St Anthony's Primary School Girraween

Term 4 - Week 3 - 2020

2020 SCHOOL CALENDAR

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=parra.catholic.edu.au_3135383639343030393337%40resource.calendar.google.com&ctz=Australia%2FSydney
Refer to our school calendar, newsletter and Skoolbag to stay up to date with all upcoming school events.

In memory of those who have died

On 2 November and during the whole month of November, the Catholic Church prays especially for those who have died.

On Monday all classes will gather in prayer for All Souls Day. If children would like to, they will be asked to prayerfully share the name/s of relatives or friends that have passed away and for whom they would like to offer a prayer for.

You may like to pray together as a family to commemorate all the departed:


Merciful Father,

On this day, we are called to remember all people we loved who have died,

particularly those who have passed from this life in the past year.

Thank you for our memories of them and for the blessed times we shared.

We pray for their joyful reunion with you, their loving creator.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Organisation of 2021 Classes

Over the next month, teachers and leaders will be working together to create the 2021 class groupings. This is done to achieve the most appropriate academic and social mix of students that maximises learning for all students.

Teachers will create two class groups which endeavour to be evenly balanced with consideration to gender, academic ability, support for learning, behaviour, friendships and class size. It is a task which takes time, effort and information. Your child’s teacher will draw upon as much data as they currently have to create these classes including friendship information directly from your child.

If you feel there is an important aspect in regard to your child that you wish to put forward or that we are not currently aware of in preparing next year’s class, please put your considerations into writing and send confidentially to Ms Ducksbury via the school email or letter to the office by Tuesday 24th November, 2020.

Catholic Faith and Life

Get to Know our new Religious Education Curriculum - the Hand Dispositions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wikaYkjRNnY

Our new Diocesan Religious Education Curriculum is designed to speak to students and the world they live in.  It seeks to transform their lives, our communities and our society.

Last term we started to introduce to you the Head, Heart, Hand paradigm that is central to the new curriculum.  Take a look at our latest video, which goes into more detail about the Hand dispositions.

You can find more information, as well as our entire video series as it develops on the Catholic Faith and Life page of our school website.

Through the Head, Heart and Hand, we Flourish and Put our Faith into Action

One of the ways we put faith into action at St Anthony's is through our engagement with works of social justice.  Even through this interrupted school year, we have been active in helping to meet the needs of others in the world.  The year started with us supporting the community of McAuley Catholic Central School, Tumut, after the devastating bushfires.  While our Mini Vinnies couldn't hold their usual sleepout, our community still contributed to the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal and helped Jesuit Refugee Service provide essential items to those not receiving government support.  Last term concluded with our annual Mercy Market; Year 6 working hard to help raise over $1400 for Mercy Works.

This term, our focus will be on supporting the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal in our parish community.  Mini Vinnies will be letting us know soon about how we will help with the making of Christmas hampers for families in our area who need support.

Letter from St Anthony's Parish - Confirmation Enquiry Night

Dates for the Confirmation preparation process and celebrations can be found on our school calendar.  This letter was sent through Seesaw to all Year 5 and 6 families last week.
Download

School News

St Anthony's Virtual Tour

Dear Parents,

Next week, there will be photographers from the CEDP photographing our school with the purpose of creating a virtual tour for our website. In recent times, with limited people accessing our school site, a virtual tour will be a useful way for new families to take a look inside our school and classrooms.

Some children may be featured in the photographs, so if you haven't yet let us know if your child is permitted to be published in photos, please fill in the permission form.

Save the date - SCG AGM - All Welcome

Inviting all new and current parents, come along to the 2020 Annual General Meeting of our parent body, the SCG (School Community Group).

Date: WEDNESDAY 9 DECEMBER

Time: 7:00-8:00pm

Place: Staffroom

2020 may have put a pause on all our great ideas, so let's make 2021 a year of community fun and fundraising for the benefit of our students and our school. Come along and share your ideas, volunteer for a one off event or join the team. How much or how little is up to you! We'd love to see you there.

