St Anthony's School Term 3 Week 4 2023

Principal's Report

Welcome to our Week 4 newsletter! We had a great time celebrating Catholic Education Week last week, reflecting on our school community being one of hope, faith and love.

On Friday our staff gathered at St Mary’s College for our annual Bishop’s Inservice Day.  It was a great opportunity to stop, reflect and connect.

We were elated to welcome back our Year 6’s this week following what can only be described as an amazing week of learning and adventure to Sydney and Canberra.  When chatting to students on Monday morning, the buzz was still evident and some of the highlights included – first plane ride, first time seeing snow, first time being away from home.  We must thank our parents of these students for entrusting their children to our care for the week and a special thank-you to Peta Kingsford and Terri-An Nolan for caring so capably for these children. It is a massive responsibility to care for other people’s children 24/7!!

Now, our thoughts turn to next year’s school trip for our Year 6 cohort.  Due to the success and value around this year’s trip, our Year 6’s next year will also travel to Sydney and Canberra.  Information regarding this will come home with our current Year 5 cohort very soon. The cost of the camp is compensated by fundraising efforts of parents but this is a commitment from parents, with school staff willing to assist but not co-ordinate.

Recognise, React, Report!

All members of the school community are entitled to a safe, secure and caring environment. At St Anthony’s, everyone has the right to feel respected and valued and every member of the school community has a responsibility to ensure that this happens. We have a behaviour management policy, a clear statement of our values, behaviour expectations and a curriculum that is explicit and implicit in this area. We also promote the students’ sense of concern and responsibility by providing positive role models and building self-esteem. These are among the myriad of ways we seek to ensure that we are providing a safe, caring and respectful environment. However, despite everything that we have in place there can still be occasions when bullying occurs. So how do we deal with bullying in the Primary Years and how can you as parents help at home?

The students should understand that Bullying is a repeated and unjustifiable behaviour. It is intended to cause fear, distress and/or harm to another. The students understand that there are 5 main types of bullying:

 Physical - Unwanted touching that intends to harm (e.g. punching, pushing, throwing stones etc.)

 Verbal/Written - Using language to intimidate or cause hurt (e.g. putdowns, notes, forms of cyber bullying such as texts, emails etc.)

 Exclusion- Behaviour that deliberately leaves someone out in order to hurt their feelings.

 Extortion/Blackmail - Using stand-over tactics to control someone else’s behaviour (e.g. unless you give me your lunch I won’t be your friend.)

Gesture or Non-verbal - Using body language or other non-verbal methods to offend or hurt (e.g. threatening or obscene gestures or removing/hiding and/or damaging others’ belongings.)

How are the students taught to deal with bullying?

 Students know that if they are being bullied they can:

• Ignore the person who is bullying
• Walk away
• Try to stand up for themselves in a positive and assertive way
• Report it to an adult always (e.g. teacher or parent)

Students should know that if they see someone being bullied they can:

¨ Tell the person bullying to stop

¨ Be a friend to the person being bullied

¨ Report it to an adult

The Daniel Morcombe Curriculum is taught across our school also as part of our health curriculum and students are explicitly taught to

Recognise – keep your eyes and ears open to your surroundings

React – if you see something you know is wrong, do something about it

Report – tell a staff member or a parent

Students know that ‘dobbing’ is when a person tries to get attention or to get someone into trouble.

‘Reporting’ is when someone (yourself or another person) is being hurt and you/they need help. It is also important to note that we separate the child from the behaviour so we refer to ‘bully behaviour’ rather than a ‘bully’. How do we, as teachers, deal with bullying at school?

Bullying situations are often complicated and finding facts to define a clear account of the incident/s takes time and patience to resolve the situation properly. The age/stage of the children involved and the type/frequency of the incident will determine how each situation is handled and what consequences are meted out. Essentially the steps that we follow, as teachers, are:

• Arrange a meeting with all concerned (individually then collectively).
• Explain the rules. “We’re here to solve a problem, no blaming, no excuses, no interrupting.”

