Filter Content
- Our Vision
- Reflection
- Principal's Message
- Congratulations to Zoe Goldsmith
- 5/6M News
- RE News @ STM
- Library
- Metro Bus Services 2024
- Student Medication Collection
- Office closure for the holidays
- 2024 - Term Dates
- 2024 Catholic Primary School Instrumental Music Program
- Midfords Trading Hours
- Setup for Success Program
- Community News
- Parish Bulletin
- Upcoming Events
The vision for St Thomas More's Catholic School is to be a vibrant, positive, and energetic learning community, where every child is valued, and where relationships, the Gospel, and our Josephite charism are at the heart of every aspect of our educational program.
We have high expectations for student learning and student behaviour, and aim to support our students to grow into independent and confident learners, but community-minded contributors to society.
Students are invited into an intimate relationship with Christ. We know we have achieved this goal when our students smile when they arrive at school, and are still smiling when they leave.
HUMILITY & VULNERABILITY
Jesus Praises John the Baptist (Matthew 11:2-11)
“... a greater [man] than John the Baptist has never been seen; yet the least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is .” (Matthew 11:11)
Jim Collins is a renowned researcher and author in the leadership, business and organisational culture space. The most popular and celebrated of his works is his 2001 book, Good to Great, which details the results of findings of a five-year research project which explores the key variables which transform a ‘good’ organisation to a ‘great’ organisation. Collins makes the claim that the most significant factor in transforming organisational culture and performance is Level 5 Leadership. And what are the key and defining traits and characteristics of a Level 5 Leader?
Humility and ferociousness; that is a leader who is modest and wilful, humble and fearless. In examining the image of John the Baptist as presented in the Gospel Matthew, the traits that Collins and his research team defined as the pinnacle of leadership behaviours, are undeniably present in the persona of John the Baptist. Such strength, conviction, self-emptying and service is what was required of the messenger preparing the way for the Lord.
As Catholic educators and community members, we are called to lead with modesty and wilfulness, humility and fearlessness. The first time I encountered the research of Jim Collins was through engaging with the work of renowned researcher, author, and social worker, Brené Brown, in her book Dare to Lead. The mission of the book is to promote the behaviours, language, and structures needed in organisations to create brave leaders and courageous cultures through a dance with vulnerability and self-awareness.
During Term 4 in 2022, our School Leadership Team engaged in the Dare to Lead training program facilities by an accredited Dare to Lead Facilitator, Polly McGee. We will be completing a refresher to this training again together as a Leadership in late January 2024, with a view to conducting a progress and momentum update on our fidelity to leadership norms, principles, attitudes, behaviours and key learnings from this program. Our Leadership Team is challenged to be open, vulnerable, empathetic and emotionally intelligent leaders, who live into their values, practice self-compassion, and choose daring leadership over armoured leadership:
“Courage is contagious. To scale daring leadership and build courage in teams and organisations, we have to cultivate a culture in which brave work, tough conversations, and whole hearts are the expectation, and armour is not necessary or rewarded.”
One of the key examples of choosing daring leadership over armoured leadership is rather than being a knower and being right, to choose being a learner and getting it right. That is to be vulnerable to admit you don’t have all the answers, to be genuinely curious enough to ask the opinion and insight of others and actually listen, and to enter into those conversations and situations thinking ‘what does this situation need from me?’ rather than ‘what do I need from this situation?’ In doing so, we prioritise the needs of others and put ourselves at the service of the community and its mission and vision. Again, this leadership approach conjures the image of John the Baptist from the Gospel of Matthew. Even whilst imprisoned for having preached the coming of Christ, John didn’t know and still wasn’t sure that Jesus was the Christ; so he sent his own disciples to ask Jesus that very question. John chose to be the learner and get it right, and not to be the knower and the anorak of all knowledge. This instinct of John was even praised by Jesus in this passage! This portion of scripture ends with Jesus identifying that even the least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than John the Baptist (Matthew 11:11). On the surface of this statement it appears to be an admonition or rebuke, but it is indeed a celebration of John’s humility, will, vulnerability, openness, service, courage, asceticism, empathy, and leadership.
