Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Carers,
SALUTATION
Grace to you and peace.
2025 NAPLAN RESULTS
We are proud to share with you the 2025 NAPLAN results for St Thomas More’s Catholic School. Our students in both Year 3 and Year 5 sat assessments across the five key domains: Numeracy, Reading, Writing, Spelling, and Grammar & Punctuation. These are the strongest results for St Thomas More's Catholic School since the inception of NAPLAN.
The table below shows the percentage of students achieving in the Strong+ bands (Strong and Exceeding). These results are compared with the averages for Tasmania (TAS), Australia (AUS), and schools with a similar socio-economic profile (Similar Schools).
TABLE: 2025 Strong+ Percentage Comparison
| Year | Domain | STM | TAS | AUS | Similar Schools |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | Numeracy | 79.5% | 59.5% | 64.1% | 72.8% |
| Reading | 72.7% | 60.5% | 65.7% | 74.7% | |
| Writing | 79.1% | 69.2% | 76.4% | 85.5% | |
| Spelling | 75.0% | 52.6% | 61.9% | 63.0% | |
| Grammar & Punctuation | 56.8% | 44.6% | 54.0% | 58.1% | |
| Grade 5 | Numeracy | 82.2% | 60.7% | 69.0% | 69.1% |
| Reading | 91.1% | 67.5% | 72.9% | 76.8% | |
| Writing | 80.0% | 58.3% | 65.0% | 70.4% | |
| Spelling | 68.9% | 60.7% | 68.7% | 68.5% | |
| Grammar & Punctuation | 68.9% | 55.0% | 63.1% | 66.1% |
HIGHLIGHTS:
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Outstanding Strength in Reading: Year 5 Reading (91.1%) is a standout result, more than 23 percentage points above Tasmania and nearly 20 points above the Australian average.
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Excellence in Numeracy: Both Year 3 (79.5%) and Year 5 (82.2%) show strength well above state and national benchmarks.
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Consistent Success Across Domains: St Thomas More's outperformed Tasmania and Australia in all ten assessments, and was ahead of Similar Schools in seven out of ten.
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Balanced Achievement: Results in Spelling and Grammar & Punctuation demonstrate that even our comparatively lower domains are still well above state and national averages.
RELATIVE GAIN - GROWTH MATTERS:
Beyond achievement, NAPLAN also measures how much progress students make between Year 3 and Year 5 compared with their peers nationally. Here, St Thomas More's once again shines.
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Reading: Exceptional growth — 36% of students achieved High Gain, with only 7% in Low Gain. This is a rare combination of high results and high growth, placing St Thomas More's among the strongest performers nationally.
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Numeracy & Writing: Both domains showed above-average growth profiles, with more than a quarter of students in High Gain.
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Spelling: Growth was healthy and balanced, with low numbers in the Low Gain category.
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Grammar & Punctuation: While this was the relatively lower growth area, St Thomas More's students still matched or exceeded national norms.
St Thomas More's is not just achieving outstanding results, but also ensuring our students grow at a pace that outstrips peers across Tasmania and Australia.
OUR STRONGEST YEAR YET:
It is important to recognise these results in the context of our school’s NAPLAN history. Since the introduction of NAPLAN in 2008, St Thomas More's has consistently performed above the Tasmanian average and steadily strengthened its position against national benchmarks. In recent years, our results have shown promising growth, with 2023 and 2024 marking a lift in performance across multiple domains. However, 2025 represents a clear step change. For the first time, St Thomas More's is well above both state and national averages in all ten assessments, and is surpassing Similar Schools in the majority of domains. This year stands as the strongest set of results in our school’s NAPLAN history, reflecting not just achievement, but consistency, growth, and a culture of excellence.
WHY THESE RESULTS MATTER:
These achievements are not the product of chance. They reflect:
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Strong pedagogy: High-quality teaching across all year levels.
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Wellbeing supports: Students thrive academically when they are supported socially and emotionally.
