Filter Content
- Message from the Principal
- Term Dates 2025
- Important Dates Regarding Buses
- Parents and Friends
- Music
- SPORT
- Book Club Issue 2
- Merit Awards
- School Photos
- Second Hand Uniform Shop
- 2025 SCHOOL SAVINGS BONUS (SSB) - Copy
- SCHOOL TV
- Community Update: Our Lady of Sion Convent and former Sion Campus, Sale
- Community Notices
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, Guardians and Carers,
Last week Tara and I had the pleasure of meeting with the members of the School Advisory Board (SAB) who are doing a wonderful job in representing the parent body at the school. The function of the SAB is as the primary advisory to the principal. This body acts as an adviser on strategic planning, support to the principal, school improvement and development, policy and general leadership, the sole purpose ultimately being to serve and work toward the mission and vision of the school.
Topics we discussed were:
- The role of the SAB
- School uniform survey results
- Students use of technology especially social media at home
- Volunteer Induction Program
- Mindful Aus
The other parent representative group is our Parents and Friends. The primary role of the Parents and Friends group is to foster a vibrant and inclusive school community by assisting the school to fundraise and organise fun and engaging events that build the sense of community within the school. This group are hoping to hold their Annual General Meeting at the end of March, More details to come.
Parenting in the Age of Social Media
Following on from the discussion at our recent SAB meeting I wanted to share the following website to help you as parents to navigate this rapidly evolving space.
- E-safety Commision - https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents
This government run site provides videos, webinars and fact sheets to support you as parents. The webinars are free and easily accessible through a video link. They have an informative online safety book that can be downloaded and is a great resource.
This is also an informative space to help you understand the games, apps, and software your children may be using. It looks at the mulitude of games and apps that your child be interacting with and provides practical tips - https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-topics/esafety-guide
Volunteer Induction Session
Thank you for your patience and understanding as Tara and I settle into St Thomas school. We are offering a Volunteer Induction Session on Tuesday 25th March at 4pm (this is the first teacher interview day) so plan accordingly! . Please register your interest by using this QR code
Kind regards
Jodie
2025 SCHOOL TERM DATES
Term 1
Tuesday 28th January - Friday4th April
(Students start Friday 31st Jan)
Pupil Free day Monday 31st March 2025
Term 2
Tuesday 22nd April - Friday4th July
Public Holiday - Anzac Day - Friday 25th April
Term 3
Monday 21st July - Friday 19th Septmeber
Term 4
Monday 6th October - Friday 19th December
Reminder you can also check the PAM calendar for important dates.
Friday 4th April Last day of term 1 Buses leave at 2.20pm instead of 3.20pm
Tuesday 22nd April First Day of Term 2
Friday 25th April Anzac Day Holiday NO BUSES RUNNING
Friday 6th June Student Free Day St Thomas'
Monday 9th June Kings Birthday NO BUSES RUNNING
Friday 4th July Last day of term 2. Buses leave at 2.20pm instead of 3.20pm
Monday 21st July Student Free Day NO BUSES RUNNING
Tuesday 22nd July First Day of Term 3 for buses
Friday 19th September Student Free Day St Thomas
Last day of term 3. Buses leave at 2.20pm instead of 3.20pm
Monday 6 th October First Day of Term 4
Monday 3 rd November Student Free Day NO BUSES RUNNING
Tuesday 4 th November Melbourne Cup Day NO BUSES RUNNING
Thursday 18 th December Last day for St Thomas
Hi Everyone,
We have had a very positive start to music at St Thomas’ this year and I’m thrilled to see the amount of progress students have been making this year. Right across the school, students have been improving their beat keeping, singing, reading and technique when playing different instruments. It has been very positive as we all learn new songs and games together.
Last month, we were lucky to have Laura and Claire from Australian School of Performing Arts (ASPA) come from Melbourne to do drama workshops with our grade three to six students. The workshops were very engaging and it was wonderful to our students learning new games and growing their confidence. I know I was able to learn a lot from Laura and Claire. We will be incorporating some of the activities we learnt in the workshops into music classes throughout the year.
Copy of IMG_5660.HEIC IMG_5659.HEIC
Choir has made a good start to the year and we have entered in the Sale Eisteddfod which will take place in May. This is really exciting and a great chance to showcase our school to the wider Sale community. Choir runs on Tuesdays at lunchtime, straight after the bell to finish eating rings. It is open to grades three to six students.
