Dear Families,

It is hard to believe that we are already in Week 10. I would like to thank all our wonderful families as we begin the season of Advent, a time steeped in the essence of Christmas. Advent is not just a countdown; it is a pause for reflection, a beacon of hope, unity, and joy. The Advent wreath, with its candles symbolising Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace, invites us to prepare and introspect. The wreath's leaves represent enduring hope, a constant reminder of God’s unwavering love. With each candle lit weekly, the anticipation grows, echoing these profound virtues.

Christmas Carols
Thank you to everyone who attended our Christmas Carols last Wednesday evening. This cherished event is a vital opportunity to connect as a community during this special time of year. 

2025 Class Allocations
On Wednesday, the children spent time with their 2025 class and teacher. As I have mentioned on many occasions, our classes have been carefully considered, taking into account social and emotional wellbeing as well as academic ability. While we make every effort to accommodate individual requests, please understand that creating balanced class lists is a complex process, and we may not be able to meet every request. As the classes are now finalised, it is not possible to move children to another class.

Farewells
As the school year concludes, it is also a time to acknowledge and farewell several valued members of our staff who will be leaving STM at the end of 2024:

• Aleisha Lewis: Aleisha, our Mathematics Leader since 2008, will be taking up a new role at Holy Trinity Catholic Primary School in Sunbury.

• Rachel Hanna: Rachel has been with us since 2020 and will begin a new role at St Oliver Plunkett - Pascoe Vale Primary School.

• Lucinda Tamburrino: Lucinda has been part of the STM team since 2022 and will join Newlands Primary School.

• Eve Zikos: Eve has been a key part of our OSHClub team since early 2023. She will join St Vincent de Paul Primary School in Strathmore.

• Domenica Belante: Domenica has contributed greatly to STM since 2013, working across various roles.

• Aidan Turville: Aidan has provided excellent support to Lou in our school library.

On behalf of the STM community, I extend our heartfelt gratitude to the departing staff for their dedication and care.

Welcoming New Staff
We are excited to welcome the following new staff members to STM in 2025:

• Rocky Davidson – Physical Education Teacher

• Charlotte Elliott – Classroom Teacher

• Lydia Bevanda – Classroom Teacher

• Courtney Gleeson – Classroom Teacher

We look forward to the energy, ideas, and expertise they will bring to our school community.

Semester Two Reports
Please refer to the attached PDF for instructions on accessing your child’s report. Reports will be published on Friday, 13 December. Note that the old nForma website has been decommissioned. To access current and past reports, you will need to download the nForma App from the iTunes or Google Play Store.

Building Works
Unfortunately, the current building works will not be completed before the year ends. The building is now expected to be finished by mid-Term 1, 2025. This means some 2025 classes will remain in temporary spaces until 20 February 2025.

Year 6 Graduation
Congratulations to our Year 6 students, who will graduate this evening. Mass will begin at 5pm, and we ask children and families to arrive by 4:45pm.

2025 Start Dates and Testing Days
The new school year will begin with testing days on Thursday, 30 January, and Friday 31 January, by appointment only. Booking links have been open from 10.00am today. Classes will officially commence on Monday February 3 for all grades.

2025 Sacramental Dates 

Reconciliation, Year 4  - Friday, September 12th  at 10am 

First Eucharist Year 4  - Sunday, October 12th  at  2pm 

Confirmation Year 6  - Saturday, September 13th  at 2pm 

2025 Canteen Update
Starting in 2025, the canteen will operate on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays due to low demand on Mondays. If there are any further changes I will let the community know.

School Advisory Council
As we approach the end of another successful year, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the members of our School Advisory Council for their dedication, guidance, and support throughout 2024.

A special thank you to Anthony Grima, Rose Caruso, Michael Tucci, Josephine Tyrell, Renata Kegel, Danny Ward, and Melanie Langtry for their invaluable contributions. Your collective wisdom, thoughtful insights, and unwavering commitment have been instrumental in shaping the direction of our school and ensuring the best outcomes for our students, staff, and families.

Your efforts have made a significant and lasting impact on our school community, and we are incredibly fortunate to have such dedicated individuals working in partnership with us.

CDFpay Upgrade
CDFpay is being upgraded in the new year. An email with instructions on downloading the updated app will be sent before the term ends.

Last Day of School
The final day of school, Tuesday, 17 December, will be a casual clothes day. We kindly ask for a donation to Very Special Kids, a charity supported by one of our STM families. Donations can be made via CDF Pay. For more information, please visit their website: https://vsk.org.au.

Please note that students will be dismissed at 12:00pm, and the canteen will be closed. We will gather for a special guard of honour, and our Grade 6 students will perform their Graduation song once more. Parents are warmly invited to join us on-site for this event.

Thank You
As we near the end of another successful school year, we would like to take a moment to express our heartfelt thanks to all of our families for your ongoing support throughout 2024. Your involvement and dedication have played a significant role in creating a vibrant and thriving school community.

Let’s continue to work together to make the remaining weeks of Term 4 memorable for our students, ensuring they finish the year with positive experiences and a strong sense of accomplishment.

Thank you once again for being an essential part of our school family. We look forward to finishing the year strong with your continued support.

Merry Christmas,
David Hurn

Ciao a tutti!

Wow! We have reached the end of our first year in the TCL (Teachers as Co-Learners) approach to learning Italian and look at how far we have come! We are so proud of all the staff and students; their enthusiasm, persistence and courage to take on something new is what has made this approach such a success. Grazie also to the parent community who have embraced and supported this change. Next year we will continue into the second phase of the approach and look forward to extending the students further with their learning. 

