Welcome to St.Thomas'
Prayer
World Environment Day Prayer
Loving God, you created our beautiful world and call us to care for it.Inspired by Laudato Si’ and Saint Francis of Assisi, help us walk gently on the Earth, protect nature, and care for one another.
May your Spirit guide us to live wisely and treat all creation with kindness.
Amen.
Important Dates
Wed 04 June – LifeLink Launch
Fri 06 June – Yrs 5 & 6 Interhouse Debating
Fri 06 June – P&F Quiz Night @ 6:30 pm
Fri 13 June – Y5 Assembly @ 8:45am
Mon 16 June – Science Week
Tue 17 June – Sacred Heart of Jesus liturgy @ 9am in hall
Fri 20 June – School disco
Fri 20 June – Y3 Assembly @ 8:45am
Mon 23 June – STEM Showcase Y3 & Y4
Tue 24 June – Edu-Dance Concert @ STPS
Thu 26 June – Winter Carnival (Y5 & Y6)
Fri 27 June – Y4 Assembly @ 8:45am
Mon 30 June – Mid-year reports available through Seqta
Wed 02 July – Founders Day Celebrations Mass @ 8:45 am
Fri 04 July – Term 2 Concludes
2025 Term Dates
TERM DATES:
- TERM 1 – Wednesday 5 Feb – Friday 11 Apr
- TERM 2 – Tuesday 29 Apr – Friday 4 Jul
- TERM 3 – Tuesday 22 Jul – Friday 26 Sep
- TERM 4 – Tuesday 14 Oct – Friday 12 Dec
PUPIL FREE DAYS:
- Monday 28 Apr
- Friday 30 May
- Monday 21 Jul
- Monday 25 Aug
- Monday 13 Oct
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:
- Monday 3 Mar (Labour Day)
- Friday 18 Apr (Good Friday)- in school holidays
- Friday 25 Apr (ANZAC Day) – in school holidays
- Monday 2 Jun (WA Day)
- Monday 29 Sep (King’s Birthday)
From the Principal
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
On Thursday, 5 June, we celebrate World Environment Day, a global occasion dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of protecting our environment. At St Thomas’, sustainability is a key focus in our Strategic Plan, and we are committed to nurturing a culture of care for our Earth.
Staff were recently reminded of the deep connection between sustainability and our Catholic faith, particularly through the teachings of Pope Francis and the example of St Francis of Assisi. Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ calls us to care for our common home by showing kindness to nature and to one another.
As part of our ongoing commitment, staff recently engaged in a full-day professional learning experience titled “Embracing Laudato Si’: A Journey Towards Sustainable and Compassionate Education”, led by the Religious Education Team at Catholic Education WA. This enriching day reinforced the message that environmental stewardship and social justice are deeply intertwined. Over the next six months, we will be working with students to review and enhance our school’s sustainability plan in a staged and collaborative process.
ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH LIFELINK LAUNCH
At the recent LifeLink Launch, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe reminded us of the importance of planting seeds of compassion and nurturing them to grow. We were proud to have four of our Year 6 student leaders represent St Thomas’ at this special event. LifeLink, a joint initiative of Catholic Education WA and the Archdiocese of Perth, supports vital services for those in need across Western Australia.
YEAR 5/6 DEBATING
This Friday, our Year 5 and 6 students will participate in a school debating competition, showcasing their skills in critical thinking, public speaking, research, and teamwork. This initiative builds on our Oracy program in Years 3 and 4, which helps students become confident and effective communicators. We look forward to seeing their growth and enthusiasm in action.
MOVIE TRIVIA QUIZ NIGHT
Preparations are in full swing for our Movie Trivia Night this Friday in the school undercover area. A heartfelt thank you to our P&F for organising this exciting event, and to all parents and friends who have generously contributed raffle and auction items. It’s wonderful to see our community coming together in such a joyful way.
Natalia Thomson
Principal
From the Assistant Principal
EDUDANCE CONCERT
Please be advised details for the EduDance concert:
Venue: STPS Undercover area
Date: Tuesday 24 June
Time: 5:00pm students arrive for rehearsal/set-up, for a 5:30pm concert start
Costume: classes have been informed of their costume, students should attend in their costume at 5pm.
