Dear Parents and Carers,

We have some great school events coming up in the next few weeks.

Father’s Day Breakfast

We warmly invite all fathers, grandfathers, and special men in our children’s lives to celebrate Father’s Day with us at a delicious family breakfast on Friday 5 September, starting at 8:00 a.m.

Menu:

• Bacon and egg rolls for the adults (children are welcome to have these too if they prefer)
• Warm pastries for the children (adults are welcome to have these too if they prefer)
• Tea and coffee or juice
• Barista coffee available for purchase from the canteen

We would love to invite our wonderful mothers and carers to help set up and cook from 7:15 a.m. Your support makes this celebration possible!

To help us prepare, please the link below to pre-order your breakfast and to let us know if you can help.

We look forward to sharing this special morning together as a community!

Kind and Connected: Helping Families Grow Healthy Digital Habits

The School Community Council (SCC) is delighted to host this important event for our community, presented by Penny Vanzwol from Meraki Community. This interactive workshop invites the whole family – children, teenagers, and parents – to come together and explore safe, respectful, and balanced ways to use technology at home. In today’s digital world, where phones, online games, and social media are a major part of our lives – and our children’s lives too – this session offers families practical strategies to manage device use, address growing concerns, and strengthen healthy, connected habits around technology

Together, we’ll:

• Explore your family values and how they apply online
• Understand what happens in the developing brain when young people use technology
• Build positive online behaviours and healthy digital habits
• Create a Family Technology Agreement to support communication and consistency at home

Workshop Details:

• Tuesday 9 September, 3:30 – 4:45pm (afternoon tea provided)
• Monday 15 September, 5:30 – 6:45pm (refreshments provided)

Grounded in strong family values, this session offers practical strategies for setting boundaries, building trust, and staying connected in the digital age. Whether you are managing screen time for young children or supporting teens on social media, this workshop provides valuable tools and insights for the whole family.

We warmly encourage all families to attend and take this opportunity to strengthen healthy digital habits together.

To register, please click the link below.

Mr Ryan is leaving us next year

It is with mixed emotions that we share the news that Geoff Ryan, our dedicated Religious Education Coordinator (REC), will be leaving St Thomas’ at the end of this year. Geoff has been an integral part of our school community, sharing his passion for faith, learning, and service with students, staff, and families alike.

While it is sad to see him leave, Geoff will continue his ministry as REC at Holy Family Primary School in Gowrie, which is also his parish. His guidance, warmth, and commitment to our students’ spiritual growth will be greatly missed.

We will have an opportunity later in the year to farewell Geoff and wish him well.

Adults - Only Trivia Night – Friday 19 September 2025

Need a night out where no one asks for snacks, tissues, or help finding their shoes? The SCC is excited to invite you to our Adults-Only Trivia Night – an evening of laughter, light-hearted competition, and food you don’t have to share!

Date: Friday 19 September 2025

Time: 7pm start

Venue: The School Hall

Cost: $10 per person

Table Size: Up to 10 people per table

It’s the perfect chance to connect with other parents, show off your competitive spirit, and put your random knowledge to good use. Whether you’re a trivia buff, a one-answer-wonder, or just in it for the snacks and socialising – this is the night for you!

BYO food and drinks with delicious charcuterie boards that can be pre-ordered and paid for in advance (crafted by Victoria Town).

How to Book - This will be sent out as an event on Compasstix where you can register and order a charcuterie board.

SCC Mango Drive

The School Community Council (SCC) is excited to announce that we will be running a Mango Drive this year!

Nothing says summer quite like a tray of fresh, juicy mangoes, and at just $35 a tray, it’s a delicious way to treat your family while supporting our school.

Order and payment details will be sent out next week. To secure your mangoes, payment will be due by the end of Term 3, with delivery scheduled for early December (exact date to be confirmed).

Kindness Circles

For the last 4 weeks of this term and the first 3 weeks of next term, our students will be taking part in the Kindness Circles Program. This is a peer-led initiative designed to help children explore personal and shared values, grow in self-awareness, and strengthen their wellbeing.

Through Kindness Circles, students will come to see the power of kindness - not just as something we receive, but as something we can actively create and share with others. The program encourages young people to understand their capacity to build a kinder world.

Much like the Peer Support model, Kindness Circles focus on connection and learning together. What makes this program unique in our school is that it is grounded in our Catholic perspective, where we are called to follow Jesus’ example of love and kindness in everything we do.

Tuggeranong Regional Athletics Carnival

Last Monday, 40 of our students represented St Thomas’ at the Tuggeranong Regional Athletics Carnival. We are incredibly proud of their effort, sportsmanship, and enthusiasm on the day!

A big thank you to Laura Vandenbroucke, Barb Miels Barrett, Kelli Rootes and Caleb Piper for accompanying and supporting our students.

Congratulations to the six students who performed so well that they will now progress to the 2025 ACT 12 & Under Track and Field Championships: Celsey F, Flynn J, Alicia L, Grace O’D, Layla R, Jack S. We wish them all the best as they compete at the next level!

Counselling and Group Programs for Parents & Children

Please see the attached flyers found below regarding Counselling and Group Programs for Parents & Children at Marymead Catholic Care.

They offer group programs and counselling to support parents, carers, and children:

• Family Skills – Individual counselling and a range of group programs to strengthen parenting capacity and parent–child connection.
• Post-Separation Support – ARCK for separated parents in high conflict; KAYAKS for children and young people navigating family separation and have been impacted by family violence.

They are located at Narrabundah, ACT. For more info or to register, please contact intake@mccg.org.au or 6162 5800.

Show Afternoon

On Wednesday 24 September,  we will hold our annual Show Afternoon (Show Our Work). This special event is an opportunity for students to proudly share their learning and achievements with their families. Classrooms will be open from 3:30–5:00 pm, and children will guide parents and carers through their work, sharing pieces they are most proud of and, together with you, setting a goal to work on for the rest of the year.

It is always a wonderful afternoon of celebration and connection, as families see firsthand the effort, growth, and creativity of their children. I warmly invite all families to join us for this important event in our school year.

It’s been another great fortnight at St Thomas the Apostle School. Have a great weekend everyone.

Yours in partnership,

Ursula Jamieson
Principal