Principal's Message

We would all be aware of the senseless attack on the Jewish community at Bondi Beach. The festival of Hanukkah is a time of celebration, marking the re-dedication of the Holy Temple, where, in this ‘festival of lights’, our Jewish brothers and sisters offer praise and thanksgiving to God for “delivering the strong into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few ... the wicked into the hands of the righteous.” On this night, darkness made its presence felt on Bondi Beach; however, immediately light shone in terms of the first responders; the heroic actions of the police, ambulance crews and selfless acts of bravery from the public. 

As Christians, as people of hope, as people of the resurrection, we believe that the light of Christ permeates through the very darkest of situations. We pray for the souls of those who have died, for their families, the injured, their friends and loved ones and for the Jewish community. May the scourge of anti-semitism be eradicated once and for all, and that we can live in a community where respect and tolerance dominate; where freedom of religious expression is the norm, and that we can enjoy the freedoms which are unashamedly part of our Australian life.

O God of peace and steadfast mercy,

who calm the storms of human fear and strengthen all who place their trust in you,

look with compassion upon communities wounded by acts of terror.

Grant healing to the injured, comfort to those who mourn,

wisdom to leaders and first responders,

and conversion of hearts for all who choose violence and hatred.

Strengthen us to be instruments of your justice and your peace,

so that, upheld by your grace, we may work for the protection of all people

and the healing of our world.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever. Amen.

As this is the last newsletter for the year I would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone in our school community for their support this year. We have a wonderful community spirit here which is highly evident in your attendance at school events and presence. Thank you to the children. They are the reason we are here. Their enthusiasm for life and learning is a wonderful example to us all. 

To you, our parents, the primary educators of your children, I give thanks for your support and partnership in providing so much for the children. No matter what your contribution over the year, big or small, it is appreciated and has benefitted the children.

I would like to thank the school’s Leadership Team, Mrs Marie Iorfino, Ms Giselle Stinson and Mrs Leanna Langlands for their outstanding leadership, dedication and support of the school community. They have worked tirelessly to support all facets of the school community throughout 2025. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank, on behalf of the students and their parents, the dedicated staff of St Anthony's. We especially thank members of staff for their professionalism, for their outstanding commitment, patience, collaborative spirit and for the love and care that they show to the students each day, encouraging them to strive to achieve their very best. 

I would like to express my gratitude to the members of the Parents and Friends Committee, who generously share not only their time but also their diverse talents. Your tireless commitment has played a crucial role in the success of various events that have brought happiness, laughter, and a strong community spirit to St Anthony's.

A special acknowledgment goes to our outgoing President, Mr Sean Sheridan and his exceptional team for their remarkable leadership and dedication. The enthusiasm you bring to fostering a sense of unity at St Anthony's is truly motivating and we appreciate the positive influence you have had on our school community. 

To all those families leaving St Anthony's may you be safe and know that the community will miss you. We wish these families God’s blessings and continued happiness in their future and we hope they remain connected to our school. We give thanks for our many blessings, the opportunity to work, teach, learn and share our successes with others.

Last Wednesday we celebrated our Year 6 Graduation and Thanksgiving Mass followed by the Awards Ceremony. A special thank you to Father Laurie for celebrating Mass with us. My best wishes to all of you as you move onto high school and continue your journey in faith and learning. We thank the parents of the Year 5 class for contributing  a wonderful morning tea after the Year 6 celebration in the church. 

We farewell: Bianca Benic, Waratah Brady, Freya Buchanan, Lila Buchanan, Elsa Callum, Adele Calvert, Leila Fitzgerald, Alejandro Gamarra Angulo, Almudena Gamarra Angulo, Lilliane Giese, Charlotte Ingram, Morgan King, Isaac Kirkwood, Poppy Munroe, Luke O'Sullivan, Kiana Parsyar, Sienna Phyland, Azura Poynting, Bonnie Rogers, Leo Serrano, James Sikalos, Samuel Thompson, Kai Williams, Penelope Williams and Anna Zeglin

Prayer to Close the Year

 Loving God,

We thank You for the year that has passed for every student we have walked alongside, 

for every moment of grace, and for the privilege of serving in Your mission.

As we prepare for a new year, fill our hearts with renewed purpose, steady hope 

and the joy that comes from knowing we do Your work.

Bless all our staff, those who remain, those who move into new roles 

and those beginning new chapters.

May they continue to shine Your light wherever You lead them.

Guide our ministry of teaching in the year ahead. 

