News

May 1, 2026

STM NEWS | Term 2, Week 1, 2026

Dear Families,

After a refreshing and well-deserved holiday break, it has been wonderful to see our students return to school feeling recharged, positive, and ready for the term ahead. The energy around the school has been vibrant, with smiling faces, enthusiastic conversations, and a renewed focus on learning.

This term promises to be an exciting and busy one, filled with a variety of engaging events and opportunities for students to grow both academically and socially. From our upcoming sports day and other sports carnivals to special themed days, there is something for everyone to look forward to.

Our teachers have been hard at work preparing dynamic and inspiring learning programs, and students have already made a great start to engaging in these. We encourage everyone to stay organised, maintain a positive mindset, and make the most of every opportunity presented this term.

We look forward to a fantastic term ahead filled with many memorable moments together and celebrating the achievements of our students along the way.

Shaping our future together,
Leadership Team

Sports Day | We're back on!

We would like to remind you of the rescheduling of Sports Day. The event will now take place on Wednesday 13 May (Week 3).

Due to existing commitments, Fridays were not a viable option. In addition, we aimed to avoid postponing the event too far into the term, taking into account seasonal weather conditions. We appreciate your understanding as we worked to identify the most suitable alternative date.

We look forward to favourable weather and an enjoyable, active day for all students. Further details regarding the schedule, student requirements, and other important information will be communicated closer to the event.

Mother's Day Celebrations

As we approach Mother’s Day, we look forward to celebrating and honouring the important role that mothers and carers play in the lives of our students and school community.

This year we are having a Mother’s Day stall and students will have the opportunity to purchase a special gift for their mothers and carers. The stall will be held on Tuesday 5 May. This is always a wonderful occasion for children to thoughtfully select a token of appreciation. A huge thanks to the Front office Admin team who have taken the responsibility for this and the volunteers who have offered to assist.

Our 💖 Mother’s Day Liturgy will take place on Wednesday 6 May at 9:00am in the school hall. This special gathering provides an opportunity for us to come together in reflection and gratitude, recognising the care, guidance, and love that mothers and carers provide each day. Prior to the Liturgy we invite you to join us for a special 🥐Mother’s Day breakfast at 8.30am.

Mother’s Day is a meaningful occasion to acknowledge the significant contributions of mothers and carers, whose support and encouragement help shape the lives of our children in countless ways. We extend our sincere thanks and wish all mothers and carers a joyful and very happy Mother’s Day.

Important Dates for Term 2 | Pupil Free Days and Public Holidays

For forward planning please familiarise yourself with the following dates this term:

Tuesday, 5 May | Mother’s Day Stall
Wednesday, 6 May | Mother’s Day Brekky and Liturgy
Monday, 11 May – Friday, 15 May | School Dental Visits
Wednesday, 13 May | Sports Day
Friday, 15 May | Assembly, 9am
Friday, 15 May | Book Club Closes (Issue 3 went out at the end of last term)
Wednesday, 20 May | Special Person’s Day
Friday, 29 May | Pupil Free Day (No School, OSHC Available)
Friday, 5 June | Assembly, 9am
Monday, 8 June | Public Holiday (No School, No OSHC available)
Tuesday, 9 June | Reception Transition Visit 1
Tuesday, 16 June | Reception Transition Visit 2
Tuesday, 23 June | Reception Transition Visit 3
Thursday, 25 June | Feast Day of St Thomas More
Friday, 26 June | – Pupil Free Day (No School, OSHC Available)
Friday, July 3 | Last Day of Term 2 and Assembly at 9am

Don’t forget, you can always refer to the Calendar on our website!

Thank you to our Volunteers

We are fortunate to have the support of parents and caregivers who generously give their time to enrich our school community.

St Thomas More School is currently seeking to expand its pool of registered volunteers.

Complete our online form to become a registered volunteer and you will be able to assist with school excursions, canteen services, School Board activities, and a range of special events throughout the year. A simple registration process is required, and our front office team is available to provide further information and guidance. Volunteer induction sessions will be held regularly, with details communicated in advance.

We sincerely value the time and commitment of our volunteers and greatly appreciate your contribution to the vibrant life of our school.

