Dear Parents and Carers,

What a joyful and meaningful day we’ve had at St Thomas the Apostle School as we celebrated the feast day of our patron saint! 

Our day began with a beautiful Mass, reverently led by Fr Banish, who kindly stepped in while Fr Praveen is away in India attending his aunty’s funeral. It was wonderful to see so many parents and carers join us in prayer and celebration. 

Throughout the day, students engaged in a series of rich, faith-filled activities led by our Youth Ministry Team. These activities helped deepen their understanding of St Thomas the Apostle—his life, his mission, and his importance to our faith community. 

Students explored the meaning behind the St Thomas Cross, with its four edges representing the four directions of the world, the flowers symbolising new life, and the dove representing the Holy Spirit. They also learned more about St Thomas’s friends—the other apostles and early followers of Jesus—and how they helped spread the message of God’s love. 

As the patron saint of architects and builders, St Thomas inspired some creative hands-on work. Students used their folding skills and attention to detail to build their own origami churches, reflecting the importance of building strong foundations in both faith and community. 

Adding to the celebration, Victoria treated us to delicious soups, cupcakes, and muffins from the canteen. Her special feast day menu was a big hit and added a warm, joyful touch to the day. 

We finished this special day with a moving visit from the Vinnies Night Patrol van. Students presented the many generous donations of warm winter clothing and blankets, kindly contributed by our families. It was a beautiful reminder of the power of compassion, action, and community. 

Thank you to our exceptional REC Geoff Ryan for planning the day and for all who helped make today so special. St Thomas, pray for us! 

You’re Invited to the St Thomas Community Assembly - We warmly invite all parents and carers to be part of a special event in the life of our St Thomas parish and school community — our St Thomas Community Assembly. 

In the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, an Assembly is a gathering where members of the local Catholic community come together to listen deeply, share openly, and reflect prayerfully. It’s part of our synodal way of being Church — walking together, listening to the Holy Spirit, and discerning how we can grow as a faith-filled, inclusive, and vibrant community. 

Our Assembly is a chance for your voice to be heard as we explore what matters most for our shared future. Whether you’re deeply involved or just starting to connect with our parish or school, your presence is valued. 

When: Saturday 2 August, 9:30am – 2:30pm 
Where: Mass at St Thomas the Apostle Church at 9:30 and then in the St Thomas the Apostle School Hall 
What’s included: A welcoming environment, meaningful conversation, and a delicious lunch 

We would love to see you there as we gather in faith, hope, and community spirit. 

This is a letter from the St Thomas the Apostle Parish Pastoral Council – 

Parents and Carers of St Thomas the Apostle School - This year St Thomas the Apostle Parish, Kambah celebrates its Jubilee. The history of the parish is being written and will be available later in the year. 

Also, this year there will be a Parish Assembly held on Saturday August 2nd.  It will occur in a context where the whole church is focussed on a time of Synodality-the process of walking together and engaging in fraternal collaboration and discernment. It is essentially about listening to the Holy Spirit as the Church prepares for the future. 

On one hand we rejoice as a parish in our past with gratitude for those who established and served the parish during the last 50 years and on the other, we are called to gather and prepare for the future. 

The Assembly happens in a context and it is the plan of the Archbishop to draw together all that happens in parishes at an Archdiocesan Synod Assembly in 2026. 

We will be guided in the format for our parish assembly by members of an Archdiocesan team set up for this purpose and further explanation will follow. 

However, at this point in the preparation it is very important to encourage as many parishioners and school parent and carers as possible to put aside time on August 2nd. The contribution of each person is what brings a richness to the process of collaboration and discernment. 

Please also pray for the parish assembly and be encouraged to respond with the same enthusiasm as those who worked to build this parish over the last 50 years. 

Please save the date — more details and RSVP information will come out at the beginning of the school term. 

Helping with School Costs – Future of Education Equity Fund -  I am pleased to share that the ACT Government is expanding support for families through the Future of Education Equity Fund, with an additional $600,000 committed as part of the 2025–26 ACT Budget. This boost will enable a further 1,000 eligible ACT students to access financial assistance in 2025. 

The Equity Fund helps families experiencing financial hardship cover the costs of school-related items, supporting every child to participate fully in their education and wellbeing activities. 

Funding amounts for 2025: 

• $400 for preschool students 

• $500 for primary school students 

• $750 for high school and college students 

This one-off annual payment can help with: 

• School uniforms 

• Excursions and camps 

• Sports equipment and participation fees 

• Music lessons and other extracurricular activities 

Who can apply? 
You may be eligible if you: 

• Live in the ACT 

• Have a child enrolled full-time in an ACT school (public or non-government) from preschool to Year 12 

• Are a low-income household and financially responsible for the child 

• Can provide proof of income (e.g. a valid Health Care Card or Centrelink card listing your child as a dependent) 

In 2024, the Fund supported over 5,000 students across the ACT, distributing more than $3 million to families in need. We strongly encourage families who may benefit to apply. 

More information and how to apply: Visit the ACT Education Directorate website: 
https://www.act.gov.au/education-and-training/life-at-school-and-college/get-help-with-the-cost-of-schooling 

Apply for Equity Fund at this link 

Pupil Free Days – Staff Professional Learning and Planning- On our two pupil free days, our staff will be spending time building our knowledge and reflecting on best practice. 

Tomorrow, we will be engaging in professional learning as part of the Catalyst initiative, deepening our understanding of evidence-based teaching practices. This includes exploring the eight key ideas that underpin Catalyst, the importance of guided practice in lessons, and how we can better manage cognitive load to support student learning. We’ll also be refining our use of the “We Do” phase in the Gradual Release of Responsibility model, which is central to explicit and effective teaching. 

On the first day back, Monday July 21, our staff will be working together to reflect on our Mission and Vision statement. We’ll consider how well it reflects our school values of growth, responsibility, and compassion, and look at how we might refine it to ensure it truly represents who we are and what we stand for as a school community. 

We’ve had a wonderful term filled with learning, growth, and community spirit. As we look ahead, Term 3 promises to be just as rewarding, with many rich learning experiences and exciting activities planned.  

I wish all of our families a safe, restful and joyful winter holiday, and I look forward to welcoming all students back on Tuesday July 22. 

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.

Mia N
Charlotte N
Robert D
Adele T
William G
Oscar L
Edwin R
Alyssa K
Max P
Mason B
Elle S
Emily D
Sophie D
Harry C
Liesl V
Bethany B
Jennifer B
Fletcher K
Cailtin W
Ella B
Michael H
Xavier McN
Ms Thomson
Mrs Trussler