St Anthony's School - Term 1 Week 10 2022
Principal's News
Well here we are in the last Week of Term 1, 2022!
Thank you to all of the parents who came out to support their children at our annual Cross Country over the past two Wednesdays. It was so lovely to be able to hold it here at school. A MASSIVE thank you goes to Mr Tattam for his organisation of these events. There’s a lot that has to occur behind the scenes to ensure the smooth running! Our students continue to amaze me, the way they give it their all and encourage each other. We really do have a kindness culture here at St Anthony’s!
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all our teachers on a fantastic term. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to all our students, navigating this unchartered territory! As well as the teachers, we have a very important team of school officers – in the classrooms, tuckshop, office library, grounds and cleaner. They also have worked hard this term and have been a great help to our classroom teachers, who with our learning support teachers, play an important part in ensuring our school runs smoothly!. We would be lost without them and I thank them for their hard work and dedication also.
Thank you to you, the parents, for ensuring your children are here every day ready to learn and for your continued support of our great school and how could I forget a HUGE thank you to our students who amaze me every day with their resilience and ability to be able to adapt to changing situations and their focus on striving to be the best they can be in the classroom and playground.
Just a timely reminder for parents regarding hairstyles. It is a requirement for both boys and girls who have hair touching or longer than the collar to have it tied up at all times during the school day.
We have some boys sporting some mullet style hair dos where the hair is in fact touching the collar and therefore must be tied up at all times. Tracks in hair are a great idea for holidays but not during the school term.
Just a few reminders for the commencement of Term 2.
- Students are not to be in the school grounds prior to 8.00am
- All students in Years 1-6 must wait on the astro turf near the administration building each morning between 8.00 and 8.15.
- Students all walk down together with the teacher on duty at 8.15am where they put their bags away, get organised for the day and have a play.
- Parents are not to walk their children down to classrooms prior to 8.15. Teachers are preparing for the day ahead and putting your own school bag away creates independence. When some students are walking down prior to 8.15, this causes confusion to students as to why not all students have to follow the same expectations.
I wish everyone the joy and hope Easter brings and look forward to seeing everyone rejuvenated and refreshed for an action packed Term 2
Term 2
Term 2 commences on Wednesday, 20th April. Tueasday, 19th April is a Pupil Free Day where our staff will be participating in a Restorative Practices PD.
TCKS will provide Vacation Care on this day.
Anzac Day
As school resumes on Wednesday 20th April, ANZAC Day, April 25, will be on our door step and as such, I ask parents to date claim this important day on their calendars. This year students are invited to march as a St Anthony’s School group departing from the Drayton Memorial Hall at 7.30am and gathering at 7.00am. This year, we mark the 107th anniversary of the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli. This service concludes at 8.00am
Lunchboxes
We have noticed over recent weeks that a number of children are eating food from their lunchboxes upon arrival at school. This would indicate that perhaps children are not having breakfast or not having a sustaining breakfast. We know a good breakfast fuels us up and gets us ready for the day.
In general, kids who eat breakfast have more energy and do better at school – academically and socially. Without breakfast, kids tend to be irritable, restless, tired and unable to maintain focus.
As a consequence of eating lunchbox food prior to school commencing, also means we have a number of children presenting to the staffroom at lunch time saying they have no food. Perhaps have a conversation with your child to see if this applies to him/her.
We also had a recent discussion as a staff about the number of students who are unable to independently open containers or packaging during break times. While we are always willing to help students in any task, this would be a great skill to practise at home or maybe even snip the corner of a packet to assist.
Staff Update
At the end of this term, we farewell Miss Sam Jaeger, one of our current Prep teachers, as she takes up a leadership position at St Joseph’s, Chinchilla. While this is sad for us and we will miss Sam dearly, this is an amazing opportunity for Sam in her career and she goes with our blessing.
Thanks Sam for the many ways you have contributed so positively to our St Anthony’s community!
We have begun the recruitment process and will keep our school community informed of a suitable appointment to this position once confirmed.
Harmony Day – Everyone Belongs
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “harmony”, I wonder? Would it be music being made by many different instruments, uniting to produce a beautiful melody? Or perhaps you imagine an artist blending a variety of colours as they shape their masterpiece, gifting us with the pleasure of harmony to the eye. What about the synergy created when people with different backgrounds, cultures and experiences come together in harmony to produce a group that is stronger and richer for its diversity? Monday 21st March, we all wore orange ribbons in recognition of Harmony Day which we linked to the importance of the National Day Against Bullying and Violence.
