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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.
SMALL THINGS WITH GREAT LOVE
“And at that time, Jesus said to all those gathered: “Come all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:29-30
It is not at all unusual for a teenager to be monosyllabic in response to their parent’s queries. And without question, the dialogue from the YouTube clip between the Father and his Son is very one-sided.
When’s your exams?
Dunno.
Are you enjoying cricket?
Sorta.
You gonna catch up with your mates?
Yep.
What will ya get up to?
Nothin.
But the Father is genuine and sincerely reaching out. And how does the Son respond? He is unconcerned, disinterested, and the questions that his Father asks are not important to deal with. He fails to respond to his Father’s invitation, and to be genuinely curious about how they build a stronger relationship, or even to ask a question of his own to his Father.
We’ve all been in that situation. We know how it feels to reach out to someone, and they were unconcerned, disinterested, and thought the questions that we asked were not important. If this is how we might react to the concerns in our own lives, what does this mean for how we might react to the concerns in the lives of others?
This week, Australia celebrates Refugee Week, the aim of this initiative is to educate the Australian public about who refugees are and why they have come to Australia, to help people understand the many challenges refugees face in coming to Australia, to celebrate the contribution of refugees make to our community, and how our communities can provide a safe and welcoming environment.
During Refugee Week, we are challenged to pause and consider our own community’s response to those who seek refuge and safety in our country. They are genuinely and sincerely reaching out to us. And how do we respond? Are we unconcerned, disinterested, and the questions – not important enough to deal with?
If we use the responses of the Son as an example, how might he react to the concerns in the lives of others?
What are the challenges that refugees face in coming to Australia?
Dunno.
Do our communities provide a safe and welcoming environment?
Sorta.
Do you understand why refugees are seeking safety?
Yep.
What would you gain from being curious, seeking to understand, and practising empathy?
Nothin.
In the passage from the Gospel of Matthew at the open to this reflection, Jesus welcomes all those gathered near him to enter into his life, and into his light. Not only does he invite them to share with him, he offers to carry their burdens, to help them find rest and refuge, not just for their weary bodies, but also for their weary hearts. He offers them hope for a better future. As a Catholic community we are called by Christ to respond with compassion, hospitality and empathy to those who are weary. To act with empathy, means to act as if you truly understand the other person and their situation, to understand them so deeply, that it was as if their ordeal had happened to you.
Our children are the future of this country; they will determine its capacity for compassion, hospitality and empathy. We must be open to discussing these matters with our young people. Not to lecture or dictate. But to be curious, ask questions, then stop talking and listen to them. This week when visiting classes, I encountered our Grade 5/6 students discussing these matters in the classroom. And I am all the wiser for having listened to the powerful insight and heart of our students. We must also encourage our students to take action. St Teresa of Calcutta is attributed the quote, “We cannot do great things, only small things with great love”. The forces that create refugees in our world are currently beyond the scope of what our students can influence. But what we can do as teachers and parents is to teach them, in their relationships with others and the way they conduct themselves in our community, is to do small things with great love.
Mr Casimir Douglas
Tuesday 18th June, 2024
SALUTATION
Grace to you and peace.
STM FEAST DAY
Today (Friday 21st June), we celebrated the Feast Day of St Thomas More. This is a day in which we not only acknowledge and recognise the charisms and history of our school community, but also celebrate our values, and our commitment to bringing about our Vision Statement: “Inspired by Christ, we are a community of lifelong learners becoming the people God created us to be.
The day's activities included Mass and celebration of the Eucharist; activities in classrooms to explore the life of St Thomas More; a shared School Feast on the Oval in Pastoral Care groups, including a sausage sizzle (cooked by our wonderful P&F!) and the lighting of candles for the Feast Day cakes; competing in games and activities for the Feast Day Cup; and finally eating some of the Feast Day cake!
And a big congratulations to MacKillop House on being crowned as the inaugural winner of the Feast Day Cup!
The Feast Day celebrations were a tangible and visible example of the vision of our school community coming into fruition; a vibrant, positive, and energetic learning community, where our Josephite charism are at the heart of every aspect of our educational program, and our students smile when they arrive at school, and are still smiling when they leave.
Thank you so much to all the staff and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to ensure that the events ran smoothly, and that the student experience of the day was positive, enjoyable and engaging.
Happy St Thomas More's Feast Day!
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 (18th June).
We were treated to a smorgasbord of fruit, muffins, and scrolls and we each shared what we are grateful for in our lives, including; family, friends, the people who support us, sunny days, Mum and Dad, holidays to Thailand, our teachers, a nice warm fire, and the garden hose! They also shared about their hobbies, interests and dreams which included dancing, soccer, running, bike riding, trampoline, playing with pet dogs, art, new Apple products, swimming, go-carting, basketball, Formula One, visiting Ulverstone, riding buggies, Drama Club, beach time, travelling to Bali, football, visiting cousins in Queensland, puzzles, and LEGO!
NIJSSA CROSS COUNTRY CARNIVAL
On Wednesday (12th June), our Cross Country Team participated in the NIJSSA Cross Country Carnival at Windsor Park, in which our team of hardworking athletes competed against runners from all the other local Catholic and Independent schools. The students gave their all on the trail to propel St Thomas More's to an overall 5th place finish!
Congratulations to all the students who participated, not only for their selection in the team and their performance today, but also for the manner in which they represented our school. The following athletes gave their all on the trail to earn themselves a top 10 finish:
Grade 3 Boys - Stella Bye (10th)
Grade 3 Boys - Kip Cruse (3rd) & Harry Muller (7th)
Grade 4 Girls - Gemma Richardson (2nd) & London Trotter (8th)
Grade 4 Boys - Chace Bryan (2nd) & Samuel Mannion (9th)
Grade 5 Boys - Logan Graham (3rd)
Grade 6 Girls - Chloe Cocca (2nd), Eliza Davie (3rd), Evie Hanson (5th) & Mikaela Oakley (6th)
Grade 6 Boys - Kaiden Brooks (4th)
I must also thank Mr Nicholas Stacey for his organisation and support of students, as well as all the other staff, parents and volunteers who came along to support, encourage and cheer on our athletes.
ALL SCHOOLS CROSS COUNTRY CARNIVAL
This Tuesday (18th June), an excited and rugged up group of 40 students travelled out Symmons Plains on a cold but sunny day to compete in the All Schools Cross Country Carnival.
The students represented our school and themselves proudly, running hard, trying their best, and showing support and encouragement for all competitors. Congratulations to our top two runners and place-getters for the day:
Grade 3 Boys: Kip Cruse (7th place)
Grade 4 Girls: Gemma Richardson (22nd place)
Please also find below a link to the Athletics Tasmania website, which includes the full results for every race and every competitor for the event:
https://thetimingguysresults.com/TasPSXC/2024Thank you very much to our staff for organising the event and supervising the students, and to our parents who braved the cold to spectate the event and cheer on our students.
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
The jokes have started to roll in for our annual International Joke Day competition!
It is an individual entry, but the person who can make Mr Douglas laugh the most will win their class a PIZZA PARTY! ?
Entries are open on Padlet NOW: https://padlet.com/STM_TAS/joke_day_24
Find your year level > click + > add your name and class in the subject line. You can add your joke OR even a video/audio recording telling the joke!
Entries will close at the end of the school day on Wednesday, July 3.
The winner will be announced on Friday, July 5.
Good luck!
