We are coming to the end of another action-packed year at St Thomas More’s.  On behalf of the STM School Council, I want to thank everyone for helping make the school such a great community.  This includes a special thank you to the staff and to the parents, carers and other volunteers who contribute in different ways to support the School.  

I also wanted to provide a wrap-up of the work of the STM Council for the year. The STM School Council is made up of staff, parents and the parish priests meeting formally 8 times a year to support the work of the School and our community.  Some of the key action areas during 2018 included:

• A welcome BBQ/picnic evening event on 18 March 2018.
• A “cuppa at the gate” to introduce parent Council members to other parents (as they dropped their children off for the day).
• Overseeing the parental contact network which is one of ways we build a strong community, and which is very effective in ensuring each class takes responsibility for supporting a community event during the year (eg Mother’s Day breakfast, Father’s Day breakfast, Annual Dance Concert BBQ) and other social activities organised by classes.
• Contributing to the costs of installing a new large sandpit in the playground which has been a great addition to the School. 
• together with teachers organising a art and wine evening in Term 4 to showcase the artwork of the students during the year.
• The School Council supported several pizza lunch Fridays throughout the year which is popular with students and has been a good fundraising activity.

We are looking for some more parent reps in 2019 so if you feel you might like to nominate, please do!  If you are interested, please let Julie Wiley know.  

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas season.  I look forward to seeing continuing families next year and for those families leaving the school this year, I wish you and your children all the very best for the future.

Margaret Deerain
Chair, STM Council