T1 W2 Newsletter 2025

From The Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we begin a new academic year at St. Anne’s Catholic Primary School, we are filled with anticipation for the opportunities and growth that lie ahead.  Our foundation, as a Catholic school, is built upon faith and a commitment to core values.

We strive to cultivate a community where respect, responsibility, kindness, and compassion are not merely taught, but lived.

• Respect: We value the inherent dignity of each individual within our school community, fostering an inclusive environment where all are valued.
• Responsibility: We encourage students to become active learners and responsible members of society, both within and beyond the classroom.
• Kindness: We believe that kindness is a powerful force for good, and we encourage acts of generosity and empathy among our students and staff.
• Compassion: Guided by our Catholic tradition, we embrace compassion as a cornerstone of our community, recognising and supporting those in need.

These values are integrated into our curriculum, celebrated in our daily interactions, and demonstrated through acts of service.  They are the guiding principles that shape our school culture.

Prayer:

Gracious God, as we commence this new school year, grant us the wisdom and strength to embody respect, responsibility, kindness, and compassion in all that we do.  May our endeavours be marked by both academic achievement and a commitment to making a positive difference in the world.

Amen.

We look forward to a productive and fulfilling year in partnership with you.

Principal's Messages

NEWSLETTER  |  From this term onwards, the school newsletter will be issued fortnightly.

SCHOOL CLOSURES  |  The  cyclone  season  has begun and in the past we have been required to close the school due to a cyclone.  Before a decision is made to close a school, there is consultation with Education Queensland, Catholic Education Office and various emergency organisations.  This is never taken lightly, however the safety of all of our school community is paramount.  If the decision is made to close the school announcements will be made on the radio and if possible, we will SMS parents with the details.  Please ensure the office has a current mobile number so we can contact you. 

This has proven to be a very effective means of communication.

ABSENT FROM SCHOOL  |  If your child is unable to attend school for the day due to an illness or for some other  reason, it is important that you  please use the Orbit App or Parent Lounge to record this absence or contact  the  office  prior  to  the  commencement  of school.

SIGNING OF STUDENTS IN AND OUT  |  When students arrive late at school, any time after 8:35am, they  are  required  to  be  signed in at the office by a parent/guardian.  Please do not just drop your children at the drop off zone.    Similarly, if children are being picked up any time prior to 2:55pm they also need to be signed out by a parent/guardian.  These are Workplace Health and Safety requirements.  Can I please remind you of the importance of establishing routines in classrooms and having children arriving late or leaving early is very disruptive.  We do understand that occasionally students may have appointments to attend but if they can be kept to a minimum it would be appreciated.

SCHOOL HOURS  |  School commences at 8.35am.  All students are expected to arrive prior to this first bell.  Students need to have a regular morning routine with a consistent, punctual attendance time to aid a calm and happy start to the school day.  This also assists effective learning and social skills.  Similarly, school concludes at 2.55pm and students need to have a regular, punctual routine for going home.   Thank you for your support of our student learning!   For legal reasons, we must clearly advise parents, carers and families that St Anne’s grounds are only supervised by staff from 8.20am to 2.55pm.  As well, the bus students will be supervised until their buses depart.  Any student arriving before 8.20am must sit outside the hall and wait in this space.  No balls, running or games of any description are permitted during this time.  At 8.20am students are released to go immediately to their classrooms.  The same legal situation occurs after 2.55pm.  No student or family may use the adventure playgrounds, prep play equipment or undercovered areas before or after school.  Thank you for your cooperation with these important Legal and Safety issues.

COMMUNICATION  |  Effective communication is important for any organisation and is a two-way process.  During the year, there may be times when you need some information clarified.  From time to time your child might come home from school with a concern.  If you have any questions or concerns, please let your child’s teacher know.  Without parental support, the effectiveness of all our procedures would greatly be reduced.  We must all work together to create a school environment that is safe, secure and attractive for the students in our care.  Under no circumstance are parents ever to approach another child to discuss an event.  This can be viewed as intimidation and escalates the situation.

VOLUNTEERS AT STA  |    We love our volunteers and cannot operate without you.  As part of our WHS obligations, each volunteer is required to read a brief Volunteer's Induction at the beginning of each year and to acknowledge that they agree to abide by these procedures.

This was sent home recently via email and to date we have only had 10 parents respond.  If you wish this email to be sent again, please contact the office.

STUDENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS  |  At various times throughout the year our students succeed at many extra-curricular activities, be it in the arts, sport or other groups.  We are more than happy to place this acknowledgement in our newsletter and recognise it at our school assemblies.  Simply email the school with a brief overview of your child’s achievement or inform office staff and we will celebrate it with you and our school community.

