Enrolments are accepted all year round, but the best time to enrol your child is at the beginning of the year (Term 1) – the year before your child is due to commence school.

Enrolment interviews are held in May and June (Term 2). You will receive a letter or phone call prior, informing you of a time for you and your child to come in and meet with the principal. Written offers of placement will follow later in Term 2.

At St Thomas Aquinas, we endeavour to create a supportive learning environment that encourages and develops lifelong learners. We provide a safe and welcoming learning environment where your child will be well-known and valued for their unique qualities, gifts and achievements.

Some of the things you and your child can expect at St Thomas Aquinas include:

• Growing up and learning in a Catholic community based on Gospel values
• Quality teaching and learning
• Positive relationships
• Technology and innovation
• Dedicated staff
• Empowering student leadership
• Inviting multi-purpose playground area

Please see our What We Offer page or Contact Us for more information. 

You are most welcome! Please contact our office to make an appointment to meet with the principal and tour the school grounds and facilities.

Our office opening hours are Monday to Friday, between 8:00am and 4:00pm.
 

Our school bell times are as follows:

Morning: 
Supervision begins at 8:30am each morning.

Afternoon: 
The school day concludes at 3:00pm and parents are expected to collect their children as soon as possible after this time. Please note, no supervision is provided by staff after 3:30pm.
 

Please see our Term Dates and Bell Times page for more information.

There are many co-curricular activities on offer at St Thomas Aquinas!

We provide students the chance to compete, represent the school and excel in a variety of areas of interest, including:

• Sport – including swimming, athletics, cross country, soccer, rugby league, AFL, basketball, netball and cricket. Children also have the opportunity to try out for diocesan representative teams and beyond in several different sports.
• STEM – Robotics and Coding
• Garden Club
• Art Competitions
• Public Speaking
• School Performances and Celebrations
• Leadership Programs and Opportunities
• Involvement in Community and Social Justice Initiatives

Find out more about the co-curricular activities available for students at our Co-Curricular Opportunities page.

The dignity of the human person is the foundation of all Catholic Social Teaching and inherent to the mission of our school. Essential to this is the creation and maintenance of a respectful, safe and supportive learning environment that promotes student wellbeing and enables school communities to engage an inclusive and diverse range of learners.

At St Thomas Aquinas, we believe that all members of the community have the right to a learning and working environment free from intimidation, humiliation and harm. We all share a responsibility to create a culture of caring which will not tolerate bullying. We believe that bullying must be taken seriously and is not acceptable in any form. In witnessing Christian values we reject ideas, beliefs and behaviours, which marginalise or victimise people. 

Please refer to the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong's Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Policy here.

You can also find further anti-bullying, wellbeing and online safety resources at our Resources page here.

Children in Kindergarten – Year 2 are eligible for free bus passes. Children in Years 3 – 6 are eligible for a free bus pass only if they live more than 1.6 km from the school. The application for bus travel can be found at https://apps.transport.nsw.gov.au/ssts/applyNow#/

If children are not eligible for free bus travel, parents may arrange for bus travel by payment to Berrima Buslines.

Children catching the bus home assemble in the playground. Staff then supervise their progress onto relevant bus lines and are accompanied to their bus in Bundaroo Street. Children who miss the bus are taken to the office and their parents contacted.

Lost or misplaced bus passes can only be replaced by a direct approach to the bus company.

The St Thomas Aquinas Primary School school uniform can be purchased from Whytes in Moss Vale (online ordering available).

Hats, beanies, backpacks, scarves, gloves and second-hand items can be purchased from our School Uniform Shop located adjacent to the school office (open Monday afternoons from 2:45 pm – 3:30pm).

For more information on the St Thomas Aquinas school uniform, visit our Uniform page.

Please see our Fees Information page for more information.

If you are experiencing financial hardship and are unable to pay fees, please discuss the situation with our principal. Your situation will be treated with care and confidentiality, and an appropriate arrangement may be made for you.

No student will be refused enrolment because of a family’s genuine inability to pay fees.

We'd love to have you! St Thomas Aquinas strives to be a connected and welcoming community and we value the engagement of parents and families in the school life in any way they can.

This could be as simple as being interested and informed about school events and activities, supporting and/or participating in community events, school assemblies and school liturgies.

If you are able, we also welcome and value your involvement in school activities. Parents (and grandparents!) can participate and contribute by:

• Assisting in the classroom when required with reading and literacy programs or mathematics groups
• Volunteering at school working bees or maintenance
• Assistance at sport carnivals and gala days

Please note: Given our commitment to safeguarding children, volunteers will first need to organise a Working With Children Check (WWCC) – information and forms can be found on the CEDoW website. 

All parents and families are also invited to become involved with our Parents and Friends (P&F) Association, who work collaboratively with the school and parish about matters that affect your child at school, as well as general issues about school life including social events, fundraising and community building.

For more information, please visit our Parent Engagement page.

If you have a concern or would like to raise any issue regarding your child’s learning and wellbeing, our staff welcome the opportunity to speak with you about your child.

We ask that you contact your child’s classroom teacher in the first instance. The best way to do this is by:

• phoning the school office and asking that your child's teacher return your call; or
• contacting the teacher via email at info@stabdow.catholic.edu.au to arrange a time to talk.

If the matter is urgent please contact the school office on (02) 4861 1768.

We ask for your patience in response to your request as schools are busy places and the main priority of staff is the education, safety and wellbeing of the students in their care during school hours. Requests by parents for information and meetings will be responded to as quickly as possible.

If you need to speak to your child’s teacher, we ask that you do this by:

• phoning the school office and asking that your child's teacher return your call; or
• contacting the teacher via via email at info@stabdow.catholic.edu.au to arrange a time to talk.

If the matter is urgent please contact the school office on (02) 4861 1768.

We ask for your patience in response to your request as schools are busy places and the main priority of staff is the education, safety and wellbeing of the students in their care during school hours. Requests by parents for information and meetings will be responded to as quickly as possible.

The Lighting the Way Together Parent-School Partnership Framework outlines for parents and the school, the principles and expectations of the partnership that is formed when a child is enrolled in a Catholic systemic school in the Diocese of Wollongong such as St Thomas Aquinas. It will be introduced and implemented in schools throughout the school year.

Download a copy of the Parent-School Partnership Framework and read more about this important partnership at www.dow.catholic.edu.au/partnershipframework

Parents and carers can access the St Thomas Aquinas Compass Parent Portal here and log in using their login details.

For more information on using Compass, see the Compass Guide for Parents.
 
For further information or enquiries, please contact the school office.