Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Carers,
SALUTATION
Grace to you and peace.
BOOK WEEK @ STM!
What a marvellous Monday it was at St Thomas More’s as we kicked off CBCA Book Week 2025 with our annual Readers’ Picnic and Art Show! Beneath bursts of sunshine and the hum of happy chatter, students, families, and staff came together to celebrate stories, creativity, and the joy of shared reading.
With picnic rugs rolled out across the lawn and favourite books in hand, students read aloud with parents, grandparents, buddies, and friends – or simply curled up in the shade of a classmate’s shoulder. For those whose grown-ups couldn’t make it, there were no lonely lunches – just extra reading buddies and plenty of literary love to go around.
Classroom windows became vibrant galleries, proudly displaying artwork inspired by the CBCA shortlisted titles. From whimsical creatures to bold landscapes and dreamlike adventures, each piece reflected a deep connection to this year’s theme: Book an Adventure!
I also had the opportunity to visit our Grade 1/2 classes to share one of my favourite Julia Donaldson books: The Gruffalo! And visit Grade 5/6 More to share an old classic with them, The Lorax by Dr Suess, which is as rich and challenging thematically as it is linguistically!
Of course, none of this would have been possible without Ms Rebecca Thomas. Her tireless energy, creative flair, and deep love for literacy brought Book Week to life in every corner of the school. From coordinating the art show to championing the 3D reading adventures in the library, Ms Thomas once again proved herself to be our resident literary wizard. We are beyond lucky to have her leading the charge in nurturing a love of reading in every child.
Book Week was celebrated throughout the week with quizzes, crafts, and classroom visits – all in celebration of reading as the greatest adventure of all.
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 June, 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 Prayer Assembly this Monday (18th August), as nominated by their class teacher for exemplifying the Gospel value of RESPECT:
| Term 3 - Week 5, 2025 | ||
| Archie Zuj | For the positive way you have tackled every task with your broken arm. Archie, I am so proud of the resilience you have shown even when things are tricky. | Prep More |
| Jack Newton | for the way he shows the Gospel Value of Respect through the kind and caring ways he treats others, and his respectful listening in class. | Prep Thomas |
| Bastian Krushka | Bastian demonstrates the Gospel value of Respect in all that he does. He treats others with kindness and consideration, always speaking politely to teachers and classmates. His thoughtful words and actions show that he values those around him. In the classroom, Bastian tries his very best to do the right thing, setting a wonderful example for others to follow. | Grade 1/2 Saint |
| Ava Johnson | Ava demonstrates the Gospel value of Respect every day. Ava shows kindness and consideration towards her peers and teachers, always offering help and waiting patiently. Her actions reflect a deep understanding of the value of respect in both word and deed. | Grade 1/2 Thomas |
| Louie Crumpton | Louie shows the Gospel value of respect by consistently treating others the way he would like to be treated. He is an incredibly kind and caring member of our class. Thank you for everything you do, Louie! | Grade 1/2 More |
| Eloise Wahl | For consistently showing respect in all interactions with others by listening attentively, speaking kindly, and treating everyone with fairness and understanding. | Grade 3/4 Saint |
| Sage Garwood | For consistently showing respect towards others, and for bringing kindness and positivity to our classroom every day. Proud of you, Sage! | Grade 3/4 Thomas |
| Toby Matthews | In recognition of your consistent respectful behaviour towards your peers, your learning, and the school community. You are a dependable role model who makes thoughtful choices and actively engages in your education. Keep up the amazing effort Toby! | Grade 3/4 More |
| Ella Smith | Ella consistently demonstrates respect in all areas of school life. She treats her teachers, classmates, and the school environment with care and consideration. Ella listens attentively to others, values their ideas, and leads by example with her kind and thoughtful actions. Her positive attitude and commitment to making everyone feel valued make her a wonderful role model for respect at St Thomas More’s. | Grade 5/6 Saint |
| Payton Massey | Awarded to Payton for consistently showing respect to her peers through kindness and consideration, and for respecting herself as a learner by always trying her best. Payton makes our class warmer and brighter with her kindness and enthusiasm for learning. | Grade 5/6 Thomas |
| Samuel Mannion | Samuel follows the message of St Mary MacKillop- never see a need without doing something about it. When Samuel sees a need he can always be relied upon to do something about it, often taking initiative and doing it because it is the right thing to do. | Grade 5/6 More |
These students also attended the Principal’s Morning Tea on Tuesday (19th August) in Josephite Hall during the first break at 10:50am.
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 (19th August).
We were treated to a smorgasbord of fruits, cake, savoury muffins, and sausage rolls, and we each shared what we are grateful for in our lives; our families and friends for always being there for us, driving us to sport, and helping us through the day; our teachers for helping us learn; our homes that keep us warm; the gift of education (because without it, “we wouldn’t be as smart as we are today!”); the joy of sport that keeps us fit and healthy; and even our motorbikes and the coaches who cheer us on (shoutout to Coach Marshall!).