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A culture of growth: St Thomas More's has built an environment where children are consistently lifted above baseline expectations.
St Thomas More's is not just holding its own; it is leading. These results reflect a school that has developed strong pedagogy, effective wellbeing supports, and a culture where students are lifted well above baseline expectations.
WHOLE SCHOOL MASS - LIVING A LIFE OF PRAYER & KINDNESS
This Tuesday (23rd September) morning our school community gathered in Sacred Heart Church to celebrate our third Whole School Mass for Term 3, marking the Feast of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio). The theme for our celebration was “Living a Life of Prayer and Kindness”, a fitting reflection on the example of Padre Pio, who dedicated his life to prayer and service of others.
Students from across the school took part in the liturgy, leading the readings, prayers, offertory procession, and reflections with reverence and confidence. The Mass was a moving reminder of the importance of stillness, trust in God, and showing kindness in all areas of our lives. It was especially uplifting to hear our younger students joining in alongside our senior leaders, showing that prayer and community are at the heart of our school identity.
The music, beautifully led by Mrs Wahl and our choir, lifted the celebration and filled the Church with joy and reverence. The choice of hymns, from In the Footsteps of Jesus to These Hands, encouraged full participation and gave the Mass a spirit of unity and praise.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Mrs Belinda Taylor for her leadership and organisation of the Mass, ensuring that every detail was thoughtfully prepared. Even in her absence on the day, Belinda’s careful planning allowed the celebration to run smoothly and prayerfully. Our gratitude also goes to Mrs Wahl and the choir for leading us so beautifully in song, and to all staff who supported their classes in preparing students to take active roles in the liturgy.
TERM 3 - HOUSE CUP WINNERS: MACKILLOP!
To celebrate their success as our House Cup Winners for Term 3, all MacKillop students from Prep to Grade 6 gathered in the Piazza this Tuesday (23rd September) afternoon to be presented with the House Cup trophy. The celebration continued with a fun-filled activity called Fly the Coop, where the four MacKillop Pastoral Care Groups participated in some friendly competition that involved eggs, rubber chickens, a relay and a lot of fun and laughter!
The afternoon wrapped up with a cool treat delivered by our fantastic Grade 6 leaders; icy poles all round for our sweaty but smiling champions.
With the counting for Term 4 already underway, the race for not just for the winning House in Term 4, but for our overall winner in 2025 is reaching its crescendo! Let the friendly competition continue!
ALL STRINGS SOIRÉE
On Thursday, 25th September, the Chapel at St Patrick's College once came alive with the beautiful sounds of string instruments as we held our Semester 2 Strings Soirée. It was a wonderful celebration of the progress and dedication of our students throughout the year.
This evening’s performances highlighted just how much our students have grown since the Semester 1 Soirée. Their skill, confidence, and passion for music were on full display, and it was clear that the time and effort invested in practice and learning has truly paid off. Parents, tutors, and staff were all deeply impressed by the maturity and musicality demonstrated by each performer.
A heartfelt thank you to Mrs Brown and Ms Sulzberger for their ongoing dedication and guidance. Their expertise and encouragement continue to support our students in reaching new heights on their string instrument journey.
We are incredibly proud of our students for the way they represented St Thomas More’s Catholic School through their performances. The evening was a wonderful reminder of the joy of music and the growth that comes from commitment, practice, and passion.
FOOTY COLOURS DAY!
All of the students and staff of St Thomas More's Catholic School arrived in their brightest, bravest and best sporting paraphernalia today! We celebrated Footy Colours Day to raise money for the Fight Cancer Foundation, where every child was invited to sport the colours of their favourite teams for a gold coin donation.
There were colours for footy, soccer, basketball, netball, rugby, cricket, and many more! The most colourful and spirited individuals on the day were no less than our staff whose teams are in the AFL Grand Final on Saturday, myself included! My beloved Geelong Cats take on the Brisbane Lions, and having defeated the Lions only three weeks ago in the Qualifying Final at the MCG, confidence is high at the Cattery!
