Centenary Celebrations - A Heartfelt Thank You

As our Centenary celebrations continue, I want to extend my gratitude to our entire school community for your incredible support and enthusiasm. The recent events have been a true reflection of the spirit and legacy that define St Therese School.

The Centenary Mass on Friday was a joyful celebration of 100 years of inspiring minds and embracing faith. Our students, staff, former staff, past students, and parish community gathered with Archbishop Patrick O’Regan to honour our Dominican heritage and look with hope to the future. We were especially delighted to welcome so many Dominican Sisters, the Honourable Senator Don Farrell (old scholar) and his wife Nimfa, whose presence made the day even more memorable. We were honoured to receive positive feedback from the Chair of South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools (SACCS), Mr John Neate, who congratulated us on a wonderful Mass, describing it as a great celebration of the continuing story of a school so obviously alive and important to so many people.

The response to the Historical Display has been nothing short of overwhelming, with over one hundred visitors sharing stories, memories, and admiration for the rich tapestry of our past. Saturday’s Historical Tours and Exhibition were also a highlight, with Sr Maureen O’Connell, Melissa Fairlie and Christine Garnaut generously sharing their knowledge and memories of the school and its many changes over the years - including the various places the St Therese statue has stood. It was heartwarming to see friends, teachers, students and families reconnect and share their stories.

The presence, energy, and contributions of so many current and past students, staff and families made this milestone truly unforgettable. A special thank you to the staff of St Therese for your help and support in bringing our Centenary events to life - it has been a wonderful celebration of our school community over the past 100 years.

Next Up: Gala Dinner – Saturday 18 October Join us for an evening of celebration at our upcoming Gala Dinner. Details and booking information soon to be released on SZapp.

Little Way Day - 100 years in the making - Monday 20 October. A day of activities for the children as we celebrate St Therese feast day. Families are welcome to join us for whole school prayer followed by market stalls and games from 9:00-10:45am.

Let’s keep the momentum going as we celebrate 100 years of excellence, connection, and community.

Positive Behavioural Interventions and Support (PBIS)

Walk and Talk Update – Tier 1 Success at St Therese School

On 24 June 2025, St Therese School proudly completed its Tier 1 PBIS (Positive Behaviour Interventions and Supports) Walk and Talk, led by Carol Jarell and Margaret McCarthy, with our Catholic Education South Australia (CESA) System Coach. We are pleased to report we scored 100% on our PBIS teaching, strategies and support.

Our Behaviour Expectations – The Big 5

Students are consistently reminded and supported to:

1. Listen to teachers
2. Walk at school
3. Keep hands to themselves
4. Show respect to everyone
5. Use the 5Ls (Look, Listen, Learn, Lead and Love) and WBL (Whole Body Listening) strategies

These expectations are clearly posted across classrooms, staff rooms, and specialist areas.

What We Learned

• 100% of staff confirmed they have taught the Big 5 expectations this year.
• Students and staff confidently recalled the expectations.
• Rewards systems are active and effective—students receive tokens for positive behaviour, contributing to both class and whole-school rewards.
• Behaviour data is regularly analysed and used to guide improvements.
• Staff are consistently reinforcing positive behaviour, both in and out of the classroom.

What’s Next

To keep improving, we are:

• Supporting staff with feedback strategies to strengthen PBIS teaching.
• Pre-teaching behaviour expectations for special events like musicals, sports days and excursions.
• Upskilling staff to better record behaviour data using SEQTA (online Learning Management System)
• Launching Tier 2 supports with a “Check-In Check-Out” system for selected students.

Celebrating Our Wins

• Positive behaviour is visible and celebrated across the school.
• Reward systems are working well—students love earning tokens.
• Staff and students are united in promoting respectful and safe behaviour.
• Our new recess/lunch routine for 2025—play first, then eat—is a hit!

In Term One 2026, we will share our PBIS Handbook with families to strengthen the home-school connection.

Thank you to our dedicated PBIS leadership team, Carol, Caroline, Olivia, Carrie and our whole staff for creating a safe, respectful, and engaging learning environment for all students.

How do Real Schools strategies support PBIS at St Therese School?

They help our students, staff and families build strong relational cultures and restorative practices that align with PBIS principles.
Here’s how Real Schools contributes to PBIS success:

Restorative Practice Integration

• Real Schools emphasises restorative approaches to behaviour, which complement PBIS by focusing on repairing harm and restoring relationships rather than punitive punishment.
• This helps our staff meet PBIS goals like reducing problem behaviours and improving social-emotional outcomes.

Data-Driven Cultural Change

• Facilitators work with our staff to evaluate data, guide cultural transformation, and implement evidence-based strategies.
• These efforts support PBIS’s emphasis on measurable outcomes and continuous monitoring.

Professional Learning & Leadership Development

• Real Schools offers workshops and coaching for educators and leadership teams to build capacity in managing behaviour and fostering positive environments.
• This aligns with CESA PBIS training goals, which include leadership team development and tiered intervention strategies.

Partnership Model

• Partnering with Real Schools gives us access to ongoing support, resources, and strategic planning to embed PBIS principles deeply into our culture.
• Our approach at St Therese school ensures that PBIS isn’t just a program—it becomes part of our school’s identity.

You are Invited: REAL Schools Parent Engagement Session

Join us for an inspiring and interactive session, with our Real Schools Expert Facilitator, Jemma, designed to strengthen the partnership between home and school. Let’s work together to support our students’ growth, wellbeing, and success.

Date: Tuesday 28 October 2025
Time: 6PM– 7PM
Venue: St Therese School

What to Expect:

• Insights into our Real Schools approach and how it supports student wellbeing
• Practical strategies for positive parenting and behaviour support

Feedback from the previous session

Parents have appreciated the real-world strategies, the non-judgmental space, and the chance to connect with other families.

More details will be posted to SZapp soon. Let’s continue building a strong, supportive school community together.

Wishing all our families a safe and happy term break and we look forward to seeing you back fully restored for a fantastic term four.

Dee-anne Peters
Principal