STM NEWS | Term 3, Week 1, 2026

As we begin Term 3, it’s a great time to reinforce the importance of strong daily habits that support student success and wellbeing.

Regular attendance isn’t just important, it’s essential, and it’s a legal requirement for all school-aged children. Every day at school counts toward building foundational skills for life.

Arriving on time each morning helps set the tone for a positive, settled start to the day and ensures students are present for key learning moments that happen early. Similarly, while we understand that early pickups are sometimes necessary, they can disrupt the flow of teaching and reduce valuable classroom time.

As a school, we’re aiming for every student to attend at least 90% of school days across the term. Reaching this target gives students the greatest opportunity to thrive socially, emotionally, and academically. Thank you for working with us to create a consistent learning environment where every child has the best chance to succeed.

We are very excited to welcome our new staff and students this term!

Please join us in welcoming Ms Bonnie Harmer and Ms Elena Pappas and all our new reception students to our junior primary family. A heartfelt welcome to you and your families and we are so excited to have you as part of our community.

We are also thrilled to welcome Ms Jenny Woodcock to our school community. Jenny will teach our students STEM throughout Semester 2. Jenny is a highly experienced teacher with a passion for all things Science and Technologies and we look forward to the journey ahead. STEM lessons will officially be launched in Week 3.

We also welcome Ms Meagan Taylor to our front office team. Meagan will be a friendly face joining Erin on Monday’s and Tuesday’s.

Starting a new chapter can feel like a big step, and we hope our school quickly feels like a second home. May this be a place where you feel truly welcomed, where friendships blossom, and where a love of learning flourishes. We look forward to sharing this journey with you and celebrating every milestone along the way.

We value the strong home-school partnership that we have at St Thomas More, a partnership that stands as one of the most significant factors in your child’s education.

Teachers work hard to keep you up to date with your child’s learning and growth, offering ways for you to connect with them. While it may seem easier to approach your child’s teacher at drop-off, pick-up, or in the schoolyard, you can and should make a time to speak with them.

At the start of the school day, teachers are busy settling their students into a calm classroom environment, preparing them for the learning space. Scheduling an appointment gives you both time for a focused, effective discussion and allows for privacy.

If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas relating to your child’s classroom experience, please make your child’s teacher your first point of contact—they’re always happy to help and work together to support your child’s learning journey.

A reminder to all families of the importance of wearing the correct school uniform each day.

Our uniform presents an image in line with the school ethos and contributes to developing a sense of pride, unity, and belonging, which in turn helps create a positive and focused school environment.

By arriving in full uniform, students are not only following school expectations but also setting themselves up for success, ready to learn and take part in every opportunity the day brings. We appreciate your continued support in maintaining our school standards and helping every child feel part of our shared community.

A list of St Thomas More School’s uniform requirements is available from the Front Office if you have any queries.

Our long-awaited kiss and drop zone will soon be operational for morning drop off first.

As we launch the use of this new area for drop off we ask families to follow the direction of staff out to assist and remember this is not a parking area. Students alight from the car in the parks adjacent the fence and cars move along or pull out and exit at the far end of the car carpark. All children are to alight on the kerb side NOT into the flow of traffic. The entry gate will be open from 8.30am until 8.50am. Once we have this flow working well we will look to commence afternoon pick up too.

Our annual School Census will occur on 7^th August. Please refer to the collection notice which explains what information is collected for the census and special circumstance applications, why it’s collected, how it may be used or shared, and how personal information is protected under privacy law.

This year’s theme celebrates the magic that happens when characters, voices, and story elements come together in perfect harmony…just like instruments in an orchestra! Get ready for a week filled with imagination, creativity, and the joy of storytelling.

Join us as we bring the magic to life at our annual Book Week Parade:

📅 Wednesday, 2 September @ 9:15am
📍 Jubilee Hall, St Thomas More School

We can’t wait to celebrate this special occasion together with our wonderful students, staff, and families. Start planning those costumes… we can’t wait to see your favourite characters come to life! ✨📚

Rug up and get ready! Our Winter Market is almost here!

We are hoping for this to be our biggest fundraiser of the year, and the stall line-up is looking pretty exciting. From handmade treasures to delicious treats, there’s something for everyone!

• browse gorgeous jewellery and accessories at Earrings Galore and More and Ms Allure,
• discover unique creations from Maybel Making Things, Jasmine’s Curious Crafts, and KTC Images & Creations,
• grab something cosy and handmade from Stitch 23 Designs, Crochet by Ella, and Helen’s Homemade.
• The kids will love Ella Shaw and her friendship bracelets, face painting, and a visit from the Playford Girl Guides,
• while pet lovers can check out the Preloved Pet Collective.

And of course, no market is complete without the food!

• Warm up with treats from Mumma Bakes SA, Bee Bakes, S’s Deli,
• The delicious Potato on a Stick, and the Mozzarella King Food Truck will also be parked out front!
• Cool down with something sweet from ICE-ISH and OMG Decadent Donuts, grab a bite from Dippy Dogs,

We will also have some pretty amazing raffle prizes – more info to come soon!

Every stall, purchase, and smile helps support our school, so bring the whole family, bring some cash, and come support our amazing STM community!

We can’t wait to see you there. 🧡

📚 We’re also collecting book donations for our very own STM book stall! If you have any gently-loved books at home that your family has outgrown, we’d love to give them a new home. Simply drop them off at the front office ahead of the market. Every book donated helps raise funds for our school. 🧡

Please take note of the following events coming up early in Term 3. Be sure to keep checking our school calendar for any updates as they happen.

5/6 MM/MT students have been working incredibly hard on their Recycled Constructions throughout the term, and their creativity has truly shone. What began as simple ideas quickly grew into impressive, imaginative designs as students continued to refine, modify, and improve their work. They showed great resilience—when challenges arose, students persisted, problem‑solved, and pushed their ideas even further.

This term, students are adding the finishing touches by painting and finalising their constructions. Once all projects are complete, families will be invited to a special exhibition and morning tea to celebrate the students’ achievements. The Year 5/6 class will take responsibility for organising the event, showcasing their teamwork and leadership.

This project has connected to many areas of the curriculum and has given students the opportunity to design and create something meaningful, sustainable, and uniquely their own. It has been a wonderful example of learning through creativity, collaboration, and perseverance.