T1 W8 Newsletter 2021

From The Principal

Dear Parents, Carers, Staff, Friends and Students,

Quite often throughout the Bible, reference is made to the image of the shepherd, for me this is very comforting.

“The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.” Ps 23

“I am the good shepherd … I know my sheep, they know me.” John 10:14-15

There are certain similarities between the role of shepherd and that of parent and teacher who are entrusted with the care of children.  The demands placed on parents and teachers, because of the nature of the society in which we live make it imperative that we give serious consideration to the responsibilities of our roles.  To tend his flock the shepherd needs to be strong, aware and caring; by his steady presence he gives a certain unity to the flock.

Perhaps this steady presence can be understood as TIME, we all know how much sacrifice is sometimes entailed for this to happen.  To make ourselves available is a sure way that words cannot express.  Our steady presence to children is a sense of great encouragement to them and can do much more than money or material wealth can ever hope to achieve.

In us are the values, attitudes, behaviours and dreams that we hold dear and would wish our children to have.  There is no way children will be part of these, unless we are very present in their lives.  There is no doubt that if we are not dedicated to instilling Christian values into our children, the void will soon be filled by shallow values that are pumped out daily through many videos, television shows or other influences or influencers!

It takes time for a loving relationship to grow and deepen.  It might even be said that the love that develops between parents and children develops and matures to the degree to which they can reach out to each other and discover each other as fellow human beings.  Fellow human beings who have much to share and whose difference in age, talents, interests are much less important than their common humanity.

“Lord God, thank you for allowing me to share in Your creation through my parenthood.  As we continue our Lenten journey, please enlighten me as to how I can share the Christian values of my life with my children and the students at St Anne's.  Amen.”

Principal's Messages

HARMONY WEEK – ‘EVERYONE BELONGS’  |  Harmony Week celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity and is about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values. It is a time to celebrate Australian multiculturalism, and the successful integration of migrants into our community.  Australia is one of the most successful multicultural countries in the world and we should celebrate this and work to maintain it.

Harmony Week is an opportunity to appreciate the multi-cultural nature of our society, from the oldest continuous cultures of our first Australians to the cultures of our newest arrivals from around the world, and to value the diverse contributions of all who call Australia home. Harmony Week includes 21 March, which is the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.  Since 1999, more than 80,000 Harmony Week events have been held in childcare centres, schools, community groups, churches, businesses and federal, state and local government agencies across Australia.

At St Anne’s Catholic Primary School we will be marking Harmony Week.  Students are invited to wear something orange (socks, shoelaces, ribbons) with their school uniform on Friday 19 March. Our school also marks the National Day Against Bullying and Violence on this day, which uses orange as their symbolic colour, too.  Please note this is not a free dress day.  No donation is required for participation.

For more information about Harmony Week go to: https://www.harmony.gov.au/

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES 2021  |  Our school improvement plan is written in response to the school’s self-assessment of the four Dimensions OR Areas of the School Improvement Framework: 

Catholic Identity & Ethos, Effective Teaching & Learning, Pastoral Support & Wellbeing and Leadership Partnerships & Resourcing. 

 As well, a range of school data is utilised to inform this plan.  Below are the established priorities for us this year in these four dimensions/areas.

Enrolments For 2022 Now Being Taken

ENROLMENTS FOR 2022  |  Enrolments for Prep are currently being taken for the 2022 school year.  If you have a child due to commence Prep next year born between 1 July 2016 and 30 June 2017, please complete an online enrolment form available from the school website: https://www.sasrok.catholic.edu.au/

Enrolments for Years 1—6 are also currently being taken for 2022.  Interviews will commence in Term Two. 

For all enrolments we need to sight the original birth certificate or have a certified copy please.

Across The Curriculum

NAPLAN

Just a friendly reminder that our NAPLAN practice test is scheduled for Tuesday 23rd March. If you wish to withdraw your child from the NAPLAN testing period, the withdrawal form needs to be completed and handed back to the office no later than Friday 19th March. These withdrawal forms can be picked up from the front office ladies or I can email one to you if needed.

National Day Against Bullying and Violence, 17th March, 2021

Each year, St Anne's Catholic Primary School proudly support the National Day Against Bullying, as this is a topic we take very seriously at our school. Keep an eye out for our display on the front fence this coming Friday! Each and every student at St Anne's has voiced their thoughts and ideas, and we will proudly share them with you!

