From the Principal

Dear Families

I am sure like me, your thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Ukraine and the pictures and stories in the media highlight the terrible sadness and despair that these people are experiencing. As the prayer this week says - we ask God to inspire all of us to respect the dignity of all people for the common good.

This week we celebrate Ash Wednesday which is the beginning of Lent. Lent lasts for 40 days as a reminder of the 40 days that Jesus spent in the wilderness before he took up his ministry. 

Pope Francis has given us a message that Lent is a time for renewing Faith, Hope and Love. Our children will be focussing on the Pope’s message by referring to the three pillars of Lent - Fasting, Alms Giving and Prayer. The focus for each of these pillars is;

Prayer - refocusing on our prayer life and adding to it so we can become closer to God.

Alms Giving - the act of giving to the less fortunate as an act of charity to help grow in our relationship with God

Fasting - we give up some luxuries as a way of being in solidarity with the poor. In doing this we honour the sacrifice of Jesus.

Congratulations to our Swimming Squad who all made us very proud by coming second at the Sunbury Primary Schools Swimming Carnival last week. We have several children going to represent St Anne’s at the District level this week. I would like to thank Kelly Skeahan for all her help in supporting and guiding our children at trials and on the day. Thank you to all our children who tried their best and supported one another by cheering each other on. Thanks to our staff who organised the day, scored and supervised our children. Thank you to our families who were able to come along and support the children. Congratulations to the following children;

Chloe B, Piper V, Abbey M, Chelsea H, Sybella J, Leo W, Aiden M, William R, Will G, Luisa D, Lucy M, Evelyn R, Grace C, Hayley M, Fabian N, Eli O, James R, Leo K, Olivia C, Allegra M, Kayla R, Lucy M, Liam W, Henry W, Dylan K, Tynan J and Aiden M.

Congratulations to our School Leaders

St Anne’s values the leadership our Year 6 children can offer our school. We have our school and sports leaders as well as children who lead in other areas of the school. Congratulations to the following children and I look forward to all of them developing the skills to lead in their areas to ensure our school can be the best it can be!

RE Team - the team supports Simon Maltese our RE Leader by assisting with such things as our liturgies - Grace C, Matilda K, K’Ian C, Charlotte G and Jake F

Environmental Team - the team supports Jo Hannan by helping her to ensure we are an environmentally friendly school  - Kayla R, Robert B, Kingston P, Grace W, Allegra M, Vanessa M, Kayla B, Tahlia D and Nigella H

PBL Team - will help the staff to ensure our school values are being lived out by all members of our community - Samantha S, Kisara B, Lachlan E, Thomas U, Finnegan G, Ebony G, Harlee L, Lucas D, Ruby G, Isabel M, Matthew V, Lilli-Mai K, Zoe G, Jude V, Reuel F, Daniel H and Abigail S

Sound and Technology Team - the team supports Bianca Cutajar to set up equipment and ensure all technology is being used correctly - Jesse G, Vincent J, Christian R, Fabian N, Henry W, Adam G, Bradley L, Mia H and Kai C

Year 7 Confirmation

We wish our Year 7 children who are being Confirmed on Friday evening. Unfortunately these children were not able to celebrate this significant sacrament last year due to COVID restrictions. We wish the children all the best and may the Holy Spirit continue to inspire them at all times. 

Our School Library

To ensure our children are developing a love of reading our library is extremely well stocked with fabulous books.  We have books to suit all our children’s interests. Our Library will be open  on a Tuesday at lunchtime as well as after school on Tuesday and Wednesday until 4.00pm. During these times our children can return and borrow new books to take home to read. 

COVID - 19 

Thank you to our parents who are assisting our children to administer their Rapid Antigen Test twice a week. Also, thank you for keeping us updated if your children tests positive or is a close contact.

If a child tests positive we will inform the level, letting you know which class the child is in. We will not be naming any child.  

You should have received your third  packet of RATs on Monday. I will keep you updated once regulations change. 

Positive Behaviour For Learning - PBL

We continue to focus on being respectful. Our focus for the next few weeks is on using respectful language, particularly in the playground. Our children are exposed to so many inappropriate words that have now become part of their everyday language. Unfortunately, these words are not appropriate at St Anne’s. Therefore we ask for your support to encourage our children to use respectful language. 

As Michael Grose explains ‘teaching kids to use appropriate language is trickier now than in the past. For a start, standards have changed where many words, such as the F word, that were deemed inappropriate in the past are often heard on radio and seen in mainstream newspapers. And words that everyone agrees are inappropriate are frequently used in public forums, to the point that the boundaries of appropriateness have become blurred.

Standards may change, but the job of parents hasn’t altered. That is, to teach kids to use language that doesn’t offend others. Whether it’s teasing or swearing - it’s all the same. If it’s offensive, then choose other words, or say nothing at all is the message to get across to our children”.

If we work together then we will have very respectful children at St Anne’s!

God Bless    

Ms Noelene Hussey