Pirates of the Curry Bean: A Spectacular Success!

What an incredible two nights it was at our school musical “Pirates of the Curry Bean!” The audience was captivated by the laughter, excitement, and dazzling performances from our talented Year 5 and 6 students. From the impressive acting to the energetic singing, every moment of the production was full of life and energy. The pirate-themed adventure had everyone captivated, with a hearty dose of humour and fun for all ages!

We want to extend a huge thank you to the incredible team of teachers who worked tirelessly to bring this fantastic show to life. Ms Natasha Pank, Ms Tarthra Kennelly, Ms Bianca Breen, Ms Jas Fisk, Mr Geoff Ryan, Ms Angela Bartkowiak, and Ms Leyrizza Nyunt put in countless hours of planning, rehearsing, and guiding our students to deliver a show we will never forget. We’d also like to give a special shout-out to Mr Luke Mooney for his technical support, ensuring that the lighting, sound, and set design added that extra magic to the performance. And of course, it would not have been so spectacular if it wasn’t for the costumes and sets. Thank you to Ms Lynette Wilson, Ms Anne Barbic and Ms Kelli Rootes for all the work you did in creating these. 

The entire production was a true testament to the dedication and passion of our staff and students, and we couldn't be prouder. Thank you to everyone who participated, attended, and supported this incredible event!

St Thomas’ Sh.O.W Afternoon

Sharing Our Work! - We are excited to invite parents and carers to our upcoming Sh.O.W (Sharing Our Work) afternoon on Wednesday 25 September (Week 10). This special event will showcase the wonderful projects and learning experiences of our students from Kinder to Year 4. Our Year 5 and 6 students have already impressed us with their hard work during the musical “Pirates of the Curry Bean”, and now it's time for our younger students to shine!

We hope to see as many parents and carers as possible join us for this special occasion. You are welcome to drop in any time between 3:20 pm and 4:30 pm to explore the classrooms and enjoy the efforts of our students – your children. Of course, feel free to stay for as long as you wish to celebrate your child’s achievements.

ThinkUKnow

Straight after the Sh.O.W afternoon, we will be hosting a ThinkUKnow presentation on Wednesday 25 September at 4:45pm. The presentation will go for 45 minutes to an hour. All our parents, carers and teachers are invited and encouraged to attend.
 
ThinkUKnow Australia is an evidence-based education program delivered nationally to prevent online child sexual exploitation. ThinkUKnow  is a partnership between the Australian Federal Police, and delivered in collaboration with policing partners across Australia, as well as Neighbourhood Watch Australasia.

The presentation will be delivered by a local law enforcement member and an industry volunteer. The presentation is pro-technology and addresses topics including self-generated child abuse material, online grooming, sexual extortion, and importantly encourages help seeking behaviour.

This is a valuable opportunity for you to learn more about young people and the online environment, and how you can help them to be safe and responsible users of technology.  We have had this presentation in the past and it has been a real ‘eye opener’ to those in attendance.  As the title suggests, we might think we know all about what is happening in the cyber world, but do we really? (short answer is ‘no we don’t').

As there is confronting information provided, this is an adults only event. For those needing child care, we will have classroom support teachers supervising students in the library. They will be watching an age appropriate program on the screen. They can be signed in there from 4:40 pm. Please click the link below if you require child care.

We hope that you can come along for this very important presentation.

Help us strengthen our school community! - At St Thomas the Apostle Primary School, we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and supportive community. We believe that strong partnerships between families and the school enrich our children's learning experiences and foster a vibrant community spirit.

We Need Your Feedback!

We're looking to understand how you feel about your current engagement with the school and find new ways to improve. We've partnered with Deloitte Access Economics to lead this important project. Your insights will help us build stronger connections between families and the school.

Why Participate?

• Your Voice Matters: Your feedback will shape our school’s future.
• Quick and Easy: It takes just 3-5 minutes.
• Direct Impact: Help us develop better communication and engagement strategies.

Please use the following link to participate in the survey:

Alternatively, you can scan the QR code to participate in the survey:

Participation in the survey is entirely voluntary and all responses will be anonymised.

Trans Tasman Conference

Next week, along with many other principals from the Canberra Goulburn Archdiocese, I will be attending the Trans Tasman Principals Conference which is being held in Christchurch. This is an exciting opportunity to collaborate and learn from educational leaders across Australia and New Zealand. This event will allow me to bring back new ideas and strategies to further enhance our school community.

In my absence, Susan Chant will be acting as Principal. I look forward to sharing what I learn upon my return.

Only two weeks to go until the spring break.  Have a great weekend.

Yours in partnership,

Ursula Jamieson
Principal