STM NEWS | Term 4, Week 1, 2025

As we begin planning for the 2026 school year, we will soon start considering class placements for students. We understand that this time of year can bring some uncertainty for parents and caregivers as they begin thinking about their child’s class for next year. Please be assured that, based on our experience, students are very resilient and adapt well to new teachers and classroom environments. Most children settle quickly and go on to have a positive and productive year.

At our school, class placements are carefully considered with your child’s best interests at heart. We take several important factors into account to support every child’s success and wellbeing:

• Social Needs: We aim to help each child thrive socially and feel confident. In some cases, this means making thoughtful decisions about which children are placed together or apart in a class.
• Learning Styles: Every child learns differently, and every teacher brings a unique teaching style. We work to match students and teachers in a way that supports effective learning.
• Other Factors: We also consider previous teacher placements, the mix of learning needs in each class, and creating a balanced learning environment for all.

While we value your input, final decisions about class placements are made by the school, with the goal of creating the best possible learning experience for every student. Thank you for your understanding and trust in this important process.

Parents and caregivers, you are welcome to write to the school regarding particular learning needs or particular social and peer group needs your child may have. All correspondence regarding information for 2026 class placements should be addressed to the Principal and be received by Friday 24 October, 2025.

We are still accepting enrolments for 2026! If you have younger children ready to start school next year, or know friends and family looking for a fantastic school community, we’d love to welcome them.

Word of mouth is one of the best ways to grow our school, so please spread the word to those who might be interested. If you have siblings who need to enrol, we kindly ask that you do so as soon as possible to help with planning. We’re proud of our caring, inclusive environment and the wonderful learning experiences we offer—let’s keep building something special together!

At St Thomas More School, our uniform is more than just clothing, it reflects the pride we have in our school and the high standards we uphold. Wearing the correct uniform helps create a sense of belonging, unity, and school spirit, while also presenting a positive image to the wider community.

Our uniform policy has been carefully developed in consultation with our school community and approved by the School Board. By enrolling at St Thomas More, families commit to supporting this policy, and we thank you for helping your child wear the uniform correctly each day.

A reminder is given about the following components of our school uniform expectations:

• Socks: Socks must be in school colours or white. No brand names or logos.
• Shoes: Only black or white sneakers with appropriate shoelace colours are to be worn.
• Clothing: Any additional outer garment worn for extra warmth must be navy blue and without logos.
• Hair: All hair longer than top of collar length must be tied back (i.e. ponytail). Haircuts/styles – rats tails, shaved heads, patterned cuts, colour patterns, haircuts less than a No.2, coloured gel or hairspray are not permitted.
• Make up/Nails: Make up of any kind including nail polish, acrylic nails or stick on nails are not permitted.

Overall, our students are looking fantastic in their uniforms, and we thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions about the school uniform or would like a copy of our school uniform policy, please contact the front office.

At our school, we are dedicated to helping every student achieve their full potential.

One of the most important ways to support your child’s learning, wellbeing, and future success is through regular, on-time attendance.

When children are late to class, even by a few minutes, it can disrupt their routine and make it harder for them to settle into the day’s learning. It can also interrupt the teacher and other students, affecting the learning environment for everyone.

Likewise, picking children up early before the school day finishes can cause them to miss out on valuable learning time, important instructions, class discussions, and social opportunities that contribute to their overall development.

Every day at school is important. Frequent absences can create learning gaps and make it harder for students to stay on track and feel confident. Consistent attendance also supports friendships, social development, and a strong sense of belonging. In the long run, students who attend regularly are more likely to enjoy better outcomes in their academic learning and wellbeing.

We ask that all students arrive by 8:45am to prepare for the day, and remain at school until 3:00pm, unless there is a valid reason for early departure. Together, we can give every child the best chance to thrive by ensuring they are present, punctual, and ready to learn each day.

Last term we noticed an increasing number of toys making their way to school and we wanted to take a moment to kindly remind families that toys should be left at home.

While we understand how special these items can be to our children, whether it’s a favourite action figure, plush friend, or the latest trend, it’s important to keep them safe and avoid distractions during the school day. When toys are brought to school, they can easily be lost, broken, or cause unnecessary distractions in the classroom and in the schoolyard. We also want to make sure all students feel included, and sometimes toys can lead to unintended hurt feelings if others feel left out.

Our school day is full of learning, creativity, and opportunities for play through structured activities. Keeping toys at home helps us maintain a focused, respectful, and inclusive environment for everyone.