Take care,
Caroline Monck
Music Teacher
DIVISION SWIMMING
A big congratulations to our 15 swimmers who competed in the division swimming carnival on Tuesday. All students should be extremely proud of how well they swam and represented the school. We are all very proud of you. Once final divisions have run their carnivals, Miss Glover will be notified of the students progressing to Regionals next Thursday and let those students know.
BASEBALL CLINIC
Students in Grade 4,5 and 1 have recently taken part in the Gecko Sports Baseball clinic. All students enjoyed learning about the game of baseball and the skills that go with it, especially wearing baseball gloves. Thank you to Travis from Geko sports who made the 4 week program enjoyable for all. Travis has very kindly donated a free birthday party worth $300 for the student who raises the most money during our up and coming Jump Rope 4 Heart program. We thank Travis for his generosity.
| Foundation A - Mrs Goudie & Mrs Manning | Molly Laverty & Nate McDonough, Sienna Dowler & Matilda Smith |
| Foundation B - Mrs Brayshaw | Lachie Simmons & Emily Jones. Lane Boardman & Sienna Schuback |
| Year 1 A - Mrs Morelli / Mrs Ray | Bobby McLay & Elke Hickling. Ava Van Putten & Jasper Lange |
| Year 1 B - Mrs Phillips / Mrs Ray | Lucas Malady & William Nicholson |
| Year 2 A - Mrs Davis / Mrs Jones | Chevy Stubbe & Lincoln Mawley. Mabel Fowler & Evie Smith |
| Year 2 B - Mrs Bennett | Taj Mowat & Mia O'Keefe. Pippa Safstrom & Mackenzie Wilkins |
| Year 3 A - Mrs Lee | Jacob Skehan & Lennie Cordell. Scarlett Lynch & Jonah Cheshire |
| Year 3 B - Mrs Ko | Saanvika Sistla & Otis Piasente. Dixie Nikolajeew & Archie Aurisch |
| Year 4 A - Mrs Wilson | Thomas Irving & Mason Downing. Chloe Cook & Xavier Kennedy |
| Year 4 B - Mr Brunt | Allison De Boer, Franklin Heywood, Thea Stubbe & Jack Smith. Courtney Baker & Huddy Bateman |
| Year 5 A - Miss Cameron | Harry Ieradi, Addi Morelli & Sienna Smolenaars. Abby Glover, Harmynie Lange, Annabella Cutrupi & Skylah McMillan |
| Year 5 B - Ms Berry / Mrs Glover | Claudi Gunn & Alexander Karvelas. Skylah Parkinson-Hall & Lilly Bigham |
| Year 6 A - Mrs Irwin | Jessica Heffernan & River Cordwell. Ava Fairhall & HUnter Lange |
| Year 6 B - Mrs Bradley / Mrs Fox | Scarlett Pini & Olive Scott. Mason Fairhall & Millie Laugeni |
We have a number of items available in the second hand uniform shop. To purchase or check out what's available please contact Anna Baynes on 0419117649.
2025 SCHOOL SAVINGS BONUS (SSB)
The School Savings Bonus is a State Government initiative designed to assist families with cost-of-living pressures. Under this funding, each eligible student is entitled to a $400 bonus for application towards activity levies and uniform purchases from approved supplier. Within our school, all CSEF applicants are eligible to receive this funding. All families who have a Centrelink Health Care Card and have not applied for CSEF in the past are encouraged to contact the school office and initiate an application this year. Please refer to the below link for more information:
https://www.vic.gov.au/receiving-school-saving-bonus#non-government-school-information
A Special Report: Social Media & Comparison Culture
Young people today are growing up in a world where exposure to other people's lives is constant. Through social media and other platforms, they are regularly presented with curated highlights - from flawless holiday photos and academic milestones to the latest fashion trends and fitness achievements. This continuous stream of idealised content fuels what is known as comparison culture, where self-worth is often measured by how someone stacks up against others.
For children and adolescents, who are still figuring out who they are, this culture can be particularly damaging. Constantly comparing their appearance, achievements, or social standing to friends, influencers, and even strangers can lead to unrealistic expectations and a skewed sense of self-worth. This relentless need to measure up can contribute to feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, and anxiety - undermining both confidence and emotional wellbeing.
It's vital that parents and caregivers understand how deeply comparison culture can influence a child's self-perception and sense of value. Left unchecked, it can foster perfectionism and a dependence on external validation, where a 'like' or comment becomes the measure of their worth.
