in 2021)

on Sunday 27 July 2025

at St Thomas Aquinas Church

2 Bendooley Street Bowral

Winter Fundraiser

A huge thank you for your generous support of our Winter Fundraiser for St Vincent de Paul. We raised $1200.

A member of our local Vinnies Conference will speak with the children at assembly this Friday, to thank them for their generous donations and give them a little insight into what the money will be used for. Year 6 will also be leading us in prayer around this theme.

Renee McFayden

Religious Education Co-ordinator

Policies

Please find below a link to our Policies, Procedures & Forms that can also be found on the website:

https://stabdow.catholic.edu.au/parents/policies-procedures-forms/Attendance

Attendance

If your child is away for any reason, can you please enter the absence in Compass.  Otherwise you will receive an automatic notification at 12 pm that day to justify the absence.  Thank you.

Contacting staff

If you need to email a staff member, could you please use the email address:  info@stabdow.catholic.edu.au and your email will be directed to the relevant staff member for you.

• If you would like to make an appointment with a staff member (including the Principal and Assistant Principal) could you please contact the office to organise a convenient time.  Thank you.