T2 W7 Newsletter 2022

From The Principal

ST MARY OF THE CROSS MACKILLOP  

Dear all,

By now we have had a few weeks of Olympic drama and we have seen varying responses to success and misfortune.  We know both happen in our lives and we are all on learning curves in relation to both.  Recently we celebrated the Feast day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop and certainly this woman can be a model to us regarding success and failure.  One of the things I love best about this saint is the way she related to her family.  It was dysfunctional yet she lived, loved and flourished within that family.  She knew love from both her parents but she also knew the pain and confusion of parents who separated. She loved her father dearly and recognised the good he had given her even though, in his impracticality, he failed to provide for the family and she, at the age of 14, had to go to work to support them.  She learnt early to be realistic and loving – she had a hard head and a soft heart.

If we look at situations too narrowly – “I must win the gold medal to be a success”, “my family should always get along,” we will be overwhelmed by failure. We need to widen our understanding so that we can learn from all that happens.  An Olympian learns so much from his or her training.  We learn how to truly love in the midst of family tensions.  Indeed, we learn how to be a success as a person by how we handle failure. 

Loving Jesus, your life here on earth looked like a failure – tortured to death, deserted by friends and followers - but God made it the way of salvation.  Inspire our hearts when we feel overwhelmed by our weakness and failure and let us trust that you will work all for good.  We ask this in your name, confident that you will hear us.

Sr Kym Harris osb

Principal's Messages

WEBINAR: E-CIGARETTES & YOUNG PEOPLE: WHERE TO FROM HERE? | E-cigarettes have become one of the most hotly debated topics in recent years, and use among young people is rising rapidly.

Take advantage of a free, online webinar on Wednesday 1st June at 12.30pm AEST. Presented by Dr Emily Stockings from the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, the webinar will:

• Give an overview of e-cigarette trends in Australia
• Summarise potentially effective interventions for schools
• Give an update on upcoming trials and resources
• Provide some brief tips for engaging in conversations about vaping with young people.

This webinar is for school staff, parents and health professionals who are seeking information on electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and vaping. There will also be time for a Q&A at the end of the webinar where you can ask any questions you may have on this topic.

https://uni-sydney.zoom.us/.../WN_571ftzcHRiOt2e4bd7pNsA

COVID-19

VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE  |  St Anne’s Catholic Primary School wishes to advise you that, during the past week, we have been notified of positive cases of COVID-19 in our school community. 

St Anne’s regularly consults with the Catholic Education Office and relevant authorities, and continues to follow the advice of Queensland Health regarding cleaning requirements.

As COVID-19 remains active in our community we ask you to continue to monitor your child’s/children’s health and if they develop any flu-like symptoms:

• Keep your child/children at home

• Seek a PCR or Rapid Antigen test where it is recommended and notify the school of positive results. Please be aware, a negative COVID test does not change the requirement to be symptom free to attend school.
• Follow the advice of Queensland Health

As we continue to navigate the pandemic, please remind your child/ren to: 

• maintain good hand hygiene at all times
• cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of their elbow and dispose of tissues in the bin immediately.
• practice social distancing from others where possible
• wear masks when required

Please also inform us if any of our students contract COVID-19 as a result of being first placed in isolation.

We will continue to work closely with health authorities to keep our school community informed of any developments and advice. Thank you once again for your ongoing support.

School Photos Monday 13th June

Wonder Recycling Rewards For Schools

Student Protection News

Across The Curriculum

It started with a seed,
and that seed was me.
And, over time, laughter filled my garden . . .

On Wednesday the 25^th of May, over 2 million participants from all over the world engaged in National Simultaneous Storytime 2022! This is special day where students and teachers all read the same book, fostering a sense of community and excitement around reading. It is the perfect way to encourage students to become more engaged in books and learning!

At St Anne’s, many students across the school read, Family Tree by Josh Pyke.

Family Tree is a beautifully illustrated book about the celebration of family life and, over time, how families grow and make connections with each other, their environment, and the wider community. Students enjoyed listening to the tree’s story, spotting Australian animals in the illustrations, and discussing their favourite part of the story.

I wonder what next year’s National Simultaneous Storytime book will be.

The Good News

HOMILY by  Fr Richard Leonard

The feast of the Ascension is the day, each year, where we remember and we celebrate that, just as Jesus was welcomed to God's right hand, so, too, shall we be welcomed to the right hand of Jesus. This is his promise, this is our faith and this is the hope we are called to proclaim to the world. And let's be clear about the invitation.