Harmony is about bringing together the many faces of our school community; celebrating the differences and treating those around us with consideration and dignity so that we can have a living experience of harmony. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. St Anthony’s is a much richer place thanks to the diversity of cultures that make up our wonderful school community and this is the perfect opportunity to pause and give thanks for that.
When someone seems strange or different to us, it might be a natural reaction to shy away, to think we – or our ways – are somehow better. However, to lose out on the richness of human diversity, to live our whole life in one little corner of human experience, would be tragic indeed. Friedrich Nietzsche once said, “The surest way to corrupt a young person is to teach him to esteem more highly those who think alike than those who think differently.” Hopefully, our experience of Harmony, hand in hand with each other, our minds and hearts will be focused positively on increasing our understanding about tolerance and acceptance. Everyone belongs at St Anthony’s and there is no room for disharmony. Our diversity is what helps make our school such a great place to live, love, learn and celebrate together.
PPF AGM (P & F)
Our PPF AGM has been re-scheduled to Tuesday, 26th April at 6.30pm in the staffroom. At this gathering we will finalise details for our upcoming Disco and Pizza evening on Friday, 13th May commencing at 5.30pm as well as look at the wish list provided by the teachers and discuss which resources the PPF will prioritse to fund. We also, at this gathering will elect a Chairperson, Secretary and Diocesan P and F representatives. If we are unable to fill these positions, we can’t operate a PPF this year and ultimately it is the students who are most impacted. We only have 5 gatherings left for the year and we need you!!
Just a reminder that tomorrow (Friday, 1st April) is a Free Dress Day and gold coin fundraiser for Caritas. Free dress must be sun smart and enclosed shoes are required.
Until next term…….God Bless!
Louise
APRE News.....
Holy Week and Easter
This Friday we will gather as a school community to share the story of Jesus’ journey through Holy Week. We remember the words and actions of Jesus during the last week of his life. In these stories of a real living breathing Jesus, students will be encouraged to consider how Jesus ‘walks with them’ today and how we can feel and know Jesus’ love for us. As the holidays begin and we continue our Lenten journey towards Holy Week and Easter I pray that students and families use their hands, hearts and voices to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. May you all enjoy this break from routine and find some time to strengthen and renew relationships.
Project Compassion Water Run
On Friday 1st of April students are asked to bring a gold coin donation for Project Compassion and join in some fun team work games involving water. Students will problem solve how to carry, capture and store water. Although a fun way to spend an afternoon, it is also a way to build awareness for students around the preciousness of water and a sense of gratitude for the luxury we have in our communities to have access to running water. Funds raised through the Project Compassion appeal help people in vulnerable communities who are not so lucky. All water used will be poured on the gardens at the completion of the games, however we may have more of an over supply currently with the weather we are experiencing!
Parish Family Mass
This Sunday all families are invited to celebrate Parish Family Mass at 8.30am. This falls on the first Sunday of every month. As we are officially on holidays, no classes will be assigned, however we would love any students who are able to attend to participate within the service. Please see Mrs Hauser if you are able to attend and keen to lend a hand!
Middle Leader
Another term has come to an end and once again it feels like it was a very ‘different’ experience to ‘normal’ years. I have not spoken to a single person both in a professional and social sense that has not commented on the strangeness of this period that we are living through. Student absence due to covid and flooding events taking center stage have even clouded the memory of the push back to the start of school at the beginning of the year. I believe it is a credit to our community that we continue to soldier on and have managed to achieve all that we have in such a time as this. The familiarity of rhythms and routines of our community have helped to create a feeling of safety for our students and adults alike. However, resilience has been a defining feature of this term for me. Whether it was students ability to adapt to the changes thrown at them, teachers flexibility with circumstances out of their control or parents striving to work within the new parameters set, our community has shown grace and kindness through it all.
It was not the perfect term, none of them rarely are, however, it was still a term filled with learning and love within our special school community. The upcoming holidays offer an opportunity to reset for all of us. Focusing on the wellbeing of your children and their connection to family during this time is an investment in their progress for next term. Focusing on your own wellbeing is also an investment in your child! Like the old ‘mask in an airplane’ scenario, you need to put your mask on first to enable you to help someone else! Wishing you all a safe and relaxing Easter break.
