St Anthony's School Term 1 Week 2 2023

Principal's Report

On behalf of the staff at St Anthony’s School, I would like to welcome you all to the 2023 school year and what a smooth start it has been! It has been wonderful to see students in classrooms and ready to learn.  A big thank-you to the teachers also who spend many hours prior to the commencement of a new school year in preparation to ensure their learners are ready to hit the ground running!

A special welcome to our new St Anthony’s staff, students and families! I am sure there were many mixed emotions from our new preppies and their parents last Tuesday.  Starting school is quite a significant event. Let me assure you, your children are in great and very capable hands and together we will witness them flourish and grow this year, together!

We had a few staff changes over the school holidays and through a rigorous recruitment process, which involves thorough referee checking the most suitable teachers have been appointed and we are very excited about our highly skilled teaching and support team this year and over the next few newsletters we will introduce all 2023 St Anthony’s staff.  Just as we provide the required support for each and every student at St Anthony’s, our staff are also closely supported, through a very collegial school culture.

Last Friday, we farewelled Elizabeth Patterson who has been a dedicated employee and a familiar face in the office at St Anthony’s for the past 21 years.  Elizabeth is relocating to St George and we wish her all the best in this new adventure. Kim Hess has very capably stepped into the role of Business Manager and we have appointed Emily Vogler to the administration position.  We will endeavour to keep things running in the office as smoothly as possible and ask for your patience in the interim. Feel free to pop in and introduce yourselves to Emily!

This year we are looking forward to a productive partnership with you to ensure your children can achieve their highest potential. We recognize that in order to be successful in school, our children need support from both the home and school. We know a strong partnership with you will make a great difference in your child’s education. As partners, we share the responsibility for our children’s success and want you to know that we will do our very best to carry out our responsibilities. We ask that you guide and support your child’s learning by ensuring that he/she:

1) Attends school daily and arrives on time, ready for the day’s learning experience (unless unwell). Learning in each classroom commences at 8.40am and this year we are beginning each school day in every classroom with a ‘Welcome Circle’ with the intent to begin each day in a positive and calm way with students ‘Ready to Learn’.  We discourage parents from collecting students prior to 3.00pm.  Late arrivals and early finishes regularly do impact on a child’s educational outcomes and social relationships.

2) Reads daily to develop a love for reading and to improve literacy skills

3) Shares school experiences with you so that you are aware of his/her school life

5) Informs you if he/she needs additional support in any area or subject or there is a problem to share.  We will also share with you if your child is receiving additional support to access the curriculum.

6) Wears the correct school uniform each and every day.

I encourage you to keep in contact with your child’s teacher.  Let us know how to better serve your child and how you would like to be further involved in their education. I believe a home-school community partnership is a powerful one. It is the one that will bring maximum success to our students this coming year.

Email is the preferable way to contact teachers and all of our emails are firstname.surname@twb.catholic.edu.au.

Because of the nature of their work, teachers spend almost all of their time in the classroom. When they are not in the classroom teachers may be in staff meetings, on excursions, or planning and marking. Added to this, all teachers perform a range of playground and co-curricular duties. Because teachers have a range of duties to fulfil, it may take longer than a parent might wish for them to respond to an email or telephone call. Generally speaking, teachers will endeavour to respond to an email or telephone call within 24 hours in the working week.

It is important to reflect upon the tone, timing and content of a message before it is sent. Emails written in haste or in anger rarely help to sort out issues or problems; in fact, a poorly written or emotionally charged email will almost always have the opposite effect. Too often, harshly written and ‘angry’ emails result in later regret. However to communicate urgent or critical matters. Eg, car broken down, natural disaster etc) It is always best to contact the school via telephone – 46356200.

The newsletter will be an e newsletter emailed to parents on a Thursday every fortnight. Community and parent notices can still be included in the newsletter by emailing the item to the school stanthonys@twb.catholic.edu.au.

Sports uniform is to be worn by all students each Monday and Tuesday.

Just a reminder that wearing the correct school uniform is an expectation of all students at St Anthony’s. Please ensure your child wears the correct uniform each day.  Plain black shoes MUST be worn every day.  If your child is out of uniform and has a legitimate reason this must be put in writing to the principal. Uniforms can be purchased from the St Ursula’s College uniform shop.  Mrs Doherty also co-ordinates the selling of second hand uniforms each Friday morning in the art room.  Donations are also gratefully accepted!

