Welcome to the 2026 School Year

We have had a lovely and uplifting start to the school year. Our community gathered for Mass at one of our local Catholic schools, where we celebrated the beginning of the new school year in prayer and gratitude.

This year, Sydney Catholic Schools invites us to reflect on the theme “Trust in the Lord for True Peace and Strength.” The words of Jesus, “Take courage! I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33), remind us that we do not walk this journey alone.

I hope you enjoyed a restful break with family and loved ones. It is wonderful to welcome back our returning families and extend a warm greeting to those joining St Anthony’s for the first time. We are honoured to partner with you in your children’s learning journey.

The start of a new school year brings excitement and anticipation. Our commitment to providing a supportive, engaging learning environment remains strong, and we deeply value the collaboration between home and school. May the year ahead be filled with growth, joy, and meaningful learning for every student.

St Anthony’s has made an excellent start to 2026. Our students have settled in beautifully and are already demonstrating enthusiasm, focus, and respect in their classrooms. It has been a pleasure to see their positive attitude toward learning. Thank you to all families for your cooperation with the new drop‑off and pick‑up arrangements.

We also send our best wishes to last year’s Year 6 students as they begin high school and the next stage of their education.

If at any time you need assistance, have questions, or wish to discuss any aspect of your child’s schooling, please contact the office to arrange a time to speak with your child’s teacher or a member of staff. I am always happy to meet with you and will return your call as soon as possible if I am unavailable.

Over the coming weeks, we aim to ensure all families are well informed about our learning focus, school vision, expectations, and procedures. This newsletter, along with upcoming events, will support that goal. Newsletters will continue to be sent via Compass every second Wednesday.

Thank you for your continued support as we begin this new year together. We look forward to a wonderful year of learning, growth, and community.

Continuing Our Commitment to Gifted Education

During our two staff development days our teachers planned, prepared and set the direction for teaching and learning in 2026. They have worked to implement our School Annual Improvement Plan to ensure a strong, purposeful start for every student.

As part of our 2026 focus on strengthening teaching and learning for gifted and talented students, our staff will also be completing GEO 1 and 2 (Gifted Education Online). Throughout the course, staff will explore how assessment can guide teaching, how to evaluate formative assessment practices and how to design learning that offers depth, complexity and appropriate challenge. The course focuses on developing higher‑order thinking skills, understanding the social and emotional needs of gifted students and exploring accelerative pathways and flexible grouping options.

This professional learning ensures our teachers are well equipped to recognise and nurture the strengths of gifted students, helping them to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.

2026 Staffing

Year	Class Teachers
K	Ms Giselle Stinson (Monday to Thursday) Ms Stephanie Barkho (Friday)
1	Mrs Leanna Langlands (Wednesday, Thursday & Friday) Ms Stephanie Barkho (Monday & Tuesday)
2	Ms Brid Claffey
3	Mrs Catherine Wernas (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) Mrs Marie Iorfino (Wednesday)
4	Ms Sandy Mekhael
5	Ms Hannah Williamson
6	Mr Peter O'Malley (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) Mrs Marie Iorfino (Monday)
Diverse Learning & Literacy Intervention Teacher	Mrs Honey Hartley
Gifted Education Naturally Embedded (GENE)	Mrs Marie Iorfino
Visual Arts	Mrs Julie Traylen (Tuesday)
Performing Arts - Music, Dance & Drama	Mrs Jodie McInness (Thursday & Friday)
Library	Mrs Verity Temple (Tuesday & Thursday)
Physical Education Coordinator	Mr Peter O'Malley (Monday)
Spanish	Mrs Andrea Spindel (Monday)
Family Educator	Mrs Laura Neeson
Learning Support Officers	Ms Cheryl Daly Ms Kate Moffitt Ms Aluca Cignetti
Front Office Admin Team	Mrs Noelle Burton (Monday to Thursday) Mrs Koula Scerri (Thursday & Friday)
School Counsellor	Ms Georgina Watney (Tuesday)
ISO (Technology)	Mr Jackie Ma (Thursday)
Principal	Mrs Anna Novak
Assistant Principal	Mrs Marie Iorfino
Religious Coordinator	Ms Giselle Stinson (Friday)
Instructional Specialist	Mrs Leanna Langlands (Monday & Tuesday)

Parents & Friends Meeting – You’re Invited

The Parents & Friends Association deeply values the vital role parents and carers play in their children’s learning. By strengthening the partnership between home, school, parish and the wider community, the P&F helps create opportunities that support each child’s growth, wellbeing and development.