Prep SJ
It’s crazy to believe we are now in the last week of term. It has been a fantastic first term as the children have settled into their classes, got to know one another, the routines and expectations and become more independent. It’s been great to see children say goodbye in the mornings and come into the classroom on their own and carry out their jobs. With Easter approaching, we have been learning about the Easter Story, focusing on Palm Sunday, the last supper, Jesus’ death on the cross and his resurrection. This will also occur in the first week back at school. This week we are also having lots of fun making Easter baskets, making beautiful Easter cards and colourful and decorative Easter Bunny hats. Parent Teacher interviews have taken place and we thank you for taking time out of your busy day to catch up with us regarding your child’s progress. It has been exciting to see just how far we have come.
It is with sadness but also excitement that I inform the St. Anthony's community that I will be leaving this term. I have accepted a role at St Joseph's Chinchilla. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at St Anthony's and will cherish the memories that I have made here. This goodbye is not forever but for a while.
Thank you again, to everyone for your help and support this term. We hope that you have a relaxing break with your families and safe and blessed Easter.
Samantha Jaeger
Yr 1 ED
It is hard to believe we are in our final week of Term 1! Thank you for all of those who attended Parent/Teacher Interviews. My hope for my class is that by the end of Term 1, children are happy, following routines, able to ask questions and have friends to play with. If these things are all coming naturally the curriculum expectations then follow.
I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday and comes back refreshed ready for Term 2.
Emma Daniells and Jo Keleher
Yr 1 KS
Thank you to the parents who attended the recent Parent/Teacher Interviews. It was lovely to speak with you about the progress your child is making. Notes from the meetings will be emailed home this week.
The Easter holidays are nearly upon us and in Yr 1 we are learning about the life of Jesus and what makes him so special. We have looked at a number of events in Jesus’ life and have this week taken special note of the week leading up to his death on Good Friday. After the holidays we will look at the joyous story of the Resurrection which we celebrate on Easter Sunday and the celebration of new life.
I hope you have a wonderful holiday and the special message of Jesus' love and sacrifice for us is included in your Easter celebrations with family.
God Bless and stay safe
Kathy Spencer
Yr 2 BH
Thank you to all of you for your active and willing participation in Parent/Teacher Interviews! It has been so great to meet you all (a couple still to go) and make plans to help your child along the way.
Congratulations to Year 2 who were born in 2014 and got to do a second cross country last week! It was a bit of a shock. As one student put it… ”We had to go around two times! I want to have a sleep now.”
Have a wonderful, relaxing break from classes BUT KEEP READING! “If you don’t use it, you lose it” is very true for early readers so read anything you can get your hands on. Remember Reading Eggs is always available.
Mrs Hair
“Find happiness in making others happy” -Saint Mary MacKillop
Yr 2/3 VN
What We Are Proud Of:
Brooklyn: I am proud of working hard learning about place value.
Jordan: I am proud of my spelling and that I am sounding out words.
Miri: I am proud of my reading and I am asking more questions about what words mean.
Alex: I am proud of my behaviour in class.
Sophia H: I am proud of my sentence writing.
Alana: I am proud of how much work I have put into my spelling.
Lexi: I am proud of my learning of 2D and 3D shapes.
Elii: I am proud of my learning of partitioning and algorithms and learning how to use the computer and helping my classmates.
Sophia L: I am proud that I learnt my 3D shapes.
Lara: I am proud of my reading.
Oliver: I am proud that I have learnt about living and nonliving things.
Charlotte N: I am proud of my learning of 2D and 3D shapes.
Charlotte H: I am proud of how hard I worked in English and Math.
Adut: I am proud that I learnt about our neighbourhood and special celebrations in HASS.
Ayuel: I am proud that I got no RTC’s and learnt about Place Value.
Ezra: I am proud that I am reading bigger books.
Seth: I am proud that I have been working hard.
Mira: I am proud of my narrative and getting better at using the computer.
Jaxson: I am proud of my spelling and computer skills.
Smruti: I am proud of my math learning and how I know the names of 2D and 3D shapes.
Scarlett: I am proud that I have learnt about different places in HASS.
Liam: I am proud of my learning in Math, Science, and 3D shapes.
Levi: I am proud of my work in Math, Spelling, and my narrative writing.
Kodah: I am proud that I have been working hard.