Arrangement: parents will be seated in the undercover area, with standing area behind. Students will go to their classrooms at 5pm, then move to wait in the hall, and come to the undercover area when their class performs. Once their class performs, children are permitted to be signed out to their parents from the hall.
We look forward to welcoming you to the culmination of this program. More information will be emailed to parents prior to the concert.
MID-YEAR REPORTS
A reminder that ‘mid-year’ reports will be shared through Seqta for all Kindergarten to Year Six students. If you require Seqta access, please contact: heath.nankivell@cewa.edu.au
CEWA RELIGIOUS EDUCATION ASSESSMENT
In Week Three of Term Two, students in Years 3 & 5 will take part in Catholic Education WA’s Religious Education Assessment (REA). The purpose of the REA is to measure student learning of the mandated content in the Religious Education Curriculum. More information will be sent to parents early next week regarding these assessments.
IT AND CYBER-SAFETY
A reminder of the fantastic resources located at the eSafety Commissioner’s website https://www.esafety.gov.au/. I encourage all parents to use this site when various resources and information is required.
MAKURU SEASON
Around this time of the year, we move into the season of Makuru. 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!
Heath Nankivell
Assistant Principal
Award Recipients
Weekly Focus Award
Merit Awards
LifeLink Launch 2025
This is Giacomo, Charlie, Ruby and Ha. We are Year 6 leaders, and we attended the 2025 Life Link Launch Day on the 4th of June with Mrs Thomson. Multiple different catholic schools across Perth attended, and it was hosted at Newman College.
As we walked in the building, we were greeted by some Newman College year 6 students. The presentations gave us information on what LifeLink is. It is a service company that provides support, such a meals, GP access, disabilities and household items and much more, for those in need around Western Australia. Lifelink has raised millions of dollars and helped hundreds of those in need. Archbishop Timothy Costelloe also included, the teachings of Jesus, which is stories and messages as well as Pope Francis continuing that through his Laudato Si letter and the year of Jubilee. Archbishop Timothy Costelloe reminded us of stories from the bible ‘Jesus feeds the 5000’ and ‘The Sowing of the Mustard Seeds.’ The Life Link symbol was made up of two c’s meaning catholic, and care. It was created by school students in the shape of a heart.
Archbishop Timothy Costelloe told us about a locked golden door of hope at the Vatican. When you touch the door, God will give you hope, that was held in Rome. The door can only be opened every 25 years in the Year of Jubilee. Between the 25 years, the door was locked and then they would put a brick wall in front of it. He also said that he has met with the last four Popes multiple times: Pope John Paul 11, Pope Benedict, Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV.
At the end, it was optional to ask a question to either Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, or to the Bishop Don Sproxton. After the presentation ended, we were all very lucky to get some morning tea that was provided for everyone. We thank Mrs Thomson, the Newman College staff, the Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, Bishop Donald Sproxton, and all the others who helped to prepare this amazing morning. Thank You.
Charlie, Giacomo, Ruby and Ha – Year 6
Years 3 & 4 STEM Showcase
This Semester Years 3 & 4 have been taking part in enrichment STEM activities. We invite you to come along to Morning Gathering on Monday 23rd June at 8.40am to watch the presentations on how they created their shoes (Year 3) and boats (Year 4) using the Design Thinking Process.
We also invite parents/carers to view the finished products in the Makerspace, which will be open from 3.00-3.30pm every afternoon during week 9 (23rd – 27th June). The students are very excited to share their learning and hard work with everyone.
Natalie Cloud, STEM | Lila Gibbs, Year 4 | Hannah Antulov, Year 3 |
Mrs Natalie Cloud, Mrs Lila Gibbs & Miss Hannah Antulov
STEM / YR 4 / YR 3
Premier's Reading Challenge
Please see website on Poster to register your child/ren. Let’s make this the best year ever!
Mrs Sam Valentine
Learning Support Teacher
Advisory Council Update
The Advisory Council’s Term Two meeting was on Tuesday 3 June.
