St Anne's news: Wednesday 4 December 2019

Welcome to the St Anne's newsletter. Here's everything that's happening around our community this week.

• Reflection
• Greg's Message
• School fees 2020
• Term Dates 2020
• Term 4 key dates
• Sports
• Religious Education
• St Vincent's De Paul Annual Appeal
• Christmas Mass
• Parish News
• Second Hand Uniform Shop
• Bunnings Sausage Sizzle
• Wellbeing
• Community News
•  
• Enrolments, uniform and school fees
• Our calendar, advertise here
• School hours
• Out of School Hours Care (OSHC)
• Term Dates

We pray today, Father, for the injured and sick who are still suffering from the after-effects of man-made or natural disasters. We pray that those who have responsibilities may have a “feeling” for others and so grow in care and respect for those whose lives they may influence. For ourselves and those that we care for, lead us to make our choices wisely, and accept responsibility for our own lives and for our choices and actions and their consequences. Amen.

Hello Parents and Friends of St. Anne’s
As this is our last newsletter for 2019, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you all - staff, students, parents and volunteers - for another fantastic year.
Recently I presented my annual report at the Parish Education Board and Parents and Friends Association meetings. The report is as follows:

“Good evening all
It is my pleasure to present my annual report. Our school continues to offer an expansive range of programs geared at developing the “whole child.” Some of these programs include the SRC, year 6 leaders, Green Team, GRIP leadership program, interschool sport, district sport, Walking Wheeling Wednesday, Ride 2 School, Fun Fit Friday, school camp, art show, house festival, Glee Club, instrumental programs, buddies program and many student support (academic) programs. I’d like to acknowledge our dedicated and committed staff at St. Anne’s, and thank them for their superb efforts this year.

From an academic perspective, late last term NAPLAN student reports were sent home to parents/carers of Year 3 and 5 students. It is important to remember that these tests are a “one off”, and are based on one assessment. This is far different to student semester reports that are constructed using a variety of assessments. Having said that, the Naplan results for St. Anne’s are very positive. Some key points include:

•         Year 3: Our students mean score was well above the state (that is, all schools including catholic, government and independent) in Reading, Writing and Grammar/ Punctuation. Our mean score was above the state in Spelling and Numeracy.

•        Year 5: Our students mean score was well above the state in in Grammar/ Punctuation. Our mean score was above the state in Reading, Writing, Spelling and Numeracy.

•        Year 3 and 5: Our students in the bottom quartile achieved at a significantly higher level than the state’s bottom quartile across all areas.

•      Year 5: Our students in the top quartile achieved at a significantly higher level than the state’s top quartile in Reading, Grammar/Punctuation and Numeracy.

Schools are about students. At St. Anne’s we are truly blessed to be working with children who are cooperative, honest, respectful, positive, inclusive and considerate. I see these qualities in the classroom, schoolyard, church, sporting fields and on excursions and camps. These qualities are also acknowledged by casual relief teachers and visitors who speak so highly of our students and the school. I congratulate all students on their progress this year. I wish our departing students every future success and happiness, and thank them for their contribution to St. Anne’s.

For me there were many highlights in 2019. Here are some of them:
·         Our church celebrations: sacraments, special day masses, hospitality masses and level masses.
·         St. Anne’s and St. Joachim’s day (grandparents’ day). A beautiful mass followed by another amazing morning tea.
·         Year 6 graduation mass and dinner
·         Level expos: science
·         Family science night
·         Foundation 100 days
·         Buddies program
·         School sports
·         Interschool sport
·         Sports clinics (F-6)
·         Hooptime
·         Swimming program
·         Fun Fit Fridays
·         Book Week
·         Book fair
·         Bush dance
·         Glee Club
·         Art show
·         School camp
·         Student run assemblies
·         GRIP leadership conference
·         Program support group meetings
·         Parent teacher interviews
·         School open days
·         Foundation orientation program
·         Parents and Friends dinner dance at Fenix
·         Parents and Friends luncheon for staff
·         MCC bowls night
·         Disco
·         Working bees
·         Parish picnic
·         Mothers’ day stall
·         Fathers’ day stall
·         Fathers’ day breakfast
·         Bottom court redevelopment

All of the highlights listed above require teamwork, cohesion, communication and hard work from staff, students and parents. This combined commitment to our school ensured the success of these programs/ events. The support the school receives from our parents is immense. Thank you to those generous people who assisted us on excursions, with sport, sold icy poles, sold school uniforms, book fair, Book Week, social events organisers, attendees and donors, grandparents day organisers, classroom helpers, library helpers and working bee volunteers. Special thanks to our Parish Education Board, led by Susan Whyte, and Parish Pastoral Council, chaired by Richard Clancy. Thanks to members:  Jim Kiliadis, Michael Cromie, Sue Wuttke (PEB) and Peter Mount (PPC.) These two bodies continue to assist the school and the parish enormously.