They also shared about their hobbies, interests and dreams which included: motocross racing with bike #14 (and even competing at Marvel Stadium!), taekwondo with a blue belt and two green stripes, football, basketball, and athletics (especially 1,500m and high jump), cheerleading (with a Grand Championship win!), and a whole lot of soccer — whether with United, Northern Rangers Crocodiles, Raiders, or just anywhere there’s a pitch! Add in piano, dancing in competitions, gymnastics, swimming, Rocket League, and quality cousin time — and you’ve got one seriously talented bunch!
REHEARSE THE POSITIVE SUPERHEROES!
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It’s our Rehearse the Positive superheroes!
You may have noticed the phrase “Rehearse the Positive” before on the large colourful mural on the basketball court wall in our playground. At St Thomas More’s, we teach our students that greatness is not about doing amazing things once in a while — it’s about consistency. It’s about doing the simple, positive and welcoming actions daily that create our warm, inclusive community.
At our Week 3 School Assembly (Friday 8th August), I introduced three coloured superhero capes: yellow for Tenison, red for Chisholm, and blue for MacKillop. These capes represent our three Houses, and more importantly, they symbolise our commitment to six key positive behaviours. These behaviours — holding the door open, greeting adults properly, giving a high five, inviting someone new to play, five-star listening, and wonderful walking — are the simple daily actions that define Rehearse the Positive.
Every assembly, I lead our students through a call-and-response chant to remind them what Rehearse the Positive means: it’s about repeating the right thing, practising good choices, and knowing that St Thomas More’s people are great people! I explained to our students that over the next two weeks, I would be on the lookout for the superheroes, the champions, the students who live out these behaviours each day. Those spotted living out Rehearse the Positive would be presented with their House superhero cape to wear proudly for the day. The reaction? Pure excitement!
This morning, I was delighted to present our very first Rehearse the Positive superhero capes to three (well, four!) amazing students:
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Chisholm House: Charlotte Turner (Grade 1) – for the way she greets adults in our school community, always pausing to stop and greet her teachers (and Principal!) with perfect manners.
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Tenison House: Ava Carr (Grade 4) – last week Ava was spotted holding the office door open to allow three adults and then five of her peers to enter consecutively, smiling and waiting patiently before moving in herself.
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MacKillop House: Kohan Leggett & Harry Ralph (Grade 6) – at playtime, an Early Years student had climbed too high and was scared to come down. Kohan and Harry both stopped to gently and patiently help the student down with positive encouragement. Kohan wasn’t at assembly to collect his cape, so Harry (even though he is Chisholm House Captain!) proudly wore the blue cape for the day. A great warm-up for him — as when he moves to St Patrick’s College next year, he’ll be in MacKillop House, which is blue!
Please join me in congratulating our amazing Rehearse the Positive superheroes and champions. Their next mission? These three heroes will now be on the lookout for the next shining examples of superhero behaviours, and they will decide who receives the Rehearse the Positive superhero cape in their House next!
GRADE 6 REFLECTION & LEADERSHIP DAY
This Tuesday (19th August), our Grade 6 students fully embraced their third Reflection & Leadership Day for the year. It was a day where they enjoyed the opportunity to all be together and to have some fun with games and small group challenges. Importantly, these days offer our young leaders the chance to share a little about their story and have it really listened to in the supportive and caring environment that St Thomas More’s prides ourselves on. The students love the opportunity to slow down a little too, with the meditation and journalling being popular parts of the experience.
With the ‘Hero’s Journey’ as a thread through their four days off campus this year, the theme of this day was 'All the ways that I have grown this year.’ They were able to identify not only how they have grown and developed, but also who is in their ‘encouragement team’ and who it is they encourage.
This builds on the previous two days which looked at the importance of positive relationships between one another (Term 1) and the challenges they face and how they respond to the challenges (Term 2). Facilitator Luke McCormack visited the school in the lead up to the day to work with a small group of 9 students. These students did an amazing job in leading their ’Trust Groups’ on the day.
The growth of our students in Grade 6 is so evident, and it was powerful and encouraging to witness them identify many examples. This leads to our final Leadership Day in Term 4, where the idea of how we grow by embracing the challenges in our lives links to their transition from Grade 6 to 7.
MONSTER MASH DISCO!
Get ready to dance! Our Monster Mash Disco! is happening on Friday 29th August from 5:30–8:00pm in Josephite Hall. Students can look forward to music, fun, and plenty of energy on the dance floor, with families invited to come along and share in the excitement of this much-loved community event.
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
