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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.
WHAT WERE YOU ARGUING ABOUT ON THE ROAD?
I attended Mass twice on Sunday. Firstly, at 9:00am on Sunday morning to support my two friends who are engaged in the Rite of Christian Initiation process and will become Catholic. They were presented to the congregation and the Parish on Sunday, and as their formal sponsor in the process, I am overjoyed to share in the faith journey laid before them. Secondly, at 10:30am in a packed Church of Apostles to witness the celebration of the first Eucharist for our Sacramental candidates.
Both liturgies were centred around the mystery, the beauty, the wonder, the joy, and the anticipation of these significant moments in the faith and sacramental journey. The candidates at both Masses; no matter their age, their reasons, the depth of their faith, or understanding and clarity of the journey ahead of them, were characterised by child-like (not childish) qualities such as a capacity for trust, for wonder, for playfulness, for vulnerability, and taking unselfconscious delight in who they are, and who God is calling and actively shaping them to be.
In the Gospel from this Sunday’s Mass (25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B), the Gospel writer, Mark (9:30-37), tells the story of Jesus and His Disciples travelling north-east to the region of Galilee and eventually stopping at Capernaum. When they arrived there, they entered the house into which they would be staying and Jesus asked them: “What were you arguing about on the road?”
The Gospel of Mark is filled with instances of conflict and argument. Indeed, it is a consistent literary device that Mark the Evangelist uses in his writing to both drive forward the narrative, and also to introduce the opportunities for Jesus to teach. This Gospel passage is no different. The Gospel writer reveals that during their travels on the road, the Disciples had been arguing with one another over who was the greatest among them. Each of them was making a claim to be the closest to Jesus, the most valued by Jesus, the most learned, the most wise, the most righteous, and the most ready to lead.
So when Jesus asks them what they were arguing about, there is no response. Just silence. They were ashamed at being driven by their pride, their ego, their sense of entitlement, and their delusions of grandeur. They knew that Jesus already knew what they had been arguing about. As Fr Leonard wrote in his reflection for the Parish Bulletin this weekend:
“Their argument happened on a public road, out in the open. His question, however, is asked in the privacy and interior space of the house. This is about more than a change in physical location. Jesus is moving their conversation inward. He is not gathering information for Himself, but inviting the Disciples’ self reflection on what it means to be great. He’s presenting the Disciples with an image and the reality of their better selves, and he’s doing so for us too. Jesus is not saying that we should not or cannot be great. Rather, he is asking us to reframe our understanding of greatness. What does it mean and look like, for you and me to be great in today’s world?”
This is precisely the task and road map of our Strategic Plan (2025-2030). If our purpose and aim is to foster greatness in our young people, then the question presented in this Sunday’s Gospel is: what does it mean to be great?
But Mark’s Jesus does not leave us guessing. To give his answer, and provide the image, the reality, and the road map for greatness, Jesus places a child at the centre. Christ places the child on his lap, in the centre of conversation, in the centre of the argument, in the centre of people, in the centre of the story, and in the centre of his answer. To move toward greatness, Christ teaches us, is to be child-like: capacity for trust, for wonder, for playfulness, for vulnerability, and taking unselfconscious delight in who we are, and who God is calling and actively shaping us to be.
Mr Casimir Douglas
Tuesday 24th September, 2024
SALUTATION
Grace to you and peace.
SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST
This past Sunday (22nd September) at the Church of Apostles, fifteen of our students received their first Sacrament of the Eucharist!
There was standing room only in the Church as family, friends, staff and parishioners joined together to celebrate our young people completing their Sacraments of Initiation. Fr Leonard gathered the students together on front of the Altar for his Homily, and asked the obligatory question to the students of what the bread tastes. And in the truly honest way that only children can be, the response he was was a chorus of students confirming that it tasted like cardboard!
Thank you very much to Mrs Rosie Caelli and Mrs Belinda Taylor for their wonderful support of our students on their Sacramental journey.
PRINCIPAL'S MORNING TEA
At our Monday morning Prayer Assembly this week, there were a number of students who received a Gospel Value Award for demonstrating the value of DIGNITY. These students attended a special Principal’s Afternoon Tea in Josephite Hall this Tuesday (24th September).
We were treated to a smorgasbord of fruit, scrolls, and slices, and we each shared what we are grateful for in our lives, including; the opportunity to play sport, family, our Mums, home, friends, School, basketball, our houses, footy, tap dancing, and our Principal! They also shared about their hobbies, interests and dreams which included soccer, learning, dancing, athletics, netball, drawing, Tae Kwon Do, mathematics, swimming lessons, and building LEGO!
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE!
Our Prayer Assembly on Monday was focused around our new Peace Pole. International Day of Peace (21/9/2024) is about promoting friendship and kindness around the world. Our Peace Pole was kindly donated by Rotary Tasmania. They have set themselves a challenge of donating 100 Peace Poles around Tasmania. They have nearly reached their goal.
Our Peace Pole is marked with the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” and it is written in Palawa Kani, Japanese and English.
This Peace Pole stands as a constant reminder of the need for peace in our school, in our community and in our world. Thank you to Rotary Tasmania and to Mr Rik for installing our Peace Pole.
GRADE 5 ASCENT DAY
At the Door of Hope this past Friday (20th September), the St Patrick's College Year 10 ASCENT students worked with our Grade 5’s to develop social skills and strengthen values such as empathy, resilience and teamwork.
