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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.
DARE TO LEAD
Perhaps, the most seminal and influential piece of leadership literature for the Leadership Team of St Thomas More’s Catholic School is the book Dare to Lead by Brené Brown. Over the past three years, the Leadership Team has completed the Dare to Lead leadership development program with the support of Certified Dare to Lead Facilitator, Dr Polly McGee.
For those of you unfamiliar with Brené Brown, she is renowned for her research on vulnerability and courage, and presents a powerful approach to leadership that resonates strongly with anyone striving to foster a nurturing, empowering community. Through a rich blend of storytelling and evidence-based insights, Brown redefines leadership as an act of service that calls for courage, empathy, and connection.
At the heart of Brown’s framework is the idea that effective leadership is rooted in vulnerability. She argues that courage without vulnerability is impossible, as it’s through our openness and authenticity that we connect most meaningfully with others. This perspective challenges the common misconception that leaders must be stoic or unbreakable. Instead, Dare to Lead encourages us to be honest about our imperfections, which makes us relatable and strengthens our relationships. For a school leader, this means acknowledging our own struggles as we strive to guide and inspire others.
In Dare to Lead, Brown contrasts “Armoured Leadership Behaviours” with “Daring Leadership Behaviours,” urging communities and individuals to shift from self-protection to authenticity. A compelling example she provides is the difference between “Being a Knower and Being Right” versus “Being a Learner and Getting it Right.” In a school context, this approach has a profound impact on the partnership between home and school. When educators or parents adopt a “Knower” mindset, conversations can become one-sided, limiting the valuable insights that both sides offer. By contrast, “Being a Learner” opens the door to authentic dialogue, where teachers, parents, and students feel heard and respected. This shift invites collaborative problem-solving and creates a partnership where feedback is valued, enhancing the school community’s shared goals. Through this focus on learning over certainty, we build stronger, more trusting relationships, ensuring every child’s needs are supported from multiple perspectives.
Brown also explores the role of courage in challenging difficult situations. She speaks to the importance of embracing discomfort and facing hard conversations head-on rather than avoiding them. For school leaders and parents alike, this means being willing to address issues openly, even when it’s challenging. In doing so, we model for our children that courage means addressing problems with grace and resilience rather than shying away from them.
As parents in our Catholic school community, Dare to Lead offers key takeaways that resonate with our values. Brown’s call to lead with courage and compassion is a reminder that we, too, can model these qualities at home. We can practise vulnerability by sharing our own challenges, and we can build trust with our children through consistent, open conversations. Moreover, by encouraging our children to face difficult situations with courage and empathy, we equip them with skills that will serve them well in school and beyond. Let’s embrace Brown’s lessons to foster resilient, compassionate leaders within our own families.
Mr Casimir Douglas
Friday 1st November, 2024
SALUTATION
Grace to you and peace.
GRANDPARENTS DAY
What a beautiful Grandparents Day we had yesterday! Our school grounds were filled with laughter, love, and delicious treats as grandparents and grandchildren gathered for a sunny afternoon picnic. It was heartwarming to see generations connecting over games, shared stories, and plenty of snacks!
A special shoutout to the brave grandparents who joined in on the playground fun—some even took a turn down the slide!
Thank you to all the grandparents who joined us and brought their fun, wisdom, and maybe a few extra cookies! It was a day full of joy, snacks, smiles and sweet memories we won’t soon forget!
GOSPEL VALUE AWARDS: JUSTICE
Our fortnightly Gospel Values Awards process provides for the nomination and presentation of the Gospel Value Awards for those students who demonstrate, live out, and exemplify the school's Gospel values. For the month of October, the school community has focused on the Gospel value of JUSTICE. Our Gospel Values: Head, Heart & Hands Framework, reminds our students that to show the value of JUSTICE is to be helpful, be fair, and be caring.
A number of students will receive a Gospel Value Award at our morning Prayer Assembly on Tuesday (5th November), as nominated by their class teacher for exemplifying the Gospel value of JUSTICE.
