T2 W8 Newsletter 2025

From The Principal

Report Cards are almost here once again.  This time presents a great opportunity to reflect on how children are progressing and consider ways to help them reach their full potential.  An article I once read titled "Helping Your Child at School" from the book A Parent Survival Kit offers practical and effective tips for supporting your child and making the most of their school experience.

Be Informed: Listen to your child, read notices and, when possible, attend meetings.

Be Positive: A negative attitude will not help your child succeed at school.  Do not talk negatively about school in front of your children.

Be Cooperative: Ask the teacher (not the teacher assistant) how you can assist at school and support your child’s learning.

Be Proactive: Speak up for yourself and your child.  Express your thoughts and feelings clearly, but in a respectful and constructive manner. 

Avoid Gossip: If an issue arises, do not share it with everyone. Discuss it only with trusted individuals who can offer helpful advice.  Share it with your child’s teacher promptly.

Be Friendly: Send letters of thanks and appreciation; teachers and principals benefit from encouragement too.

Children have only one chance to experience childhood and receive an education.  It is our responsibility, as parents and teachers, to ensure they receive the best education possible.  Research shows that a positive partnership between home and school plays a crucial role in helping children achieve their dreams.

I encourage you to talk with your child about their report card when it arrives in the coming weeks. Celebrate their successes and identify areas where they can put in extra effort next term.

While improvement is always possible, it is equally important to recognise and appreciate their achievements and gains.

Principal's Messages

CENTENARY SHIRTS  |  For those who order Centenary shirts they will be allowed to be worn one day a week for this year and next.  We urge families to place their orders promptly to ensure their children receive a shirt. Parents who delay ordering risk their students missing out.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

CENTENARY FACEBOOK PAGE  |  We ask that where parents have Facebook could you please LIKE our page and share it so that it gains exposure?

Hit the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575391117002

OR hit HERE

SCHOOL UNIFORM  |  Parents play a vital role in ensuring that students wear the correct uniform on designated days and at all school events.  Uniforms should be kept in good condition, presenting a neat and tidy appearance.  However, some students' uniforms have become dishevelled and require urgent attention.

At St Anne’s Catholic Primary School, wearing the uniform represents pride, respect, and responsibility, both within the school and personally.

Properly wearing the uniform also reflects our Catholic identity and reinforces our core values of community, non-discrimination, dignity, and excellence among students.

Recently, the School Board has been working on updating the Uniform Policy. Once the final revisions are

completed, it will be sent to all families for their feedback.

TRACK & FIELD THANK YOU  |  A heartfelt thank you to everyone who recently attended and supported our Athletics Carnival. Your encouragement and involvement have been truly appreciated.

A special shoutout to our incredible staff, whose dedication ensured the day ran smoothly.  Many of you stepped into roles beyond your usual expertise with flexibility and enthusiasm; your willingness to embrace new challenges did not go unnoticed.

We are also deeply grateful to the parents who played a vital role in the event’s success.  Your support was instrumental in keeping everything running seamlessly.  Our volunteers are truly invaluable, and we couldn’t do this without you! Ever!

Finally, an enormous thank you to Mrs Gibson, whose tireless commitment and personal sacrifice made this event possible.  Organising something of this scale requires an immense effort beyond the school day, and we wholeheartedly appreciate everything you have done.

Your contributions have made a lasting impact, and we are incredibly grateful to each and every one of you.

SCHOOL SONG  |  Last week, Josh Arnold collaborated with a dedicated group of students to create the lyrics and melody for our new school song.  The tune is so infectious that it has been playing on repeat in many minds!

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to the filming process, allowing us to capture footage in various home locations; special appreciation to Richard & Rebecca Murphy and Nic Gill.  We also extend our gratitude to those who braved two early morning starts to film a breathtaking God-given sunrise.  The shoot at the beach was definitely worth the early rise.

We are especially grateful to our wonderful parents, whose unwavering support made this project possible.  From early morning drop offs to afternoon pick ups, your efforts ensured everything ran smoothly.  Your generosity and dedication do not go unnoticed and we sincerely thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Thank you to staff, your commitment and flexibility ensured students could participate in this once in a lifetime event. 

