SWIMMING CARNIVAL

The Swimming Carnival is always one of the most anticipated events on our school calendar—a day filled with House spirit, camaraderie, and the joy of summer fun at the pool. It’s an opportunity for students to compete, cheer each other on, and create lasting memories in an atmosphere of excitement and friendly rivalry.

This year’s carnival took place on Wednesday, 12th February, at the Riverside Pool, and we couldn’t have asked for a better day. The sun was shining, the energy was high, and the enthusiasm from students, staff, and families made for an incredible atmosphere.

A heartfelt thank you to the parents who generously volunteered their time to support the event, to our dedicated staff for their encouragement and seamless organisation, to Mr Rik Bryan for all his efforts behind the scenes in setting up and packing down, and to Mr Nick Stacey for his outstanding leadership in planning and delivering another fantastic Swimming Carnival.

Of course, the real stars of the day were our students. Their sportsmanship, determination, and unwavering support for one another were truly inspiring. The cheers echoing across the pool as they urged their classmates towards the final touch of the wall were a highlight of the day.

After a thrilling round of relays to close out the competition, Tension emerged victorious as the 2025 St Thomas More’s Catholic School Swimming Carnival champions. House Captains, Tess Allie and Elliot Wheatley, accepted the trophy with pride, delivering impressive speeches to cap off another memorable event!

PBS WALKTHROUGH

At St Thomas More’s Catholic School, we believe that positive behaviour starts with clear expectations and strong leadership. That’s why, every year, we begin our PBS journey with our Annual PBS Walkthrough—a whole-school event designed to ensure every student understands how to demonstrate Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be a Learner in every area of our school.

On the morning of Tuesday, 11th February, our Grade 6 student leaders stepped up to guide their younger peers through key locations around the school, including the playground, the Oval, our walkways, and key gathering areas such as Josephite Hall and the Piazza. At each stop, small groups of Grade 6 leaders explained the PBS expectations for that space—how to play safely, move respectfully, and contribute to a positive school environment.

This event is not only a fantastic way to set the tone for the year, but it’s also a significant leadership opportunity for our Grade 6 students. By teaching younger students the expectations, they become role models and ambassadors for our school’s values. A huge thank you to Ms Allison Cornish for coordinating this important initiative and supporting our student leaders in their role!

And of course, as we put our PBS values into practice, students can earn PBS Tokens when they demonstrate these expectations in real time. These tokens contribute to both class and House rewards, with every single token helping students work towards exciting Class Rewards and the highly sought-after House Cup!

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 or click this link to RSVP for the event by next Friday 14th February.

WELCOME MASS

As we embark on a new school year, we warmly invite our parent community to join us for our Welcome Mass on Tuesday 18th February at 9:30am in Sacred Heart Church. This special gathering allows us to come together in faith, celebrating the beginning of the school year through the Eucharist—the source and summit of our faith.

Your presence at this Mass is more than just a moment of prayer; it is a powerful sign of the deep partnership between home and school in nurturing our students’ spiritual journey. As outlined in our Strategic Plan (2025-2030): Fostering Greatness, we are committed to:

✅ Strengthening Catholic Identity & Mission – We aspire to a vibrant, faith-filled school where students witness and experience a rich liturgical life, strengthened by the active participation of parents and the wider community.

✅ Fostering Belonging & Connection – A school is more than a place of learning; it is a community. By attending and engaging in moments like this, parents reinforce for their children that faith is lived, shared, and celebrated together.

✅ Promoting Parent & Family Engagement – We believe that strong family involvement enriches our students’ experience and deepens the bonds that unite us as a Catholic school.

We encourage you to take this opportunity to share in the spirit of our school community, to pray together, and to begin the year in the presence of Christ. We look forward to welcoming you and celebrating together.