Just a reminder that the girls formal blouse is to be worn with the St Anthony’s skorts.  The girls shorts are worn as part of the sports uniform.

The Sentral Portal is our one stop shop for communication from the school. 

It has been created as a consistent communication tool for our school and to assist with absence monitoring. Parents are granted access to their children’s data via a unique key issued by the school. These have been previously emailed to parents. If you need this access key sent again please email the school office, stanthonys@twb.catholic.edu.au.

How to set up the app on your smart phone:

 Step 1 - On your smart phone go to either the Apple App store (if you are an iPhone user) or the Google Play store (if you use an android) device.

Step 2 – Search Sentral for Parents and download the app onto your phone and then click on OPEN.

Step 3 – When the App opens up, it will ask if you would like to accept push notifications (so when the school sends you a message, the app will notify you automatically). Click on Allow.

Step 4 – From the menu on the menu, click on Log in.

Step 5 – If you have previous set up an account on your computer type in your app account details and click on Next

Step 6 – Ensure you choose St Anthony’s School

ALL playgrounds, are not to used after school, even under parent supervision  This is a WH&S regulation and will be enforced at all times. If families would like to mingle after school, please find a park close by.

So let’s all work together to make the 2023 school year a HUGE success, where we strive to enable our students to be the best they can be, Lighting Pathways for Life and igniting that Love of Learning!

Next Monday, all parents will receive information via the portal from your child’s teacher outlining the routines and daily expectations and curriculum being covered this term.

My office door is always open and I am happy to discuss and find a solution to any issue that is brought to the table. I’m yet to find a problem or issue that wasn’t able to be solved through open communication.

My email address is louise.pfingst@twb.catholic.edu.au and I am available for a chat via an appointment made through the front office.

God Bless!

Louise

Middle Leader/APRE

Welcome

A new school year has arrived and has begun with a bang!  Over the lovely long holidays I had a chance to do some giant puzzles with the help of my family. Watching all the preparations and planning that went into beginning school last week I am reminded of the process of all the different pieces of a puzzle coming together to make an amazing picture.  Each puzzle piece is uniquely shaped and sometimes needs to be twisted and turned to find its spot, yet when it fits neatly together it is a satisfying accomplishment.   Placing that last final piece to complete the picture is the most rewarding feeling, as was the arrival of all of our students last Tuesday. 

As a staff we spent a significant amount of time prior to the students’ arrival planning our approach and focus for the year, as well as exploring the students who would make up our classes.  We invested a great deal of time unpacking the St Anthony’s Way and building clarity around the unique Presentation Charism that underpins all of the values we hold dear as a Catholic school. 

We are excited to embark on the journey along the St Anthony’s Way with students and families this year, loving learning and loving others.

Parish Family Mass

Parish Family Mass for the month of February is this Sunday the 5^th February at 8.30am.  During this first Sunday of the month when it falls in the school term, families from the school are especially invited to attend and be a part of the liturgy.  To begin this year Mrs Nolan’s 5/6 Blue class have been rostered on to help co-ordinate the liturgy.  Those families should have received an email from the school asking families to RSVP if they are able to attend.  It would be lovely to see lots of St Anthony’s students and their families at Mass on Sunday!  Everyone is always welcome!

Middle Leader

At St Anthony’s we value working in collaboration with parents.  We fundamentally believe that we all need to work together to get the best outcome for all children. We know that when teachers and parents have a mindset that assumes good intentions, we often are more able to communicate effectively and respectfully. Next Monday the 7^th  all parents will have access via the Portal to Parent Powerpoints that explain the routines, expectations and curriculum for their student/s.  These Powerpoints are designed to provide useful information to parents and enable them to watch when it is convenient.  This prevents parents missing out if they are unable to attend a session in real time.  They should be very easy to run as they will be recorded as a slide show and you will be able to just press the start button and watch when you can.  Please make contact with your child’s teacher if you have questions.  You can visit them in person for a quick chat after school or prior to the 8.40 school bell, or email them.  Emails follow the naming convention of first.lastname@twb.catholic.edu.au  If you require a longer conversation, please make a formal time with teachers to find a time that would suit to enable that to happen.

Prep White & Prep Blue

Welcome to week 2!

We have had a busy week in Prep! We went exploring the school to find our missing sheep from the picture book ‘Where is the green sheep?’ by Mem Fox. On our adventure we discovered the office, the music room, the library, the sports hall, and our prep playground. We have been working hard to recognise and read our names and learn the names of our classmates and new friends. This week we are focusing on learning the sounds and names of the letters ‘s’ and ‘a’, the numbers  1,2, and 3 and what it means to be a bucket filler.

