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Sunday’s Gospel reminds us of the commandment to love one another as I have loved you, so you also should love one another.
This message can be translated through many aspects of our lives and sends a valuable reminder for all of the importance of looking after each other.
I feel blessed in my role when I see our students showing this love for one another. This has been particularly evident in the past weeks where students have demonstrated genuine concern for those that have been absent with COVID. We continue to pray for all in our community who have been affected by illness. May each of you know the strength and love of those around you.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 13,31-33a.34-35.
When Judas had left them, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
(If God is glorified in him,) God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once.
My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, 'Where I go you cannot come,' so now I say it to you.
I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.
This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
Congratulations to our Year 6 students who enjoyed a wonderful camp experience in Narrabeen last week. Our students represented St Anthony’s with such pride and spirit, well done year 6. My sincere thanks to our STA staff who accompanied our students to Sydney and ensured our children were well cared for.
It is with much delight that I can let you know that Parents and Carers are now welcome to come on site in our outdoor area to join ous school for morning assemblies. Whilst restrictions are still in place for visitors to classrooms and indoor activities, we very much look forward to seeing your presence to share in our morning prayer, birthday announcements and being a part of our morning assembly.
Pupil free days
As outlined in previous correspondence this term, Ross Fox has authorised two extra pupil free days this term. These will be on Friday 27 May and Tuesday 14 June.
These days will provide an opportunity for STA staff to participate in professional learning inline with our annual improvement plan and Catalyst Teaching and learning. These are opportunities we have unable to fulfil due to significant staff absences and teacher shortages.
School Board
Our wonderful school Board continues to work incredibly hard to support the strategic direction of our school. The Board meets twice a term and provides the opportunity for members of the school, parish and Archdiocesan communities to support the mission of Catholic education in the school. Working with the Principal, Parish Priest and staff, the Board members provide leadership to the wider school community. The Board has a decision making role in certain policy areas and an advisory role in others. The policies of the school are always set within the wider mission of Catholic education. In the areas where it has responsibility for the development and monitoring of policy, the Board operates within the policy and procedures determined by the CEC and the CEO.
My sincere gratitude to Cath Rollinson who over the years has moved from Parent Representative to School Board Secretary. Cath has contributed so much to our school board and the life of the school. Including the immense projects of our school fete and fundraisers. Cath has offered her resignation from the School Board this term and we thank her for all her hard work, time and dedication.
We invite nominations for the position of Parent Representative and Secretary of our school board,
Nominations can be made by contacting me directly via email erin.marmont@cg.catholic.edu.au or by phone 6231 4022.
CSPACG
Last night the Catholic Schools Parents Association Canberra Goulburn provided an online family event. This event provided some valuable information on how we can support our children. One of the presenters was a School Counsellor who shared The Brave Program. Anxiety in children is something I speak with families frequently about. The following resources may be of interest for you.
The BRAVE Program is an online program for the treatment of anxiety in young people. It was developed by a team of researchers from the University of Queensland, Griffith University and the University of Southern Queensland, and has been specifically designed to teach young people the skills they need to reduce anxiety and to cope with stressful situations.
The BRAVE Program is based on Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and has been running in Australia for over 13 years. Therapy techniques used in this program include: relaxation training, identification of emotions and thoughts, positive self-talk, coping skills, problem solving and graded exposure.
The BRAVE program was converted into a self-directed therapy program (BRAVE Self-Help), which is now freely available to all Australian young people, aged 8-17 years old, and their parents. The program is suitable for all types of anxiety. There are four different programs available: one for children aged 8-12 years, one for teenagers aged 12-17 years, and one for parents of children and teenagers of these age groups, respectively.
Tell Them From Me School Survey
As part of our focus on school effectiveness, St Anthony’s Parish Primary will be participating in an online survey for Staff, Students and Parents and Carers – Tell Them From Me® (TTFM®). Keep an eye out for this survey in the coming weeks.
The survey window is open from:
Monday 23 May until Friday 10 June (Term 2, Week 8).
Catholic education election report card on major parties
Catholic education has released a federal election report card assessing the responses from the major political parties on education priorities.
SPORTS NEWS
How wonderful it was last Monday to have our school participate in the cross country. My thanks to Mr Josh McGrath, our PE Teacher for his excellent organisation and hard work.
