Dear Parents, Students and Friends,

Gratitude. That is the feeling I have on our return to school for Term 2.

I am grateful to those who continued to improve our school, look after the chickens and kept our school looking beautiful over the holidays.

I am grateful for our families arranging their commitments so that our staff could combine with all the other schools of the John Paul College Cluster to hear Hugh Van Cuylenberg speak of 'The Resilience Project' before the holidays and also again after Easter so the staff could gather the evidence of achievement to show the tremendous growth at St Anne's since our last Review in 2019.

I am grateful to Mrs Thomas for her organisation of the beautiful Liturgy Wednesday morning when we completed the Stations of the Cross as we remembered and celebrated the risen Christ followed by our annual Easter Bonnet Parade. I am also very grateful that so many parents and grandparents who could find the time to share this occasion in the hall with us.

I am grateful to our local Seaford RSL for holding their annual Anzac Day Schools' Service on Wednesday. It is a reminder that we are but one school in the wider community of Seaford, Carrum and Carrum Downs and of the debt we owe to those who have gone before in creating such a wonderful country for us. Well done to our student school leaders and Miss O'Donnell for her organisation of this.

I am grateful for Miss Lacey's organisation for our House Cross Country today despite it needing modification due to the inclement weather. I wish those older children who do well in this all the best at the District Cross Country next Thursday.

I am grateful again to Mrs Thomas, Fr Benneth and all the staff and students involved in our mass this morning to welcome in the new term. It provides such a united expression of who we are and why our schooling provides an education unique to all others in Seaford.

In news going forward Mrs McArthur will be taking Long Service Leave for Term 2 and will be replaced by Mrs Liz Eastwood. Mrs Eastwood will also be assisting Mrs Carr with the management of our wonderful choir. Next Tuesday evening many of our students will be completing their Sacrament of Reconciliation. I look forward to joining these students as they continue their Sacramental journey. Next Wednesday our Year 3/ 4 classes will go to Frankston Botanical Gardens as part of their studies.

Lest we forget all that is done for us

God’s blessings in abundance to you all

Rod Shaw,

Principal

School Attendance and Unexplained Absence

Please ensure you contact the school if your child is going to be absent 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 will be:

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.

Sun Smart

Due to changes in recommendations for our sun smart policy we will continue wearing our hats until the end of April and beginning wearing them again in mid August.

This year we have successfully introduced seek shade playtimes. When the UV is high we allow children outside but require them to play in the shade. This has been very effective and we will continue this again once the UV levels rise again.

It might be easier if children keep their hats at school this year until the end of April and can be left at home after that until mid August when they will be required to wear them again.

This & That

Commemorative Pavers

Kilbreda