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Preschool news
What a fabulous fortnight and year! As we begin Advent and the lead up to Christmas with so much going on, we are reminded to slow down and remember that the Advent season, is both a time of joy-filled, anticipatory celebration of the arrival of Jesus Christ and also an opportunity for prayerful, contemplation and reflection. Our students have enjoyed discovering the Christmas story, sharing songs and stories, and playing in our indoor stable where they dress up and bring the story to life.
We pray that everyone has a hope and joy filled Christmas surrounded by loved ones celebrating together. Merry Christmas!
Upcoming events
Our students have been invited to attend these events. Families to be invited, with more details to follow through compass and sZapp.
Wednesday 7th December | Blessing and opening of the new building |
Friday 9th December | Kinder nativity presentation |
Tuesday 13th December | Preschool Christmas picnic |
Wednesday 14th December | Year 6 Handover ceremony |
Chickens and Benjamin bunny
We need help to care for our girls and Benjamin over the Christmas break. If you have any availability between the 16th of December and the 16th of January, can you please email us dates elc.stanthonys@cg.catholic.edu.au
Art Show
This week we celebrated as a community, coming together for our inaugural Art Show. This special event gave our children the chance to proudly show off their beautifully inspired Margaret Preston’s, Jackson Pollock’s, Matisse’s, Van Gogh’s and so many more works of art. Thank you to friends and families who joined us and for your generous donations to the St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal.
Colour run
The students enjoyed participating in the colour run, alongside the ‘big’ kids. It was lots of fun and we all agreed that we looked amazing in all the colours of the rainbow.
Triple P Parenting
Delivery of the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program to parents and carers of children in Australia is being offered online and free of charge. The training will help parents to support their child’s development, grow closer and solve problems – positively https://www.triplep-parenting.net.au/
Proven, positive tips that can help every family
You can support your child’s development, grow closer and solve problems – positively. There are many simple strategies you can start using right now, to make every moment count!
- Boost their emotional wellbeing and maintain a good relationship – now, and in the years to come.
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- Join more than a million Australian families who’ve been helped by the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program!
- Backed by 35+ years of research studies here and around the world.
Uniforms
If families have any preschool uniforms they wish to donate to the centre, please drop them off here to the ELC or to the primary school prior to the end of the year or anytime from the 16 January 2023 when our 48 week families start.
Announcement
I write to let you know that Michelle Woodward, Director of our Early Learning Centre, has successfully been appointed to Catholic Education as Dynamic Director of Early Learning Centre’s for the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn.
Michelle has been a wonderful asset to our school and genuine advocate for early childhood education.
I would like to congratulate Michelle on this appointment and wish her every success in this new position.
The role of St Anthony’s ELC director is currently in the recruitment process. An announcement of the incoming director will be shared with our STA community by the end of term.
May I take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank Michelle for all of her hard work and dedication to the many families and staff she has encountered over the past years at St Anthony’s Early Learning Centre and Primary school.
I am incredibly grateful for Michelle’s zest and enthusiasm, and her love for all of the children in her care.
Michelle’s last day will be on Thursday. 15th December 2022.
With kind regards,
Regards,
Erin Marmont
Principal
Accounts and last day of attendance
A big thanks for maintaining your account over the course of the year and for settling your final account. If you are experiencing any financial difficulty or have any questions regarding your account please contact Emma or Michelle.
Final Statements
Fees have been charged for the remainder of the year, however it is possible that CCS variances might still occur. In this instance further statements may be sent at very end of this year or in the new year.
Absences and last day of attendance
Generally, Centrelink will not pay CCS for absences on a child's first or last day(s) of attendance. This means that if your child is absent on their last day of booked attendance and any consecutive days immediately before that last day, you will unfortuantely be charged full fees for those days.
There are some exceptions and further information can be found here on the Services Australia website.
Reminder about last day of Term
As you are aware, we have been advised by the Catholic Education Office that the last day for families this term is Thursday December 15th (Staff will attend on the 16th Dec).
In 2023 it will be Thursday December 14th (Staff will attend 15th Dec). Catholic Education has made this decision to align all students and staff across primary and preschool settings.
A belated Happy Birthday Hugo W and Hugo C! We hope you enjoyed your birthday!
To Jude, Matilda, Aleah, Audrey and Everlie who are all celebrating this week and next, we wish you all a very fun filled day!
And to Elsie, Oliver and Noah who will be celebrating in the New Year before returning to school - we hope you have a very happy holiday birthday!
I wanted to extend my deep gratitude to the St Anthony’s community including the families, staff and student for your love and support while I have been in the role of Director. Next year I have been appointed to work across our 8 Early Learning Centre’s including the development of any future buildings.
While I am sad to leave our wonderful community and amazing team, I have a heart for all Catholic preschools and hope that I can influence change and growth, helping to shape the future of Catholic Education from the very beginning of a child’s schooling journey. There is something truly unique and faith filled about our preschools.
I feel so blessed to have worked at St Anthony’s in a thriving community where the staff happily work every day to provide a dynamic, child centered program filled with love, patience, and passion. I am grateful to have been supported to drive sustainability projects here and I know that our menagerie of animals will be well cared for in the future.
A special thanks to my beautiful team whom I will miss dearly. You all looked after me so well, especially this year after my lovely mum Frances passed away and I will never be able to truly express how much this meant to me.
Thank you everyone for all the small and big ways you connected with me and our preschool. I look forward to a great end of the year and hope to see you all at our Christmas picnic. Take care of each other and have a wonderful Christmas.
Love Michelle
The Preschool team would like to wish all our families a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
We hope you have safe, happy holidays and enjoy a well deserved break. It has been our joy to educate and care for your preschool children this year and we wish them (and you!) all the best.