Principal's Message

Dear parents, students and families,

This week we have begun our Orientation sessions for the 2024 Foundation students  on Tuesday. The children seemed hugely excited and have their next one on Friday 24th November. 

This Sunday is our eagerly awaited Market Day. I know the planning team have put in a huge amount of organistaion to making this day a success. Besides any funds raised it is a great opportunity to promote our school in the local community. I thank everyone for your efforts so far with donations, distributing fliers and the many other actions that have occured.  Sunday will be, and always is, a huge day for the school. Even if you have not added your name to a roster on an activity I'm sure your support on the day would be hugely appreciated. After all, it is to support the learning environment of your kids.  

Recently I walked up and looked through the Knights of Malta keyhole in Rome. It provides a view straight through to the Dome of St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. On the way down the hill I walked into the Basilica of St Sabina which dates back to 422AD. It has a strong connection to the Domenican order. When reading through some of the history of the Basilica itself, and the Domenican order I was struck by the 4 foci of the Domenicans in the present day:-

1. Catechesis in a world which has become de-Christianised.
2. Critical dialogue with non-Christian cultures, systems and social movements.
3. Commitment to justice and peace.
4. Utilisation of the media for preaching.

I think there are some messages for all of us with these foci including needing to celebrate and share our faith in an increasingly secular world, appreciation of other cultures and religions whilst respecting and maintaining our own and seeking to ensure a just and peaceful world. These are certainly very important considerations as we help the students at St Anne's to learn and grow into the wonderful adults they will become. 

God bless and have a great weekend. I look forward to seeing many of you on Sunday. 

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 areason 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