Principal's Message

Dear Parents, students and the wider community,

Welcome back everyone. It has been so nice to see lots of smiles and the students so happy to see their friends and their teachers. Thank you to the families who made sure the chickens were happy and healthy over the break and our vegies continued to grow. 

On Wednesday I attended the delayed 2020 Celebration of Principalship hosted by Archbishop Comensoli. We commenced with a Mass at our beautiful St Patrick's Cathedral before sharing a meal together. There is something very unifying about spending this time together with clergy, staff from MACS (Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools) and primary and secondary principals from across the Archdiocese. In Archbishop Peter's homily he spoke about principles and principals. In the end his point was that Jesus was a man of principles who should act as our principal guide in conducting ourselves. It is the same message we regularly share with our students as we unpack scripture so that our students can find a way how the written word can have meaning in their own lives. 

This is why Alleluia Day was not just about the bonnets (fantastic though they were- so creative!!) and the chocolate egg the students brought home but was preceded by a liturgy where the message of the risen Christ was celebrated and reflected upon. 

Today our school leaders attended the Seaford RSL's School's Anzac Liturgy and laid a wreathe on our behalf. Generally all 17 schools within the local RSL's boundaries attend and it is a solemn and reflective occasion. It is a wonderful, respectful occasion that I am proud to see our school represented at. In the afternoon, as a school, we too had our own liturgy and would like to think that our students are aware of the significance of this day as we commemorate it. 

Next week is a big week for the school and it is only Week 2! In exciting news on Wednesday Ms Sonya Kilkenny, local Member for Carrum, will officially open our refurbished building. This will occur between 10.15-10.45am. Should you wish to attend please ring the office and let us know. We will set up inside the new building and I will need to know how many people will be in attendance. Entry for our parents will be via the ramp leading into the junior block. We will have usual COVID entry protocols in place.  It is wonderful that Sonya can officiate at the opening as she was instrumental in securing us a $1,000,000 grant that funded much of the development. 

Just touching on school improvement at the end of last term we had the sound systems updated throughout the school which now include the hall and have also had the security camera system totally upgraded for the school. This term I am in the process of finalising to have the asphalt area outside the hall refurbished with a lot of embedded new activities and to complete the deck areas of the hall by having the ceilings lined and steps put into them. To me, both these aspects are necessary in completing the project. 

A reminder that school photos are next Friday. Please ensure your children are in full winter school uniform on the day. Next Friday is also the last day for Miss Le Griffon who will be commencing her maternity leave. As such Mrs Chiodo has agreed to work full time with her Year 1/ 2 class and Mr Michael Bright has been appointed to work in the two Foundation classes. He will begin on Thursday 6th May and is very much looking forward to joining our staff. 

We seem to be receiving very regular inquiries regarding enrolment at St Anne's, whether for Foundation 2022 or to join our school in other classes for this year. It is pleasing to have such a level of interest in the school. I thank you for the work you as families are doing in promoting our school to the wider community- I think nothing beats a ''word of mouth'' recommendation. 

Wishing everyone a great weekend. God Bless

Rod Shaw

Principal

School Attendance and Unexplained Absence

Please ensure you contact the school before 9:30am if your child is going to be absent or late  by leaving a message on 9786 4736 and press #1.

If you are running late (after  9:00 am ) please attend the office to sign your child into school. 

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 phone call or text message.

If parent does not reply or 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.