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.

We are called to be the community of St Anthony's

 

A culture will be strong or weak depending on the interactions between people in the organization. In a strong culture, there are many, overlapping, and cohesive interactions, so that knowledge about the organization’s distinctive character — and what it takes to thrive in it — is widely spread.                                                                                                                                                Leah Shafer

 

What does it mean to be called into community? What is it that draws us together and knits a community culture that is so unique to just us?  Recently whilst attending a Professional learning day I was reminded that culture creation requires collaboration - between ourselves as adults, between our students and within all relationships that exist in the community.  Cultures are organic and they grow over time. Building a culture starts with connections — strong and overlapping interactions among all members of the school community.

 

Our unique story  tells the story of strong connections and community and it is constantly evolving, even since the making of our school story in film last year. We are proud to own every inch of our story, every mistake along the way, every milestone, every relationship and partnership and every learning opportunity. Over time, this is who we are.  Gradually as others join our community, they begin to be part of this culture, being welcomed into the ebb and flow of a place that has its own heartbeat.

 

At the centre of our story are our children. They are the curious, adventurous, spirited, faith filled and brave young people who dare to venture into the story each day. We invite them in, we nurture and challenge them and we prepare them for the next chapter of their own story.

 

As the cast and crew, we as the educators and adults must continue to keep creating collaborative, safe and engaging spaces where feedback is genuinely linked to improvement and learning every day.

I thank each and everyone of you for your warm wishes and messages over the past 2 weeks. It is lovely to know that I belong to a school culture  where people genuinely care for each other.

 

On March 20 we celebrate Harmony Day and The national Day of Action against Bullying. So far there are 304 Victorian Catholic schools registered to take action on the 10th anniversary of the National Day of Action against Bullying, on 20 March 2020. 

 

The theme for this year is ‘take action together’ aiming to promote student voice and ways to involve students working alongside parents and teachers in addressing bullying in their school and community.

The National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA) is an important day to mark Australian school students standing together in their communities to say Bullying. No Way! The wider community has a role to play by continuing the conversation and raising awareness about bullying prevention.

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