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"WOULD THAT WE MIGHT DO THE SAME."
In this short but powerful Gospel passage, we see the beginning of something extraordinary: Jesus calling his first disciples. Simon Peter and Andrew were fishing—just going about their everyday work—when Jesus walked by and simply said, “Come, follow me.” And “at once,” they left their nets behind. A few steps later, he called James and John, who were in the boat with their father, preparing the day’s nets—and again, “immediately,” they left the boat and their father and followed him.
There’s something remarkable, even confronting, in how quickly they responded. No questions asked. No delay. No hesitation. They didn’t check their calendars or finish the task at hand or see how things played out. They heard the call—and followed.
Matthew’s message to us is clear: when God calls, how do we respond? Are we willing to leave behind our own “nets”—the things that keep us safe, busy, or comfortable—in order to step into something greater? As a Catholic community, this passage reminds us that discipleship isn’t a slow shuffle; it’s a courageous leap. May we have the same courage, the same openness, and the same faith as those first disciples—to hear Christ’s call and follow, without delay.
I’m reminded of a moment from 2010, when I spent a fortnight in Florence, Italy. Each day I attended Mass—sometimes in Latin, sometimes in English, in small chapels tucked away in that stunning city. At one English Mass, the Gospel was this very passage. A Benedictine monk, fully robed, stepped forward to deliver the homily. And it was the most effective, efficient, memorable and resonant homily I have ever heard, and it was just seven simple words - no more, no less:
“Would that we might do the same.”
Mr Casimir Douglas
Thursday 3rd April, 2025
Dear Parents and Carers,
SALUTATION
Grace to you and peace.
STUDENT FREE DAY - FRIDAY 11TH ARPIL
I wish to remind all families that this coming Friday 11th April (Term 1 - Week 10) is Student Free Day. Catholic Education Tasmania will be holding their Formation for Mission - Professional Learning Day which provides opportunity for all staff engaged in Catholic education in Tasmania to build a foundational knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles of the Catholic faith through exploration, dialogue, and instruction.
JUNIOR JOEYS COMMISSIONING MASS
This Tuesday (1st April), our school community gathered in Sacred Heart Church to celebrate the Junior Joeys Mass and Commissioning Ceremony—an occasion that honours students who have committed to following in the footsteps of Saint Mary MacKillop. With hearts of faith, service, and compassion, our 2025 Junior Joeys pledged to live out the values of the Josephite tradition, especially the call to “never see a need without doing something about it.”
We were especially honoured to welcome Sister Carmel Jones, a Sister of St Joseph, who joined us to mark this special event. Sister Carmel presented each student with their Junior Joey badge and shared words of encouragement that connected our students to the living legacy of the Josephite Sisters.
We congratulate our newly commissioned Junior Joeys and look forward to the many ways they will serve our school and community in the year ahead.
TERM 1, 2025 - HOUSE CUP WINNERS!
All of Term 1, students have been receiving tokens from staff members for showing our positive behaviour expectations: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be a Learner. The House that receives the most tokens by the end of Week 9 each term wins the House Cup.
The winning House each term attends a special afternoon of activities with Mr Douglas and Ms Cornish on the Tuesday afternoon of Week 10, where they will also be presented with the House Cup.
The House Captains have tallied the tokens, and the final count for Term 1 is:
In third place, with 2,823 tokens is Chisholm House.
In second place, with 2,965 tokens is MacKillop House.
And in first place, and the winning House for Term 1, with 3,016 tokens is Tenison House!
GRADE 5/6 SCHOOLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Over the weekend, I had the absolute pleasure of watching each of our six St Thomas More’s teams compete in the Basketball Tasmania Grade 5/6 Schools Tournament. I relished the opportunity to be courtside across various games and venues, and I was both personally and professionally proud of the way our students represented themselves and our school. They played with pride, displayed outstanding sportsmanship, and treated each other, their opponents, referees, and coaches with consistent respect.
With 48 students across six teams, we were proud to be the largest school represented in the tournament — a testament not only to the enthusiasm of our students, but also to the strength and support of our wider school community. Across 24 games, our teams recorded 11 wins and a number of close results, but more importantly, they gained new friendships, built confidence, and created lifelong memories.
