WELCOME ASSEMBLY

Today, our school community gathered in the Piazza for our Welcome Assembly, marking the official start of the 2025 school year. It was a wonderful opportunity to come together in faith, celebration and unity, as we embarked on this year’s learning journey.

Our assembly began with prayer and a reading from the Gospel, grounding us in the values that guide our community. A highlight of the gathering was the presentation of the Leadership Blazers to our School Captains—a symbol of their commitment to serving and inspiring their peers.

Congratulations again to the following Grade 6 students on their appointment to the role of School Captain for the 2025 school year:

I was also delighted to introduce our students to our new Positive Behaviour Support Acknowledgement & Reward system, designed to affirm and encourage positive choices (more on this below).

We concluded the assembly by standing together to sing Advance Australia Fair, a fitting way to honour our shared commitment to respect, responsbility, learning and community in the year ahead.

INTRODUCING PBS TOKENS - ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & REWARD SYSTEM

At St Thomas More’s Catholic School, we believe that positive behaviour should be recognised, encouraged, and celebrated. That’s why we’re excited to introduce our PBS Acknowledgement & Rewards System—a fun and structured way to support our students in making respectful, responsible, and engaged choices every day.

Why PBS?

Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is more than just a program—it’s a whole-school approach to building a culture where students feel valued, motivated, and empowered to do their best. Research tells us that when students are recognised for positive behaviour, they’re more likely to continue making great choices. Our PBS system helps us reinforce the behaviours we want to see, ensuring our school remains a safe, respectful, and inspiring place to learn.

How do the tokens work?

Every time a student demonstrates our school’s key expectations—Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be a Learner—they may receive a PBS Token from their teacher or a staff member. These tokens come in three different colours, each representing one of our school-wide values.

When a student earns a token, they place it in their House Jar in their classroom. Every two weeks, House Captains collect and count the tokens, adding them to the Giant House Jars in the school office. Tokens are then tallied, and at the end of each term, the House with the most tokens wins the prestigious House Cup and a special House Reward Experience!

Additionally, individual classes are working toward their own goals! Classes earn Class Rewards at different token milestones, unlocking fun activities such as board game afternoons, comfy clothes days, or movie sessions.

What if my child brings a token home?

If your child proudly presents a PBS Token at home—fantastic! That means they’ve done something great! However, we kindly ask that you ensure the token is returned to school the next day. Every single token contributes to their House’s total, and each one counts toward winning the House Cup! By reminding your child to place it in their class’s House Jar, you’re helping them understand the value of working together as a team.

We encourage you to talk to your child about the PBS system—ask them about their tokens, celebrate their achievements, and reinforce the importance of positive behaviour both at school and at home. With your support, we can make this initiative a success and create an environment where positive choices lead to positive rewards!

Thank you for being part of our PBS journey—we can’t wait to see our students shine this year!

SWIMMING CARNIVAL

The highly anticipated Swimming Carnival for our Grade 3-6 students is happening next Wednesday 12th February at the Riverside Swimming Pool!

This is always one of the most exciting events on the school calendar—a day filled with friendly competition, House spirit, and opportunities for students to strengthen friendships while making memories under the summer sun. It’s not just about swimming fast but showing courage, teamwork, and enthusiasm in every event.

A few reminders for our students: be SunSmart, stay hydrated, participate with energy, support your peers, and dive into new experiences. Growth happens when you step outside your comfort zone, and that’s where the fun begins!

For parents attending the carnival: please ensure you have read today’s important letter sent via Compass. It includes essential details about parent engagement and expectations for the day to ensure a safe and positive event for everyone.

Let’s make this an unforgettable day of fun, growth, and House pride. See you poolside!

COMMUNITY WELCOME EVENING!

As per previous correspondence, the Community Welcome Evening is being held on Monday 17^th February from 5:00pm – 7:00pm in the Kitchen Garden.

Additionally, from 5:00pm-5:30pm, we will be holding open classrooms as an opportunity for parents to view their child's learning environment and meet their child's classroom teacher. There will be no formal presentations, no prepared speeches, and no new or additional information to be shared on this evening. Just simply an opportunity for parents to briefly meet their child's teacher and visit their child’s learning space.

Please use the QR code below to RSVP for the event by next Friday 14th February.