Newsletter Term 1 Week 2 (9.2.24)

Message from the Principal

Dear Parents

Congratulations to all the Kindergarten students who commenced school on Wednesday. Wow!  So settled and calm and generally all very happy to be here. Such a great way to begin their school education. Let’s hope this continues.

The Primary swimming carnival last Friday was a great day. The spirit of the occasion was fantastic with the houses trying to outdo each other with their war-cries and cheering. Congratulations to everyone for giving their best on the day, and also to all those who have been selected to represent the school at the Zone carnival on Monday 19^th February. Well done to all the age champions and runners-up on the day. We certainly have some great depth in some our age groups. A special mention about our record breakers Amelia Popov (1) and Finn Carroll-Cinque who broke several records on the day. Great work!

Next Wednesday is ASH WEDNESDAY which commences the season of Lent which runs until Easter. We will have Mass at 9.00am and all students will have a cross made on their foreheads in ashes. No meat products will be available at the canteen on this day. We will let you know what is available. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are the two days in the year when meat is not eaten (fish is ok).

Throughout Lent we are encouraged to turn back to God, to pray a little more, to put others ahead of ourselves, to reach out to those in need. Families are asked to consider Project Compassion as a way to assist the less fortunate during Lent. Boxes will be sent home and every class will have a box in their room where students can consider placing some coins. It is a chance for children to give a little of their pocket money for the cause, or perhaps to forego a treat and put the money into the box. This is a way of assisting children to put others first.

The day before lent starts is Shrove Tuesday or “Pancake Tuesday” as we would know it. There will be small pancakes for students available at lunch time on Tuesday for a gold coin donation. All proceeds will go to Project Compassion. This year if you would like to assist us by sending in a batch of pancakes (pikelet size is good) it would be appreciated. We will provide the spreads (Nutella, jam, golden syrup). Some parents suggested this approach last year so we will give it a go. If you are able to provide some pancakes please let the school know on Monday. Thanks in advance with your support. We will have some gluten free and lactose free pancakes available. Please let you child’s teachers know if there are any dietary needs.

Next Friday some of the Year 6 students who wish to be considered for School Captain will present their speeches to the rest of the school. Parents are welcome to be present for this – 8.40am in school COLA.

Yesterday Year 6 students attended a Leadership Day at the Kingscliff Bowls Club. They engaged in reflective activities, discussed qualities of leaders, learned what servant leadership is and considered ways they could be good role models in our school. Fr Paul and I both addressed students and answered many of their thoughtful questions. By all accounts students thoroughly enjoyed the day. Many are now considering applying to take on some specific roles.

Thank you to those parents who show their support by following our rules and expectations. One big one is around pick-up and drop off. PLEASE DO NOT use the church carpark for this. Pick-up was a little slow at times this week but that will improve. If your child needs assistance with seatbelts thank you for delaying pick-up by a few minutes so we can assist with this. We are on duty for pick-up each afternoon until at least 3.15pm.

If your child rides a bike to school, helmets are compulsory. Bikes are not to be ridden in the school grounds. Students must walk their bikes in the school grounds. If a student is under 10 years of age a parent must accompany them.

Bus travellers are expected to obey safety rules as laid down by the bus company. Sitting quietly in seats, not eating, being respectful. Please remind your children of these expectations.

We have another rule at school which is “we do not share food”. This is about keeping children with allergies safe. We also do not give money for the canteen to other students. Please talk to your children about this and ensure they let you know if they are asked for money. Children should not have large mounts of money at school anyway.

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world! (Anne Frank) Let us not wait. Our time starts now.

God bless

Lynne

Important Dates & School Information

Term 1 2024

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

Friday, 1st March - Dio Swimming Carnival

Tuesday 2nd April 2024 - Pupil Free Day/ Staff Professional Learning Day

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

You Are Love Poured Out

Lord, it is good to chat, and I find myself looking forward to meeting you. Let me start by telling you my best thinking about you. I know the beautiful statement of St John, that ‘God is love’ (1 John 3:8; 16). But your love can’t be thought of as static. It is always being poured out, inexhaustibly and richly. You yourself use the term ‘poured out’ at the Last Supper, I notice. Often the Holy Spirit is described as being ‘poured out’ on everyone.