These students will also attend the Principal’s Morning Tea on Tuesday 5th November in the Josephite Hall during the first break at 10:50am with myself and Fr Vinco Muriyada.
GRADE 5/6 SCHOOLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
This weekend, we flooded the basketball courts of Launceston with blue and white as five teams and over forty students as we competed in the Basketball Tasmania’s Grade 5/6 Northern Schools Basketball Tournament.
A special mention to our Grade 5/6 Girls Division 1 team who finished as Runners Up in the competition, and played with outstanding heart, courage, skill, and team work!
A HUGE thank you to Mrs Zegveld and Mr Davie for their leadership and organisation, to all the volunteer coaches and team managers for the gift of your time and energy, to all the parents and spectators who came out in droves to support our teams, and to all students who played this weekend - we are so proud of how you represented our school with pride!
STUDENT LEADERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT: NIJSSA ATHLETICS CAPTAINS
We are pleased to share that on Wednesday morning in our Grade 5/6 classes this week, we announced the Captains of our NIJSSA Athletics Carnival team that represented our school at the event at St Leonard's Athletics Track this Friday (1st November):
NIJSSA Athletics Girls Captain: Eliza Davie
NIJSSA Athletics Boys Captain: Ethan Crawford
These Grade 6 students were appointed to the role following consideration of their sportmanship, skill level and attitude, as well as their modelling of respectful behaviour, and living out the values of our school. Congratulations to Eliza and Ethan!
I look forward to sharing the experience of our students at the NIJSAA Athletics Carnival in the Newsletter next week.
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
|
Awarded by |
To |
For |
|
Mrs Scharapow |
Louie Matthews |
Well done Louie! You are working hard in class to do your best work. We love seeing your welcoming smile every morning. |
|
Mrs Scharapow |
Oliver Wood |
for your hard work in class and for welcoming everyone to group activities |
|
Mrs Hodgetts |
Riley Pearce |
For being an enthusiastic learner who always completes tasks within the set time frame. It has also been wonderful to see your confidence grow throughout the year Riley! |
|
Mrs Hodgetts |
Stella Bye |
For the attention to detail that you include within all your tasks Stella. You have shown growth in all areas of your learning. Keep up the great work Stella! |
|
Mrs Wheeler |
Evie Witek |
For embracing a positive attitude and showing remarkable growth. Your new, positive outlook has made a significant impact on your schooling. I am very proud of you. |
|
Mrs Wheeler |
Eden Surrall |
Your kindness and supportive nature towards your friends have made a positive impact on everyone around you. I am incredibly proud of you and appreciate all that you contribute to 1/2 Saint. |
|
Ms Nichols |
Reuben Pentland |
For his outstanding commitment to keeping our classroom clean and organised. Thank you for being a fantastic helper, Reuben! |
|
Ms Nichols |
Neve Malthouse |
For her hard work with reading. You should be so proud of your progress, Neve! |
|
Ms Nichols |
Oliver Notman |
For being a considerate, helpful, and respectful member of our class. Amazing work, Ollie! |
|
Mrs Carr |
Hugo Artis |
For your excellent sentence writing. Hugo, you are working so hard in class and should be proud of your progress! |
|
Mrs Carr |
Lily Morris |
For your focus and participation during all learning tasks. Lily, you put so much effort into your work and you should feel really proud of your achievements. |
|
Miss McLauchlan |
Tess Allie |
For her positive and insightful contributions to classroom activities and discussions. |
|
Miss McLauchlan |
Ivy Cartledge |
For showing resilience at our class assembly by standing up and speaking in front of the whole school community! |
|
Miss McLauchlan |
Elliot Wheatley |
For demonstrating a positive and enthusiastic mindset towards his MacqLit group. Well done, Elliot! |
|
Miss McLauchlan |
Pippa Harmey |
For her hard work and determination when working on fractions in maths group |
|
Mrs Chugg |
Jayla Wrankmore |
For her consistent dedication to her studies and pushing herself to exceed expectations in all areas of the curriculum. |
