From the Principal 

Dear St Anthony's Families, 

God of love, we remember that on the night before he died Your son, Jesus, prayed that his friends ‘may all be one.’ Yet, we see so much division in the world. Millions of people suffer when they don’t have what they need: food, water, healthcare, education, peace and security. We pray that we may all unite against poverty, war and suffering this Lent, as our sign of hope for a better world. This Lent we pray that our dedication to prayer, fasting and almsgiving will help restore your vision of justice and peace. 

Week 6 coming to a close

As we are just past the halfway point of Term One, it is good to stand still and reflect on all the great work we have already completed, have commenced and are looking forward to. 

Ms. Norton, Mrs. Hesse and Mrs. Martello have formed our MHiPS (Mental Health in Primary School) team and are currently working hard on mapping out the implementation plan for St Anthony's. Please, have a look at the MHiPS and Wellbeing page

Furthermore, we have worked with all grades to get student feedback on the development of our Positive Behavior for Learning (or PBL) matrix. Although, the behaviour of our students is in general excellent, this work is to create greater consistency and clarity for students and staff about how we live out our Gospel values at St Anthony's. The staff will continue this work today during our closure day.  Here is a small sample of what the students worked on.

Community Celebration Congratulations to Sandra

Congratulations to Sandra (Chiara, Yr 6) for becoming an Australian citizen last week!! What a huge occasion! Congratulations from all of us at St Anthony's.

Open Afternoon and Picnic on the Green

Thank you to everyone who helped and attended the Open Afternoon and the Picnic on the Green. It was a wonderful event and we loved seeing everyone. It was exciting to see quite a few prospective families join us and the feedback I have received from them was that the school felt so welcoming and friendly. 

Coming Up Next Week: NAPLAN for our Grade 3 and 5 Students. 

NAPLAN is starting on Wednesday the 11th of March. NAPLAN is an annual Literacy and Numeracy assessment for Australian students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9. It  is a chance for our students to show what they have been learning. At St Anthony's, we approach it with a calm and supportive mindset so students feel confident rather than pressured. We value excellence by encouraging every child to try their best, while showing respect, inclusion and empathy for the different ways students grow in their learning. NAPLAN is just one part of understanding each student’s progress and weare proud of the effort they put into their learning every day.

HELP WANTED!!!

Also on Wednesday the 11th of March, but after NAPLAN is finished for the day, we are having a photo / video shoot for some new promotional material for our school. We are looking for some parents to also be part of this.

If you are interested and want to help, please email me: rlameijn@santglen.catholic.edu.au 

PFA Meeting: Wednesday 11 March at 7.30pm, all welcome!

FOCUS ON LEARNING

This Week: The Gradual release of Responsibility within the Explicit Teaching Approach

The Gradual Release of Responsibility is a key component of the Explicit Teaching Approach for our Literacy and Mathematics program. It is designed to move students from teacher guidance to independent learning. It follows a very structured sequence: I Do, We Do, You Do. First, the teacher models the skill or concept clearly. Next, the teacher and students practice together with guided support. Then, when ready, students apply the learning independently. This process builds confidence, strengthens understanding and develops student autonomy. By slowly transferring responsibility from teacher to learner, the gradual release of responsibility ensures students receive the support they need while gradually becoming capable, independent thinkers.

Mass for Schools at St Patrick's Cathedral

On March 20th, Mr. O'Mahoney and I will take our Grade 6 students to the Mass for Schools. This wonderful occasion is part of Catholic Education Week and a great opportunity to get together with the many primary and secondary schools from the Melbourne Archdiocese and is always a highlight on the calendar. 

Swimming Program

Please make sure you completed the swimming permission form that went out this week via the Parent Portal. Our swimming program starts on Monday 23rd March.

11 Standards in 11 Months: Focus on Child Safety

I would like to direct you attention to our monthly Child Safety Page - this month we focus on Child Safety Standard 2:  "Child Safety and Wellbeing are Embedded in Organisational Leadership, Governance and Culture"

In faith and partnership,

Ru Lameijn

Acting Principal

As a MACS School, St Anthony's “aims to create learning environments in which each student can grow in faith, hope and love, in ways that are tangible and cultivate the mind and heart of all students.” 

MACS - Vision for Engagement - Flourishing Learners position statement - 2025