As we approach the liturgical Season of Advent, and anticipate the miracle of the Incarnation; the Birth of Jesus Christ that we celebrate on Christmas day, we enter into a season of waiting, anticipating, and reflecting. We, St Thomas More’s, as a Catholic School community, are invited to contemplate the following questions from this Gospel passage:
- Where can you follow the example of John the Baptist in your life and leadership in your community, organisation and family?
- Where can you employ the gifts of humility and will in service of others?
- Where do you need to rumble with vulnerability and be brave in relationship with others?
- Where in your relationships do you need to embrace the role of learner, rather than the knower?
- Where do you need to practise self-compassion and let go of the fear and shame that is holding you back from your best self?
Mr Casimir Douglas
Sunday 3rd December, 2023
Dear Parents and Carers,
SALUTATION
Grace to you and peace.
WORKING BEE - EARLY YEARS BUILDING GARDEN ENTRANCE
This morning we had an enthusiastic group of volunteer green thumbs participate in a working bee to place 25 new plants in the garden area at the entrance to the Early Years building.
Thank you very much to the Lewis family and the Staff for gifting their gardening gloves and talents to this project!
Our school Conservation Club received a grant through Roots & Shoots Australia for new natives to be planted in this reflective garden space. Whilst the vast majority of the new plants were native, the one introduced plant (and Mr Douglas' favourite) is the phorium tenax, otherwise known as the Maori Chief!
CHRISTMAS CAROLS
Wow! What an evening it was at the Carols last night. Members of the community were queueing up at the end of the evening to let me know how much they had enjoyed the experience, and how both grateful and proud they were to belong to the St Thomas More's Catholic School community.
That speaks to four particular contributing factors:
1. The power of music and song to bring people together, and the magic of Christmas and the sense of levity, joy, fun and positivity it brings.
2. The hard work, good will, spirit, and generosity of the key staff involved in preparing, planning and executing the event.
3. Our engaged and supportive parent community who are critical to the foundation of our school culture. When our parents value these events, our student engagement, their desire to participate, and their confidence in performing increases exponentially!
4. Our incredible, talented, brave, and bright students for their performances on the evening, the positive manner in which they represented themselves, their families and the school community, and for truly reminding all of us of the joy that Christmas truly brings, and why we all enjoy it as parents... for the love of our children.
I wish to highlight the contribution of our Grade 6 students for the performance of their leavers' song which they have been busy writing and practicing for weeks under the gudiance of Mrs Aimee Rooney. The ong left their peers, parents, and staff alike in tears. And a big thank you to all the families that stayed until the end of the event to watch our Grade 6 student perform their song. Your support and encouragement of the school, these students, and in continuing to strengthen our sense of community does not go unnoticed or unappreciated.
Thank you very much to Mr Harrison Mills for his technical mastery and audio wizardry, to Mr Rik Bryan for his tireless dedication to the service of our school community, and to Mrs Natalie Zegveld for her passion, verve, and commitment to organising yet another spectacular evening that is months in the making. The significant number of families present is a testament to the value of this event for our school community.
And of course, a special mention to all my Wiggly colleagues for the fun and frivolity of our staff act!
PRINCIPAL'S MORNING TEA
At our Friday afternoon School Assembly last week, there were a number of students who received a Gospel Value Award for demonstrating the value of JUSTICE. These students attended a special Principal’s Morning Tea in Josephite Hall this Tuesday (5th December). This was the last Principal's Morning Tea for the 2023 school year!
We were treated to a smorgasbord of fruit, scrolls, and cakes and we each shared what we are grateful for in our lives, including our parents, the beds we sleep in, our siblings to play with at home, our families, the roof over our heads, the food we have to share, and Jesus! They also shared about their hobbies, interests and dreams which included playing with friends, soccer, learning, trampolining, futsal, dancing, piano, UNO, chess, and basketball!