This event would not have been possible without the incredible leadership of Mrs Zegveld and Mr Davie, who coordinated our participation with care and professionalism. I would also like to express our sincere thanks to the many volunteer coaches and team managers — including staff, parents and friends of the school — who generously gave up their time to support our students. Thank you also to the referees who officiated the games across the weekend, and to our parent supporters, whose cheers, encouragement and presence helped create a positive atmosphere for all involved.
Now we look forward to the Grade 3/4 Basketball Tournament this weekend!
BILLY ELLIOT - THE MUSICAL!
We are delighted to celebrate the outstanding achievement of six of our students—Millie-Mae, Maicy, Rubi, Eloise, George, and Ada—who recently took to the stage in Encore Theatre Company’s production of Billy Elliot – The Musical at the Princess Theatre in Launceston.
From the moment the curtain rose on opening night to the final performance on Saturday evening, our students brought remarkable energy, passion, and professionalism to the production. Their dedication to rehearsals over many months—refining their singing, dancing, and acting—was clearly evident in the confidence and stagecraft they displayed throughout the season.
Taking part in a major theatrical production requires not only talent, but resilience, collaboration, and a willingness to step bravely into the spotlight. We commend each of these students for their commitment to their craft and for representing our school community with such poise and enthusiasm.
On behalf of the entire St Thomas More’s community, we extend our warmest congratulations to Millie-Mae, Maicy, Rubi, Eloise, George, and Ada. You have made us incredibly proud. Thank you for reminding us all of the joy and inspiration that comes when young people are given the opportunity to let their stars shine.
PAINT, SIP, LAUGH, REPEAT!
Last Friday afternoon (28th March), our staff wellbeing took a colourful turn as we gathered for a much-anticipated Paint & Sip event. Hosted by the fabulous team from Paint the Town Red, our multipurpose room was transformed into a pop-up art studio—complete with easels, palettes, and just the right amount of paint-related panic.
With refreshments in hand and brushes at the ready, staff from across the school came together to swap whiteboards for watercolours. It wasn’t just about learning to paint—it was about laughter, connection, and that shared moment when you realise your 'masterpiece' might be better suited to abstract interpretation. There was celebrating (those who somehow nailed perspective!) and commiserating (those who... didn’t), and through it all, an overwhelming sense of camaraderie.
The true beauty of the event wasn’t just in the final artworks (though we must say, they’re pretty impressive!)—it was in the joy of being together, unwinding, and remembering that sometimes the best way to refresh the soul is with a splash of colour and a good laugh.
Fun was absolutely had by all—and we’ve included a photo of the finished pieces so you can admire the masterpieces for yourself.
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
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Awarded by |
To |
For |
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Mrs Wheeler |
Charlotte Turner |
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. |
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Mrs Wheeler |
Isabelle Coombe |
For consistently demonstrating great focus and effort in class. Your commitment to doing your best in all tasks and making positive choices at school is excellent. |
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Mrs Wheeler |
Zander Robinson |
For showing wonderful growth and confidence in your abilities! Seeing you come out of your shell and embrace new challenges has been inspiring. Your determination and progress have not gone unnoticed. |
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Mrs Hodgetts |
Matilda Bowman |
For her enthusiasm and eagerness to complete her paper mache project. |
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Mrs Hodgetts |
Samuel Bye |
For working hard and having a go with all his learning tasks. |
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Mrs Hodgetts |
Charli Richmond |
For her excellent attitude and application towards all learning tasks. |
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Mrs Chugg |
Sage Garwood |
For being a positive and valued role model in the classroom and working hard to complete his learning tasks. |
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Mrs Chugg |
Neeva Bessell |
For her attentiveness in group learning and modelling all classroom rules and expectations effortlessly. |
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Mrs Chugg |
Owen Roney |
For his contributions to class discussions and positive attitude towards his studies. |
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Mrs Chugg |
Ava Baker |
For her commitment towards her learning goals and working really hard to stay focused in class. |
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Mr Davie |
Axel Gebka |
Thank you for your dedication and sportsmanship in representing our school at the NIJSSA Swimming Carnival and Basketball Tournament. Your commitment, effort, and teamwork were excellent. |
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Mr Davie |
Lachlan Reid |
Thank you for your positive attitude, kindness, and friendship. You are a valuable class member who is contributing to our learning environment. Congratulations, Lachlan! |
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Ms Nichols |
Paxton Walker |
For his dedication and commitment to challenge himself in maths. Well done, Pax! |
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Ms Nichols |