Everyone listens. Each person in turn tells what has happened, just the facts. When each finishes, he/she listens to the others while they tell their story. The teacher repeats what has been said and then each person tells how they felt.

We try to reflect, repair and reconnect to resolve conflict. Each person states what they need if the problem causing the conflict is to be solved. The teacher helps both sides to work out strategies and to reach agreement. Appropriate consequences will be followed up. As each case is different these will vary. Consequences may range anywhere from detention to suspension (internal or otherwise). If the incident is serious, parents of all parties will be contacted. How as parents can you help if your child is being bullied?

Encourage talking. It may be difficult but be patient. Try not to overreact. Listen calmly and try to workout the facts. Be aware that you will not have access to all the facts. Give assurances that the situation will be changed.

Tell your child that bullying is wrong and remind them that they have the right to feel safe and happy. Reassure your child that it is not happening because there is something wrong with him/her.

• Report the matter to the school.
• Tell your child that physical or verbal retaliation on their part is not the answer.
• Always try to work through the school, but talk with your child about what you are doing and why.

Get help from a counsellor for your child if needed.

If it is a school matter please do not deal directly with other children or their parents but work through and with the school.

How as parents can you help if your child is bullying others? Make it clear that bullying because of revenge, for annoyance or fun is unacceptable.

Help your child to understand the difference between assertive and aggressive behaviour.

Make it clear that hurting or distressing another person who is unable to defend him/herself is a form of weakness and proves nothing.

Explore the need for development of self-confidence and success in another area to counter poor self esteem. Talk with the teacher.

On occasion, I hear from parents who say that RTC (Responsible Thinking Classroom) does not work for their child. We realise that a child receiving an RTC does not always result in miraculous behaviour changes. (If it did, I could probably retire early!!) But there has to be a consequence for inappropriate or unsafe behaviour. During RTC time (first break play), the teacher on duty (Mrs Pfingst or Mrs Hauser) work through a Restorative Practices process to reflect on the behaviour, reflect on who has been affected, what would you do differently next time and is there any support you need in order to do this.  Most commonly, students will actually verbalise ‘No one can help me. I am in charge of my own behaviour’ or ‘I can do it myself’.

It is quite rare, that we have a child receiving more than 3 RTC’s in a term.  98 % of students in our school have never received an RTC and we make a point of recognizing these students as well as teaching them that you are not always extrinsically awarded for good behavior.  When you do good, you feel good.

In each of our classrooms, teachers use a positive behaviour system.  At St Anthony’s, we use a warning system and the majority of students will respond to a reminder that if a certain behaviour choice continues it will result in a consequence. So when a child is referred to RTC, we know that this has been a repeated behaviour that despite warning has continued and it is important that students realise that something such as continual talking does have an impact on the learning in the classroom.

Our Behaviour Support Plan can also be located on our website.

NAPLAN Results

We have sent home the individual student NAPLAN reports for Year Three and Year Five for the 2023 National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests. It is important for parents to note that for the first time, student results are reported against nationally agreed Proficiency Standards. Previously, student results were reported on a 10-band scale. An ACARA Parent Brochure on the Proficiency Standards has been sent home with each child's report. Further information about Proficiency Standards can be found at ACARA's NAP webpage:

https://www.nap.au/naplan

Please note that these reports are commonly requested at the time of enrolment in secondary schools and we no longer keep a school copy of these reports on file.

Congratulations Phoebe!

Recently, Phoebe Tulilo-Seremaia was selected in the 10 – 12 years Darling Downs rugby league team. Phoebe will now attend the state titles in Townsville later in September. What a great achievement, Phoebe!

PPF Update

We had a disappointing turn out at last week’s PPF gathering.  A BIG thank-you to the 5 parents who attend consistently each time.  Most of the current attendees will no longer have children at St Anthony’s next year and it is our fear that our PPF will fold without parents to step up and commit to attending these gatherings.  Some facts about our PPF:

• We gather 8 times a year and the last gathering is a dinner. This is the schools way of saying thank-you to your commitment and regular attendance.
• You do not need any qualifications or membership to attend…..just a parent/carer at St Anthony’s
• We have an elected chairperson and secretary each year. These are the only official positions.
• The PPF is not fund raising focused…..the focus is on parent engagement and offering a platform for parent input.
• Our gatherings are typically between 1 hour and 1 and a half hours.
• Children are welcome to attend.
• These gatherings are informal, light-hearted, collegial, positive and future focused.