An excerpt from https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/:

Bullying should be taken seriously. Children and young people need to know that they are being heard and that their feelings matter, and that their issue will be investigated respectfully. 

Young people often tell their friends or parents first and only go to teachers for help as a last resort.

This can mean that when a student does tell a teacher about bullying it may already be serious and part of a bigger story continuing over some time.

When bullying is reported, all of our school staff follow the school's policy and procedures swiftly and with compassion.

https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/support-and-advice/for-families

Above is a link that will take you to the government Bullying. No Way! support page for families. Parents and other carers have a key role in preventing and responding to bullying.

Learn what bullying is and what it is not. This is the first step in talking about how to prevent or respond to bullying with your child. 'Bullying' is a word that is used for lots of things that are not actually bullying. These other behaviours may be just as serious but may require different responses.

Schools can be much more effective when parents report bullying and support their efforts to deal with it.

If your child reports that bullying is occurring at school, or the bullying involves students from the school outside of school, you should let the school know the situation. Our doors are always open, and all staff take reports very seriously.

The Good News

Fourth Sunday of Lent Year B

Being God’s handiwork means God took great pride and care in creating us.

What are some of your gifts and talents – characteristics that God takes great pride in?

Do you feel awkward when you are asked to list your gifts and talents? Why or why not?

We were created in Christ to do good works.

What are some good works you have already participated in?

What are some needs in your school, in your family, in your neighbourhood, in your country and in your world?

What is one good work you can focus on doing in the near future?

God created a path for us beforehand, so that we might walk on it.

Do you think God created a very specific path for each individual?

Or do you think God created a very general path of goodness so that each individual might find his or her own way to walk? 

God’s love is so great that he sent his Son to save humankind. Jesus came into the world, says John, to save all who believe and to invite them to walk in the light. 

Project Compassion

ARSAD FROM INDONESIA

Arsad, an Indonesian farmer, had no toilet in his home, so he had to walk into the forest to the open defecation area, even at night or in the rain.

Around 17 percent of Indonesia’s rural population practice open defecation , with many unaware that it contributes to spreading diseases.

Arsad’s family was often sick and open defecation caused neighbourhood disputes. With the support of Caritas Australia and its partner, Laz Harfa, he took part in hygiene, sanitation and financial management training. He decided to fund the building of a toilet in his house and facilitated others in his neighbourhood to save up for toilets.

Now, Arsad and his family are healthier and have reduced their medical expenses. Their community no longer practices open defecation and is more harmonious. A community event, called ‘Declaration of Open Defecation-Free’ was even held to acknowledge their achievements.

Improved hygiene practices helped Arsad’s community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Caritas Australia, through Laz Harfa, also shared prevention measures and distributing soap and masks.

Arsad has inspired his neighbourhood to ‘Be More’.

“We help each other, the ‘togetherness’ is growing. Our solidarity had increased,” Arsad says.

St Anne's Virtues

During this term, our students have been educated on our new virtues and how we can continue to make Jesus real at St Anne's. We continue to build our Catholic school community with these virtues guiding us to be more like Jesus in all that we say and do.  

Have a great week!

Blessings,

Stuart.

Stuart Presley

Assistant Principal - Religious Education

stuart_presley@rok.catholic.edu.au 

Student Protection Officers

All students have the right to feel safe all of the time and nothing is ever so awful that they can’t talk about it with someone.  At our school, we are privileged to have many people who support students with personal issues that may relate to family or other areas of life.  Mr Oches, Mrs H, Mrs Presley and Mrs Dee all have special roles as Student Protection Officers, to support and protect children.

Finance News

Term 1 Fees Now Overdue |   School fees for term 1 are now overdue. If you have not paid these in full or have a payment plan in place please contact the Finance Officer, Sandy Vassallo, Monday -Thursday 9:30am - 3:30pm to discuss. 

P&F News

This weeks specials available in the Tuckerbox! 

Specials for Wednesday 17th and Friday 19th March.

(Only available if ordering via Flexischools) 

Steggles' chicken burger with lettuce and mayo served on a Alcorn's bakery bun: $4.00

Cheesy animal pasta: $3.50

Ham and cheese toastie: $4

Homebaking, while stocks last:

Lemon slice and Hedgehog slice

P&F MEETINGS  |  You are all warmly invited to attend these meetings.  By default all parents are automatically members of the P&F Association, and as we value your thoughts we would love you to attend meetings when possible. 

