Newsletter Term 1 Week 1 (2.2.24)
Message from the Principal
Dear Parents
Happy New Year! Welcome to the 2024 school year! A very warm welcome to the many new families who have joined our school community this year. I hope everyone had a refreshing break during the holidays and enjoyed the family time.
There is one thing about school life – it is never boring as there is always something happening. It has been delightful chatting with students about their holidays and seeing them so happy to be back at school getting to know their new teachers and catching up with friends and meeting new ones. The classrooms have been particularly calm and settled.
Today students from Year 3 – Year 6 have their swimming carnival at the Kingscliff pool. Some students will be selected to represent the school at the upcoming zone carnival which will be held on Monday 19th February. Everyone is encouraged to have a go in the various events. An ideal day for the pool!
On Monday and Tuesday we will conduct the annual maths assessments. These are done individually with one of the teachers. We have arranged various activities for students on these days and they will go as a class group to each activity when not required to be doing their maths assessment. As there are some outdoor activities planned, students may wear sports uniforms on both days.
On Wednesday we will welcome the Kindergarten cohort for their first full day of Big School. It will be an exciting day for them. The COLA will be set up with activities, photo booth and tea and coffee. Parents are welcome to join their children in this space until it is time to say goodbye.
Year 6 students have a special day next Thursday at the Kingscliff Bowls Club. This day is dedicated to helping them understand their role as school leaders. Their teachers and Mrs Ballantine (AP Mission) will lead them through reflection, workshops and discussion groups on this day. Class teachers will provide parents with relevant information. Some students may then choose to apply for a specific leadership role after this day
It is great to see that most students are wearing the uniform correctly. Please ensure that your child has the correct shoes. Coloured hair is NOT appropriate for primary school children. Girls are not to wear nail-polish or make-up. Longer hair is to be tied back neatly. Building pride in our school is important to us, so wearing the correct uniform is part of this.
The safety and wellbeing of our students is paramount to us. Please DO NOT use the church carpark for drop-offs and pick-ups. There is also to be NO riding of bikes through the Parish carpark. Students must dismount and walk their bikes to the bike rack. It is quite dangerous especially of an afternoon with buses coming and going on Pearl Street. Feel free to park on the netball court and walk in to collect your children. We do not allow them to walk down to the netball court on their own. Pick-up in the afternoons can mean queueing for a while. If your child needs assistance with seatbelts we ask you to delay pick-up until about 3.05pm so that we can assist without holding up the traffic! If grandparents are picking- up please help them understand our expectations around this. It is about keeping your children safe.
This year we welcome a new teacher, Ms Angie Burnheim, who is with Year 5. We also welcome Ms Kristy McKinnon who is with Year 1 whilst Mr Rochester is on leave until later in the term. Kristy worked in Kindergarten last year so is well-known to students. Mrs Shannon Lennon is with Kindergarten for the first half of the term while Mr Ambrose is on parental leave after the birth of Baby Luke two weeks ago. Congratulations to the Ambrose family!
The first Parent Forum meeting for this year will be on Tuesday 13th February at 5.00pm in the staff room. All parents are invited to come along and help determine some priorities for parents for the school year in how to support the school. Meetings are kept to 1 hour. We are always keen to have some parents to act as “Class Parents” for their child’s grade and assist in liaising with all the parents in the grade. Please let your child’s teachers know if you would like to take on this role. It is good to have two or three parents in each grade.
As Easter is early this year, Ash Wednesday which begins the Lenten season which leads to Easter, occurs on 14th February. Years 1 – 6 will attend Mass this day and everyone can receive the ashes on their foreheads. Kindergarten will have a separate liturgy. On Thursday 22nd February it will be the opening Mass for the new school year when leaders will receive their badges. Parents are always welcome to attend any school Mass.
There will be an opportunity to meet with your child’s teachers this term. If however you are ever concerned about your child’s progress or well-being, you are encouraged to make an appointment to meet with their teacher/teachers and discuss things. If you are experiencing hardship in any way then please come and talk with me about how we may be able to help. Sometimes just sharing a problem can help.
Please ensure that you are connected to Compass for all communications at a whole school level and to Seesaw for class communications so that you do not miss any important information.
We are off to a great start already and I look forward to re-connecting with all our families as we partner together in your children’s education.
Make a habit of two things – to help, or at least, to do no harm. (Hippocrates)
May God bless all our families,
Lynne
Important Dates & School Information
Term 1 2024
Wednesday, 7th February - First Day of School for Kindergarten
Thursday, 8th February - Year 6 Leadership Retreat
Sunday, 11th February - Parish School Mass: Teacher Commissioning
Wednesday, 14th February - Ash Mass - Years 1 – 6 will attend Mass this day
Friday, 16th February - Year 6 Leadership Speeches
Monday, 19th February - Zone Swimming Carnival
Thursday, 22nd February - Leadership Whole School Mass - 9 am
Friday, 23rd February - AFL Trials Grafton
Child Protection Policy can be found on our School Website under Information/School Policies: St Anthony's Primary School Website or in the following link: https://www.kngplism.catholic.edu.au/policies
Something to think and pray about
Transforming Failure
Mistakes are to be learned from and grown out of. They are opportunities for us to sheepishly, maybe, and humbly, definitively, turn back to God in search of the forgiveness or strength that will inevitably await us and help us to move on along a better path. One of the best lines in the New Testament dealing with failure comes in the story of the Prodigal Son, or the Forgiving Father as it is increasingly known. When the wayward son, who has really messed up, comes back to his father seeking forgiveness for his mistakes we read the following about the father’s reaction to the son: “He fell on his neck and kissed him.”