St. Anne’s is blessed to have a very active and committed Parents and Friends Association. Their charter is to support the school socially and financially and this body did a superb job in 2019. I’d like to acknowledge the entire committee: in particular, Richard Clancy (President), Kathleen Sexton (vice-president), Lisa Hodgkinson (Secretary), Becky Ellis (Treasurer) and Syl Longo and Clare Bellio (working bee coordinators) – these people made strong contributions to the Parents and Friends Association, and by extension, the school. The successful completion of the Parents and Friends totally funded back court has been three years in the making – lots of fundraising, dedication and generosity has been involved. The court has made a significant difference to our PE/sport programs and to the children’s level of enjoyment at recess and lunchtime. It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the amazing work of our dinner dance committee – to record a profit of $24,500 was incredible.

In concluding, I’d like to acknowledge the great support of our new Parish Priest Fr. John Salvano and assistant parish priest, Fr. Toan. These two people know St. Anne’s is a great school, consisting of wonderful staff, parents and students. 2019 has been another wonderful year and I wish everyone an enjoyable, enriching and safe holiday.”

I wish all families a happy and safe Christmas break. To all departing students and families, I thank you for your contribution to St. Anne’s and wish you health and happiness.

Greg James (Principal)

School Reports/Classes 2020
School reports will be emailed to families on Wednesday 11th December. Our transition session for 2020 classes will be held on Monday 16th December. On this day parents will receive a letter outlining their child’s classroom teacher for 2020.

Skoolbag App
During the last two hectic weeks of the school year please make sure to take notice of any Skoolbag alerts.

Art Show
Last Thursday’s Art Show was an outstanding success. The quality of student artwork on display was brilliant. Congratulations to our students. I’d also like to acknowledge our staff. The classroom teachers worked with the children to produce the fabulous art. Further thanks to Bron Seedeen for coordinating the art show. Finally, it was wonderful to see such a large crowd in attendance full of parents, family members and ex students.
    
School Fees
We have over $30,000 school fees outstanding. As we near the end of the year, this figure is a significant and worrying one. For those concerned your attention to this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. 

END OF YEAR/START OF YEAR
Students will be dismissed at 1pm on Wednesday 18th December. The 2020 school year for teachers begins on Tuesday 28th January, 2020. All students commence their school year on Thursday 30th January. The before and after school care program recommences on Friday 31st January. A reminder that Foundation students don’t attend school on Wednesdays during February.

• Term 1 - 28/01/2020 (teachers) 
•                30/01/2020 to 27/03/2020 (students)
   
• Term 2 - 14/04/2020 to 26/06/2020 

• Term 3 - 13/07/2020 to 18/09/2020 

• Term 4 - 5/10/2020 to 16/12/2020

• Wed 4:      Swimming,
•                  Parish Pastoral Council
•                  Parish Education Board  7:30pm
• Thu 5:       Swimming
• Fri 6:         First Friday mass 10am
• Mon 9:      Swimming
• Tues 10:   Swimming,
                   2020 Buddies meet and greet  2.30pm
• Wed 11:    Swimming; Parents and Friends 7:30pm
• Thu 12:     Swimming
• Mon 16:    Big day out (year 6)
• Tues 17:   Graduation mass/dinner 6pm
• Wed 18:    End of year school mass 10.30am
•                  Dismissal 1pm

Water Safety timetable

CLASS   LEAVE        LESSON           PICK UP

F/1          9:10am      9:30-10:10am     10:25

1/2          9:45am     10:10-10:50         11:10

5/6ML   10:35am     10:50-11:30         11:50

5/6PM   11:25am     11:45-12:25         12:40

3/4M     12:05pm     12:25-1:05             1:20

3/4A      12:45pm       1:05-1:45             2:00

Children are to wear their sports uniform on these days, wearing their bathers underneath. Students need to bring a swimming bag/backpack to school on swimming days. This bag should have their goggles, swimming cap, thongs/sandals and underwear in it. Thank you.

On Sunday the church celebrated the first day of Advent. Advent is the start of a new 'liturgical' season in the church's calendar. We celebrated with the whole school on Monday afternoon. The message of HOPE was talked about by the children. This is the symbol of the first Advent Candle. Hope amongst our farmers waiting for rain, hope amongst the bushfire victims in New South Wales and hope amongst all peoples for the betterment of our lives-particularly our faith based life.
What does it mean to us to ‘go out to all the world and tell the Good News’?

A reminder that we would like our boxes with food donations to Vinnies for the assembling of Christmas hampers to be OVERFLOWING...please.
So far the boxes are extremely sparse. Let us give  a little bit of HOPE to those less fortunate than ourselves.
Please dig deep.
Some things to consider donating: shortbreads, puddings, christmas serviettes, tablecloths, chocolates.
Parents and Friends will have a list put up at each classroom door.
Thanking you in anticipation....

