Filter Content
THE TALENT CODE
As the Principal of St Thomas More’s Catholic School, leading a school community in which life-long learning is explicit in the nomenclature of our Vision Statement, I am committed to fostering excellence in our students. I have written before of my insatiable appetite and unparalleled drive for professional learning and personal growth. Therefore, it would be of no surprise to many that I often seek out books that offer insights into how we can better nurture and develop the talents within our school community; students, staff and parents alike. One such book is The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle, a compelling exploration of the science behind talent and how it can be cultivated.
In The Talent Code, Coyle embarks on a journey to uncover the secret of talent development, visiting talent hotbeds across the globe—from a tiny music academy in upstate New York to a football (yes, football) field in Brazil. What he discovers is a fascinating blend of neuroscience, psychology, and real-world practice. Coyle’s core thesis is that talent is not innate but developed through a process he calls “deep practice,” which involves focused, deliberate effort and the embrace of mistakes as opportunities for growth.
The book introduces the concept of myelin, a substance in our brains that wraps around nerve fibres and helps increase the speed and strength of neural signals. Coyle argues that deep practice helps build myelin, which in turn enhances skill acquisition. The more we engage in focused practice, the more myelin we build, and the more talented we become. Coyle also highlights the importance of ignition, or the spark that motivates individuals to begin the journey of deep practice. This ignition often comes from a powerful emotional connection, such as the desire to emulate a role model or the aspiration to achieve a significant goal. Alongside ignition is the need for master coaching, where skilled mentors provide targeted guidance, challenge students to push their limits, and support them through the learning process.
The Talent Code is not just a theoretical discussion but a practical guide for anyone interested in developing their own talents or helping others do the same. Coyle’s insights are particularly relevant for educators, as they reinforce the importance of creating a learning environment where students are encouraged to take risks, make mistakes, and learn from them. The book also serves as a reminder that excellence is not the result of natural ability alone but the outcome of consistent, focused effort. These findings perfectly align with our school’s commitment to the pedagogy, curriculum programs, and student learning opportunities associated with principles of explicit and direct instruction.
For our Catholic school community, The Talent Code offers valuable lessons on how we can support our children’s development both academically and personally. As parents, it’s important to encourage our children to engage in deep practice by setting aside time for focused study or skill development. We should praise their effort rather than just their achievements, emphasising the value of persistence and resilience.
Additionally, fostering a strong emotional connection to learning—whether through stories of inspiring figures or by linking their studies to their passions—can ignite their motivation to strive for excellence. Finally, let us remember the importance of being supportive coaches in our children’s lives, guiding them with patience, offering constructive feedback, and celebrating their progress along the way.
In the spirit of our faith, let us work together to cultivate the God-given talents within our children, helping them to grow into the capable, confident individuals they are meant to be, that is, to become the people that God created them to be.
Mr Casimir Douglas
Tuesday 27th August, 2024
SALUTATION
Grace to you and peace.
SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
We are incredibly proud of our students who received the Sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday night at Sacred Heart Church. It was a truly special celebration, presided over by Archbishop Julian Porteous, filled with faith, hope, and joy!
A heartfelt thank you to the parents and families who have nurtured and supported these young people along the way. Your dedication and guidance have been invaluable in helping them reach this significant milestone.
We would also like to express our deep gratitude to Mrs Belinda Taylor, our Religious Education Coordinator, for her unwavering support and guidance in preparing the students for this sacred moment. The Mass was a beautiful and memorable celebration of our community’s faith, and we are blessed to have shared it together.
FATHER'S DAY BREAKFAST
Father’s Day is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than by starting your Monday with a hearty breakfast that you didn’t have to cook yourself? We’re inviting all the amazing dads and father figures to join us for our annual Father’s Day Breakfast next Monday morning in the Kitchen Garden area.
We’ll be serving up hot food and drinks to keep you fueled for the day (or at least until second breakfast). This event is a small way for us to thank all the dads and father figures for the incredible role you play in your children’s lives. So let’s kick off the week with some good food, great company, and plenty of dad jokes. We can’t wait to see you there, so set your alarm, grab your appetite, and share a meal to celebrate the special bond you have with your child/ren!
PRINCIPAL'S MORNING TEA
At our Friday afternoon School Assembly in Week 4, there were a number of students who received a Gospel Value Award for demonstrating the value of RESPECT. These students attended a special Principal’s Morning Tea in Josephite Hall this Tuesday (27th August) with myself and Fr Vinco.
