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- Principal's News
- 2026 Enrolment
- What's on at STA
- School Photos - New Dates
- STA STAY SAFE
- E-Safety
- STA Parish Information
- Library News
- Library news - Book Fair is coming!
- Sports News - Athletics Carnival
- School Disabled Parking
- Muffins with Mum - Friday 9 May 2025
- SCC Uniform Shop update
- SCC Nominations - We need you!
- University of Canberra - Chilled Program
- Class News - 1 Green
- Birthdays - April
Dear St Thomas Aquinas community,
Welcome back to school for Term 2! It was so lovely to see all of the students this morning. They greeted each other with such joy.
Thank you to our staff who worked very hard yesterday reviewing the High Impact Teaching Practices we consistently use across the school. They were introduced to a coaching model we will implement that supports teachers to reflect on their practice and develop their expertise. I am always grateful to work with a staff very keen on continuing to learn and grow.
We have hit the ground running this term! Today our Year 5 students led us in an Easter liturgy, retelling the gospel story of Easter and focusing on the hope we share as part of God's family. They presented beautifully and all students in the school were prayerful and reverent.
Tomorrow we will celebrate an ANZAC Day liturgy, led by our Year 3 students. It will occur at 10.30am out the front of the school under the flagpoles. Parents are welcome to attend.
Policy & Practice Updates
Over the school holiday period we have updated a few school policies. The most important policies for parents to be aware of are in relation to:
- the school uniform
- personal communication devices (mobile phones and smartwatches)
These are both available on our school website.
In the next two weeks we will also release an updated Positive Behaviour for Learning Policy, outlining five strategies we use to encourage positive behaviour that supports students feeling safe, happy and able to learn. The strategies are:
- Developing a culture of positive behaviour
- Acknowledging positive behaviours
- Creating a positive learning environment
- Discouraging and responding to challenging behaviours
- Responding to and supporting behaviours for students with highly complex needs
Election
There are many varied priorities people carry into polling places each election as they determine their votes.
Funding for Catholic schools across Australia is an important issue. The flyer below describes just how impactful our Catholic schools are in educating Australian students. I encourage you to keep this in mind as you submit your vote, selecting candidates who support your choice for education and equitably fund schools, like ours, that provide a much valued option.
Thank you
I would just like say a big thank you to the parents who are able to assist with the barbecues at the coming Athletics Carnival on Thursday and the Election on Saturday. Thank you also to those parents assisting with the Muffins with Mum morning next week. We can't have these events without you.
Matthew Garton
Principal
| WEEK | DATE | EVENT |
| 1 | Tues 29/04 | Enrolment period commences |
| 1 | Wed 30/04 | Year 5 & 6 DaVinci Decathlon |
| 1 | Thur 01/05 | STA Athletics Carnival |
| 1 | Fri 02/05 | SFX Try-A-Day - Year 6 students |
| 2 | Tues 06/05 | ACT Swimming Championships |
| 2 | Fri 09/05 | Muffins with Mum at 8:00am in the Courtyard |
| 2 | Fri 09/05 | Assembly hosted by Year 5 at 2:15pm |
| 2 | Fri 09/05 | SFX Open Day |
| 3 | Wed 14/05 | Whole School Author Visit |
| 4 | Mon 19/05 | Year 5 Excursion to National Museum of Australia |
| 4 | Mon 19/05 | Eucharist Parent Formation Session |
| 4 | Tues 20/05 | ELC School Photos |
| 4 | Wed 21/05 | School Photo Day |
| 4 | Wed 21/05 | National Simultaneous Storytime |
| 4 | Thur 22/05 | ELC School Photos |
| 4 | Thur 22/05 | Whole School Bilingual (Mandarin) Puppet Show |
| 4 | Thur 22/05 | Belconnen PSSA - Cross Country |
| 4 | Fri 23/05 | Assembly hosted by Year 1 at 2:15pm |
| 6 | Mon 02/06 | Reconciliation Public Holiday |
| 6 |
Fri 06/06 | Assembly hosted by Year 3 at 2:15pm |
| 7 | Mon 09/06 | Sovereign's Birthday Public Holiday |
| 7 | Fri 13/06 | ACT Cross Country Championships |
| 8 | Tues 17/06 | SCC Meeting at 6pm |
| 8 | Fri 20/06 | Assembly hosted by Kinder at 2:15pm |
| 9 | Tues 04/06 | 3 Way Conferences |
| 9 | Wed 05/06 | 3 Way Conferences |
| 9 - 10 | Thur 26/06 - Wed 02/07 | Lamont Book Fair |
| 10 | Thur 03/07 | White Token Lunch |
| 10 | Thurs 03/07 | Principal Awards Assembly at 2:15pm |
| 10 | Fri 04/07 | Pupil Free Day |
| Parish Priest | Father Tru Nguyen |
| Parish Secretary | Sharon Greaves |
| Telephone | 02 6258 1563 |
| charnwood@cg.org.au | |
| Address | 23 Lhotsky Street CHARNWOOD ACT 2615 |
| MASS | TIMES |
| Monday to Friday | 9:30am |
| Thursday - School Mass | 9:30am - one grade each week |
| Public Holidays | 9:30am |
| Saturday Vigil | 6:00pm |
| Sunday | 9:00am Children's liturgy is held during the school term. All families are welcome to attend. |
May is Family Reading Month
Dear Families,
Did you know Scholastic has initiated and is celebrating National Family Reading Month this May
Scholastic has created this initiative to encourage families to read together on a regular basis.