I would say best of luck to Mrs Belinda Taylor, Mrs Shannyn Hodgetts, and Mrs Simone Ross for their treasured Lions, but I wouldn't mean it! Carn the Catters!
2026 SCHOOL ADVISORY BOARD VACANCY
As per the letter sent via email to families on Wednesday 24th September, we are farewelling Mr Chris Massey, who will conclude his maximum six-year term on the School Advisory Board at the end of 2025. Chris has given generously of his time and talents during his service, including as Treasurer in 2022, and his contribution has been marked by insight, humour, and honesty. We are deeply grateful for his commitment and the support he has provided to the leadership of our school.
With Chris completing his tenure, a vacancy will open on the School Advisory Board from the commencement of the 2026 school year. The Board plays an important role in working alongside the Principal and Deputy Principal on matters relating to school governance and operation. This includes offering advice and support in areas such as policy, curriculum enhancements, strategic planning, and community engagement. We are seeking expressions of interest from parents and carers who are committed to our Catholic mission and values, passionate about education, and eager to contribute to the continued growth and improvement of St Thomas More’s. Strong communication and collaboration skills are essential, and while experience in areas such as education, law, business, finance, or community engagement is valued, we welcome applications from all who bring fresh perspectives and a genuine desire to serve our community.
Applications close at 10:00am on Monday 3rd November, 2025. To apply, please send your current resumé and a brief cover letter outlining your interest in joining the School Advisory Board to casimir.douglas@catholic.tas.edu.au
OUR BOARD, OUR STORY
As part of highlighting our current School Advisory Board vacancy, we’re launching a short series in the Newsletter called Our Board, Our Story. Each week between now and November, we’ll share a Q&A with one of our Board Members. This is a chance for our community to get to know the people who generously serve on our Board, and to hear the stories behind their involvement at St Thomas More’s.
We begin with Mr Derek Bye, our current Board Chair. Derek has been a valued member of the School Advisory Board for the past four and a half years, and in his day job he is the General Manager of Becks Mitre 10 Tasmania.
Name & Role: Derek Bye, current STM Advisory Board Chair
Day Job: General Manager, Becks Mitre 10 Tasmania
How long have you been on the STM Board: 4 ½ years (time flies!)
What attracted you to joining the STM Board: A chance to be involved in the future direction of the school and to offer some of my professional expertise to help support the amazing leadership team at St Thomas More’s.
What’s a hobby or talent you have: I play guitar in a rock band with some middle-aged mates. Unlikely to give up my day job and go on tour at this stage!
If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why: I think being able to fly would be awesome. I would need my family to also have this superpower so we could fly north and escape the Tassie winter!
What has been your favourite memory of the STM Board thus far: There have been many great projects to be involved with over the past few years, but I think the new playground would be my proudest. To see the start of the concept, through to design, funding and then completion was a great achievement. I often think about this when I see the students playing in the playground.
Would you recommend a role on the STM Board: Yes definitely! My time on the Board has been a great way to get more involved with the school community and to use my professional experience to advise and support the STM leadership team. I’m proud of the contribution the Board have made to St Thomas More’s over the past few years, and personally it has been very rewarding.
SUMMER UNIFORM - REMINDER
From the start of Term 4, students return to wearing their Summer Uniform. As part of our Sun Safety practices, it is mandatory for students to wear a hat whenever they are outside at break times — no hat, no play.
Now is the perfect time for families to check that Summer Uniform items from Term 1 still fit, and to ensure that your child has a hat ready for the start of Term 4.
ATHLETICS CARNIVAL - WEDNESDAY 15TH OCTOBER
Just a final reminder that the following its postponement due to inclement weather last week, that the Athletics Carnival is now being held on Wednesday 15th October (Term 4 - Week 1).
UPDATE - FINAL STUDENT DAY OF 2025 SCHOOL YEAR
As per the communication shared with the school community last week, the final day of the 2025 school year for students will now be Tuesday 16th December.
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
