Dear Families ,
As we reach the end of Week 6, it’s great to see our students thriving and engaged in their learning. Thank you for your ongoing support—your involvement makes our school community so strong.

Thank You for Celebrating Book Week 2025!
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our families for your wonderful participation in Book Week 2025, where we celebrated the theme “Book an Adventure”. Your support in joining our activities, dressing up, and sharing in the joy of reading made this week truly memorable for our students. It was inspiring to see our learning community come together to explore new worlds, spark imaginations, and foster a love of reading. Thank you for helping make Book Week such a special and engaging experience for everyone at St Thomas More.

Thank You for Attending Parent Teacher Interviews
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all parents and caregivers who attended our recent Parent Teacher Interviews. Your engagement and support are invaluable in fostering your child’s learning and growth. These interviews provide an important opportunity for collaboration between home and school, allowing us to celebrate achievements, discuss goals, and work together to support each child’s learning journey. Your commitment to being part of this process is greatly appreciated. Thank you once again for taking the time to meet with our teachers and for your continued partnership in your child’s education.

National Child  Protection Week
With National Child Protection Week approaching in September, Term 3 provides a timely opportunity to reflect on how we, at St Thomas More, uphold the highest standards of child safety. At STM, the wellbeing and protection of every child is at the centre of all that we do. Our commitment to the Child Safe Standards ensures that our school environment is safe, supportive, and inclusive, enabling all students to thrive. These standards shape our policies, practices, and behaviours, guiding everything from our teaching approaches to our interactions on the playground. This Term 3, we invite our community to reflect on child safety and consider how these standards are actively put into practice here at STM. Together, we can nurture a school culture where every child feels safe, respected, and valued.

A particular focus for us at STM is Standard 1 – Creating and Maintaining Culturally Safe Environments. This standard ensures that our school fosters an environment where the diverse and unique identities and experiences of young people are respected and valued.

Student Free Day – Monday 15 September

On Monday 15 September, our staff will be taking part in a Professional Learning Day, students will not be required to attend school.

The day will focus on two key areas of growth for our community – Prayer, Student Safety and Wellbeing. Prayer is at the heart of our Catholic identity, and this time together will allow staff to reflect on and deepen our practices so that prayer continues to be a meaningful part of school life for both students and staff.

Equally important is our focus on Student Safety and Wellbeing. At STM, the safety and wellbeing of every child is at the centre of all that we do. This session will give staff the opportunity to further explore how we can continue to build an inclusive, supportive, and safe environment for all children, ensuring that every student feels valued, respected, and cared for.

While these may seem like two separate areas, they are in fact closely connected. Prayer nurtures a sense of community, compassion, and belonging, which underpins the work we do in creating a safe and welcoming school environment. By coming together as staff, we strengthen our collective commitment to ensuring STM remains a place where students can flourish in both their learning and their wellbeing.

Thank you for your support on this Student Free Day and look forward to sharing the benefits of this important professional learning with our families in the weeks ahead.

Have Your Say – MACSSIS Surveys Coming Soon!
From Monday 1 September to Friday 19 September 2025, St Thomas More will be taking part in the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS). These surveys are an important opportunity for students, families, and staff to share their thoughts about life at our school. Your feedback helps us understand what’s working well and where we can improve, ensuring St Thomas More continues to be a place where every student can thrive. MACSSIS is conducted online using a secure platform, where school leaders will receive clear and visual summaries of the results. These insights guide decisions about teaching, learning, wellbeing, and the overall school experience.

Key points to know:

• Participation is completely voluntary – you can choose not to take part or stop at any time.

• The surveys are not a test; they are a way to support and strengthen our school community.

• Please inform the school if your child should not participate.

Your voice matters. By taking part, you are helping St Thomas More continue to grow as a school that listens, learns, and cares for every member of our community.

Fathers Day Breakfast:
Date: Monday 1st September
Join us for our STM Father's Day celebration! Start with a pancake breakfast: two golden buttermilk pancakes with your choice of delectable toppings and a drink, $15 per person.

Breakfast to be enjoyed in the Quadrangle or your child's classroom, followed by classroom activities. (Parents with multiple children can enjoy the activities in one child's classroom.)

