Message from the Principal

Congratulations to all members of St Anthony's. A happy and successful Semester One complete!

The unfolding of your word gives light.

Psalm 119: 130

‘Learning brings hope ... that is based on the certainty of God’s promise of his love and care for us’. (Horizons of Hope)

Welcome staff, parents, friends and students to our final week of Term 2 and the end of another term. And what a great term it has been!

As we come to the halfway mark it is timely to reflect on so many achievements in six months. The students have contributed to so many wonderful developments that are enhancing learning at St. Anthony's. Student voice can be heard through the SRC and House Spirit campaign, changes to playtime and lunchtime programs and times have settled behaviours and celebrated friendships. Changes to Assembly as Celebrations of Learning that celebrate learning and give all children a turn at the microphone. The students have had more voice in their Inquiry learning, starting to design their questions embracing challenges, being versatile, persevering and taking risks. They are also learning to become creative and critical thinkers.

New technology is enhancing learning choices, 3D printers allow us to create and make 3D objects and watch them print. New iPads allow lots more creativity across the school with robotics, Augmented Reality programs and fun stuff.

We have many new friends in 2019 at the Early Learning Centre and new learning opportunities as our pre-preps (who are all enrolled here for 2020) visit the library and playground for a go at big school.

All learning spaces enhance student movement and allow for working in small groups, big groups or all together. The students and staff are enjoying the freedom to be collaborative and experiment with flexible furniture. The concept of flexible spaces is always growing and evolving. Many new and provocative prayer spaces keep popping up sparking lots of questions and inviting lovely conversations and our St Anthony's Prayer garden shines in the morning sun. The Year 6’s have been working on their 'leave your mark' mosaics and parents are invited in to help finish these this week. We have the ZEN DEN space that works beautifully for many students who need a break or a transition into learning after play and our Art Therapy program is working wonders with enabling our students to connect with thought and feeling.

We look forward to the continued development of our major production of Alice in Wonderland Junior and all of the gifts and talents that are emerging along with this in staff and students. 

Congratulations to all of our parents for the great job you do in working so carefully with us to support the education of your children. Some of the main messages from our recent School Advisory Group meeting which reinforce our mantra of 'Every Person Flourishing and Known' are the continued enthusiasm and spirit of teachers and staff members - they are amazing and know our kids, feeling welcome anytime we step into the school yard or classrooms, the Catholic values being taught and represented in all we say and do, our children being exposed to a range of different cultures and religions, it feels like a COMMUNITY and the extent that our staff go to for our kids and our parents - highly appreciated. They love knowing what is going on through the new newsletters and Dojo and they love that children love coming to school here because they feel happy. 

We are very fortunate to be called to this community every day and to experience this level of feeling valued and welcome. Enjoy your holidays and we look forward to coming together in term three to continue the journey. Thank you to our educators and all staff for the passion and dedication you give to your jobs.

As always if you have any feedback, questions or ideas we’d love to hear about them.

God Bless,

Patrika Rowley