STM NEWS | Term 2, Week 4, 2026

Last week’s Sports Day was a wonderful celebration of teamwork, participation, and school spirit. Perfect weather set the tone for an energetic and enjoyable day for students, staff, and families.

Thank you to all families who attended, your support and enthusiasm helped make the day memorable. We also extend our appreciation to Mr Cristian Morgado for his excellent organisation, and to our dedicated staff and volunteers for preparing students, managing equipment, serving food, and ensuring everything ran smoothly. Students participated with great enthusiasm, determination, and sportsmanship, cheering for their own teams and others in a true display of our school values.

Congratulations to our winning teams:

• Vin Davis Shield – MacKillop
• Spirit Cup – Barry

We are especially proud of our House Sports Captains, whose leadership, encouragement, and commitment to our Mercy values were evident throughout the event.

• MacKillop – Isaac, Zoraya, William
• Barry – Zarghona, Sofia, Daniel
• Coolock – Blessy, Aleaha, Sienna
• McAuley – Ashton, Elyssa, Logan

Overall, it was a joyful and successful day for our whole community. Thank you to everyone who contributed. Check out our photos here on our website.

💖 SPECIAL SHOUT OUT to Kathy, Renee, Matthew, Vicki and Leslie for their fantastic help in the canteen on Sports Day.

This week, we celebrated Catholic Education Week with our Special Persons Day!

It was a joyful occasion that brought our school community together in a meaningful way. Students were thrilled to welcome their special guests, whether parents, grandparents, siblings, aunties, uncles, or other important people in their lives. The morning began with a community prayer shared with students and staff from St Mary Magdelene’s School. Afterwards, students and their guests took part in a range of environmentally themed activities. It was wonderful to see students proudly showing their learning spaces and sharing stories about their school life and daily experiences. We concluded the morning with a shared morning tea, giving families, students, and staff a chance to connect and enjoy time together.

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the success of this event. We look forward to many more opportunities to strengthen the bonds within our school and wider community.

More photos of the lovely event will be posted on our website soon.

Last Friday morning, our school community joined together for a wonderful walk from Fremont Park to school in recognition of National Walk to School Day.

A big thank‑you to all the families who came along and took part. Events like this not only promote healthy habits and daily physical activity, but also help students build independence, strengthen community connections, and start the school day feeling energised and ready to learn.

As we begin Term 2, we would like to reflect on and celebrate the many wonderful Physical Education and sporting opportunities from last term and the beginning of this term.

A huge thank you to TrySkills for running a fantastic 4-week gymnastics clinic with our Reception to Year 2 students during Term 1. The program aligned with the Australian Health and Physical Education (HPE) Curriculum and helped students develop important foundation movement skills including balancing, jumping, landing safely, travelling, turning, and performing movement sequences. Students thoroughly enjoyed the engaging and active sessions.

We would also like to extend a big thank you to Sports College SA for delivering an excellent 5-week soccer clinic for our years 3-6. Students had a fantastic time developing their soccer skills, teamwork, confidence, and game awareness through fun and inclusive activities.

A special congratulations goes to all students and staff involved in this year’s swimming carnival at the SA Aquatic Centre. Although we had a smaller team competing this year, our students displayed incredible determination, teamwork, and sportsmanship, finishing with an outstanding 3rd place overall. Congratulations to everyone involved on such a fantastic achievement!

We would also like to acknowledge and thank the students who participated in the Soccer and Netball Carnival on 07/05/26 at Argana Park. It was a wonderful day where students were able to showcase their soccer and netball skills in a fun, positive, and social environment. The students represented our school with enthusiasm, teamwork, and excellent sportsmanship throughout the day.

Finally, a sincere thank you to all staff who supported these events, including those who attended on the day, as well as the many people working behind the scenes, including Front Office staff and Leadership. Your support and organisation help make these valuable sporting opportunities possible for our students.

Kind Regards,
Cristian Morgado

Students are discouraged from bringing toys to school because they distract from learning, can lead to social conflicts, and are easily lost or damaged. Toys also make it harder for students to transition into a focused, classroom‑ready mindset.

