Colour Run and Mission Fete

It was a wonderful day on Friday celebrating our Mission Fete and Colour Run. Thank you to our 5/6 teachers and students for your preparation for the Mission Fete and organisation on the day. Thank you also to Paris Dounoukos for her efforts in gaining sponsors for the event. We are pleased to say that we have raised $3,400!

Community Garden Beds

On Friday morning we had a number of parents join us to construct our wicking garden beds in the new community garden space being developed next to 5/6W as part of our Parent Engagement Grant. One of the garden beds is ready for planting and we will again invite any parents available this coming Friday to complete the filling of the gardens. If you are available on Friday morning from 9:30-11:00 we would love your help!

Staffing News

At the end of this year, we will farewell Mrs Claire Dekuyer who will be moving to Darwin with her family. Claire has been a wonderful addition to our teaching staff this year and has developed our PE specialist program for all grades. We will miss her and her family at St Thomas More's.

We are currently advertising Claire's position and a new position to our community, Grounds Maintenance Manager. Our Grounds Maintenance Manager will ensure our school environment is looking its best at all times and support staff with odd jobs around the school. If you know of someone who would be interested in this role please let them know. 

Paint a Plate Initiative

Our final plates have been collected from school following the Paint a Plate initiative that was held last term. Thank you to Mhanda van Engelen for her coordination of this initiative and to our wonderful DSM's Kate and Jess for their organisation behind the scenes! 

Luke Donnelly
Principal

Mission Fete and Colour Run

Thank you to all of our families who raised money for our Colour Run last Friday. Last year our students made the decision to donate 10% of all fundraising to charity. $340 will be donated to Catholic Missions which is the Pope’s international mission agency. One of Catholic Missions' many projects is in Timor Lester. Many young women with small children in the rural town of Venilale are unable to work due to the lack of education, training or opportunity. The Salesian Sisters believe in the benefit education can have for employment and financial independence. The Sisters opened the Maria Mazzarello Vocational School in 1994, which provides youth with access to culinary and hospitality training for tourism. The funds we donated to Catholic Mission go to projects like these.

Centred in Faith Gathering

Year One will present our next Centred in Faith Gathering on Friday 17th of November. They will talk to us about the liturgical season of Advent. The Year One students will explain that during Advent we watch and pray awaiting the Lord’s coming. The season of Advent begins the new liturgical year. Advent has two main themes-  looking backward and looking forward. The word “advent” itself means “to come” or “to arrive.” Families of students in Year One are most welcome to attend.

End of Year Mass

On Friday 8th December at 9:30am we will celebrate our end of year Mass. We would like to extend the invitation to all members of our community to attend.

Save the Date- Christmas Eve Parish Mass

Our Christmas Eve Parish Mass will take place in the school courtyard at 6pm. In the coming weeks we will ask for the names of children who are interested in being involved in the Mass.

Yours in Christ,

Samantha Mance
Religious Education Coordinator

Remembrance Day Services

Parents and caregivers are invited to attend our St Thomas More's Primary School Remembrance Day commemoration on Friday 10th November at 1045am in Holy Faith hall. After the service we will have a morning tea outside the library for those who can attend. Remembrance Day is officially November 11th and, on this day, we take time to honour Australian service personnel who have died or suffered in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

At 5am on 11 November 1918, three German government representatives accepted the Armistice terms presented by an allied commander, General Ferdinand Foch, of the French Army. The Armistice became effective at 11am the same day and the 4 year long First World War ended. And so Remembrance Day occurs on 11 November, the anniversary of the day peace was declared at the end of the First World War.  On Saturday 11th November 2023 the Australian War Memorial will hold the National Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Captain Reg Saunders Courtyard and Sculpture Garden at 1045am. For those families wishing to attend, general attendance at the National Ceremony is welcome and tickets are not required. Large screens will be positioned within the grounds, adjacent to the ceremony, for members of the public to view proceedings. Parking and road closures will be in place so make sure you check the AWM website for further details.

Dear Families and friends, 

Sunday the 12th November, I will be returning to do the 35km in The Bloody Long Walk. I'm raising funds to support Australians living with mitochondrial disease (mito). Mito is a debilitating, fatal disease that affects thousands of kids and adults and there are no cures.

Please support my 35km challenge to bring mito to its knees.

Click the link below to view my fundraising page:

https://event.bloodylongwalk.com.au/fundraisers/michaelwashington

Donations go towards finding treatments and cures for mito.
Thank you so much.

Michael