2025 Term 3 - Week 4 - Newsletter
A Prayer Inspired by Saint Mary MacKillop
From our Principal
Let me introduce myself…….
Thank-you for the very warm welcome I have already received from the St Thomas More’s community. I am very much looking forward to this journey we are all embarking on together. A very big thank-you to Mr Luke Barrett who has so capably lead St Thomas More’s for this recent period of time and very thoroughly handed over the reins to me now.
I am a very proud employee of Toowoomba Catholic School’s for 31 years now and began my teaching career at St Mary’s, Charleville back in 1994. I have held a number of positions throughout my career, from classroom teacher, learning support teacher, middle leader and assistant principal.
I am in my 12th year of experience as a principal and have most recently lead St Anthony’s School, here in Toowoomba for the past 7.5 years and I am very much looking forward to bringing my skills and experience to this beautiful community.
My immediate focus is getting to know the community – staff , students and families. I very strongly believe in a culture where connection and relationships and knowing all by name is key. The solid foundation of knowing the community is one from which all else blossoms.
Creating a culture of consistency and high expectations with regard to learning and behaviour are very important. I am a stickler for cleanliness, routine, uniforms being worn correctly and with pride, students being engaged and persistent in their learning, and the school values of faith, justice, joy and hope being interwoven in all facets of our school life, where the gospel story is visible and enacted.
Of all of my achievements, being a mum is my proudest. I am married and have two daughters who are 23 and 19 and a 17 year old son.
I am more than happy to meet and have a chat. It is best to make an appointment through the front office so I can ensure my availability, or feel free to reach out to me via email: louise.pfingst@twb.catholic.edu.au.
I am looking forward to sharing the feast day of Mary MacKillop with our community on Friday.
God bless
Have a great week.
Louise Pfingst
Principal
We need your help!
Recently, you would have received an important email from Toowoomba Catholic Schools regarding the 2-yearly survey titled "Shaping the Future" which opened to parents on Monday 21 July for 2 weeks.
This important survey is a perception survey about St Thomas More’s. All Catholic schools in the Diocese are currently participating in the survey. School Leadership will receive feedback from the survey in the coming weeks and this will inform our decision-making for the future. We look forward to sharing this important data with our community.
As at Thursday, we only had 9% of parents who had completed the survey. We are aiming for a response rate of at least 70% in order for this to be considered valid data. The survey closes this Wednesday, 6th August.
Until next newsletter……God Bless!
Louise
From our APMI
Saint Mary MacKillop: A Legacy of Compassion and Courage
Saint Mary MacKillop, also known as Saint Mary of the Cross, was Australia’s first canonised saint and a woman of deep faith, fierce compassion, and unwavering determination. Born in 1842, she dedicated her life to the service of others, especially the poor and marginalised. Alongside Father Julian Tenison Woods, she co-founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, establishing schools, orphanages, and shelters across Australia.
Mary’s mission was simple yet profound: to respond to the needs of others with love and action. Her famous words still inspire us today:
“Never see a need without doing something about it.”
“Let no obstacle deter us from proceeding with courage.”
“So great is the strength we possess in our unity.”Our theme this year: "We must teach more by example than by word."
Despite facing opposition, hardship, and even excommunication, Mary remained steadfast in her commitment to justice and education. She and her sisters, fondly known as the 'brown joeys" walked alongside those in need, ensuring that no child was denied the opportunity to learn and grow.
Why We Celebrate at St Thomas More’s
At St Thomas More’s, we celebrate Saint Mary MacKillop because our school was founded by the Josephite Sisters in 1961. Their vision and dedication laid the foundation for our community. We are continually inspired by the Josephite charism—a spirit of humility, kindness, service, and courage—and strive to live out Mary’s values in our daily lives.
Catholic Education Week Thank You
This Catholic Education Week, we celebrated being Pilgrims of Hope. A massive thank you to the St Thomas More's School community for your incredible generosity! Last Friday, we proudly presented Kate from Rosies – Friends On The Street with 320 Noodle Cups, donated by our STM students, families, and staff. Originally totally 288, a few last-minute contributions helped us reach the amazing milestone of exactly 320.Your kindness offers hope, warmth and nourishment to those doing it tough in our community. Special thanks to our Service Club Leaders for once again promoting and supporting our community of action. Their leadership and commitment continue to inspire hope and service in others.
God Bless
Donna Barlow
Assistant Principal Mission & Identity
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:
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 sign 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.
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.
From our Counsellor
Supporting Your Child Through Change at School
Change is a normal part of school life—whether it’s a new principal, teacher, classroom, or friendship group. But for children, even small changes can feel big. Here are some practical tips to help your child feel confident and supported during transitions.
💡 Tips for Navigating Change
- Acknowledge Their Feelings: Let your child know it’s okay to feel nervous or unsure. Listen and reassure them that their feelings are valid.
- Keep Communication Open: Ask open-ended questions like, “What was something new today?” to encourage reflection and connection.
- Maintain Routines: Consistent routines at home help children feel safe and grounded.
- Focus on What’s Familiar: Remind them of the things that haven’t changed—like their favourite activities or supportive adults.
