THE FOX, THE TAIL, AND THE PATH TO GREATNESS

For the Reflection in last week’s Newsletter I simply proffered the ancient Armenian parable, The Fox That Lost His Tail. But it is more than just a charming folktale—it’s a reflection of life’s deeper truths. At its heart, it speaks to our journey toward wholeness, not as a solo pursuit, but as part of a greater web of relationships. In his writings, Fr. Richard Rohr often reminds us that transformation happens when we surrender to something larger than ourselves, while Cynthia Bourgeault teaches that wisdom is found in the flow of giving and receiving. The fox’s journey mirrors these insights, revealing three key themes: Community & Support, The Journey of Restoration, and The Mystery of Grace.

Community & Support

At first, the fox’s response to losing his tail is one of urgency—he wants it back immediately. But as he sets out, he discovers that he cannot fix his problem alone. His restoration depends on the kindness of others, and each step requires him to engage with the world around him.

This reflects the deep truth that we are not meant to journey through life in isolation. As a school community, we are called to support one another in ways both seen and unseen. Parents, teachers, and students alike play a role in shaping the environment where growth is possible. In a world that often glorifies self-sufficiency, we must remember that true greatness comes not from standing alone, but from lifting each other up.

The Journey of Restoration

If the fox had simply demanded his tail back, he would have been met with refusal. Instead, his journey unfolds one step at a time—bringing grain to the hen, an egg to the peddler, and so on. This is the slow, sometimes frustrating path of restoration.

Fr Richard Rohr describes this as the process of transformation: we must participate in our own healing rather than expect immediate results. Whether we are guiding children through challenges, working toward personal goals, or navigating setbacks, the lesson is the same—real growth cannot be rushed. As educators and parents, we often see children eager for instant success, but true development happens in the patient unfolding of time, in the small, faithful steps of effort and learning.

The Mystery of Grace

The fox’s journey is not just transactional—it is relational. He doesn’t control the outcome; instead, he enters the flow of life’s interconnected exchanges. This is what Cynthia Bourgeault describes as kenosis—the path of self-giving that leads to transformation.

Often, the solutions we seek do not arrive on our timeline or in the way we expect. Yet, when we trust the process, grace has a way of working things out. The fox’s experience reminds us that when we engage with life, giving before receiving, we are drawn into something greater than ourselves.

Fostering Greatness

Like the fox, we sometimes want things fixed instantly. But often, life teaches us that wholeness comes through engaging with others, giving before receiving, and trusting the process.

At St Thomas More’s Catholic School, fostering greatness means recognising that real success is not about quick fixes or going it alone. It’s about patience, relationships, and trust in the journey. When we embrace this, we create a school where children don’t just learn facts—they grow in resilience, wisdom, and grace.

Mr Casimir Douglas

Sunday 9th February, 2025

Dear Parents and Carers,

SALUTATION

Grace to you and peace.

GRADE 6 CAMP!

What a remarkable three days our Grade 6 students and teaching staff have just experienced! On Wednesday morning (28th February), our intrepid travellers set off for their annual Grade 6 Camp, bound for the North-West Coast. After braving the bus ride and windy shores en route, we arrived at our central hub of activity, Riverbend Youth Centre in sunny Smithton, where the fun and learning truly began.

Over the course of Camp, students and staff explored a variety of exciting and challenging environments, including the Burnie PCYC, Somerset Park, the Smithton Aquatic Centre, the Sandcastle Competition at Godfrey's Beach, and the Amazing Race in Stanley! Together, our students developed problem-solving skills, tested their resilience, and built new friendships—often accompanied by a good dose of laughter! Whether they were scaling tricky terrains, working together in teams, or racing around scenic Stanley, each experience offered opportunities to assess risks, overcome fears, and discover hidden strengths.

I was fortunate to join the Grade 6 group on Wednesday and Thursday, and it was a real highlight to perform the Haka with the students on Wednesday evening. During that reflection session, I shared stories of my Māori heritage and reminded our students that what makes you unique is what makes you, you. The message to embrace your weird was a key takeaway, and it was wonderful to see everyone throwing themselves wholeheartedly into learning about this special part of my culture.

A vital purpose of this camp is to strengthen peer relationships, reinforce teacher-student connections, promote independence and teamwork, and develop resilience—qualities that research strongly supports as pivotal in outdoor learning programs. By facing new and sometimes daunting challenges in a safe, supportive environment, our students gained invaluable practice in coping strategies, perseverance, frustration tolerance, and interpersonal communication. It was a joy watching them encourage one another to keep going—and to see them celebrate each other’s achievements at day’s end.

All of this would not have been possible without the amazing dedication and planning of our Team Leader - Primary, Mrs Danielle Hodgetts, and our Grade 5/6 teaching team. Their countless hours of preparation—arranging transport, activities, accommodation, and catering—ensured a seamlessly run and thoroughly enjoyable experience for our students. Thank you to everyone involved in making Camp 2025 such a terrific success, and for giving our Grade 6s memories they will cherish well beyond their final year at our school.

Ngā mihi (thank you).

GOSPEL VALUE AWARDS: RESPECT

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 February, the school community is focused on the Gospel value of RESPECT. Our Gospel Values: Head, Heart & Hands Framework, reminds our students that to show the value of respect is to be kind, be thankful, and be positive.