As part of our reflection, we have interviewed staff and students and we would appreciate your feedback on your experiences this year witnessing your child’s learning of Italian. If you could please take 5 minutes to complete this online questionnaire https://forms.gle/7ji2kJEjYYChbggP9  it would be very much appreciated. Wishing you and your families a Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo.

TCL team

Adriana Bonacci and Maria Vainieri

Holiday Reading and Writing Tips for Families

To keep your child engaged in reading and writing over the holidays, here are some simple ways to encourage literacy at home:

• Create a Reading Routine: Set aside a few minutes each day for quiet reading time. Whether it’s before bed or during a relaxing afternoon, this small habit can make a big difference.

• Visit the Local Library: Take a family trip to the library! Borrow books your child is excited to read and explore holiday programs like storytime or craft sessions.

• Make Reading Social: Encourage your child to read with a friend, sibling, or family member. They can take turns reading aloud or discuss their favorite parts of the story together.

• Explore the Read Along Website: Try Google’s Read Along website readalong.google.com (or app), a free resource where children can read stories aloud and get real-time feedback to help them improve. It’s interactive and fun!

• Provide Writing Prompts: Encourage your child to write by using fun prompts like, “What would you do if you could fly for a day?” or “Write about your favourite holiday memory."

• Journalling: Encourage your child to keep a journal to write about their daily experiences, thoughts, and feelings.

• Letter Writing: Write letters to friends, family members, or pen pals.

• Creative Writing: Have your child write short stories, poems, or scripts.

• Recipe Writing: Write down their favourite recipes and create their own cookbooks.

• Word Games: Play word games like Scrabble, Boggle, or crossword puzzles.

• DIY Comic Books: Create your own comic books with drawings and captions.

• Book-Inspired Crafts: Make crafts related to books they've read, such as puppets, masks, or dioramas.

• Outdoor Adventures: Go on nature walks and write about the things you see and hear.

By keeping literacy fun and stress-free, children can enjoy their holidays while strengthening their reading and writing skills!

Thank you for your support in fostering a love for reading and writing in your homes this year. Enjoy the holidays and we look forward to seeing everyone’s progress, celebrating their achievements, and sharing samples of work in 2025.

Happy Holidays!

Kind regards,

Michelle Rinaldi

Literacy Leader

To the wonderful community of St Thomas More, it is with great sadness that I say goodbye after 16 years. It has been a privilege and an honour to work in this school. I have loved being part of of an amazing team for so long. It was not an easy decision to make the change and I will dearly miss all of the kids, families and staff. I will be continuing my journey in Sunbury as their new Mathematics Leader. STM is a special place and will always remain in my heart. 

Aleisha Lewis 

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

Every Victorian child should have access to the world of learning opportunities that exist beyond the classroom. The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund helps ensure that no student will miss out on the opportunity to join their classmates for important, educational and fun activities. It is part of making Victoria the Education State and the Government’s commitment to breaking the link between a student’s background and their outcomes.

CAMPS, SPORTS & EXCURSIONS FUND (CSEF)

School camps provide children with inspiring experiences in the great outdoors. Excursions encourage a deeper understanding of how the world works while sports teach teamwork, discipline and leadership. All are a part of a healthy curriculum.

CSEF is provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.
If you hold a valid means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. A special consideration category also exists for asylum seeker and refugee families. The allowance is paid to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions or sporting activities for the benefit of your child.

The annual CSEF amount per student is:

$150 for primary school students

$250 for secondary school students

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about CSEF visit:
https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/Pages/csef.aspx

HOW TO APPLY

New applicants should contact the school office to obtain a CSEF application form.

If you applied for CSEF last year, you do not need to complete an application form this year unless there has been a change in your family circumstances. 

You only need to complete an application form if any of the following changes have occurred:

New student enrolments; your child has started or changed schools this year.

Changed family circumstances; such as a change of custody, change of name, concession card number, or new siblings commencing this year.

Caps, Sports and Excursions fund eligibility

Below are the criteria used to determine a student’s eligibility for the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF).

Criteria 1 – Eligibility

To be eligible* for the fund, a mature minor of sixteen years of age or over, a parent or legal guardian of a student attending a registered Government or non-government Victorian primary or secondary school must:

•  on the first day of Term one; or

•  on the first day of Term two.

a)   Be an eligible beneficiary within the meaning of the State Concessions Act 2004, that is, be a holder of Veterans Affairs Gold Card or be an eligible Centrelink Health Care Card (HCC) or Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) holder; or

b)   Be a temporary foster parent; and

c)   Submit an application to the school by the due date.

* A special consideration eligibility category also exists. For more information, see: Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF): Eligibility | education.vic.gov.au

Mature minors or parents who receive a Carer Allowance on behalf of a child, or any other benefit or allowance not income tested by Centrelink, are not eligible for the CSEF unless they also comply with one of (a) or (b) above.

Criteria 2 - Be of school age and attend school in Victoria

School is compulsory for all Victorian children aged between six and seventeen years of age inclusive.

For the purposes of CSEF, students may be eligible for assistance if they attend a Victorian registered primary or secondary school. Typically, these students are aged between five and eighteen years inclusive.

CSEF is not payable to students’ attending pre-school, kindergarten, home schooling, or TAFE.

Eligibility Date

For concession card holders, CSEF eligibility will be subject to the parent/legal guardian’s concession card being successfully validated with Centrelink (see Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF): Policy | education.vic.gov.au).

CSEF payments cannot be claimed retrospectively for prior years.

Queries relating to CSEF eligibility and payments should be directed to the school.

2025 CSEF Application forms are now available in the office for collection.