Dear parents, students and families,

Trust you have had a good week. Last Friday our seniors had three great games of sport at Aldercourt PS and we thank them for hosting us. It was even better that we had three wins of course but I know the students themselves are happy just to go out and represent our school playing sport together.

Also last Friday we had musician Drew Lane work with all the students which culminated in a performance. I am sure all parents who attended had a great time and it was fun for all to see a bit of parent participation. Well done for those brave enough to join the students in performing, but Drew didn't give you much of a choice!

Eucharistic Masses commenced last weekend and will continue over the next few weekends. Please keep Jacob G, Harry S, Sebastian M, Macey W, Amelia C, James H and Paige W in your prayers as they prepare for their First Eucharist. Tonight the students and their families preparing to receive their Confirmation will have their Preparation Evening in the Church.

A variety of staff, students, families and Fr Martin met with our reviewer Dr Judi Gurvich on Monday and Tuesday of this week. She was able to discuss their perceptions of our school as a whole. She has left our school very impressed and will return later in the term to present her draft review. Thanks for those who made time to be part of this process.

Tomorrow we will remember Jesus' Grandparents Anne and Joachim, who our schools in the Parish are named after, with our Feast Day and Grandparents Day. Commencing with Mass, this is a very special day each year for our school and we look forward to welcoming families to school. Also tomorrow, our senior students will play Kananook PS here.

Miss O'Donnell is currently in Rome with the World Youth Day participants from the Archdiocese of Melbourne and our Archbishop Comensoli. The group had the great privilege of meeting with His Holiness, Pope Francis, yesterday for 45 minutes which was an unbelievable opportunity.

Next week our Marine Ambassadors from Year 6 will be out in our local environment next Tuesday with Mr Sullivan. Wednesday is the evening that many of our Year 3 students will be taking part in their First Reconciliation in the Church. Next Friday our students will walk to Belvedere PS to play sport against them.

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 and collect a late pass.

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

Wellbeing

Be Kind

We are thrilled with how our 3 'Be Statements' guide our expectations at St Anne's.

Be Kind

Be Ready to Learn

Be an Upstander.