Newsletter Term 1 Week 6 (8.3.24)

Message from the Principal - Lynne Pull

Dear Parents

This weekend around 25 students from our school will make a commitment at Mass towards the Sacrament of reconciliation which they will receive in a couple of weeks. This is an important step in their faith journey. The school will host the 9.00am Mass in St Anthony’s church on Sunday. We encourage all families to take this opportunity to come along on Sunday and be part of the celebration. We would particularly ask Years 2 & 4 families to be there and, if possible, to please bring along something to share for morning tea afterwards. Children will attend Children’s Liturgy which means hearing the Gospel message at their level. We hope to have a strong children’s choir singing and students will also be involved in other parts of the Mass. We look forward to seeing you there.

Today the Stage 3 choir has had a workshop with choirs from other Catholic schools in the area at St Ambrose School in Pottsville. This is a wonderful opportunity for them to learn some new skills. We are fortunate to have some excellent singers in our school and this experience will help raise the bar for them as we plan for the Murwillumbah Festival of Performing Arts to be held at the end of next term. I was fortunate to be able to see a performance of the massed choir this afternoon with harmonies and all happening. So Good! Thank you to the teachers who were supporting students today: Mr Spurlock, Mrs Ballantine and Miss Lewis.

Stage 2 has eight teams participating in the hockey gala day being held at Murwillumbah today also. We are certain they will enjoy the day. We thank the teachers who are accompanying the students on this day: Mrs Croker, Mrs Lennon and Mr Judd.

This week we were honoured to have Mr Tony Ryan work with our teachers in their classrooms. Tony is a lifelong educator, parent and futurist. Tony has worked with over 1000 education, business and parent groups in ten different countries throughout his career. Tony has authored several publications including Thinkers Keys, The Ripple Effect and the Next Generation. Tony is assisting us to challenge our students’ thinking and to raise the bar on their learning so that it is deeper and able to be transferred between disciplines. Tony will return to our school in a couple of weeks to continue this work.

Next week Years 3 & 5 take part in NAPLAN – The National Assessment Program in Literacy and Numeracy. At this school we give students some practice in the kinds of questions they will be asked but we do not make a big deal about it. The results show us where students are tracking compared with students across Australia. It gives schools some guidance in understanding where some more intensive teaching might need to occur. We ask that students in these grades are at school on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday next week. Encourage them to do their best, remind them to think about some of the things their teachers have been focusing on, eg reading and re-reading questions carefully and checking their work again after it is completed. NAPLAN is only one aspect of assessment. We probably won’t even see the results until Term 3.

Year 1 thoroughly enjoyed their excursion to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary last Monday. They were well-behaved and engaged with the learning throughout the day. They will now embark on some information reports based on their learning.

Congratulations to the Year 6 students who were selected to attend the Incitare discipleship day at Murwillumbah last Tuesday. We look forward to them sharing their experience with their classmates and others at the school. 

“Lenten practices of giving up pleasures are a good reminder that the purpose of life is not pleasure. The purpose of life is to attain a perfect life, all truth and undying ecstatic love – which is the definition of God. In pursuing that goal, we find happiness.”

May God shower blessings on all our families.

Lynne

Important Dates & School Information

Term 1 2024

Sunday, 10th March - Commitment MASS Reconciliation - especially for Year 4 & families

Wednesday, 12th March - Year 6 Hockey Gala Day

Tuesday, 12 March - Parent Forum Meeting 5-6 pm

Wednesday, 20  March - Sacrament of Reconciliation 6pm

Friday, 29th March - Good Friday - No school

Monday, 1 April - Easter Monday - no school

Tuesday 2nd April 2024 - Pupil Free Day/ Staff Professional Learning Day

Friday, 5th April - Cross Country

Monday 8th April to Friday, 12th April - Catholic Schools Week

Tuesday, 9th April - Family Forum Kingscliff Beach Hotel

Wednesday, 10th April to Friday, 12th April - Year 5 camp Camp Goodenough

Thursday, 11th  April - Whole School Mass Catholic Schools Week

Thursday, 11th April to Friday, 12th April - PSSA Swimming

Monday, 15th April - Friday, 26th April - Term 1 School holidays

Monday, 29th April - Pupil Free Day

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

Every Christian is involved in a battle that defines his or her life

‘It is a struggle to overcome the temptation of closing in on ourselves, so that the love of the Father can make its home in us. When we make room for the Lord who rescues us from our self-sufficiency, we open up to all of creation and every creature. We become channels of the Father’s life and love. Only then do we realize what life truly is: a gift of the Father who loves us deeply and desires that we belong to him and to each other.’ Pope Francis