Thank you for the beautiful healthy lunches that you have been packing for your children. Just a reminder that if you pack yoghurt or fruit cups in their lunchbox that they will also require a utensil.

Enjoy your weekend!

Siobhan and Katelyn

Yr 1 White

Hello St Anthony’s family of Year 1 White. My name is Jacque Houghton, and I shall have the wonderful pleasure of teaching and guiding your children for this year.

A bit about me… I am a mum to a nearly 10 year boy who also attends St Anthony’s Primary and is in Year 4 this year. We have cats and a dog at home, as well as foster kittens before they go to their ‘furever’ homes. We also help my brother on his farm with his cows.

I have been in the education industry for just over 25 years. I have taught children from the ages of 6 months to 12 years, both here in Queensland and in Central New South Wales. I find it very rewarding to see the children achieve goals that they have set themselves, as well as achieve goals that are set for them.

I look forward to getting to know your children and guide them through their schooling here at St Anthony’s Primary.

Please feel free to email me any questions at jacque.houghton@twb.catholic.edu.au

I’m also at the school most afternoons, however, please ring or email me to make a time to see me.

Jacque Houghton

Yr 1 Blue

I am really excited to be starting my fourth year here at St. Anthony's and my second year in  Yr 1.

This year marks 20 years I have been teaching in Catholic education.

I love early years teaching and have spent most of my teaching career in Prep and grade one. 

When I am not at school I am at home with my husband, and two children who are 13 and 10, who both attend Catholic schools in Toowoomba. When I have spare time which is mostly on the holidays I love being outside in the garden or reading books. My daily down time is to walk my dog.

I am really looking forward to working alongside Jo Keleher again this year and getting to know my students and families.

Mrs Emma Daniells

Part-time Teacher - Jo Keleher

My family moved to St Anthony’s Parish from rural life on the Darling Downs in 1972. Two of my brothers attended St Anthony’s School while I proceeded to St Saviour’s College then to USQ for my teaching degrees. My career has developed in several Diocesan Schools where I have gained teaching experience in all classes from Prep to Year 7. In recent years, my focus has been part-time and relief teaching. This year I will continue my part-time teaching role with Mrs Daniells in Year One Blue.  When not at school, I enjoy travel, theatre, cinema, walking and spending time with family and friends.  

Yr 2 White

My name is Nicole Collis and I am very excited to be teaching Year 2 at St Anthony’s. This will be my 11^th year of teaching and my 3^rd year in Toowoomba. I completed my Bachelor of Education at Griffith University and am currently completing my Masters of Inclusive Education. In my spare time, I am kept busy with my two sporty boys who are 12 and 13 years old. I am looking forward to a fantastic year at St Anthony’s with my delightful Year 2 White class.

Yr 2/3 Blue

Hi!  Welcome to 2/3 Blue!

My name is Kathy Spencer and I am excited to be spending the year with the lovely students in my class 2/3 Blue.  Many of these delightful cherubs have enlightened my life in previous years and I am very excited to be teaching them again!  There are also some very delightful cherubs that I am teaching for the first time and I am enjoying the opportunity to get to know them better!

AS many of you know I have been teaching for more than 35 years and after all this time I still enjoy getting up and coming to school each day … I certainly don’t have the same energy I had 35 years ago … but I have learnt a few tricks that help me out in that department – so I can still hold it with the best of them!  I’m looking forward to having this beautiful group of children this year and working with you, their parents for their ongoing success.  Please don’t hesitate to come and see me or drop me an email!  Have a good week!

Yr 3 Gold

Welcome to a new school year. The first 2 weeks have been spent creating and practicing routines. In English we have explored the structure of narratives and discussed how adding information can help our reader to create a clear picture of what is happening. In Maths we have explored odd and even numbers, and what happens when these numbers are added together.

Library day will be Tuesday - please make sure a library bag comes to school along with all books that your child has borrowed. Home readers will be sent home next week.

 My name is Jess Gillam. 

I am excited to be team teaching with the wonderful Mrs More in Year 3 again this year on Thursday’s and Friday’s. I have been a part of the St Anthony’s community for 8 years now with this year being my 10th year of teaching with a few years off in between after having my two beautiful children Molly who is 4 and Hugh who is 2. I also have a blue heeler named Bella who is also very much a human. I love spending time with my family, especially when my husband is home as he works away. I love being outdoors and enjoy the small things in life. I can’t wait for what 2023 has in stall for our wonderful year 3 class. 

