Principal's Message
Dear Parents, students and the wider community,
Well I have returned to school today after spending the last 10 days in isolation. It was such a pleasant experience seeing and speaking to students, staff and families and made me appreciate even more what a beautiful and spirit-filled school we share. It makes you realise how lucky we are when we consider the tragedy that is currently occuring in the Ukraine and the sadness for so many due to the flooding in Northern NSW.
Yesterday Mr Bright and Miss O'Donnell took the Year 6 students into Melbourne to the Halogen Young Leaders' Day. They said it was a wonderful experience, the highlight having a meet and greet with Olympian Cate Campbell. I trust that the students now will work further using what they have learnt to enhance their leadership skills within our school.
Next week is a busy one at St Anne's. Monday is annual Audit Day so if parents understand the office staff may be a little pre-occupied that would be appreciated. We have an Open Morning on Monday as well and we are expecting a further 7 new families to tour our facilities. Currently, including expected siblings, we have 22 enrolments for 2023 so this is very exciting. The third major event happening on Monday is that artificial turf will be laid in the area where the Gaga pit was. It is expected that this job will take until Wednesday so I would ask you to just be aware of this when entering the school grounds.
Tuesday next week our two wonderful Foundation classes are off to the Zoo with Miss Eagling and Mrs Winduss. This will form a wonderful part of their classroom learning into the future besides being a very memorable experience of their primary schooling. Fingers crossed for some decent weather.
I understand last week's coffee morning hosted by Mrs Winduss went very well. We have another one on Friday 1 April and I hope our parents are taking up the opportunity to reach out and make some more friends. I have always found our community to be a very welcoming and connected community and I trust our many families who have joined us during the Covid years are making up for lost opportunities and getting to know your fellow families.
Looking ahead to our last week of term on Tuesday 5 April many of our Year 3 students will be receiving their Sacrament of First Reconciliation at 7pm. They have been preparing for this and we wish them well. Please keep these students and their families in your prayers.
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