Excerpted from Pope Francis’  Foreword to First Belong to God : On Retreat with Pope Francis  by Austen Ivereigh  (p.11)

We Remember At This Time…

As we start this Lenten season, we embrace our various traditions, like perhaps focusing on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving in whatever way we can. We take time to remember and pray for those who cannot practice their faith publicly. Those who are persecuted for following the Gospel and who long for the religious freedoms that perhaps we begrudgingly take for granted. Lord, we thank you for all the gifts you have given us. Amen.

https://sacredspace.com/

Message from Assistant Principal - Gemma Ballatine - Mission

Stage 3 Choir Day

The Stage 3 choir had a great day performing with students from St Ambrose, Pottsville, Mount St Pat’s, Murwillimbah, St Joseph’s, South Murwillumbah and St Joseph’s, Tweed Heads. We were so proud of the students for singing all of the songs so well. This was the first of what will hopefully be a semi-regular coalition of local Catholic schools choir. A big thank you to St Ambrose, Pottsville for hosting the day.

Sunday 9am Mass

This Sunday we will have ourCommitment Mass for the Sacrament of Reconciliation at St Anthony’s Church at 9am. You can also attend the 6pm Mass at St Anthony’s or 7:30pm at St Ambrose, Pottsville.

We encourage our families to attend and if you haven’t been to Church  for a while, this Sunday would be a great opportunity to reconnect. We will have morning tea afterwards, which is always a great way to get to know families in the parish. Please bring a plate of food to share if you can. 

All are welcome, all belong.

Lenten Prayer Group

The theme for our Lenten Prayer group this week is, ‘Saved’. We explored John’s Gospel (Jn 3:14-21), where Jesus talks with Nicodemus about God sending his only Son to save the world, “For God sent his Son, so that everyone who believed in him may not be lost but may have eternal life.”

Our reflection led to a discussion about sacrifices our family and friends make for us and how to be grateful for those who offer little sacrifices for us- helping with a last minute costume, homework or maybe pancakes for school on Pancake Tuesday?!

• Has anyone ever made sacrifices for you that you feel you haven’t deserved?
• Have you ever had a time in your life where you have fallen for the lie that God is condemning you? 

We need to remember Jesus is always with us through our trials. He doesn’t MAKE bad things happen to us. He is there crying with us and carrying us through our grief.

Lenten Prayer Group, is held every Friday in the School Library from 8:20- 8:40am.

All are welcome, All belong!

Seekers, Sleepers and Keepers

I was at a Mission Leaders Network in Lismore this week and the Lead Family Partnerships shared an interesting finding from research about youth and faith formation,

“...Contrary to misguided cultural stereotypes and frequent parental misconceptions, we believe that the evidence clearly shows that the single most important social influence on the religious and spiritual lives of adolescents is their parents.”

-Smith and Denton

We briefly discussed this at our Parent Workshop for Reconciliation last week. There are a lot of kids wanting to make their Sacraments and participate in the faith life of St Anthony’s, be that through attending prayer, singing, reading, altar serving, running the powerpoint or leading social justice initiatives. We would love your support in encouraging your child to participate in the Sacramental life of our St Anthony’s Parish School community.

The presentation in Lismore also introduced the concept of three attitudes when it comes to talking about faith and life; Seekers, Sleepers and Keepers.

Are you a seeker? You know a bit about God and the Catholic faith, but want to find out more. Perhaps you need to reach out to our school or someone you see as a ‘keeper’.

Are you a sleeper? Were you raised Catholic, but have fallen asleep along your faith journey and need some waking up?

Are you a keeper? Are you a keeper of the faith’? Is your faith still core of your being and who you are? Are you the person whom a seeker or sleeper can go to for advice or guidance?

Baptism

We will soon start preparing a number of our St Anthony’s students to receive the Sacrament of Baptism, which will initiate and welcome them to the Catholic faith. 