Michael Burgess |
For the kind way he treats and supports people in our class. Amazing work, Mikey! |
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Ms Nichols |
Charlotte Richards |
For being brave and resilient even when things are challenging. Well done, Charlotte! |
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Ms Flynn |
Huntah Walker |
For being a responsible learner and for helping those in need. Keep up the great work Huntah |
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Ms Flynn |
Amelia Bishop |
For showing courage and leadership as you represented our class in the school mass. Amazing work Amelia |
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Ms Flynn |
Eddie Ferguson |
For working hard in class and applying yourself to your learning. Well done Eddie |
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Ms Flynn |
Evie Witek |
For being a responsible learner and focusing on completing your tasks. Well done Evie. |
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Miss McLauchlan |
Samuel Mannion |
For his insightful and enthusiastic contributions to our HaSS class discussions. |
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Miss McLauchlan |
Zander Smith |
For demonstrating an outstanding positive mindset during class work and small groups activities |
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Miss McLauchlan |
Ryder Murfet |
For his perseverance and determination when working on long multiplication in maths this week. |
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Mrs Hartley |
Emily Van Helvoirt |
Awarded to Emily for her calm leadership and the thoughtful, caring way she supports and connects with younger students. |
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Mrs Hartley |
Elina Pedder |
For the focus and passion Elina brings to Writer’s Workshop, and the kindness she shows every day—both are truly valued and appreciated. |
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Mrs Hartley |
Chace Bryan |
Chace is a wonderful student, and a wonderful friend—he brings a calm and steady approach to his learning and has a special ability to bring out the best in those around him. |
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Mrs Wahl |
Freya Cassidy |
For treating others with respect and kindness at all times. |
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Mrs Wahl |
Macy Smith |
Macy is always looking out for others and being willing to lend a hand. |
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Mrs Wahl |
Harvey Claxton |
For working hard in all areas and being prepared to extend himself. |
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Mrs Carr |
Aaron Soegianto |
For your hard work during our learning time. You are doing a great job of sharing your thinking on the mat and finishing your independent work. |
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Mrs Carr |
Ollie Baker |
For all of the ways you show kindness and respect in our classroom. Thank you for setting such a wonderful example for others Ollie. |
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Mrs Scharapow |
Charlie George |
For your focus and effort in class. Your commitment to doing your best in all tasks and making positive choices at school is excellent. |
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Mrs Scharapow |
Reuben Foskett |
For always being such a fabulous classroom helper and showing your positive attitude towards your learning tasks this term. |
A reminder that Term 1 concludes on Thursday, 10th April 2025 - Friday is a student free day. Term 2 resumes on Monday, 28th April 2025.
At the commencement of Term 2 students will be required to wear their winter uniform. Students from Kinder to Year 2 wear their PE uniform and students from Year 3 to Year 6 wear the formal winter uniform.
Our overall winner of the STM LEGO Competition was Eva Lewis with her stunning peacock artwork, aptly titled “GORGE-ous”. Eva now gets to display her stunning LEGO art piece at the upcoming Brixhibition in the term break. We are very proud of Eva!
Speaking of artwork - how magnificent was Ella White’s winning creation for the Grade 3/4 section of our competition? You can check out this floral arrangement on display in the school foyer. While you’re there, be taken to two amazing fantasy worlds, in the winning creations of Thomas Bowman and Ziggy Avery. Look inside the hidden bunker of Thomas’ mountain hideout, and marvel at Ziggy’s dragons.
A big thank you to everyone who participated. The votes took hours to count as they were so close we needed to count three times over!
We can’t wait to do it all again next year.
Cassie O’Neill
Specialist Teacher: Science
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)
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3/4 Basketball Tournament
05 Apr 2025 - 06 Apr 2025 |
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Set up for Success/Joeys
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Recurring event |
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Gospel Values morning tea
10:50 AM - 11:25 AM |
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Term 1 concludes for Students
All day |
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ANZAC Day
All day Recurring event |
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ANZAC Day
All day Recurring event |
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Term 2 commences for Staff and Students
All day |
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Set up for Success/Joeys
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Recurring event |
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3/4 Excursion to Agfest
All day |
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School Photos MSP
All day |
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