Yr 3 RM
We've come to a very sudden end to a very unusual term. In English we have been completing our writing tasks using the skills we have learned this term. In Maths we have continued our place value work and started to round numbers to the nearest ten. In Religion we are busy creating our Good Samaritan retells. In HASS we have interpreted climate data and made inferences using this data. In Health we have learned about the character values that make us a good friend or team member.
Yr 4 SC
In 4SC we have been working hard to complete Term 1 assessment. It has been a challenge as many of us have been away. Our vegetables are growing well and we should be enjoying the fruits of our labour next term. We are doing a marvellous job using new vocabulary with abandon! During the holidays we will try to use interesting vocabulary when we talk to you about everyday events. We enjoyed learning about the three worlds of the text when investigating the miracles of Jesus. It will be interesting to see how we go learning about water security during the last three days of the term and hope that that we raise some well-needed funds for Caritas. Wishing all of our families and friends a restful holiday filled with health, happiness and chocolate. Happy Easter to all. God Bless. Mrs Cox
Yr 4/5 PK
Wow! We are at the end of Term 1. It has been a busy and productive term in 4/5PK. This week has seen us get through the final lessons in our units of work and complete some assessment items. In addition to this, we are beginning to discuss the Easter Story and complete Easter activities too.
Year 5 were lucky enough to head to Brisbane last week. Students enjoyed visiting and exploring Boggo Road Gaol. Kim, our tour guide, shared many interesting stories about prisoners, escapees, and different jobs that people engaged in while in goal. We shared a delicious subway lunch at Southbank before exploring the Museum and The Gallery of Modern Art. We were able to engage in many fun and enriching activities. Year 4 held down the fort at school and continued their learning confidently and competently.
Wishing you all a very happy and safe Easter Holiday.
See you all in Term 2.
Yr 5/6 TN
Have you ever wondered what it was like to be a prisoner in Queensland during the 1900s? Well Year 5 can tell you all about it. Last Thursday Year 5 travelled to Brisbane for an action-packed excursion.
We began our day with a private tour at Boggo Road Gaol. Here the children learnt about the history of the gaol and the many purposes it has had over time. They heard about the conditions that the prisoners lived in and saw what a day looked like for a prisoner. The students hung on to every word as they listened to stories of escape artists and explored the cells. We all agreed that we would not like to live at Boggo Road Goal anytime soon.
Our bus then took us to South Bank where we shared in a Subway lunch, before we took a walk through South Bank to the Queensland Museum. At the Museum, the students explored the different areas including ANZAC Legacy Gallery, the Discovery Centre and Island Futures: What lies ahead for Zenadth Kes?
From here we walked to GOMA – Gallery of Modern Art. It was in GOMA that the students were able to use their creative talents in the APT10 Kids section. While wandering around the gallery we heard lots of interesting questions and statements about what makes arts and what the artist were thinking when they created such pieces.
Before we boarded our bus, we shared in afternoon tea together outside the State Library.
It was a fantastic day and the students are to be commended on their wonderful behaviour.
Mrs Terri-An Nolan
Yammer Group
Thank you to those parents that have returned the 715 Health Check forms. Please know that there is still time to hand them in at the beginning of next term if you would like your child to take part. Please email me if you have any questions or concerns.
Vocabulary Group will begin again in Week 2 of next Term. We have had such fun working together so far and I’m looking forward to seeing what the kiddos can achieve next term and share some photos of what we have been up to.
We have some exciting things planned for Term 2… so until then stay safe and enjoy the holidays with your families.
Mrs Terri-An Nolan
Mother's Day
Are you a Mum or a Mother figure of a St Anthony’s student? Then you are invited to come and share in our Mother’s Day Breakfast. Term 2, Week 3 – Friday 6th May.
Come along between 6.45am and 8.00am to share in a simple breakfast and some fun. Please use the link below to RSVP. We have a strict cut off date for catering and activity purposes.
Please note that breakfast is only for Mothers of current St Anthony's students.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me via email.Mrs Terri-An Nolan
Terri-An.Nolan@twb.catholic.edu.au
St Anthony's Outside School Hours Care
Our Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) services provide the opportunity for children to grow and develop their social skills in a leisure based environment nurtured by our Catholic ethos.
The services offer a combination of before school, after school, Pupil Free days and vacation care led by a team of qualified educators. Our educators work with all children to create fun and recreational experiences so that a child’s wellbeing, learning and personal development are a priority. The services provide a variety of indoor and outdoor activities to support the diverse interests of all children.