Our next gathering is on Tuesday, 12^th September at 6.00pm in the staffroom.

Some upcoming dates to save are:

• Working bee – Sunday, 8^th October – 10.00am – 12.00pm
• Annual Christmas Concert and Fair – Thursday, November 24^th @ 5.30pm

Until next newsletter……God Bless!

Louise

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.

Middle Leader/APRE

 Be Fair

This term our touchstone focus on the ‘Love of Other’s’ pathway is ‘Be Fair’.  Naturally what comes to mind in a community when we think about fairness is that everyone gets treated the same and given the same access to resources.  A ‘fair go’ is a universally understood idea, however it has been interesting to unpack this concept with a little more depth with students.  Things they have discovered include:

Being fair might mean that we have to compromise.

Being fair might mean some people get more of what they need so that there is an even playing field.

Being fair means even distribution of a commodity that everyone wants.

Being fair means looking at things from other’s perspectives, rather than blindly accepting the status quo.

In our community we are guided by Jesus’ story and look to others who have followed in his footsteps, such as Nano Nagle, to determine how to live fairly.   When Jesus was asked what the Greatest Commandment was, he said,

“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment.  And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’                                                    Matthew 22: 37-40

In all matters of fairness, it is a simple question that needs to be answered, how would you like to be treated if it was you in this situation?   

Be Proud

The other touchstone of the ‘Love of Learning’ pathway we are focussing on this term is to ‘Be Proud.’   When we discuss pride, we are considering how to display pride in ourselves, how to be proud of our community and school culture and how to show pride in our work.  Simple steps students can take to build a sense of pride include:

• wearing the uniform correctly,
• striving to do the best work they can in our class, rather than settle for the bare minimum
• confidently sharing their accomplishments
• celebrating the successes of their classmates and community
• following the St Anthony’s Way and expecting others in our community to do the same

Teachers are looking to reward students they see exhibiting the two focus touchstones of this term.  Awarded SAW (St Anthony’s Way) tickets will fill students individual tallies that contribute to their Reward points as well as give them more chances for their name to be chosen in the big Monday SAW ticket draw.

Feast of Mary Mackillop

Next Friday the 11^th of August 4/5 Gold will lead us in a Prayer Assembly to acknowledge the feast day of Mary Mackillop, Australia’s first saint.  Mary formed the Sisters of St Joseph in 1866 in Penola, South Australia.  Mary’s story has a lot in common with Nano Nagle the foundress of the Presentations sisters. Like Nano, Mary wanted to do all she could to help those in need.  She created Josephite schools which provided free Catholic education.  The sisters provided outreach to all vulnerable people in society such as orphans, homeless women, sick people, and those who were poor or in jail.  We look to Saints like Mary Mackillop and the Canonised Nano Nagle who lead lives of action, of generosity, of kindness, living Jesus’ message and reaching out to those who needed their care and support.

Parish Family Mass

This weekend is Parish Family Mass and we invite all families to the 8.30am Mass on Sunday the 6^th of August.  Year 2 White and Prep White are the classes assigned to assist with the smooth running of the Mass. 

Confirmation and Communion Candidates 2023

Learning Support

What Is Auditory Processing Disorder?

Auditory processing disorder (APD) is a hearing problem that affects about 3%–5% of school-aged children.

Kids with this condition, also known as central auditory processing disorder (CAPD), can't understand what they hear in the same way other kids do. This is because their ears and brain don't fully coordinate. Something interferes with the way the brain recognizes and interprets sounds, especially speech.

With the right strategies, kids with APD can be successful in school and life. Early diagnosis is important. If the condition is not identified and managed early, a child is at risk for listening and learning problems at home and school.

