Newsletter Term 3 Week 6 (25.8.23)
Message from the Principal
Dear Parents
With Book Week this week we have celebrated in many ways. The Book Parade on Monday was a joyful experience with students parading up and down the driveway in their genre groups. It was quite a colourful spectacle, with the pre-schoolers from Flying Start joining in also. Even the teachers managed to dress up for the occasion. Thank you to everyone for joining in. The costumes were fantastic. Lots of Barbies, Harry Potter characters, pirates, super heroes and sports heroes as well as nursery rhyme, fairy tale and Dr Seuss characters. Thank you to parents for supporting your children to get involved.
After the Book Parade students were in groups and rotated through several groups to listen to a story read by one of the staff. It was great to hear great story-reading and to observe students totally absorbed in the readings.
Yesterday we had illustrator Lucia Masciullo visit our school. All students participated in workshops with Lucia. What a wonderful experience! A big thank-you to Mrs Plunkett for organising Lucia and recently author Hakea Hustler to add to our great experiences celebrating this year’s Book Week.
On Wednesday we had an extra 330 people in our school. It was our combined Year 6 Mass where Yr 6 students from all our Catholic schools gather to celebrate what is good about Catholic schools. Our Mass was truly beautiful. thanks to Mrs Ballantine and Mrs Falcke from St Ambrose for the organisation and to Fr Paul for the celebration. After Mass we fed all 300 Year 6 students with a sausage sizzle. We thank those Yr 6 parents who cooked the sausages that morning. Our staff brought something so that we could share lunch with visiting staff from the other schools. After lunch students enjoyed some group activities before their buses arrived at recess. In all it was a great day with perfect weather and a great sense of community and camaraderie.
Today Year 5 & 6 students are at a Gala sports day enjoying netball, soccer AFL and Austag. I’m sure they will have a wonderful time. Many thanks to Mrs Croker who is the chief organiser and to all our teachers who are assisting with umpiring and managing our teams.
On Sunday we have a group of students participating in Tournament of Minds in the STEM division. They have been preparing for the past few weeks and will give their performance and answer to their challenge at the regional final. We wish them well. Unfortunately, our ARTS team had to pull out of the competition late this week as some members were unable to be there on Sunday which is unfortunate. TOM is a great opportunity to demonstrate team play, creativity and persistence in solving a challenge.
Next Friday there will be breakfast for Dads in honour of Father’s Day which is celebrated on the 3rd of September. Bacon and egg rolls will be free for all fathers and father figures from 7.30am on Friday morning. Others may purchase a roll for $2.00. We hope people can stay for morning assembly which will focus on celebrating our fathers.
Enjoy the great weather this weekend.
But I always think that the best way to know God is to love many things. (Vincent Van Gogh)
God bless
Lynne
Important Dates & School Information
Term 3 2023
Sunday, 27th August - Tournament of Minds
Thursday, 31st August - Father's Day Stall - morning
Friday, 1st September - Father's Day breakfast - 7.30 - 8.30 am
Friday, 1st September - Father's Day Assemby - 8.40- 9.30 am
Sunday, 3rd September - Father's Day
Friday, 8th September - Polding Athletics
Sunday, 10th September - Parish School Mass commitment confirmation 9 to 10 am
Child Protection Policy can be found on our School Website under Information/School Policies: St Anthony's Primary School Website or in the following link: https://www.kngplism.catholic.edu.au/policies
SOMETHING TO THINK AND PRAY ABOUT THIS WEEK
Great to Be Young
The third Jesuit preference is to ‘accompany the young in the creation of a hope-filled future’... Accompanying young people in the creation of a hope-filled future can be challenging. Apart from positive role models, what can be done to promote a hope-filled future for young people? The most obvious response is the opportunity for a young person to be supported in having as good an education and formation as possible, addressing all aspects of the human person – intellectual, social, psychological, physical, spiritual and religious. Retelling the positive events of a community’s story is also critical, because it reminds us of what we’re capable of and how to achieve it. It also reinforces the relational aspect of our identity, reminding us that each individual is part of a bigger story.
