St Anthony's School Newsletter No.5

Dear Families and Friends of St Anthony’s School,

Annunciation – On Monday 25th March we remembered the great announcement of the Angel Gabriel and willing acceptance of Mary to say Yes to God’s call to bring Jesus into the world. The Feast day reminded us of the courageous actions of Mary to listen to God and act in faith. We all are offered similar opportunities every day to bring God’s love into the world through our thoughts and actions. Every time we act in kindness and consideration for ourselves and others we uphold the core St Anthony’s value of LOVE.

Earth Hour & Purple Day were two powerful ways we have LISTENED and acted to show care and compassion for all of God’s creation. Thank you to the many students and their families who designed and made stalls for us to show our love for the people focused upon through the Project Compassion Stories. It was a great honour to see the care and love shared in the name of hope! Thanks to Mrs Mercer and all the staff for their help and support of these events.

Teacher Professional Learning – This term staff have been exploring the needs of students learning and well being through analysis of data collected through observations, assessments and reflection. Teachers this year will be using a model of inquiry called Professional Learning Communities. Our Early Years teachers will be focusing on Personal and Social Capabilities and our Middle-Upper Primary teachers will be exploring Critical and Creative Thinking. Staff are currently exploring students’ needs and identifying their own learning needs in response to these areas. Staff will then explore and learn more about these topics and trial new teaching methods and ideas to support student growth in these areas. We look forward to sharing the ways we as a staff are active in the L of LEARNING.

Learning Conversations & ongoing chats with teachers - Thank you to the many parents who took up the opportunity to meet with their child’s teacher for a learning conversation. We hope these were a beneficial opportunity. We hope these were moments to celebrate growth and achievement and provided you with ideas, information and what teachers will be focusing on to see growth and advancement in learning.  It is never too late for a learning conversation. Teachers are always happy to chat about your child’s learning, if you weren’t able to make a time this week, please make contact with your child’s teacher.

Water Safety Week – This week students in R-4 have participated in daily lessons at Marion Pool. It has been great to see students enjoying their lessons and pushing themselves to master new skills. Our Yr. 6 students returned after a day of surfing on the South Coast on Thursday 4th April. There has been a great deal of enjoyment LAUGHTER and joy during the lessons and activities. Thanks to the Teachers, Staff and Parent Volunteers who have helped out and supported the week.  A special thanks to Mrs Downs for all her work and preparation for the week.

Thanks to members of the School Board, P&F, Fete Committee, Sports Coaches and Team Managers, Parent Volunteers, Helpers and Supporters of St Anthony’s who have shared and given to enrich the learning and experiences of our students over this term. Your LEADERSHIP and support are greatly appreciated.

With only a few days of term 1 left, I personally wish to thank all members of the community for the welcome and privilege I have had in becoming a part of the amazing St Anthony’s community. I hope this term has contained many great moments for you and your children?  I would really love to hear about your thoughts and ideas about this term. What did we do well? What could have been better? Do you have any ideas or comments to continue to help St Anthony’s grow and improve? I invite you to come and chat, drop me an email or drop your thoughts off at the Front Office.

I look forward to and invite you to join us for the prayerful moments we will have next week in preparation for Holy Week and Easter (Monday, Wednesday & Friday Morning at 9am). Holy Week and Easter will occur in the holidays and we look forward to celebrating the joyous news of Easter.

I extend safe and joy-filled holiday wishes to all. May the Easter message of hope, joy and new beginning bless your families. From Stuart  

Early this year the staff invited Yr 6 students to apply for school leaders positions. Students were invited to write an application and then participate in a range of activities, most importantly demonstrate their leadership. Staff then reflected upon the candidates and contributed to the final decision. 

The 2019 School Leaders are

St Anthony's - Keeley and Jorja 

St Mary's - Kevin and Caitlyn

St Theresa's - Jesse and Rachel

St Dominic's - Thomas and Gus

We give thanks for the leadership of all our students and especially our senior students this year. 

You may have noticed the sausage sizzle for the last day of term is to support the Yr 6 Canberra Trip. With the approval of the School Board and support of Yr 6 families we have introduced the opportunity for Yr 6 students to travel to Canberra in term 4. We are looking forward to providing this enriching learning experience. Next term the Yr 6 students will be running a cafe as a part of their Business and Economics Curriculum with funds raised to support the Canberra Trip. 

Many, many thanks to all for helping to make Purple Day such a wonderful gathering!  While the combination of wind and sugar may have contributed to the children being slightly excited it was still a wonderful afternoon and, most importantly, we raised lots of money for Project Compassion. A special thank you to the many children who planned, organised and run their own stalls. It was inspiring to see them take initiative, problem-solve and display such passion for helping others. Thanks also to the many parents who supported their children. 

