Principal's Message

Dear Parents, students and the wider community,

Well- hard to believe but this is the last newsletter for the year. What a challenging year it has been. A dad shared with me a few week's back that he felt  he "didn't have his parent stamina" back yet. This was in reference to our world becoming more normalized and his children suddenly starting all their after school and weekend activities again. I think this might resonate with many of our parents! I know it took some of our students a while to adapt to coming to school each day but as a community I think they have done remarkably well. A year of constant changes but of course we have together tried to make the most of it for our students/children. Thank you to everyone who has done so much and it would be remiss of me not to thank the staff for their untiring efforts to do the very best for all the children in their care. 

Often we have many changes at this stage of the year with our community. We farewell a group of Year 6 students, many of them kids who started with me in my first year as Principal at St Anne's. Those 7 years have certainly flown. Some of our families are moving on as well and we wish them all the very best for their future. Usually there is a little bit of staff turnover too but this year we only lose one staff member- albeit the wonderful Mrs Gill Carr. We will miss you Gill but I am sure our community join with me in wishing you all the very best as the new Deputy Principal at Our Lady of Fatima, Rosebud. Your new position is recognition of your leadership in our school, contributions at system level and extra study. Thank you to all who are leaving and for your contributions to our school. 

Last Friday 3rd December was a massive day for our students with House Athletics in the first block with Ignatius House the winners on the day.  Our annual Lapathon in the second block assists our local chapter of St Vincent de Paul raise funds towards supporting those in need for Christmas and so far this has raised $1934.04. A very meaningful way for our students to both learn more, and contribute to, the idea of being a community who believe in socially just outcomes. In the afternoon the children did Jump Rope for Heart activities and seemed to have a wonderful time. 

On Monday 6th December we heard the Leaders' speeches for 2022. The Year 3-6 students then voted for who they would like from our current Year 5 students to be our leaders for 2022. These positions will be announced tonight at our Christmas Concert but it needs to be said that the students really prepared themselves well to speak and they show a lot of promise to make St Anne's an even better school next year with their student lead actions. 

On Tuesday 7th December our Year 3-5 students attended Funtopia in Carrum Downs and it sounds like this was just the tonic to add some real positivity to their view of school, given how challenging the year has been with such disrupted learning as we swung in and out of remote learning helped no-one!

Tonight is our Christmas Concert which begins sharply at 6pm. The students will perform on the new front deck near the hall and the asphalt area is available for families to bring in their camping chairs and set up. We will need to have families QR code to attend on arrival with log ins outside the office on the front of the balcony for those entering from the Parish carpark or alternatively at the entrance gates at the main gate, back gate and gate at the front of the hall.  Fingers crossed for a dry evening. You may like to bring some snacks but please no alcohol as any event that has students present must be alcohol-free. A reminder again to please supervise your children to ensure they are not on the playground equipment while other classes are trying to perform. 

Tomorrow our students will meet with next year's teacher in their 2022 class for an activity and then they will then meet again as groups next Monday. We will trial this approach this year as we feel it may help with any anxiety about their new class/teacher as they get to make connections. We feel this has not always been possible with a one day get together.

Next Monday 13th we will have our Awards Ceremony between 2.30 and 3.30pm on the basketball court as we did last year.  On Tuesday 14th our Year 6 students have their Big Day Out as it is their final day they are required at school (they can attend Wednesday but please let their teacher know if this is required). Tuesday afternoon the Year 6 students will take their reports home before returning to school in the late afternoon to begin their Graduation Ceremony. I'm sure there will be a mix of sadness and happiness for all present as it is one of the bigger transitions in life as they move on to Secondary School. On Wednesday the school year concludes at 1.30pm and reports for Foundation to Year 5 will come home.

Thank you for the year, God Bless you all and stay happy and healthy until we meet again. 

Merry Christmas

Rod Shaw

Principal

School Attendance and Unexplained Absence

Please ensure you contact the school before 9:30am if your child is going to be absent or late  by leaving a message on 9786 4736 and press #1.

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

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 phone call or text message.

If parent does not reply or 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.