CHAZ MOSTERT VISIT - OPTUS DIGITAL FOOTPRINT PROGRAM!

Yesterday, St Thomas More's Catholic School had the incredible opportunity to host V8 Supercar champion Chaz Mostert as part of the Optus Digital Thumbprint program. Our Grade 5/6 students gathered with excitement to hear from one of Australia’s most recognised motorsport drivers, who shared important insights on digital citizenship and online safety.

Chaz, a Bathurst 1000 winner and driver of the Mobil 1™ Optus Racing Mustang, delivered an engaging and impactful presentation, emphasising the importance of making smart choices online, understanding digital footprints, and treating others with respect in the digital world. His relaxed style, combined with real-world examples, left a lasting impression on our students.

Our students also had the fantastic opportunity to ask Chaz some questions, snap a photo with him, and walk away with some Optus-branded merchandise – a little something to remember the day!

We are incredibly grateful to the team at Optus for making this experience possible. A special thanks to Kerryn for her remarkable organisation and to Jayson for bringing the dream to life for so many of our students. Their work behind the scenes ensured the event ran smoothly and provided a truly memorable learning experience for all involved.

Our thanks also go to our fantastic Office Team – Shannyn Hodgetts, Sharon Woolridge, Sarah White, and Vanessa Wilson – for their power of work behind the scenes. Their coordination and support ensured everything ran seamlessly from start to finish.

Finally, a massive thank you to Chaz Mostert for generously giving his time to inspire our young learners. His message of safe and responsible online behaviour is one that will no doubt resonate with our students as they navigate the digital world with confidence and care.

This event highlighted not just the power of positive role models but also the strength of community partnerships in educating and empowering our students.

LAUNCESTON COMPETITIONS - WHOLE CLASS POETRY RECITALS

Those members of our school and local community who ventured down to the Princess this Wednesday (7th May), were treated to a smorgasbord of newsworthy performances from over 300 of our students from Prep to Grade 6 presenting their whole class poem recitals!

We were amazed (as we always are!) by the composure and confidence of all our students, which is a testament to their hard work, talent, and courage.

We are so proud of every student who had the courage and confidence to step outside their comfort zone and perform in a full theatre of their engaged peers, competing students from other schools, supporting staff, and proud family members! Thank you so much to our Drama Teacher, Mrs Angela Edwards, for her passion, commitment, and leadership in supporting our students to perform at the competitions!

A special mention to the students and teachers of our Prep More and Grade 3/4 Saint classes, who claimed first place in their sections! It would not be an exaggeration to say that we dominated this section in the Launceston Competitions, as evidenced by the placings of each of our classes below:

Prep-Grade 2 Section:

1st: Prep More

Equal 2nd: Prep Thomas & 1/2 Thomas

Highly Commended: 1/2 Saint

Grade 3/4 Section:

1st: 3/4 Saint

2nd: 3/4 Thomas

3rd: 3/4 More

Grade 5/6 Section:

2nd: 5/6 Thomas

3rd: 5/6 More

Highly Commended: 5/6 Saint

LAUNCESTON COMPETITIONS - WHOLE CLASS POETRY RECITALS

This past weekend, students from Kinder to Grade 6 at St Thomas More's Catholic School showcased their talents at the Launceston Competitions, participating in a range of sections, including Humorous Poem, Recital, Impromptu Reading, Nursery Rhyme, Movement Group, Group Plays, Mime, Character Duos/Trios, Creative Program Primary, and Writing.

Our students performed with confidence and flair, reflecting their hard work and commitment to the performing arts. We are thrilled to acknowledge the following First Place Winners in their respective sections:

Humorous Poem:

• Grade 3 and Under: Nina Rooney

• Grade 4: Eloise Wahl, Millie Mae O’Mahony

• Grade 5: Lachlan Phillips

• Grade 6: Eva Lewis

Recital:

• Grade 3: Ella White

• Grade 4: Millie Mae O’Mahony

• Grade 6: Paige Wylie, George Boyle

Impromptu Reading:

• Grade 3: Nina Rooney

• Grade 4: Eloise Wahl

Nursery Rhyme:

