Acting Principal's Message

🌼 End of Term 3 Message

It is hard to believe we are already in the final week of Term 3. With the beautiful spring weather we’ve enjoyed recently, there is certainly a sense of renewal and lightness in the air — and I hope it continues throughout the upcoming holiday break.

This term has been filled with rich learning experiences and joyful community moments. Highlights have included Debating, Father’s Day, Grandparents Day, Gala Days - Oztag, Netball, Mini Vinnies Excursion to Mary MacKillop, Feast of the Assumption, Family Mass, Science Week & Preschool Visits, Netball Gala Day, Stage 3 Camp to Canberra, Book Week Parade, R U OK Day, Symphony of Music - Opera House Yrs 3-6, Open Days, Sacrament of Baptism, Little Boomers Basketball, 100 Days of Kindergarten, Mary MacKillop Feast Day Mass, Indigenous Literacy Day, Chess, Mufti Day, Book in the Presentation Morning - Years K-6, First Holy Communion, Daniel 'DEMEL' - Clarinet & Flute Whole School Performance. It has truly been a vibrant and memorable term for our students.

I would like to wish all families a safe, restful, and enjoyable holiday break. I extend my heartfelt thanks to our dedicated Staff for their ongoing commitment to the children of St Anthony’s. I'd like to warmly welcome back Anna Novak, after her time at St Christopher's Holsworthy. I'm sure Anna will return Term 4 with a wealth of experiences, insights, and stories that reflect both resilience and connection. The staff are excited for Anna to share her reflections, lessons learned, and the unique perspectives she gained during her time away.  I look forward to welcoming all students back on Tuesday 13 October as we begin Term 4. 

Loving God, 

As we reach the end of this term, we pause to thank You for the learning, friendships, and moments of joy we have shared. Bless our students as they rest and recharge, bless our families with safety and peace, and bless our staff for their dedication and care. Watch over our community during the holidays and guide us back together with renewed energy and hope for the term ahead.  Amen.

✝️ Remembering Chris Smith

This week, our school community came together to farewell a much‑loved Chris Smith, father of Beatrix and Henry, husband of Simone, whose passing has deeply touched us all.

His funeral was a very sad moment for family, friends, and those who knew him, yet it was also a truly beautiful celebration of his life. Stories of love, kindness, and the impact he had on others were shared with warmth and gratitude, reminding us how one life can leave a lasting imprint on a community.

We continue to hold the Smith family in our thoughts and prayers as they navigate this difficult time. May they find comfort in the support around them and in the memories that were honoured so lovingly at his funeral.

If any student or family needs support, please reach out to the school so we can walk alongside you.

Heavenly Father,  

We entrust to Your loving care the soul of a much‑loved father Chris from our school community who has recently been called home to You. In our sadness, we take comfort in the promise of eternal life and in knowing that he now rests in Your peace. His funeral, though filled with grief, was a beautiful celebration of the faith, love, and goodness he shared so generously with others.

Lord, wrap his family in Your healing presence. Strengthen them with the hope of the Resurrection and remind them that Your light continues to shine even in moments of deep sorrow. May they feel Your closeness in the days ahead and be uplifted by the prayers of our community.

Eternal rest grant unto him, 

O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May he rest in peace. Amen.

🕊️ Sacrament of First Holy Communion

Several of our students celebrated their First Holy Communion on Sunday, marking a beautiful and reverent moment in their faith journey. It was a wonderful celebration as the children entered the church to receive another sacrament with such joy, calmness, and grace. We are incredibly proud of them and grateful to their families, teachers, and our parish community for supporting them so lovingly along the way.  We were so lucky to have Fr Kimi celebrate this special sacrament with the children. 

Years 3-6 Sydney Symphony Excursion to the Opera House 

Students had the exciting opportunity to attend a performance of Carnival of the Animals by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House. 

On Friday, Stage 2 & 3 attended an excursion to the Opera House and saw the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. We found it very inspiring to see professionals play the same instruments as we do. They introduced us to some new instruments, including the double bass, piccolo and new percussion tools. They introduced us to 2 new artists, Camille Saint-Saëns and Alex Turley, who wrote music inspired by their favourite animals, which encouraged us to play along and use hand gestures to be more engaged. After that, we ate lunch on the Monumental Steps of Sydney's famous icon, the Opera House.  

