Prayer
Loving God,
We thank you for the many blessings of this term—the lessons we’ve learned, the friendships we’ve nurtured, and the challenges that have helped us grow. As we reach the end of Term 3, we ask for your guidance and rest. Grant us peace in our hearts and joy in our achievements.
May we return refreshed, ready for the new term, with open minds and kind spirits.
Amen.
Important Dates
TERM 3
Thursday 19 September - Perth Glory Soccer Clinic (Y4)
Friday 20 September - Assembly PP @ 9 am
Friday 20 September - Term Three Concludes
TERM 4
Monday 07 October - Pupil Free Day
Tuesday 08 October - Students Commence Term 4
Monday 14 October - Y6 depart for Canberra
Monday 14 October - P&F Meeting
Wednesday 16 October - Parish Mass Y4 & PP @ 12:30 pm
Friday 18 October - Y6 return from Canberra
Monday 21 October - Y3 Penance Retreat
Tuesday 22 October - Y3 Sacrament of Penance
Wednesday 23 October - Y3 Sacrament of Penance
Wednesday 23 October - Grandparents Liturgy & Morning Tea
Wednesday 23 October - Y4 Technologies Incursion
Friday 25 October - World Teachers Day
Friday 25 October - Cross Country Carnival (selected Y3 - 6)
Friday 01 November - All Saints Day Mass
Friday 01 November - Fair Game Dress As Your Sports Hero Day
Thursday 07 November - AQWA Y5 Camp 5 pm
Friday 08 November - Kindy Orientation 9 am
Please remember dates of events can be subject to change
(Full 2024 term dates at the end of this newsletter)
SLIP LANE
Thank you to all parents for the safe use of the College Road slip lane. A few points to please note:
- The school zone is 40km/h and Police speed cameras regularly attend the area;
- The stop sign on Warden street must be adhered to;
- Please do not 'overtake' cars already in the slip lane - we have had some 'near-miss' side-swipes recently;
- Remain in your car - staff will assist bringing children where possible;
- Move forward as far as possible so that as many cars can access the lane at one time;
- If someone who does not normally collect your child uses the slip-lane, please briefly inform them of the need to stay in their car, and to move forward when possible;
- Please access the queue from Melville -> Senate Street -> Warden Street. Joining the queue from Warden Street via Gugeri Street often causes complications;
- The " Getting to and from St Thomas' " document details the slip lane considerations to keep our community safe. Please view this document by clicking here
UNIFORM - TERM 4
A reminder of the change in uniform next term. Years One to Six student no longer require a tie for Term Four. Pre-Kindy, Kindergarten and Pre-primary students have no change to their uniform for Term 4.
INTERSCHOOL ATHLETICS - CHAMPIONS!
A huge congratulations to our Interschool Athletics team who competed yesterday, Tuesday 17/9 at the State Athletics Centre. We won the highest ranked Boys school, highest ranked girls school, and the overall champion school trophy. This is the first time St Thomas' has won this trophy, and a credit to all students involved. Of note was, as always, the tremendous behaviour standards of our students. They were a credit to our school on and off the track. A huge thank you and congratulations to Mrs Sharon Seaman for her work in preparing the team, as well as organising the entire carnival for all seven schools involved. It is a tremendous workload and the smooth running of the day is a testament to the hard work put in to the day by Sharon.
DEPARTURE FORM
A quick reminder, that if your circumstances are changing for 2025 and your child/ren will be departing St Thomas' Primary School, please complete a departure form by Friday 20 September.
SCHOOL PHOTOS
School photos have been sent home today with your child. If your child was absent today then they will remain in their classroom for collection on their return to school.
HOLIDAYS
We wish all families a restful time after a busy Term Three. This term concludes at 3:00pm on Friday 20 September, and Term Four commencing on Tuesday 8 October. Thank you for your support as parents and guardians of St Thomas' students.
We appreciate you live busy lives, and your involvement in your child's education is acknowledged and we are most thankful for. The staff of St Thomas' have worked so hard to look after and educate our students, and warmly appreciate your appreciation of their efforts. A massive thank you for the extra hours and dedication the staff so willingly give, often during their own time off-campus, that make this such a great place for children to learn and develop into the outstanding young people we see daily.
Heath Nankivell
Assistant Principal
STUDENT DEPARTURE – TERMS NOTICE REQUIRED
It’s that time that time of year when final planning is underway for the following school year. Should your child/ren not be continuing at St Thomas' Primary in 2025 please ensure you contact our office and request a Student Departure Form.
A full terms notice must be given in writing to avoid the penalty of a terms school fees, so please ensure you contact the office and return the required paperwork on or before the last student day of this term Friday 20 September.
Thank you for your continued support and assisting us in planning for the 2025 school year.
Music News
As the Performing Arts Festival for Catholic Schools and Colleges has concluded this week, I would like to thank all the music students who have worked diligently this year in the pursuit of excellence in music. The standard was extremely high and the St Thomas students performed exceptionally. A big congratulations to all the participants of the Festival. It has been a successful Performing Arts Festival for all the students involved, well done!
Music this term centred upon music making, theory, composition, and performance. The Pre-Kindy class explored pitch and intonation through chants, rhymes and songs and explored the rhythmic elements through drumming. The Kindy class strengthened their understanding of beat and rhythm, learning to move, drum and play percussion instruments in Simple Duple Time.
The Pre-Primary class reflected and responded to stories and music from “Around the World” in alignment with the theme for the Arts Show. The Year 2 class focused upon reading and playing melodies in Simple Time and explored Beethoven’s 9th Symphony using the Boomwhackers. The Year 3 students have been developing their note reading skills and rehearsing their items for their Arts Show Performance.
