As we approach the end of the semester, our teachers are currently working diligently to prepare student reports. This is a significant undertaking and provides an opportunity to reflect on each child’s learning, growth and development over the first half of the year.

As we approach the end of the semester, our teachers are currently working diligently to prepare student reports. This is a significant undertaking and provides an opportunity to reflect on each child’s learning, growth and development over the first half of the year.

Today our Year 5 and 6 students travelled up to Bunbury to participate in an Interschool Winter carnival with teams competing in Netball, Soccer and Football. Competing against 12 other schools, our teams performed exceptionally well! Congratulations to all those students who competed and represented our school so well.

This coming Monday, we celebrate WA Day – an opportunity to recognise and appreciate the unique place we call home. It is a time to acknowledge the rich history and cultural heritage of Western Australia, including the enduring connection of First Nation peoples to this land, the contributions of early settlers and the many individuals and families from diverse backgrounds who have helped shape our state.

One of the most important skills we can help children develop is the ability to persevere when things become challenging. Whether it is learning a new concept in the classroom, developing a sporting skill, managing friendships or stepping outside their comfort zone, resilience plays a significant role in helping students grow and succeed

Today and tomorrow our students will be visited by two authors as part of the Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival. The Pre-Primary to Year 2 students will be visited by Renee Treml and the Year 3 to Year 6 students will hear from Justin Somper.

This afternoon, our students from Years 1 to 5 formed groups to participate in the Peer Support Program, a wonderful initiative that fosters connection, wellbeing and leadership across our school. Our Year 6 students did an outstanding job leading their groups, helping younger students begin to build meaningful relationships while learning about the importance of positive thinking and developing resilience.

Yesterday, our students proudly represented St Thomas More at the Interschool Athletics Carnival held at Cowaramup Primary School. It was a fantastic day of competition, with students from St Thomas More joining forces with Augusta, Karridale and Margaret River Independent Primary Schools to compete as the Leeuwin Interschool Sporting Association (LISA) team.

Welcome back to Term 2. I hope the holidays provided an opportunity for rest, relaxation and quality time with family and friends. I hope everyone also enjoyed a meaningful Easter and had time to reflect on its significance. It has been wonderful to see the students return on Monday with such enthusiasm, happy faces and plenty of stories to share

This morning, the Year 4 students led us through a very reverent Mass celebrating the Last Supper and when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. Fr Mat re-enacted this by washing 12 of the students’ and teachers’ feet. The children were asked to remember the importance of the upcoming Easter celebrations and the sacrifice Jesus made for us.