There is nothing we have ever done, are doing, or will do, that will get our name removed from the invitation list to the feast of Christ's kingdom. The challenge is accepting that we have a standing invitation and living lives worthy of the love that places our name on the list. The feast of the Ascension announces that Jesus will faithfully accompany us no matter how far we lose our way and that by our fidelity to Christ we accept or reject the standing offer.

And because the Ascension is an Easter feast it develops even further that there is nowhere, bar evil, where God does not dwell. Because of the Resurrection and Ascension we can find God everywhere we want to: in our homes, our work, our suffering, our old age, our emotional, sexual or financial turmoil – and even in our death.

Even though the writers of the New Testament are not too clear on the details of how the Ascension happened, what we initially see in this wonderful feast is not what we get. Thanks be to God, it's so much more.

© Richard Leonard SJ

Richard Leonard SJ is the Director of the Australian Catholic Office for Film and Broadcasting, is a member of the Australian Catholic Media Council and a film critic for all the major Australian Catholic newspapers. He completed a PhD in cinema studies at the University of Melbourne. He lectures in cinema and theology at the Jesuit College of Spirituality and has been a visiting lecturer in Australian cinema at the University of Melbourne, a visiting scholar within the School of Theatre, Film and Television at UCLA and is visiting professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Catholic University, has lectured widely and is the author of numerous books.

Bishop Michael celebrated his eighth anniversary since he was Ordained as Bishop of Rockhampton. We thank Bishop Michael for his care and leadership of our Diocese and wish him continued blessings in his ministry as shepherd to the people of the Diocese of Rockhampton.

Preparation for the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist in St Michael's Parish will be commencing shortly. Please note - this is for our current group of candidates who made their Sacrament of Reconciliation in late 2021. 

Enrolment Mass for Confirmation – Sunday 12^th June – St Michael’s

Workshop One – Sunday 19^th June – 10am (St Anne’s Catholic Primary School Library)

Workshop Two – Sunday 26^th June – 10am (St Anne’s Catholic Primary School Library)

Enrolment Mass for Eucharist – Sunday 10^th July – St Michael’s

Workshops One and Two – Sunday 24^th July (St Anne’s Catholic Primary School Library)

Sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist – Sunday 7^th August – St Michael’s

Please contact Mr Presley if you have any questions.

Finance News

Term 2 School Fees are now over due. If you have not paid in full, and do not already have a payment plan in place, please contact our Finance Officer, Sandra Adams as soon as possible to discuss options. 

Sports News

YOU for 2032

Queensland Representative School Sport wish to advise you about the Queensland Academy of Sport’s state-wide talent identification opportunity that could potentially see students on a pathway to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brisbane.

This program is called Youfor2032 and is designed to unearth the next generation of elite Queensland athletes who have the potential to win on the world stage, including the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

There are up to 15 Olympic and 8 Paralympic sports looking to match their best coaches with Queensland’s best talent. It doesn’t matter if students have experience in any of these sports. Athletic ability coupled with a great attitude and supportive parents or guardians are the key ingredients needed to excel in this program.

Those successful in being selected for Youfor2032 will receive expert training, coaching and development support, from State and National Sporting Organisations as well as the QAS.

This could be the first step in an incredible journey for our students.

Visit the program website for more information:

Home - You for 2032 (initiatives.qld.gov.au)

Tuckshop Volunteers

The St Anne's Tuckshop is closed until a new convenor is appointed. 

P&F News

Uniform Shop Opening Times For  Term Two

Week 1 - Thursday 21/4/22 2:15-3pm (closed Friday)
Week 2 - Closed 
Week 3 - 6/05/22 Friday Normal opening hours 8:15-9am
Week 4 - Closed
Week 5 - Friday 20/05/22 8:15am-9am
Week 6 - Friday 27/05/22 8:15am-9am
Week 7 - Closed
Week 8 - Friday 11/06/22 8:15am-9am
Week 9 - Friday 18/06/22 8:15am-9am
Week 10 - Closed 

St Michael's Parish News

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  | Ben G, Patrick Z, Chad K, Bryce G, Louie K, Payton H, Summer W, Charlotte D, Monica Z, Sophia C, Mackintyre W, Taysha M, Axl B, Marcus S, Harry vB, Ayla G, Archie K, Tahlia H, Cielo M, Lilliana G, Sienna W, Ella F, Zoe J, Mackenzie S, Dylan G, Riley G, Khai T, Noah G 

General Information

Harlequin School Bags

Community News