Dear Parents and Carers,

This is the first newsletter since our wonderful fete, and on behalf of the St Thomas the Apostle Community, I want to express our heartfelt gratitude to you all. Your involvement, energy, and enthusiasm were key to making the fete such a resounding success.

From exciting stalls filled with handcrafted treasures and a hall brimming with preloved goods to thriving plants for the garden and the enticing aroma of homemade treats, our fete truly showcased the collaborative spirit that makes St Thomas the Apostle such a special community.

The fete’s success was only possible thanks to the countless hours of planning, organising, and hard work from our remarkable parent and parish volunteers. Whether you helped set up or pack down, ran a stall, or contributed your culinary skills to the cake stall or café, your efforts were deeply appreciated. While so many people contributed, special thanks go to the remarkable committee: Erin Maher, Vicki Pearman, Tamara Lindeman, Drew Salzke, Troy Loughnan, Elizabeth Wilson, Deb Poulton, Mike Mooney and Susan Chant.

Although it’s always risky to name individuals, as we may accidentally miss someone, I must also acknowledge Zwadi Lee, Michael Giacomin as MC, Victoria Town and Kelli Rootes for their extraordinary effort in preparing sweet treats for the cake stall and café. They worked tirelessly throughout the weeks leading up to the fete, and their hard work was greatly appreciated.

We don’t have an official figure yet on the proceeds, but it is likely that we will reach the $50,000 mark. That’s just fantastic!  To everyone who played a role, big or small, in creating this memorable event for our students, families, and the broader community – thank you!

Parent /Teacher Interviews

We look forward to seeing you all next week for our Semester 2 Parent Teacher Interviews. These meetings offer a valuable opportunity to discuss the teaching and learning experiences of the semester. They allow you to connect with your child’s teacher, gaining meaningful insights into their academic progress, social development, and overall well-being. Personalised feedback from these conversations highlights your child’s strengths and identifies areas where they may need further support.

New Toilets

After the outside toilet block being out of action for the past 4 months, a full refurbishment of our student toilets is complete—everything is brand new, ensuring a fresh, clean, and modern space for our students.

In addition, we’ve installed two new water bubblers and water bottle stations, encouraging students to stay hydrated throughout the day. These new facilities are part of our ongoing commitment to providing a comfortable and functional environment for all our students.

The Ninja Course

And while we are talking about what is new ... the students were  excited to see the opening of a brand-new Ninja Course designed specifically for our Year 3 to 6 students.

The Ninja Course features a variety of obstacles that will test balance, coordination, and problem-solving skills, encouraging students to push their limits and achieve personal goals (we even have stop watches so they can improve their times). The Year 3 to 6 students are enjoying the challenge and enjoying this new, adventurous addition to our school. Here is Mr Ryan trialling the new course.

Reports

Teachers are busily engaged in assessing and compiling Semester 2 Reports, which will be accessible through Compass on the Friday afternoon of Week 9. This semester, Catholic Education schools will provide graded reports accompanied by a general comment.

Before these reports are released, we are confident that all parents and carers will have had the opportunity to meet with their child’s teacher

Staff for 2025

We are excited to introduce two dynamic new teachers joining our St Thomas the Apostle community in 2025!

Emily Tankey will be joining us from Holy Spirit Nicholls. Emily brings a wealth of experience and a passion for fostering curiosity and creativity in her students.

Cathleen Feerick comes to us from St Jude’s Holder. Cathleen is well-regarded for her warmth and dedication to building strong relationships with her students and their families.

We are pleased to have both Emily and Cathleen join our teaching team and know they will be a wonderful addition to our school.

On a bittersweet note, Anne Barbic will be taking a year’s leave in 2025 to spend cherished time with her family. We will miss Anne’s vibrant presence and dedicated teaching, but we are delighted she will rejoin us in 2026 – she promised me!

We are also pleased to welcome Aimee Rastar back to our school next year. Aimee will share a class with Leyrizza Nyunt. Both teachers bring unique strengths and a shared commitment to creating a supportive and engaging learning environment for their students.

Class Allocations for 2025

Our class allocations for 2025 are now finalised. We appreciate the trust you place in us to create balanced and supportive settings for all students.

The opportunity to submit requests regarding placement considerations has now closed, and teachers have carefully considered all factors to ensure the best outcomes for each child. We look forward to welcoming students into their new class on Friday of Week 9 when they will spend time with their teacher and peers for 2025 and also meet new students coming to St Thomas’ next year.

School Fees and Levies for 2025

The school fees and levies for next year are explained in detail in the accompanying letters.

This annual event run by the School Community Council will be held on Thursday 5 December, from 6pm – 8pm. Please let us know how many sausage sandwiches you will need for your family members attending by clicking on this link. The orders will close on the Sunday night before so we can place the order for supplies the following day.

Student leaving at the end of 2024

Thank you to the families who have let us know that they will not be returning to St Thomas the Apostle school next year. We are going to miss not having you here with us and wish you all the very best for your new school, wherever that may be in 2025. 

If your child is not returning in 2025 and we haven’t been informed, can you please let Naomi in the front office know. It is imperative for our planning that we have that information.

We only have 3 more weeks and 1 day of the school year and they are going to be very busy.

Yours in partnership,

Ursula Jamieson
Principal

Calendar

To view the Parent and Carers calendar please follow the link below to our school website. This calendar is very user friendly and clear to view on mobile phones.

** please note that these lessons are not held at the school