GRADE 5 LEADERSHIP RETREAT
This past Friday evening, we held our Grade 5 Leadership Retreat. This camp experience was held on the School Oval and all students and their teachers camped out in their tents, in what blessedly a night of no rain, no wind, and warm weather!
The purpose of the camp was to prepare the students for their role as leaders of our student cohort in Grade 6 through a number of games, activities, and challenges that are designed to push them out of their comfort zone, test their resilience, hone their interpersonal skills, and work as a team under pressure.
It would be typical of the Principal to write in the Newsletter just how exemplary the students were in terms of their behaviour, conduct, attitude, initiative, team work and leadership. But... they just were! And they are more than ready to lead our school community.
I wish to thank the following staff for their support, guidance, and mentorship of the students during the Grade 5 Leadership Retreat: Mr Rik Bryan, Mrs Allison Cornish, Mr Julian Davie, Mr Jacob Farran, Mrs Christine Flynn, Mrs Danielle Hodgetts, Ms Jessica McLauchlan, Mrs Simone Ross, Fr Chathura Silva & Mrs Mandy Turner.
GRADE 6 GIRLS VS STAFF SOCCER MATCH
At the height of Matildas fever during the FIFA Women's World Cup this year, we had arranged for a Grade 6 Girls vs Staff Soccer Match on Friday 4th August in Term 3, but the game was postponed due to untimely inclement weather.
However, the School and House Captains arranged for the game to be played this Friday 1st December on the School Oval at Second Break. The game was played in 7 vs 7 format (6 on the field plus a goalkeeper), with 2 x 10 minute halves and penalties to be played upon the occasion of of draw.
It took much seeking, convincing and cajoling to make volunteers from my most generous and athletically gifted colleagues to join the merry staff band to defend our collective honour on the soccer pitch!
The game was played in excellent spirits and was well officiated, commentated and adjudicated by the Grade 6 boys. And the student crowd of spectators created an incredible atmosphere! There were signs, cheers, coordinated dances, chants, and a full on half-time show!
Two early goals to Mr Stacey and Fr Chatty had the Staff Team in a commanding lead early in the first half. But a late second half comeback was on the cards following a penalty by Alexis Harmey, and a scrappy goal-mouth tap, which led to the full time whistle and penalty shoot out.
Ultimately, Mr Davie's presence in goals proved too much for the Grade 6 Girls team, who only scored one of four spot kicks. And it would ultimately be Fr Chatty's penalty that claimed victory for the Staff Team!
KINDER NATIVITY PLAYS
This Thursday and Friday our Kinder classes were finally able to perform their Kinder Nativity play for their parents in Josephite Hall. The Kinder Nativity play, particularly in the Catholic School, is a rite of passage and milestone event in a child's educational experience. To watch how our Kinder students have grown from the start of the school year, to now where they are ready for Prep as demonstrated by the composure, their confidence, and the joy of performing on that stage for their parents.
Speaking as a parent who has recently enjoyed his own children's Kinder Nativity plays in the past few years, the feeling of pride, the focus on community, and the sense of connection derived from the experience is immense.
Thank you to all parents who took the time out of their busy days and schedules to attend their child's Kinder Nativity performance. And I must express my sincere gratutide to Mrs Stephens, Mrs Edwards, Mrs Thomson and Mrs Lee for their support and guidance of our Kinder students in performing their first school play!
And a special thank you to Santa Claus who made the long trip all the way from the South Pole to visit the students, bring them some Christmas cheers, and also a special gift each. Even if he told the auidence that I was on the naughtly list, I have no doubt that Santa will still leave a little treat in my stocking fpr the morning of December 25th.
PEVAN & SARAH - A SURPRISE PREP EXCURSION!
On Thursday (7th December) our Prep students were treated to a special surpise excursion that their teachers had been planning for months and months... they went to Pevan & Sarah live in concert!
