2025 Term 1 - Week 1 - Newsletter

Prayer of the Week

From our Principal

As a young man in the 1980s, the phrase, ‘We are on a Mission from God’ was often bandied about.

A quote from the cult classic movie, ‘The Blues Brothers’, the phrase had a warped sense of irony as Elwood and Jake Blues, small-time criminals, hustled throughout the film to raise money to save the orphanage that raised them.

Who can forget the early scene when they meet Sr Mary Stigmata? Knowing the boys are good at heart but unreliable, she sends them on their way with a twitch of corporal punishment for their trouble. The Blues boys vow to raise the $5000 in property taxes and save ‘the penguin’. Whenever the pair commit any illegal hijinks, they convince themselves that their actions are fine because of that mission from God.

We can now laugh at the irreverent humour and tongue in cheek poke at the Catholic church. However, the mission from God is a very pertinent phrase with deeper meanings for us.

Every Catholic school is expected to have a sincere and active articulation of its aims and beliefs, known as a Mission and Vision Statement. This statement is the lived experience of what is important in that school community. We review it every five years or so with parents, carers, staff and children involved.

Our school Mission and Vision Statement which is not only for our children but for us as adults as well, reads:

Vision

With Jesus as our model, St Thomas More’s Primary School assists members of its community to develop their spiritual, intellectual, emotional, social and physical potential so that they may; “live life in all its fullness.” (John 10:10)

Mission

This is achieved in a vibrant, safe and caring learning environment where the uniqueness of each individual is celebrated, and where active partnerships between home, school, parish and the broader community exist. As a school community, we strive to integrate faith with everyday life as we live our school values of joy, justice, faith and hope, allowing our students to ‘live life in all its fullness’.

I love being a teacher. I have the responsibility, in collaboration with parents, to help mould the behaviour and learning of children. Every day I get the joy of watching youngsters develop and giggle, say the craziest of things, overcome learning challenges, be thoughtful, learn to negotiate the ups and downs of relationships, hop, skip, run, read and sing: All of these things are wonderful and happen in every school in this country; State, Independent and Catholic.

I could very happily be an educator in our well-regarded State system but I’ve chosen to accept an additional responsibility. Just like all of the staff at St Thomas More’s, we are invited to consider the deeper meaning of why we are here. To keep Jesus in our hearts is our spiritual challenge. To nurture the spiritual dimension in our students is part of our ‘core business’. So, without reticence we say, we really are on a Mission from God.

All the best for a great start to the year!!

Thanks for reading. 

God Bless,

Duane Wann

Principal

2025 School Priorities

At the commencement of every school year, the teaching staff gather to consider and develop priorities for the year. For 2025, the focus of our practices will centre on the following:

2025 Theme:

2025 School Goals:

2025 School Newsletter Cycle

Please be advised, the 2025 School Newsletter will be shared with the school community on a fortnightly basis (odd weeks).

Parent Information Evening

The 2025 Parent Information Evening has been scheduled for Tuesday 4^th February.

Please find below the schedule for the evening:

Formal Uniform/Sport Uniform Days:

As there are no Physical Education Lessons in Week 1, children are required to wear formal uniform for the first day of school.

Please find below allocated days for children to wear Sport Uniform commencing Week 2:

Prep: Every Day

Year 1:  Tuesday (PE) & Friday

Year 2: Tuesday (PE) & Friday

Year 3: Tuesday (PE) & Friday

Year 4: Monday (PE) & Friday

Year 5: Monday (PE) & Friday

Year 6: Monday (PE) & Friday

Children are to wear formal school uniform on every other day.

Before School Supervision

Before school duty commences at 8:00am. Children who arrive at school before 8:00am are kindly asked to sit in the ‘Quad Area’ until teacher supervision commences at 8:00am.

Process for Late Arrival, Early Departure and Collection Areas:

This is a valuable opportunity to remind families of the requirements pertaining to late arrival to school and early departure from school. Our aim is to safely account for all students while minimising disruption to teaching for the staff and learning for the students.

Late Arrival

• a student is considered to have arrived late any time after the 8.30am bell on a school day
• all students arriving late must be signed in by a parent, family member or themselves. Children then transition to the classroom by themselves.

