St. Thomas Aquinas Message From The Principal – Newsletter March 2026

EASTER HOLIDAY

Learners, staff and parents are ready to embrace the Easter holiday! It has been a very busy term filled with a variety of activities in the classroom, on the stage and on the sport field. As we go on holiday, may we be filled with the spirit of the risen Christ. Let us not live in despair, but continue to live
in hope.

Father Joseph blessed the school at a special end-of term mass. Learners brought in palms, beautiful songs were sung depicting Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection, feet were washed and beautiful petitions were made.

Grade 7 breakfast

It has been a standing tradition at St Thomas Aquinas School to take our Grade 7 learners to breakfast at a restaurant. The history of the breakfast is actually quite interesting. An Afrikaans teacher, Jenny Bierman, started the tradition. Her brother owned Mama Lisa’s in those days and she would take her Grade 7 learners to the restaurant for an Afrikaans lesson. Learners would then have to order their meals in Afrikaans and only speak
Afrikaans during this time. It is always great fun to see how our learners engage with each other in Afrikaans and have a great breakfast on top of that. May this tradition be continued!

Swiming

St Thomas Aquinas School has always been renowned for its beautiful pool. At our house gala earlier this year, all our swimmers could put their skills to the test. And what a blast was had! The music was pumping, the crowds were cheering and our swimmers did so well! We are grateful to have Midwit qualified coaches in the pool alongside our learners. Their Learn
to Swim program is phenomenal and our learners benefit from their expertise during their PT periods.

Grade 8 Orientation

Our new grade 8 learners were welcomed to the school. An extensive program was put together by the RCL members and Grade 12 learners to introduce them to the High School. Drum busters visited the school and the learners had an amazing session.

End of orientation

Grade 8 learners could remove their bibs and were handed their blazers during a special ceremony.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is such a special time on the Christian calendar. It is the first day of Lent that marks the start of a 40 day period of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is a period of reflection, and preparation for easter, often observed by receiving ashes on the forehead. How blessed we are as a school to celebrate such a special time with our learners and staff.

Tinned food were collected for St Patrick’s day and St Thomas Aquinas School was able to donate over 200 cans of food to various deserving community centres. Thank you to our parent community for your blessings.

Our athletics champion – Anathi Bada

Our school is so incredibly proud of Anathi Bada, a grade 4 learner. Anathi represented Mpumalanga at the South African Athletics championships on the 20th and 21st of  March. Anathi achieved a silver medal for high jump and came 8 in the long jump event. She has so much potential and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for her.

New vice chairperson of the Board

Dr Nerisa Boshoff was unanimously elected as the new Vice-Chairperson of the Board during the Board meeting on 26 March,
Dr Boshoff is married and is the mother of two teenage boys. She has been part of the St Thomas Aquinas School community since 2016. She was a class mom during the
COVID era and supported the moms and the school. Dr Boshoff became a member of the Board of Governors in 2022. She has a keen interest in Technology in education.
Dr Boshoff serves the general community of Emalahleni as a general practitioner, with a passion for women’s health. She loves outdoor adventures and crafting.