We were fortunate to be joined by Sr Catherine Walker, who guided us with faith formation. Aligning with our 2025 focus value of Community, Sr Catherine spoke about ‘Building Community the Nano Nagle Way’. It was inspiring to hear about the school’s history of educating with compassion, the rich diversity within our St Thomas’ community, including 22 cultural backgrounds, and to reflect on the role we all play in building and supporting our school community.
Patrycja Spears provided an update on the wonderful and ongoing work of the P&F. The P&F has worked tirelessly to support the School community with a range of fundraising initiatives, including recently the very successful Mother’s Day breakfast and stalls, the upcoming Quiz Night and School Disco, and continuing initiatives such as the School Supporter Caps.
The Principal’s Report highlighted the breadth of activities in this busy term, from the teamwork and participation of the children in events such as the Interschool Cross Country and EduDance, to the School’s representation at the Archbishop’s Official Launch of LifeLink Day 2025. The staff have been working hard on a range of initiatives, including a focus on the teaching of literacy and numeracy. Year Four students have celebrated their First Communion, and the year Six students are preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Daniel della Vedova gave an overview of the financial figures for the months of February to April and the financial outlook. There was some discussion of enrolments and marketing, including the exciting new website. We also received an update on the progress of the Strategic Plan Data Collection process and next steps. Frank di Latte reported on Grounds and Maintenance matters, including the construction at 6 Warden Street and developments in plans for the early years playground, with plans for this work to be progressed in the coming months.
We are looking forward to a wonderful last half of term.
Mrs Rebecca Faugno
Advisory Council Chair
ICAS
ICAS – Years 2-6
Students from years 2-6 have the opportunity to showcase and celebrate their talents in the world-renowned ICAS competition again this year.
What is ICAS?
ICAS is an online international academic competition supported by the University of Sydney, that gives students the opportunity to challenge their higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing and Digital Technologies.
Every student who participates is celebrated and recognised with a printed certificate in each subject area, and an online results report to track development each year. Top performers are eligible for one of the highly coveted ICAS medals.
Participation in ICAS is optional. To learn more about the ICAS competition, visit: (icasassessments.com/products-icas/)
How to participate in ICAS
If you wish for your child to participate in ICAS, please go to the Parent Portal to sign up to your chosen subject areas using the link and code below.
Registration for all subject areas closes on Monday 28 July at 11:59pm.
Sign up here shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps
Access code RTZ976
This year, our students can elect to sit the following assessments:
Subject Sitting Date Cost (AU$)
- Digital Technologies 4-8 Aug $20.95
- Writing 4-8 Aug $24.95
- English 11-15 Aug $20.95
- Science 18-22 Aug $20.95
- Mathematics 25-29Aug $20.95
Please note, all ICAS assessments will be administered at school during the sitting dates listed above.
Unfortunately, the school cannot facilitate refunds or make alterations as all money is paid directly to ICAS Assessments.
We are proud to be offering ICAS to our students this year.
Please do not hesitate to contact the school office if you have any questions.
Support STPS at Grill'd!
We’re excited to share that St Thomas’ Primary School is featured in the Local Matters jars at Grill’d Claremont Quarter for the month of May! When you dine in or order at Grill’d, you’ll receive a token to place in the jar of your choice. Pop yours in the St Thomas’ jar to help us receive a donation towards our school initiatives. It’s an easy (and tasty!) way to show your support. So gather the family and enjoy a burger to help support our school!
School Disco
Our school disco is fast approaching! Details are below:
- Date:
- Friday 20 June
- Times:
- Pre-Primary to Year 2 from 4:45 – 5:45pm
- Years 3 to 6 from 6:00 – 7:30pm
- Location:
- STPS Hall
- Theme:
- ‘Country’
P & F News
Golden Ticket: Adventure Raffle
We are thrilled to officially launch the Golden Ticket Adventure Raffle, created to support our upcoming Year 6 Canberra Tour in 2025!
Tickets: $10 each Available for purchase at the front office or through any Year 6 parent.
