Caritas Australia's Project Compassion

During Lent, we support Project Compassion. The Caritas boxes have been distributed to our classes and the students talk about this wonderful project during prayer.  Please encourage your child to bring in donations to support this cause.  The students are encouraged to help with small jobs at home to raise money that they can donate. 

We also have a large community box that is placed outside each morning and afternoon for community contributions.  Your generous donations are much appreciated. 

If you would prefer to donate online, please use the QKR app and via the menu tab, search - Fundraising, Donations: Caritas – Project Compassion.  Please see further information about the QKR app in this newsletter. 

If you would like more information about Project Compassion you can look here;  https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion/

Sensory & messy play

St Anthony’s preschool is a place of wonder, creativity, and collaboration. We see children as unique, capable individuals whom we trust as active protagonists of their own learning. We believe children have extraordinary potential with the capacity to express themselves, explore their worlds, and connect their thoughts, feelings, and imaginings in endless ways. We support developing potentials through creative, artistic, and innovative means. 

As part of our program, we encourage the students to get messy and be involved in sensory play.  This play supports scientific thinking which involves inquiry, experimentation, hypothesising, researching, and investigating and encourages children to use their senses to discover new aspects. It delivers on Outcome 4 of the Early Years Learning Framework – Children are confident and involved learners. 

This is evident when children:

• express wonder and interest in their environments.
• are curious and enthusiastic participants in their learning.
• use play to investigate, imagine and explore ideas.
• follow and extend their own interests with enthusiasm, energy and concentration.
• initiate and contribute to play experiences emerging from their own ideas.
• participate in a variety of rich and meaningful inquiry-based experiences.
• persevere and experience the satisfaction of achievement.
• persist even when they find a task difficult.

Spare clothes

Messy play can result in the students needing to change their clothing during the day.  We appreciate having access to spare clothes in the students’ bags and we have a small supply of clothes that the students can borrow.  If your child comes home in spare clothes please wash, dry, and return these promptly. 

Parent/teacher interviews

In Weeks 8 & 9 you will have the opportunity to meet with your child’s class teacher.  Please look out for an email this week, asking you to book a meeting time.  This is a wonderful opportunity for us to connect with you.  You are also very welcome to contact us at any stage to arrange a time to meet with the teaching staff.  They can be contacted at elc.stanthonys@cg.catholic.edu.au

As mentioned in the Preschool News, we are holding online Parent/Teacher meetings in weeks 8 & 9.  The meetings will be held via Microsoft Teams and you will be able to book through the 'School interviews' website.  The booking system is almost ready to go and soon you will receive an email with all the links and details you need to book in a suitable time.  Please note that the time slots will begin next Monday 21st March.  You will be able to book one 10 minute time slot and the teachers will need to ensure they maintain these times.  Please contact your child's teachers ASAP if you feel you will need more time than this.  

St Anthony's Primary School & ELC offers a hassle-free school payments system called Qkr!  Please let us know if you have difficulties downloading setting up and/or using this app and we will be happy to help.  

Click on your child's classroom picture below to see their class newsletter.

A friendly reminder to please sign your child in and out each time you drop them off or pick them up.  If you have any issues using the kiosk to do this, please let a staff member know and we can assist you. 

Please also ensure that you; and anyone dropping off/picking up your child; is using their OWN mobile number and pin to use the kiosk system on our iPads.  It is important we have accurate details on file for your child.  

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact Emma in the front office or see the staff at the time. 

Thank you!

Happy Birthday to Elliot & Rafay.  We hope you had a wonderful day! 

ELC LUNCH ORDERS

Did you know you can order from the School Canteen for your ELC children?  

We have a MINI MENU you need to order from which includes wonderful options suitable to your 3-5 year olds.  the full canteen menu is not an option as it is important that our students are eating a healthy and balanced lunch while at Preschool and enjoying ‘sometimes’ foods when they are at home. 

To order please download and use the Qkr! app.  Once installed, find and click on St Anthony's Parish Primary School and create a profile for your child.  

Happy Ordering and thank you in advance for support.