In This Edition

Hello Families, 

Symphony of Stories is the theme for Book Week 2026. Springboarding from this, part of our staff prayer last Tuesday featured an actual symphony - a University choir from South Africa, performing at a Welsh Music Festival, singing the Lord’s Prayer in Swahili (Baba Yetu ~ Our Father). It’s amazing how a very familiar prayer, one that most of us would all be able to recite by heart, can come to life in a new way when presented in a different format. This is indeed the power of prayer! I’ve included the link below for your viewing. 

Book Week - School Library

Just like music, stories can help us see the world in different ways - new perspectives, new places, new experiences. We are very lucky at St Anne’s to have an amazing school library that provides our students with many and varied quality books to take home. It’s open every Thursday before and after school, so feel free to pop in for a visit. We even have our Prep 2027 students coming along on Friday mornings as part of their orientation process.

If you’ve dropped into the library this week, you will have seen the wonderful display (see below) created by Janine and Kerry, with the assistance of Cheryl Dwyer, a former grandparent. Thanks to the Library Team for ensuring our library remains an inviting place to visit. There are always new things to discover.

MACSSIS Surveys

• Instructions on how to complete the annual MACSSIS (Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools - School Improvement Surveys) will be sent home to all families in the next week. Your participation is encouraged, as the more surveys that are completed, the more accurate our data about family perspectives across the school.
• The surveys are in the process of being reviewed to make them more “user friendly”, hopefully to be ready for use by this time next year.

PFA News -Bunning Sausage Sizzle #2

• Thanks to Rosa & Anthony D’Urso, Clare Jackson, Carlo D’Amico, Maddi Cross, Kelly & Geoff Kimpton, Jill Marr, Jo Zahra, Tammy Boswell and Janine Sciortino for your support of the Bunnings sausage sizzle on Sunday August 16th.
• PFA funds raised this year will go towards the Dance Curriculum experience for 2027, which will culminate with a performance at the Start of Year Picnic on Thursday 25th February (save the date!)

Fathers Morning - Friday 4th September from 7:45am

• All Dads (and other significant Father figures) are invited to attend our annual Fathers Morning next Friday from 7:45am. Highlights for 2026 include;
  • A light BBQ breakfast for the adults (thanks PFA!!)
  • Mini Golf on the green netball court
  • “Minute to Win It” challenges in the Senior Hub
  • Paper Plane competition on the grey basketball court
  • Photo Booths in the Prep classrooms
  • Keyring making in the Library, and Origami Letter Writing in the Art Room
• Dads are welcome to stay as long as they can, noting that the event will conclude with a prayer service in classrooms at around 9:00am.
• As is the St Anne’s tradition, students are invited to wear their favourite sports colours on this day.

School Advisory Council

• At next week’s SAC meeting, we will discuss the following topics
  • Increased Camp costs - looking at survey results from Y3/4/5 families
  • Class Grouping procedures at St Anne’s - update on what is being considered in relation to parent feedback
• Please see a member of the SAC if you have an issue you would like raised.

Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee - School Rounds

• We are excited to be taking part in the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee, celebrating our students’ love of words and spelling.  A total of 87 Students in Years 3-6 have been challenged to put their spelling skills to the test, building their vocabulary and developing confidence as they tackle increasingly tricky words. It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm, determination and persistence as they participate in this exciting national competition.  Congratulations to all of the students who participated. 

Waste to Energy Plant - Parliamentary Inquiry

• Earlier this year, a group of Year 6 students accompanied Sarah Notaro (RE Leader at St Anne’s and member of the No Sunbury Waste Incinerator group) to the Sunbury chapter of the Parliamentary Inquiry into Waste to Energy Plants. The students had finished an Inquiry into Australian democracy and this was their chance to see and hear democracy in action.
• On Tuesday this week, the parliamentary report was released, a summary of which can be found here via the ABC.
• A big shout out to Sarah and the NSWI group for their work on this important community issue, ensuring that the voices of locals are heard. 

Attendance

• We understand that, at times, early pickups are required. Please note that parents are asked to avoid collecting students during recess and lunch breaks (10:50-11:30 and 1:40-2:20).

Please reach out via email or phone with any questions, compliments or concerns,

Warm Regards and God’s Blessings,

Stephen

principal@sasunbury.catholic.edu.au

Ph 8746 6800