Prizes Include:
1st Prize Pack
• Youth Lab Red Carpet Experience – $1,499
• Lucky Chap Wine Case – $300
• Viva La Blonde Hair Voucher – $500
• Wisdom Pilates & Physiotherapy Voucher – $200
• Vitality House Blue Rosa Spa Voucher – $185
• Matthew Landers Iconic Perth Florist Voucher – $100
• Chachi “Gift of Love from Lilou” Earrings – $119
• Claremont Pharmacy & News agency Pamper Package – (Total value: $119.80)
• Assembly the Label Candle – $50 (Donated by Lissy Graham)
• Oroton Seagrass Earrings – $249 (Donated by Lissy Graham)
• Oroton Bamboo Small Umbrella – $69.95 (Donated by Lissy Graham)
• MECCA COSMETICA To Save Face SPF 50+ Super screen 75g – $46 (Donated by Graham)
• Deadly Peonies Poucher – $119.95 (Donated by Lissy Graham)
• Rare Beauty “Comfort” Body & Hair Fragrance Mist + Find Comfort Bouncy Cream – $119 (Donated by Lissy Graham)
2nd Prize
• Crown Voucher – $500 (Donated by Emma Milner)
3rd Prize
• Margots Dining Experience – $250 (Donated by Rebecca Frost)
Total Prize Pool: Over $4,400
Raffle Draw Date: Friday, 4th July 2025
A standard lottery permit has been obtained through the Gaming and Wagering Commission.
Don’t miss your chance to win these incredible prizes while supporting a memorable educational experience for our Year 6 students!
Sustainability at St Thomas'
At St Thomas’, sustainability is a core value, especially in the Art Room, where students are actively encouraged to engage in eco-conscious creative practices. Our students are regularly reminded that their actions help reduce the environmental impact of our school community.
In the art room, a variety of recycled materials such as paper, cardboard and newspaper are used for projects. Students are taught to use both sides of the paper before placing it in the recycling bin, an easy habit that makes a big difference.
Paint is distributed in reused egg cartons, which not only minimizes waste but also teaches children the importance of repurposing every-day items. These cartons, along with their lids are creatively reused in collages and drawings. (Thanks to the parents who consistently donate these egg cartons.)
Nature also plays a key role. Found objects like seed pods, leaves and sticks become painting tools, while scrap wood is transformed into beautiful masterpieces. We even collect fabric from local furniture shops and interior designers for collage work.
Our sustainability goes full circle; used paper and cardboard are composted through the Green Team’s compose bins, reinforcing the importance of closing the loop.
Beyond creating art, students are learning to observe their environment more closely and appreciate the value of reusing, recycling, and caring for the Earth. The Art Room is not just a place for creativity and imagination it’s a place where children can make a meaningful contribution to our school’s sustainability mission.
Mrs Kate Byrne
Visual Arts Teacher
St Thomas' Soup Drive
Help provide warm meals for people in need this winter!
This winter, our Mini Vinnies Team is running a Soup Drive to support The Shopfront and LifeLink. The Shopfront is one of LifeLink’s Catholic agencies that supports individuals and families facing hardship, especially during the colder months. We’re inviting all families to bring in cans of soup during Week 3, Week 4, and Week 5 of Term 2. Baskets will be in every classroom. Let’s work together to show kindness, compassion and care this winter. One can makes a big difference. Thank you for your generosity!
St Thomas’ Mini Vinnies Team
Triple P Positive Parenting Program
Triple P Positive Parenting Program is a broad-based parenting intervention for parents of children up to 12 years. It provides parents with simple strategies to encourage positive behaviour and to prevent and manage misbehaviour. It’s delivered via online modules that parents can complete independently.
Delivery of the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program to parents and carers of children in Australia is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care under the Parenting Education and Support Program. Parents and carers can access free, online parenting support 24/7 at https://www.triplep-parenting.net.au/au/triple-p/
Edu-sing Term Two
Violin Lessons 2025
- Coordination
- Posture
- Balance
- Fine Motor Skills
-
Memorisation skills
-
Confidence
-
Language processing
-
Strengthening neural connections
-
Creative outlet
Project Compassion boxes
Ash Wednesday Mass
Ash Wednesday Mass
