NAIDOC week

Sunday July 7 – Sunday July 14

Lord,

We seek Healing, Justice, and Peace for all people, and trust in the power of community and love. We pray especially for those who are working with First Nations Peoples within Catholic Education and that they stand firm in the teachings of Christ and strong in proclaiming the Gospel.

We pray for all peoples, both First Nations people and non-Indigenous people, that we will all learn to walk together and serve and respect each other.

We pray for the Elders in the Canberra-Goulburn communities, that they will be guided by the Holy Spirit and lead us in maintaining the dignity and value of each person.

Lord, let us reflect on the privilege we are presented with to experience the richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.

Amen

Parent-Teacher Interviews and Reports

Semester 1 student reports were made accessible via Compass last Wednesday. There are no formal comments written on this semester’s report, however, opportunities for Parent/Teacher interviews are being facilitated this week. My sincere thanks to all of our teachers who take great time in preparing for these interviews and to all parents and carers who have taken the opportunity to meet with their child’s teacher. I know that many interviews have taken place already, and that finding the time to meet with your child’s teacher is often no easy task, but I appreciate the commitment to maintaining strong lines of communication between families and the school.

Staffing

Congratulations to Mrs Laura Stankovic who has been appointed as Acting Curriculum Coordinator whilst Bernadette Whitfield steps into the Assistant Principal role throughout Mrs Marmont’s absence. Mrs Jo Dufelmeier will be teaching 2 Padua every Wednesday during this time, to allow Laura the time to carry out the aspects of the Curriculum Coordinator role. My sincere thanks to both Laura and Jo for taking on these roles and responsibilities during this time.

Congratulations

Miss Eglinton was the recipient of a significant award last week from the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation. Miss E received this award from Dr. Michael Davies, the ACHPER ACT Chair for ‘embracing how contemporary physical education should be taught in our context, as the process of gaining knowledge, skills and attitudes mainly through physical activity’. Well done, Miss E!

Pupil free day

Monday 22 July (Beginning of Term 3), is a pupil free day. Staff will be participating in valuable professional learning on this day.

Vinnies CEO Sleepout

A huge congratulations to Mrs Marmont, who with the help and support of the STA community raised $6333.00 towards assisting the homeless in our community. My thanks to everyone for their contributions and support on her behalf. The night was filled with meaningful conversations and inspiring stories from those on the front line of Vinnies services. Erin and other leaders from Catholic Education Canberra-Goulburn also had the privilege of hearing from a man who, at the age of 11, found himself on the streets and has now secured a home, thanks to Vinnies ‘Street to Home’ Program. The funds they raised last year have had a significant impact, doubling the number of caseworkers in our region. This has greatly enhanced their ability to assist those who are homeless, guiding them towards a home.

Grandfriends day reminder

We are excited to welcome our grand friends to school this Friday to celebrate how wonderful we think they are! Staff and students have been eagerly preparing and rehearsing their amazing dance performances. To properly accommodate this, all students are to wear their sport uniform. The schedule of the day (weather permitting) will look like this:

• 10:00am- Grand friends join classes for story reading and activities
• 11:00am- BYP picnic- Grand friends bring along a picnic to share with their children at recess
• 11:45am- Dance performance on the multipurpose court
• 1:00pm- Farewell to Grand friends. You are welcome to take home your child/ren at this time to spend the afternoon together.

Inter-school chess tournament

On Monday 1 July, Mr McDevitt and 30 of our students across Years 2 to 6 competed in the inter-school chess tournament. Mr McDevitt spoke highly of all of our students who played with tactical brilliance, with our top four players having a combined score to take out 1st place for St Anthony's, bringing home the trophy for a second year in a row. My thanks to all students for their excellent participation and to Mr McDevitt for his coaching leading up to the vent and supervision on the day.

Sullivan Shield

Last Thursday some of our Year 5 and 6 students played in the Sullivan Shield this week. From all accounts, our team played hard and fair and represented St Anthony’s proudly. A special thanks to Miss E and Mr U for accompanying the team on the day and to the many parents and carers who were there to support them too.

Save the dates: 

• Week 10, Term 2. PT interviews all week
• Friday 5 July. Grand friends Day
• Tuesday 23 July. Students return for Term 3
• Wednesday 24 July. NAIDOC week prayer focus assembly 2pm
• Thursday 25 July. Year 5 and 6 Mamma Mia musical @ Erindale
• Thursday 25/Friday 26 July. Kinder health checks
• Friday 26 July. Year 3 excursion to Geoscience
• Friday 2 August. KA prayer focus assembly @ 12pm.
• Sunday 4 August. Family, Faith, focus Mass @ 9am
• Tuesday 6 August. Basketball ACT Sue Geh Cup Years 5 & 6 girls
• Tuesday 6 August. Year 4 Excursion to Lanyon Homestead
• Thursday 8 August. 3L Mary Mackillop Feast Day Liturgy
• Thursday 15 August. Basketball ACT Jamie Pearlman Cup Years 5 & 6 boys
• Thursday 15 August. Year 4 Assumption of Mary Liturgy @ 9am

Please take note of the Compass calendar and the school website calendar for more dates of upcoming events. As soon as the date and time for an event, excursion, etc. is locked in and confirmed, we add these to our official school calendars.

I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday,

Garreth Wigg

Assistant Principal

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From our Religious Education Coordinator

Reconciliation and First Eucharist programs 

Last Tuesday evening we had our Reconciliation and First Eucharist information session and mass. Thank you to Father Tom and Mr Joe McGrath for a beautiful mass, followed by an informative information session. Father Tom, Mr McGrath and myself were all delighted with the amount of students and families in attendance and look forward to seeing you at the upcoming preparation evenings, the dates of which are listed below: 

• Tuesday August 8^th 5:30pm- Reconciliation Life Lesson (Week 3) 
• Tuesday August 13^th 5:30pm- Reconciliation Life Lesson (Week 4) 
• Tuesday August 20^th 5:30pm- First Eucharist Life Lesson (Week 5) 
• Tuesday August 27^th 5:30pm- First Eucharist Life Lesson (Week 6) 
• Monday September 2^nd – Retreat Day (Church Week 7) 
• Wednesday September 12^th -Sacrament of Reconciliation (Week 8) 

Each student has been allocated a date and mass for First Holy Communion. If you have not yet contacted Mr McGrath please do so at joseph.mcgrath@cg.catholic.edu.au 

Vinnies Winter Appeal 

To continue on from Mrs Marmont’s incredible efforts in raising money and awareness for St Vincent de Paul’s mission, we are asking our families to donate any old winter clothes for our Vinnies Winter Appeal. Canberra Winters are a time to think of those in our community who desperately need our help. If you are doing any wardrobe clean outs these holidays, please keep aside any: 

• Blankets  

• Jackets  

• Jumpers  

• Warm gloves and socks  

• Sleeping bags  

• Beanies  

• Winter scarves 

• Flannelette sheets 

• Flannelette PJs 

• Thermoses 

• Insulated Flasks 
• Hot water bottles 

We will be collecting all our items weeks 1 and 2 of Term 3. Your generosity can give vulnerable people immediate relief. 

Thank you,

Joseph McGrath