The good news is, families have a powerful role to play in helping young people navigate these challenges. This Special Report will help you empower your child to build the resilience and confidence needed to navigate today's comparison-driven world and embrace their own unique path.
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-social-media-comparison-culture-au
JOINT STATEMENT FROM
Bishop Greg Bennet & Mr Paul Velten
Catholic Bishop of Sale Director of Catholic Education
Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Ltd
Community Update 3: The Future of
Our Lady of Sion Convent and
former Sion Campus, Sale.
The Our Lady of Sion Convent building in Sale is a much-loved local landmark with historical and
educational significance for Catholics, the Catholic education community, and the broader community
in Sale.
In this third update, we want to bring members of St Mary’s Parish, St Thomas’ Primary School, and
other members of the Sale community, up to date about the significant progress that has occurred
since August 2023 in the redevelopment of the former Our Lady of Sion Convent site into an exciting,
state-of-the-art education facility, serving the mission of the Diocese of Sale.
A significant challenge in the redevelopment planning process is to ensure that the comprehensive
renovation of this iconic 125-year-old building will be done in ways that will (a) meet the needs of
students and staff in a contemporary educational context, and (b) comply with the more rigorous
21st-century building codes, while still retaining the building’s original beauty, grandeur and
character. This process requires meticulous planning and sensitive consultation with numerous
stakeholders.
The architects and consultants are progressing in the design and preparation works. The
Architectural team continues to meet with heritage advisors, specialist engineers and the St Thomas’
Primary School community.
There has also been ongoing consultation with the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion to identify how their
extensive contribution to Catholic education on this site can be acknowledged and celebrated, to
ensure their legacy endures among future generations.
We are happy to announce that, earlier this year, the Victorian Minister for Planning, through the
Department of Transport and Planning (DTP), granted a planning permit for the proposed works.
We can also confirm that we were successful in obtaining a Commonwealth Capital Grant from the
Federal Government for the construction of additional new student learning spaces on the site. These
proposed education facilities are an essential element of the overall St Thomas’ Primary School
masterplan and are separate to the redevelopment work on the former Sion Convent building.
While the planning process continues, it is anticipated that work will soon commence to bring the
property back to a clean site, as well as beginning some preservation of the former Sion Convent.
Community members may see the demolition of some non-heritage and ad-hoc structures that have
been identified as being unsuitable as contemporary learning spaces. These buildings are not
included in the proposed development masterplan. There will also be some associated groundwork
and temporary building maintenance essential to preserving the former Sion Convent building whilst
it is in caretaker mode.
While we are excited about the considerable progress that has been made in the past ten months, a
great deal of work is still to be done before a definitive announcement can be made to key
stakeholders about the approval of the project. Please keep this project, the re-development team,
and the St Thomas’ Catholic Primary School community, in your prayers.
Background and Timeline:
November 2020: The site became vacant following the formal relocation of the Catholic College
Sale Junior campus. Many expressed their dreams and hopes for the future use
of this treasured local landmark.
August 2021: The Bishop of Sale, through his Diocesan Committee chaired by the former
Member for Gippsland South and parishioner of St Mary’s Cathedral, the
Honourable Mr Peter Ryan, began exploring possible uses of the convent
building. The Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Ltd (DOSCEL) engaged
specialist consultants to explore the possible relocation of St Thomas’ Catholic
Primary School, Sale to the Sion Campus site.
November 2021: A community survey was undertaken to gather feedback on relocating
St Thomas’ Catholic Primary School to the Sion Campus site.
October 2022: It was announced that through the work of DOSCEL and the Diocesan
Committee, consideration would focus on the development of the whole site as a
state-of-the-art education facility with the Convent building which includes the
Chapel being the centrepiece of the school.
December 2022: Early conceptual designs for a Preliminary Proposed Masterplan were
developed by a project architect for consideration and assessment.
January - June 2023: Extensive investigations continued and a range of consultant specialists
including engineers, surveyors and a Heritage Advisor were appointed.
June 2022: Preliminary Proposed Masterplan moved to Detailed Design Phase. Architects
commenced engagement with Town Planning.
February 2024: Planning permit granted by the Minister for Planning through the Department of
Transport and Planning
February 2024: Commonwealth Government Capital Grant confirmed.
For Project Updates on Our Lady of Sion Convent and Sion Campus go to:
