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.

Our learners, your children, always growing, always pushing...

'The most successful people in life are the ones who ask questions. They are always learning. They are always growing. They are always pushing.' 

                                                                                                                                                                                    Robert Kiyosaki

How do we measure success or how do we measure successful people? It is one of the most topical issues in the field of education. What does success look like? Will my child be successful? How do I know?

 

One thing I know for certain is that our young learners and your children are our very own successful people.  They are continually experiencing success of some kind, from academic learning, knowing their words, mastering a mathematical concept, grasping a writing genre, tying a shoelace, controlling an emotion, remembering to bring in a homework task, getting through the day with control of a difficult situation and the list goes on.

 

Throughout the week I have been reminded of the power of a question to learning. As I wander though learning spaces and hear these questions I realise that they are deep questions and wonderings. Observations and ponderings. It is these questions, if we allow ourselves to really listen that drive and push the learning. It should not be us as the adults asking the questions but our learners, your children.

There are the random and curious Prep questions that delight me each time I visit and remind me that these questions are our newest community members trying to make sense of their new school world.  Let us answer them with patience and care!

 

The complex and lengthy questions of our middle school students reassure me that that young curiosity from the junior years is still burning bright and that we must nurture this and keep those questions coming. Let us not stop listening!

 

The well considered questions from our senior students tell me that they are searching for bigger answers and have such burning curiosity about their ever growing world. Their questions reach beyond the school fence and seek global recognition. Let us provide the spaces for them to reach globally!

 

The questions from my own 12 year old son tell me that he is still learning and growing and seeking answers in his new secondary school environment where he will be required to push harder and discover things about himself that he never knew. Let me remember to let him make mistakes.

 

Our children are always learning, growing, pushing forward and it is our role to help and encourage them along this journey of discovery.

So I introduce you all to our year of DISCOVERY. A year to ask questions and discover the best in ourselves and the best in each other. A year to embrace questions and allow a range of opportunities to seek answers.

 

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

Introducing...