Trouble Understanding Speech

Kids with APD are thought to sense sound normally because they usually can hear sounds that are delivered one at a time in a very quiet environment (such as a sound-treated room). The problem is that they usually don't easily recognize slight differences between sounds in words, even when the sounds are loud enough to be heard.

These kinds of problems usually happen in a poor listening situation — such as when there's background noise or in a reverberant room like an auditorium — which often is the case in social situations. Kids with APD can have trouble understanding what is being said to them when they're in noisier places like a classroom, playground, sports event, school cafeteria, or party.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Auditory Processing Disorder?

Symptoms of APD can range from mild to severe and can take many different forms. If you think your child might have a problem processing sounds, ask yourself:

• Does my child often mishear sounds and words?
• Are noisy environments overwhelming when my child is trying to listen?
• Does my child's listening behaviors and performance improve in quieter settings?
• Does my child have trouble following verbal directions, whether simple or complicated?
• Does my child have trouble with spelling or phonics?
• Are verbal (word) math problems hard for my child?
• Are conversations hard for my child to follow?

Auditory Processing Disorder (for Parents) - Nemours KidsHealth

If your child is experiencing the problems listed above, firstly make an appointment with the General Practitioner and then visit an audiologist.

Have a fantastic week.

The Learning Support Team

Prep White & Prep Blue

Welcome to week 4! 

We have had a busy fortnight examining and identifying rhymes in a variety of stories. We have also begun writing our own rhyming sentences. This week there was a 'Rhyme Crime' in our classroom. The children had a great time predicting and finding different rhyming items in our classrooms.

In Math we have been examining addition and different ways we can complete addition, including rainbow facts, hands on materials and counting on. 

In Science we are continuing to develop our understanding of materials (what they are made of) and their properties (what it looks and feels like). The children demonstrated their understanding by describing different items. We are continuing to explore magnetic items. 

In HASS we continued to explore what makes places special. We have looked at different types of homes and discovered that some people live on house boats which we found to be fascinating as we discussed our ideas about what it may be like to live on a houseboat. Some of our ideas were that people could “go fishing”, or “travel with our homes”. 

This Friday 4^th August children are invited to wear Free dress for ‘Jeans for Genes Day’ to raise money for a wonderful foundation that assists children born with genetic diseases.  

This Sunday 6^th August is our Prep White and Year 2 White family mass at St Anthonys Parish. Mass will begin at 8:30am with our class and their families invited to attend. 

Yr 1 Blue

Last week we celebrated Catholic Education Week.  Our class reflected on being thankful for our catholic school community.

Here are a few reflections...

I feel safe in this place. (Abigail)

It is a lovely placed to learn. (Alexis)

We play and  learn and do lessons. (Mawein)

There are lovely people I can play with in the day. (Jackson)

Teachers make learning fun. (Niara - Cate)

There are nice teachers to teach us. (Kayla)

Year 1 White

Hello and welcome to Week 4 already. Hard to believe we are nearly halfway through the term.

This week in Maths we have been looking at Rainbow Facts and continuing our learning about calendars. This has included looking at the number of days in each month and the seasons.

In English we have been exploring verbs and nouns and will continue with adjectives. We have looked at these through our reading of the Very Cranky Bear series. The students are enjoying these stories. We have also been able to relate these stories to our Zones of Regulation as we discuss how the bear is feeling within each story.

We would like to welcome a new student to the room, Brooklyn has joined Year 1 White. We look forward to getting to know you and guiding you here at St Anthony’s.

Till next time

Jacque Houghton

Yr 2 White

The past fortnight has seen Year 2 continuing to explore multiplication and division in maths as well as looking at part-part-whole. We have looked into the invisible force of gravity and enjoyed discussing all the ways we push and/or pull things in our daily life.

English has us well underway on persuasive writing and we’re getting really good at justifying our opinions. I’m looking forward to continuing our learning journey through Term 3 and very excited to see Year 2 White rise to the challenges they’re faced with!

Yr 2/3 Blue

Hello again from 2/3 Blue. 