By Scarlett, Miranda and Seraphina, Yr 6 

On Friday we were lucky and we were granted the opportunity to watch the Sydney Opera House Orchestra play. We were introduced to 2 composers and we learned a little bit about each of them. We learnt about some of their music/songs and what the meaning behind the pieces that both of the composers were into animals. The first composer was named Alexander and he was into lions, so he wrote a few songs about lions and other animals. The second composer was French and he was into elephants. He also wrote songs about under the water. There was a lovely lady who was talking all about the songs and them. She taught us the names of all the instruments. Some of our favourite songs were the song about the emus and the song about the glowworms. It was amazing, there were so many other schools and they all seemed as intrigued as us and it was great to see how far the members of the orchestra (people who played) got with playing their instruments. The songs were very interesting and soothing, which made them very calm and sounded in sync. We recommend more schools to go there, it was fantastic and a great experience for people who play an instrument to see how far they could go.

By: Eloise, Martin, Archer, Cormac and Xavier

On Friday, Years 3-6 went to the opera house and listened to a group of musicians play beautiful notes and songs about animals and Mother Nature.The narrator also talked about the artists who made the songs. The sight featured soloists and tunes we’ll never forget. Here are some of Year Four's favourite instruments from the band. Charlie's favourite instrument was the cello, she’s always wondered if they could play high notes! Celia’s favourite instrument was the double bass. It was so cool and fascinating. Allegra’s favourite instrument was the violin , she loves how the bow sways across the violin when you play. Lola’s favourite instrument was the production and favourite instrument was the flute. She loves the way it sounds like chirping birds in the sky and how it sounded nice and calm. It was a great experience, and we all loved every single bit of it.

By Zoe, Allegra, Celia, Charlie & Lola

📚 Book Week Celebrations

A heartfelt thank you to Verity for leading such a fantastic Book Week celebration. The change in how we presented the morning made a real difference. 

Our Book Week celebrations began in the most joyful way with the Year 6 play, beautifully supported by our enthusiastic Kindergarten children. It was especially heartwarming to see the children who bravely put themselves out there to sing — a true testament to their confidence and willingness to share their talents with our school community. 

It was wonderful to see how deeply our students love books — expressed so joyfully through their creative outfits, their thoughtful book‑in‑a‑box presentations, and the confident way they spoke about their chosen stories.

🌟 New Blinds for Years 5&6 ............            Years 3&4 are on their way!

Our Years 5&6 classrooms are looking brighter and more inviting with the installation of our new blinds. They have already made a noticeable difference — bringing each learning space to life, improving light control, and creating a calm, comfortable environment for students. These small changes open up wonderful opportunities for focused learning, creativity, and engagement. We are grateful for the continued improvements that help our children thrive each day. 

We are looking forward to the installation of the Years 3&4 blinds early term 4. 

 Farewell to Mr Peter O’Malley

We had a wonderful day celebrating Mr Peter O’Malley and his dedicated teaching service to St Anthony’s School. The sense of appreciation shown by students, staff, and families made it clear just how dearly he will be missed. Peter’s kindness, humour, and genuine care for our community have left a lasting impact, and the farewell gathering was a heartfelt reminder of the difference he has made during his time with us. Safe Travels home Mr O'Malley.

🏐 Year 2 Netball – Sea Turtles

Our Year 2 Sea Turtles had a wonderful weekend on the netball court, scoring two fantastic goals and playing with fairness, teamwork, and enthusiasm. The children showed great sportsmanship and joy throughout the game, and we are very proud of their efforts and the way they represented St Anthony’s.

🤝 Parents & Friends Association 

We are inviting parents and carers who would like to support our St Anthony’s community to consider joining our Parents & Friends Association (P&F). Several roles are now open, including President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Social Committee Organisers.

The P&F works closely with the principal and school staff to strengthen our community, support families, and enhance the learning environment for our students. If you are looking for a meaningful way to contribute, these roles offer a wonderful opportunity.

What the P&F does:

• Building Community — Organising welcome evenings, class catch‑ups, family fun days, and other events that help families feel connected and supported.
• Fundraising — Running stalls, trivia nights, working bees, and other initiatives that help fund additional school resources, playground equipment, and facility improvements.
• Parent Representation — Providing a voice for parents and offering valuable family perspectives to the principal and school leadership.

• Volunteer Support — Coordinating volunteers for canteen, sports carnivals, excursions, and classroom activities.

   

These roles are open to anyone who would like to assist, contribute ideas, and help our school continue to thrive. Your involvement—big or small—makes a genuine difference.

If you are interested or would like to learn more, please reach out to the school office. We would love to welcome new members into our P&F team.

Next Meeting: 27th October @ 7:00pm onsite and zoom

Assembly - Congratulations to the award recipients!

ST ANTHONY'S CLOVELLY - ENROLLING NOW

We are accepting enrolments for Kindergarten 2027.  If you know of families wishing to enrol at St Anthony's Clovelly or you have a sibling you would like to enrol please visit our school website:https://staclovelly.syd.catholic.edu.au/enrolment/enrol-now