Special thanks to Mrs Grimmond, whose steadfast coordination ensured key aspects of this process came together seamlessly.  Mrs Grimmond, your commitment and attention to detail played a vital role in bringing this vision to life and we are truly appreciative.

Our FOCUS Group also needs a very special thanks.  They have committed to financially supporting this project which coincides with our Centenary.  The school appreciates your support so very much; thank you.  At our FOCUS Group meeting all in attendance were treated with a sneak preview of our school song.

School Song Sneak Peek

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 13

Next

Prep Enrolments Now Being Taken For 2026

PREP 2026  |  Do you have a Prep student beginning in 2026?

We are now taking enrolments via the online system.  We encourage both existing and new families who have a child starting Prep in 2026 to lodge their enrolment application as soon as possible.  Applications are to be made via our online enrolment application available on our website via this link: https://www.sasrok.catholic.edu.au/   

Please contact the school office for further information or if any assistance is required.

Cane Trains

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AND GOALS FOR 2025

St Anne's Centenary Week 2025

Student Protection News

Across The Curriculum

READER’S CUP

This week, a team from St Anne's will participate in the Reader’s Cup Competition. 

Reader’s Cup is a reading competition for avid readers in Year 6 organised by the Queensland Branch of The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA). A team of five students will compete against other schools in the Mackay region. Students will be given questions to answer about given texts – in a trivia style event. The competition will take place on Thursday the 12th of June.

Good Luck team and we will keep you posted on our Reader’s Cup journey!

REPORT CARDS

At the end of the semester, report cards will be uploaded to the Orbit App/Parent Lounge.

When you receive your child's Semester One report card, we encourage you to take the time to read the teacher's comments together and discuss them. This is a wonderful opportunity to praise your child for their effort and achievements throughout the semester, and to celebrate their successes so far. If you have any questions about the report card, please don't hesitate to contact your child’s classroom teacher.

Please find below an extract from the Catholic Education Diocese of Rockhampton reporting guidelines. 

‘The fundamental purpose of formally reporting to parents and carers on student achievement is to improve student learning. Such improvement is fostered by partnering with parents and carers to provide accurate, timely feedback on student learning progress and holistic development, ensuring shared knowledge and understanding of each child’s learning journey.

Across Catholic Education Diocese of Rockhampton (CEDR), feedback is provided daily to students through teacher comments, peer collaboration and self-evaluation to support learning gain. Learning progress is also identified, celebrated, and communicated to parents and carers throughout the school year in a variety of ways. In addition, formal reports are written each semester to provide a professional, on-balance, evidence-based judgement about student progress and achievement against clearly articulated standards. Reports are based on information that has been gathered across a period of time.’ (Catholic Education - Reporting to parents and carers on student achievement in Prep - Year 6 Guidelines)

Religious Life of the School

From the Assistant Principal: Religious Education

Ms Georgia Moloney

Tell Them From Me Survey

We extend our sincere gratitude to all the families who took the time to complete the Tell Them From Me survey. Your valuable feedback plays a crucial role in shaping the future of our school community.

This survey provides an opportunity for parents, carers, and students to share their experiences, thoughts, and suggestions. The insights gathered help us understand what we’re doing well and where improvements can be made to better support our students’ learning and wellbeing.

Your voices matter, and we deeply appreciate your participation in this important initiative. Stay tuned as we analyse the responses and use them to enhance our school programmes and environment.

Thank you for being an active part of our school’s growth!

PYJAMA DAY!

Get ready to stay cosy while making a difference! On Thursday, 26th June, our school is hosting Pyjama Day – a fun and comfortable way to raise money for Caritas Australia.

Wear your favourite pyjamas to school and join us in supporting this incredible organisation, which helps communities in need across Australia and beyond. By taking part, you’ll be contributing to vital programs that improve lives through education, healthcare, and disaster relief.

A gold coin donation is required for participation, and every contribution will go towards Caritas Australia’s mission to create a fairer, more compassionate world.