USE OF TOILETS AT SCHOOL  |  Just a reminder, parents and younger non-school age siblings are asked to use the disabled toilets either near the hall or the office.  The other toilets are for STUDENT USE only and under student protection laws must not be used by adults at all.  Adults are also never to enter student toilets.

STUDENT PROTECTION CONTACTS  |  The safety and wellbeing of our students is of the highest importance at St Anne’s.  As with all Catholic schools in the diocese of Rockhampton, we have nominated School Student Protection Contacts who are staff members that students can raise concerns of abuse, harm or inappropriate behaviour by others.    At St Anne’s School, our School Student Protection Contacts are:

• John Ballinger-Oches (Mr Oches)
• Shona Gibson (Mrs Gibson)
• Wilma Dixon (Mrs Dixon)

HAIR STYLES  |  Hair accessories at St Anne's must be plain and minimalist and in the school colours.  Large decorative hair pieces are NOT acceptable.  Hair that is long enough to be tied back must be worn in this manner for health and safety reasons.  Haircuts must be neat and tidy in appearance and not falling into eyes or around the face.  Hair must not be dyed or coloured or worn in a style that is deemed to be inappropriate for primary school. The following styles are not considered appropriate for St Anne’s students: tracks, rat tails, mohawks, shorter than 2 gauge.

MEDICAL ACTION PLANS  |  As a part of our new year request for information, we are asking parents and carers to provide the school with any relevant and up-to-date information relating to any medical conditions that your child may suffer from.

It is important that the information given to the school is accurate, is provided on the advice of a GP/doctor/paediatrician (Eg Medical Action Plans) and is up-to-date.  The accuracy of this information helps guide any professional development and risk management strategies for staff.  It also assists the development of medical alert identification posters and school-based action plans.  Such medical conditions could relate to asthma, anaphylaxis, allergies etc. If you have any questions relating to this, please contact the school office.

JUST ONE THING  |  At St Anne’s we ask all families to assist with ‘at least one thing’ throughout the school year to provide opportunities for the students at our school, and to help raise funds for the improvement/maintenance of facilities and resources to benefit our children and the entire school community.

We understand everyone has a busy schedule juggling work and family commitments; however, it would be greatly appreciated if every family would volunteer to assist with at least one event/function/task this year. Further information will be sent out early next week.

INTRODUCING SENIOR REGIONAL INDIGENOUS EDUCAITON LIAISON OFFICER  |  A proud Wakaja woman I have the privilege of supporting students, staff and families of St Anne's every Thursday. 

My role is to provide academic, cultural and pastoral support to our First Nations students and their families.  That support extends to staff and liaising with our community to create opportunities for a shared understanding of First Nations histories and culture.

YEAR TWO  |  As a symbol of the new year and new growth, the combined Year 2 classes have established a garden on their verandah. The collaborative care of this garden throughout the year will represent their shared journey and unity.

Important Dates and Information for 2025

Emergency Plus App

Date Saver - St Anne's Centenary Week 2025

Across The Curriculum

A huge welcome to our new and returning families for 2025! At St Anne's, we hope to share a partnership where children experience a year filled with growth, knowledge and success!

How do we begin the year at St Anne’s?

The first two weeks at St Anne's are dedicated to fostering a strong sense of community and establishing a supportive learning environment. We prioritise building positive relationships between students and teachers, as well as among the students themselves. This foundation is important for creating consistent and predictable routines, which help children feel safe, secure, and ready to learn. By focusing on these essential elements early on, we set the stage for a successful and engaging school year.

At St Anne’s, we begin each day with Welcome Circles, a practice embraced by all year levels. These morning gatherings provide a valuable opportunity for students to connect with their classmates and teachers in a positive and supportive way. Welcome circles foster a sense of belonging and community, setting a positive tone for the day's learning and encouraging open communication. These are part of our consistent routine and set the expectations for the day.

Ask your child to explain the diagram below, you might even like to include WWW - What Went Well into your dinnertime conversations.

MEET THE TEACHER BBQ

Please join us next Tuesday, 11th February at St Anne's from 4:30pm - 5:30pm.

This event offers a wonderful opportunity to connect with your child's classroom teacher, meet fellow families, and gain insights into the term one curriculum.  You will receive an overview of the content that will be covered, providing an understanding of what your child will be learning this term.

Religious Life of the School

From the Assistant Principal: Religious Education

Ms Georgia Moloney

As we begin a new academic year, I would like to extend a heartfelt welcome to all our returning families and a warm greeting to those joining us for the first time. The beginning of the school year is always a time filled with excitement, anticipation, and the promise of new beginnings. It is a joy to see our classrooms and playgrounds come to life with the energy and enthusiasm of our students.