World Teachers Day - A shout out to St Anthony's teachers!

Australia will celebrate and thank the teaching profession on World Teachers’ Day - Friday 30 October. Teachers, with support from parents and carers, have ensured education continues across the country this year, despite major challenges. It has reinforced the significant role teachers play in the lives of children and students, their families and communities.

On Friday 30 October, help us celebrate teaching by saying a big thank you to your teachers with a smile and tell us what you love about school and learning at St Anthony's!!

Life Education and Healthy Harold

St Anthony's school pick up zone (afternoons)

Dear Parents,

With the instalment of the pedestrian crossing on Girraween Road, there have been some adjustments to the road signs and rules in this area. Please familiarise yourselves with these. It is also timely to remember the guidelines to a safe and successful pick up in the afternoons. Please see these below.

How can I order a 'surname' sign for my car?

You can order a 'surname' sign by submitting an e-form via Skoolbag. Please refer to the screenshots below for support.

Click on the e-forms tab
Click on the Afternoon Pick Up Car Sign e-form

Year 4 Health Posters

Students in Year 4 have been learning about road safety and inspired by the installation of our new crossing they have designed posters to assist with safely using the crossing.

Road Safety Posters - Year 4

House Colour T-shirts

It has been great to see so many students wearing their house coloured shirts with their sports uniform each Monday this term for our Athletics program. We ask that any t-shirt worn on these days has sleeves (no singlets or jumpers) and is as plain coloured (print/image free) as possible.

As we continue to develop our House colour system and opportunities throughout the school year for wearing the coloured t-shirts with the sports uniform at special events and carnivals, we ask that students wear plain coloured t-shirts or polo shirts. This will ensure consistency and uniformity across the school as these are not free dress mufti days. For the start of the 2021 school year, all students will need a plain coloured t-shirt or polo shirt. These can be purchased from Kmart, Best & Less or Target and range between $3 and $6. 

Thank you for your support 

Uniform Price Increase

Due to increased costs from our uniform supplier, we unfortunately have had to increase our prices on certain uniform items. It has been a number of years since any price changes and we have endeavoured to minimise these where possible. Please take note this is effective from 16th November 2020. The Uniform Price list is available on the school website or from the school office.  

St Anthony's Uniform Shop

St Anthony's uniform shop opening hours in Term 4, 2020 are by BOOKED APPOINTMENT ONLY:

TUESDAYS 8:30-9:15am            WEDNESDAYS 2:15-3:00pm

Please note: KINDERGARTEN 2021 Uniform Fittings are scheduled for Tues 8 and Wed 9 December. The uniform shop will not be open for other bookings on these days.

Outside of these times, orders and payments can be placed in person through the front office if the size of the item is known.

See our school website for uniform requirements and price list.

All students come back to school in Term 4 in their summer uniform.

Updated School Policy Guidelines for Parents

St Anthony's is required to comply with a range of government and Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta (CEDP) policies and procedures.  From these, we develop procedures that outline how these apply in our local context.

We are progressively revising our guidelines and procedures so that they are current, clear and concise.  The Policies and Procedures page on our website now has updated guidelines on:

  • Enrolment
  • Selective High School and Opportunity Classes in Public Schools
  • Excursions

A range of CEDP policies are also available for your information.

Community News

OLMC Parramatta

Mel's Tasty Bites - Canteen Update

MENUS - check out the St Anthony's menus at melstastybites.com/menu

CANTEEN ACCOUNTS - consider opening a canteen account to minimise cash handling, see information on our website

BIRTHDAYS - Canteen options are available for a child to celebrate their birthday with their classmates. 

* Animal Pops Bucket - $1 each ice block

* Cupcakes with frosting - $1.80 each cupcake (72 hours notice required)

St Anthony's Primary School, Girraween