A friendly reminder: please ensure your pyjamas are sensible for school. While we’re embracing comfort, school shoes must still be worn. No slippers, please!

Let’s come together in our comfiest attire to celebrate the second last day of term 2 and show the power of kindness. Thank you for your support!

Finance News

School Fees  | Term 2 fees are now overdue. If you do not already have a payment plan in place and have not paid in full please contact our Finance Office, Sandra Adams, to discuss options.  

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 payment 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.  

Library News

Sports News

ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

Thank you to everyone who attended the Athletics Carnival on Friday, May 30th. It's always fantastic to see students actively participating in events.

The final event, High Jump, was completed at school on Monday the 9th of June.

Age champions and the winning house will be announced at this Friday's assembly on the 13th of June.

A huge thank you to every parent who helped out with field events at the carnival! We wouldn't have had such a smooth-running day without your help and support. A very special shout-out goes to January Sarich, Katie Willes, and Jess Hazel for their tireless efforts throughout the entire day at the finishing line and recording tent. We truly value and appreciate all you did!

Congratulations to the students selected to represent St Anne's at the Sarina District Track and Field event on Friday 20 June. Selection was based on students achieving benchmark results in the track and field events. Please find the benchmarks for both Sarina and Mackay districts below.

SWAP IT

SWAP IT  |  Try something new this week for your children.  For more everyday lunchbox ideas, visit: www.swapit.net.au/ideas

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 Week 7 By  Chris |   Firstly I would just like to mention don’t forget to wear your uniform with pride. Sports shirt should be tucked in, correct shoes and socks, and don’t forget your hat when playing outside.

Tomorrow is a very exciting day, it is the Athletics’ Carnival. Dress up in your team colours, Bring a smile, and give it your best shot. It’s not about winning but having a go and enjoying the day. Don’t forget to put the rubbish in the bin. We have been lucky to be able to use the grounds from Sarina Athletics Club. So please keep it clean and tidy so they will let us use it next year. Remember to stay hydrated and drink water. Don’t forget your hat as well. Let’s all make it a carnival to remember.

Newsletter Report Week 8 By  Memphis-Belle  |  I have noticed over the past few weeks most students have been wearing their hat during playtime, this is good to see. 

Thankyou to all who participated in the photo shoot and the singing with Josh Arnold to celebrate St Anne's 100 year anniversary. 

I have noticed the eating area has been left messy. Please make sure you pick up your rubbish when you are done eating. 

Lastly thankyou to all who participated in our sports carnival last Friday. GO COOLOCK!!

Mercy Awards

Congratulations To Our Mercy Award Recipients Week 6  |  Emma N, Jonas H, Ivy L, Year 1 C, Henry C, Ryan K, Rubie G, Jasper H, Aliya R, Ben T, Piper W, Paige G, Lillie P, Ben B. 

Congratulations To Our Mercy Award Recipients Week 7 |  Indie D, Olivia P, Eleanor B, Zoe w, Phoebe W, Jack B, Taytum C, Joseph S, Hunter C, Harper O, Year 3, Amelia P, Nevaeh W, Zane C, Chris B

General Information

Parent Orbit App Setup Guide

Community News

The South Mackay Cluster is recruiting for a new Cluster Secretary. The Secretary plays a crucial role in carrying out the office administration for the South Mackay Cluster. Working closely with the Priests, liturgical teams, and schools, the Secretary is responsible for the preparation of sacraments, including baptisms, weddings, and funerals, and supporting sacramental programs. The role also involves a broad range of administration tasks, including answering the phones, monitoring emails, collecting and distributing mail, and weekly liturgical preparation. This is a full-time position (38 hours per week), remunerated under the Clerks Private Sector Award, based in the Cluster Office (St Mary's Parish Centre).

For a copy of the position description or to apply, please email Human Resources at hr@rok.catholic.net.au.   Applications should include a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role, and a current resume with two professional referees. Applications should be submitted by 10am on Tuesday, 24th June 2025. As we are committed to the safeguarding of children, young people, and adults-at-risk, a national criminal history check is required for this role.