Excerpted from Reimagining Religion : A Jesuit Vision by Jim Maher SJ
RE News
Yr 6 Tweed Gathering
This Wednesday we welcomed 310 Yr 6 students from the Tweed Region for our 2023 Catholic Schools Week Celebrations. Students from St Finbarr’s, Byron Bay, St Joseph’s, South Murwillumbah, Mount Saint Patrick, Murwillumbah, St James, Banora Point and St Joseph’s, Tweed Heads, joined us with our our Parish school, St Ambrose, Pottsville, to celebrate Mass, share lunch and play some games to connect and celebrate our Catholic faith. Our St Anthony’s students were fantastic hosts and we were so proud of their leadership and hospitality throughout the day. A huge thank you to the parents who generously donated their time to ensure our guests were fed and looked after. A great day was had by all.
Sacrament of Confirmation
We are looking forward to welcoming our students and their families for the Confirmation Family Workshop This Wednesday, August 30, at 6pm in the School Hall. Please arrive 15 minutes prior for registration. We’ll have some activities for you to complete with your child and we hope you leave with some clear information about the Sacrament and how to support your child in preparation for this special Sacrament. If you still need to enrol your child in our 2023 program, please contact Gemma Ballantine gemma.ballantine@lism.catholic.edu.au
Baptism
We are looking forward to receiving seven of our students to the Catholic Faith through Baptism at Mass this Sunday. This will occur during the 9am Sunday Mass at St Anthony’s Church and we would love for families from school to celebrate and witness this special Sacrament. All are welcome, all belong. Baptism is the first Sacrament of Initiation that welcomes candidates to the Catholic Faith. If you would like Baptism for your child, please contact Gemma Ballantine through the office.
School Fun Run
Sports News
Polding Soccer Representatives
Congratulations to Kalani Favaro Andreo of Year 5 and Billy Handisides of Year 6 who were selected in the 2023 Boys Polding Soccer Team.
They travelled to Nelson Bay recently to compete in the PSSA championships.
The team played exceptional in their round games but due to a draw in their last game, they came second in their pool as a result of a count back on goal differences. This meant that the team narrowly missed out on making the semi-finals.
Well done boys, St Anthony’s is proud of your achievements in your chosen sport.
Confirmation
Next week our Year 3 students will start their 5-week preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Confirmation is where we are given the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit. We are challenged, throughout our life, to use these special gifts, to love and serve God and others and to make our world a better place. The Sacrament is available to Baptised students in Years 3-6. Some families have not enrolled their child via Compass, so this has been reopened until this Wednesday, August 23.
For your calendars, please remember these dates:
Confirmation Family Workshops- Wednesday, August 30, 6pm in the School Hall
Confirmation Commitment Mass- Weekend Masses over September 9 & 10
Sacrament of Confirmation with Bishop Greg Homeming- October 11, 6pm at St Anthony’s Church
Father's Day Stall - HELPERS NEEDED
Helpers are need for the Father's Day Stall on August 31st
Please let the school know if you are able to help
School number: 0266741368
Email: sapkings@lism.catholic.edu.au
MISC ITEMS
Parish Information and News
Parish Priest: Fr Paul McDonald
Finance Manager: Paul Crouch
Parish Secretary: Marty Darragh
Pastoral Assistant: Catherine Holliday
Phone: 0266741368
Email: parkings@bigpond.com
Website: http://stanthonysparishkingslciff.org
WEEKEND MASS TIMES
VIGIL: KINGSCLIFF 5:00pm
SUNDAY:POTTSVILLE 7:30am
KINGSCLIFF 9:00am
WEEKDAY MASS TIMES
TUESDAY: POTTSVILLE 9:15am
WEDNESDAY: KINGSCLIFF 8:00am
THURSDAY: KINGSCLIFF 9:00am
FRIDAY: KINGSCLIFF 8:00am
RECONCILIATION TIMES
SATURDAY: KINGSCLIFF 5:00-5:30pm
SUNDAY: POTTSVILLE 7:00—7:25am
Current Office Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 9am-3pm
PARISH NEWSLETTER LINK: http://stanthonysparishkingscliff.org/news-events/
St Anthony's Parish - Care Group
Many parents may have noticed from the Parish Bulletin, that the Parish has a Care Group which, among other things seeks to provide meals to any parishoners in need.
This could include times of family sickness, new mums struggling to provide for the family in the early days of returning home, and many other circumstances of genuine need.
Please be aware that the Care Group is very willing to help out if any families find themselves in need of this service.
Contact: Parish Office: 0266 741 284 or Maree Moore 0439 174 116