St Thomas More Catholic Primary School

💙✨ Term 3 Focus: Respect ✨💙

This term, our school-wide focus is Respect.

Guided by our Year 6 Social Justice Leaders, students will explore what respect looks like in everyday life, at school, at home, online, and within our wider community.

Some simple ways we can show respect every day include:

✅ Using a person's name when speaking to them
✅ Making eye contact and actively listening
✅ Speaking kindly and using polite language such as please, thank you and excuse me
✅ Taking turns and showing patience
✅ Respecting other people's personal space and belongings
✅ Taking responsibility for mistakes and apologising sincerely
✅ Being inclusive and welcoming, especially to those who may feel left out

Respect is a value that can be taught, modelled and strengthened through consistent expectations and shared values. By working together as students, staff and families, we can continue to build a culture where every child feels valued, safe, respected and heard. 💙💛

Last week, our Pre-Primary students enjoyed a special visit to our parish church as they prepared to attend their first whole-school Mass ⛪

Fr Geoff warmly welcomed the children and introduced them to some of the important symbols and traditions of the church. Students practised genuflecting, learned how to receive a blessing, and explored this sacred space with enthusiasm, curiosity and respect.

A big thank you to Fr Geoff for helping make this such a meaningful and memorable experience for our youngest students. We were so proud of the way they embraced this important step in their faith journey. ✨🙏

🌼🌿 Season of Djilba 🌿🌼

Recently, our students have been learning about Djilba, the Noongar season that spans August and September. Known as the season of conception, Djilba is a time of transition, when the cold days of winter begin to give way to the first signs of spring.

During this season, the natural environment comes alive with colourful wildflowers, fresh plant growth, and the arrival of many newborn animals. It is also a time when many native birds become more active across the landscape.

By learning about the six Noongar seasons, our students deepen their understanding of the land on which we live, its natural rhythms, and the rich cultural knowledge of the Noongar people, who have cared for Country for tens of thousands of years.

💙💛 We are proud to incorporate Aboriginal perspectives into our learning and encourage respect, understanding, and appreciation of Australia's First Peoples and their enduring connection to Country.

📱💡 Recently, we were delighted to welcome Shane Landers from EdTech Fusion to St Thomas More Catholic Primary School!

Students from Kindy to Year 6 enjoyed engaging, hands-on learning experiences as they explored coding, problem-solving and creativity through digital technologies, including Bee-Bots and Microbits.

Working alongside their teachers, students programmed, tested and refined their ideas, demonstrating persistence, collaboration and resilience as they tackled challenges and celebrated success.

These exciting experiences help our students become more than just users of technology. They are developing into creators, designers and computational thinkers, building valuable skills and confidence for the future.

A big thank you to Shane for inspiring our students and staff and helping bring innovative learning opportunities to our classrooms! 👏✨

📢 Reminder: Catholic Day School Closure

A friendly reminder that Monday, 24 August is Catholic Day and the school will be closed for students and staff.

Classes will resume as normal on Tuesday 25 August.

🎉 Happy Principal's Day to Mr Wylie! 🎉

Today we recognise and thank Russell for his leadership, dedication and commitment to our school community.

Much of what a principal does happens behind the scenes, and Russell works tirelessly to support our students, staff and families while keeping everything running smoothly.

Thank you for all that you do for St Thomas More. We appreciate your hard work, guidance and leadership. 🙏

🌟 Wishing Our School Families a Restful Holiday Break! 🌟

As we reach the end of what has been a very long and busy term, we would like to thank all of our students, families and staff for their hard work, support and commitment.

We hope everyone enjoys a well-deserved break, filled with rest, relaxation and special time with loved ones. 😊

Take the opportunity to recharge, have some fun.We look forward to welcoming everyone back next term refreshed, energised and ready for another great chapter of learning and growth.

Stay safe, enjoy the holidays, and we'll see you next term.

🌟 Wellness Week Wrap-Up!

What a fantastic Wellness Week we have had at St Thomas More!

Students enjoyed a range of activities focused on spiritual, mental, physical and emotional wellbeing, including art therapy, gardening, daily fitness sessions, meditation, a lunchtime disco and our wonderful Tommy More’s Got Talent showcase.

A huge congratulations to all students who participated and shared their talents with our school community. We are so proud of your courage, creativity and enthusiasm! 👏✨

Thank you to our staff, Year 6 leaders and P&F for helping make the week such a success. We hope our students have taken away some valuable ideas and strategies to support their wellbeing both now and into the future. 💙🌱

⛪💛 Whole School Mass – All Welcome

Tomorrow morning, we will be celebrating the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus ❤️

This is a special occasion as it will be our first whole school Mass with our new priest, Fr Joeffrey.

The Mass will be led by our Year 2 class and will begin at 9am in the Church 🙏

We warmly invite all families and community members to join us for this beautiful celebration of faith and togetherness.

We look forward to sharing this special moment with you.

Sign Languages Around the World 🤟

Did you know that sign languages are not the same around the world?

Just like spoken languages, each country has its own unique sign language, with different signs, grammar and expressions. For example, American Sign Language (ASL) is different from British Sign Language (BSL), and both are different from Australian Sign Language, known as Auslan.

Here in Australia, Auslan is the primary sign language used by many Deaf and hard-of-hearing people. It has its own rich vocabulary and cultural history, making it an important part of our diverse community.

Learning about Auslan helps us better understand and include others, promoting communication, respect and a strong sense of belonging for everyone.

▶️ Watch and learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J80Vc2y9Fcs