Dear parents, students and families,

We pray for, and congratulate, Austin F, Audrey M, Patrick G, Darcy , Haven M, Ben, Joseph, Will and Nathan who have now received their First Eucharist. It was a joy to join Nathan on Saturday night with his family and I would like to thank our staff who have attended the previous Masses to support this important Sacramental step for these students. We are most grateful to Fr Martin and the Parish team for their support and leadership.

Last Friday was our annual Fathers' Day Celebration morning. We were thrilled to have so many 'special' visitors (mostly males) on the day and the school was really buzzing. Thanks families for joining with us to make it special for our students.

On Monday we had an Indigenous performer- Sean Choolburra - from FNQ who presented to the whole school in an energetic show. He focused on language, culture and story and it was both highly educational and entertaining. Thanks to Mrs Ward for organising this.

Our Marine Ambassadors were out yesterday with Mr Sullivan learning more about keeping our waterways and the bays healthy and clean.

Tomorrow we play the Lightning Premiership at Mahogany Rise PS and we thank them for hosting this. Early in Term 4 our students will have a further opportunity to represent the school at a Lightning Premiership for the Catholic feeder schools for JPC. Tomorrow afternoon we again have our 2026 Foundation Students and parent/s on site doing a Super Starters afternoon. Our families come from a widespread area and opportunities for the families and incoming students to build connection are very valuable.

Next week the key events to be aware of are Footy Day on Thursday and a curriculum-focused School Closure Day on Friday which will be student-free. If you require care on the day please contact Moira at Happy Kids OSC.

In happy news Mrs Hannah Ward and her husband Nick are expecting their first child in February. We are all excitedly looking forward to this but it will mean that Mrs Ward will be on Maternity Leave from the end of the year. I am sure you will join me in congratulating the 'parents to be'. May God bless them.

In looking ahead to next year I am obviously looking at staffing requirements. As such, it is very helpful to know if students other than our current Year 6 children and another few that have already let us know will be moving on from our St Anne's community. If you could please contact the office and let us know if you intend to move your child from St Anne's at the end of the year I would be very grateful.

Thanks again for a wonderful week.

God Bless

Rod Shaw

Principal

School Attendance and Unexplained Absence

Please contact the school if your child is going to be absent by leaving a message on

9786 4736 and press 1. Please give details of your child’s name and class with a reason for their absence such as: unwell, appointment, holiday or family reasons. Alternatively an email can be sent to office@saseaford.catholic.edu.au with cc to the child’s teacher.

If you are running late, (after 9:00 am) please attend the office to sign your child into school.

If you are picking up your child early you will need to collect them and sign them out from the office.

As per our policy this will be our morning routine for absences:

Parents will be contacted as soon as practicable on the morning a student is absent via a text message.

If parent does not contact the school after receiving the text message, the school will contact the parent by phone. If the parent is unreachable the emergency contacts will be contacted by the school.

If there is still no response, and the school feels that the child is in danger, the police will be contacted.

Ongoing unexplained absences or lack of cooperation regarding student attendance will result in a formal conference being organized. Unresolved attendance issues will be referred to D.H.H.S.

This is a legal requirement.

Democratic Principles

The six (6) principles of Australian democracy include:

(a) elected government; and

(b) the rule of law; and

(c) equal rights for all before the law; and

(d) freedom of religion; and

(e) freedom of speech and association; and

(f) the values of openness and tolerance

Religious Education

First Eucharist: Congratulations to our students who received their First Eucharist over the previous weeks.