Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Carers,
SALUTATION
Grace to you and peace.
INSIGHT SRC SCHOOL EFFECTIVENESS SURVEY FEEDBACK!
At St Thomas More’s Catholic School, we are deeply committed to listening, growing, and ensuring that our students thrive. Last year, in Weeks 8 & 9 of Term 3, 2024, we had the unique opportunity to be one of eight trial schools for Catholic Education Tasmania (CET) to participate in a new parent survey, titled the Insight SRC School Effectiveness Survey. We were also the only school in the Launceston region selected, and we’re excited to share the results with you.
The good news? Parents overwhelmingly expressed high satisfaction with our academic programs, praising our dedicated and passionate teachers, our strong learning environment, and the positive relationships students build with their peers. The survey also highlighted that our students enjoy coming to school, feel supported, and are developing valuable social skills. Additionally, our Catholic identity remains a strong pillar, with parents recognising the school’s efforts in faith formation, compassion, and social justice opportunities.
Of course, every great school is always looking for ways to improve, and your feedback provided us with important insights. Parents noted that while our communication is strong, there is a desire for more opportunities to provide input into school decisions. This is where we strongly encourage you to engage in our Parents & Friends Committee or School Advisory Board. These groups offer direct opportunities to collaborate with the school, ensuring that parent voices play an active role in shaping our future.
Now, here’s where you come in! CET has now made this survey an annual initiative for all Catholic schools across Tasmania. Moving forward, this survey will take place in Term 1, during Weeks 8 & 9 each year. That means we will be asking all parents to complete this year’s survey commencing in Week 8!
Your voice truly matters. In our last survey, one of the biggest pieces of feedback was a desire for increased parent input—well, here is your chance! Keep an eye out for further communication about the 2025 Parent Survey, and when it arrives, we encourage you to take the time to complete it. Your feedback helps us celebrate our strengths, identify opportunities for improvement, and most importantly, continue to make St Thomas More’s the best it can be for our children.
Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support—we can’t wait to hear from you again!
GOSPEL VALUE AWARDS: DIGNITY
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 March, the school community is focused on the Gospel value of DIGNITY. Our Gospel Values: Head, Heart & Hands Framework, reminds our students that to show the value of dignity is to be myself, do my best, and be proud.
The following students received a Gospel Value Award at our Tuesday morning Prayer Assembly (11th March) this week, as nominated by their class teacher for exemplifying the Gospel value of DIGNITY:
Term 1 - Week 5, 2025 | ||
Grace Anderson | Grace thank you for always being a focused learner, I love the way that you always try your best and show pride in your work. You set a great example for your classmates. | Prep More |
Charlotte Bellenger | Charlotte acts with dignity when she shows respect and kindness for others. She treats her peers with respect and values others when she listens to them. | Prep Thomas |
Blake Stocks | Blake shows the Gospel value of dignity by consistently going out of his way to help around our classroom. He loves helping teachers with their tasks and always volunteers his assistance. Thank you for everything you do, Blake! | Grade 1/2 More |
Thomas Bowman | Thomas demonstrated the gospel value of dignity through his valuable assistance during Shrove Tuesday. Your efforts in helping organise pancakes for all classes were greatly appreciated. You should be very proud of yourself! | Grade 1/2 Saint |
Ava Johnson | Ava demonstrates the Gospel Value of Dignity everyday through her considerate and respectful actions. Ava recognises the needs of others and quietly works to support all those around her. | Grade 1/2 Thomas |
Kip Cruse | Kip is a consistently respectful and polite student in class, always offering assistance to others without needing to be asked. He demonstrates the school values with integrity, treating everyone with kindness and respect in all situations. | Grade 3/4 More |
Scout Lunson | For respecting the dignity of others and for embracing her true self. | Grade 3/4 Saint |
Huxley Clarke | For his high engagement and strong work ethic in the classroom. Huxley takes pride in his learning and strives to be the best version of himself each day. Keep being you, Huxley! | Grade 3/4 Thomas |
Dustin Graham | Dustin exemplifies the value of dignity by consistently treating his peers and younger students with respect and kindness. His unwavering consideration for others sets a positive example for all. | Grade 5/6 More |
Minnie Williams | Thank you, Minnie, for always treating staff and students with kindness and respect. Your ability to show dignity in all situations makes you a wonderful role model for our school community. Keep shining! | Grade 5/6 Saint |
Finn Turriff | Finn’s integrity is evident in the way he approaches his learning. He consistently pushes himself to extend and improve, especially in maths, where his dedication and hard work are leading to well-earned success. He listens carefully to feedback and uses it to grow, setting a great example for his peers. | Grade 5/6 Thomas |
These students also attended the Principal’s Morning Tea on Tuesday (11th March) in the Josephite Hall during the first break at 10:50am with myself and Fr Vinco Muriyadan.
PRINCIPAL'S MORNING TEA
At our Tuesday morning Prayer Assembly this week, there were a number of students who received a Gospel Value Award for demonstrating the value of DIGNITY. These students attended a special Principal’s Morning Tea in Josephite Hall this Tuesday (11th March).
We were treated to a smorgasbord of fruits, lamingtons and scrolls and we each shared what we are grateful for in our lives, including receiving the Gospel value award, going to the shack in Scamander, family, the roof over our heads, friends, Arrow the dog, George the cat, the shack in St Helen's, the sausage dogs Pinky and Pixie, Mum and Dad, and the four guinea pigs - Minnie, Panda, Pepper & Honey!
They also shared about their hobbies, interests and dreams which included soccer, cricket, footy, taekwondo, futsal, going to the beach, playing basketball for the Devils, going camping with family in Ulverstone, swimming, dancing lyrical at Melissa Wimmer's School of Dance, horse-riding, the Carlton Blues, spending long weekends at Myrtle Park, athletics, LEGO, bike-riding at St Leonard's, bouncing on the trampoline, and practising cartwheels during gymnastics at PCYC!
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