Vinnies Annual Christmas Fare, Toy and Gift Appeal

We continue to support St Vincent's in the Annual Christmas Fare, Toy and Gift Appeal. They are asking for suitable gifts (new-not pre loved) wrapped, marked and identified for either boys or girls (suggested ages between 6-12 years of age), or adult male and female gifts (toiletry items/chocolates are always greatly appreciated).

I know in the past the school community’s support in assisting with this appeal has been wonderful. It has resulted in many families enjoying a happier Christmas as a result of the generosity exhibited by the school community.

 

Please accept invitation via Skoolbag app.

Advent and Christmas Timetable

St. Anne’s

• Tues Dec 10: 2nd Rite of Reconciliation, 7:30pm
• Tues Dec 24: Christmas Eve Vigil, 5pm (Carols and nativity play at 4:40pm, followed by mass.)
• Tues Dec 24: Mass, 9pm
• Wed Dec 25 (Christmas Day)
• 8:30am mass at St. Joachim’s
• 10:30am mass at St. Anne’s

​

St. Bede’s

• Thurs Dec 19: 2nd Rite of Reconciliation, 7:30pm
• Tues Dec 24: Christmas Eve Vigil, 6pm (Carols and nativity play at 5:30pm, followed by mass.)
• Tues Dec 24: Mass, 11:30pm
• Wed Dec 25 (Christmas Day)
• 9am mass
• 11am mass

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMME 2020-2021

The parish has revised its sacramental programme to allow a better spaced  celebration of the sacraments, which will allow more time for preparation.

The programme will run as such:

• Gr.3   Reconciliation
• Gr.4   First Communion
• Gr.6   Confirmation

For children who are not in the parish primary schools, there will be an Introductory Module on the basics of Catholic faith and practice in the first half of Grade 3.

The timetable for the next cycle is:

• Reconciliation      St Bede’s - 20th October 2020                                     
                             St Anne’s - 27th October 2020
   
• First Communion  Whole parish 1st & 2nd May 2021                               
                              Whole parish 8th & 9th May 2021
   
• Confirmation        St Patrick’s Cathedral - 9th August 2020, 2pm

St Anne’s P&F Fundraiser:  Bunnings Sausage Sizzle

Saturday February 8th 2020

The P&F Committee are starting our scheduled FUNDRAISING efforts off with a bang in 2020! The Annual Bunnings Sausage Sizzle in Hawthorn is booked on  Saturday the 8th February! This is a brilliant opportunity for St Anne’s and we want to attack it with gusto!

The BBQ runs hot from 8am – 4pm when the grill is turned off and clean up commences (until approx. 5pm). We have divided our volunteer efforts into 5 x 2hr slots and will need a minimum of 4 Parents per slot to keep things running smoothly.

Any BBQ MASTERS (DADS THIS IS YOUR opportunity to SHINE) out there who are up to the challenge, you have 6 weeks over the school holidays to get your game (apron/tongs) ON!!

To add your name to the Roster please sign up here:

https://volunteersignup.org/PW9RX

as soon as you can so we can get organised before we relax for the holidays!!

Looking forward to a fab start to the Fundraising year!!!

St Anne's P&F Committee

Showing appreciation for other people- give a shout out!
“Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind.” – Lionel Hampton
When we genuinely show others respect and appreciation, we are meeting a basic need and helping them flourish (Fredrickson 2013). Being grateful to someone not only benefits the person, but it helps us as well.
Gratitude is the “quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness” (Oxford Dictionary 2018). Gratitude is associated with good physical and mental health (Wood, Froh & Geraghty 2010); it increases positive emotions and it combats our negativity bias. Gratitude has been found to increase happiness by as much as 25% – and these increases are largely sustainable (Emmons 2007).
As we near the end of the year, we have a wonderful opportunity to let someone know that we have noticed them do something we respect or appreciate. Take a moment to recognise a colleague, student or person for their extraordinary contribution to the school this year. Acknowledging and sharing the good in someone or something they did builds into the relationship and has wellbeing benefits to you as well as the other person. You can write a note or email, send a message, or tell the person what you noticed them do and what positive effect it had.

Don’t let the school year pass without giving a shout out!

School Fees 2019

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Direct Debit form please download here.

Kew East Primary School Out of School Hours Care can be contacted on           
Ph: 03 98596052

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• Term 1   30/01/2019 to 05/04/2019
   
• Term 2   23/04/2019 to 28/06/2019
   
• Term 3   15/07/2019 to 20/09/2019
   
• Term 4   07/10/2019 to 18/12/2019