Dear Parents and Caregivers,
We have come to the end of another year, which continued with surprises right to the end with unseasonal weather interrupting a number of our final year events like Sports Day and our Christmas Carols. Thank you for your understanding around changing these events around to fit in with the weather. We were blessed with a small window of opportunity to hold Sports Day on Monday of this week, with soaking rain and wind immediately prior to and immediately after the event. A big thank you to Mr Morgado and the staff for organising a great day. The children had a wonderful time and competed with effort, teamwork and respect. Congratulations to McAuley who were fortunate to win the Sports Cup and the Spirit Trophy. Congratulations also to the 100m winners, Rahwa and Callum and the 800m winners, Rahwa and Najma (tie) and Moses. We will look to have Sports Day in Term 1 next year, although that doesn’t necessarily guarantee good weather!
In this season of Advent, we are full of anticipation and expectation as we recall the birth of Jesus more than 2000 years ago. Why do remember him specifically, when we don’t necessarily remember many other people from his time? This simple carpenter from Nazareth has had such an impact on people, all around the world, for all this time. I think it is because he challenged the people of the times and his message, his Gospels, still challenge us today to think differently, to love and care for everyone we meet. My hope is that our students learn about and live out our ‘Mercy’ values of Compassion, Courage, Hospitality, Justice, Respect and Service. By doing this they will continue the example that Jesus has given us. I can not think of a single reason why we would not want our children to live out these values every day. It is your job as parents and our job as a school to nurture and encourage these values in them. Congratulations to the Coolock team for winning the Mercy Cup today, based on displaying the Mercy values throughout the 2023 school year.
You would have received your child’s school report on Thursday and details of their teacher(s) for next year. I would like to congratulate your children for their efforts this year with their learning and with the relationships they have developed. I offer a heartfelt thanks to our committed staff who do such an amazing job, every day, in caring for your children and carrying out their professional duties of teaching, supporting and guiding those placed in their care. It is such a challenging yet rewarding position to be in and I admire the way they front up every day with a smile on their face for every child. Thank you everyone for your hard work and dedication.
I would like to thank each one of you for the contribution you have made to our school this year, no matter how small or large. I would like to especially thank and farewell the following staff and students who will be leaving our school to begin the next step in their particular life journey:
Sebestyen Maglai, Janie Gosling, Sameera Sekhon, Cloe Bowman, Elizabeth Iliev, Austin, Callum, Callum, Felicity, Janzen, Rahwa, Tahnay, Taneesha, Tayler, Kaysha, Kirah, Harrison, Rayan and Dylan. May God’s blessing be upon each one of you at this time and into the future.
Please remember that St Thomas More School offers Vacation Care for those families who may require that service. We do have some application forms available in our Front Office if required.
I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Enjoy the holiday time with your children and stay safe if you are travelling. Thank you for your friendship and for entrusting your children to us this year. Please remember that school resumes on Monday 29 January!
Kind regards
Peter Mercer
Head of School
‘Shaping our future together’
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