Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Carers,
SALUTATION
Grace to you and peace.
THE RESILIENCE PROJECT - BUILDING RESILIENCE AT HOME WORKSHOP
On Monday night, parents and carers gathered in Josephite Hall for our Building Resilience at Home workshop, a truly inspiring evening led by Sam Korsch from The Resilience Project. Sam travelled from Melbourne to share the powerful GEM principles—Gratitude, Empathy, and Mindfulness—along with practical strategies for fostering resilience in our children. Parents left with simple yet effective ways to incorporate these principles into daily life, reinforcing the whole-school approach that underpins wellbeing at St Thomas More’s.
The evening was designed not only to help parents embed these practices in their own lives but, more importantly, to equip them with the tools to support their children at home in developing these essential skills. Sam highlighted that gratitude can be nurtured through simple daily reflections, such as asking children to share three things they are thankful for each day. Empathy grows when children are encouraged to consider others' perspectives, for example, by discussing how a friend might feel in a difficult situation. Mindfulness can be as simple as taking a few deep breaths before responding to frustration or noticing small joys in the present moment. By reinforcing these strategies at home, parents play a vital role in helping their children develop strong emotional wellbeing that will support them for life.
A huge thank you to Sam Korsch for his engaging and insightful presentation, and to our Key Teacher – Pastoral Care & Wellbeing, Jessica McLauchlan, for her outstanding organisation, coordination, and leadership of the event. The energy in the room reflected our community’s deep commitment to student wellbeing, and we are excited to continue embedding the GEM principles both at school and at home. Together, we are building a culture of resilience, gratitude, and connection.
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 Friday afternoon School Assembly (21st March) this week, as nominated by their class teacher for exemplifying the Gospel value of DIGNITY:
Term 1 - Week 7, 2025 | ||
Sullie Bessell | Sullie, I love the way you always do your best and take pride in your work. Thank you for being such a happy and hard working member of our class. | Prep More |
Leo Williams | Leo you are always trying to be the best version of yourself by consistently treating others with kindness and honesty, and doing your best in all class activities. | Prep Thomas |
Archie Padgett | For the effort and positive attitude he shows towards his learning activities at school. Archie shows the Gospel value of dignity by being proud of himself and the work he produces. Amazing work, Archie! | Grade 1/2 More |
Cooper Springer | Cooper will always be the first to assist his classmates. When he has completed his own work and understands the material, he often offers to help his classmates who are finding the task challenging. He approaches his peers with kindness and dignity, asking if they need assistance, and patiently explains the concepts they are struggling with. This demonstrates dignity to his peers well. | Grade 1/2 Saint |
Toby Rowe | The dignified way Toby looks out for his classmates and shows thoughtfulness and kindness. | Grade 1/2 Thomas |
Riley Pearce | Riley, you consistently uphold the Gospel Values with dignity within our school community. You show respect for both your peers and your learning by approaching everything with dedication and admiration. Well done! | Grade 3/4 More |
Reuben Pentland | For consistently demonstrating dignity through his actions. Reuben consistently treats others with kindness and sets a positive example for all. | Grade 3/4 Saint |
Jack Taylor | For his persistence and confidence shown towards his reading this week. Jack is always striving to put forth his best effort. Proud of you Jack! | Grade 3/4 Thomas |
Millie Van Namen | Millie has demonstrates the gospel value of dignity by treating herself and others with kindness and respect, uplifting those around her, and recognising the worth in every achievement. | Grade 5/6 More |
Eden Luttrell | Eden treats others with kindness, respect, and a strong sense of fairness. She leads by example, showing care and compassion in her interactions with classmates and teachers. She listens attentively, values others' opinions, and ensures that everyone feels included and valued. | Grade 5/6 Saint |
Zoe Goldsmith | Zoe embodies the true meaning of dignity by confidently embracing who she is while showing deep empathy for those around her. She stands firm in her values, unafraid to go against the grain, yet always considers the thoughts and feelings of others with kindness and respect. | Grade 5/6 Thomas |
These students also attended the Principal’s Morning Tea on Tuesday (25th March) in the Josephite Hall during the first break at 10:50am with myself and Fr Vinco Muriyadan.
HARMONY WEEK
The theme for Harmony Week 2025 is: "Harmony – we all have a role to play!" This important message reminds us that every individual has unique gifts and talents to offer, and when we unite our efforts, we create an inclusive community where everyone is celebrated.