Mid Year Reception Intake / Enrolments

A reminder that if your child turns 5 on or before the 31^st October 2026, they are eligible to start school from Term 3. If you have not enrolled yet, it is vital that you contact our Front Office immediately. It is very important that this process starts early to guarantee your child a position in our school. Places are filling fast! Please contact our Front Office for more information.

If you know of anyone seeking enrolment, please encourage them to contact us, we love to welcome new families into our school.

Faith in Action | A word from our APRIM

You may have noticed in each newsletter that we have been including a Gospel reading and short reflection. We do this as a reminder to keep Jesus at the heart of our school community. The Gospel invites us to pause, listen and reflect on God’s Word, helping us connect our faith with everyday life at school and at home. By sharing this reflection together, we strengthen our shared Catholic identity, nurture our values, and are reminded to live the message of love, compassion and hope in all that we do.

Gospel Reflection

This coming weekend the Gospel passage is from John. In this passage, Jesus comforts his followers when they feel worried and unsure. He tells them to trust in God and to trust in him. Jesus explains that he is preparing a place for them, showing that God’s love is welcoming and never ends. When he says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” Jesus reminds us that following him helps us know God and learn how to live with love, hope, and trust, even when life feels uncertain.

Wonderings:

I wonder what Jesus meant when he said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled”.
I wonder how Jesus can be “the way” for us in our everyday lives—at home and at school.
I wonder what it means for us to continue Jesus’ work of love in the world today.

Loving God,
When our hearts feel worried or unsure, help us to trust in you.
Thank you for Jesus, who shows us the way to love, the truth that gives us hope, and the life that brings peace. Bless our families and our school community and guide us each day. Amen.

Mother's and Special Women's Liturgy

With Mother’s Day coming up, we take this special opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the love, care and guidance of our mothers and the special women in our lives who nurture, support and inspire us each day. Their presence and dedication play an important role in shaping our families and community.

We invite you to join us in celebrating all mothers and special women in our lives on Wednesday May 6 with a morning tea in the yard from 8.30am followed by a whole school Liturgy in the Jubilee Hall at 9am. We look forward to sharing this meaningful celebration together.

Living Mercy at St Thomas More School

At St Thomas More, ‘living mercy’ begins with respect and compassion for one another. Guided by our Mercy Values and following our Positive Behaviour Matrix guidelines, students are encouraged in classrooms and playgrounds to use kind and respectful words, speak with calm voices, and move safely and calmly throughout our learning spaces. These everyday actions help create an environment where everyone feels safe and valued, reflecting our belief that each person is created in God’s image and deserves to be treated with care, understanding, and empathy.

I enjoy opportunities to walk through classrooms and the school yard looking out for simple actions that students do that show ‘living mercy’ each day. Holding a door open for someone to walk through, saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’, cheering on classmates and offering to help a student in need are beautiful examples that I see every day.

As we move through the term, keep an eye out in this section of the newsletter for some specific examples of ‘living mercy’ in our school community.

Project Compassion 2026 | Unite Against Poverty

We thank you for your generous support for Project Compassion through our ‘Loose Change for Big Change’ challenge, Easter Raffle and casual clothes day. Students have enjoyed counting their Project Compassion Box coins on a regular basis, often adding in their loose change at the end of a play break after visiting the canteen.

Our school community has raised a total of $853.30 to support CARITAS Australia and Project Compassion. Together, your generous contributions will help create big, positive changes for people in need.

'Be You' Day

On Friday May 1, our school will celebrate a “Be You – Be Compassionate” Day, inspired by Project Compassion’s theme Unite Against Poverty. Led by our enthusiastic Year 5/6 students, the day will invite all learners from Reception to Year 6 to take part in a series of hands‑on activity rotations designed to spark creativity, teamwork, and empathy. Together, students will explore what it means to embrace their individuality while contributing to a shared mission of supporting others and making a positive difference in our world.

Sacrament Program 2026

The Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, Confirmation and Eucharist form the Sacraments of Christian Initiation. If your child is 8 years of age (or older) and you would like them to be involved in the program for 2026, please contact Melissa Musolino or Edna Dumbrell at the Elizabeth Catholic Parish.

Our program begins in Week 1 with a Commissioning Mass at St. Thomas More Church on Saturday May 2 at 6pm or Sunday May 3 at 10am for students enrolled in the program.

Please click on the link to access the parish bulletin to find out about events happening within the Elizabeth Catholic Parish | Bulletin – Elizabeth Catholic Parish

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