Term 1 Week 2

I warmly welcome all students and families to the beginning of our new school year! It was fabulous to see our yard filled again with a happy buzz of children and so many family members on our first morning of the term! This week has been so calm and positive around our school as children settled into their new routines and learning spaces. The contributions that you have made at home towards preparing your children to be school ready, whether it be for the first time or for a return to school, have had such a great impact; and for this we are very grateful. It has been delightful to see so many examples of resilient children independently entering the school yard, showing that they are ready for learning, ready to engage, connect and try their absolute best. We have enjoyed these two weeks of our ‘Ready, Set, Grow’ program, focusing on setting ourselves up for success this year, balancing our wellbeing, relationships, with adjusting to new routines and learning spaces. Our Mass yesterday was a great opportunity to come together as a whole community in prayer, and we were also delighted to present our Seniors with their uniform jackets that they will wear with pride. Today we enjoyed rounding off our ‘Ready, Set Grow’ program with our Nourish and Flourish Day!

I particularly welcome our new students to the St Thomas community. We have a number of new Preschool and Reception students that have begun with us, as well as new students across a variety of year levels. We look forward to getting to know you more and trust that your time in our community will be enriching and fulfilling! I also welcome our new staff members this year, Mrs Sophie McLeod (Yr 3/4), Mr Nathan Munro (Yr 3/4), Mrs Michelle Cordon (The Arts) and welcome back to Mrs Emma Reardon who is supporting us in coordination of Inclusive Education. Mrs Natalie Catinari is currently on leave and we welcome Miss Low in Year 2 during this time.

As you will see on our school calendar, we have a number of wonderful community events scheduled, including our much-loved Gala, and we look forward to sharing these occasions with you. Within this newsletter we list some of our key dates for the year for you. In particular, coming up this term we have our Parent Information Night next Tuesday 11^th February. I encourage all our parents and caregivers to attend this event. This is such a valuable opportunity to meet your child’s teacher/s and receive more details about their learning environment and the year ahead. On this same evening we will hold our school Annual General Meeting at 5.30pm and invite you to attend. At this meeting, together with our School Board we will share the reports from 2024. We are currently completing our School Board membership process, as new positions became available at the end of last year. We look forward to introducing you to our Board very soon.

In closing, I wish you all the very best for the year ahead and look forward to working in partnership with you to bring to life our school motto: Faith, Family, Future.

Belinda Burford

Principal

A GREAT START TO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR!

Welcome to a brand-new school year! There is something truly special about the energy and excitement that fills our school at the start of Term 1. New friendships are forming, fresh opportunities are unfolding; and together, we are building a strong foundation for a year of learning, growth, and faith.

At St. Thomas, we know that success is not just about our academic self, it is about developing the whole person. That is why we are so proud of our Ready, Set, Grow Program, which ensures every student starts the year feeling supported, connected and ready to thrive.

Our dedicated team of teachers have designed this whole school program to start the year well; foster relationships and wellbeing; and establish consistency across our learning community!

The program has been well-named 'Ready, Set, Grow!' and runs for the first two weeks of the year. The learning experiences include:

• Our St Thomas Way and how we will be respectful, safe and ready to learn together.
• Our Visible Wellbeing learning and how we can be strengths focused, better understand our emotions and be more present and aware in our everyday.
• Unpacking our Learner Dispositions, as part of our Visible Learning approach.
• Better understanding the brain and the ways each part impacts how we think, act and feel.
• Celebrate the ways our Mercy Values enhance our journey toward becoming the best version of ourselves.
• Connecting with buddy classes, our house teams and as a whole school.
• The culmination of all this learning in the celebration of Nourish and Flourish Day today!

We are already seeing students settle into their learning spaces with confidence and enthusiasm. One of our partnered allied educators, who visited during this week, highlighted the amazing understanding the students have gained already about the brain and how it works! This is just one example of the great learning as part of this program. It is our hope this explicit, rich learning will form an ongoing foundation of positive growth, learning and wellbeing for the whole year!