We have been busily learning about stories and characters, settings and the mood created by the authors in our English studies.  In Maths we are continuing our study of numbers and operations and Science this term is the study energy. We have already completed a marble run experiment and we are looking  forward to lots of experiments to help us decide what different types of energy do to help us in our daily lives – even in our play! We would also like to welcome new student Mackenzie to our classroom.

PE has changed to Fridays this term – so sport uniform is now on Friday!  Library is usually Monday (or Tuesday if Monday is holiday). Homework is sent home weekly this term!  Reading should continue every night!  Thank  you for supporting this!

Take care

Kathy Spencer

Yr 3 Gold

Over the past two weeks we have continued our learning about data. We have posed questions and collected, represented and interpreted data. This has included using column graphs and picture graphs and looking at the variation in our data.

In English, we have created compound sentences using conjunctions. We have identified independent and dependent clauses and identified the parts of speech within a variety of sentences. In Religion we have created images that we believe represents God. We then created labels to explain our artworks.

Yr 4/5 White

Yr 4/5 Blue

Have you ever stopped and looked at the world around you to spot the 3D shapes you can, see? We have been looking at different shapes in 4/5 Blue this week. The difference between 2D and 3D and how these shapes when put together make compound shapes. We have been designing our own playground and even attempted to create our own 3D shapes using nets (we had glue EVERYWHERE!).

In HASS this term we are looking at all things Civics. We have been talking about the different levels of government and this week we have been taking a deep dive into what our local government does. We are now moving onto the concept of Democracy and what this means for us as Australians. By the end of the term the students are going to be writing their own campaign speeches. Perhaps we will have our very next Prime Minister among us?

I was very impressed to come back to school this week and see the progress that has been made on the students’ planet projects. There wasn’t too much glitter around the classroom.

This week we have welcomed a new member to our classroom. Welcome Lillie-Anne, we hope you have enjoyed your first few days at St Anthony’s.

Until next time,

Mrs Terri-An Nolan

Terri-An.Nolan@twb.catholic.edu.au

4/5 Gold

It’s all about rocks, fossils, rules and laws in our classroom at the moment as we continue to explore the surface of the earth in Science and understand how Australia is governed in HASS. Trying to create nets to fold into 3D shapes has been an interesting mathematical challenge for some of us, and creating composite shapes using tangram shapes has been equally challenging!

Reading still remains a priority in 4/5 Gold. Children who read regularly generally have a wider vocabulary and are more confident in writing tasks.  Regular reading at home would also be beneficial.  A reminder that Tuesday is our library day and books that have been taken home should be returned so others can borrow them.

Yr 6 Blue

We are thrilled to share the incredible journey we had during our camp in Canberra. Although we faced a minor setback with a delayed flight out of Brisbane, our positive spirits never wavered as we shared a delicious breakfast with food vouchers provided.

Throughout our Canberra adventure, we saw many incredible sights with visits to some of Australia's most iconic landmarks. We explored the Royal Australian Mint, where we witnessed the intricate process of coin production.  We had the privilege of visiting Government House and even had the honour of meeting His Excellency, the Governor General, an experience that left us in awe.  At the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), we were inspired by world-class athletes and their dedication to their chosen sports. Parliament House offered us an insight into the workings of our nation's government, a truly enlightening experience for all. Questacon sparked our curiosity with hands-on exhibits that made learning fun and interactive.  We visited the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), where we learned about the importance of democracy and the electoral process. Our visit to the Mount Ainslie lookout provided a breathtaking panoramic view of Canberra's beauty.  A few other sights included; The National Gallery of Australia, National Arboretum, National Capital Exhibition Centre, The Australian War Memorial and an incredible day up in the Snow!

A special mention goes to our fantastic bus driver, Malcolm, whose kindness, and vast knowledge of the area was invaluable. He truly enhanced our trip with his engaging commentary and cheerful demeanour.

The Sundown Villas served as our comfortable home away from home. The accommodation was cozy, and the delicious food provided a perfect ending to our adventurous days.

Finally, as our camp came to a close, our flight home was smooth, providing us with ample time to reflect on the incredible memories we made together.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the campers for their enthusiasm and positive attitudes. Your eagerness to embrace every moment made the trip truly unforgettable.