How wonderful to have a God who falls on our neck and kisses us when we mess up and ask for his forgiveness! And what better way to be his presence in the world than to do the same for others in our lives?
Excerpted from Deeper into The Mess: Praying Through Tough Times by Brendan McManus SJ and Jim Deeds (p.25)
We Remember At This Time…
As we start a new year, we will undoubtedly be all too conscious of the great upheaval, turbulence, violence and suffering that is being experienced by so many in our world. As we remember all those afflicted by war and conflict, climate change and poverty, we also turn our attention to those nearest and dearest to us who may be suffering from illness, bereavement or personal difficulties of any kind. We bring these people to mind, which may include ourselves, and ask the Lord for His healing touch of love, tenderness and compassion to comfort and restore us and those we pray for. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen.
Uniform requirements
School Uniform: Sport uniforms are to be worn every Tuesday. Children will also be required to wear their sports uniform on an additional day and this will be advised by their teacher.
Hair: Hair is to be kept neat and tidy. No attention-seeking hairstyles or coloured hair are allowed. Longer hair is to be tied back. Hair accessories are to be minimal and in keeping with the school colours.
Earrings: A single pair of earrings only, pierced through the lower lobe of both ears. Studs or simple sleepers are the only permitted styles.
Jewellery: Wearing of jewellery should be kept to a minimum for OH&S, as well as security. The following only is acceptable: Watch, chain with crucifix or religious medal.
School Shoes: Black shoes (not suede, canvas) with the formal uniform. Predominately white joggers with sports uniform. The Athlete’s Foot Tweed City will donate back to St Anthony’s Primary School $5 per pair of shoes sold to any person from the St Anthony’s Primary School Community. Their store is located at Tweed City, South Tweed Heads.
Parent Information
Absences:
To lodge an absentee parent’s must either
- Use the COMPASS app
- Ring or email the school
This is a legal requirement.
If a parent forgets to notify the school and the child is recorded as being absent the school administration staff will send out an automated SMS message to the parent/guardian informing them that the student is absent and request an explanation. You may respond via SMS, email or call the school office. This is then recorded on the electronic roll.
If an explanation is not forthcoming an unexplained absence will be recorded. Throughout each term, parents are sent home a note outlining all unexplained absences, again requesting an explanation.
Mobile Phones/Smart Watches: If students bring a mobile phone/smart watch to school, they must hand it in to the office for the day. When the end of day bell rings they are able to collect the phone to take home.
Canteen: Monday, Wednesday & Friday
Canteen ordering is done using the Flexischools app. Our canteen menu is located on our website or the Flexischools app. Please download Flexischools app and click register.
The canteen relies on volunteers to operate. If you can help please leave your details at the office.
Canteen Helpers need
We need helpers in the Canteen -
Friday is a very busy day if any one can help in the Canteen please call the office or let Bec in the Canteen know
Thank you
Child Safeguarding Commitment
St Anthony’s Guitar Tutor
Hello, St Anthony’s school community my name is Errol McDonald, and I am replacing Mark tutoring guitar, bass & ukelele. I have lived in the area most of my life having attended St Anthony’s & Mt St Patrick’s College and have been teaching guitar at St Joseph’s College for over 10 years. I am a qualified (BMus.) and experienced music teacher (GDipEd.) and am happy to teach beginners and advanced students both performance & music theory which includes reading music notation. I have guided many students through the HSC as well as grading through AMEB. Feel free to contact on 0403 140 481 me if you have any questions & I look forward to teaching St Anthony students in 2024.
Parish Information and News
Parish Priest: Fr Paul McDonald
Finance Manager: Paul Crouch
Parish Secretary: Marty Darragh
Pastoral Assistant: Catherine Holliday
Phone: 0266741368
Email: parkings@bigpond.com
Website: http://stanthonysparishkingslciff.org
WEEKEND MASS TIMES
VIGIL: KINGSCLIFF 6:00pm
SUNDAY:POTTSVILLE 7:30am
KINGSCLIFF 9:00am
WEEKDAY MASS TIMES
TUESDAY: POTTSVILLE 9:15am
WEDNESDAY: KINGSCLIFF 8:00am
THURSDAY: KINGSCLIFF 9:00am
FRIDAY: KINGSCLIFF 8:00am
RECONCILIATION TIMES
SATURDAY: KINGSCLIFF 5:00-5:30pm
SUNDAY: POTTSVILLE 7:00—7:25am
Current Office Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 9am-3pm
PARISH NEWSLETTER LINK: http://stanthonysparishkingscliff.org/news-events/
St Anthony's Parish - Care Group
Many parents may have noticed from the Parish Bulletin, that the Parish has a Care Group which, among other things seeks to provide meals to any parishoners in need.
This could include times of family sickness, new mums struggling to provide for the family in the early days of returning home, and many other circumstances of genuine need.
Please be aware that the Care Group is very willing to help out if any families find themselves in need of this service.
Contact: Parish Office: 0266 741 284 or Maree Moore 0439 174 116
