News from Week 9, Term 4 – 2024

I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the entire St Thomas More School community for the incredible support I have received during my time here. It has been a privilege to serve as Principal and I have truly enjoyed every moment of my leadership journey.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my role has been witnessing the growth of our students—not just in their academic achievements, but in their social and emotional development as well. The children at St Thomas More School have always demonstrated an exceptional ability to work together, support one another, and make new students feel welcome. I will miss every one of them and wish them all the very best in their futures.

I am also deeply grateful to the families who have been such a strong pillar of support throughout my tenure. Your dedication and involvement in the life of the school—whether by helping with learning, supporting excursions and carnivals, or volunteering on various committees—has made a tremendous difference. I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to past and present members of the School Board for your unwavering commitment to the school and for always working in partnership with me to ensure that every child’s best interests were at the heart of our decisions.

To the staff, I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked alongside such a passionate, dedicated, and professional group of educators and support staff. The St Thomas More School community is blessed to have such a talented team who continuously strive to provide the best learning experiences for our children. I am grateful for the leadership team, both past and present, who have been such wonderful collaborators and sources of inspiration.

During my time at St Thomas More School, I have been fortunate to witness and contribute to a period of significant growth and renewal. Together, as a community, we have shaped St Thomas More School into a place that truly embodies excellence, care, and faith. This achievement is a testament to the partnership we have built between staff, families, and the parish. Everyone has played a part in making the school the wonderful place it is today, and I feel privileged to have led the school during this time of transformation.

As I reflect on my time at St Thomas More School, some of my fondest memories include the joy and laughter shared during moments such as being ‘slimed’, celebrating the achievements of each graduating class, witnessing the completion of the courtyard sandpit. I also fondly remember our participation in the Catholic Schools Music Festivals and various sporting carnivals, the energy of Sports Days, and the warmth of Special Days.

I have cherished every opportunity to watch our students share their learning with me, and I will always treasure the moments I spent observing our teachers and staff continually sharing their gifts and talents with students and families. Whole-school staff projects such as the development of a School Master Plan (building) and creating a Vision for Learning have been truly enriching, and I will carry the lessons from these projects forward. From carnivals, excursions, and end-of-year concerts to Book Week parades, Mission Days, and school assemblies—the list of meaningful experiences goes on and on. These memories, and the relationships built along the way, are what I will remember most as I leave St Thomas More.

Thank you again to each one of you for your support, trust, and dedication over the years. It has truly been an honour to serve as Principal of this wonderful school. May the peace and joy of the Christ Child be with you all during the Christmas season.

Shaping our future together,
Chris Platten

Term 4 is often a time of reflection and of some changes in staffing. The end of the school year has seen us thanking and farewelling a number of our staff members.

• Ms Sarah Carritt has won a teaching position at St Margaret Mary’s School, Croydon Park and will be concluding her time with us. Over the past two years, Sarah taught Yr. 5/6 classes at St Thomas More. Sarah has developed many positive relationships with a number of our students and families over the last two years and we wish her every blessing as she embarks on the next phase of her teaching career at St Margaret Mary’s School, Croydon Park. We wish her every success.
• Mr Daniel Farrugia is also concluding his time at St. Thomas More School at the end of this year. Daniel has done a wonderful job over the past year, leading STEM and quickly developed a positive rapport with students, families and staff. Daniel has a very positive attitude, and his friendly and supportive nature will be sorely missed.
• I’d like thank Ms Luisa Antoniciello for her wonderful efforts over the past ten months. Luisa has a part of our Administration team, developing a wonderful rapport with staff, children and families, displaying service and compassion in her role We wish her every blessing in her future.

I’m delighted to share with you that we have made the following appointments for the 2025 school year.

• Congratulations to Ms Megan Mawhinney (Yr. 2) and Mr Richard Symons (Auslan teacher) on winning teaching positions at St. Thomas More School. They are fantastic teachers and more importantly wonderful people, who have and will continue to, make a positive difference in the life of our young people next year.
• Mr Richard Symons, Mrs Rosemarie Villano and Mr Cristian Morgado will be working across St Mary Magdalene’s and St Thomas More Schools in 2025 as specialist teachers with days at each School site, they will have 1 additional day to coordinate activities pertinent to their specialist area (i.e. Sports Carnivals, Catholic Schools Music Festival etc.)

To all children and parents leaving St Thomas More School to go to new schools, thank you for your contribution to our school and community. Without family support, so much of what we are able to offer students, would be diminished or not happen at all.

Every teacher, staff member, child and family who comes into contact with our school, leaves a ‘footprint’ on the lives of members of our community and the school itself. Similarly, your contact with this community will have touched your lives in some way. I hope that you have enjoyed the time that you have spent at St Thomas More, that you have made lasting friendships and found this to be a welcoming and vibrant Christian Community.

As we find ourselves in the Advent season, a time for preparation and waiting, there is an opportunity, regardless of our age, to step back and to evaluate the priorities which we live out in our daily choices.

There is a chance to take stock and feel the gentle ‘nudging’ of the Spirit. So, as Christmas approaches, amidst the inevitable workout of the plastic card at the shops and all the Christmas parties, perhaps there will be an opportunity to be attentive to the inner voice, the voice which calls us to see at this time of the year the new born child, a countercultural message to reorder our priorities, to put people, not things first and to give first call to love.

In the words of Pope Francis: “The world tells us to seek success, power and money; God tells us to seek humility, service and love.”

On behalf of the St Thomas More School staff, we wish each of you a safe and enjoyable holiday break and hope Christmas is a joyful celebration of Jesus’ birth and ongoing presence in our lives.

Shaping our future together,
The Leadership Team

How can I be ready for Jesus?

What can I do to be prepared?

Think of some people who show by how they live that Jesus is an important part of their lives.

What is it about their lives that you admire?

Can you live like that?

How do we continue the healing work of Jesus today?

Christmas is coming!

How will you celebrate God’s coming to us?