Regards, Jess

Yr 4/5 Blue

Welcome to the 2023 school year. My name is Mrs Terri-An Nolan and I am one of the 4/5 class teachers. I have a Bachelor of Primary Education from USQ, a Masters of Theology from the University of Newcastle and currently studying a post graduate certificate in Learning Support through Griffith University. I have had the privilege of working for Catholic Education for 18 years and so lucky to have been at St Anthony's for four years now. I am passionate about all students accessing the curriculum and achieving their best with growth and confidence. My husbane and I live locally in Toowoomba and enjoy spending our weekend outside with friends, family and of course our two dogs. I think we have started the year off with a bang and can't wait to share moments with you all about our class through the newsletter and at school events throughout the year. 

Until next time!

Mrs Terri-An Nolan

Terri-An.Nolan@twb.catholic.edu.au  

Yr 4/5 Gold

Welcome to Year 4/5 Gold! I hope that everyone has had a great holiday and is ready to get back to school. Judging by the few days we’ve already spent at school, I know that it's going to be a year of learning, growth, memories and fun.  

I grew up in South Africa and graduated as a teacher in 1986. (Unfortunately, that’s not a typo!) Our family migrated to Australia at the end of 2006 and after an arduous process of getting my qualification recognised, I was eventually able to secure a teaching position in Charleville. 

This will be my 10^th year working for the Diocese of Toowoomba, and my fifth year at St. Anthony’s.  

I’ve got 2 children, 2 granddaughters and 2 cats! When I’m not caught up in school activities, I enjoy reading, various handicrafts, and attempting to tame the jungle that is my garden.   

Mrs W 

Yr 6 Blue

Hello St Anthony’s Community! My name is Peta Kingsford. This is my second year teaching at St Anthony’s. I began my teaching career at St Mary’s, Charleville.  When my husband and I decided to start a family, we relocated back to Toowoomba to be closer to family.  During this time, I worked at Mary MacKillop Catholic College. When I’m not teaching, I enjoy being in the great outdoors, preferably close to water, and I love relaxing with a good book! I am looking forward to teaching the Year 6 students here at St Anthony’s and being a part of the community.

Welcome back to another school year! It has been wonderful to see many happy Year 6 faces bound into the classroom each day.  Part of our new school morning routine sees us participating in a ‘Welcome Circle’.  This helps us to connect with each other and prepare for the day ahead.  We have spent some time working on goal setting.  It has been enlightening to see the passion some students are bringing to their goal setting and planning.  I can’t wait to see the success!  Students have had some fun starting off our science unit.  We are learning about natural disasters and the impact they have on our environment. We have started the unit by exploring earthquakes.  Students were able to complete an investigation using mars bar chocolates to imitate tectonic plates colliding.  During Religion lessons, we have been exploring the history of Nano Nagle and how inspirational she was. Maths is all about numbers, particularly prime, composite, square and triangular numbers.  Students have also started engaging in guided reading lessons and I’m really enjoying the conversations they are bringing to their group work.  Homework has started this week.  Be sure to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.  The best way to contact me is via email.  Peta.kingsford@twb.catholic.edu.au

Until next time,

Mrs Kingsford & Year 6. 

Resource Centre

"My name is Emma Slatter and I am returning to St Anthony's staff this year.  You will find me in the Library and teaching STEM on Wednesday's and Friday's.  I’ve spent over 10 years in education undertaking many roles but it’s my love of educating children that has seen me return to school after time off starting my own family.  I believe every child has the right to an education and every child brings their own experiences to a classroom and I cherish days spent with these young people. I look forward to getting to know all of you and spending time within the St Anthony's community.

FACTS ABOUT ME:

1 - I have 2 sons, Patrick, (3) and Harvey (1).

2 - I have 2 dogs, Nutmeg and Pepper.

3 - My favourite thing about teaching is the hands-on learning experiences that I can provide students with. 

4 - I enjoy spending time with my family when I’m not at school.

5 - I have never had a broken bone.”

