Newsletter Term 3 Week 10 (27.9.24)

Message from the Principal -Lynne Pull

Dear Parents

Here we are at the end of the third term – three  quarters of the way through the year. I know it’s a cliché but where has the time gone? We have certainly had a lot going on here at school. Students have had many opportunities to shine and excel.

There have been many sports on offer throughout the term and lots to celebrate. This week the soccer team represented the Tweed Zone at the Diocesan finals and came away winners. It’s the first time St Anthony’s has done this. We had a mixed team of girls and boys and it was very satisfying to win against an all boys’ side from St Francis Xavier’s Ballina. Well done to the team and their coach Mr Barton and thanks to Mrs O’Grady for looking after the team in Grafton on the day. By the way, the trophy is huge!

We wish Kalani Favaro Andreo all the best as a member of the NSW state soccer team. He heads off to Western Australia at the end of the school holidays for the national competition. What an achievement!

Congratulations to all the students who recently competed in Newcastle at the athletics carnival as members of the Diocesan team. Some outstanding results were achieved including Andy de Beer coming second in discus in his multiclass division. Great work Andy!

Year 4 have returned from a great couple of days on camp at Tyalgum. Their teachers have reported how good the students were during their time away. It is so pleasing to get this feedback. I am sure they were all very tired last night though!

I told students at assembly this morning that we will showcase the arts next term and there will be a talent show. Students are encouraged to perform. We will hold auditions early next term to decide the finalists for the special event.

The Colour Fun Run on Monday was a great success. I must say that being slimed was not something I ever anticipated having to do in my career! It was cold and icky but I survived and I’m happy to have provided some entertainment for the kids! Thank you to all the families who supported the event through fundraising. We actually did hit the $30000 mark again which is incredible. In consultation with the Parent Forum we will purchase a new PA system for the school. Congratulations to Kindergarten for being the champion fundraising class on the day and getting all the goodies in the VIP tent. Also Congratulations to Finn Zuber in Year 4 for being the top fundraiser. We are very grateful that we had such fine weather for the event (and to think we were considering holding it today – and here it is raining!!)

During the holidays please check your child’s uniform and ensure they will last for the whole term. Particularly check the length of the girls’ dresses as some of them are getting a bit too short! And shoes! We expect all students to wear the correct shoes on the correct days. (If there is a medical reason why a student is unable to do this then we are happy to discuss this). Please also attend to hair-cutting. A gentle reminder that at St Anthony’s we do not allow dyed hair or make-up or attention seeking hair-styles.

We encourage students to read daily during the holidays. 15 to 20 minutes a day is a good habit to get into. Keeping a journal or diary is another good holiday activity. Reading signs when we are out and about and noticing spelling and punctuation anomalies can be a good activity.

Next term we welcome Miss Kristy McKinnon to Kindergarten to take the place of Mr Ambrose who will be on parental leave for the term. Kristy is well-known to the students as she works in the classroom on Wednesday afternoons currently. We also welcome back Mrs Jan Jeske who will be teaching the Indonesian classes for the term as Mrs Plunkett will be away on Long Service Leave. Jan has done this role in the past and is well-known to the students. We wish Mr Ambrose and Mrs Plunkett all the best for their time away from us and we look forward to their return next year.

Swimming starts in the second week of next term for Years 3 – 6. Students must wear a rash shirt over their swimmers so ensure your child has one.

We were very saddened to receive the news yesterday that one of our ex-students, Ben Goodall, did not survive the injuries he sustained in a car accident at the weekend. Ben was in Yr 12 at St Joseph’s College. It is a tough time for that class as they had their graduation Mass and ceremonies this week. We offer the college and particularly Year 12 our thoughts and prayers as they deal with their grief and loss.  We offer our condolences to Ben’s family at this sad and difficult time and assure them of our continued caring thoughts and prayers. Many of our teachers taught Ben and this morning we gathered as a staff for some prayer and reflection. May he rest in peace.

Please enjoy the holidays with your children. I hope you all get some down time! We, as staff, are all looking forward to the break to refresh and renew for a big 4^th term. Thank you to everyone for the support this past term. It has been a mixture of both ups and downs but we have come through. Life has challenges for us all at times – it is how we respond, not react, that matters and we do this with the help of God, always with care and respect and always looking for the best in all things.

School resumes on Tuesday 15^th October for students. Don’t forget that daylight saving comes in to play on the second Sunday of the holidays!