We were all blown away by the leadership and genuine care shown by the ASCENT students. They all set an incredible example of what the future might look like for our Year 5’s. It was also great to see new friendships forming and bonds being made. If the quality of all the young people involved yesterday is our guide, then the future is bright for student leadership at STM & SPC!
ONE DAY SCHOOL - MEET & GREET DAY
On Friday, 20 September, a group of talented students from St Thomas More’s joined peers from other schools at St. Brendan Shaw College in Devonport for the Northern One Day School (ODS) Meet and Greet Day. The day offered an excellent opportunity for our students to collaborate in activities focused on raising awareness of important global issues, including the challenges faced by refugees.
St Thomas More's students were fantastic throughout the day, participating with enthusiasm, maturity, and a deep sense of empathy. The event encouraged them to engage in thoughtful discussions and reflect on how they can contribute to positive change within their communities and beyond.
We are incredibly proud of our students for their insightful engagement with these complex topics. They not only demonstrated empathy but also critical thinking and a genuine interest in making a difference.
A special thank you goes to Jakki Hardman, CET’s School Services Leader: Gifted/Extended Learning, for organising the day and providing our students with this enriching and impactful learning experience.
Credit to Mrs Jacky Hartley for the report and photos!
RUNT EXCURSIONS!
This Tuesday (24th February), all of our Grades 3-6 students filled up cinemas in Launceston to view the film, Runt. Our Grade 3/4 students attended Village Cinemas, and our Grade 5/6 students experienced the film at Star Cinemas. Runt is an Australian film based on the novel of the same name by Craig Silvey. A large number of our students have enjoyed the book as a class novel in 2023 and 2024.
The novel was introduced to the school by Mrs Denise Morgan, who made a request to our wonderful P&F, who purchased a class set for the school. And serendipitously, Mrs Morgan was able to join our students at the cinema to view the film. But, as Mrs Morgan will tell you, she has already seen the film! Indeed, Mrs Morgan was invited by Craig Silvey himself to attend the World Premiere!
The students thoroughly enjoyed the film and the experience at the cinemas. In speaking with Grade 5 student, Orlando Massey, he shared that he preferred the film over the novel, as the visual story-telling experience was far better! And Grade 5 student, Eva Lewis, reflected that the film creates the sense that Australia is made up of small and intimate communities, but it is a story with a big heart!
ALL STRINGS SOIRÉE
On Thursday evening many of our students performed for an appreciative audience at the Guildford Theatre, St Patrick's College.
The show opened and closed with STM students playing as an ensemble, which was by far the highlight of the entire show.
We are very proud of the student's hard work and improvement over the year and are looking forward to the gala event at the end of the year where they will perform alongside other primary schools as an orchestra.
PREP PYJAMA DAYS - PBS REWARD!
This week, Prep students celebrated receiving over 500 acknowledgement stickers with a PJ and movie day. The acknowledgement stickers are part of our positive behavioural practice. Students are recognised when they follow our school rules of being learners who are respectful and responsible in all parts of school life, not just in the classroom.
Preps loved recognising their great choices by coming to school in a cozy outfit, as well as sharing a movie.
FOOTY COLOURS DAY!
All of the students and staff of St Thomas More's Catholic School arrived in their brightest, bravest and best sporting paraphernalia today! We celebrated Footy Colours Day to raise money for the Fight Cancer Foundation, where every child was invited to sport the colours of their favourite teams for a gold coin donation.
There were colours for footy, soccer, basketball, netball, rugby, cricket, and many more! The most colourful and spirited individuals on the day were no less than our staff whose teams are in the AFL Grand Final on Saturday. The best of luck to Ms McLauchlan and Mr Davie on their beloved Swans, and to Mrs Taylor and Mrs Ross for their treasured Lions!
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 Estelle Williams, Zander Robinson and Huntah Walker who have received 25 St Thomas More's sticker rewards for their positive contributions to our school.
Congratulations to Claire Bassett who have received 50 St Thomas More's sticker rewards for their positive contributions to our school.
A reminder that Term 4 commences on Tuesday, 15th October 2024.
Students will commence Term 4 in summer uniform.
School hats are required as of this date.
If your child/children will not be returning to St Thomas More's Catholic School in 2025, can you please notify the school via email: stm@catholic.tas.edu.au. Please note that 10 weeks notice is required under the Terms of Enrolment.
This term a group of Grade 5/6 students from STM have been participating in an initiative called the Sun Project, run by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. The program calls for students to dive deeply into the books shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year competition and act as “shadow judges”, critiquing the books in terms of the official judging criteria. We were tasked with selecting a winner in our chosen category and developing a series of creative responses to be shared on the national website.
STM chose to judge the Eve Pownall (nonfiction) category and, after much debate, chose Jess Rackyleft’s Australia: Country of Colour as our winning book. Here is a sample of the creative responses from our students to this and other shortlisted titles.
Rebecca Thomas
Librarian
St Giles Burn (formerly Balfour Burn) is on Sunday October 20th 1-3pm
Run 400 metres up Elizabeth and Arthur Street Hill
New finish line precinct at St. Georges Square with food and drink options, family activities and give aways.
Raise funds for St.Giles through Just Giving or purchase a ticket through TryBooking.
Visit stgiles.org.au or facebook/stgilesburn for more information
Ticket link (for e-newsletter) https://www.trybooking.com/CVAKP