- Encourage Problem-Solving: Help your child think through challenges and come up with solutions.
- Stay Connected with School: Reach out to teachers or staff if you notice your child struggling.
- Celebrate Small Wins: Praise your child’s efforts to adapt—even small steps forward matter!
🧘 Managing Anxiety
- Practice Calm Breathing: Teach slow, deep breaths to help calm nerves.
- Create a “Worry Time”: Set aside time to talk about worries so they don’t take over the day.
- Use Positive Self-Talk: Encourage phrases like, “I can do this,” or “It’s okay to feel nervous.”
- Visualise Success: Help your child imagine themselves coping well with the change.
- Limit Overexposure to Stressors: Keep things simple and reassuring.
📚 Helpful Resources for Parents
Young Minds – Top 10 tips for Parents - https://www.youngminds.org.uk/media/2odjlktz/top-ten-tips-for-parents.pdf
Big Life Journal – 7 Ways to Help Kids Cope - https://biglifejournal.com/blogs/blog/help-kids-cope-big-life-changes?srsltid=AfmBOorVn1U4EI1uh-E0i-tsOsLTlfG7GIMMmpl2pJvkBG8uLXeSvSWP
Health Agenda Family – Supporting Your Children Through Change - https://www.hcf.com.au/health-agenda/work-life/family/children-and-change
Parentline: https://parentline.com.au/
Triple P Fearless Online Program – Supporting Your Child When they Feel Anxious - https://www.triplep-parenting.net.au/au/parenting-courses/fear-less-triple-p-online/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22339854882&gbraid=0AAAAADj3AFm8rYYuVYHzqM-R7UCZfDJRq&gclid=CjwKCAjwkbzEBhAVEiwA4V-yqjK1Ek8W-Stow7ybfmycq7XBCuq_ppbV7pzylZfzMxhF5qWhB6AI5hoC3pkQAvD_BwE#au-parents-register-now
School Counsellor
Jayne Farquharson
From our Learning Support Dept
Thank you to everyone who returned their Audiology forms. A reminder that Audiology testing will occur Tuesday August 5. As the Prep excursion to Darling Downs Zoo occurs on the same day, we will send out expression of interest for Preps to have this testing done at a later date.
Belinda Phillips
Learning Support Coordinator
From our Sports Dept
Swimming Lessons – Years 3-6
Below is the timetable of swimming lessons for Years 3-6. This year we will be using the Glennie Aquatic Centre for our school swimming lessons. Children will be bused to and from their lessons. Children can wear there sports uniform on swimming days if they wish.
Thursday 7th August
Thursday 14th August
Thursday 21st August
Thursday 28th August
9:30-10:30 Year 6 Classes
10:30-11:30 Year 5 Classes
11:30-12:30 Year 4 Classes
12:30-1:30 Year 3 Classes
Please ensure your child has their swimming costume, towel, and goggles for their lessons and anything else you feel they may require. It is important that all items have their name written clearly on them. The Glennie Aquatic Centre will provide swimming caps on your child’s first visit. Teachers will collect swimming caps at the end of each session and will be given back out at the beginning of each lesson. These different coloured swimming caps are vital to the smooth running of the lessons as the different colours will indicate which group your child is in for easy organisation.
Children will get changed before and after their lesson at the pool.
Swimwear Guidelines:
To ensure safety and comfort during the lessons, we request that all students adhere to the following swimwear guidelines:
- Children should not wear rash shirts or oversized clothes.
- If wearing leggings or full-body coverings for cultural reasons, they must be skin-tight.
- No scuba masks are allowed (any goggles brought must not cover the nose).
- We do not supply loan goggles, so if a child wishes to wear goggles, they must bring their own.
If there is a problem with your child’s lessons, please speak to their class teacher and they will deal with the concern. Please do not contact the pool directly.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact myself or your child’s classroom teacher.
Athletics
The Central Zone Athletics will be held on Monday 11th August at O’Quinn Street. Selected children have received information about this carnival. Good luck to all students who will be competing.
Staff vs Students Netball Game
Our annual Catholic Education Week staff vs student’s netball game was a huge success. The atmosphere and support offered by the crowd was incredible! Even though the staff came away with the win, a massive congratulations goes to the Year 6 girls who never gave up and played with a smile the entire game. Great job girls!
Catholic Netball & Touch
As part of the Catholic Education Week celebrations last week, children in Years 5 & 6 participated in the Catholic Netball & Touch Carnival on Thursday 31st July. It was a cold, but fantastic day watching our students enjoy playing against other Catholic Schools. Well done to everyone who participated!
Interschool Sport – Term 3
Interschool sport for all Year 5 & 6 children will continue Friday 8th August. Sports/teams have been organised and requirements/equipment are listed below.
General information:
- Buses will depart STM at 12:20pm and return by 2:45pm.
- Children will be provided with a playing shirt/dress to wear for interschool sport. These will be handed out prior to interschool sport commencing.
- 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.
Boys – Soccer | Girls – Netball |
Compulsory Items
Non-Compulsory Items
| Compulsory Items
|
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!
