2026 T1W6 – 11 MARCH

STRATEGIC PLAN
It has been a significant time for our school community as we officially launched the St Thomas’ Primary School Strategic Plan 2026–2029. This plan, shaped by our shared vision and grounded in the guiding themes of Inspire, Empower and Transform, sets a clear and vibrant direction for the years ahead. It reflects our commitment to nurturing every child as a learner, a person of faith, and a valued member of our community. I look forward to engaging with you further as we bring this plan to life across our Catholic Identity, Education, Community and Stewardship pillars. Our Strategic Plan can be viewed on this LINK.

HARMONY DAY
On March 25, we will join schools across Australia in celebrating Harmony Day, a time to recognise and honour the rich cultural diversity within our community. Harmony Day reminds us that “Everyone Belongs,” and our students will participate in activities that celebrate inclusion, respect and the beauty of our different stories. Students are invited to wear orange or cultural dress to mark the occasion, and continue building understanding and connection across our school.

CODE OF CONDUCT
A gentle reminder that all members of the St Thomas’ Primary School community are expected to uphold our STPS Code of Conduct, which is available on our school website.

When children are surrounded by the positive behaviours outlined in the Code, they are more likely to develop healthy relationships and a strong sense of belonging. As a community, we each play a vital role in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of every student by modelling these behaviours and encouraging one another to do the same. For parents and carers, adherence to the Code of Conduct is a condition of entry to our school grounds.

At the heart of our Code are 12 clear statements that guide how we work, learn, and interact together. These include acting safely and competently, prioritising student wellbeing, respecting the dignity and beliefs of all, maintaining confidentiality, acting ethically, and ensuring students have a voice in matters affecting them.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership in helping us maintain a safe, respectful, and Christ-centred environment for all.

SWIMMING TRIALS
Congratulations to all Year 3 to 5 students on completing the swimming trials on Tuesday 10/3. These times will be used to place students in events for the St Thomas’ PS Swimming Carnival to be held on Friday 20 March. A huge thank you to Maggie, Margaret, Oscar, Caroline, Zaya and Linda for helping at the pool, and to Ang and Irini for their double shift staying for the entire afternoon! Your support is very much appreciated.

SWIMMING CARNIVAL
Our school carnival will be held for all Years 3 to 6 students at Claremont Aquatic Centre on Friday 20/3. More information will be forwarded to parents regarding the organisation of the day, what students should bring, and request for parent helpers. We look forward to an exciting day of competition, remembering that last year’s result was only separated by 1 point!

NAPLAN
Thank you for all Year Three and Year Five parents for assisting your children in the lead up to the NAPLAN tests, which started today, Wednesday 11 March. While these tests are important, we do not wish to put undue pressure on students and remain open that it is one test on one day reflecting a small snapshot of student academic achievement. There are many more important qualities, learnings and gifts that better reflect the amazing young person your child is and this should be discussed in a balanced view of NAPLAN. The testing schedule is below:
Wed 11 Mar – Writing
Thu 12 Mar – Reading
Fri 13 Mar – Conventions of Language
Mon 16 Mar – Numeracy
Tue 17 Mar – catch-up tests as needed for absent students for the remainder of the week.

REPORTS
An outline of the St Thomas’ Primary School Kindergarten to Year Six reporting process is contained below (note Pre-Kindy students do not receive a formal report)
Term 1 Week 9 – Interim reports (available through Seqta)
Term 1 Week 9 – Parent-teacher (face-to-face or online Teams meetings – booking information released soon)
Term 2 Week 11 – Mid-Year reports (available through Seqta)
Term 4 Week 2 – Learning Journey in classrooms
Term 4 Week 9 – End of Year reports (available through Seqta)

PARENT TEACHER MEETINGS
These meetings will be conducted in the final week of this term. More information regarding booking times will be available by email over the coming weeks. Please note that these session will be offered as face-to-face meetings at the school, and also online through a Teams meeting link. The purpose of these 10-minute meetings are to discuss your student’s progress so far in 2026. The discussion will be based around the Interim Reports, which will be made available to parents on Monday prior to the meetings. The reports include an indicator of student achievement in Religion, English and Mathematics, being above, at or below expected level. Teachers will also identify areas for future focus for your child to continue their growth.

SLIP LANE PICK-UP
A reminder to be patient and courteous when using the slip lane. Please do not park in the middle of the lane – always move up as far as possible to allow people behind you to safely drop-off or pick-up their child. Parents are encouraged to stay in their vehicle and staff can direct students to their car – this helps traffic flow enabling a safe and efficient system. I refer all parents to our “Getting to and from St Thomas’ ” document by clicking here.