Select your preferred breakfast session:

8:00am - 8:30am

8:30am - 9:00am

9:00am - 9:30am

Secure your spot! Book via CDF PAY

Father's Day Stall

Date: Thursday 4th September

Gifts are priced between $1 and $10.

Please remember to send a shopping bag with your child.

If your child forgets their money, their gifts will be held at the school office and can be collected once payment is received.

Footy Colours Day
Get ready to show your team spirit! On Thursday 19 September, we invite all students to come to school dressed in their favourite footy colours. Whether it’s AFL, NRL, soccer, or any other team you support, we want to see the school filled with a rainbow of footy pride! This is a fun way to celebrate our love of sport, build school community, and enjoy a day of friendly rivalry. Don’t forget to wear your team colours with pride and get ready for a day of footy fun!

STM Concert
The STM School Concert is just around the corner, and we can’t wait for an unforgettable event! A limited number of tickets are still available for each night, and you can now secure the remaining tickets. Further information can be found below.

Ask R U OK? - Thursday 11 September
Life has ups and downs, and it’s important to check in with the people we care about. This R U OK? Day, we encourage everyone here at STM to wear a touch of yellow as a reminder to ask, “Are you OK?” and show support for each other.
Even a small question can make a big difference – remember, it’s OK to ask, any day!

Alannah & Madeline Foundation Day - Thursday 18 September  

The Alannah & Madeline Foundation is a national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to keeping children and young people free from violence and trauma.
The month of September, and Alannah & Madeline Day, is a time of generosity where people come together to change the lives of children who’ve experienced violence. If families are wishing to make a donation to this very important foundation please go directly to this link.  

Warm regards,
David Hurn
Principal

During Book Week at St Thomas More, we enjoyed a fantastic celebration of stories, imagination and community spirit. Embracing the theme Book an Adventure, our students, teachers and staff came together to connect children with books, promote literacy and inspire a love of reading.

The week began with a burst of colour and excitement as students arrived dressed as their favourite book characters. The parade was a vibrant and exciting celebration, highlighting the students’ imagination and passion for reading.

Throughout the week, students had the chance to engage in a variety of rich literacy experiences. In classrooms, they read and responded to CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) shortlisted books, while during break times the library was open for students to enjoy stories and join in fun, book themed activities. On Wednesday and Friday at first break, a group of Grade 4 students led interactive sessions inspired by the adventures of Dog Man. A highlight for everyone was the STM Masked Reader, where each day, students listened to stories read by a teacher in disguise and tried to guess who was behind the mask.

We extend a heartfelt thank you to Ms Lou, our librarian, for her dedication in organising the week and for fostering a love of reading all year round. We also thank Rita Cardamone and Natalie Barrese for organising and selling the delicious Book Week cookies and Kate Mackintosh for her digital expertise in capturing and sharing the excitement of the week on our school socials.

We are especially grateful to our parents for supporting Book Week and helping make it such a memorable celebration. Whether it’s helping with costumes, sharing stories or encouraging reading at home, your involvement plays an important role in nurturing students’ lifelong love of books.

As Dr Seuss once wrote, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” We hope our students continue to explore new worlds, spark their imaginations and carry their love of reading with them wherever they go.

Jessica Eyar, Lou Eveston & Michelle Rinalid

SECOND HAND UNIFORMS: Our second-hand uniforms are available for purchase throughout the year!

Every item is $5. You'll find a full list of what's currently available here.

To place an order, email Lisa: lsalemme@stmhadfield.catholic.edu.au with the items you would like to purchase

We also gratefully accept donations of any clean, good-condition uniforms that your children have outgrown.

Art

Bianca M - recognition of the care and time you took to create such a wonderful symmetrical butterfly.

Drama

Jesse S - demonstrating self-management by staying focused on tasks in Drama, and avoiding distractions.

Music

Arlo F - demonstrating his knowledge of pitch, tempo and dynamics through his digital compositions.

Sport

Cooper L - for helping his classmates learn the correct technique for shot put and discus while showing great leadership and kindness.

Italian

Mason S - for his determination, persistance and taking risks in learning the Italian language. Bravissimo Mason!