Newsletter Term 1 Week 7 (15.3.24)

Message from the Principal - Lynne Pull

Dear Parents

There was a big turn-out for Mass last Sunday. Thank you to everyone who joined in the spirit of community, supporting those students preparing for the Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation, and worshipping as one. It was also the 10 year anniversary of Fr Paul’s appointment as Parish Priest so it was fitting to have a full church on this occasion. The children certainly enjoyed playing with each other after Mass – there’s a special tree outside the church which attracts them on these days and it is joyful to see them all so happy in its branches!

The Second Rite of Reconciliation will take place in the church from 6.00pm next Wednesday 20^th March. This entails a short prayer service, an examination of conscience and then individual confessions. There will be a number of priests present and it is open to everyone to attend. It is a good thing to do as we head into Holy Week and Easter. Those students who have been preparing for this Sacrament will receive it for the first time. We pray for them in this important step in their faith journeys.

Next week is Harmony Week which is about celebrating cultural diversity and spreading the message that “everyone belongs”. Next Friday students may add something orange to what they wear to school: eg a ribbon, scarf, flower, streamer, socks. Our school leaders are preparing a segment for the assembly that day.

This week Years 3 & 5 have been doing the NAPLAN tests. Students have been focused and have done their best even though some of the tests have been tricky. We simply expect everyone to have a go and do what they can. Well done everyone! It will be some months before we expect to see the results.

This week we welcomed Mr Gavin Dykes, principal of Mt St Patrick College, who came with two of our ex-students to talk to our current Year 6 students about high school for next year. Mr Dykes was impressed with the quality of our students’ questions and the calibre of our ex-students. As he is new to the area he hopes to come back one day and observe more of our school and how we do things. All Year 6 students will attend a Taster Day at Mt St Pats on Monday 25^th March.

Holy Week begins on Sunday 24^th March with Palm Sunday. At next Friday’s assembly we will begin with prayer pertaining to this important event. On Holy Thursday, the last day of school before the Easter break (28^th March), there will be a morning assembly focused on The Last Supper. This will be followed by classes following the Stations of the Cross during the morning. The day will end with a liturgy at 2.00pm focused on Jesus’ passion and death which we commemorate on Good Friday. Parents are welcome to join us for all events. As a school we will celebrate Easter on our return to school on Wednesday, 3^rd April.

The school cross country event will be held on Friday 5^th April. Catholic Schools Week will be held during the last week of term. There will be a whole school Mass on the Thursday (11^th April) followed by an open morning when parents and visitors are invited to see what has been happening in classrooms.

Pupil Free Days coming up are Tuesday 2^nd April, and Monday 29^th April.

Have a great weekend everyone!

“Nothing emboldens the wicked so greatly as the lack of courage on the part of the good.”

God bless,

Lynne

Important Dates & School Information

Term 1 2024

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 - no school

Tuesday, 30th April - Term 2 students return to school

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

Reading the Moment…

What was lacking was that “blessed awareness that we are part of one another, that we are brothers and sisters of one another,” as Francis explained in Fratelli Tutti (32). This could be understood only with a spiritual lens. For Francis, the key to our capacity to confront and grow through these crises is a threefold belonging: to God, to creation, and to one another. The loss of our sense of belonging to a single human family that is part of creation has its roots in closing ourselves off from our Creator. The result is that we are uniquely ill-prepared to manage the transition to a better future.

Excerpted from to First Belong to God : On Retreat with Pope Francis  by Austen Ivereigh  (p.14)

We Remember At This Time…

As we continue 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 Ballantine - Mission

Sacrament of Reconciliation

This Wednesday, March 20, we will be gathering at St Anthony’s Church at 6pm for Reconciliation. This will be the First Reconciliation for many of our Year 4 students and some of our Year 5 and 6 students. We will also be welcoming students from St Ambrose, Pottsville, students from our local non-Catholic schools and our parishioners.

Please arrive 15 minutes before the starting time and ensure you observe the reverence of the sacred space with your family. There will be a number of priests for the Sacrament, so we expect to finish within the hour. 

A big thank you to the Year 4 Teachers, Genevieve Hincksman, Sharon Holmes and Paul Monahan, who have prepared the students so well to receive this special Sacrament. 

