Dear Parents and Caregivers

As we enjoy the liturgical season of Easter, I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude for the blessings that this sacred season brings into our lives. Easter is not merely a day on the calendar; it is a season—a time of profound significance in the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church. It is a season of renewal, rebirth, and most importantly, hope.

During Lent, we embarked on a journey of self-reflection, fasting, and prayer, preparing our hearts to receive the joyous message of Easter. Now, as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are reminded of the triumph of life over death, light over darkness, and hope over despair.

In our Catholic primary school community, the significance of Easter extends beyond the walls of our classrooms. It permeates our daily activities, infusing them with the spirit of joy, compassion, and love. We are reminded of the new life that Easter brings in our hearts and souls.

Through the liturgical season of Easter, we are invited to deepen our faith and embrace the transformative power of Christ's resurrection. It is a time for us to renew our commitment to living as disciples of Christ, embodying His teachings of love, forgiveness, and compassion in all that we do.

As parents and educators, let us seize this opportunity to instill in our children the profound meaning of Easter. Let us teach them to cherish the gift of faith, to embrace the hope that springs eternal from the empty tomb, and to live their lives as beacons of Christ's light in a world often shrouded in darkness.

May the joy of Easter fill your hearts with renewed faith, hope, and love. Let us continue to journey together as a community, guided by the light of Christ's resurrection, and may His blessings be upon us all.

Wishing you a blessed and joyous Easter season.

Yours in partnership

Mr Anthony McElhone

Principal

Uniform Reminder

As we transition into the colder months, it is time for us to prepare for the shift from summer to winter uniform. 

Beginning from the first Monday after Mother's Day (13 May), we will officially transition into our winter uniform. 

With the fluctuating weather at this time of year we will implement a transition period from the start of Term 2 to allow students ample time to adjust to the change. During this period, students will have the flexibility to wear either their summer or winter uniform (not a mix of the two) depending on weather conditions and personal comfort.

We encourage parents and carers to support their children during this transition by ensuring they have the appropriate winter uniform items ready. Additionally, please take this opportunity to review the uniform guidelines outlined on our school website to ensure compliance with our uniform policy.

2024 School Calendar

The key date of events and celebrations for 2024 can be viewed in our online school calendar. The calendar can be viewed on our school website and via the newsletter.

Upcoming Events

• 11 April K-6 Cross Country Carnival (at Chevalier College)
• 12 April 2:30pm 
  • Final day of Term 1
  • 1:30 pm BYO Lunch on the Lawn
  • 2:30 pm Whole School Assembly
• 29 April Staff Development Day
• 30 April Students first day of Term 2
• 10 May
  • 8:00am Mother’s Day Prayer & Breakfast
  • 2:30pm Whole School Assembly
• 24 May 2:30pm Whole School Assembly
• 31 May School Photos

Enrolments for Kindergarten 2025

We are now accepting enrolment applications for Kindergarten 2025.  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.

Teacher Professional Learning

At St Thomas Aquinas the staff has an ongoing commitment to professional learning. The staff benefits from attending in-services, in curriculum areas, that assist them in providing quality learning opportunities for the students in their class. The following staff have or will attend professional learning:

Date	Staff Members	Professional Learning
8 April	Mr Blake, Ms Worner	New Syllabus (English & Mathematics) Professional Learning & Planning
9 April	Mrs Connell, Mrs Weekes	New Syllabus (English & Mathematics) Professional Learning & Planning
12 April	Mrs McFayden, Mrs Menzies, Mrs Syrros	New Syllabus (English & Mathematics) Professional Learning & Planning

Sports News

• MacKillop Trials:
  • Congratulations to Billy H, Autumn H, Ryan K, Thomas L, Erin S & Harrison Y who took part in the swim trials today at Homebush. What a great result!  The following students have made it through to the NSW PSSA carnival:
    • The relay team - Billy, Ryan, Thomas & Harrison
    • Autumn in the 50m freestyle event
    • Billy in the 50m butterfly event
  • Hockey (5 April):  We wish good luck to Mihaan P

