TERM 4 - WEEK 9
Front Cover
Leadership
Dear Parents, Caregivers, Students, and Friends of St Thomas More,
It’s hard to believe but we have yet again come to the end of another school year. As we reflect over the year, we have seen the children continue to grow in their learning and further develop their friendships with each other. We have seen and experienced our school's Mercy values, Respect, Hospitality, Compassion, Courage, Justice and Service through the many relationships and interactions we have all shared as a school community, and in the support, we have continued to provide each other. We are truly blessed to be a part of such an inspiring and vibrant community.
Our dedicated staff at St Thomas More School has continued to support children’s learning needs, growth and development, and well-being through assisting, guiding, and motivating each child to be the best person and learner they can be. All our staff, teachers, Out of School Hours Care staff, Canteen staff, Co-educators, Administration staff, Contractors, and Groundsman, are acknowledged and thanked for their tireless efforts, commitment, and professionalism.
We would also like to acknowledge and thank parents and caregivers for your understanding, flexibility, support, and cooperation throughout the school year. It has been greatly appreciated.
Christmas Carols Evening
We thank you all for your attendance and support at the Christmas Carols Evening. The performances by the students were outstanding and the Christmas tree backdrop and displays looked wonderful. A very big thank you to our Christmas Carols committee for all the planning and organisation for the night. It was an entertaining evening enjoyed by all. Congratulations everyone!
Sports Day
Finally, we were able to hold Sports Day on our third attempt. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility with this event as the weather has been so unpredictable lately. The students enjoyed the events they participated in, supporting and cheering each other, which was wonderful to see. We also thank you for supporting the students and their sports teams. We show our appreciation to Cristian Morgado for his organisation of the day ensuring everything ran smoothly.
Congratulations to the BARRY team for winning the Spirit Cup and to the MACKILLOP team for winning the Sports Day Shield.
Staff Farewells
Sadly, this week we have farewelled the following staff members:
Janie Gosling, David Hillard, Stephanie Maiello, Jay O’Leary, Laura Brown, Rebecca Arnold and Demmi Plew. We sincerely thank every staff member leaving us, for their unwavering and consistent contributions to our school community. We have appreciated the special gifts and talents they have all shared and will cherish the wonderful memories made. We wish them all the very best as they pursue their very different and individual future pathways. Special congratulations to Janie Gosling as she has provided 25 years of service to Catholic Education and is recognised and appreciated for this great achievement. We wish her a happy retirement.
2024 New Staff
We welcome new staff members to the St Thomas More School Community, Michael Arthur, Brittany Hills, Georgie Bush, Angela Rose, and Shani Wallace-Groves. We trust that their time with us is an enjoyable and fruitful experience.
2024 Class Structures
Last Tuesday students met with their teachers and peer group for 2024. This was a time to interact and begin to build connections and relationships. Below are the class structures for 2024 and teachers.
Reception: Brittany Hills
Reception: Malama Theodosi
Reception: Stav Haros
Year 1: Connie Carter
Year 1: Michael Arthur
Year 2: Marie D’occhio
Year 2: Carly Morrison
Year 3/4: Georgie Bush
Year 3/4: Jasmine Fischer
Year 3/4: Katelyn Jessop
Year 5/6: Sarah Carritt
Year 5/6: Rosealyse Trimboli
CSMF/Choir: Rosemarie Villano
Italian: Rosemarie Villano
Phys Ed: Cristian Morgado
STEM: Angela Rose
Leader of Teaching & Learning: Taylor Meyer
APRIM: Melissa Musolino
Head of School: Vicki Rubino
Principal: Chris Platten
Volunteers Day
On Thursday 7 December, we held a special morning tea for our school volunteers to give thanks for all the support that has been provided this year. Whether it was working in the library or canteen, being part of our School Board or assisting on excursions we are deeply grateful for your time and efforts.
Year 6 Graduation
Last Monday 11 December we farewelled our Year 6 graduating students and their families. We ask that you remember them in your prayers, and we ask God to bless them as they take the light of Christ to others on their life journey. We thank them for their enthusiasm and commitment to Servant Leadership, their leadership to make a difference within the school and with other students is inspiring. May they always remember this school community and keep St Thomas More School, their experiences here, and the friendships that they have made, in their hearts and minds.
To all children and parents leaving St Thomas More School to go to new schools, thank you for your contribution to our school and community. Without family support, so much of what we can offer students would be diminished or not happen at all.