On Friday, 21st March, our school demonstrated its commitment to celebrating diversity by encouraging all students to wear orange. Once again, the sea of orange was a vivid reminder that although we may come from many different backgrounds, each member of our school community truly belongs.
Students enjoyed the face painting at break time by decorating their faces and hands with symbols of their heritage, flags representing their countries, or orange totems of love and diversity. It was an inspiring sight to see so many vibrant expressions of cultural pride and solidarity!
Continuing our beloved tradition, each student appeared on our Harmony Day Tree in the Reception Area to demonstrate that all are seen, heard and valued for who they are and come together as a beautiful and rich tapestry of diversity. The growing tree serves as a beautiful symbol of our collective journey, highlighting how we each have a role to play in fostering harmony, both as individuals and as a united school community.
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Mrs Simone Ross for her incredible efforts in organising these memorable Harmony Week events for our students. Her dedication ensures that the spirit of inclusion and connectedness remains a central part of our school’s culture, reminding us all that we truly do have a role to play in creating harmony for everyone.





INSIGHT SRC SCHOOL EFFECTIVENESS SURVEY
As you may recall, in Weeks 8 and 9 of Term 3 in 2024, St Thomas More's Catholic School participated in a trial of Catholic Education Tasmania's new annual School Effectiveness Surveys for students, parents, and staff, conducted by Insight SRC on behalf of the school and system. We were just one of eight school involved in the trial last year, and the only school in the north of the State.
Catholic Education Tasmania have now moved to expand the survey to include all 38 Catholic Schools in the system. All schools will be conducting this survey in Weeks 8 and 9 of this term. Therefore, St Thomas More's Catholic School will again be conducting this survey with students, parents, and staff commencing next week.
Next week, your child will receive an envelope with a letter providing you with the link to complete the Parent Survey along with your unique Login ID and Access Code. You will find this letter in your child's school bag.
The survey is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of parents' perceptions of their children's experience of school. In terms of identifying solutions and making data-informed decisions, my leadership mantra is that: "The best information equals the best outcome".
Therefore, we implore all parents to complete this 10-minute survey to provide the school with the information, the feedback, and the data we need to continue to improve our educational programme. The key insights from the high level summary data in the previous survey were essential in forming the Strategic Plan (2025-2030): Fostering Greatness and our 2025 Annual Priorities.
PARENT-TEACHER INTERVIEWS - TERM 1, 2025
As we prepare for our Term 1 Parent-Teacher Interviews next week, it is vital to recognise the profound impact these meetings have on the educational journey of each student. Research consistently affirms that the strength of the partnership between home and school—grounded in clear, open communication—strongly influences student success. In other words, your involvement and interest in your child’s progress is not a peripheral detail; it is central to their overall development and achievement.
These interviews offer a focused forum in which we can discuss and reflect on your child’s holistic progress throughout Term 1. You can expect our teachers to approach these conversations with honesty, clarity, and even forthrightness. Providing you with an authentic appraisal of your child’s learning is an indispensable step toward improvement, as clarity and candour lay the groundwork for meaningful growth. This reflective dialogue allows us all—teachers and parents—to collaboratively set the highest standards for our students.
Yet, the significance of your participation extends well beyond the information exchanged in these interviews. By actively attending, asking questions, and engaging in the conversation, you are sending a powerful message to your child about how deeply you value their education. Children notice the priorities of adults around them—if they see you setting aside time to meet with their teacher, they understand that learning truly matters. Conversely, neglecting or avoiding this vital meeting can inadvertently communicate indifference, suggesting that academics and the dedicated work of their teacher rank lower on your family’s list of priorities.
I challenge every parent to make this engagement a clear statement of support: prove to your child, through both words and actions, that their growth and success at school deserve your full attention. By being present, asking thoughtful questions, celebrating strengths, and tackling concerns head-on, you underline your commitment to your child’s well-being and development.
Thank you, in advance, to all parents who have scheduled or will schedule a meeting with their child’s teacher. The visible commitment you demonstrate in these interviews not only helps forge a strong school-home partnership—it undeniably reinforces the value of learning itself in the hearts and minds of our students. We look forward to working alongside you to help every child thrive in 2025 and beyond.
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