• Kinder – Grade 2: Edward Wahl, Eve Crosswell

Movement Group:

• Millie Mae O’Mahony, Eloise Wahl, Esther Cassidy, George Boyle, Ava Carr, Ada Amerikanos

Mime:

• Grade 5: Lachlan Phillips

• Grade 6: Eva Lewis, Eliza Eldershaw, Tess Allie

Character Duos/Trios:

• Grade 6: Audrey Beeson, Freya McArthur, Ivy Angelia-Taylor

Creative Program Primary:

• Grade 5: Ella Smith, Isla Spiteri

• Grade 6: George Boyle

Writing Other Than Verse:

• Grade 4: Lachlan Phillips

• Grade 6: Eva Lewis

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Mrs Angela Edwards for her exceptional leadership and passion for the performing arts. Her guidance and enthusiasm inspire our students to strive for excellence and confidence on stage.

We also want to thank our wonderful parents and families for their ongoing support. Your commitment to helping your children prepare for these events—through rehearsals, costume preparations, and encouragement—plays a vital role in their success.

Congratulations to all our performers for their courage and brilliance. We are immensely proud of each and every one of you!

Today, 16 very excited Grade 5/6 students had the incredible opportunity to step behind the scenes of the Supercars world at Symmons Plains Raceway as part of a Pit Lane Tour. This unforgettable experience was made possible through the generosity of Optus, who not only sponsored the event but also covered all transport costs, ensuring it was completely free for our lucky students.

The students, selected through a competition that saw many eager applications, were buzzing with excitement as the bus pulled up to the track. Greeted by Kerryn and Jayson from Optus, the group was escorted to a prime position to watch Practice Race 1, where they got a taste of the speed and adrenaline of professional motorsport. Eyes wide and hands gripping the fence, they watched as the powerful V8s roared past at breathtaking speeds.

Following the race, our students were guided to the Walkinshaw Andretti United pit area, where they were given an exclusive look at the team operations, the high-performance cars, and the intense preparation that goes into each race.

This experience would not have been possible without the wonderful support from Kerryn and Jayson at Optus, who organised every detail with such care and enthusiasm. A special thanks to our amazing Grade 5/6 staff team who accompanied the students and ensured everything ran smoothly.

Opportunities like these show the strength of community partnerships and the lasting impact they can have on our students' experiences. We are truly grateful to Optus and Walkinshaw Andretti United for making this day such a roaring success!

On Monday (5th May), our Kinder students enjoyed a wonderful excursion to the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery at Royal Park.

They explored The First Tasmanians exhibit and learnt about how the Tasmanian Aboriginal people lived before European settlement. It was a rich and moving experience that provided students with a respectful understanding of our island's history and culture.

The children also visited the Gentle Protagonist exhibition by Michael McWilliams, which showcased captivating paintings of Tasmanian wildlife and landscapes. The students were fascinated by the artist's depictions of native and introduced animals, beautifully brought to life through stunning brushwork.

After the gallery tour, the children enjoyed lunch and some well-earned playtime at the Royal Park playground.

A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated Kinder teaching team for organising and leading such a valuable learning experience, and to our wonderful parent helpers who supported and supervised throughout the day. Your efforts helped make the excursion both safe and successful.

PARENT INFORMATION EVENING - EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE W/ DR JANE FOSTER

We are pleased to invite all parents and carers to an insightful Parent Information Evening focused on building emotional resilience in children. Dr Jane Foster, an expert in neuroscience, positive psychology, and mindfulness, will be leading the session, offering practical strategies grounded in contemporary research.

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday 14th May

• Time: 3:45pm – 4:45pm

• Venue: Sacred Heart Catholic Primary, Launceston

This evening will be a fantastic opportunity to deepen your understanding of emotional resilience and discover practical ways to support your child's development in this critical area. Dr Foster's expertise in neuroscience and positive psychology provides a unique perspective, blending evidence-based approaches with practical advice.

Parents of St Thomas More's Catholic School are warmly invited to attend. To secure your place, please access the QR Code on the flyer included in this newsletter.

We look forward to seeing many of you there for what promises to be an engaging and informative session.

FINAL GREETING

May the grace of Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.