Dear Families,

Advent - A time of Active Waiting

From next week, we commence our focus on the Catholic Church’s season of Advent, a time of preparation leading up to Christmas, when we remember the birth of Our Saviour Jesus Christ. The themes for each of the four weeks will be Hope, Peace, Joy and Love, with the first three themes highlighted at our online Monday morning assembly and expanded upon throughout the week in classrooms. The final Sunday of Advent will be the Sunday after the school year concludes.

One of the key messages that will be shared with our students is that Advent is more than just a time of waiting passively. It is a time when we should be actively seeking to live out the examples given to us by Jesus. During his time on Earth, Jesus was a champion for those who were doing it tough. One of the ways we can support those in Sunbury who are doing it tough is by contributing to Care Works, a local charity doing great work in our community. Please see the list of items below and give what you can - every little bit helps.

As part of the Sunbury Square Christmas Tree Decorating Project, a special community initiative created in partnership with local primary schools. St Anne’s was once again invited to decorate a tree. This year our Art Club students put in a huge amount of effort to create a truly stunning design made entirely from wrapping paper! Check it out!

Staffing Update

It is that time of year when we prepare to say goodbye to staff members who have made valuable contributions to our St Anne’s community over the years.

Cath Woodhouse (Religious Education Leader) has been a wonderful asset to St Anne’s over the last 3.5 years in the role of Religious Education Leader. Her passion for helping teachers create engaging learning experiences has been a feature of her leadership in this area. Cath has also introduced new traditions that help us acknowledge and celebrate as a community the students who are engaged in our Sacramental Program. We will especially miss Cath’s guitar playing at Church, where her musical talents have enlivened our Masses with song. We wish Cath all the very best for her future endeavours.

As my time at St Anne's comes to a close, I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude to the whole St Anne's community - the students and their families, the staff, and the parish members I have encountered along the way. It has been a privilege to be a part of the St Anne's family for the past three and a half years.

Thank you for the warm smiles, the fantastic collaboration, and the shared commitment to making St Anne's such a special place for the children of Sunbury.

I wish the entire St Anne's Community a future filled with happiness and success!

Rylee Connell (6B teacher) will be “graduating” alongside her current Year Six students, as she moves up with them to Salesian to take on the role of Inclusive Practices Leader for Years 7 & 8. Rylee has worked at St Anne’s since commencing her career as a graduate teacher, and recently completed her Masters Degree at Melbourne University. Her high standards and attention to detail have been features of her classroom practice. However, our loss is Salesian’s gain, as Rylee turns her attention to supporting learners across the curriculum while implementing the knowledge gained from her tertiary study. We wish Rylee all the best for this exciting new career opportunity.

Being part of the St. Anne’s community has been an honor and a pleasure. These last four years have been full of laughs, learning, and the kind of moments that remind you why teaching can be an endlessly rewarding profession. Thank you so much to the students and families for welcoming me so wholeheartedly, and to my colleagues for your constant support and good humour.

Whilst I am sad to say goodbye, I’m also excited to head over to Salesian, our friendly neighbour up the hill. I look forward to staying connected, and hopefully seeing some familiar faces as many of you begin your own high school journeys. Rylee

Simone Robson (4B Teacher Thurs Fri) is stepping away from part-time teaching commitments to put the spotlight back on her family. Simone, the Mum of 3 young boys, is looking forward to being more involved with their school and kinder. We will miss Simone’s quiet dedication to her class, and her collaborative approach to sharing a classroom with colleagues. We look forward to seeing Simone return to St Anne’s as a CRT during 2026.

To the staff, parents and students of the St Anne's school community. I would like to say a very big thank you for everything you have done for me over the past four years at this great school. A heartfelt thanks to the amazing staff, you are all so welcoming, kind and caring and you are wonderful role models to our young people. To the parents, thank you for sharing with me the gift that is your beautiful children. What an honour and a privilege it has been to get to know them and I have enjoyed watching them learn and grow everyday. Lastly, to the students, what an amazing ride it has been! I am so proud of all that you have achieved in your learning journeys and I know you are going to do great things in the future. Thank you for making my time at St Anne's so special, I feel very blessed to have been able to be your teacher. Wishing you all the best for your future endeavors and I hope you all have a safe and happy 2026 and beyond! Simone

After 25 years, Ann Twomey (LSO) is stepping gracefully into retirement, having had a taste of it earlier this year when she toured Australia in her caravan. Ann’s gentle presence in the classroom has supported many students across the years, challenging and supporting them to be their best selves. We will miss Ann’s gentle Irish accent and her wicked sense of humour and laughter.

Dear Staff, families, and friends of St. Anne's community,

I have decided to retire from St Anne's school after 25 years of service. As an LSO Educator, it has been a joy to both work and live in this local community. I have created wonderful memories and made some lifelong friends. Working in this role is quite unique as we seek to work in partnership with teachers and parents, enabling each student to become the best version of themselves. Working with the children has taught me so much about resilience and determination. We aim for students at St Anne's to become confident, happy, life long learners. It's such a joy to meet some ex-students who now have families of their own. I am grateful to the 4 Principals, many Leaders, Teachers and colleagues that I have shared a cuppa, a chat and their kindness over a 25 year period. Thank You ,

May 2026 bring many Blessings to you all.

God Bless, Slainte!! Ann Twomey

Anita Kovac has been working as an LSO at St Anne’s for the last 3 years while completing her teacher training. Now that she has graduated, Anita will be taking a job at St Thomas the Apostle in Greensborough, which is closer to her home in Box Hill. We thank Anita for her dedication to the profession, and wish her all the best for a successful teaching career.

Dear St Anne’s staff, students and parents,

Thank you for the most beautiful three years. St Anne’s has been so much more than a workplace for me, it truly became a place where I felt supported, appreciated, and myself. Working one-on-one with the students has been incredibly special and has shaped me in ways I’ll always remember. I’ve made friendships and memories that I’ll carry with me forever. As I step into my next chapter as a teacher, my heart is full, and I’ll miss you all deeply. I really hope our paths cross again. Anita

We welcome the following staff who are joining us in 2026
- Heidi Gebbo comes to us from St Paul’s in Sunshine and will be teaching in the Senior School.
- Chloe Walker and Amelia Cross will be returning from maternity leave and sharing a class together in the Middle School.
- Rachel Allen, who has been doing CRT work with us across the year, will be taking on a 2-day position in the Senior School.

As always, I am happy to receive emails or phone calls, or you can catch me in the yard before school (Wed Stewarts Lane, Thurs Riddell Road) or after school (Mon Riddell Road, Thurs Stewarts Lane, Fri Riddell Road).

Warm regards and God’s Blessings,

Stephen

sarthurson@sasunbury.catholic.edu.au

2026 Did You Know?

From next year, our Year 6 classes will all be located in the Hub (current 6M/6B and 5B/5W) while two of our Year 5 classes will remain in their current Hub locations and the other two move to the double portable near the Admin entrance.
Our Prep 2026 students will be the first to wear the new school uniform from Prep through to Year 6.
2026 will be the first year that Emma Coulson spends as an Australian citizen, having recently passed the citizenship test at Broadmeadows Town Hall. Congratulations on this achievement Emma - we look forward to hearing your Aussie accent over the microphone!