Dear Families,

It’s great be back for Term 2! Although we are already two weeks down, I want to welcome all of you back to TMC for this Term and acknowledge the excellent start our students have made. They are such good people, and I know (by and large!) they are enjoying being back. I love connecting with students as I walk around our campus each day.

All staff spent day one learning together through some professional development by Real Schools. There are many people who may offer comment on the current and future spaces of education; Adam Voight is an educational leader, public speaker and educational commentator who has translated thoughts and commentary into a program of connecting with school culture. Adam often appears in contemporary media like The Project; his work as CEO of Real Schools allows him to connect with schools across the country to enhance their culture and practice around Restorative Practices. We have been on a restorative journey for the last seven years, and in doing so we promote a positive environment of challenge and support through working with our students. Given our immense growth over these years, Adam’s Team is working with us to share understandings and grow our work in this space. It was great to come together and learn, this journey will continue in different forms.

Pope Francis
Incredible that over the Easter Period we learned of the death of Pope Francis. Staff came together in prayer at start of the Term, and RE classes have been connecting with Francis’ important work and incredible legacy as the leader of the Worldwide Roman Catholic Church. Thomas More College is proudly a Catholic School and so we watch with interest, awareness and a sense of Faith development over the coming weeks as the Cardinals move into Conclave and look to elect a new Pope.

I offered the following words to staff which came from CESA Director - Catholic Identity and Mission Dr Jill Gowdie:

“He lived the beatitudes because they were the blueprint for the life and vision of Jesus.

He lived his mission with a special charism that was his compassionate capacity to make that vision and life of Jesus accessible, meaningful and relevant for everyone, everywhere.

For Pope Francis - everyone will always have a place at the table. And he showed us and shared with us - over and over and over again - what that should look like in families, in politics, in economics, in schools, in cities, in countries… in the Church."

Take care,

Corey Tavella
Principal

The Stations of the Cross hold deep significance in our Catholic tradition, a powerful reminder of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice and his boundless love for humanity. 

As we journeyed through each station, we reflected on Christ’s suffering, compassion, and unwavering commitment to saving the world. This devotion not only deepens our understanding of the final moments of Jesus’ life but also connects them personally to the core message of the Gospel - God’s love made visible through the Cross. 

By walking this path, we are invited to grow in empathy, gratitude, and faith, carrying the spirit of Christ's sacrifice into our daily lives.

Ruth Taylor
APRIM

Students from the Margaret More Centre had a great day at the Variety Club Easter Picnic at the Adelaide Zoo. This event was funded by the Variety Club SA and staffed by volunteers.

The students travelled to the zoo using public transport, which allowed them further practise with the public transport system and navigating the city centre. This experience was part of their Life Skills curriculum and also connected to their Science, Geography, and English lessons.

At the zoo, students enjoyed a sausage sizzle lunch and hot cross buns. The day was full of fun and learning as students explored the zoo and visited many different animal enclosures as well as viewing a special bird show.

A special surprise was seeing Mr Tavella between meetings in the city, as students made their way to the train station as they headed home. His appearance made the day even more exciting.

Overall, the picnic was a big success, giving students a chance to learn, explore, and have fun.

Kirsty Hall
Leader of Inclusive Education

Last term, the students in our Motorsports Club have been putting their engineering minds and creative talents to the test in a high-speed design challenge: creating their very own race tracks! Inspired by famous circuits from around the world - such as Mount Panorama, Silverstone, and Monza - students researched real-world track layouts before designing their own unique versions.

Using A3 paper and a whole lot of imagination, students sketched out twists, turns, chicanes, and pit lanes, considering both the visual appeal and the functionality of their tracks. The goal was to create a course that would challenge model cars while staying true to the spirit of motorsport.

Once designs were finalised, the real fun began - testing them! Students raced their tracks with battery-powered model cars across their paper-built circuits, adjusting layouts and problem-solving in real time to improve performance. Not only did this activity sharpen students’ skills in design, measurement, and spatial thinking, but it also encouraged collaboration and teamwork as students gave feedback on each other’s tracks and shared strategies for faster laps.

The energy in the room was electric, and the creativity on display was outstanding. We’re so proud of our young engineers and racers who continue to show innovation, passion, and a whole lot of racing spirit.

Maria-Luisa Cambareri

Across Monday and Tuesday of Week 11, our Year 10 students travelled to Semaphore for their annual Wellbeing Days, diving into the themes of self-esteem, mindfulness, and managing the day-to-day pressures of senior schooling life. With a balance of thoughtful conversations, mindful bracelet making, challenges on the beach involving practical stress management strategies, and creating labyrinths in the sand to symbollicaly mark their journeys into senior school, students had space to reflect on their personal journeys and the path that lies before them.

These days were all about building stronger connections with themselves and each other and acknowledging how students can develop a variety of strategies to navigate the pressures of teenage life with confidence and calm.

Students and staff appreciated the opportunity to spend time offsite in a space that promoted connection to the broader values that our College instils in all its students.