Student Uniforms
The front office will be open during the school holidays from 15 January to 25 January for uniform purchases. Please call the school office to book in a time.
As we are now in the season of Advent, we take the time for personal reflection, prayer, and personal change in preparation for the birth of Jesus at Christmas.
“The Child Jesus reveals the tenderness of God’s immense love surrounding each one of us”
Pope Francis
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year. School will recommence on Monday 29 January 2024, and we look forward to seeing you then.
Shaping our future together
Leadership Team
Religion
Liturgical Calendar Information
Special celebrations that we focus on during classroom and whole school prayer throughout term 4 and those that come up in our liturgical calendar include:
3/12 1st Sunday of Advent
10/12 2nd Sunday of Advent
End-of-Year Thanksgiving Mass
‘Today we celebrate that we will soon come to the end of the school year for 2023, and we want to celebrate by giving thanks to God for all that has been. We give thanks today with joy and gratitude for our families, friends, and staff who have guided us, inspired us, challenged us, and encouraged us to be better people this year.’
During our celebration, Fr. Santosh blessed our Year 6 students and wished them well for the next part of their educational journey.
The Season of Advent
Advent is a season to prepare for Christmas when Christ’s first coming is remembered. It is a season of joyful expectation. We take this time every year to practice how to receive Jesus every day, of our lives. We remember the call of Jesus to his followers to make our world a peaceful and loving place. As you move through the Advent season and prepare for Christmas you might like to consider the following:
First Week of Advent
How can I be ready for Jesus?
What can I do to be prepared?
Second Week of Advent
Who do I know that shows by the way they live their lives that Jesus is an important part of their lives.
What is it about their lives that I admire?
Can I live like that?
Third Week of Advent
How do I continue the healing work of Jesus today?
Fourth Week of Advent
Christmas is coming! How will you celebrate God’s coming to us?
Let us pray…
Gracious God open our hearts so that we may receive the message of your coming with joy and wonder. Help us to discover the people and places in the midst of our daily lives where you meet us with your love and care. May we show this love and care to all those we meet. We ask this prayer in Jesus’ name. - Amen
Christmas Hampers
Over the last few years, staff have been preparing Christmas Hampers for families in our school community. Every family in our school community goes into a free raffle and the leadership team draws the raffle on the last day of the school year.
As a staff group, we enjoy putting the hampers together for our school families. We congratulate:
Bradfield Family
Baines Family
Muzangwa family
We pray that every family has a blessed Christmas and New Year, and we look forward to seeing you all in 2024.
Elizabeth Catholic Parish News
Please see below for the link to the weekly parish bulletin.
https://elizabethcatholicparish.com.au/bulletin/
Sacramental Program
We have now come to the end of our Sacramental Program for 2023. If your child would like to be involved in the Sacramental Program for 2024 or you would like to find out more about the program, please see Melissa Musolino.
Sports Day
Thank you to all our staff, students, and families for your contribution to an amazing Sports Day.
Congratulations go to MACKILLOP for achieving the highest number of points and winning the Vin Sports Day Shield. This year the Spirit Cup was awarded to BARRY for demonstrating the school values and excellent sportsmanship across the day.
We would like to thank the teachers, co-educators, parents, and students who helped throughout the day. The House Captains Kye Porter, Daniel Cela, Antoniette Tolcher, and Maddison Turner, and our School Ambassadors, Zaylan Barret and Hussain Jaffari who did an amazing job and dedicated hours of practice for our Team songs, health hustle, setting up early in the morning, as well as supporting teachers at events during the day.
We saw our school values and participation in abundance and we are so proud of all our students.
Kind Regards,
Cristian Morgado
Sports Day Gallery
Adelaide Strikers
Out-of-School Hours Care
2023 OSHC runs daily: 6:30am to 8:30am and 3:00pm to 6:00pm
School Access
8:30am to 8:45am
Access via the main front courtyard gate at the school crossing.
8:45am to 2:45pm
Access via green front pool gate in front of the administration building. You will need to lift the pool gate lock at the top of the gate to open and please ensure the gate is closed securely.
2:45pm to 3:15pm
Access via the main front courtyard gate at the school crossing.
Children dropped off before 8:30am and not collected by 3:15pm will be sent to OSHC and caregivers will be invoiced for the service.
Advance Notice
Principal's Tour - By appointment only
December 20
International Human Solidarity Day
December 22
Summer Solstice
December 25
Christmas Day
December 26
Boxing Day
December 31
New Year’s Eve
January 29
International Day of Education