How we distinguish between toys and learning tools…

Toys are for entertainment, while items such as fidgets, wobble cushions, or chewable sensory tools are designed to support focus and emotional regulation. A fidget is only a tool when it helps a child stay calm and attentive; if it becomes a distraction, it no longer serves its purpose.

If you believe your child may benefit from a learning tool, please speak with their teacher before sending anything from home. They can help determine whether the item is appropriate, suggest alternatives, and ensure it is used in a way that genuinely supports your child’s learning.

Thank you for helping us maintain a focused and supportive classroom environment.

We kindly remind all parents and caregivers that if you have concerns about an incident or situation at school, your first point of contact should be your child’s classroom teacher. This allows staff to clarify information and work collaboratively toward a resolution.

Matters requiring further attention will be referred to the Leadership Team, who will ensure appropriate follow‑up actions are taken.

For the wellbeing and safety of all students, we ask that parents and caregivers do not approach or question students directly on school grounds regarding issues between children. All concerns should be directed to school staff, who are best placed to manage these situations appropriately.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in maintaining a positive and respectful school environment.

St Thomas More School will be officially moving away from Schoolzine (and Szapp) at the end of this term.

We already have other systems in place to replace this app, but here is a recap:

Our Term 2 School Board will meet on Wednesday of week 6. We are appreciative of the time and support our school board provides, and we look forward to a great year ahead. Your School Board representatives are:

• Amanda Dracup – Chairperson
• Kirsty Caruso – Deputy Chairperson
• Darin Hyatt
• Ifeoma Ofornagolu
• Kayley Brice
• Leeanne Scott
• Nathan Crail
• Tracey Gordon

Please note that there is a Pupil Free Day scheduled for 29 May and 26 June. Staff will be involved in training and development on these days. OSHC will be available and if you require this service, please use the usual processes for booking.

Did you know that we have a pre-loved uniform collection in our Front Office. We offer these items to our families, so come by and have a look if you’re after something extra for your child. We also encourage families who to keep bringing in donations where possible.

Our Business Manager would like to friendly remind families that Payment Plans are now overdue. If you have not yet submited a payment plan to the school, can you please do so asap to avoid any further follow-up. For any information or clarification please contact our Business Manager on 7285 1500 or accounts@sttmore.catholic.edu.au

Please visit our Front Office or our website to access the following forms:

• Payment Plan Request Form
• Direct Debit Request Form

As you’re getting your child ready for school each morning, don’t forget to pack them a healthy snack into their bag!

Children’s brains and bodies work hard throughout the school day. A nutritious mid-morning or afternoon snack helps maintain their energy levels, supports concentration, and keeps hunger from becoming a distraction in the classroom, and can also help them focus better, retain information, and stay in a positive mood.

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.

Living Mercy at STM

Students across the school have been finding simple, meaningful ways to live mercy each day, showing that service isn’t just something we talk about — it’s something we do. Whether it was helping a classmate who was struggling, offering kind words to someone who needed encouragement, or volunteering to tidy shared spaces without being asked, our students demonstrated that small acts of service can make a big difference. Their thoughtful words and generous actions reflected a genuine commitment to caring for others and building a community where everyone feels supported and valued.

‘BE YOU’ DAY

On Friday May 1, our school celebrated our special ‘Be You’ Day. Our Year 5/6 students shone brightly taking on the role of leaders and teachers as they guided small groups through activities focused on the theme Be Compassionate. They modelled what compassion looks like in action—encouraging younger students, explaining tasks clearly, and creating welcoming spaces where everyone felt included. Their thoughtful preparation and genuine enthusiasm helped younger students understand how kindness, empathy, and service can shape our school community.

‘Ludator Si’ Week

This week we also celebrate ‘Laudato Si’ Week. We join Catholic communities around the world in reflecting on Pope Francis’ powerful invitation to care for our common home. Inspired by the encyclical Laudato Si’, this week reminds us that our faith calls us to live with gratitude, responsibility, and hope as stewards of God’s creation.

Sacrament Program 2026

Our students took an exciting first step in their Sacrament Program this week as they gathered for their opening session, focusing on the Sacrament of Baptism. Through stories, discussion, and hands‑on activities, the children explored the symbols of Baptism and learned how this special sacrament welcomes us into God’s family. It was a joyful beginning to their preparation journey, filled with curiosity, reverence, and a growing sense of belonging.

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