St Anthony's OSHC Toowoomba
Coordinator: Jacinta Rixon
Phone: 0458 937 154 or 0458 897 293
Email: ANTcare@tckc.qld.edu.au
Performing Arts
Solo Eisteddfod Singers
Congratulations to Olivia and Sadie (Year 6), Puondak and Vann (Year 5), Abut, Charlotte, Florence and Tiffany (Year 4) and Caiden, Ivy, Juliette, Shelby and Georgia (Year 3 and Under) who all came to see me when I asked for volunteers to sing solo songs at the Eisteddfod. Music files and copies of the sheet music have been sent home. Students need to make sure they are learning the lyrics – exactly as they are written on the music! We will continue to grab some time at lunch to rehearse at school. However, most of the practice for this will take place at home. We don’t have exact dates yet, but we should be singing in early/mid May next term.
Children’s Choir
Thank you to the wonderful students who sang at the 8.30am mass on the first Sunday in March. It was just beautiful. You added so much beauty to the mass for everyone who was there. Children’s Choir is open to all students who wish to help out by leading the singing at St Anthony’s Parish church once a month.
‘Calamity James’ – the Senior Musical for 2022
This year our Year Six students will be presenting the school musical ‘Calamity James!’ This play has a wild west scenario where a young boy, James, travels into the past and ends up solving a crime as a Sherriff in an old time western town. At this stage (COVID permitting) we hope to present the show on the 14th July. This is the Thursday night in the first week back at school in Semester Two. We have already lost two weeks of rehearsal time – but I’m hoping we can catch up along the way.
All students in Year Six will take on speaking roles in the musical.
This year I have decided to offer Year Five students the opportunity to join the Year Six students and take on chorus roles. There are a few great hoe-down numbers and I think it would be wonderful to have extra energy on the stage. Year Five students who wish to join the chorus AND Year Six students who have lead roles are invited to attend after school rehearsals on Wednesday afternoons, from 3pm to 4.15pm. Students come to the music room when they are dismissed and we plan our afternoon. All students will be taken to the Stop, Drop and Go area at 4.10pm to be picked up from the Memory Street entrance to our school. It is really difficult for me when students are picked up from the Stephen Street gate as I need to be able to supervise all students.
- After school rehearsals are NOT compulsory for Year Six students. They do make a big difference to our ability to make the show shine though! Please try to come along.
- Wednesday afternoon rehearsals are essential for the Year Five Students who wish to join the chorus. We will be doing all our staging and choreography in these after school sessions.
Please email me if you have any queries. anne-maree.spalding@twb.catholic.edu.au
Jen Fenn - School Counsellor
From the Fathering Project
The below article, written by Dr Bruce Robinson, shares some positive messages on the importance of dads’ involvement in education.
Supporting school learning at home
When dads support school learning at home, this shows our kids that we truly value education and the school.
Your job as a parent is to encourage them, support them and challenge them to learn and do their best. If you can instil in them the mindset that learning is a process, that is positive and enjoyable, they will grow up to be lifelong learners who thrive on challenges.
Evidence – Did you know?
- Fathering involvement in educational activities with their children is associated with improved educational outcomes for all students.
- Children at all ages with fathers interested and involved in their learning have a clear academic advantage.
- Children do not stop needing their fathers because they get older, or because lives get busy.
- You don’t have to be strong academically yourself to have an impact on your child’s education. Evidence shows you just have to be supportive and positive about learning.
Top tips
- Read with your child from an early age and encourage a positive attitude to learning from reading – both books and online.
- Promote a positive mindset in your children to help them see the benefits and enjoyment that can be found in learning and improvement.
- Don’t put too much pressure on them. Encourage them to be as good as they can be and help them plan how to improve.
- Be willing to help with homework, even if that just means asking them questions.
- Let them be independent learners and be there to support if they want to do the home learning themselves.
- Encourage them to see mistakes as an important part of the learning process and help them to see how to use their mistakes to learn.
- If homework is causing stress or arguments, put it aside and take a break. Try again later and if there are still problems, contact the teacher to discuss solutions.
Dr Bruce Robinson is the founder of The Fathering Project – Your support of learning impacts your child’s results at school - The Fathering Project
If you or your children are struggling
Kids can call Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 or Youth Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or you can contact your child’s GP. If you are struggling, call Lifeline on 131 114, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