Thank you to all the families for entrusting us with your children's care during this enriching experience. Together, we created lasting memories and forged new friendships that will be cherished for years to come.

Until Next Time, 

Mrs Kingsford & Year 6

HPE

G’day St A’s,

Catholic Athletics Carnival:
Congratulations to all our St Anthony’s students who competed in the Catholic Athletics Carnival! Your hard work, determination, and sportsmanship were truly inspiring. Each one of you gave your best, and I am proud of your achievements.

Congratulations Phoebe:
I would also like to say a big congratulations to Phoebe! Making the Darling Downs Rugby League team is a fantastic achievement. I wish you all the best for the upcoming state championships.

Friday School Sport:
Our boys school soccer team secured a 1-0 win against TCC. Though our girls faced a tough game against a mixed Holy Name team, I am proud of their effort and sportsmanship. I look forward to watching both teams develop throughout the term.

Until next time,
OT

Library News

Yamma Group

Have you ever tried to throw a boomerang? It isn’t as easy as one would think. Last week during Yamma Group the students painted their very own boomerang. Once they were dry to the touch, they took to the oval to try their very best to throw them. I wonder if any of them came back? Can I please take this opportunity to thank Mrs Jess Gillam for taking Yamma Group while I was on Year 6 Camp. I know the kids really enjoyed their afternoon!

Over the coming weeks I will be sending home information about 715 Health Checks. The checks will be provided by Goolburri Health Alliance again this year and will be completed here at school. Please watch the portal and school bags for more information as I finalise a date for these to take place.

Next week I will be attending the 2023 Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Education Conference in Brisbane. The three-day conference is full of amazing workshops and presenters and I really struggled to pick the sessions I will be attending. I am hoping I have a nice spread of hands on and curriculum based workshops and presenters to learn from and bring back to our very own community here at St Anthony’s. I look forward to sharing more with you in the next newsletter.

Until next time,

Mrs Terri-An Nolan

Terri-An.Nolan@twb.catholic.edu.au

Mini Vinnies

Welcome to the Week 4 St Anthony's Mini Vinnies report.

Firstly I would like to congratulate everyone who did their best to donate to our winter donations this year. It was amazing to see such a huge boost in our donation boxes.  We had lovely donations such as: juice poppers, warm old clean clothes, jackets, jumpers, doonas, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toiletries and more. It was amazing to see what our school community gave to help others less fortunate. The St Vincent de Paul Society are grateful and thankful for our donations, as I am sure were those that received it. 

Now that we have finished this year's Winter Appeal we are looking forward to Socktober! Socktober is an initiative of Catholic Mission that runs in conjunction with Mission month. This year’s theme is ‘hearts on fire, feet on the move’.  We will be running Socktober events starting soon, so watch out for information. This Socktober funds raised will support communities in Timor- Leste.

We also held elections for our new positions earlier in the term. I would like to congratulate our new Mini Vinnies who have been elected to the following positions: 

President: Puondak M

Secretary: Lauren K

Treasurer: Vann J

Spiritual Advisor: Jamil M

And we farewelled our friend who left the committee.

Until next time, Puondak M - Mini Vinnies President

St Anthony's Uniform Shop

The uniform shop is now located at St Anthony's, near the school office. 

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 12:30pm

Wednesday 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Friday 11:30am - 3:30pm

Parenting Support and Information

2024 Scholarship Applications Now Open

Available for girls who are:

• Entering Years 7, 8, 9 & 10 in 2024
• Entering Year 7 in 2025

Scholarship Examinations will be held on Saturday 19th August 2023 from 9:00am – 11:30am, at St Ursula’s College.

For further information, please contact:   St Ursula's College Toowoomba (st-ursula.qld.edu.au)

Parentline

Parenting can be tough. But you don’t have to do it alone. When things
become challenging, it’s important to know that you can always talk to
someone about what’s going on.

If you’re a parent, carer or family member living in Queensland or the Northern
Territory, you can call Parentline from 8am – 10pm seven days a week, for the
cost of a local phone call.

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