Last Monday our school paused at 11.00am to remember those who have gone before us. We pray, acknowledge, honour and remember the courage and sacrifice of those who have served our country and those who gave their lives in service to our nation.

Lest We Forget.

Welcome to Week 6.

Last Thursday I accompanied our Year 5 students to Mary Mackillop College to share in their leadership program. This was a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn about what it means to be a leader and the qualities and attributes that make a good leader.

Over the weeks ahead our Year 5 students will be preparing their speeches for leadership opportunities at St Anthony’s in 2025.

The leadership framework was reviewed late in 2021 the year before I joined the St Anthony’s community. Over the years I have received feedback on our leadership framework including the timeline of when student leaders are appointed. I very much appreciate this feedback and would like to confirm the leadership framework for 2025 with you.

St Anthony’s prides itself on every child having a leadership role and opportunities for children to contribute to the life of the school. Our leadership program supports students in navigating through a variety of skills, challenges and opportunities to assist them into the future as they transition to high school. Completing their primary school years as student leaders is an important step towards a successful beginning to secondary school.

Learning to be a leader is a valuable part of school life at St Anthony’s. It recognises each student’s individual strengths and provides them with opportunities to develop their skills in their area of leadership. Our leadership program helps your child grow in confidence and self-assurance, preparing them for life after primary school.

Year 5 students are invited to nominate themselves for school captain or a portfolio leader and present a 2-minute speech on why they believe they would be the best candidate for the position. These speeches will be shared with our current Year 5 cohort, teachers and leadership team on Thursday, 5 December 2025. Following a voting process for school captains and portfolio leaders, students will be notified of the outcome of the 2025 leaders at the end of week 8 and formally announced to the community at the End of Year Mass on Monday 9 December at 10.00am.

Year 6 leadership at St Anthony’s gives every student in Year 6 a role. In addition to our Two school captains and leaders of our Portfolio groups, Year 6 shares opportunities to take care of an aspect of school life. Students can choose the area they are most interested in, making their stewardship of that aspect more meaningful for each child.

Students nominate, in order of preference, their interest in the four portfolio groups. Teachers then allocate students to one of the portfolio groups.

The Portfolio groups include:

• Mission and Ministry
• Environment
• Media
• School Organisation

Any feedback on the leadership framework is valued and welcomed. Please email me directly if you would like to contribute your thoughts. Erin.marmont@cg.catholic.edu.au

Annual Improvement Plan 2025

Our school is currently developing their annual improvement plan for 2025. Our three goals are:

• Together we will be pilgrims of Hope in our school community
• Further develop enriching coaching practices across K-6 to enhance teaching practice.
• For our students to excel in their learning and grow their confidence and wellbeing

Our professional learning day at the end of this term will be an opportunity for our staff to develop strategies to achieve these goals.

If you have any comments or suggestions around our AIP in 2025, your feedback is greatly received. Please email me directly at erin.marmont@cg.catholic.edu.au

Please note the last day of school will be Monday 16th DECEMBER 2024.

Fete 2024 funds

As outlined in an earlier newsletter, we are excited to install our new bubbler and drink stations for our senior and junior students. They look terrific and I’m sure will be well received by our children. In addition to this we have new junior seating ready to be installed for 2025. This will allow plenty of outdoor space for our children to sit and eat comfortably at our eating times.

This weekend our wonderful Kitchen Garden working committee will begin the installation of seating around the kitchen garden area in preparation for classes to utilize for our outdoor garden classroom in 2025.

Staffing and classes for 2025

Class lists are now finalised. Please note that no late request for a change of classes will be accepted. As outlined in previous newsletters this is a very considered process. Please be assured that a great deal of time goes into balancing classes, taking into account the social, academic and behavioural needs of each child. I am conscious of interest groupings, friends and the needs of all. If your child is leaving St Anthony’s at the end of 2024 (except Year 6) please remember to notify the office.

Confirmation of Staffing will be distributed in Week 9 Newsletter (instead of week 10). ‘Step Up’ day is on Tuesday 10th December from 12.30pm to 1pm. It is anticipated all students will have an opportunity to meet their 2025 classroom teacher on that afternoon. A letter from your child’s 2025 teacher will be sent home with your child that afternoon.

School reports  

An enormous thanks to our teachers who continue to work tirelessly preparing Semester 2 reports. This semester, student reports will be supported with classroom teacher comments to outline student success and areas for development. Optional parent/teacher interviews will be provided in week 9.  

Student reports will be released via Compass on Monday 9 December (Week 9).

To access your child’s report please go to the Compass app, click on the image of your child in the top left-hand corner, select the Reports tab in the top right-hand corner and then select 2024 - Semester Two to view their report.

A reminder that the A-E scale is very different to what it looked like years ago. Our Kindergarten students will receive an alternative scale to A-E as outlined below. 

Please take some time to familiarise yourself with the guidelines for assessment and reporting.  

Kindergarten Scale of Assessment 

Engagement with Learning 

Kindergarten Grade Scale  

Year 1- Year 6 Grade Scale  

Year 1 – Year 6 Achievement Scale  

When a student receives a ‘C’ grade, it means they have demonstrated the quality of learning described in the Achievement Standard, based on the content studied in the reporting period. If a student receives a ‘C’ in both semester 1 and 2 reports, it indicates that the student has made progress, and learned new knowledge and skills based on the new and more challenging material studied. 

A student’s report will list a grade for each subject studied. 

The following A-E descriptors will appear on the report: 

• A demonstrating outstanding achievement of the standard 

• B demonstrating a high achievement of the standard 

• C demonstrating achievement of the standard 

• D demonstrating partial achievement of the standard 
• E demonstrating limited achievement of the standard. 

Hall update + info

Thank you for your positivity around the start of the hall renovation. The site sheds are now up, and a temporary gravel road has been built across part of the oval to allow for the movement of heavy haulage moving back and forth over the months ahead. On the completion of the project the oval will be restored to new, ready for the students to play again. If there is any damage to the multipurpose court, this too will be restored as new again. We are really looking forward to lots of progress happening over the Christmas holidays. Current arrangements for entry and exit points and canteen arrangements will continue into the new year and 2025.

Christmas Appeal Hampers

This week is the launch of our St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal.

Each class will be creating a Christmas Hamper that will be made up of donations from each class member. In the coming days, your child will be bringing home a Christmas Appeal Hamper Ticket. This ticket will show an item that your family is encouraged to donate for the appeal.

We kindly ask that families limit their spending to no more than $10 per item. Please contribute only what you are comfortably able to give.
When your child brings their donation into school, they will also bring back their Christmas Hamper Ticket. This will become their draw in the Christmas Raffle, to be drawn at the end of week 8.

The hampers will be presented to our local St Vincent de Paul representatives at our end of year mass in week 9.

We deeply appreciate the generosity and kindness that our school community consistently shows. Your support makes a significant difference and helps us come together to create a positive impact.

Thank you for your continued willingness to contribute and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Important dates and events coming up this term

As mentioned previously as of next year all Catholic ELC's and Out of Hours School Care Centres will be using a new software package. As we prepare for this transition we have been asked by Catholic Education to make sure that all outstanding debt is paid before the end of the school year.  Any accounts with outstanding balances will be referred to Catholic Education.

OOSCA last day for the year will be Monday 16th of December and we will open again on Monday the 20th of January.

Permanent bookings will be rolled over to 2025, so if you do require changes please let us know at your earliest convenience.