St Thomas values the importance of being lifelong learners, and we encourage every student to embrace our Learner Dispositions:

Being Brave- Trying new things, stepping outside comfort zones and embracing challenges.

Being Gritty-  Showing perseverance and determination, even when learning is tough.

Being Creative- Thinking outside the box, exploring ideas and finding new ways to solve problems.

Being Connected- Building strong relationships with peers, teachers and the wider school community.

Being Reflective- Taking time to consider strengths, areas for growth and ways to improve.

As we embark on this journey of 2025 together, we encourage all families to connect with our school community by attending events, supporting our Gala, supporting classroom activities, or simply having meaningful conversations at home about learning. Your involvement makes a difference!

We congratulate your child on the very special part they have already played in our St Thomas Learning Community!

Go gently,

Paul Mensforth

Deputy Principal

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Friends,

Welcome Back to the 2025 School Year!

We are already approaching the end of Week Two, and the start of this year has been wonderfully smooth and positive.

On Wednesday, we celebrated the beginning of the school year with a whole-school Mass. Our focus was on the 2025 Jubilee Year theme: Our Journey of Hope.

Mr. Mensforth shared a powerful message with the community, reminding us that God lives within each of us. When we act with love, support one another, forgive, and seek renewal, we reflect this divine presence.

These values will guide our community throughout this Jubilee Year as we strive to embody hope and compassion in everything we do.

What is Jubilee year? 

A Jubilee year is a special time of celebration and forgiveness that comes from the biblical times. Imagine a big reset button for a whole community, where everything is made fair again. It happened every 50 years in ancient Israel, and here’s what it was about in simple terms:

1. Rest for the Land: Farmers would let their fields rest and not plant anything for a whole year. This helped the land stay healthy and gave everyone a chance to focus on other things, like spending time with family and God.
2. Forgiving Debts: If someone owed money, their debt was forgiven. That means they didn’t have to pay it back anymore. It was a fresh start for everyone!
3. Returning Land: If a family had to sell their land because they were struggling, the land would go back to them during the Jubilee year. This way, everyone had a chance to have what belonged to their family again.
4. Freeing People: If someone had become a servant because they were in trouble, they were set free. It was a time to make sure everyone was treated fairly.

So, the Jubilee year was like a giant party for fairness, freedom, and new beginnings, reminding everyone to take care of each other and the world!

In the Catholic Church, a Jubilee Year is a special time of grace and celebration focused on forgiveness, spiritual renewal, and mercy. It’s rooted in the biblical concept of Jubilee, but the Church has its own way of celebrating it. Here's a simple explanation:

1. What Is It?

A Jubilee Year is a holy year proclaimed by the Pope, usually every 25 years, but sometimes there are "extraordinary" Jubilee Years for special reasons (like the Year of Mercy in 2015-2016). It's a time for Catholics to grow closer to God, seek forgiveness, and deepen their faith.

2. What Happens During a Jubilee Year?

• Pilgrimages: Catholics are encouraged to visit holy places, especially St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome or other designated pilgrimage sites.
• Indulgences: During a Jubilee Year, the Church offers plenary indulgences (spiritual graces that remove the effects of sin). To receive one, Catholics usually go to reconciliation, receive Holy Communion, pray for the Pope’s intentions, and perform acts of mercy or pilgrimage.
• Mercy and Forgiveness: The Jubilee Year emphasizes God’s mercy. Special events focus on forgiving others, helping those in need, and strengthening relationships with God and others.
• Opening the Holy Door: In major basilicas, like St. Peter's in Rome, there is a "Holy Door" that is only opened during Jubilee Years. Walking through it symbolizes entering into God's grace and mercy.

3. Why Is It Important?

• It’s a time for Catholics to pause, reflect, and renew their spiritual lives.
• The focus on mercy, forgiveness, and charity helps people reconnect with God and their faith community.

In short, the Catholic Jubilee Year is a celebration of hope, mercy, and a chance for everyone to start fresh in their journey of faith!

God Bless

Sebestyen Maglai

REC