|
Mrs Chugg |
Payton Massey |
For demonstrating readiness to learn in the classroom and her commitment to building positive relationships with her peers. |
|
Mrs Chugg |
Finn Spiteri |
For his positive attitude and commitment to his studies. Finn is always leading by example in following all classroom rules and expectations effortlessly. |
|
Mrs Hartley |
Finn Turriff |
For the courage he has shown in class debates and activities that require public speaking skills. Finn’s comments are always considerate of the thoughts and feelings of others. |
|
Mrs Hartley |
Elijah Sullivan |
In recognition of his focused start to the term. Elijah has used the opportunity to connect his passions with our class topics, resulting in increased motivation and engagement in his learning. |
|
Mrs Hartley |
Rubi Butwell |
For her ability to listen to and thoughtfully incorporate feedback to enhance the quality of her work. Rubi consistently demonstrates a commitment to growth and improvement in her learning. |
|
Mrs Hartley |
Oliver Terry |
For his positive approach to the term. Oliver’s recent work in class reflects his ability to engage, focus, and organise when connecting his learning to real-world projects. |
|
Mrs Hartley |
Eliska Slama |
For her genuine care and empathy for others. Eliska is always looking for ways to brighten her peer’s days. |
|
Mrs Taylor |
Ella French |
For the positive attitude you bring to 1/2 Thomas and the way you tackle any task given to you. Thank you for the respect you show both your teachers and your peers. You are a valued member of 1/2 Thomas, Ella! |
|
Mrs Taylor |
Jessica Blazley |
For being an amazing human being and always looking out for others. You bring a sense of calm to our days and you tackle any task with great enthusiasm and effort. Thank you Jess! |
|
Mr Farran |
Ivy Fankhauser |
For her great attitude towards learning. Ivy is always engaged in activities and consistently puts forth her best effort in everything she does. |
|
Mr Farran |
Morrison Harmey |
For the creativity and joy he brings to the classroom. Morrison's imaginative ideas and enthusiasm create a positive presence that inspires those around him |
|
Mr Faran |
Issy White |
For an outstanding display of determination and sportsmanship at the Grade 5/6 basketball tournament. You should be proud of how you represented STM throughout the weekend |
Congratulations to Lillian Carey, Jack Spicer, Bastian Krushka, Harry Peters and Charlie Thomas who received 25 St Thomas More's sticker rewards for their positive contributions to our school.
Congratulations to Julian Foskett and Aria Rainsford who have received 50 St Thomas More's sticker rewards for their positive contributions to our school.
On Saturday, 26 October 2024, The Grade 10 ("b Class") held a 50 year reunion. Part of the celebrations were held at St Thomas More's Catholic School, a school tour took place together with an afternoon tea. Sister Margaret Cousins, who was the Principal at St Thomas More's Catholic School at the time was also present to enjoy the reunion with the class.
The co-ordinator of the event passed on the following:
The Grade 10 (“B Class”) of 1974 who participated in a 50 year reunion celebration would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the school for their amazing generosity and support. A huge “thank you” to Sharon Woolridge and the staff who helped us plan for, and facilitate, an afternoon tea and school tour, which was the highlight of our weekend’s activities. Rebecca Thomas assisted us to access any historical photos and put together a PowerPoint which was greatly appreciated. Mr Rik supported us with everything we needed on the day to make sure things ran smoothly and Allison Cornish generously gave up her Saturday afternoon to provide a guided tour of the school to our group. We were amazed to see the changes that have taken place and the wonderful learning environment that has been created for today’s students as well as delighting in seeing some familiar landmarks which brought back many memories!! We are all so appreciative of the staff who went beyond our expectations in contributing to the success of our school reunion. We wish you all the best for the next 50 years and beyond.
Cheryl McFadzean
Reunion Co-ordinator
