Dear Parents and Carers,

The Season of Lent

Last week, our school observed Ash Wednesday with a beautiful Mass, marking the start of Lent - a 40-day period of reflection and preparation leading up to Easter. During Mass, students and staff received ashes on their foreheads. Receiving ashes on our foreheads reminds us that life is precious and encourages us to reflect on our actions, seeking to improve and make positive choices symbolising our mortality and the call to repentance. During Lent, we encourage everyone to:

Pray: Spend time talking to God.

Fast: Give up certain foods or habits to practice self-control.

Give to Others: Help those in need through acts of kindness.

These practices help us grow spiritually and strengthen our community.

The School Community Council

Congratulations to the newest members of our School Community Council. I would like to formally announce that Mr Wes Dunn (dad of Harvey in Kindergarten), Monique Rushton (mum of Edwin in Year 1) and Sam (dad of George in Year 1) are joining the SCC for the next 2 year cycle.

Establishing a robust partnership between home and school is vital for students' holistic development. Active parental involvement, particularly through participation in the School Community Council (SCC), enhances this collaboration. By engaging in the SCC, parents contribute to decision-making processes that directly impact the educational environment, fostering a sense of shared responsibility. This collaboration ensures that policies and initiatives reflect the community's needs, leading to a more inclusive and supportive atmosphere for students. Moreover, such involvement strengthens the bond between families and educators, promoting open communication, mutual respect, and a unified approach to addressing challenges. When parents and teachers collaborate through platforms like the SCC, they create a cohesive support system that nurtures student growth both academically and emotionally.

These new members join our current SCC members.: Daniel McInerney, Chair of the SCC; Amie Lloyd, Vice Chair; Michael Giacomin, Treasurer; Aleks Kalinowski, Secretary; and Jacinta Housler, Staff Representative. Both Susan Chant and I are ex officio members of the SCC.

I look forward to working with the new team for 2025.

Swimming Carnival

Our recent swimming carnival was a resounding success. Congratulations to Cooleman House for emerging as the overall winner. Several of our students have qualified for the upcoming Tuggeranong regional carnival and they have been informed of their success in going on to the next step. Congratulations goes to those 20 students. We wish you the best of luck.

Harmony Day and Grandparents Day next Friday

Next week, we are excited to celebrate Harmony Week alongside Grandparents Day on Friday 21 March. This special occasion offers a wonderful opportunity to honour our cultural diversity and the invaluable contributions of our grandparents.

We encourage all students to participate by wearing attire that reflects their family's cultural heritage. This could be traditional national dress or simply incorporating the colour orange, which symbolizes harmony and unity. This practice not only showcases our diverse backgrounds but also fosters a sense of belonging and mutual respect within our school community.

To enhance our celebration, we invite families to contribute to a shared morning tea. Please bring a plate of food to share, ensuring that all items are nut-free to accommodate allergies. Including some gluten-free options would be greatly appreciated, allowing all members of our community to partake in the festivities.

9:30am Mass: We will commence the day with a Mass at 9:30am, where we expect many of our wonderful grandparents to join us. This gathering provides a moment for reflection and gratitude for the wisdom and guidance our grandparents offer.

Classroom Activities: Following the Mass, grandparents are invited to participate in classroom activities. This interaction allows students to share their learning experiences and create lasting memories with their grandparents.

Morning Tea: After the classroom activities, we will gather for a shared morning tea. This informal setting offers an opportunity for students, grandparents, and staff to connect and celebrate our community's unity.

Families are asked to bring something to share with the community for morning tea. These can be dropped off at the school office before school begins or parents and grandparents can bring them along after Mass. Please remember we are a nut free school.  It would be helpful if home made items had a list of ingredients with them so that students with intolerances know what foods they can enjoy.

Assembly Presentation: The day's festivities will conclude with an assembly featuring a special presentation by the Year 3/4H and 3/4KP students. They have prepared performances that reflect the themes of harmony and appreciation for our elders, highlighting the values we cherish as a school community.

For those wanting a barista made coffee, they will be available to purchase from the canteen before and after Mass.

We look forward to a day filled with joy, learning, and togetherness, celebrating the rich tapestry of cultures that make up our school and honouring the grandparents who play such a pivotal role in our lives.

Join Our School Choir!

Does your child love to sing? Our school choir is looking for more voices! We already have 23 enthusiastic singers, and we’d love for more Year 2-6 students to join.

Rehearsals are Monday mornings at 8:10am in the school hall (entry through the hall doors), and best of all - it’s free this term! Come along, have fun, and be part of something special.

If you would like your child to be part of the STTAP School Choir, please fill in the below.

School Uniform

We see the school uniform as an essential part of school life. It is a symbol of belonging and something that unites all children at St Thomas the Apostle Primary School. Right from the beginning of the year, we will be setting the highest of standards and trust on having your complete support and cooperation.  To help support our parents and carers, most of our school uniform can now be purchased from our school second hand clothing pool ($5 a piece) or new from Lowes in Tuggeranong.

Sports shoes are for sports days only and leather or simulated leather shoes are to be worn with the formal school uniform. Socks are to cover the ankles. ‘No show’ anklet socks not acceptable. 

If for some reason your child is not able to be in the school uniform on a given day (and we do understand that these circumstances arise at times), please send a message via Compass to let their teacher know. Students out of uniform without a reason will be given a warning/ reminder. If they continue to be out of unform without a reason, a defect note will be sent home reminding parents of our uniform policy and asking your support of ensuring students are in the correct school uniform.

Our skorts and shorts are stocked here at the school. We think they are fabulous. They are $25 each and are available at from our Uniform Shop on a Friday morning. This is the second year of the transition to these items as part of our school uniform.  In 2026 they will permanently replace the pleated netball skirt and shorts without logos.

Next week is a colourful week with the ‘wearing of the green’ for St Patrick’s day on Monday and orange for Harmony and Grandparents Day on Friday.

Yours in partnership,

Ursula Jamieson
Principal