David Mazzarelli
Year 10 Leader

As part of the Year 7 Italian program, Students were learning about Carnevale. They developed research skills and were taught about the meaning of Carnevale and the connection with Lent and why this is celebrated in Italy.

Students designed their own mask with individual design choices. Students then wrote a reflection based on these individual choices.

Antonietta Sergi
Italian Teacher

VET Recognition
We are so proud of our Certificate II in Cookery students! Their dedication, passion, and creativity are what make this course so special.

Take a moment to read this beautiful reflection from one of our students — a heartfelt reminder of what makes learning in the kitchen so powerful:

"Cooking in a class of wonderful people is so heartwarming. I've always loved cooking, and when I step into the kitchen, the world outside seems to fade away. It's a place where creativity blooms, and anyone can step into a kitchen and create something truly unique transforming simple ingredients into a symphony of flavours that tell a story with each bite. I've found that during this course, it's not just about following recipes, but about discovering new techniques and experimenting with flavours. Overall, being in the kitchen enables me to communicate, multitask, make friends, and create truly special dishes (which are so tasty)." – Certificate II Cookery Student Aaliyah

Thank you to St Pats and AIOH for collaborating and making this course possible. 

Uniform Shop Opening Hours
Mondays:  2:00pm - 4:00pm
Thursdays: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Fridays: 8:00am - 10:00am

The Uniform Shop will be closed on Friday 9 May and Monday 12 May.

Last term, students from our school’s Motorsports Club had the exciting opportunity to visit the Rear Vision: The Holden Collection exhibition at the State Library of South Australia. This excursion gave students a deeper appreciation for Australia’s rich automotive history and the legacy of one of its most iconic car makers - Holden.

The exhibition offered an engaging and immersive look at Holden’s journey, from its beginnings as a saddlery to becoming a powerhouse of Australian innovation and identity. Students explored original vehicle designs, historic advertising, and interactive displays highlighting the social and cultural impact Holden had across generations. Students also had the chance to view rare memorabilia and learn about the people behind the brand - designers, engineers, and everyday Australians who helped shape Holden’s story.

For our Motorsports Club members, this was not just an educational outing but an inspiring one. It sparked conversations about car design, sustainability in future transport, and even ideas for creating our own dream cars! A big thank you to the staff at the State Library of South Australia for hosting such a meaningful exhibition and to Ms Tran for making the day possible.

Maria-Luisa Cambareri

To wrap up Term One in the most unforgettable way, our College community united for the Ice Bucket Challenge fundraiser in support of the Caritas Myanmar Earthquake Appeal. In an incredible display of generosity and school spirit, we raised just over $1500, with every dollar going directly to assist those affected by the devastating earthquake.

The energy on the day was electric, with fourteen courageous teachers volunteering to be dunked in icy water. A massive thank you to the following staff for their enthusiasm and support: Mr Lee, Mr Watkins, Mr Liguoro, Ms Kilcullen, Mr Arciuolo, Ms Vanyai, Mr Mazzarelli, Ms Dunn, Mr Boden, Mr Tang, Ms Taylor, Mr Tavella, and Mr Quadrio.

As College Captain, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to Ms Cannon and Ms Taylor for being by my side throughout the planning and execution of the event. Your encouragement and support were invaluable. A special thank you also to Ms Sergi for her assistance with the event setup. This fundraiser would not have been possible without the dedication and passion of our incredible TMC staff.

A big shout-out goes to our amazing Year Nine SRCs, who helped run the soft drink stall, Zooper Doopers and sausage sizzle with energy and care. Your service and teamwork truly brought the day to life.

To everyone who donated, thank you. Your kindness and generosity makes a real difference. A special mention to 7 Aqua and 7 Green, who raised an outstanding amount and showed exceptional commitment to the cause.

There was something truly magical about seeing our college community come together. Students and staff, united by compassion, fun and a shared purpose, made the day unforgettable. The laughter, the smiles and of course, the icy splashes were a joyful and meaningful way to end the term.

What a way to close Term One. Wishing everyone a fresh and focused start to Term Two.

Grace Leonello
College Captain

On Tuesday, 6 May, the Year 7 students became Pilgrims of Hope as they undertook a pilgrimage from Thomas More College to St Augustine’s Church in Salisbury. Along the 3km journey, students stopped at key stations where they received a cross, a shell, a prayer card, and a candle - each symbolising aspects of their faith journey. After a refreshing morning tea break, they explored the church with their teacher, learning about its different areas, symbols, and their significance within the Catholic Church and faith.

The students then participated in a Mass led by Fr Roderick, who kindly explained the different parts of the service and their meaning as he celebrated with us.

This experience marks a significant starting point in the spiritual journey of our Year 7 students as members of the Catholic community at Thomas More College. It also serves as a bookend to their journey, which will conclude with their Year 12 farewell Mass - also to be held at St Augustine’s.

Alex Hewson
Religious Education and Mission