Welcome to St.Thomas
God of mercy and compassion,
We praise you for your goodness.
May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Fill us with the spirit of loving service as we recognise in those we meet the
face of Jesus your Son.
Through the generous work of our LifeLink welfare agencies,
may burdens be lifted from the shoulders of your people and may they feel the warmth of your kindness and love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Important Dates
TERM 2
| Thursday 06 June | Crazy Sock Day + gold coin |
| Friday 07 June | Sacrament of Eucharist Mass 6 pm |
| Saturday 08 June | Y5 Parish Mass 5:30 pm |
| Tuesday 11 June | Edu-Dance |
| Tuesday 11 June | Edu-Dance Concert 5:30 pm |
| Thursday 13 June | Winter Carnival Yrs 5 & 6 @ Wembley Oval, Henderson Park |
| Friday 14 June | Y3 Assembly 8:45am |
| Tuesday 18 June | MJR Incursion K-Y6 |
| Tuesday 18 June | Advisory Council 7 pm |
| Friday 21 June | STPS Disco – PP to Y3 @ 5 – 6:15pm – Y4 to 6 @ 6 – 7:45pm |
| Saturday 22 June | Dads & kids WAFL Event |
| Tuesday 25 June | Drama Production Matinee |
| Tuesday 25 June | Drama Production 6:30 pm |
| Wednesday 26 June | Founders Day Mass 9 am |
| Wednesday 26 June | St Thomas’ Feast Day & Founders Day Mass 9am |
| Wednesday 26 June | Drama Production 6:30pm |
| Friday 28 June | Term 2 concludes |
Please remember dates of events can be subject to change
(Full 2024 term dates at the end of this newsletter)
From Principal
LifeLink Launch
This morning, four of our student leaders attended the 25th Anniversary LifeLink Launch along with students from 67 other primary schools in Western Australia. Since LifeLink was established in 1999, Catholic schools in the Archdiocese have raised over $3 million to support the work of LifeLink agencies which aid people in need in our community. For more information about these agencies, please click button below.
Crazy Sock Day
Tomorrow is Crazy Sock Day for students from Pre-primary to Year 6. Please send your child to school with a gold coin donation to raise funds for LifeLink.
Year 4 Holy Communion
This Friday evening, Year 4 students at St Thomas’ will be receiving their First Holy Communion, or Sacrament of the Eucharist, for the first time. Like Baptism, the reception of the Eucharist brings us into a closer relationship with God. On First Communion Day, we witness our children taking a new step in faith as they share Communion with us for the first time. Special thanks to Mrs. Gibbs and Sr. Catherine Warner for preparing our students for this Sacrament, to Father Richard for celebrating with us, and to all parent helpers for making this celebration memorable.
Disco – Time changes
We are looking forward to the school Disco on Friday 21 June for Pre-primary to Year 6 students in the school hall. Students are welcome to dress in the theme of ‘Sports’. Due to a clash with some sporting events, the time of each session has been changed. The new times are:
Session 1: Pre-primary, Years 1,2 & 3
5pm – 6.15pm Disco
6.15pm – Sausage sizzle
Session 2: Years 4, 5 & 6
6pm – Sausage sizzle
6.15pm-7.45pm Disco
Mobile Phone & Wearable Device Procedure
The school procedure for mobile phone and wearable device usage has been updated. As per the current procedure, students will be asked to hand in their mobile phones or any wearable device that has internet access to their class teacher at the beginning of the school day. These will be returned to the students at the end of the day. This procedure can be viewed by clicking the button.
Students will also need to provide a completed permission form from their parents to bring such devices to school. These forms can be accessed on the school website under the ‘Parent’ tab.
If you need to communicate a message to your child before the end of the day, please contact the front office so that the message can be passed on.
Thank you for your continued support.
May God bless your week
Natalia Thomson
Principal
From the Assistant Principal
MAKURU SEASON
At Monday’s Gathering, we heard of the change in season to the Makuru season. Traditionally, the Nyoongar people of this land continue to travel deeper and further into the country, taking advantage of the landscapes abundant natural resources. This was a time to use kondil (sheoak tree) for the creation of kylee (boomerangs). The kondil bright red blossoms are also a sign of the changing seasons – along with the unmissable colder mornings!
EDUDANCE CONCERT REMINDER
Please refer to the email from earlier today (Wednesday 5 June) with key information for students and audience members. Note that there will be approximately 180 seats in the undercover area. Students should be dropped off to their class in their costumes at 4:50pm ready for a ‘closed’ dress-rehearsal at 5:00pm. The concert will begin at 5:30pm in the following order: PP, Y2, Y4, Y6, intermission, Y5, Y3, Y1, Y6 (encore).