The meeting schedule for 2021 is as follows:

15 March
10 May
7 June
26 July
23 August
18 October
15 November – all commencing at 6.00pm in the library

Agenda items for tonight’s meeting:

Rebadging of P&F - Name Change
School Uniform/Bag Update
Uniform Shop Update
Care packs
Purchase of Resources – letter
Garden Party
Standing Orders
Tuckshop Update
Purchase of Blender for the Tuckshop
Birthday Bucket
Lockable storage for P&F documents
Grants Proposals

From The Counsellor

For over four years I have been the school counsellor at St Anne's. I am so grateful to be a part of this school however it is with a heavy heart that I inform the families of St Anne's that after this term I am going to Mercy College as their new Guidance Counsellor, starting term 2. I will finish the term with St Anne's and continue working with any students currently referred to the counselling program during this time. A new counsellor will be appointed to start next term who I will work closely with initially.  It has been an absolute pleasure working with the staff and families at St Anne's.  St Anne’s will always hold a special place in my heart.

Kind regards,

Dee Trannore

Student Leadership

Leadership is a quality that all students of St Anne's Catholic Primary School are encouraged and supported to develop.  These experiences ensure that students perceive themselves as leaders and have the opportunity and confidence to take on leadership roles and find their voice.

Newsletter Report By Renae   |   In the morning when students pass the greeters and the greeters say good morning or nundudgie, some of the students don’t say good morning or even look at you. For the people who say good morning, thank you for being kind and following the school rules. At play time I like seeing that everyone is playing nicely and helping others when they need help. Thank you to the new Tuckshop co-ordinator and helpers. Everyone was excited to have tuckshop again. Thank you for your time. I hope everyone had a great weekend.

Students Of The Week

Congratulations To Our Students Of The Week  |   Molly M, Charlotte L, Isabelle H, Rylan B, Monica Z, Jayde C, Thomas B, Zane C, Allira H, Hudson V, Savannah B, Lilly Z, Ahlara K, Ayla G, Peyton C, Lilly H, Marli F, Elita M ,Skylynn G, Xanthyia M, Nathan B, Addison W, Memphis-Belle D, Mason C, Wyatt H

Birds Of A Feather

Crossing Supervisor Position

CASUAL POSITION VACANT

A casual position exists for a School Crossing Supervisor at ST Anne’s School.

The School Crossing Supervisor may be required to work five days per week in all weather conditions. The hours of work for School Crossing Supervisors are 1 hour a day and usually comprise of 40 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the afternoon Commencement date to be advised a Pay Rate of $30.34 per hour.

The successful applicants will be dependent on:

• The suitable outcome of a health assessment carried out by a GP of your choice according to the guidelines in the “Notes for Medical Practitioner” on the School Crossing Supervisor Scheme – Health Assessment Form; (this is paid by the Department)
• A Positive  Blue Card Notice (This is also paid by the Department and means you do not need to have a blue card to apply for the position)

If you are interested in the position please collect an application form from the School administration or contact Karen Cantoni (Road Safety officer) on 49 518331.

The School Crossing Supervisors Application is to be returned to School for the school principals' recommendation.

General News

Student Attendance - Week 7

Each parent / carer / guardian of a child who is of compulsory school age has the legal obligation to
ensure their child is enrolled and attends a school. Each parent / carer / guardian of a child enrolled
in a Catholic school or college (hereafter referred to as Catholic school) in the Diocese of
Rockhampton regardless of the child’s year level has the legal obligation to ensure their child attends on every school day for the educational program in which the child is enrolled, unless the parent has a satisfactory reason for the child’s absence. 

(School Attendance and Absenteeism in Catholic Schools and Colleges,  Catholic Education - Diocese of Rockhampton, 2020). 

All absences from school must have a reason and be acknowledged by parents and caregivers.  

Text messages to advise of absences are sent daily to parents from the school.

To advise of your child's absence, please only phone 4994 8285 or use parent lounge.  Emails in the morning rush to teachers can easily be overlooked.

If you have any questions, please contact Mr Oches, Mr Presley or Mrs L Holmes.

Making Jesus Real - Greet Treat Speak

How do you greet others? Do you treat them kindly? Do you speak kind words? 

By following G.T.S, we make Jesus real and build a community of kindness, respect and compassion. 

General Information

New Harlequin School Bags

Tuckshop Volunteer Form

Tuckshop Menu & Donations List

Community News