“While most parents recognise the value of reading with their kids, with today’s busy schedules it can be hard to find the time. Just 10 minutes of reading each day exposes children to over 600,000 words per year. Why not make the commitment this May to putting aside at least 10 minutes each day to read with your child”
Scholastic will livestream an event on Thursday 1 May at 11AM AEST via Facebook and YouTube where Mr Luke (from Scholastic Australia) will be reading his book “Guess What We Are Doing Today?”
Happy Reading
Mrs Kaden
STA is excited to present the Lamont Book Fair!
26 June 2025 - 2 July 2025
Please note that our two disabled parking spots located at the front of the main car park are soley for the purpose of those who hold a Disabled Carparking Permit. Please be aware that it is illegal to park in a disable parking spot without a permit on display.
Please ensure that these spots remain available for those who require it. These parking spots are not for pick up and drop off. We have many options to drop students off. Our back gates open at 8:30am to enable parents to "drive-thru" and drop students off with teacher supervision.
We appreciate your assistance.
Uniform Shop Update
Uniform Donations Needed - The uniform shop needs your help!
Please drop off any second hand uniforms to the front office.
Clothing needed - Jumpers and long sleeve t-shirts.
Last Call! Please Nominate! We need you!
The School Community Council (SCC) provides the opportunity for members of the school, Parish and Archdiocesan communities to support the mission of Catholic education in the school. Working with the Principal, Parish Priest and staff, the members of the Council and its committees provide leadership to the wider school community.
The Council of St Thomas Aquinas come together twice a term to support and challenge each other to ensure the best outcomes for St Thomas Aquinas. We have a united approach to continued school improvement.
The Council has a decision making role in certain policy areas and an advisory role in others. The policies of the school are always set within the mission of Catholic education.
The Council currently consists of a diverse mix of parents, teachers and parish members. The Council Executive is comprised of:
- Chair
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Principal (ex officio)
- Parish Priest (ex officio)
- Elected Parent representatives (At least one and up to four parent members appointed in accordance with the Constitution)
- Elected Staff representatives (Two)
- Members appointed by the Council (As many as three (3) other people appointed by the Council for their expertise)
A number of a valued members will step down from their current positions on the Council at the end of this year. Their time, dedication and commitment to the roles is truly appreciated and respected.
We are calling for nominations to fill the position of Chair & Treasurer to commence in Semester 2, 2025 by shadowing the current position holders before taking on the role from 2026.
We strongly encourage those parents of this wonderful school that have a genuine desire to be of service to the community, have the ability to work collaboratively and constructively with other members of the Council, have adequate time to give Council duties or perhaps have a specific skill or qualification that could be utilised within the Council, to consider putting their hand up.
Please reach out to one of our current Council members if you have any questions of would like any additional information.
Those who wish to nominate are asked to complete the nomination form below and return it to the school.
April
Chaia L, Charles M, James K, Mia B, Kaylee W, Billie D, Yuvraj A, Benjamin S, Harjit S, Charlotte S, Keeva R, Kael S, Parker W, Carlos C-C, Larra D, Eva K, Poppy R, Eva E, Eric H, Tyler D, Gerrard D, Sophia S, Hudson K, Kahurangi R-T, Anon D, Eva O, Joshua N, Riak K, Henry P
May
Ella D, Jesse R, Cooper K, Lorelei M, Amelie T, Declan W, Ahish T, Jack P, Gurnoor K, Alice T, Savannah U, Zahli A, Nikola G, Connor W, Oliver H, Arianna R-M, Emily L-B, Brooklyn S, Ashan H, Nate N, Mayen K, Toby N, Theresa V, Ryan P, Lyla M, Aston P, Evangeline G, Isaac P, Chimaobi M, Deng A, Leek A