T3 W3 Newsletter 2021

From The Principal

This week as I was shuffling through my Prayer Box I happened across the following.

“Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind; steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time.  Give me, amid the confusion of the day, the calmness of the everlasting hills.

Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles with the soothing music of singing streams that live in my memory.  Help me to know the magic of restorative sleep.

Teach me the art of taking minute vacations; of slowing down to look at a flower; to chat with a friend; to pat a dog; to read a few lines from the Scriptures.

Remind me each day of the fable of The Hare & The Tortoise so that I may know that the race is not always to the swift – that there is more to life than increasing speed.

Let me look upward into the branches of the towering oak and know that it grew great and strong because it grew slowly and well.

Slow me down Lord, and inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of life’s enduring values that I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny.”

How often do you take time to slow down and smell the flowers around you?  Try to take a minute vacation each day this week and find where your God is talking to you!

Happy Catholic Education Week everyone!

Principal's Messages

THANK YOU  |  I have heard from so many that the Garden Party was a resounding success.  Events such as these just don't happen and easily take the better part of a year to bring to fruition.  Many thanks to all those who built the vision and were part of the organising committee this year - Tania Higgs, Kelly Mifsud, Brooke Buchannan, Nikki McCowan, Sonja Renehan, Renae Benson, Rebecca Bearham, Mel Keating and Fallon Dobie.  Each of these ladies well and truly went out of their way to ensure a very successful night was had by all from beginning to end.  To my personal thanks I also add the thanks of our entire school community.  You created a community event from an idea on paper, sought sponsors, organised incredible prizes, provided entertainment, organised food and refreshments and thought of every minute detail.  You are amazing and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK  |  This week we celebrate Catholic Education Week and it is timely to remember that 2021 is a significant year for Catholic Education in Australia as this year marks 200 years since the first Catholic school was founded in Parramatta, NSW. 

This Wednesday a selection of staff and students only will be attending a special celebration to mark this occasion and CEW; this is due to the continuing impacts of COVID-19.

As well be will be celebrating with Mass at St Michael's on Thursday to which you are all invited.  As always, our feastday coincides with Catholic Education Week and we will make mention of this during our mass.  Our annual picnic on the grounds will be held after Thursday mass.  A coffee van will be here also and will provide you with a free coffee or drink to your liking.  This offer is not extended to students; parents and staff only. All vistors for mass or for the picnic will need to sign in using the St Anne's Sarina QR code. 

Celebrations then continue Friday afternoon with School Spirit Day.  Students will be engaged in a variety of activites which highlight our uniqueness and faith. 

The Academy of Imperfection - Dr Billy Garvey, Paediatrician

Below are some links to a podcast that you might find informative. It was forwarded to us by the Resilience Project team. 

The Academy of Imperfection - Dr Billy Garvey, Paediatrician
Go get your pens and notebooks everyone! In this edition of The Academy of Imperfection, students Hugh, Ryan, Josh sit down with famed paediatrician, Dr Billy Garvey of The Royal Children’s Hospital. Currently, Billy regretfully has a two and a half year waiting list to see him in person, but is keen to reach as many of you as possible NOW. And with all the talk on our podcast about parenting recently, we felt this was a very necessary episode. Billy may not look like one of Australia’s most respected and in-demand paediatricians, as we speak about in the episode, but gee whiz, he sure does talk like it!

• Apple Podcasts - Click Here
• iHeart Radio - Click Here
• Spotify Podcasts - Click here
• Stitcher - Click Here

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.

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.

Student Protection Contacts

The Good News

Sunday's Gospel Reflection - John 6:1-15

Jesus feeds five thousdand 

Living the Gospel – Plenty for all

The feeding of the multitude is a profoundly political statement. Quite simply, there is sufficient food in our world to ensure that no one should ever be hungry. Sadly, the distribution of that food is such that there are some in our world whose bellies are expanding from an excess of food while others’ are distended from the lack of it.

We can easily feed the entire world. It is the responsibility of those of us in the developed world with more than we need to bring about a more equitable distribution with those who don’t even have enough to live.

Different View – A miracle of sharing

Some scripture scholars suggest that the real miracle of the feeding of the multitude was not so much a multiplication of meagre resources by Jesus but rather a personal response by individuals within the crowd.

It is suggested that upon seeing the willingness of Jesus (and the small boy whose food it was) to share the small amount of food available, everyone dug into their pockets and pulled out the small amount of food they also had and shared it with one another. The miracle was a breaking through from selfishness and isolation to a spirit of sharing and community.

Gospel Focus – Messiah

At the time of Jesus there was a heightened expectation that the Messiah – the anointed one of God – would come and once again set the people of Israel free. However, there was great conjecture about what sort of person the Messiah would be. Some thought he would be a warrior king; others a wise priestly leader; others thought a shepherd-king in the image of David.

Confounding all these expectations, Jesus’ model of Messianic leadership was that of the servant leader; a leader who was one with the people, offering hope and meaning in the midst of their everyday suffering and struggling.

All are welcome to our Feast Day Mass this Thursday! There will be a whole school picnic on the school oval after Mass. Parents, grandparents and family members are most welcome to attend. All vistors for mass or for the picnic will need to sign in using the St Anne's Sarina QR code. 

What do we know about St Anne and St Joachim?

July 26th is the feast day of both St. Anne and St. Joachim.