The Year 4 class strengthened their understanding of the Pentatonic scale, learning to play several scales, and composing their own pentatonic melodies. They also investigated the instrumental families of the orchestra. The Year 5 class studied Rock music and riffs and have begun learning to play several songs on the Ukulele. The Year 6 class continued to develop their knowledge of the Ukulele, working in groups to play the 12 Bar Blues and to compose their own Blues style compositions to perform them for the class.
The St Thomas’ music students have experienced a wonderful term full of musical performance opportunities to grow and develop and strengthen their musical abilities.
Nicole Wills
Music Teacher
Drama @ St Thomas'
At St Thomas’, our Drama program continues to foster creativity, emotional expression, and teamwork among students from Kindergarten through Year 6. Students’ have engaged in a variety of drama activities tailored to their developmental levels, building confidence and honing performance skills.
In the Classroom
In Kindergarten this term the children have explored and expressed their emotions through drama, storytelling, and creative play. Each week, we have focussed on a different emotion, using drama as a tool to help students understand and communicate their feelings in a safe and playful environment. In Pre-Primary, the children have been focussing values of kindness, empathy, and standing up for what is right. Through improvisation, role play, and storytelling, children will explore ways to show kindness. This term, Year 1 students have been developing their miming skills telling stories without using gestures, body language, and facial expressions. Year 2 students have entered the vibrant world of musical theatre showcasing their singing, acting, and dancing abilities. In Year 3, the focus has been on stereotypes in drama and using them to develop complex, authentic characters on stage. The Year 4’s have rehearsed and perform scripted duologues of their choosing where they explored characterisation in depth and experimented with the emotions and motivations that bring their characters to life. This term, Year 5 students have been working towards performing scenes from their favourite films which they have reinterpreted it for a stage performance. This project allows them to exercise their creative interpretation and acting skills in a fun, collaborative environment. Year 6 students have been tackling the challenge of staging a short play. Working in small groups, they have taken on various roles in the production process—from directing and casting to blocking and performing. This hands-on project will give them a comprehensive experience of what it’s like to bring a script to life.
St Thomas’ Drama Club Production
Our recent school production was an unforgettable success, showcasing the incredible talent and hard work of our students! From the vibrant costumes and impressive set and props to the captivating performances, the entire show was a testament to the creativity and dedication of our young performers. This event was truly a community effort, with amazing support from parent helpers who contributed their time and skills, whether through costume design, prop creation, or backstage assistance. Their involvement, alongside our dedicated staff and enthusiastic students, made the production a true celebration of collaboration. The teamwork and commitment from everyone involved were truly inspiring, resulting in a professional-quality performance filled with laughter and plenty of memorable moments. We couldn’t be prouder of the students and this years’ production.
Spirit of the Arts Festival
Drama Club
The ‘Spirit of the Arts’ Festival was alive and well this year, with our drama performers delivering an exceptional and inspiring performance that captivated the audience and judges alike. Their hard work, creativity, and dedication truly shone through, earning them the coveted category shield for the second year in a row! This outstanding achievement is a testament to their passion for the arts and their commitment to excellence. We are incredibly proud of each and every student who contributed to this victory and look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence in drama at next years’ festival. Congratulations to all involved!
Dance Club
The Dance Club had an incredible experience performing at the festival this year! They took the stage at the Perth Entertainment and Convention Centre, alongside other talented students from Catholic schools across Western Australia. It was a fantastic opportunity for our dancers to showcase their skills in a professional setting, and they truly rose to the occasion. The energy and enthusiasm they brought to their performance was inspiring. This event not only allowed our dancers to shine but also gave them a chance to connect with other schools, fostering a sense of community and shared passion for the arts. We are so proud of their hard work and dedication.
Renee Miller
Drama Teacher
INTERSCHOOL ATHLETICS CARNIVAL
On Tuesday 17 September, 44 students represented our school at the Catholic primary school Interschool Athletics carnival at the WA State Athletics centre.
I am extremely pleased to share the exciting news that St Thomas are Champions for 2024! We also came home with the Boys and Girls overall trophies which is a remarkable achievement and a first for St Thomas winning any trophy at an Interschool Athletics carnival.
Our dedicated athletics represented St Thomas with exceptional spirit, determination and sportsmanship leading us to an overall victory. I am extremely proud of all of the students, especially in the lead up with training before and after school in both field and relay events.
Thank you to Ms Briffa assisting with before school relay training, Mrs Angela Jarrott for her amazing commentary track side and to the staff attending on the day Mr Nankivell, Mr Godsall, Mrs Vincent and Ms Scarvaci for your support with the team in the stands, track and field. Thank you to all of the parents and caregivers who came along and supported St Thomas.
Special mention to our year 5 girls who ran up a division and/or filled the Year 6 events to make up numbers in all races. This was an outstanding achievement and by doing this, lead up to winning the Girls trophy having someone in each event.
Once again, the student’s behaviour was immaculate and admired their sportsmanship way of supporting one another all day. A huge credit to everyone for finishing their races, jumps and throws and overall doing their best. Go St Thomas!
Perth Scorchers Holiday Program
WA Cricket is running a school holiday program at the WACA Ground! The details are below:
Date: Wednesday the 2nd of October
Time: 8.30am – 11.30am
Location: WACA Ground
For: Boys & Girls aged 5-12
Register here: https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/register/97ecf5
There will be an opportunity to meet some Perth Scorchers players, so don’t miss out! Please see the flyer below.
Sharon Seaman
PE Teacher
St Thomas' Primary School
Email: admin@stthomas.wa.edu.au
Website: stthomas.wa.edu.au
Location: 8 Warden Street Claremont WA 6010
Phone: (08 9286 9500
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stthomasprimaryschoolclaremont
Twitter: @StThomasCPS