Excerpted from I Am Infinitely Loved: A Month of Meditations by Brian Grogan SJ (P.10)

We Remember At This Time…

Sunday, the 11th of February, is World Day of the Sick 2024. The late Pope John Paul II established this day of remembrance in 1992, very fittingly, on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, Health of the Sick. He had himself been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease a year before, and had great belief in the salvific and redemptive role that suffering can play in our lives – when we offer our suffering in union with Christ’s Passion and Death, and especially for others who are suffering, in some mysterious way, God uses it to bless them. Therefore, let us remember with faith and hope all our loved ones who are sick, and all those who are sick in body, mind or spirit all around the world, and offer our own crosses, whether big or small, in union with Christ Crucified, for their peace, healing and salvation. Amen.

https://sacredspace.com/

Message from Gemma Ballantine - Mission

Shrove (Pancake) Tuesday

The students are very excited about Shrove Tuesday (or Pancake Tuesday), which will be celebrated this Tuesday. This is the final day before Lent- a period of fasting, praying and almsgiving that prepares us for Holy Week and the high season of Easter in the Catholic Church.

Why pancakes? Well, pancakes require butter and sugar, which were historically luxury items that Christians gave up during the forty days of Lent. Cooking pancakes is an easy and delicious way to use up these ingredients.

It would be greatly appreciated if some families can cook a batch of pikelet-sized pancakes and bring them in on Monday so we are all set for Tuesday.

If you are able to assist, could you please let the Office know at your earliest convenience.

Alternatively, donations of  jars of Nutella, jam or syrup for pancake toppings would also be appreciated on Monday.

Students will need to bring a gold coin donation for their pancakes which will go towards our 2024 Project Compassion (Caritas) fundraiser

Many thanks for your support!

Sunday 9am Mass

This Sunday we will have our Staff Commissioning Mass at St Anthony’s Church at 9am. We encourage our families to attend and if you haven’t been to Church  for a while, this Sunday would be a great opportunity to reconnect. We will have morning tea afterwards, which is always a great way to get to know families in the parish. Please bring a plate of food to share if you can. 

All are welcome, all belong.

Ash Wednesday and Lenten Prayer Group

This Wednesday the school will celebrate Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the start of 40 days of Lent. The forty days pays tribute to the 40 days Jesus spent fasting, praying and avoiding temptation in the desert. During Lent Catholics are also called to pray, fast and give. All St Anthony’s staff, families and Stage 3 students are invited to join our Lenten Prayer Group, which will be held every Friday in the School Library from 8:20- 8:40am.

Incitāre
On Tuesday, March 05, ten Year 6 students from St Anthony’s will be attending Incitāre. Incitāre is a one day retreat experience for Year 6 students from the Diocese to celebrate their faith.
 
The activities and experiences will allow attendees to build relationships with other students from throughout their region of the diocese and talk about and share their faith journey. Year 10 CSYMA (Catholic Schools Youth Ministry Association) students will help to lead the day and share their own experiences and insights. The retreat will be offered to the remainder of the Year 6 cohort in the later part of Term One.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Our Parish will commence preparations for the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesday, March 01 at 6pm with a Family Workshop about the origins and significance of this special Sacrament. Families wishing for their child to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation will need to register via the Compass link, which will be sent out next week. Please note that children need to be Baptised Catholic before receiving this Sacrament. For your calendars, Commitment Masses for the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be held over the weekend of the 4th and 5th of March at St Anthony’s, Kingscliff, and St Ambrose, Pottsville. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be on Tuesday, March 28 at St Anthony’s Church.

Gemma Ballantine

Assistant Principal, Mission

Project Compassion 2024

Canteen - No meat sold on Wednesday 14th March

Primary Swimming Carnival

Congratulations to all the age champions from the Primary Swimming Carnivial on Friday

8 Years

Champion: Finley Smith & Lila Flaherty

Runners Up: Sam Jackson & Ida Rudd

9 Years

Champion: Thomas Huett & Amelia Popov

Runners Up: Zachary Jacobs & Zara Reid

10 Years

Champion: Louie Fallon & Jacinta Reynolds

Runners Up: Harry Chapman & Lennox Stonefield

11 Years

Champion: Finn Carroll-Cinque & Claudia Popov

Runners Up: Ted Petherbridge, Madeleine Preston, Layla Edwards & Ava Kotze

12 Years

Champion: Harper Gallagher & Ellie Neaves

Runners Up: Kalani Favaro Andreo, Isla-Mae Killick, Andie Staunton & Isla Barnett

Year 6 Leadership Retreat

Parent Forum -1st Meeting 13th Feb '24

COVID

There are cases of COVID in the school- both students and staff. Please keep your child home if they are sick and showing flu symptons. Please remind your children to wash their hands frequently.

Nutrition & Physical Activity

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

Misc items

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