Dear Parents, Guardians and Friends,

Remote learning: Phase 2 has commenced. Notwithstanding the challenges of this way of learning at least we have all had a practice run with it. Please continue to stay in contact with your child/children's class teacher/s with any challenges and we will address them as best we can. I will continue to enjoy sharing the students' learning through checking in on Seesaw and Google Classroom.

Thank you for those who 'attended' Parent Teacher interviews this week. It would certainly have been a different experience for everyone. Nonetheless, despite the most strangest of years, the on-going learning of our students must be our focus and the relationship between school and home is of vital importance.

On Wednesday Miss Holmes had a special Google Meet celebration of 100 Days Of School for our Foundation students. I was very pleased to join them on line and see their smiling faces. For 2021 we already have 27 enrolments for Foundation including 15 siblings. With nearly another 10 families who have expressed keen interest it seems highly likely that we will be having two Foundation classes next year.

The building project commences on Monday 27th July. The movement of furniture and resources by staff has been a massive workload that I can guarantee was in none of their position descriptions. I thank them for clearing the spaces to enable the builders a clear run at doing all the things they need to.

In reading Matthew's gospel this week the image of treasure dominates this text. Jesus sees the search for God as part of the journey of people in all walks of life, because everyone is searching for ‘treasure’ in their lives. We need to have discerning hearts so that we can recognise what is real treasure and then give our whole lives to it. The quiet time afforded to us through this pandemic allows us to consider what it is we most treasure and to focus on that - for me I know above all else, it is my family.

Fr Benneth, as many would be aware through Parish communications, is currently undergoing further formation work. In his absence Fr Andrew Jekot continues in his role as temporary administrator for our Parish. If you need help in some way please feel free to contact the Parish Office and Annette White, though working remotely, will endeavour to connect you with the right support.

I have been speaking with Fr Jekot a little over the past couple of weeks as he co-signs documents related to the building project. He wanted to assure our families that the sacramental needs of our students at St Anne's have not been forgotten but, like every other Parish, due to the current situation have largely been put on hold.

This Sunday is our Parish Feast Day. Usually today would have been a great day of celebration for our school communities of St Anne and St Joachim. Our focus for this celebration is around grandparents with Anne and Joachim being the grandparents of Jesus. You might like to do something special at home with your children if they are still fortunate enough to have grandparents. I always feel especially privileged to see so many grandparents around our school during more normal times. It certainly adds to our community feel.

Look after yourselves and let your light shine!

May God Bless you.

Rod

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.

Happy birthday to you

A very happy happy birthday to:

Chantelle

Jax

Hip Hip Hooray