Thanks

Emma

HPE

2023 promises to be another fun filled year for our students as they continue to build on their fitness and physical skills. Updates and highlights of all things sport, health and physical education will be posted in the newsletter and on the portal. In Health, our junior students will be involved in a socio-emotional learning program that will teach them positve attitude, socio-emotiaonl skills and character strengths which will influence both their wellbeing and achievement account. Our upper year students will be involved in various team challenges to create true team spirit, highlight leadership abilty, and to heighten collarboration. In PE, our junior years will be participating in modified games of soccer (roo ball), that will support and extend their fundamental motor skills, hand-eye-coordiation and basic skills to improve performance. Our upper year students will be participating in a variety of sports including cricket, tennis, and OZ Tag. 

About Me!

G'day St Anthony's Community and welcome to 2023. My name is Ory Tattam I am beyond excited to be back teaching Health and PE. My greatest loves in the outside world are my family, my kelpie, and my running! I have incredible parents, the best brother and sisters, and the GREATEST nieces and nephews in the world. My little kelpie mate Parka is 7 years old and is full of energy, kind of like our new little preppies! I spend approximatley 8 hours a week running and I love every step. I have a few major competitions in 2023 which I am very excited for. 

My number one goal is to help each child develop a desire for lifelong physcial activity, and maybe...the joy for running! Looking forward to an awesome year - If you have any questions in relation to Health, Physical Education or sporting trials contact me via email at ory.tattam@twb.catholic.edu.au  - until next time! 

Performing Arts

This is going to be a fabulous year for the Performing Arts at St Anthony’s. We have so much to look forward to:

• CHOIR for students in Year 3 to 6 begins on Thursday 9^th February. Rehearsals are each Thursday morning commencing at 8am sharp!!! It is a great year to be in choir. We have the Eisteddfod early in Term Two, The TCS Arts Fest at the end of Term Two, our hospital visits and much more planned!
• SOLO EISTEDDFOD OPPORTUNITIES – a note has been sent home recently with information about the sections available for students to perform individually at the Toowoomba Eisteddfod. This is an optional extra I offer. The students need to be committed to rehearsing at home with their families. Parents need to be available to take the students to the Eisteddfod venues on competition days. I am happy to help children choose songs that suit them, to make a rehearsal track for them to practise with, and to accompany them at the competition.
• SENIOR MUSICAL – We are planning for this to happen in Week One of Term Four. That seems a LONG way away – but we only have an hour a week to prepare – that’s about 5 days of rehearsals spread out over the year. This year I am allowing our Year Six students to decide if they wish to audition for a MAJOR or MINOR role. Students who take on MAJOR roles are encouraged to attend rehearsals on Wednesday afternoon after school in Terms Two and Three. More details will be sent out directly to our Year Six students – but try to keep Wednesday afternoons free!!! I am working out the logistics of offering Year Five students the chance to be in the ‘optional after school chorus. I will see what we can do!
• CHILDREN’S MASS CHOIR – St Anthony’s students from Prep to Year 6 lead the singing on the first Sunday of each month at the St Anthony’s Parish. This Sunday morning mass begins at 8.30am, but students are encouraged to arrive by 8.15am to check out the microphones etc. We practice the songs in lesson time so most children will know most of the songs. It is a highlight for many of our elderly parishioners and I hope we continue to have great support for our Children’s Mass Choir. Our first mass for the year is Sunday 5^th February.
• TOOWOOMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS ARTS FEST: BELIEF IN THE ARTS 19^th to 22^nd June – this festival will involve students from right across the Toowoomba Diocese – from Cunnamulla to Quilpie, from Stanthorpe to Dalby and everywhere inbetween. Children will get the opportunity to meet students from other schools and to work together to create exciting arts opportunities – singing, dancing, painting and acting.

Thank you for all you do to support The Arts at St Anthony’s

Anne-Maree Spalding

Library News

Indigenous Reading Program

During terms 3 and 4 of last year, we had four students participate in the Indigenous Reading Project. This project works to improve the reading ability of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. The aim of the E-reading program is to target individuals to improve their reading skills. Students who are selected were leant a tablet and given access to a cloud library. Their reading was monitored over time and if there were improvements over the 10 weeks, the students were gifted the tablets. 

I am very proud and pleased to announce that over the holidays I received the news that all of our students completed the project and were all successful in keeping their tablets. These students will continue to have access to the cloud library and encourage them to keep reading!

Hopefully the project will run again this year and we will be able to have some more students participate!

Keep Reading!

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

Phone: 0458 937 154 or 0458 897 293

Email: ANTcare@tckc.qld.edu.au