We were treated to a smorgasbord of fruit, muffins, and scrolls and we each shared what we are grateful for in our lives, including; life and family, friends, Jesus, the air we breathe, soccer, 'my cat waking me up every morning!', sports, the opportunities the school provides, and calling to become a Priest (glad to hear it, Fr Vinco)!
They also shared about their hobbies, interests and dreams which included athletics, cricket, baskteball, refereeing soccer, playing soccer, futsal, surfing, swimming, ski-paddling, Transformers, running, climbing, video games, gymnastics, and ballet!
WINTER WONDERLAND DISCO!
Last Friday night, our school was transformed into a Winter Wonderland, and what a night it was! Josephite Hall and the Kitchen Garden area were packed with students and parents, all ready to dance the night away. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and joy as everyone embraced the spirit of the fun, making it a night to remember.
A huge shoutout goes to DJ Dan, who kept the energy high and the dance floor packed with his incredible mix of tunes. His musical stylings were the perfect backdrop to an evening of fun and laughter, bringing our community together in the best possible way. The disco lights, snowflake decorations, and incredible student artwork truly made it feel like a winter wonderland.
We also want to extend our deepest gratitude to our hardworking Parents & Friends Committee, particularly Tamara Rimmelzwaan and Alecia Bowman, whose brilliant work in organising this event was evident in every detail. And a special thank you to Mr Rik Bryan for his tireless efforts behind the scenes, ensuring everything ran smoothly. It’s moments like these that remind us of the strong, supportive community we have here at our school.
CBCA BOOK WEEK AT STM 2024 - VIDEO
The students and staff of our school community are still buzzing from the fun, wonder and adventure of our Book Week celebrations. I must again express my sincere gratitude to Mrs Rebecca Thomas for her tireless work, and peerless expertise, that she provides to our school community, not just during Book Week, but in every day and in every way. And another one of the ways in which Ms Thomas creates magic for our school community is through her use of technology.
Therefore, please find below a link to a video that Ms Thomas has created and posted on ClickView for all our families to view and enjoy that captures the magic of our Book Week celebrations. Enjoy!
https://www.clickview.net/share/bAxZWO
FAREWELL TO MRS JOLENE RIDLER!
Our school community has been incredibly fortunate for the past 12 months to have welcomed Mrs Jolene Ridler as our School Counsellor, as provided by CatholicCare Counselling Sevices. Jolene's gentle, compassionate, empathetic, and warm nature has made her a valuable member of our team, but more importantly, an amazing resource and presence for students and families of our school.
Jolene will finish her tenure at St Thomas More's Catholic School on Wednesday 18th September. We have commenced a process with CatholicCare to recruit a new School Counsellor to our team. Finally, we wish all the best to Jolene on the next phase of her journey of work and life, and please trust that she knows she is always welcome in our school community.
Please join me in expressing my sincere gratitude for all that Jolene has given to our community over the past year.
UPDATE: CONSTRUCTION WORKS IN GRADE 1/2 MORE CLASSROOM
In Week 3 of this term, I provided an update all families in the School Newsletter regarding the remedial construction works occurring in the Grade 1/2 More classroom, and the associated changes in learning arrangements. The purpose of this Newsletter item is to provide a further update on the progress of these works.
Following the demolition of the area of concern in the classroom, and an investigation of the internal and external roofing structures, we engaged with a structural engineer to determine the scope of works required for this project.
Earlier this week, temporary fencing was installed outside the Grade 1/2 More classroom. Please note that there is still significant space for pedestrian traffic as a thoroughfare past the temporary fencing. It is anticipated that the section of works requiring the temporary fencing will be for the duration of the next two weeks as a minimum. Then, the internal remedial works will take a further two weeks.
This will take us up to the end of Week 9 this term. Therefore, the most probable scenario is that Grade 1/2 More will move back into their classroom for the commencement of Term 4. Therefore, the current arrangements for learning space will persist until the end of the term.
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 Lincoln Jones, Quinn Cassidy, Archi Smith, Bonnie Elliott, Nihad Mahmud, Ash McPherson, Charlie van Doneslaar, Anna Badcock, Maxwell Cooney, Lucy Cocca, Blair Wetselaar, Sonny Raitt, Amber Padda and Angus Viney who received 25 St Thomas More's sticker rewards for their positive contributions to our school.
