Dear Families,

I hope all members of our community were able to take advantage in some way of the school long weekend that just passed. We certainly had the weather to suit everyone’s interests, from sunbaking in the backyard on Sunday to fishing in the rain on Monday or Tuesday. We now return to school for the “home stretch” - the last six weeks of school until our Year 6s finish on Monday 15 December and the rest of the school the day after.

Inspired by Pope Francis and his genuine interest in engaging with other world religions, on Wednesday our staff travelled to the ARK Centre in Hawthorn to participate in a faith development day organised by the not-for-profit charity Together for Humanity. We heard from members of the two other Abrahamic religions (coming from the prophet Abraham), Judaism and Islam, and discovered both similarities and differences in the ways our faith is practiced, passed on, and lived out. We were inspired to learn more about our own faith tradition so that we can continue the important work of partnering with families to help their children become fully aware of the story of Catholicism.

Pope Francis will be remembered for his unwavering commitment to encounter and dialogue in a world often divided by fear, conflict, and suspicion. From the earliest days of his pontificate, he engaged courageously with religious leaders from diverse traditions, advocating for a shared ethical commitment to peace, justice, and human dignity.

For Pope Francis, interreligious dialogue was not only a theological imperative but also a political and humanitarian one. In his own words, the future of humanity depends on recognizing one another as brothers and sisters. He called on religious communities to be agents of peace, not ideology; of encounter, not walls.

WCC - Remembering Pope Francis

Arts/STEM Showcase & Grandparents Morning - Thanks to everyone who was able to come along to these events last week. There was a real buzz throughout the school as children proudly showed off their creativity and design skills to various family members. My highlight of the week was the Friday morning dance class where Preps joined Grandparents to learn some modern new dance moves. Given that it is normally grandparents passing on wisdom to their grandkids, it was wonderful to see both generations learning something new together!

Upgrading of the STEM Room - Those of you who visited the STEM room last week will be in for a big surprise when you come back next year. In order to maintain the high quality of the program, over January we will be fitting out the room with new vinyl furniture and flooring. This will allow the space to be best utilised by students of all ages (2025 is the first year we have offered STEM to Preps and Ones), as well as allowing for storage of Ms Hannan’s many wonderful tech and sustainability items.

Not returning to St Anne's in 2026? Please let the Office on 03 8746 6800 know ASAP as we have families on a waiting list.

News from Around the School

Prayer

Coming Up at St Anne’s - Our “at a glance calendar” that highlights what’s coming up over the next couple of weeks

Information about the 2026 Fee Structure can be found here

Parents and Friends Association

Parent Corner - A Safer Digital Future by Dr Justin Coulson

Please continue to reach out with questions, compliments or concerns,

Warm regards and God’s Blessings,

Stephen

sarthurson@sasunbury.catholic.edu.au

Are you the sort of parent who reads all the way to the bottom of each newsletter?

Would you be interested in taking on an important role in our school community out of hours?

We are seeking expressions of interest from a parent with junior children (P/1/2 in 2026) to join our School Advisory Council.

If you are interested in knowing more, send me an email and we can chat about how it works.

Religious Education