T1 W5 Newsletter 2023

From The Principal

On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Australian Catholics are called to share a common penitential expression by fasting and abstaining (not eating meat).  On all other Fridays any one traditional practice should be chosen.  Following are some examples:

Prayer:    attending Mass, family prayer, a visit to church, reading the bible …

Self Denial:    not eating meat, sweets desserts, giving up outside time to spend more time with the family …

Helping Others:    Special attention to someone who is poor, sick, elderly, lonely, overburdened, Supporting Project Compassion …

The law of abstinence applies to those who are 14 years or over.  The law of fasting applies to those who are between their 18th and 59th birthdays.

Ash Wednesday is the starting point for the season of Lent, we celebrate this tomorrow.  Through our participation in this season, we can grow in our relationship with God and His church and prepare ourselves to celebrate the great feast of Easter.

Lent is a time for repentance, for turning to God once more.  From its earliest days, the Church's practice of repentance has been through prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  As we celebrate this season, we are invited to live out in very practical ways this spirit of repentance.

How are you going to observe the Lenten Season this year?

As a family, you might like to try these suggestions:

• seek additional opportunities to pray as a family
• participate in the Parish Lenten Program and discuss the Sunday Gospel with your family
• pray for the people preparing for reception into the Church at Easter
• write on your calendars, your family resolutions for Lent

eg  We will pray for .....                    

      We will write to .....        

      We will visit .....

• as a family support Project Compassion
• find a purple candle (the colour of the vestments for Lent) and use it at a meal each week during Lent
• plan to attend Reconciliation as family
• be present as a family at the Holy Week ceremonies and help your child to understand them a little more

Just what is it that you are going to do?  If you have some interesting suggestions and would like to share them with others please let me know.

Principal's Messages

TERM ONE THREE WAY INTERVIEWS  |  We will be holding our Term 1 Three Way Interviews which include teacher, parent and child before and after school in weeks 9 and 10.  Please keep an eye on your SMS messages, emails and future newsletters for more information regarding this and the booking process.  Bookings will open early March.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN YOUR CHILD'S READING DEVELOPMENT  |  As educators, we know that reading is a crucial skill that sets the foundation for success in all areas of life.  From an early age, children who are encouraged to read and engage with books are more likely to develop a lifelong love of reading, as well as stronger communication and critical thinking skills.  However, we also know that the role of parents in their child's reading development cannot be overstated. 

Studies have shown that children who have parents who are involved in their reading development tend to have higher reading achievement and greater success in school overall.  This can include simple activities such as reading bedtime stories, asking your child questions about what they are reading, or helping them choose books that interest them.  In addition, parents can also provide a supportive and encouraging environment that fosters a love of reading.  This can be as simple as creating a quiet and comfortable space for reading, providing access to books, and encouraging your child to pursue their own interests and passions through reading. 

At school, our teachers work hard to provide opportunities for students to read and engage with books, but we also understand that the support and encouragement of parents is essential to help students achieve their full potential.  We encourage you to take an active role in your child's reading development by spending time reading with them, talking about books, and helping them find books that interest them.

Thank you for your continued support, and for working with us to help your child reach their full potential.

Congratulations Primrose Sands

We would like to offer our warmest congratulations to a past St Anne's student, Primrose Sands. Primrose finished year 12 last year at St Pat's in Mackay with some amazing results, as detailed in a newsletter at the end of last year.  At this year's opening Mass, Primrose was also awarded the St Patrick's Medal, Bishop Bernard Wallace Award for DUX of the school and the McGarry Bursary. Primrose scored highest in the state for both her English & English Extension ATAR subjects.  Congratulations Primrose.  You certainly have a bright future ahead of you. 

Enrolments For 2024 Now Being Taken

ENROLMENTS FOR 2024  |  Enrolments for Prep are currently being taken for the 2024 school year.  If you have a child due to commence Prep next year born between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2019, please complete an online enrolment form available from the school website: https://www.sasrok.catholic.edu.au/ 

Interviews will commence in Term Two. 

Cancer Fundraiser

Please support Matilda  |  One of our Year 5 students, Matilda, along with her mother, is running 5 kms for Warrior Women fighting breast cancer, in conjunction with the Mater Foundation on International Women's day 2023.

She will be running from Mackay City to Mackay Harbour, dressed in all pink, on Sunday March 12^th. If anyone wants to come cheer her on, she should be passing the blue water Quay in Mackay about 9.30am & a cheer squad would be very much appreciated!! 

If anyone would like to sponsor Matilda, this is the link to Matilda's sponsorship page:

https://fundraiser.mater.org.au/s/61390/85053/e

And this is the parent sponsorship link potential donors can access to verify or donate. 

https://fundraise.mater.org.au/s/60449/85050/e

What a wonderfully generous act Matilda. The St Anne’s community are very proud of you.

Student Protection News

Across The Curriculum

The Good News

From the Assistant Principal: Religious Education

Mrs Erika Milne 

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Breakfast

Thank you to all the Year 5 and 6 families and St. Anne's staff who donated pancakes for our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Breakfast. It was fantastic to see families coming into the school and joining us for breakfast. Thank you all for your donations this morning. We raised an amazing $240.40 to kick off our Lenten fundraising for Project Compassion. 

Pancake Breakfast

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This week, the season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allow Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.

The theme of Project Compassion 2023 is ‘For All Future Generations’ and reminds us that the good we do today extends to impact the lives of generations to come. It invites us to make the world a better place by working together now and finding long-term solutions to global issues.  We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through prayer, fasting and almsgiving in support of Project Compassion. Each classroom will receive a Project Compassion box for their donations or you can donate online via the Caritas Australia website at: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion

Year 6 Leadership Retreat Day

On Thursday the Year 6 students will participate in a servant leadership retreat experience run by Mrs. Milne. 

The aim of this retreat day is to develop teamwork skills and encourage students to identify their individual giftedness, hopes, and potential. Students are guided to ask God for help to use these gifts as best they can so that they can help others as year 6 leaders this year.

Year 6 will take a closer look at our school's virtues of kindness, respect, responsibility, and compassion. Virtues are the means of communicating and connecting with God. When we live a life close to God, following godly ways, our lives become virtuous. When speaking of virtues, we speak of growing in our thoughts and actions that connect us with God and his grace.  We are all born with the virtues within, it is up to us to live and practice these virtues.

The retreat is about letting go of our worries and anxieties and placing ourselves in the trusting space of one another. 

Children's Involvement in the Centennial Celebrations

St. Michael’s Catholic Church is celebrating 100 years on Sunday, 5^th March at 8 am. If your child would like to participate in the singing of the final song at the end of the Mass, please scan the QR below to indicate that your child can make it to the Mass to participate in this very special occasion. We will practice the singing and actions to the song at lunchtime with students that are able to attend. Your child is not required to wear their school uniform. There will be light refreshments at the end of Mass. You are most welcome to join us in the Parish Centre. If you have any questions, please phone the school.

Finance News

Term 1 Fees  |  Payment of School fees for Term one are now overdue. If you have not paid in full, and do not have a payment plan in place, please contact our Finance Officer to discuss. 

Sports News

P&F News

Tuckshop Volunteers

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

Request For Jars And Bottles

Birds Of A Feather

General Information

Schoolzine App For Reading Newsletters

Community News