We warmly invite all parents and carers to join us for our first Parents & Friends meeting of the year:

📅 Tuesday 17 February

🕑 2:00–3:00pm

📍 Staffroom

Whether you’re a returning parent or new to the school, your presence and ideas make a real difference. We’d love to see you there and begin another positive year together.

🌿 Let’s Protect Our Kids’ Lungs Together: Join the Idle Off Launch Webinar

As families settle back into school routines, many of us are feeling the impacts of a changing climate close to home. Across south‑west Victoria, recent bushfires, floods and extreme weather have reminded us how much we rely on strong, connected communities, especially when the challenges feel overwhelming.

That’s why we’re excited to launch Idle Off, a new initiative from Parents for Climate in partnership with Doctors for the Environment Australia. It’s a simple, practical way for parents, carers and grandparents to take collective action that protects children’s health right now.

Most parents don’t realise that vehicle exhaust is the most widespread source of air pollution in Australia and it’s rising. Children are especially vulnerable, spending time right where pollution concentrates: school and childcare drop‑off zones. In fact, leaving a car idling near children can expose them to pollution levels comparable to passive cigarette smoke. Traffic‑related air pollution contributes to an estimated 66,000 asthma cases in Australian children each year but this is something we can change.

By switching off engines while waiting at school gates, we can:

Reduce harmful air pollution
Protect developing lungs and brains
Cut unnecessary emissions
Show our kids what community care looks like in action

Idle Off isn’t about blame, it’s about learning together and taking small steps that add up, just like we’ve done with sun safety and seatbelts.

🚗💛 Join the Idle Off Launch Webinar

Hear from doctors, parents and school communities (St Anthony’s) already leading the way.

📅 Tuesday 10 February 2026

🕗 8pm AEDT | 7:30pm SA | 7pm QLD | 6:30pm NT | 5pm WA

👉 Register: https://www.parentsforclimate.org/idle_off_webinar

Let’s make the spaces where our kids learn and play cleaner, safer and healthier together.

🌟 Enrolments Now Open for Kindergarten 2027! 🌟

Discover St Anthony's co-educational excellence from Kindergarten to Year 6 at our Term 1 Open Days for 2027 and 2028 enrolments.

Please pass this information on to anyone who is looking for a school this year, next year or in a few years' time, to come and have a look.

Visit from Principal of Marcellin College Randwick, Mr Mark Woolford – Years 2 to 5 Parents

Parents and boys in Years 2 to Year 5 are warmly invited to a special session with Principal Mr Mark Woolford, who will be visiting St Anthony’s on Thursday, 19 February at 8:15am in the school library. The session will run for approximately 45 minutes.

Mr Woolford will speak with families and is happy to answer any questions you may have. This is a valuable opportunity to hear from him and engage in conversation about Marcellin College Randwick.

2026 Staff Development Days (Pupil Free Days)

Each year, Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) provides time for Staff Development Days (SDD) which provides professional learning time for all staff. St Anthony's will be providing supervision on ALL of the Staff Development Days from Monday 30 March. Parents will need to register.

Term 1
Week 1 - Tuesday & Wednesday - 27.01.26 & 28.01.26
Week 10 - Monday - 30.03.26

Term 2
Week 2 - Friday - 01.05.26
Week 11 - Friday - 03.07.26

Term 3
Week 1 Monday - 20.07.26
Week 10 Friday - 25.09.26

Term 4
Week 1 Monday - 12.10.26
Week 10 Wednesday & Thursday - 16.12.26 & 17.12.26

Yours in Partnership

Anna Novak

Principal

From the School Counsellor