2025 Term 3 - Week 6 - Newsletter

A Prayer for Book Week

From our Principal

Welcome to our Week 6 newsletter!! Can you believe we are already into the second half of another term! It really has been a very smooth transition for me into St Thomas More’s, and I thank you all for your very warm welcome.

As a principal, it is essential that just as we support our students in their academics, that we also provide the necessary support and guidance with regard to behaviour and wellbeing.  I firmly believe that our students respond to firm boundaries and thrive in an environment of predictability and routine, and it is necessary that these expectations are explicitly taught and continually reinforced. I know a trusted colleague and experienced principal once gave me the advice coming into leadership that you need to be 10 times clearer than you think you are in a school environment, and I think she was onto something!!

You may have noticed the behaviour matrix visibly prominent around the school which makes a lovely connection to our Josephite charism and the link to head, hands and heart.

We have come up with 3 ways of working at St Thomas More’s that link our head, hands and heart and made a connection to what is outlined in the matrix of expectations, and these are:

• Be a Learner (head)
• Be Respectful (hand)
• Be Resilient (heart)

Each week, we will have a particular focus.  This week’s focus is Be a Learner and in classrooms and at assembly we discussed what being a learner at St Thomas More’s looks like, sounds like and feels like and we will continually unpack, revise, refine and reinforce this with staff and students.

We were able to identify that these behaviours look like much more than sitting at a desk and listening to a teacher.  Positive learning behaviour looks like developing curiosity, practicing skills, asking questions, participating in discussions and both whole class, individual and group learning experiences, trying new tasks and showing persistence even when things are challenging, asking for help if needed and making mistakes and learning from these.

For teachers, who are also the leaders of learning in their classrooms, being a learner, alongside students means constantly growing, adapting and modelling a learning mindset.  Great educators also view themselves as learners. Teachers must demonstrate and encourage curiosity and enthusiasm for learning and tailor the knowledge and skills to meet their learners where they’re at, exploring new teaching strategies, tools and technologies and reflecting on their own practice and learning from experience. Teachers have to know their learners and be able to meet their students where they’re at and regardless of this, we must ensure that our learners are progressing and being challenged in a supportive environment.

Stay tuned for more information regarding this focus as we embed and explore this together as a community.

Student Protection Contacts

The safety and wellbeing of our students here at St Thomas More’s is a high priority.  As with all non-state schools, we have nominated School Student Protection Contacts, who are staff members with whom students can raise concerns of abuse, harm or inappropriate behaviour.

Here at St Thomas More's, our School Student Protection Contacts are

• Louise Pfingst (Principal)
• Trish Wardle (Middle Leader)
• Jane Farquarson (Guidance Counsellor)
• Clare Wilson (Classroom Teacher)
• Katie Hargrave (Classroom Teacher)

All school staff regularly receive training to be able to respond to student protection issues.

School Fees

Just a reminder to ensure that you are fully up to date with the payment of your child’s school fees.  Term 3 statements and invoices have been issued. Chasing outstanding fees owed is a very time consuming exercise and places the school at a financial disadvantage when attempting to carry our building, ground maintenance as well as affecting our ability to purchase much needed resources for students. Your co-operation and support in the timely payment of fees and levies is always greatly appreciated.

The signed enrolment application is a legal obligation of parents to meet their financial commitments.

Please organise a time to meet me if you would like to discuss this further.

We do engage the services of a debt collector for the payment of outstanding school fees, if families fail to engage with the school to discuss outstanding and unpaid fees.

Morning Routine Change

From this morning, we have decided to make a slight adjustment to our before school routine.  If students arrive at school prior to 8.00am, they are to wait in the quad.  At 8.00am Ms Barlow and I come out to commence supervision and the students are now going to move to the top oval and Prep and Year 1 play area and then from 8.15, a third staff member will direct the Year 5 and 6 students to the bottom oval. This will allow for more physical movement prior to the commencement of the school day.

Just a reminder that learning commences in classrooms each day following our morning bell at 8.30am and learning concludes each day at 2.55pm.

We ask that no students are on the premises before the commencement of supervision at 8.00am and we ask that all students are picked up no later than 3.30pm as staff attend to meetings and their own commitments. We can’t always guarantee that staff are on the premises after 3.30pm.

Until next newsletter ...God bless

Louise Pfingst
Principal 

From our APMI

Last Friday, our Year 5 and Year 1 students joined the St Thomas More’s Parish for a beautiful celebration of Mass. Father warmly welcomed our students, offering each a special blessing and inviting them to gather around the sanctuary during the Liturgy of the Eucharist — a truly meaningful experience for all involved.

This coming Friday, our Year 4 students will participate in the parish Mass at 9:30am, following assembly. Parents and families are most welcome to join us in this special time of prayer and community.

A reminder that our Family Mass will be held on Saturday evening at 5:00pm. Our choir will be singing, and students and families will come together with parishioners to celebrate. We warmly invite all families to attend and share in this joyful occasion.

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 after 8:00am are asked to pop their hat on and head up to the Top Oval for supervised play.

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. 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.

Book Week

Are you ready for our Book Week Parade is taking place on Wednesday 20th August at 8:40am (please note this is different to the printed calendar). This year's theme is Book an Adventure. We would love to see the children in their costume with the book they got their inspiration from.

From our Counsellor

The Resilience Project – Connected Parenting Webinar

Dear Parents and Carers,

We would like to invite you to a Connected Parenting Webinar (with other schools) with Lael Stone on Monday 8th September, 6:30-7:45pm (75 minutes) AEST.

What the Connected Parenting Webinar will deliver:

Grounded in the latest research, this 75-minute workshop provides parents and carers with practical strategies to raise resilient children. Author, TEDx speaker, counsellor and parenting educator, Lael Stone, will discuss how to: ​​​​​​

• Build stronger connections with your children.
• Support them through challenging and frustrating situations.
• Create a culture of cooperation in simple ways.
• Manage your own triggers as a parent.
• Understand and support big emotions in a way that helps children become emotionally resilient.

About Lael Stone:

Lael Stone is an author, TEDx speaker, counsellor and parenting educator who specialises in navigating trauma and disconnection in families. She has spent the better part of two decades working with families, as well as running programs in secondary schools about relationships and wellbeing. She is a mother of three adult children and the co-founder of Woodline Primary School – a new innovative school focused on supporting emotional intelligence in children.

Please register for the webinar using this link. You will then be sent a Zoom link and a calendar invite.

School Counsellor

Jayne Farquharson

From our Learning Support Dept

A massive thank you to Dendra Cole for supporting us with our recent Audiology testing. This testing went incredibly smoothly and Dendra will notify parents if any follow up is required individually. 

Belinda Phillips 
Learning Support Coordinator

From our Sports Dept

Athletics

Congratulations to the following students who competed at the Central Zone Athletics last Monday. There were some fantastic results across the day. Hopefully we will be able to share information about zone selections soon.  

Ava D, Michele A, Zach M, McQuidah O, Emily R, Adelyn U, Zana B, Vincent C, Thomas G, Scarlett J, Taj M, Lachlan M, Louie T, Esther W, Lauren A, Giorgia B, Nate E, Millicent F, Addison F, Aaliyah L, Abbie M, James O, Ellie R, Sim S, Wyatt S, Paige S, Tong W, Lliam A, Fergus A, Amelie F, Olivia K, Ryan L, Wol M, Nicholas M, Callum M, Shanya N, Hamish P, Elliemay R, Penny T, Jonathan W.

Interschool Sport – Term 3

Interschool sport for all Year 5 & 6 children will continue Friday 22^nd 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.

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 28^th 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. 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. 

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!

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