Lenten Prayer Group

Next week will be our final week of our Lenten Prayer Group. It has been great to have some of our students being regular attenders and today we had a lot of staff attend. It would be great to have some parents. If you are available next Friday, come along. We will be guided through the Lord’s Passion and reflect on the response from the crowd.

We will meet on Friday in the School Library from 8:20- 8:40am. This will be followed by Kindergarten presenting Palm Sunday at our whole school assembly.

All are welcome, All belong!

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. 

Sunday Mass

Thank you to all of the families who made it to the 9am Mass on Sunday. It was wonderful to see so many families from school.

Project Compassion 2024

Sports News

Diocesan Swimming Carnival

On Friday 1st March St Anthony’s had 14 students travel to Macksville to compete in the Diocesan Swimming Carnival. Well done to the following swimmers for their participation:

Finn Carroll-Cinque, Reilly Brendan, Ted Petherbridge, Harper Gallagher, Flynn Flaherty, Lila Flaherty, Zara Reid, Thomas Huett, Finley Smith, Ava Kotze, Floyd Morley, Amelia Popov, Claudia Popov and Lennox Stonefield. 

The team produced some outstanding results with many being successful and progressing to the Polding carnival. The following students were awarded Age Champion:

• Finn Carroll-Cinque 11 Years Boy Age Champion
• Flynn Flaherty Senior Boys Multi-Class Boy Age Champion
• Floyd Morley Senior Boys Multi-Class Boy Runner-up Age Champion

Congratulations to the Senior Boys Relay Team who consisted of Finn Carroll-Cinque, Ted Petherbridge, Harper Gallagher and Reilley Brendan who placed second in their race.

Other highlights of the day include:

• Lila Flaherty came 1st in the 8 Years Girls 50m Freestyle
• Zara Reid came 1st in the 9 Years Girls 50m Freestyle
• Claudia Popov came 3rd in the 50m Breaststroke
• The junior girls relay team consisting of Amelia Popov, Zara Reid, Lennox Stonefield and Lila Flaherty placed 3rd. 

Good Luck to the following students who were selected to represent the Lismore Diocese at the Polding Swimming Carnival:

Finn Carroll-Cinque, Flynn Flaherty, Floyd Morley, Zara Reid, Lila Flaherty, Reilly Brendan, Ted Petherbridge, Harper Gallagher and Claudia Popov. 

Winter Sports Trials 

Winter Sports Trials were held on Wednesday 6th March (hockey) and Friday 8th March (netball, soccer and league) in Grafton. Many of our Year 5 and 6 students participated in these trials hoping to be selected in the Lismore Diocesan teams for their chosen sports. Well done to the following students who took part in these trials:

Boys Soccer: Kalani Favaro Andreo and Eddie Keast. 

Girls Soccer: Zali Meyer, Andie Staunton and Jorja Geoghegan. 

Boys Hockey: Dash Campbell

Netball: Ellie Neaves and Layla Edwards

Rugby League 11’s: Ky O’Grady, Jesse Green, Ollie Bond and Nixon Moase

Rugby League Opens: Beau Wakefield and Mack White

Congratulations and good luck to the following students who were selected to represent the Lismore Diocese in their chosen sport. These students will travel to Tamworth early next Term to the Polding trials:

Kalani Favaro Andreo, Zali Meyer, Andie Staunton and Jorja Geoghegan - Soccer

Dash Campbell - Hockey

Ky O’Grady - 11’s Rugby League

Layla Edwards - netball

Years 3 / 4 and Year 6 Hockey Gala Days

The annual Tweed Primary Schools Hockey 5 a side Gala Day was held on Friday 8th March for Years 3 and 4 and Tuesday 12th March for Year 6 at the Tweed Hockey Centre in Murwillumbah. The Gala Day has an emphasis on participation and fun. Playing 5 a side hockey on a smaller field means more touches of the ball and more opportunity to learn the basics of hockey. 

St Anthony’s had 6 teams from Years 3 and 4, and 6 teams from Year 6 participate on the day. 

Congratulations to all students, your behaviour and sportsmanship were exceptional.

Many thanks to Mr Judd, Mrs Lennon, Miss Sleba and Mrs Taylor who helped coach and supervise the gala days. We appreciate your effort and time.

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

Child Safeguarding Commitment

Flying Start Preschool & OSHC

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.

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