• Cross-Country Carnival - will be held on Thursday 11 April at Chevalier College:
  • Children who are turning 11, 12 or 13 this year will be running a 3 kilometre course
  • All other students from Year 2 will be running a 2 kilometre course
  • The course will be modified for Kindergarten students
  • Buses have been arranged to transport the students to and from the event
  • The P & F will be conducting a cake stall
  • There will be a coffee van onsite
• SH Netball Cup - will be held on Wednesday 8 May @ Eridge Park Netball Courts
  • Years 3/4 & Years 5/6 mixed boys/girls teams  
  • If your child would like to take part please complete the form
    SH Netball Cup
• Athletics Carnival - will be held on Friday 21 June at Eridge Park:
  • • Further details will be provided next term

CEDoW Gala Days

Gala days are fun, round-robin style days designed primarily for student enjoyment of the sport, participation and for the promotion of exercise and a positive sporting experience.  Each year St Thomas Aquinas students from Years 3 - 6 participate in the following gala days - Netball Gala Day, Soccer Gala Day and Basketball Gala Day. 

• Netball Gala Day - this will be held next term on Friday 28 June at Minto Netball Courts:
  • If your child would like to take part, please complete the form
    CEDoW Netball Gala Day
  • You will need to arrange transport for your child to and from the gala day

The Year of Prayer in preparation for the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025 offers a valuable opportunity for preparing and deepening our understanding of the true meaning of the Eucharist. To fully experience this great mystery an appropriate inclination and dis-position of heart and mind is necessary each time we approach the Eucharist.

The small, as well as the major, daily decisions help the faithful to be more aware of what is being celebrated at Mass and, therefore, greater awareness and participation at the Eucharistic table will help them grow by enabling them to be an increasingly credible and authentic witness, becoming more effectively the: Salt of the earth and light of the world (Mt 5:13-16).

Our Father,

Easter Liturgy & Mass

Thank you to all students who so reverently took part in our Holy Week Liturgy last week. We had a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the Eucharist together as a community yesterday as we gathered for our Easter Mass. The students participated beautifully in prayer and song and it was a lovely opportunity to gather with our parents and parishioners.

Diary Dates:  We would love to celebrate the following important events with you and our liturgy group look forward to leading us in prayer:

• Stage 3 Mass:   Sunday 5th May at 5pm- All families welcome
• Confirmation:   Saturday 1st June at 11am for any students who have made their First Holy Communion.
• Corpus Christi:  Combined Mass with SMM and morning tea- Friday 14th June at 10am. All families welcome! (NOTE: CHANGE OF DATE)
• Stage 2 Mass:  Sunday 8th September at 5pm. All families welcome!
• Early and Stage 1 Mass:  Sunday 3rd November at 5pm. All families welcome!
• First Holy Communion:  Sunday 24th November at 11am. For all students who have made their First Reconciliation. 

Project Compassion

The Project Compassion boxes are still in classrooms and in the front office for any further donations. Our contributions will be forwarded at the end of the term.

Confirmation

Any student that has made their First Holy Communion is encouraged to make their Confirmation on Saturday 1st June. Keep your eye out at Mass over the weekends, for further information. 

Renee McFayden

Religious Education Co-ordinator

Swimming

Well done to all the students who took part in the MacKillop Swimming Trials at Homebush:

Autumn H, Billy H, Ryan K, Thomas L,  Erin S & Harrison Y

Upcoming events

Year 3

The students created some wonderful artworks depicting the 'Road to Emmaus' story about Jesus appearing to two of his disciples after his Resurrection. 

The students also produced a storyboard recounting the events.

Year 2

The students have created some amazing artworks.  The landscapes were painted using line & watercolour techniques and the cows were painted using oil pastels & acrylic paints.  The artists whose work is shown here are Adrian, Briah, David, Harvey & Madeleine.

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.

WANTED:

We are still needing a few more parents to volunteer as a Class Buddy to help with organsiing events etc.

• 5 Blue
• 5 Gold
• 6 Blue

If you are interested in being the Parent Class Buddy for your child's class in 2024, could you please complete the form Parent Class Buddy  as soon as possible.

Thank you very much.