Early Departure

• a student is considered to have departed early any time before 2.55pm on a school day
• Parent/Guardian to call, email or present to the School Administration Office to inform School Administration Staff their child/children will be departing early and offer the reason for the early departure
• the School Administration Staff will contact and advise the Class Teacher of an early departure and request for the child/children to present to the School Administration Office at a prescribed time
• Parent/Guardian to collect child from School Administration Office and sign child out
• Parents/Guardians are not permitted to attend the classrooms and withdraw children directly
• Parents/Guardians are not permitted to visit the classrooms between the hours of 8:30am and 2:55pm unless invited to do so. This is to avoid disruption to teaching and learning. Should there be a need to visit a classroom or drop something off to a child/children, this can be arranged through the School Administration Office.

Collection Areas for Families (End of School Day)

As part of the afternoon end of school day collection of children, parents/guardians are always invited and encouraged to collect children within the confines of the school in places that do not disrupt teaching and learning.  In doing so, we respectfully ask families to wait in the following areas:

• Drop Off/Pick Up Area on South Street (outside the Prep collection area)
• The Quad Area (the collection of children in Years 1, 3 – 6)
• The seats outside of the Year 2 classrooms (Year 2 children)

Communication Protocols

St Thomas More’s Primary School recognises and respects the right of employees to disconnect from work and not respond to work-related electronic communications outside of designated hours. St Thomas More’s Primary School staff will reply to electronic communication within the hours of 8.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday. Where contact is made outside of this span of hours, employees will respond within two working days of the employee’s next designated working day considering weekends, leave, other non-working days, vacation periods and holidays.

Grooming Expectations

Please be mindful, hairstyles which draw attention to the individual, including but are not limited to: mullet, scullett, mohawks, tracks, tails, hair colouring etc. are not permitted.

Student Phones:

Student mobile phones are to be signed in at the School Administration Office each morning and collected at the end of the school day.  Children are not permitted to text or make calls from phones or smart watches during the school day.

ST THOMAS MORE'S SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL

Expressions of Interest

The St Thomas More's School Advisory Council supports and provides advice to the principal, Duane Wann, in relation to policy, master planning, finance and strategic planning.

Due to the resignation of a member of the Council, we are calling on you to express your interest to join this group. No particular expertise is required except a desire to represent and give voice to the parent body in advising the principal about important matters particularly related to the school’s provision of the best possible Catholic education for our children.

If you are a member of the parish or have children in the school and wish to be considered for membership in the Council, please send your application in writing to Duane Wann by Friday 7^th February at duane.wann@twb.catholic.edu.au

Further information about the School Advisory Council is available on our school website.

Prep Handbook - 2025

From our APMI

Welcome to the 2025 school year. I hope everyone had a chance to unwind and enjoy some quality time with family and friends over the break.

As the new Assistant Principal Mission and Identity, I am excited to join the St Thomas More’s community and begin a journey of growth and service with you all. I look forward to meeting students, parents, staff, parish and the wider community, and to building on the amazing school initiatives and outreach programs that St Thomas More’s is renowned for. I am excited to work with our community to expand these opportunities for service and outreach in new ways.

Over the Christmas holidays, I made the move from Cairns to Toowoomba. It was a significant change, but one that I embraced with excitement. Having been a regular visitor to this beautiful part of the world, I am now thrilled to call Toowoomba my home. I am eager to explore the local community, discover new places, and immerse myself in all that Toowoomba has to offer. From its stunning parks and gardens to its cultural scene, I look forward to experiencing the unique charm and warmth of this wonderful city.

Father Michael shared some wise words in his homily this weekend: "Look on the past with gratefulness, the present with enthusiasm, and the future with confidence." These words profoundly resonate with me as I reflect on my own journey. I am grateful for the opportunities and experiences that have shaped me, and I am enthusiastic about the present and the future we will create together at St Thomas More's. Our collective efforts will enhance the learning and life experiences of our students, helping them grow in confidence and faith.

In line with Pope Francis' message for the 2025 Jubilee, this year is a time of hope and forgiveness. The Jubilee invites us to rediscover and proclaim hope, to build a community grounded in love and compassion. As we pass through the metaphorical doors of this new school year, let us do so with enthusiasm, embracing the present and all the possibilities it holds. I am excited to share this journey with all of you and to become an active member of the St Thomas More's community.

I am also looking forward to our Welcome Mass on Friday, 7th February at 9am in the Sportcentre, and I hope to meet many of you there. If you see me on duty or around the school, please stop and say hello.

Let's make this year a memorable and enriching one together.

