T1 W5 Newsletter 2024

From The Principal

Dear parents, carers and students,

As we navigate the exciting journey of educating your children, it's crucial to acknowledge the shared foundation upon which our success flourishes: our core values.  At St Anne’s Catholic Primary School, we stand firmly by the values of compassion, respect, responsibility, and kindness. These values guide our every interaction, both within the classroom and beyond, and it's only with your collaboration that their impact truly shines.

Compassion fuels our commitment to understanding and supporting each student's unique needs and experiences.  From celebrating individual strengths to offering a listening ear during challenging times, we create a space where empathy thrives.  Your role in fostering this value at home is invaluable; whether it's teaching your children to consider others' perspectives or encouraging acts of service, you lay the groundwork for a more compassionate world.

Respect forms the bedrock of our learning environment and allows diverse voices to be heard, fosters collaborative learning, and ensures everyone feels safe and valued.  We actively model respectful behaviour and hold students accountable for upholding it.  At home, you can reinforce this value by setting clear expectations, teaching your children respectful communication skills, and celebrating inclusivity.  As well, it is important to keep reminding your children to show respect to those in charge.

Responsibility empowers our students to take ownership of their learning and actions. Whether it's completing assignments, managing time effectively, or contributing to the classroom community, we nurture accountability and self-reliance.  You can partner with us by encouraging children to set goals, follow through on commitments, and learn from mistakes and definitely not laughing when others make mistakes.

Kindness serves as the golden thread weaving through our values. It cultivates a positive learning environment where students feel supported and empowered to spread generosity and understanding.  We emphasise positive interactions, celebrate acts of kindness, and provide opportunities to help others.  Your guidance at home is crucial.  By promoting acts of kindness towards siblings, classmates, and even strangers, you instill a lifelong commitment to a better world; who doesn’t want this?

By upholding these shared values at home and at school, we create a powerful synergy that benefits every student. They feel encouraged, empowered, and equipped to learn, grow, and contribute positively to their communities.

Open Communication:  Remember, communication is key.  Talk daily to your children about our values, share your expectations, and discuss any challenges they may face. We are always open to collaborating and providing guidance.

Partnership:  Together, we can create an environment where students not only excel academically but also develop into responsible, compassionate, and kind individuals. We believe that by living these values together, we can make a real difference in the world.

Thank you for your continued partnership in this essential journey.

Principal's Messages

COVID Requirements

Student Protection News

Our Student Protection Contacts for 2024 are:

Across The Curriculum

NAPLAN - Years 3 & 5

National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy Information for parents and carers

•    All students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 in Australia undertake NAPLAN tests in March each year.
•     NAPLAN tests students’ skills in reading, writing and maths.
•     The test questions are presented in Standard Australian English dialect.
•     Students read some of the questions and listen to others with headphones.
•     The tests will get easier or harder, depending on how students are going in the test.
•     Students complete four different tests. The names of the four tests are:

Students in Year 3 will complete the Writing test using pencil and paper. Year 3 students will answer the other test questions on the computer. Students in Years 5 will answer all their test questions on computers. Teachers will be providing sample questions to help students get ready for NAPLAN tests.

Schools will receive their students’ results. The school will then give parents/carers a report showing their own child’s results. A NAPLAN individual student report will be provided by your child’s school later in the year. If you do not receive a report, you should contact your child’s school. Parents/carers can talk to the teacher about these results.

NAPLAN provides a 'picture' of how students are going all over Australia. 

The Good News

From the Assistant Principal: Religious Education

Ms Georgia Moloney

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Day

Last Tuesday, a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Day breakfast was held at St Anne’s. Many staff helped by bringing in pancakes and by serving the pancakes in the morning. The students enjoyed their pancakes either plain or with jam or honey. It was a successful morning raising over $140 to donate to Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion.

Some special thanks to Mrs Gill, Mrs Buglass, Mrs Keir, Mrs Dunn and Mrs Gibson for providing pancakes and to Miss Rice, Mr Ballinger-Oches, Mrs Cox and Mrs Campbell that were setting up and serving pancakes.

Project Compassion

This year, Project Compassion brings you the stories of three resilient women from three different corners of the world. They are facing vastly different challenges, but are all united by one dream: to create a better tomorrow for all future generations. ​

Meet Ronita from the Philippines. Ronita lives with her husband and two children in a barangay (local district) in Quezon City, which is situated in Metro Manila in the Philippines. She went back to school to finish her education so that she could earn income to support her children.

Meet Leaia from Samoa. Not having access to a reliable source of clean water was very difficult for Leaia and her family. But, with the support of Caritas Australia, a water tank was installed at their home, improving their health and living conditions.

Meet Memory from Malawi. Memory, the eldest daughter from a rural Malawian family, trained to become a carpenter and is now a trailblazer for future generations of women in her village.  

Throughout Project Compassion, you will get to know the stories of Ronita, Leaia and Memory. Journey with them as they forge a path to a brighter future for all generations. 

Watch a short film: Introduction to Project Compassion (Primary school version) or Introduction to Project Compassion (General)

Please donate to Project Compassion.

You can donate through Project Compassion donation boxes found in classrooms

Photo: Richard Wainwright/Caritas Australia

Sports News

Netball

This is the last week Ms Moloney is taking nominations for students interested in playing Netball in 2024 at Sarina & District Netball Association in a St Anne's Catholic Primary School team.

The Year 4-6 team is coming together nicely with a few spaces left. The Prep- 3 team is still in need of players to ensure we have enough for a team. It is a great opportunity for your child to try netball and be in a team with school peers.

Both girls and boys in all grades are invited to play. Games will be played on Thursday afternoon at either 3.45pm or 4.45pm. Training afternoon TBA. Nominations are to be sent to Ms Moloney at georgia_moloney@rok.catholic.edu.au before the 1st of March so teams can be organised. 

Finance News

Concession Card Discounts  |  If you have an existing concession card discount,  please be aware that discounts are not automatically applied to new enrolments.  Discounts are applied to each student upon individual application and there is a form that is required to be completed each time.

If you have an existing concession card registered at St Anne’s and have more than one student, please contact Sandra Adams to confirm that discounts have been applied to each student. 

Term Fees  |  Term 1 fees are due 20/02/24. Please contact Sandra in the office if you foresee any issues with payment.  

Tuckshop

If you order Tuckshop for your child, please remember to still supply friut for fruit break for that day, as well as second lunch if you only order first lunch Tuckshop. 

If you can volunteer to help in the tuckshop from 8:30 -9:30am  please ring Debbie Nielsen on ph. 0417 128 428. 

General Information

Parent Lounge Guide

St Anne's School Bags From Harlequin

Schoolzine App For Reading Newsletters

Community News