From The Principal
Stephen Arthurson
Dear Families,
Reconciliation
Last Thursday evening, our Year 3 students participated for the first time in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. One of the Catholic Church’s two Sacraments of Healing, Reconciliation gives us an opportunity to make right what is wrong by asking for God’s forgiveness in a formal and ritualised setting. As Fr Denis said to the students and their families, Reconciliation is “an encounter, not an event”, a chance for us to experience the healing and forgiving love of God through Jesus. Of course, we know that forgiveness isn’t limited to the Sacrament. In our daily lives, we all encounter situations where we need to forgive or to ask for forgiveness, and that some of these situations are easier than others. As a Catholic school community, we pray for God’s guidance for all our students (but particularly our Year 3s), that they will find the courage to ask for forgiveness when needed, and the compassion to grant it when it is asked for.
World Teachers Day
Today we recognise our amazing teaching staff on the occasion of World Teachers Day. It was great to see so many of our students joining in with the day’s theme by wearing hats of all shapes, sizes and colours. At a time when there is a very real teacher shortage in schools across Australia, we are fortunate at St Anne’s to have a dedicated team of creative and committed professionals working tirelessly to educate our students. If you haven’t already done so, can I suggest reaching out to your child’s teacher today or even next week with a quick note of thanks? Don’t ever underestimate the uplifting power of a positive message to brighten a teacher’s day.
Arts Showcase
Join us next Thursday afternoon any time between 3:30pm and 6:00pm for our annual Arts Showcase. As well as amazing art pieces on display throughout the corridors, be sure to check out the talented performers on the stage in the undercover area, and the mind-blowing creativity on display in the DDT Room. We are very proud of our Specialist Program here at St Anne’s - come along on Thursday and you’ll see why!
Grandparents Morning
With our school’s patron saint being the grandmother of Jesus, our annual St Anne’s Grandparents Morning holds special significance for our school community. Grandparents are invited along from 8:30am.
8:40am-9:40am Activities in classrooms and time to visit the Art Show displays
(Grandchildren from different grades are welcome to move around together)
9:40am-9:50am Prayer service in classrooms via Google Meet
(Grandchildren from different grades can stay in the one room)
9:50am-10:30am Morning Tea in the OSH Room and Undercover Area
Share your Thoughts
A final invitation to respond to 2 key questions (which are deliberately big, broad and open-ended).
At St Anne’s, what are we doing well?
At St Anne’s, what might we do differently?
While the opportunity to respond is optional, and the contents of responses will be treated with confidentiality, please note that names and email addresses will be collected in case follow up questions or points of clarifications arise.
As always, I am happy to receive direct emails with pressing concerns.
Warm regards and God’s Blessings,
Stephen