With gratitude and enthusiasm,

Donna Barlow

Important Upcoming Events

A 2025 School Calendar will be distributed to each family in Week 1 of Term 1. Please note that some events and times may change, we will endeavour to inform you of any changes via our Newsletter, Portal and Facebook.

4th February: Parent information calendar

7th February: Whole School 2025 Mass, Sportscentre 9am

10th February: P&F Meeting 7pm

11th & 12th February: School Photos

13th February: Catholic Schools Swimming Carnival

14th February: Year 6 Parish Mass 9:30am STM Church, Interschool Sport (Year 5 & 6)

17th February: Zone Swimming Carnival

17th, 18th, 19th February: Year 5 Camp

21st February: Year 5 Parish Mass 9:30am, Interschool Sport (Year 5 & 6)

25th February: Year 6 Leadership Retreat

28th February: Year 4 Parish Mass 9:30am, Interschool Sport (Year 5 & 6)

From our Sports Dept

Representative Swimming Carnivals 

The Catholic Swimming Carnival will be held on Thursday 13th February. This carnival will be held at the Glennie Aquatic Centre.   

The Central Zone Swimming Carnival will be held on Tuesday 18th February. This carnival will be held at the Glennie Aquatic Centre. 

Students who have been selected to represent St Thomas More’s at these carnivals will be notified in Week 1.  

Interschool Sport – Years 5 & 6  

Interschool sport for all Year 5 & 6 children will commence on Friday 14th February. This will be held every Friday afternoon for six weeks. Sports/teams will be organised in Week 1 and information will be provided to families around the requirements/equipment that will need to be organised prior to the commencement of interschool sport.  

General information:  

• Buses will depart STM at 12:40pm and return by 2:45pm. 

• Children will be provided with a playing shirt to wear for interschool sport. These will be handed out in Week 2.  

• Children are required to wear their sports uniform to school and get changed into their playing uniform before departing.  

• Hats, water, and sunscreen are essential.  

REPRESENTATIVE SPORT INFORMATION 2025 

Throughout the year Toowoomba Primary School Sport and Darling Downs School Sport run trials in a variety of sports to choose representative teams.  In most cases students are required to participate in a Toowoomba Trial to be eligible for a Darling Downs Trial. These teams will then travel away to Regional and State Championships.   

For a student to be eligible for nomination they must meet the following criteria: 

1.  Be turning 10, 11 or 12 in the current calendar year. i.e. born in 2015, 2014 or 2013. 

2. Have had a reasonable amount of experience in their chosen sport. 

3.  Have a high level of skill and had success in their chosen sport.  

In some cases, like touch football, where there are a number of interested candidates, the school will conduct in-house trials to choose players to be nominated for these trials.  This is important because; 1) the players that the school nominates need to meet the required selection criteria, 2) be of a suitable standard to trial and 3) schools are limited to a certain number of students at these trials.    

Except for Netball and Boys Rugby League, all teams chosen are 12-year old sides.  While 10 and 11-year old’s are eligible, they must be of a very high standard.  Most teams chosen will consist predominantly of 12-year old’s. 10-year old’s are NOT eligible for Girls Rugby League or Rugby Union. 

It is also important to note, that only students who are available to attend both the Regional and State Championships, will be eligible for nomination.   All nominations for these trials need to go through the school, and decisions on which students are nominated is at the sole discretion of the school.     

If your child would like to be considered for Zone, Toowoomba, or Darling Downs Team selection, please check your availability for ALL the trial dates and complete the NOMINATION FORM :

     *Please note that the dates below are subject to change. 

Stacey Hancock

Health and PE Teacher

From our Uniform Shop

P & F News

Tuckshop News

Opening Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Order via Flexischools App.  If you need help to navigate the App or to adjust your order, please feel free to pop into the tuckshop and chat to Jemma or email jemma@archerscateringandevents.com.au 

Cut off of Online orders...
Order before 7am for Wednesday and Thursday orders.  For Friday orders, please order by 1pm Thursdays.

Tuckshop Email:  jemma@archerscateringandevents.com.au 

NEW Tuckshop Menu

REMINDER - IF YOU CHILD IS SICK, PLEASE CONTACT THE TUCKSHOP BEFORE 9AM TO POSTPONE YOUR ORDER!

Thank you!

A huge thank you to Westridge Fruit and Vegetables for their continued support with the donation of fresh fruit every week for our students!

Notice Board

Tennis Coaching

Tennis Coaching will not be available for Term 1 2025.