Pevan & Sarah are qualified teachers and experienced musicians who are passionate about creating fun, engaging and educational videos and resources for young learners. The students have been singing and learning through Pevan and Sarah's educational songs all year in the classroom.
Thank you so much to our school P&F for providing the funds to purchase the tickets to the concert for our students. Unbelievably, Mr Brown and Mrs Foot-Hill, along with Georgie and Pax were invited up on stage with Pevan & Sarah to be part of the show! Not only were they excited and overjoyed by the opportunity, but their peers were happy for them.
I must express my sincere appreciation for the team of staff working with our Prep students this year. Not just for organising this very special excursion for Prep students, but also for the way in which you have support, encouraged, and helped to build the confidence of all the students in your care.
FINAL GREETING
May the grace of Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
God bless,
Mr Casimir Douglas
Principal
Congratulations to Zoe Goldsmith
Zoe’s research on The Batman Bridge won an award in the Launceston Historical Society Competition. There were 93 entries from just five schools across northern Tasmania. 17 of these entries received awards, Zoe’s being one of them! Zoe received a book titled "The cheerful noise of foundries" and a $30 gift voucher to Petrachs! Congratulations to Zoe!
Over the past two weeks, 5/6 More have been very lucky to have some lovely parent volunteers give up their time to do some tasty Christmas cooking! Thank you to Angie and Jo last week for our tasty rocky road, and to Julia, Dean and Kendra for helping cut, bake and design our gingerbread creations! We are very grateful for you all! All the students had a brilliant time and we are very appreciative of you all giving up your day to give our kids a wonderful experience with some tasty treats to enjoy later on!
STM ICT iPads and chargers to be returned.
We are in the process of preparing all of our devices for the 2024 school year. All Gr 3-6 students were issued with school iPads and chargers at the start of the year and these MUST NOW be returned to school as soon as possible. We still have a large number of iPad chargers outstanding.
Many thanks for your co-operation,
Rebecca
Librarian
Please see below information from Metro Bus Service. Please note that their school bus service will commence on Thursday, 8 February 2024. STM commences on Wednesday, 7 February 2024.
Any student medication that is kept in First Aid in the school office is required to be collected by Parents by Monday 12th or Tuesday 13th December 2023, please ensure you come in to collect as we will not give medications to students to take home.
Office closure for the holidays
Our front office & accounts department will be closed from 3:00pm, Wednesday, 13th December 2022, re-opening at 8:00am on Thursday, 18 January 2024.
2024 Catholic Primary School Instrumental Music Program
For Parents/Guardians that have students leaving Grade 2 for Grade 3 in 2024, Grade 4, Grade 5 & Grade 6 2024, please see information regarding the Catholic Primary School Music Program.
The below link will take you to the Enrolment form.
https://www.stpatricks.tas.edu.au/our-community/catholic-primary-school-music-program
Term 2 commences
All day |
|
Set up for Success/Joeys
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Recurring event |
|
Author visit - Lian Tanner (Grade 5/6)
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM |
|
3/4 Excursion
All day |
|
Mother's Day Breakfast
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM |
|
Faith Sharing Session - THREE
06 May 2024 - 07 May 2024 |
|
Set up for Success/Joeys
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Recurring event |
|
1/2 Excursion to The Gorge
All day |
|
Drama Competitions
All day |
|
2024 School photos
All day |
|
Set up for Success/Joeys
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Recurring event |
|
Whole School Mass
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM |
|
Sacrament of Reconciliation
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM |
|
Board Meeting
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM |
|
Assembly
2:20 PM - 3:00 PM |
|
Set up for Success/Joeys
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Recurring event |
|
P & F Meeting
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM |
|
Information Evening Confirmation and First Eucharist
7:30 PM - 8:30 PM |
|
STM Cross Country
All day |
|
Set up for Success/Joeys
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Recurring event |
|
Futsal Grade 3 & 4
All day |