Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Caregivers
The well publicised NAPLAN assessments will take place this week. The usefulness of NAPLAN (and its predecessor the Basic Skills Test) has long created debate regarding its usefulness to parents and schools. Some loathe the idea, others believe it is a key assessment tool that gives an accurate picture of a child’s achievement in literacy and numeracy.
At St Thomas Aquinas we believe it provides the key stakeholders (students, parents and teachers) with a snapshot of a child’s learning in two key areas. NAPLAN data is only one piece of the learning puzzle. An over-emphasis on NAPLAN places unnecessary stress and pressure on children for a small educational gain. We cannot allow ourselves to fall into the trap of believing that a test score is a measure of our children’s intelligence and potential! In light of that we have a duty to ensure we set up children for success and therefore give them the opportunities to develop ‘test’ literacy skills, that is, how to navigate forms of assessments such as NAPLAN whilst applying their knowledge and skills.
A pre-eminent academic and author Ken Robinson espouses that children need to be given the opportunities at home and school to find their “element”.
Robinson suggests that a person’s element is the intersection between what they are good at and what they love. It’s finding that ‘thing’ where you will work hard and love every minute of it. It’s when you’re energised rather than drained by your work (or learning).
The end goal of education is to prepare children for employment so rather than obsessing about a test score, we should be thinking about schooling in terms of helping our children discover their ‘element’ - and how to pursue it.
Rather than narrowing their world and their focus to a score, we should be opening them up to all the possibilities and opportunities we can.
Learning the basics is absolutely vital. Literacy and numeracy are incredibly important and foundational to a whole range of life paths. However, we still need to be encouraging our children to try new things, to play, to dream, to be allowed to fail and learn from that failure.
Above all, we need to resist the notion that our teachers and our schools should be judged on a tiny part of the curriculum at a particular moment in time
Yours in partnership
Principal
Attendance - New Extended Absence Procedures
For extended absences (of more than 5 school days) due to travel, parents must submit the Notification of Extended Absence form along with relevant travel documentation. This documentation should include: Dates, locations of travel, purpose and reasons for travel outside school holidays.
If you wish to apply for an extended absence, the relevant form is accessible via COMPASS or can be accessed from the school office. All the appropriate documentation must be completed and returned to the school. All applications will be considered by the school principal.
Acknowledgement of Extended Absence
After considering the explanation for the extended absence the school will issue an Acknowledgement of Extended Absence to the parent, regardless of whether the explanation for the absence is accepted or not accepted by the Principal. The acknowledgment may include agreed matters relating to the student’s learning and well-being. Accepted extended absences will be recorded as explained and Unaccepted absences will be recorded as unjustified
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.
- 28 April (first day of Term 2)
- 29 April (second day of Term 2)
- 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
- 12 March NAPLAN - Writing (Years 3 & 5)
- 13 March NAPLAN - Reading & Conventions of Language (Years 3 & 5)
- 13 March Year 6 Leadership Program
- 14 March NAPLAN - Numeracy (Years 3 & 5)
- 14 March 2:15 pm Whole School Assembly - Prayer led by K-2
- 21 March World Down Syndrome Awareness Day / Harmony Day
- 27 March Year 5 Leadership Program
- 28 March School Photos
- 28 March 2:30pm Whole School Assembly - Prayer led by Year 4
- 4 April School Cross Country Carnival at Chevalier College
- 11 April 9:00-10:00 Holy Week Liturgy in FGC (tbc)
- 11 April 1:30pm Lunch on the Lawn (weather permitting)
- 11 April 2:30pm Whole School Assembly
School Photo Day
Our Annual School Photo Day will be held on Friday, 28 March. Personalised student envelopes have been sent home. Please contact the office if you did not receive one for your child (one each) or if you require a Sibling Photo envelope. Envelopes are to be brought back on the day (not before).
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.
Enrolments for Kindergarten 2026
We are now accepting enrolment applications for Kindergarten 2026. The enrolment form is now available online via our school website (https://www.stabdow.catholic.edu.au/enrol/). Applications should be completed by the end of Term 1.
Sports News
Celebrating Success! CEDoW Representative Sport
CEDoW Swimming Trials
Well done to all swimmers who competed at the recent swimming trials in Corrimal. Congratulations to Billy H, Autumn H, Tobias H, Thomas L, Erin S and Henry W who have been selected to trial for the MacKillop swimming team. They will be competing at Homebush on Wednesday 2 April. We are very proud of them and we wish them all the best.