Make us bold in faith, creative in service and gentle in heart.

We entrust all we have done, and all we will do, To You.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Christmas Liturgy 

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Mrs McInness and Miss Jade for putting together such a creative and beautiful Christmas Liturgy on Monday. It was a truly meaningful celebration, showcasing the story of Christmas through narration, songs and dance that highlighted the Birth of Jesus. I also thank all the teachers who supported the preparations and assisted with practices. A special thank you to all the parents and carers who attended. The children were absolutely wonderful and they truly love having their families come along to watch the event.

May Christ’s blessings be with you during this Holy season. Remember, it is not what is under the Christmas tree but who is around it, enjoy this special time with your family. God bless and keep you safe always.

2026 Staffing 

We are delighted to share the joyful news that Ms Siobhan Carey is expecting a baby. As she prepares for this exciting new chapter, we want to express our deepest gratitude for her dedication and invaluable contributions to our Year 1 class and school community. May the road be filled with new adventures, accomplishments and the happiness of family life.

We are also pleased to announce that Ms Stephanie Barkho will be joining us to continue the wonderful work Ms Carey has led. 

SCECS

SCECS will be offering care during the January school holidays. In addition, care will also be available on the first Staff Development Day, Wednesday 28 January 2026. This is a wonderful opportunity to ensure your children are cared for in a safe, supportive and engaging environment. 👉 Bookings are open! 

End of Year Fun Day - Thursday 18 December 

We are delighted to share that on the last day of school tomorrow, we have organised a special ‘Fun Day’ with Ranger Jamie for all students from Kindergarten to Year 6. This action‑packed program, run by the experienced Ranger Jamie team, promises a day filled with fun, laughter and unforgettable memories. Students will enjoy a variety of activities, including: Billy Carts, Water Bucket + Tug, Tower Building, Sponge Splash and PVC Pipe. To add to the celebration, students are asked to wear mufti on the day.

At the conclusion of the school day at 2:45pm, we will hold a guard of honour to farewell our Year 6 students and others leaving St Anthony’s. This will be a special moment to acknowledge their time with us and wish them well for the future.

We look forward to ending the school year on a joyful note and celebrating together as a community.

End of Year Assembly 

Last Thursday, we had the pleasure of enjoying our final assembly of the year, highlighted by a special appearance from Stella the Star, much to the delight of our students. We proudly acknowledged our award recipients for their outstanding achievements: Nano Nagle PBL Award. 

A special thank you to Mrs McInness and Miss Jade for organising three fantastic Christmas-themed dance performances. The children were truly amazing! We were also honoured to have Allegra Spender, Member for Wentworth, joined us to present the Year 4 Emerging Leadership Award. Congratulations to the recipient, Sammy Veltman. 

Let's Go Surfing

The Stage 3 students enjoyed a day at Maroubra Beach today with Let's Go Surfing. 🌊🏄‍♂️

The day was packed with activities that catered to all skill levels, from beginners learning the basics of warm-up, paddling, catching waves and standing.

The students not only enjoyed the thrill of surfing but also learned essential surf and safety rules. They gained valuable knowledge about rips, tides, sandbanks and waves, ensuring they are well-prepared for future surfing adventures.

School Fees

Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) is committed to providing high-quality, affordable Catholic education. We understand the significant investment families make in choosing a Catholic school for their children, and this is always front of mind when we review school fees. 

For 2026, school fees will be inclusive of:

• Tuition fees which support teacher salaries and the delivery of high-quality learning and student programs
• Building Levy which contributes to the ongoing maintenance and enhancement of school facilities across SCS
• School-based charges which help fund programs and initiatives such as music, sport, and wellbeing

The overall increase has been carefully considered to balance the school’s unique needs and costs of education with affordability for families.  The 2026 school fees are now available on our website.

For any questions regarding your family’s fees or payment arrangements, please contact the school office. 

🌟 Enrolments Now Open for Kindergarten 2027! 🌟

We are excited to announce that enrolments for Kindergarten 2027 at St Anthony’s Clovelly are now open.

If you know of families considering enrolment, or if you have a sibling ready to join our school community, we warmly invite you to begin the process by visiting our website.   

To help families experience the spirit of our school, we have also scheduled Open Days in 2026. These will be a wonderful opportunity to meet our staff, see our classrooms in action and learn more about the values and learning environment that make St Anthony’s so special.

Week 8 & 9 Assembly - Congratulations to the award recipients!

Yours in Partnership

Anna Novak

Principal