St. Anne – Mother of Mary

The devotion to St. Anne is widespread and dates from at least the sixth century, when a church was dedicated under her invocation at Constantinople. We venerate this Saint chiefly because of her intimate relationship with Christ Incarnate, through her daughter: Mary Immaculate. In the West, her feast was authorized in 1378 and its date fixed in 1584. By her intercession, God has performed countless miracles at the many shrines in which her relics are preserved. The American National Shrine of St. Anne is situated at East Twelfth Street in New York City, where her clients daily may be found praying before her relic there exposed. In Canada, at the well-known shrine of St. Anne de Beaupre, countless ill and crippled persons have been cured of their ailments. In paying devotion to St. Anne we honour Mary, whom she bore.

St. Joachim – Father of Mary

Tradition tells us that St. Joachim was a man of such justice and charity that he divided his income into three parts: the first to be given to the Temple, the second to be used for the relief of the poor, the third for his sustenance. His function as an agent in the preparation of Mary, who was destined to be the living temple of the God-Man, is symbolized by his name, which means “preparation of the Lord.” The honour paid by us to the Saints actually is honor paid to Jesus Christ, the King of Saints, and this especially is true of St. Joachim. His close relationship to our Lord, and to our Lady, assured their deep affection for him. In venerating him, we follow in their footsteps. We should imitate St. Joachim’s example by showing the deepest love and devotion toward Jesus and Mary. We should ask his prayers that greater family loyalty and understanding may characterized all Christians.

Patron Saints for grandparents

We know what an important job grand parenting is, God worked especially hard to find this ideal set for Jesus. Born to the tribe of Judah and the royal house of David, Saints Ann and Joachim were a devout, religious couple. They shared a wealthy, comfortable life in Nazareth with plans to be the world's best parents. Their deep faith and close knit family offered just the perfect environment to raise a child of God. But, years slipped by and no babies arrived.

Petitions, Prayers and Promises followed! Twenty long years!! Finally, an angel appeared with God's special plan. Ann and Joachim had been selected to raise the beautiful baby girl, they called Mary, who was to be the Virgin Mother of the Christ Child. They were overjoyed and with great love and gratitude devoted their lives to the preparation of their little girl for the greatest honor that could ever be.

They fulfilled their promises to God. When Mary was three years old, they made a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem, the day we know as the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They taught and trained their young Mary until she was ready to fulfill her role in the Scriptures. Ann and Joachim are hardly mentioned in Scripture, this private couple, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grandparents of Jesus Christ, simply fulfilled God's Plan to the best of their ability.

How better could they have served Him?

Saints Ann and Joachim are celebrated on JuIy 26 as the Patron Saints of Grandparents, Mothers and Fathers and are often viewed in liturgical art as an elderly couple with a book instructing Mary.

News from St Michael's Parish

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be held next weekend, Sunday 1st August at St Michael's Catholic Church. Our parish holds our sacramental candidates in their prayers as they journey to be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirt. 

Charlotte's Web - Year 4D

Last Wednesday, the 21st of July, Year 4 travelled into the MECC to watch the DBCT Children's Theatre presentation of Charlotte's Web.  The students all worked hard to read this novel in Term 2 so were very familiar with the storyline.  They watched 6 actors portray 20 characters on stage with very minimal props and costumes.  Here is what they said about it:-

Dylan - Charlotte gave her life to save Wilbur's.

Archie V - I liked the character Charlotte best because she portrayed her role well with song and dance and was very important to the plot.

Archie K - It was an excellent performance.

Stevie - They put a lot of effort and energy into the performance to make it great for us.

Georgia - The speed of their costume changes was impressive.

Clare - I like how they changed their voice and behaviour for each role.

Eddie - The actors were very humorous and made us all laugh.

Ahlara - I liked how they remembered all the lines from the novel and they showed that it's a really good book to read.

Lahni - I like their creativity, especially the sheep who was a very grumpy character.  I wish Charlotte didn't die though.

Ayla - They did an amazing job of acting so many roles each.

Makinley - I liked how they included so much humour into their roles.  They portrayed their characters well.

Carter - I liked how 6 people played 20 roles in just one show, at one time.

Noah - My favourite character was Templeton because he was very sneaky and selfish.

Khai - I liked how they used different voices to portray Charlotte's newborn spiders, but, you didn't see the characters. 

Tuckshop Volunteers

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.

Students Of The Week

Congratulations To Our Students Of The Week  |   Amelia P, Jorja G, Hadley W, Amelia H, Lewis J, Jayde C, Benjamin B, Christopher B, Savannah B, Dustan G, Makinley M, Carter R, Ronan M, Ben M, Peyton C, Lilly H, Kiara W, Mia Z, Nataya F, Khloe H, Sammy-Jo W, Shayli W, Kaiden W, Bella G, Rhylee K, Xander B, All NAIDOC Week Mass Attendees

General Information

New Schoolzine App for Reading Newsletters

Schoolzine SZApp  |  As you are aware, at St Anne’s we have implemented a new format for our newsletter this year called Schoolzine. We encourage families to download the free SZApp which will enable you to easily see our newsletter on any device and receive alerts when the latest newsletter is available. The newsletter link will also continue to be emailed out to parents. 

Once thge SZApp is downloaded, please complete your registration, using our school passcode 4818. More instructions on how to install the SZApp are below.

Community News

LOURDES HILL COLLEGE, BRISBANE - REUNION

 All students who attended Lourdes Hill College, Brisbane in:  

1966 – Year 8, 1967 – Year 9, 1968 – Year 10, 1969 – Year 11 and 1970 – Year 12, are invited to attend the Reunion of the 1966-1970 Cohort on Saturday 16 October at Lourdes Hill College.  

For enquiries, please contact:  

Maree Foley (Stanton) maree_foley@hotmail.com ,  events@lhc.qld.edu.au or phone Mary at LHC on 3399 0411.