Community News

🎄 Christmas Card Competition 2026

Each year, students at St Thomas the Apostle are invited to create a special Christmas artwork inspired by Scripture as part of the DOSCEL Christmas Card Competition.

This year, our Scripture is Matthew 2:11, which tells of the visitors arriving at the house and finding Jesus with Mary, his mother.

🎥 Watch our teacher video

Our teachers have created a short video to help students and families understand the Scripture and think about ideas for their artwork.

🎨 Would your child like to enter a home entry?

Students can create an optional artwork at home and enter it in our school Christmas Card Competition.

Important:

• Artwork must be A4 landscape.
• It must be a drawing or painting.
• It must be the student's own original work.
• No words should be included on the artwork.

• Please complete the entry form and attach it to the artwork.

   

⭐ DUE FRIDAY 11 SEPTEMBER ⭐

All entries must be handed in to the School Office by Friday 11 September.

One artwork will be selected to represent St Thomas the Apostle in the Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Christmas Card Competition.

We look forward to seeing our students' beautiful and creative interpretations of this special Scripture.

Absence Notifications

Please let the school know if your child will be away for the day by recording their absence through PAM or calling the school at 5998 9293. We will be sending an absence notification to parents when students have unexplained absences for the day. If we do not hear from you, we will get in touch with the emergency contacts in your list, then Victoria Police if unable to reach you. This is a requirement under our Child Safe legislation.

We strongly encourage our parents to bring children to school early. Gates will be opened at 8.25am and children enjoy meeting up and playing with peers before the learning begins.

As part of our child safe procedures, when your children arrive late, they will be asked to wait in the office to log in and they will need to be escorted to their classrooms. 

Collection from school - appointments

If you are picking up your child for a scheduled reason, please note that we are unable to release students during recess or lunch breaks. We ask that you plan pick-up times outside of these periods.

Recess - 11:05am - 11:35am             

Lunch - 1:45pm - 2:15pm

Ensure that you contact the school by phone ahead of time to alert office staff and allow them to inform your children. Logging it on PAM will not alert the office.

We will not approve regular early pickup without a meeting with senior leadership and an agreeement as to the necessity of the early departure. Every minute missed from school is an opportunity to learn that cannot be replaced.

Coffee & Connect - Thursday 17th September

Erica McWilliams from the Primary School Nursing Program

Please join us for our next Coffee & Connect, where we will welcome our visiting Primary School Nurse Erica McWilliams.

Over a relaxed cuppa our school nurse will briefly introduce the Primary School Nursing Program and explain how the service can support children and families. The conversation will then be guided by the interests and questions of parents attending.

This is a friendly and informal opportunity to ask questions and share conversation about topics such as sleep, behaviour, screen time, eating, parenting challenges, children’s health and development, or any topics that matter to you.

Come along for a coffee, connect with other parents and learn more about the support available.