Dear St Thomas Aquinas Community,

As we reach the end of Week 10 of Term 3, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we have shared this term. It has been a period filled with learning, growth, and many memorable experiences for our students.

There were certainly some highlights for both staff and students – including;

• Sacramental Program for many of our students initiating and deepening their catholic faith journey in Confirmation and First Eucharist.
• Parliament House Performance of our wonderful choir
• Acknowledgement of academic performance, improvement and participation at our school assemblies
• Chinese Expo Day
• Donuts with dads
• Principal’s Awards for White token recipients
• The Disco
• The Dance Concert
• Multiple Sports Gala Days
• Year 5 & 6 Camp this week at Fitzroy Falls

I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated staff, whose hard work and unwavering support have made this term a success. Your commitment to our students and your passion for teaching shine through in everything you do. Thank you for your tireless efforts in fostering a nurturing and inspiring learning environment.

With the school holidays just around the corner, I encourage everyone to take a moment to recharge and enjoy quality time with family and friends. The upcoming two-week break is well-deserved, and I hope it provides everyone with the opportunity to relax and rejuvenate.

As we prepare to wrap up this term, let’s continue to support one another and finish strong. I am looking forward to seeing our students return refreshed and ready for the exciting challenges that lie ahead in Term 4.

The following Evening Prayer of St Augustine is an extraordinary comfort to my family which is prayed each night.  May you find solace in its call to ask God into our lives:

Watch, Lord, with those who wake or weep tonight. Give the angels and saints charge over those who sleep. O Lord Jesus Christ, tend Your sick ones, rest Your weary ones, bless Your dying ones, soothe the suffering ones, pity all the afflicted ones, shield the joyful ones, and all for Your love's sake.

Amen.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday!

Warm regards,

Tim Cleary

September Birthdays

Jade J, Hannah M, Matilda H, William B, Edison B, Luella B, Elodie A, Hamilton S, Charli C, Aden G, Leo R, Jessica B, Lincoln D, Emma F, Ebadat KS, Sarah H, Natalia R, Eleanor S, Olive O, Chloe W, Harper E, Harrison G, Aleu D, Thomas H, Mansirat K, Louise Q, Arianna D, Gabriel S-P

MyWay+ is coming! Transition set to commence

The next major phase for MyWay+ is about to commence from Friday 20 September ahead of the next generation ticketing system going live this November.

Over the last few months significant progress has occurred in the design, development and testing of the new MyWay+ system.

We are now at the exciting point where system installation can commence. This includes removing the existing MyWay equipment on board buses and installing the new MyWay+ validators both in buses and along the light rail alignment. System user testing will also take place with over 200 Canberrans providing feedback on the new system and its journey planning functionality.

To enable these critical activities to take place the current MyWay and NXTBUS real time systems will no longer be available from Friday 20 September.

Bus and light rail services will continue to operate as per the scheduled timetable and frequency, however people will not need to pay during the transition period to MyWay+.

A fare free travel period was always planned as part of the MyWay+ transition. We didn’t want to try and run two systems at the same time given it will take at least six weeks to fit out the whole bus fleet and install new ticket machines at locations such as along the light rail alignment.

Key changes taking place from Friday 20 September 2024:

• Travel will be free - The MyWay ticketing system will no longer be available. Travel on buses and light rail will be free. Customers will not be required to tap on and off during this fare free travel period.

• Timetable Information will be available online and at major stops and interchanges - NXTBUS will no longer be available. This includes on board buses at bus stops and stations as well as the SMS service.

• Bus services will continue to operate to the scheduled timetable. Where possible, static timetable information be available at bus stations.

• Light rail will continue to operate to the scheduled frequency. Next stop information will still be available for light rail (onboard and at stops).

Further details on impacted services are available online at https://www.transport.act.gov.au/news/news-and-events-items/september/transition

Customers are encouraged to KEEP their MyWay cards as the card number will assist with the balance transfer to MyWay+.