More News Week 1 Term 3
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More News Week 1 Term 3
Luke Donnelly
Principal
Welcome back to Term Three at St Thomas More's. We hope you had a restful break during the school holidays and that you were able to enjoy sunshine wherever you were. The students were excited to return to school to find the courtyard and toliets have been repainted over the break. This was an initiative that our Peer Support Council initiated and has really elevated both spaces!
Additional Class for 2026
We are pleased to announce that Catholic Education has provided St Thomas More's with an additional class in 2026, taking the school from 7 classes to 8. The additional class will be utilised in Year 1 where we currently anticipate two classes of 16 with further enrolments anticipated in 2026 and 2027. This is an exciting opportunity for our school to welcome new families to our community and to justify proceeding with the school's Masterplan that was developed in 2022.
Staffing NewsThis week we welcome Tully Byrnes to the school who will be teaching 5/6G and taking on our specialist PE teacher role. We also welcome back Vanessa Miller who will be teaching Auslan for Semester 2. We are so pleased to have Tully and Vanessa with us.
Science Fair
Did your child spend some time during the holidays working on an entry for the Science Fair? See the Community News section for details on this exciting event returning in 2025!
School Carpark Redesign
The design of our top carpark has been approved by the Parish Council. Our final consultation will be held with the Military Ordinariate before being released to our community. We will then obtain quotes with the hope that the work will be completed for the commencement of the 2026 school year.
NAPLAN
Tomorrow our Year 3 and 5 students will receive their NAPLAN letters to bring home to their parents. Initial analysis of the data suggests that we have maintained our strong acheivements in NAPLAN in 2025 and we are particularly pleased with our writing results which have improved since implementing additional resources based on the Science of Learning. Parents are welcome to contact their child's teacher if they have any questions regarding the report.
ACT Government Future of Education Equity Fund
The ACT Government’s Future of Education Equity Fund provides eligible low-income families with one-off payments to help with education expenses. The fund is now accepting applications for the 2025 school year.
Principal
MORE Program
This week classes are engaging in our MORE orientation program to consider ways we use our Xplore Attributes to Make Our Responses Elevated. As part of the program students will reflect on The Emmaus Walk scripture from the Gospel of Luke to make connections with our Creed focus for 2025 'We Encourage More to Grow in Courage'. They will discover the ways that the disciples and Jesus encouraged others and collaborate to determine actions we can take to encourage others in our lives and in our community.
Confirmation Preparation
Following 10am Mass this Sunday students from Year 6 who are participating in the Sacrament of Confirmation this year will attend their first session to begin their preparation. We wish them well as they commence their journey. If families have any questions about Sacraments at St Thomas More's please contact Mrs McPadden (skye.mcpadden@cg.catholic.edu.au).
Child Safe Guarding
Protective Behaviours
All classes across the school will be commencing Protective Behaviours Units in Week 3. Each Friday families will receive a Compass email from Mrs McPadden with information about the lessons for the following week. This is a great opportunity to talk about the concepts to be covered with your child in support of promoting child safety and protecting ourselves and each other. Please see below the resources for home that align with the classroom programs. If you have any questions or wish to know more, please get in touch with Mrs McPadden (skye.mcpadden@cg.catholic.edu.au).
Skye McPadden
Religious Education Coordinator
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Congratulations to the following students who will be presented with a certificate which reflects an affirmation from their teacher. These affirmations will highlight their applications to their learning as well as affirm how they have been a person of Wisdom, Courage, and Peace. Affirmations will be handed out at 8.50am on Friday morning. Parents are welcome to attend. |
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| Week 10 | Centred in Learning | Centred in Faith |
| Kindergarten | Jackson Cairns | Harriet Kennedy |
| Year One | Imogen Carney | Bernard Freeman |
| Year Two | Naomi Kiely | Carter Ward |
| Year Three/Four Green | George Dounoukos | Charlotte King |
| Year Three/Four White | Sia Dounoukos | Abigail Brown |
| Year Five/Six Green | Kosta Dounoukos | Bonnie Singh |
| Year Five/Six White | Chelsea Garth | Lilly Tully |
| Principal's Affirmation | Claire Colclough | Kellen Colman |
| Principal's Affirmation | Fletcher Crowther | Kyla Carney |
| Friday 25 July | Kinder Health Checks |
| Friday 25 July @ 8:50am | Centred in Learning Gathering |
| Friday 1 August @ 8:50am | Centred in Faith Gathering - Year 2 |
| Friday 1 August @ 11:45am | Parish Mass - Year 2 & 3/4W |
Girl Guides!
ALL GIRLS are invited to visit their local guide unit and find out what guides get up to.
Guides have FUN
indoors and outdoors, learn new skills and make new friends.
Guides is for girls aged 5 –18 yrs.
Local guide units meet once a week at the Guide halls in Lister Cres, Ainslie and Clianthus St, O'Connor.
To find out more, go to:
https://www.girlguides-nswactnt.org.au/
