Dear Families, welcome to Week 4!
November traditionally marks the beginning of a very busy few weeks as we charge towards the end of the school year. There are a range of events happening (almost weekly) within our school community.
We warmly extend an invite to you all to come along and share these celebrations with us. Please keep an eye out for key dates which are already on our website and in recent newsletters.
At our school, student wellbeing and respectful behaviour are at the heart of everything we do. Guided by our Mercy values, we are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and positive learning environment where every student can thrive. Our work through Positive Behaviour Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is grounded in teaching respect—respect for self, others, and our shared spaces.
Our behaviour matrix helps students understand what respectful, responsible, and safe behaviour looks like across all areas of school life. It empowers them to be active, positive participants in their learning and to grow into compassionate contributors to society. We believe that clear rules and expectations are essential to keeping everyone safe and ensuring that every student has the right to learn.
We deeply appreciate the ongoing support of our families in reinforcing these values at home. Together, we are shaping a future where kindness, respect, and responsibility guide our young people toward success. If you have any concerns, please always contact your child teacher in the first instance.
As educators and caregivers, we all want our young people to grow, flourish, and reach their full potential. Research continues to show that excessive screen time can affect the developing brain—impacting attention, emotional regulation, sleep, and learning. While technology has its place, too much time in virtual spaces can disconnect students from the real-world experiences that help them thrive.
In response to growing concerns, the South Australian Government will introduce a nationwide social media ban for children under 16 starting 10 December 2025. This landmark initiative aims to protect young Australians from the developmental risks associated with excessive social media use and promote healthier habits.
Aligned with this, our school will be reviewing the amount of screen time provided during the school day and implementing measures to ensure a better balance. We want our students to flourish in the real world—not just in digital or AI-driven spaces. Encouraging outdoor play, creative hobbies, and face-to-face interaction is key to helping young people build resilience, curiosity, and meaningful relationships.
We invite families to use this moment to talk with children about the reasons behind the change. Together, we can help them rediscover the joy of real-world experiences and support their growth into confident, capable learners. Let’s guide them toward a future built on real relationships, real skills, and real joy—not just digital consumption.
Next Tuesday, 11th November we commemorate Remembrance Day. It is a day on which we honour the men and women who have served in the military. We also honour those who have died for the cause of freedom. It is a time for us to say “Thank you” for the sacrifices they have made. It is a time to think about the freedoms we enjoy because they were willing to serve. It is a time to think about love – the love they showed for their country and for their fellow human beings. To commemorate this day, our classes will participate in a reflection and a minutes silence at 11am to pay their resects for the fallen. “At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.”
Last week we celebrated our wonderful teachers and co-educators on World Teachers Day. We are so blessed to have an amazing staff here at St Thomas More. A mix of truly genuine and compassionate people who strive to give your children the best day possible each and every day. If you haven’t already, why not say “thanks” to them next time you see them. They will appreciate that.
St Thomas More entered a small team of 27 students in various athletics events with many students helping out their year levels.
Highlights included:
What an incredible effort from all our competitors. Many other students should be impressed with their efforts in gaining place ribbons.
A special congratulations to Savannah M, who broke records in both the Long Jump and 800m events, and placed in most of her other events — an incredible achievement!
I would also like to express my heartfelt thanks to the school leadership team, and the front desk for their ongoing support, and to Rosealyse Trimboli, Carly Morrison and Lydia Mogilin who attended and assisted on the day. Your dedication and enthusiasm helped make the carnival such a memorable and successful event for everyone involved.
Well done to all our students — we are so proud of you!
Cristian Morgado
PE Coordinator
This is a fantastic achievement and reflects their hard work, dedication, and sportsersonship throughout our school’s sporting program.
A special congratulations to Sienna A, who recently represented our district in SAPSASA Australian Football and was part of the winning team — an outstanding accomplishment!
We also congratulate Thomas M, who has been selected to represent our district in an upcoming cricket SAPSASA event. We wish him the very best as he takes on this exciting opportunity.
Representing the district is a wonderful honour, and we are extremely proud of all our students who continue to display our school values of respect, perseverance, and excellence both on and off the field.
Well done to all our SAPSASA representatives!
We are thrilled to invite you to our Christmas Carols Night on Friday, 28th November 2025, hosted here at St Thomas More School!
Our students and staff are working hard, practicing their selected carols in preparation for a wonderful evening of performances. They can’t wait to share their joy and talent with you, their families and friends as we come together to celebrate this special time of year.
For more important information about the event, click hereChristmas Carols Night.
We congratulate our students who have been working very hard this year within the Children’s University Program. This innovative program encourages students to engage in out of school learning experiences where they can take responsibility for their own learning. We thank Ms Kathy Keough for supporting these students. We can’t wait to see them all graduate at a special ceremony on Tuesday night, 11th November in the city at the university.
In Auslan this term, students have been learning about culture, both school and our own! We’ve been exploring what makes our individual culture’s special and how they relate to our school culture. We do this to teach about Deaf culture.
Deaf culture in South Australia is a rich, vibrant community built on shared language, values, and experiences. Students have learned that Deaf culture celebrates connection and pride in being Deaf, rather than viewing it as something to “fix.”
To better understand deaf people, we have been learning about how they navigate the world. We have explored experiences that deaf people have; like how they wake up without the use of sound-based alarms. Additionally how the experience of gaining a Cochlear implant can be a positive and a negative.
One area the students are eager to learn about are the Deaflympics an international sporting event just like the Olympics but designed for Deaf athletes. The Deaflympics began in 1924 and are one of the oldest sporting events in the world. Competitors from all over the globe take part in sports such as swimming, basketball, and athletics all using visual signals instead of sound. Students have been full of questions about the sign languages of other countries as they watched the soccer game between Algeria and Thailand.
Through these lessons, students are gaining a deeper appreciation for the events that make Deaf culture a robust calendar, while learning how to communicate in ways that connect us all — no matter how we hear or speak.
Thank you to all families who have returned their 2026 intention and updated details forms. If you haven’t yet submitted yours, we kindly ask that you do so as soon as possible.
Our staff are currently reviewing class placements and preparing for smooth, positive transitions into 2026. If there’s any information your child’s teacher should be aware of for next year, now is the ideal time to share it. We invest significant time and care into creating balanced class structures, taking many factors into consideration.
If you know of any families interested in enrolling for 2026 or beyond, please encourage them to get in touch promptly—spaces are filling quickly.
As we head into a busy few weeks we thank you for your patience and kindness. It is the time of year where students can get tired and need our support to stay focussed. We welcome conversation about your child’s well being and how we can best support them as we round out 2025 and start preparing for our transition into the new school year.
Advent is a season that marks the beginning of the liturgical year and the countdown to Christmas. It typically spans the four Sundays leading up to December 25th, beginning in late November or early December. The word “Advent” means “coming,” and it reflects both the anticipation of Christ’s birth and the hope for His eventual return. During this time, believers engage in prayer, reflection, and preparation, often symbolized by the lighting of candles on an Advent wreath—each representing themes like hope, peace, joy, and love.
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.
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.
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
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.
Catherine McAuley Day | 11 November
Feast of Christ the King | 23 November
1st Sunday of Advent | 30 November
2nd Sunday of Advent | 7 December
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.
