Dear Parents and Carers,

Today our school community gathered together in the church to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. It was a truly beautiful Mass, filled with a sense of joy, reverence, and gratitude. The children sang with such enthusiasm and heart. Their prayerful participation and respectful behaviour were a wonderful reflection of the importance of the day and the spirit of our community. Thank you to Fr Praveen for leading us in such a meaningful celebration and to all who contributed to making the liturgy so special.

Staffing Updates – Exciting Changes Ahead

We have some news to share with our St Thomas community regarding a few staffing changes.

At the end of Term 3, Mrs Lauren Holt will be finishing up with us as she and her family take an exciting step and move to France. She will be joining her husband, who has an incredible opportunity playing Rugby Union there for the next two years. While we will miss Lauren’s enthusiasm, kindness, and the wonderful way she connects with the children, we are thrilled for this next adventure in her life.

Lauren has made a beautiful impact during her time at St Thomas. Her patience, creativity, and deep care for her students have helped each child in Kindergarten H to grow and flourish. We are grateful for all she has brought to our school community, and she will be greatly missed by children, parents, and staff alike.

We are delighted that Mrs Jacinta Housler will be returning from Long Service Leave to take over Kindergarten H. Jacinta is an experienced and highly respected teacher, already well known and loved by students and families. While we will miss her in Year 3/4H, we are confident that her warmth, skill, and care will ensure a smooth transition and continued support for all the children in Kindergarten H.

In Year 3/4H, Jessica Gordon, who has been teaching the class throughout Term 3, will continue with the students for the remainder of the year. Jess has loved working with the students this term and has enjoyed getting to know each of them. Her continued presence will provide stability and ensure a smooth continuation of learning for the class.

I am sure you will join me in wishing Lauren all the best for her journey in France, thanking Jacinta for her wonderful contributions, and welcoming Jess to continue her role in Year 3/4H.

St Thomas the Apostle Parish Assembly – Saturday 2 August 2025

On Saturday 2 August, our school community was well represented at the St Thomas the Apostle Parish Assembly. Eleven of our staff members attended, along with two of our Year 6 students, Steph Machin and Vincent McInerney, who contributed their insights and enthusiasm to the day.

The assembly was a wonderful opportunity to come together as a parish community, reflect on our shared mission, and discuss future plans for our parish and school. Fr Praveen expressed his appreciation for the meaningful contributions and thoughtful ideas shared during the assembly. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of collaboration between our school and parish in nurturing a strong, supportive, and faith-filled community.

We thank Steph and Vincent for representing our students so admirably, and all staff for their commitment to engaging in parish life beyond the classroom.

One of the exciting ideas to come from the assembly was creating opportunities for families from the school and parish to gather socially.

Kim Marshall, who has been involved in Family Groups for 40 years, spoke to the School Community Council this week about how supportive and fun these groups are. I have included a piece here about what Family Groups are and encourage you to give some thought to becoming part of one.

The Family Group Movement aims to build Christian community through the development of extended families. With loneliness and isolation so prevalent in our society, there is a genuine need for people to know and support each other.

Family Groups create an extended family atmosphere within the community and are open to everyone. Our focus is on people caring for, loving and accepting each other. They provide an extended family for all who wish to belong – married, single or divorced, young, old or in-between. There is a giving and receiving by all members of the group to each other. Everyone is welcome to join.

This year celebrates the 40th anniversary of Family Groups in St Thomas Parish. We currently have 6 Groups with around 60 families many have been members for all those 40 years.

We will be celebrating this achievement on 19^th October 2025 and all are welcome.

If you would like more information, please contact:

• St Thomas the Apostle Family Group Co-ordinator Kim Marshall 0413226628 email: kimlmarshall74@gmail.com
• The Parish email: kambah@cg.org.au

You can find out more about Family Groups below.

Kind and Connected: Helping Families Grow Healthy Digital Habits

The School Community Council (SCC) is excited to host a special opportunity for families, presented by Penny Vanzwol from Meraki Community. This interactive workshop is designed for whole families – children, older teenagers, and parents – to come together and explore safe, respectful, and balanced ways to use technology at home.

In today’s digital world, phones, online games, and social media are a big part of our lives – and our children’s lives too. With growing concerns about device use and its impact, this session is a great chance for families to take control and stay connected.

Together, we’ll:

• Explore your family values and how they apply online
• Understand what happens in the developing brain when young people use technology
• Build positive online behaviours and healthy digital habits
• Create a Family Technology Agreement to support communication and consistency at home

Workshop Details:

• Tuesday 9 September, 3:30 – 4:45pm (afternoon tea provided)
• Monday 15 September, 5:30 – 6:45pm (refreshments provided)

Grounded in strong family values, this session offers practical strategies for setting boundaries, building trust, and staying connected in the digital age. Whether you are managing screen time for young children or supporting teens on social media, this workshop provides valuable tools and insights for the whole family.

We warmly encourage all families to attend and take this opportunity to strengthen healthy digital habits together. Click here to register.

National Catholic Education Commission Conference

I’m proud to share that both Mr. Geoff Ryan and I will be attending the 2025 National Catholic Education Conference, (NCEC) in Cairns. This significant event, occurring  every  four years, brings together around 1,500 Catholic educators, leaders, clergy, parents, and others for a rich three-day gathering

The Theme: "Hope, Anchored in Faith" is grounded in our 2025 Jubilee Year theme, Pilgrims of Hope.

Attending this conference will provide valuable insights and practical strategies that we look forward to sharing with our school community. After reviewing the program and what will be presented, we hope to have:

• Fresh ideas and proven practices for strengthening faith formation, learning and teaching, leadership, and parent–parish engagement
• Approaches to inclusive education and supporting diverse learners
• Inspirations for building stronger community partnerships grounded in hope and mission

We’re incredibly honoured to represent our school at this national gathering. We’ll return with renewed energy, practical takeaways, and stories of inspiration to guide our continued work together.

I look forward to telling you all about it on our return.

And from the SCC…

Adults-Only Trivia Night – Friday 19 September 2025

Do you need a night out where no one asks for snacks, tissues, or help finding their shoes? The SCC is excited to invite you to our Adults-Only Trivia Night – an evening of laughter, light-hearted competition, and food you don’t have to share!

Date: Friday 19 September 2025

Time: 7pm start

Venue: The School Hall

Cost: $10 per person

Table Size: Up to 10 people per table

It’s the perfect chance to connect with other parents, show off your competitive spirit, and put your random knowledge to good use. Whether you’re a trivia buff, a one-answer-wonder, or just in it for the snacks and socialising – this is the night for you!

BYO food and drinks with delicious charcuterie boards that can be pre-ordered and paid for in advance (crafted by Victoria Town).

How to Book - This will be sent out as an event on Compass where you can register and order a charcuterie board.

Monique Rushton
SCC member and event organiser

Book Week Dress Up Day – Next Thursday!

Next Thursday we celebrate one of the most fun days of the year – Book Week Dress Up Day! It’s a wonderful opportunity for everyone to bring their favourite book characters to life and share in the joy of reading. Whether you come as a hero, a villain, a fairy-tale favourite or a character from a story you love, the most important thing is to join in and have fun.

We know that for some students, dressing up can feel a little nerve-wracking. That’s why we’re asking everyone to be extra kind, encouraging and respectful towards one another. Book Week is about celebrating stories, creativity and imagination  and that only works when we all help each other feel welcome and included.

I know that many of our students are gearing up for finals in their weekend sports.
Good luck to you all.

Yours in partnership,

Ursula Jamieson
Principal