We truly appreciate your support in helping us create the best possible learning space for your children. If you have any questions or need help finding alternative ways for your child to feel comforted or engaged at school, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s classroom teacher.

During Term 4, the wearing of school hats is compulsory at all playtimes and learning activities outdoors for all children and staff. No Hat – No Play will apply to children not wearing a hat for playtimes. During these times students will remain under allocated shelter areas. Please contact the front office for the purchase of new hats.

Each year, the Catholic Schools Music Festival unites over 2,000 talented students from upper primary and secondary Catholic schools across South Australia. After seven months of dedicated rehearsals, these young performers take to the stage each September to showcase their hard work and passion for music.

This year, we are incredibly proud of our own St Thomas More School Choir, who performed with enthusiasm and grace on Wednesday 24 September at the Adelaide Convention Centre. Congratulations to Aquixia, Jennifer, Natasha, Aidan, Muhadissa, Zander, Brianna, Bridget, Victoria, Ella and Eli your beautiful voices and dedication lit up the stage!

A heartfelt thank you goes to our wonderful choir trainer, Rosemarie Villano, for her unwavering support and expert guidance throughout the journey. This festival is a powerful reminder of how music brings us together and inspires our school community.

Mercy Day Count

A very big thank you to all our families again for your generous food can donations. Our initial goal was to collect 500 food cans for Sr. Janet Mead’s – The Adelaide Day Centre for Homeless People and with your support we were able to collect 586 cans. These cans will be delivered to the centre early this term.

St Vincent De Paul Clothing Bins

Are you decluttering? Have the kids outgrown their clothes? Vinnies Shops need your great quality items to help fund their charity programs across the country. When you drop off quality clothes or household items to Vinnies, you’re not just donating them to charity. You’re supporting Australians doing it tough and reducing our impact on the environment.

Every dollar they make through the Vinnies Shops goes back into the local community. They support over 1.3 million vulnerable Australians each year thanks in part to your donations. Giving your pre-loved goods a new life by donating them reduces our environmental impact.

You may have noticed that we have two Vinnies bins at St. Thomas More. They currently sit outside the front office entrance. If you have items that could be given to Vinnies, you are welcome to place any clothing or household items in these bins.

Andrew Chinn Concert

On Tuesday November 11, Australian religious songwriter and singer, Andrew Chinn, will be visiting our school to share his songs with our children. Andrew’s songs, such as “These Hands”, “Rainbow”, “An African Blessing” and “Rise Up!” are used in classrooms and liturgies around Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada. The concert will take place in the Jubilee Hall, at 2.00pm. We look forward to seeing you there.

Sacrament Program 2026

Please be aware that you can now enrol for the 2026 Elizabeth Catholic Parish Sacrament Program. 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.

Elizabeth Catholic Parish

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

We have several school events occurring this term which we are looking forward to and listed are dates and times to include on your calendars:

Andrew Chinn Concert | Tuesday, 11 November 2025 at 2pm in the Jubilee Hall

2026 Reception Transition Visits | Tuesday, 18 November, 25 November, and 2 December 2025 from 9.15am

Australian Dental Foundation Visit | Monday, 24 November (forms must be returned by Monday, 11 November)

Christmas Carols Night | Friday, 28 November 2025 from 5pm (Sausage sizzle at 5pm, Classes perform carols from 6pm, Please bring chairs, picnic rugs etc)

End of Year Thanksgiving Mass | Tuesday, 2 December 2025 at 12pm (All families are welcome to attend)

Year 6 Graduating Dinner | Thursday, 4 December 2025 at 6.30pm at the Midway Tavern

Year 6 Graduating Liturgy | Monday, 8 December 2025 at 6.30pm in the Jubilee Hall

Last Day of School for Year 6 Students | Monday, 8 December 2025

Student Reports Sent Home | Monday, 8 December 2025

Last Day of School for 2025 | Wednesday, 10 December 2025

Further information will be corresponded to you before these events.

Liturgical Calendar | Each term we focus on various events during class and whole school prayer and liturgy that come up in the Liturgical Year of the Church, including:

All Saints Day | 1 November

All Souls Day | 2 November

Catherine McAuley Day | 11 November

Feast of Christ the King | 23 November

1st Sunday of Advent | 30 November

2nd Sunday of Advent | 7 December

We also spend some time focusing on signficant days that occur throughout this term, including:

World Teachers Day | 25 October

Remembrance Day | 11 November

World Kindness Day | 13 November

Universal Children’s Day | 20 November

International Volunteers Day | 5 December

We encourage you to check our school calendar regularly for more events.