Dear Parents & Carers

It was with great excitement that I welcomed your children back to the new school year! It is hoped that they experienced a restful break from the routines of school and they are  ready to be ‘Crazy about Learning’. I especially welcome the new families to our school community. We know they will find St Thomas Aquinas to be a place of friendship and hospitality. 

New students to our school (Years 1 - 6)

• Year 1 - Xanthe & Bobby
• Year 3 - Conor & Harrison G
• Year 6 - Ayesha & Angus

I came across this prayer for the new year during the holiday break. You may wish to share it with your family during the first weeks of term.

Prayer for the School Year

Lord of all things. We ask your blessings on our children’s school of
St Thomas Aquinas.

Thank You Lord for the staff you have called to work in education.

Bless their hearts and minds with Your love, joy and peace.

May our children experience from them Your patience, kindness and goodness when they teach and respond to their learning needs.

As parents show us how to be cooperative and supportive when our children
reach out to us.

Remind all of us to be patient with these precious gifts you have blessed us
with – our children.

Help us to be examples of Christ’s love at all times, with our teachers, students and school community.

Give us helpful and encouraging words especially when we speak of others.

Grant us the gift of hospitality. Let us be merciful to others in our thoughts, words and actions.

We give thanks for this new school year and ask your blessings for its success
Dear Lord. Amen.

A student prayer:

Open my eyes to the new challenges and exciting opportunities
that this new school year brings.

Open my heart and mind to new friends and new teachers.

Help me to be attentive to my teachers and let me experience Your presence
in my new friends.

Jesus, inspire me to do my best this year!

Yours in partnership

Mr Anthony McElhone
Principal

National Consistent Collection of Data for Students
with Disability (NCCD)

All schools in Australia are required to participate annually in the National Consistent Collection of Data for Students with Disability (NCCD). This allows our Catholic sector to continue to provide and prioritise innovative and high-quality teaching and learning to support all students on their learning journey. Above all though, our Catholic tradition demands that educators see every child as equal, inherently sacred and worthy of dignity and respect. Our Catholic schools support children and young people with disability as an act of love, not merely as a legislative requirement.

What is the National Consistent Collection of Data? The Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on Student School Students with Disability (NCCD) is a process that all schools must complete on an annual basis. It is designed to count the number of students who receive additional adjustments or “help” at school because of a disability. This national data collection helps federal and state governments plan for the needs of students with disability. It is also the way that schools seek and receive funding to support the learning needs of their students.

Please see the attached document for further information.

Beginning of Year Parish Mass

All families are warmly invited to join in celebrating our Beginning of Year Parish Mass. This will take place on Sunday 5th March at 5pm in the St Thomas Aquinas Church. Many of our Year 6 students will lead us through various parts of the Mass. Our Liturgy and Youth Groups are busy rehearsing to lead our community in song. We look forward to seeing you there!

First Reconciliation

For those parents who registered their child to make their First Reconciliation this term, a Parent Information Session will be held in the Parish Hall at 7pm tonight Tuesday 14th February. I look forward to meeting with you.

Mufti Day - this Friday

We are having a mufti day this Friday (17 February) and ask that the children bring in a donation to assist the people of Türkiye and Syria who have been left devastated by the recent earthquakes.  The money raised will be forwarded to Caritas Australia.

Altar Servers

Any students who have made their First Holy Communion and would like to train to altar serve, please see Father Sean after Mass over the weekend for details.

Liturgy Group

Any students in Year 3 and above are eligible to join The Liturgy Group. This team of students, led by Mrs Prentice and myself, rehearse each Tuesday to lead the school and parish in various liturgies and sacraments throughout the year. We are excited to work with previous and new members in 2023!

Renee McFayden
RE Co-ordinator

Swimming Carnival

What a great day we had for the swimming carnival on Monday.  The weather was perfect for a dip in the pool and the children were in fine voice with their house chants - Oxley (Red) House achieved the highest point score.  Congratulations to all who took part in the carnival and for showing excellent sportsmanship throughout the day.  These are the results for the various events:

Thank you to Ms Worner for all her work leading up to the event and to all staff, parents and friends who assisted with setting up at the start of the day and packing up at the end of the day.  It was a very successful carnival and many of the students will be representing STA at the Western Region Swimming Carnival at Corrimal on Friday 3 March 2023.  We wish them the best of luck.

We have handed out 1st, 2nd and 3rd ribbons for the Junior events.  We are still to hand out the ribbons below:

• Wednesday
  • 11 year old events
• Thursday
  • 12 year old events
  • Senior events

The age champions will be presented with their medals at the Assembly in the FGC on Friday 24 February commencing at 2.15 pm.

See more photos on our Facebook page.

Kindergarten

Welcome to our Kindergarten students who have been busy since they started last week.  They have settled easily into school life with lots of fun learning activities in the classroom and in the playground. 

Year 2

Here is some wonderful work the Year 2 students have done with their Images of God.

Netball