From the Principal

Dear Families,

We have begun the Church season of Advent, a time when we prepare for the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Advent means ‘coming’. The four Sundays preceding Christmas, are recognised for four virtues. The candles on the Advent Wreath symbolise;

Hope

Love

Joy

Peace

During Advent and in all busyness of this church season, I encourage you to stop and reflect that we are preparing for the birth of Jesus. 

Thank you to all our school community on the way you all participated in the Colour Run last Friday afternoon. It was so wonderful to see our children having lots of fun and enjoying themselves, after a challenging year adjusting to attending school and the ongoing pressure of dealing with COVID. I hope your cars and homes weren’t too messy when the children went home! These events don’t just happen so I would like to thank Sarah Magro for her organisation which allowed the day to run so smoothly. Also, a big thank you to Ashley Marshall who helped to promote the event in her role as our Community Liaison Leader.

As we approach the end of the year, it is always sad to say goodbye to our staff members who are leaving us at the end of the year.

Jane Barlow is moving to St Carlo Borromeo in Greenvale to be their Maths Leader. Jane has been at St Anne’s for 13 years where she began as a Learning Support Officer whilst studying teaching. Once she graduated she has taught classes at many levels and recently has been our Yr 3-6 Maths Leader. I thank Jane for the relationships she has made with our children and staff and driven improvement in Maths in the senior classes.

Simon Maltese is moving to St Francis de Sales in Oak Park to be their Religious Education Leader and Art teachers. Simon has been at St Anne’s for 6 years and I would like to thank him for his leadership and ensuring our Catholic Identity has been a focus in all aspects of our school. I also thank him for the work he has done with our Parish, particularly coordinating our Sacramental Programs.

Leanne Bonello is moving to Hume Anglican Grammar as the Learning Enhancement Leader. She has been our Literacy Leader for 4 years. I thank her for imparting her knowledge and ensuring the literacy skills of our children developed. Leanne has overseen our intervention program which is a passion of hers. She has introduced programs that have resulted in our children developing their skills when reading and writing.

Ashley Marshall is leaving us after 6 years to be the Prep teacher at St John Bosco’s in Niddrie. I would like to thank Ashley for the love and care she has given to her students and the positive relationships she has made with them. She has dedicated herself to ensuring our vision is lived out in her classrooms. I also thank her for her work as our Community Liaison Leader, reaching out to our parents ensuring there have been many opportunities to know what is happening in our school or attending our social functions.

Kelly Loft is moving to Diggers Rest Primary School after being at St Anne’s for 6 years. Kelly has been a classroom teacher throughout this time and her hard work has meant that the children in her classes have made wonderful progress. I thank her for her enthusiasm and the support she has given to the parents in her classes and her fellow teachers. 

Mariah Theo came to us as a graduate teacher 3 years ago and is moving to St Peter’s East Keilor. Mariah has Taught Year 1 and this year, Year 4. During her time here she has developed as a teacher and I thank her for the care she has for her students. She has worked well with her teams to ensure the students are participating in engaging lessons and they are learning to the best of their ability. I thank her for the work she has done over these past years.

Leah Hempenstall has been our Prep teacher for the past 2 years. I would like to thank Leah as she has ensured the newest students to our school have felt welcomed, safe and have developed a love of learning. I thank Leah for the care she has shown towards the children in her class and the excitement she shares as they grow and develop. Leah is moving closer to home, St Bernard’s East Coburg as their Prep teacher

Shelley Bertolini has been our Year 1 teacher this year and I thank her for her contributions to her team and the students in her class. Shelley will be moving into consultancy work next year.

Trish Brennan is leaving us to move to Nauru with her husband who works there. I thank Trish for her flexibility and the support she has given to St Anne’s when we have needed replacement teachers. Trish has given much of her time to support our children in which I thank her for. I also thank her for the collegiality she has shown to the teachers she has shared classes with.

Tanya Matthey Tanya has been a Learning Support Officer for 6 years. I thank her for the support she has given to the children and teachers she works with. I especially thank her for the work she did organising our ChromeBooks when we were learning remotely. Tanya is moving to Warnambool in the new year where her husband is working. 

I thank all our staff who are leaving us and wish them all the best in their new schools and future endeavours.

Step Up Day

On Thursday our children will be meeting their 2023 classroom teachers.  When teachers place children in classes they always look at the following

• academic ability
• social and emotional wellbeing 
• friendships.

 A lot of time and effort has gone into placing children in their 2023 classes. The teachers have been teaching their children for the past year and are well attuned to their learning progress and needs as well as who they work well with or who they may be distracted with. Once classes have been set it is not possible for them to be moved.

Our teachers are looking forward to meeting their new classes. 

Building Update

Works continue on the building with a finish date for the end of the year still planned. Over the next few weeks we will see brick work, plastering, doors installed, decking completed and external cladding. As we get closer to the end we are excited to see a culmination of all the hard work taking place.

Good Luck Indiana

Indi Hurst from Year 5 is performing at the Regent Theatre in the musical 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat' over the next few weeks. We wish her lots of luck for her performances. 

Positive Behaviour for Learning - PBL

Our focus for the term is focussing on behaviours that we expect to see if we are following our values. Examples may be;

Our focus continues to ensure our children remain in the ‘Green Zone’. As we come to the end of the year, we are getting tired and not as patient as we normally would be. We are encouraging our children to walk away if they feel they are getting annoyed and frustrated and have a drink, sit in a calm place or ask a friend to help them. 

At home you can support us by reminding your children to use the same strategies if they are getting annoyed or flustered. If our children can walk away and calm themselves it will mean they are staying in the Green Zone and able to cope with the challenges they may face over the next few weeks. 

If we work together then we will have children who know how to be respectful and responsible at all times!

God Bless