Dear Families,

We’ve had a great two weeks at Thomas More College.  We find ourselves approaching the final week of the Term.  I would like to thank our staff and students for the excellent approach towards the end of the term. We challenge and support our students to work until the last day of school, and to set up themselves for success as we look to finish this term and start a new one. This is a amidst a full few weeks at the school.

Easter Liturgical Season
Next week we move into Holy Week, the most significant time in the Christian Calendar. We enter into Jesus' Passion - the period before his death - and then Resurrection next week.

We will hold Liturgies to focus both on Palm Sunday and Jesus’ Passion story through Stations of the Cross. It's significant in our Christian History and also in a contemporary meaning, with a beautiful yet tragic contrast of events. Palm Sunday signifies what was Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem; people celebrated as he entered into this holy city amidst a sea of hope and popularity. Less than a week later, he was rejected by most of those who had earlier celebrated his arrival. Those committed and faithful few who maintained a belief in goodness, kindness and seeing the best in people, as he was crucified, often referred to as the ‘the Passion’, which we learn about through the Stations of the Cross. Then, the intense sadness is contrasted again with immense happiness with the story of the Resurrection. It’s worth noting the significant period for us in a Catholic School which justifies our focus.

As part of the Easter story, so much of Lent is about ‘giving up something’; we understand the story of Jesus in the desert, of the 40 days of Lent, as a time when he was at his weakest, and he was challenged. The connection for us is that, when we are at our weakest, either physically, emotionally or spiritually, it is easy to take a quick step which can often lead to a poor choice. The Lenten period allows us to critically examine these choices by a Lenten promise that either asks us to go without, or to make a conscious effort to take up something, like more acts of kindness, to remind us of the importance of making good decisions. At the heart of the Catholic ethos is being a good person; sometimes this sounds easier than it actually is! TMC continuously reminds us, and has so many examples of, being good people.

Inaugural 6R Leadership Program
Two weeks ago I was fortunate to spend time with 25 experienced principals in the inaugural 6R Leadership Program by The Brown Collective. Curated by Dr Stephen Brown, the program focused on topics such as leading with presence, thriving in chaotic environments, and trauma-informed student engagement. Guest speakers included Maggie Farrar, Grace Langton, Dr Stephanie MacMahon, and Matthew Esterman. The key takeaway was the importance of being a good human to be a good leader. There is more to come in this program, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to enhance my leadership of our school.

Student Success
Year 10 SRC students Akash Acharya and Rayeed Haseen have been selected for the SA SRC. They shared their reflections on the recent summit, highlighting their involvement in the Seeing Ourselves campaign, which focuses on improving diversity and inclusivity in schools. They expressed their excitement about future plans and the opportunity to connect with like-minded peers and leaders, including the South Australian Commissioner of Youth, Helen Connolly. Their experiences reflect our 2025 College Theme of Transforming Perspectives, Expanding Futures.

Learner Profile Engagement Evening
The recent Learner Profile Engagement Evening was a great success, thanks to the efforts of everyone involved. Students and parents shared positive feedback about the connection between Thomas More College and families. The early preparations by students made the conversations valuable and reflective. A big thank you to everyone who contributed to the preparation and facilitation of the evening.

Take care,

Corey Tavella
Principal