WEEKLY FOCUS
In the second half of the term, we use our weekly focus to examine the six elements of our School Vision statement. Last week we looked at the need for Collaboration in various school activities, noting that Harvard University along with ‘Zoom’ note that greater understanding of tasks, and greater performance within tasks was generated when collaborative learning took place. This week we look at Critical Thinking, which enhances decision making, self-management skills and links to another of our vision statement elements, Curiosity.
FOUNDER’S DAY
One of the most important days of the St Thomas’ Primary School year is Founder’s Day, held this year on Wednesday 26 June. We look forward to a day of celebrations for our whole school. The day recognises our namesake St Thomas the Apostle, and our the founding charism of the Presentation Sisters.
IT AND CYBER-SAFETY
A reminder of the fantastic resources located at the eSafety Commissioner’s website.
I encourage all parents to use this site when various resources and information is required.
Heath Nankivell
Assistant Principal
Congratulations to our Merit Award winners
Final call Pre Kindy & Kindy 2025/2026
We are currently interviewing and offering places in both Pre Kindy and Kindergarten for 2025 and 2026. If you have a younger sibling who you would like to enrol please complete an application form. Forms are available on our website: ENROLMENT FORM or call into the office.
Any queries please contact Julie:
Reading underpins everything we do!
Developing a life long love of reading is our aim! Reading allows us to grow our knowledge, develop our cognitive abilities and enrich our vocabulary as well as reduce stress and boost our imagination and creativity. With this in mind we are very excited to be a part of The Premier’s Reading Challenge for 2024. The challenge is open to all students from K-Year 6.
All you need to do to be in the running for weekly prizes is to register at
or simply click on the QR code in the image on the link, or on the special bookmark each child has received from their class teacher and get reading!
Once you read something, make sure you log the book, magazine, graphic novel etc. in your account and you’re in the draw! The Challenge goes for 18 weeks until 6 September.
There is also a treat for the school who has the most children sign up relative to its size so we encourage as many as possible to get involved.
Any queries please contact Mrs Sam Valentine.
Empowering Education
Fostering Agency in Early Childhood Learning
As teachers, we recognize the profound impact of agency on the educational journey of young learners. Agency, the ability to make meaningful choices and direct one’s learning, is a cornerstone of early childhood education, guided by frameworks like the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF).
In our classrooms, we prioritize fostering agency to nurture respectful relationships, holistic learning, and responsive environments. Respectful relationships are foundational to nurturing agency. By valuing children’s voices and ideas, we create a space where they feel respected and empowered to express themselves, fostering a sense of ownership over their learning.
Holistic learning is central to our practice. We integrate cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development to provide comprehensive learning experiences that cater to the whole child.
Our classrooms are responsive environments designed to ignite curiosity and invite exploration. From inviting learning spaces to diverse materials, everything is curated to inspire children’s natural desire to learn.
Promoting agency means providing opportunities for children to take the lead in their learning. Through choice-based activities and child-led inquiries, we empower them to pursue their interests and passions, fostering autonomy and ownership. Encouraging choice is fundamental. By offering options and respecting children’s decisions, we honour their agency and promote independence.
Facilitating reflection helps children make connections between their experiences and learning, fostering deeper understanding and metacognitive skills. Promoting collaboration fosters a sense of community and belonging, encouraging children to learn from and with their peers, developing essential social skills.
Our commitment to nurturing agency is both professional and personal. By embracing agency, we empower children to become active participants in their education, laying the groundwork for a lifetime of curiosity, exploration, and growth.
Kate Byrne
Pre-kindy / Visual Arts Teacher
Seedlings
Do you have any silverbeet seedlings you would be happy for our Green Team to have?
Please leave at the front office.
Many thanks
The Green Team!
Dad's & kids WAFL event
Sport News
UPCOMING EVENTS
Winter Lightning Carnival Year 5 and 6
Thursday 13 June at Wembley sports park from 10am – 2pm.
Netball
Perth Netball Association (Gold State Netball Centre)
Soccer
Henderson Park
AFL
Pat Goodridge Oval
Please return all permission forms online by Thursday 6 June and all the best to the Year 5 and 6 students participating next week.
RUNNING CLUB
Running club is on Thursday morning from 7.50 – 8.10am at Rowe Park. Just a reminder there will be no running club on Thursday 13 June due to the Winter Lightning Carnival.
If the weather is poor, I will send an email out either the night before or first thing in the morning.
Sharon Seaman
Physical Education Specialist Teacher
Save the Date
Music Lessons 2024
Instrumental music lessons are available at St Thomas’ Primary. Children can learn voice, keyboard, piano, violin, drums, guitar and flute. Please contact the school office for a music form if your child is interested in commencing music lessons in 2024.
