As Holy Week commences, I wanted to take a moment to share with you the incredible experience I had last year in my pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Archbishop Anthony Fisher and 38 Principals from Sydney Catholic Schools. It was a journey of profound spiritual significance, one that will stay with me for a lifetime.

Our days were filled with reverence and reflection, we walked the Stations of the Cross at the Antonia Fortress, where Jesus was condemned to death, then along the Via Dolorosa, retracing the steps of our Lord. We've paused at the Lithostrotos, the pavement where Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate, and prayed, feeling the weight of history and faith.

Our journey continued at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where we celebrated Mass at the site of Calvary, for me, this was the highlight of the pilgrimage. Climbing the stairway to the actual site where the Cross once stood, and touching the natural rock below. It felt like a tangible connection to the events that unfolded centuries ago. And entering the Edicule, containing the tomb where Jesus rose from the dead, was a moment of profound joy and reverence.

As we reflect during Holy Week, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and deepen my faith in such a profound way.

This week we journey into Holy Week, we are preparing our hearts to enter into the time of Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection. On Sunday we celebrated Palm Sunday when Jesus entered into Jerusalem. He knew that soon he would be carrying his cross to Calvary, and so he was preparing his heart for what was to come.

Taking the time to pray as a family is one of the most important ways to stay close to Jesus. It might be difficult at first, but find the time this week and stick with it. Holy Week is a great time to go deeper in your family’s prayer life. If it’s something new, don't be afraid to start small.

Our Holy Week Reflections for the students were held this week with each grade participating in a pilgrimage visiting reflection of Holy Week. Thank you to Mrs Langlands and the staff for putting together such a beautiful Liturgy.

Kindergarten will celebrate the Resurrection on Tuesday 2 April at 9am on the Possum Playground.

Before & After School Care

As we reflect on the contributions made by our before and after school provider, GOSH, we are filled with gratitude for their dedication since 2015. Over the years, GOSH has become a part of our school community, enriching the lives of our children and families in countless ways.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Belinda & Joe Sullivan, Adam Mitchell and the GOSH team for their exceptional commitment to the well-being and development of the children under their care. Their dedication, professionalism, and care for the growth of every child has left an impression on our community.

Ever wonder what the teachers do on Staff Development Days?

Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) provides time for Staff Development Days (SDD) so that staff can work collaboratively and focus on providing high quality learning opportunities for your child. The St Anthony's staff are consistently focused on learning and improving their pedagogy.

Tomorrow, Thursday 28 March all teachers will be working on the Gifted Education Naturally Embedded (GENE) program. Teachers will learn:

the guiding principles of gifted education
how modifications of content, process, product and learning environment to the core curriculum, will provide a differentiated curriculum meeting the needs of all students
that gifted education principles are embedded within the state teaching standards underpinning our work in school
that collaborating and sharing practice builds cohesiveness and consistency of practice between schools from all regions
that reflecting and evaluating current beliefs, understandings and practices in regard to gifted education will inform strategic planning in this area.

Our Staff Development Days on Friday 12 April and Monday 29 April (Term 2), teachers will be working on a course developed between Sydney Catholic Schools and the Australian Centre for the Advancement of Literacy at the Australian Catholic University (ACU).

This course provide a systematic guide on the best, evidence-based strategies for teaching and assessing reading in K-2 in Sydney Catholic Schools. Teachers will encounter videos that distil the latest research, ideas and resources on how children learn to read, which can be used to help plan and prepare lessons, as well as explanations and examples of the syllabus.

End of Term Awards

Each term, we commemorate the SPBL award. The Term 1 accolade, known as the "Principals Award," centers on upholding the overall school expectations of being safe, respectable, and responsible. Please join us at our final assembly of term one on Friday, 5 April.

Congratulations to our Years 3 and 5 students who have participated in the NAPLAN assessments. The class teachers are very proud of the students approach to these assessments.

Week 6 & 7 Assembly - Congratulations to the award recipients!

ST ANTHONY'S CLOVELLY - ENROLLING NOW

We are currently accepting enrolments for Kindergarten 2025. If you know of families wishing to enrol at St Anthony's Clovelly or you have a sibling you would like to enrol please visit our school website: https://staclovelly.syd.catholic.edu.au/enrolment/enrol-now

Applications close on 5 April

I will be taking a long service leave during the last two weeks of this term, namely weeks 9 and 10. During my absence, Mrs. Langlands will be assuming the role of acting principal for week 9, while Mrs. Iorfino will take over as acting principal for week 10. Mrs Iorfino will be on leave in week 9.

I kindly request your full support in assisting Mrs. Iorfino and Mrs. Langlands in their roles during this time. Both of them are highly capable individuals who are familiar with the workings of our school and are dedicated to maintaining its smooth operation.

As we approach the Easter break, I would like to extend my warmest wishes to you and your families. May this Holy Easter season be filled with joy, blessings, and cherished moments spent with loved ones.

I look forward to reuniting with the school community upon my return on Tuesday, 30 April.

Yours in Partnership

Anna Novak

(SCECS) Sydney Catholic Early Childhood Services

Come and meet the SCECS Staff

SCECS personnel will be present at St. Anthony's from 8:30-9am and 2:30-3pm on Wednesday, 3 April. Feel free to come along and get acquainted with them.