Message from the Principal

St Anthony’s Parish and St Anthony’s School hold the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people as central and fundamental responsibilities of the Church. St Anthony’s is fully compliant with all policies in relation to Child Safety. These documents ensure compliance with the Victorian Government Child Safety Standards which took effect on 1 January 2017 and reflect our Parishes’ ongoing commitment to ensuring that all children are safe, happy and empowered.

Welcome

'And suddenly you know. It’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings.' (Meister Eckhart)

Here we are at the very beginning again, ready for the journey ahead. Refreshed and optomistic and yet somehow bolstered by the lessons of yesterday and last year driving us forward. The magic of new beginnings is exciting for all of us and so many of us have just experienced various wonderful new beginnings.

For our new Preps who have so positively and joyfully settled into the newness of school, we are so proud of you. We look forward to supporting you to grow and flourish.

For our Year 6 leaders who have walked through our doors with a confident sense of purpose, ready to lead by example our 'high expectations' and spreading the message of welcome that is the St Anthony's way. We thank you.

For the staff members who have left us to begin new journeys and set new goals, we wish you the most heartfelt blessings as you begin with new people and build new partnerships. We wont forget you.

For our Year 6 graduates who began their new journey at their respective secondary schools and colleges, you were in our thoughts all week as we constantly wonder how you are going. We will always be with you.

For our new staff members who have joined the team this year who have so confidently stepped into the rhythms and structures of our days and have also started building relationships with our learners, we welcome you.

For all of our new families who start anew, the prospect of first time at school can be daunting and even frightening, the letting go and the wondering what our babies are doing all day without us. We are here for you and we support you and we will look after you children as part of our own school family.

In the darkness and despair of what we know as Black summer comes the promise of new hope and new beginnings. We already see this hope shared throughout Australia through the community spirit. The love and care that has been out-poured to those in need after the devastating bushfires that continue to ravage the country is immense. As a community and with student voice leading, we will contribute to the bushfire relief together.

I borrow the words of another Principal who recently wrote to his families. They express the perfect sentiment;

"...if we genuinely consider this notion of a new beginning for a moment, we will come to the realisation that it is in the simplicity of the rising sun, and the new day that it gifts us, that we have the opportunity to learn and to advance confidently in the direction of our dreams. It is in the newness of this day, of every new day, that we find our positivity, we allow the past to gently fall behind us and we truly live out the values that define our unique school."

It has been pure joy for me to see everyone already enjoying their new friends, teachers and their new spaces with such wonder and awe. I am enjoying the beginning of my third year as the Principal of this outstanding school. Thank you to many of you who have already met with me to discuss your children, your fees and your ideas. I look forward to making time for many more of you in the months ahead.

'The beginning is the most important part of the work.' (Plato)

I warmly welcome you all to the beginning of this new school year. We go forth bravely to navigate the new terrain with great hope, faith and sense of purpose in our Year of Discovery.

Have a wonderful weekend. As always go gently and if you have any feedback or ideas we always want to hear them.

God Bless,

Patrika Rowley