Well done to all of our students for their participation and congratulations to the following age champions:
5 Year Olds
BOYS | GIRLS |
Zac M | N/A |
Dylan J | |
Harvey B | |
Hudson G | |
Leonardo B | |
6 Year olds
BOYS | GIRLS |
Zachary M | Delilah D |
Leo V | Aila N |
Asahel B | Georgia O |
Ari J | Charlie K |
Luca E | Charlotte D |
7 Year olds
BOYS | GIRLS |
Leo R | Ella D |
Joseph Mc | Alice F |
Isaac C | Ailyn H |
Solomon B | Asha B |
Thomas G | Amelie L |
8 Year Olds
BOYS | GIRLS |
Jack S | Adelyn Mc |
Rory M | Eleanor C |
Lachlan B | Mia V |
Caleb G | Violet H |
Levi C | Callista B & Claire C (Tie) |
9 Year Olds
BOYS | GIRLS |
Cameron J | Harper D |
Callan R | Kiara V |
Rylan N & Noah H (Tie) | Lily A |
Joshua H | Divjot K |
Holly R |
10 Year Olds
BOYS | GIRLS |
Liam G | Mia P |
John R | Rebecca F |
Logan W | Catherine J & Isla B (tie) |
George L | Sanvi P |
Nate S |
11 Year Olds
BOYS | GIRLS |
Fraser H | Khloe D |
Joseph R | Allegra M |
Ian B | Rosanna B |
Riley S | Liliana A |
Ryan H | Naomi D |
12 Year Olds
BOYS | GIRLS |
Lincoln C | Keturah C |
Leon B | Matilda G |
Archer E | Maggie K |
Keon S | Madalin S |
Oscar H | Annabella N |
National Walk Safely to School Day
This Friday May 20th 2022 St Anthony’s will be celebrating the National Walk Safely to School Day.
Walking or riding to school has so many great benefits for students and schools, including improved health and wellbeing, reduced traffic congestion, reduced emissions and more attentive students who arrive alert and ready to learn.
On Friday, teachers will be stationed at checkpoints to meet students at 8.25am and will start walking as a group to school at approx. 8.35am. Students will walk as a group with teachers leading the way. Parents and carers are welcome to walk alongside their children to school. Please see the attached image to identify the checkpoints where teachers will be stationed. They are as follows:
- Kambah Underpass
- Wanniassa Shops
- KidStart
- Greenway Underpass
To help celebrate this day, students will also be given the opportunity to enter a colouring in competition. The prize for the competition will be a new scooter. This will be given for ELC, K-2 and Years 3-6. Students will need to complete the colouring page given to them by their classroom teacher and place it in the correct box for their group along with their name and class. The competition closes Thursday 19th of May. Winners will be announced at the morning assembly on Friday May 20th. Only 1 entry per student is allowed.
We look forward to seeing our students once again engage in this wonderful initiative!
Stay active,
Susannah Hoff
Ride and Walk to School Coordinator
Last Friday evening Tyson O (yr3) and Jack F (Yr2) had the amazing experience of playing during half-time at the Raiders v Bulldogs game at GIO stadium. Congratulations boys on this wonderful opportunity and experience.
Congratulations to Alice C in Year 5 who has received an award for her drawing of her Nan at the COTA ACT ceremony. What an amazing drawing, well done Alice.
NAMES ON JACKETS, HATS, ETC
Now that the weather is starting to cool down, please ensure that your children’s names are on their jumpers, as well as on hats, lunch boxes and drink bottles.
Jumpers, hats, lunch boxes, fruit boxes and drink bottles found around the school property are put in the Lost Property bins in the Library. Those with identifiable names are returned to their owners in the classrooms.
Jumpers without names (including those that are not clearly identifiable) are taken to the Clothing Pool for re-sale (12 to 15 jackets a fortnight!!). The Clothing Pool cannot re-sell hats.
Drink bottles and lunch containers are put on display in the window of the Library and, if not claimed within a week, are put in the rubbish.
Due to the same “first or last name” possibly being used by more than one family, a first name Initial and the last name would be very helpful in identifying the correct student to return items.
Thank you!
Hello Everyone
With the School Sport State Program back up and running we have opportunities to get back into State Teams for School Sport. Many selections trials are now open for registrations, some have already had their first trial and many more coming up soon.
The following SSACT State Teams trials are open for registration on the School Sport ACT website (https://schoolsportact.org.au/), it is important to register online prior to the first trial (closes on the date of the second trial), for many sports they commence next week;
12&U Boys Australian Football
12&U Girls Australian Football - brand new team for 2022
https://schoolsportact.org.au/sports/australian-football/
12&U Rugby League
https://schoolsportact.org.au/sports/rugby-league/
12&U Girls Basketball
12&U Boys Basketball
https://schoolsportact.org.au/sports/basketball/
12&U Boys Touch Football
12&U Girls Tough Football
https://schoolsportact.org.au/sports/touch-football/
All qualifiers at the 12&U and 13&O ACT Swimming Champs this week who are wanting to express interest in selection for specific events are encouraged to register also.
https://schoolsportact.org.au/sports/swimming/
Note - The teams travelling interstate are open to applications for the SSACT Scholarship Fund
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Thanks
Josh McGrath