At St. Anne’s, our mission is to follow in the footsteps of Jesus through demonstrating Respect, Responsibility, Kindness and Compassion. Our Catholic values guide us in fostering a community where faith, learning, and love intersect, creating an environment that encourages personal growth, academic excellence, and spiritual development.

Prayer Assemblies

We would like to remind you that we will continue our tradition of Assembly every Friday. On Fridays of even weeks, a class will lead a prayer celebration at the beginning of the Assembly. These gatherings offer a wonderful opportunity for our students to come together in prayer, reflection, and celebration of our shared faith. We invite all parents and members of the wider community to join us for these special moments as we strengthen our school community through prayer and by coming together, for the students.

Please see the roster below with information regarding Prayer Assemblies and Mass for Term 1.

Opening School Year Mass

One of the highlights of our school calendar is the Opening School Year Mass. This year, our Mass will be held on Thursday, the 20th of February, at St. Michael's Church at 9:00am. This beautiful tradition marks the official start of our academic journey and serves as a reminder of God's presence in our lives. We encourage all families to attend this important event as we come together to seek God's blessings for the year ahead.

In closing, I want to express my deepest gratitude to our dedicated staff, supportive parents, and, most importantly, our wonderful students. Your commitment and enthusiasm make our school a special place where faith and learning thrive. May this year be filled with joy, growth, and countless blessings for all.

Finance News

Important Information regarding how School fee payments show on the Parent Orbit App  |  With the introduction of the new Parent Orbit App, parents are now able to easily see where they are up to with their school fee payments. However, an important thing to note is that any payments that have been made in the past 2 weeks may not show in the App, as they need to be processed to your account after the repayment is received and this is done in bulk every week or two. If it is longer than 2 weeks since you have made a payment and it is still not showing on the Orbit App, please contact the Finance Officer, Sandra Adams for it to be looked into. Sorry for any confusion this has caused.  

Sports News

Welcome to an exciting year of sport in 2025! For years 4 - 6 students, there are a number of Mackay District and Capricornia sporting events coming up. If you haven't already, please follow the Mackay District School Sport (MDSS) Facebook page. This page has the most up to date information and any changes . 

The MDSS school sporting calendar is available via facebook, or a condensed Primary version is listed below. These trials often have a short turnaround time, so please check our facebook page, newsletter and the orbit app for information. If your child is interested in trialling for representative sport, please follow the communication and organise their paperwork promptly to ensure they don’t miss out. 

How to nominate for MDSS:

• Parent or student collects a permission booklet from either Kathy or Sandra at the office.
• Complete the permission booklet IN FULL, including all consent and parent/guardian signatures.
• Return to the office to be signed by the school and make payment to the office.
• Student will be advised when their booklet is ready to collect from the office.
• This booklet must be taken to the trial.

Looking forward to a fantastic sporting year!

 Register Interest for St Anne’s Netball Teams – 2025

We are now taking expressions of interest for students who would like to play in the St Anne’s Catholic Primary School Netball Team for the 2025 season.

Students will compete in the Sarina & District Netball Association competition, held on Thursday afternoons from March (date TBA).

Team Age Groups:

🏐 Junior: Prep – Year 3
🏐 Youth: Year 3 – Year 6

Both girls and boys from all grades are welcome to participate.

Game & Training Details:

📅 Training: Mondays, 3:00 – 4:00 pm
📍 Games: Thursdays at 3:45 pm or 4:45 pm (Sarina Netball Courts)

To secure a place, please register your interest early by emailing Ms Moloney at georgia_moloney@rok.catholic.edu.au.

Looking forward to another great year of netball!

Mercy Awards

Congratulations To Our Mercy Award Recipients  |  Indie D, Arlia C, Lainey C, Sage T, Summer P, Gracie H, Phoebe W, Jasper H, Axel C, Xochitl H, Bronson L, Rylan B, Lucas N, Lillie P, Charlotte W

General Information

Parent Orbit App Setup Guide

Community News

The South Mackay Cluster is seeking applications for the role of Cluster Finance Administrator. Primarily the role includes managing the financial reporting and administration for the four Parishes in the Cluster including the entry of financial data into MYOB, preparing Parish accounts for payment and working with the Parish Priest, Finance Councils and the Pastoral Council. Secondly the successful applicant would be required to assist the Cluster Secretary in their duties as required. Book Keeping experience and experience with MYOB are highly desired. The role is a Permanent/Part Time position initially for 15 hours per week. To apply for this role please send a brief letter of application and your resume to cluster@smky.catholics.org.au. If you have any further questions please contact Paul Reaston 0419 739 708.