The following students received a Gospel Value Award at our Monday morning Prayer Assembly (24th February) this week, as nominated by their class teacher for exemplifying the Gospel value of RESPECT:

Term 1 - Week 3, 2025
Louie Saunders	For being a respectful and responsible member of our classroom. Louie you always say please and thank you, wait your turn and show amazing five star listening. Thank you for setting such a wonderful example for your peers.	Prep More
Bonnie Schindler	Bonnie has shown the Gospel Value of Respect through her kind and caring ways of treating others and active listening in class.	Prep Thomas
Braxton Bonner	For being a respectful listener during mat time and offering to assist Ms Nichols whenever possible. Keep up the amazing work, Braxton!	Grade 1/2 More
Charlotte Turner	Charlotte demonstrates the gospel value of respect every day. She shows this by actively listening, checking in with her peers and teachers and following school expectations and values.	Grade 1/2 Saint
Olivia Pooley	Olivia is a kind and considerate member of our class. Her actions show maturity and empathy, as she not only respects her teachers at all times, but also demonstrates the Spirit of Jesus with her peers by helping others and waiting for them to go first.	Grade 1/2 Thomas
Orla Wragg	For consistently demonstrating the value of Respect by adhering to class expectations and serving as a positive role model for peers. You can always be counted on to make thoughtful decisions and show kindness to others. Keep up the amazing work Orla	Grade 3/4 More
Isla Hawkins	Isla demonstrates respect towards her peers and teacher within classroom activities and social situations.	Grade 3/4 Saint
Millie-Mae O'Mahony	For her outstanding sportsmanship and encouragement towards her peers at the school swimming carnival. Millie demonstrated the Gospel Value of respect through her words, actions and gestures which contributed to her success and the success of others. Keep shining your light, Millie.	Grade 3/4 Thomas
Annika Johns	Annika consistently embodies the gospel value of respect. She lives out the message of St. Mary MacKillop—"Never see a need without doing something about it." Annika is always willing to help with classroom tasks, warmly greets everyone with a smile and a kind "good morning," holds the door open for others, and treats everyone with kindness. She is a fantastic role model for respect in our school!	Grade 5/6 More
Layla Zuj	Layla is always respectful in all areas of school life. She is kind to her peers, always treating others with care and understanding. Layla is also inclusive, ensuring everyone feels welcome and valued in group activities.	Grade 5/6 Saint
Harvey Richards	Harvey, you have made a fantastic start to Grade 5, showing confidence, patience, and a thoughtful approach to everything you do. Your quiet leadership shines through in the way you show respect—listening to the thoughts of others before sharing your own and valuing the perspectives of those around you.	Grade 5/6 Thomas

These students also attended the Principal’s Morning Tea on Tuesday (25th February) in the Josephite Hall during the first break at 10:50am with myself and Fr Vinco Muriyadan.

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 RESPECT. These students attended a special Principal’s Morning Tea in Josephite Hall this Tuesday (25th February).

We were treated to a smorgasbord of fruits, scrolls, scones and banana bread and we each shared what we are grateful for in our lives, including family, breakfast, the roof over our heads, Aunties (especially when they buy us tickets for Billie Eilish!), monkey bars, life itself, and Nan's dog, Rex! They also shared about their hobbies, interests and dreams which included football, soccer, frogs, fruit salad (the game!), Pac-Man, climbing frames, rollerblade hockey, riding our bikes, swimming training, drawing, hip-hop dancing, lyrical dancing, tennis, swimming in the pool at home, taekwondo, dogs, mini-athletics (especially hurdles), and playing the piano! Oh, and the colours: green, blue, purple, pink, aqua and black!

LAUNCESTON INTERNATIONAL TENNIS TOURNAMENT

Our Grade 3-6 students recently enjoyed an unforgettable excursion to the Launceston International Tennis Tournament. Under radiant sunshine, they relished the chance to see professional athletes at the peak of their game. The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement, especially for our Grade 3/4 students who were thrilled to catch Cruz Hewitt (son of Aussie tennis legend, Lleyton Hewitt) in action. The cheers and wide-eyed awe on the children’s faces perfectly captured the enthusiasm of the day, as they soaked in every moment of this unique sporting experience.

The adventure didn’t end with watching from the sidelines—each student had the opportunity to step onto the courts, racquet in hand, to try a few shots and imagine themselves as the next big tennis star. We’re incredibly proud of the positive attitude and sportsmanship they displayed, demonstrating the spirit of our school community. A huge thank you to the Launceston Tennis Centre for hosting us and inspiring our students to dream big, be active, and embrace new challenges.

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

This is a reminder to please change your child's class on the Flexischool app for their lunch orders as some children's orders being delivered to the wrong class due to the label reading last years class, thank you.

Looking for a joyful, educational start for your little one? Our Joeys Playgroup at St Thomas More’s Catholic School is the place to be!

✅ FREE sessions for children aged birth to 4!
✅ Fun, learning & play in a school environment!
✅ Run by experienced, accredited educators
✅ Tuesdays 9:00am - 10:30am during term time!

Come along to Josephite Hall and watch your child’s curiosity and confidence grow! Plus, connect with other local families and share in the joy of learning together!

No bookings required — just turn up & have fun!

St Thomas More’s Catholic School
Every Tuesday (School Term)