Please return all Project Compassion boxes (hopefully with money in them!!!) to the Front Office before the end of term - next Friday April 12th. All money collected will be added to our school contribution to Caritas's Project Compassion Appeal.

Many thanks for your generous support.

Families are encouraged to read the stories together about the communities we will be helping.

The 6 Project Compassion stories can be found here: https://lent.caritas.org.au

Please keep Keeley, Joseph, Paige, Sebastian, Xavier, Cormac and Jarvis and their families in your prayers as they prepare to celebrate their First Reconciliation this weekend. A number of other children are also preparing for sacraments in different parishes and we look forward to supporting them as they take this important step on their journey as members of the Christian family through the sacraments of the Catholic church. 

This year Holy Week and Easter are in the school holidays.

We will be remembering the events of Holy Week next week and will celebrate Easter when we return after the holidays - for Christians, Easter is not just one Sunday but lasts for 6 weeks, leading up to the great feast of Pentecost!!!

Families and friends are invited and encouraged to join us for the following Community Prayers as we remember the most important part of the Jesus story. 

Mon April 8th: 9am - Community Prayer: We Remember Jesus the King 

Wed April 10th 9am - Community Prayer: We Remember Jesus Last Meal with His Friends

Fri April 12th 9am: - Community Prayer: We Remember Jesus Died but that was Not the End....

Term 2

Mon April 29th 9am: - Easter Joy Community Prayer: We Remember Jesus is Risen. 

Next Monday APRIL 8th children are asked to bring a palm branch (or similar)  to help create atmosphere at our Palm Community Prayer.

Children are also encouraged to bring a simple Biblical costume to help us connect with the time and place that Jesus lived in. Costumes can be put over uniforms and kept at school for the Community Prayer times throughout the week.

We are excited to announce the line-up of Stalls and Stall Convenors for the 2019 St Anthony’s School Fete!

 Stay tuned for weekly Fete updates as we’ll let you know how you can help out during the year.

Bar                              Mark Cowley             (Kate, 4)

BBQ                            Shane Curley           (Fionn, 3 & Owen R)

Trash n Treasure     Andrea Williams       (James, 6)

Silent Auction           Jane Ryan                 (Gabrielle, 4)

Baking / Lollies         Angela Cordell         (Sienna, 6, Trinity, 4, Maya R) 

                                    Kylie Travers             (R/1 teacher)

Fresh Produce          Anna Merola             (Sienna, 4)

                                    Craig Malin              

Plants                         Letitia Waite              (India, 6, Cormac, 4, Jarvis, 3)

Eb & Ive                     Emily Carey              (Keeley, 6, Joseph, 4, Francis R)

Hot Dogs                   Sally Downs              (Gus, 6, Harry & Baxter, 4)

Indian                         Kelly Lumsden         (Aeden, 3 & Islay R)

Kids Zone                  Hollie McGregor       (OHSC Director)

Drinks                        Natalie Victory          (Charlotte, 5 Rose, 3)

Baked Potatoes        Michelle Colagrossi (Yr 4 teacher)

2nd Hand Clothes     Kym Pryde                 (Jaren, 4, Grace, 3)

MC                              Harry Georgiou        (Yr 6 teacher)

Entertainment           Lee-anne Hills          (Lainey, 6 & Paige, 4)

Fairy Floss                TBA

Café                           TBA                            Any Barista’s out there?

Fresh Bread              VACANT                    Need someone to collect and bag the bread

Milkshakes                VACANT

Craft                           VACANT

Wine Wall / Raffle    VACANT

If there’s a stall that interests you or if you want to convene a vacant stall, please contact a Fete team member as we would love to hear from you.

Anna, Jane, Lee-anne, Letitia, Bernice, Sarah, Melissa, Sue, Penny, Natalie, Jennie, Tanya

We made damper which was a inspired by a project compassion story from Michaela from Australia. Michaela would work with the elders in her community and share their talents including damper making.

Todd Morfitt, Principal of St John the Baptist, Plympton has been diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s Disease. More information about Todd can be found in the following article:  https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/beloved-adelaide-school-principal-todd-murfitt-fighting-against-early-onset-parkinsons-disease/news-story/bb57071faac163cde367415e921f13dc

If you’re interested in supporting Todd please access the following link, any excess money will be given to Parkinson’s SA. https://www.gofundme.com/shakey-leadership

If you love Nutella and all things Nutty then this is the event for you!  Saturday 20th April commencing 11.00am at Morphetville Racecourse.  Thanks to one of our amazing parents Ben Natt, we have 20 (adult) entry tickets to giveaway! See front office staff to collect. Children under 15 free.  Rides for the kids, 50 different food trucks and even an Easter Egg Hunt!