If you would like your child to receive the Sacrament of Baptism and your child has a Catholic, Baptised Parent, please contact Gemma Ballantine gemma.ballantine@lism.catholic.edu.au

Companions

This year we are rebranding our 2023 LAP (Learning Assistance Program) to ‘Companions’, as we feel it better communicates our vision. We are seeking parishioners who might have some time to come into school once a week and work with a student (or groups of students) who would benefit from a companion to build positive relationships, self-esteem and resilience. It might be teaching a child how to play cards or how to knit and having a yarn about life’s ups and downs at the same time. 

Volunteers need a Working With Children Check, which can be organised through the school.

If you would like to volunteer for the program or want to talk further about Companions, please contact Gemma Ballantine (Assistant Principal, Mission) through the School Office on 6674 1368.

Stage 3 Choir Day

Project Compassion 2024

Ensuring Child Safety: A Priority for Our School Community

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we continue to prioritise the safety and well-being of all our students, we want to remind you of some important protocols regarding child safety in and around the school premises.

No Child Leaves Without Notification:

It is imperative that no child leaves the school premises without proper notification to a teacher or adult caregiver. If your child walks home, please ensure they inform a teacher or adult supervisor. This can be done by notifying Mrs. Pull or teachers on car duty if they are leaving via the netball courts, or Mrs. Barlogio or teachers on bus duty if they are exiting through the front gate.

Preferred Pick-Up Zone:

For the safety and convenience of all students, we strongly encourage parents to utilise the designated pick-up zone on Boomerang St. when picking up their child after school. Please refrain from using the Parish car park on Pearl St. for drop-off or pick-up purposes.

Pick up zone Protocols:

If your child needs assistance with seat belts etc of an afternoon, please delay picking them up by a few minutes to enable traffic to not bank up. We can then assist you with buckling them in.

Morning protocols:

If you need to assist your child with getting them out of the car please try to be quick and not create extra delays for others. It is a drop-and-go zone! Please be mindful of others.

Bike Riding Safety:

We remind all students who ride their bikes to school to prioritise safety at all times. This includes wearing a helmet while riding and dismounting from their bikes once they enter the school grounds. Additionally, for students arriving at school between 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM via the Parish car park, we urge caution as there may be reversing parishioners leaving Mass. This area can be particularly hazardous, so please exercise extreme caution.

We rely on the cooperation and assistance of parents to ensure the safety of all our students. By adhering to these safety protocols and reinforcing them with your children, we can create a secure environment where all students can thrive.

Thank you for your continued support.

Privacy Collection for Parents

Canteen helpers needed

We need helpers in the Canteen - for Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Friday especially is a very busy day if any one can help in the Canteen please call the office or let Bec in the Canteen know

Thank you

Important Community Notice: Proposed Bottle Shop Application Across from School

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are reaching out to inform you about a matter that directly impacts our school community and the wellbeing of our children. It has come to our attention that an application has been submitted for the establishment of a bottle shop directly across from our school on Pearl Street. Our bus bay regularly has vehicles illegally parked, making Pearl Street very hazardous for buses in the afternoons.

As you are aware, the proximity of alcohol outlets to educational institutions can raise concerns regarding the safety and welfare of our students. While we respect the rights of business owners to operate within legal parameters, we also have a responsibility to voice our concerns and advocate for the best interests of our school community.

In response to this proposed development, we are asking parents and guardians to register their objections. A QR code has been installed in the shopfront, which allows you to easily scan and submit your objection to the proposal. Your participation in this process is vital in demonstrating the strength of community sentiment, ensuring that our concerns are heard by the relevant authorities. Alternatively, use the link https://www.bsv.com.au/our-firm/cis-survey/ 

We encourage you to take a moment to scan the QR code and register your objection, if you share our concerns about the potential impact of the proposed bottle shop on the safety and wellbeing of our children. Your involvement can make a significant difference in shaping the outcome of this application and safeguarding the interests of our school community.

Please rest assured that we will continue to monitor this situation closely and keep you informed of any developments. Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your ongoing support in maintaining a safe and conducive environment for our students to thrive.

Child Safeguarding Commitment

St Joseph's College Open Evening

Cancer Council - Healthy LunchBox

https://healthylunchbox.com.au/builder/

https://healthylunchbox.com.au/recipes/

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 6:00pm
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