Our school is  a place of faith and learning

“From the first moment that a student sets foot in a Catholic school, he or she ought to have the impression of entering a new environment, one illuminated by the light of faith, and having its own unique characteristics. The inspiration of Jesus must be translated from the ideal into the real. The Gospel spirit should be evident in a Christian way of thought and life which permeates all facets of the educational climate”. 

Dear Parents and Families,

2024 SCHOOL TERM DATES

Congratulations to our team of swimmers who competed at the Sale and District Swimming Carnival on Wednesday. St Thomas finished second overall. We will have another strong team of swimmers progress to the Wellington Division Swimming Carnival to be held next Wednesday  at the Sale Swimming pool. A special mention to Mitchell Hanckel who had an outstanding day in the pool, taking home the under 12 age champion. Thank you to our parent volunteers who assisted with running the carnival, your support and time is greatly appreciated.

Performing Arts

Italian Carnivale with a mask parade

These are the small canvases that children worked on last year. Each child had an opportunity to make an Annemieke Mein inspired art work (along with many children from other schools) to be exhibited in the children’s space upstairs in the Gallery. There is a big exhibition coming up in March to celebrate Annemieke’s 80th birthday. Annemieke will come to see all the children’s work and perhaps award a prize too. More information to come. 

You can go and see the children’s work for free any time the Gallery/library is open. 

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Tuckshop roster - Term 1

Thank you to all our tuckshop volunteers!

Time: 12.35pm - 2pm

 If you need to swap your allocated day, please contact another volunteer to make arrangements. The office should only be contacted as a last resort.

A SPECIAL REPORT: Toxic Achievement Culture

Toxic achievement culture is characterised by the entanglement of self-worth, achievement and the relentless pursuit of academic or extracurricular success - at any cost! This phenomenon goes beyond the mere quest for success. it embeds a belief in students that their merit is exclusively tied to their achievements, often propelled by intense external pressures from families, schools, and society.

Some students are overfilling their schedules with activities aimed at "getting ahead". However, the consequences are proving to be detrimental on students' mental and physical health resulting in burnout and heightened levels of stress. This culture is also being aggravated by parental expectations, peer competition and a relentless comparison ethos often driven by social media.

There is nothing wrong with having ambition, but it's crucial to ensure that this desire doesn't push our young people into a toxic cycle of achievement and make them feel that they must achieve in order to matter. The relentless drive to excel is leading many students to prioritise accolades over genuine learning and personal growth, often at the expense of their own wellbeing and interpersonal relationships. As adult carers, we need to advocate for a more balanced and holistic approach to achievement, emphasising the importance of resilience, wellbeing, and the pursuit of diverse interests.

This Special Report will help you understand the signs of toxic achievement, and how to address them so as to teach students how to adopt a better work/life balance.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report:
https://sttsale.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-toxic-achievement-culture