Appreciation is like salt – a little goes a long way to bring out the best in us.

May God bless us all and keep us all safe these holidays.

Lynne

New Principal - St Anthony's Kingscliff

Important Dates & School Information

Term 4 2024

Monday, 14th October - Pupil Free Day - no school

Tuesday, 15th October - Term 4 - students return to school

Sunday, 20th October - Whole School MASS @9 am

Tuesday, 29th October - Year 5 Exuro - Murwillumbah

Wednesday, 30th October - Parent Forum Meeting @ 5 pm

Monday, 4th November to Thursday, 7th November - Sydney/Canberra Excursion

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

Life as a Gift

Why do we so often fail to see everything and everyone we are given as gifts? Why do we so easily mistreat others as though their love, loyalty and usefulness are somehow owed to us? I believe this failure of sight is our way of avoiding the vulnerability of love: Whether we are falling in love with a person, a community of people, a job, or a way of life, love makes us vulnerable. It is scary to fall in love and even scarier when I recognise that another person is not mine but God’s. Even the most faithful spouse is not mine forever, because it is possible that he may die before I do. My sweet toddler will grow up to have an independent life. My best friend could move away. When we let go of what we believe we are owed and focus instead on ourselves as recipients of unearned gifts, we become freer to forgive. Relationships stop being about what we are owed. Rather, they become interactions freely offered and freely given. This frees us to forgive.

Excerpted from The Ignatian Guide to Forgiveness by Marina Berzins McCoy (p.60)

https://sacredspace.com/

Sports News

Kalani Favaro Andreo and Selection in the NSWPSSA Football Team

Congratulations to Kalani Favaro Andreo of Year 6 who was selected in the 2024 NSWPSSA Football Team.

He recently travelled to Tamworth to compete in the NSWPSSA Football championships representing Polding.

The team came 4th out of 14 teams, what an excellent result.

As a result of his performance at these championships, Kalani was selected in the NSWPSSA team. He will now travel to WA to compete in the Australian Primary Schools Football Championships.

A well deserved selection, congratulations Kalani for your hard work and dedication towards the sport! St Anthony’s is very proud of your achievement and can’t wait to hear how your team goes.

Rugby League Gala Day

On Tuesday over 50 students from Years 3 to 6 participated in the Tweed Schools Cup Rugby League Gala Day at South Tweed.

Well done to the U/12’s team made up of students from Years 5 and 6. They played 3 games and came away with a win against Mt St Pats and 2 losses. All the boys played with great enthusiasm and to the best of their abilities.

Thanks to Mr Judd and Mr Barton who have trained the team leading up to and coached them on the day.

Well done to the U/10’s team who all enjoyed a great day of footy and participated with sportsmanship and competitiveness! There were a few players in this team who had never played before and trained hard at lunch time to improve their tackling skills so they could participate on the day.

Thanks Mr Monahan who trained the team at lunch time and coached them on the day.

For the first time girls League Tag was introduced into the gala day for Years 5 and 6.

Congratulations to all the girls who put their hand up to participate in this section of the Gala Day. Our St Anthony’s team had a few experienced players but the majority were having a go at the sport for the first time.

They had such a fun day and participated to the best of their abilities, well done girls!

Thanks to Miss Burnheim for coaching the girls on the day and Miss Field and Mrs Sleba for training the team leading up to the day.

Diocesan Football Knockout Finals

Congratulations to our St Anthony’s mixed Year 5 and 6 soccer team who competed in the Diocesan Football Knockout Finals in Grafton on Wednesday.

They convincingly won their first game 4-0 which allowed the team to progress to the final against Ballina. They went on to win the final 4-3 and brought the trophy back to school! What a wonderful achievement!

Thank you to all the parents for transporting the students to Grafton.

Many thanks also to Mr Barton for coaching and training the team during lunchtimes and thanks to Mrs O’Grady for going to manage the team.

How Teens and Tweens can "Disappear" Apps and.......How Parents Can Find Them

With iOS 18, Apple introduced the ability to hide apps like Instagram and Snapchat in a secret folder, making them invisible on the home screen and in the search bar. While this feature is intended for decluttering devices, it poses serious concerns for parents. Tweens and teens can easily exploit this function to conceal apps from their guardians, making it harder to monitor their digital activities. Hidden apps could facilitate risky behaviours like cyberbullying, sexting, or interactions with strangers without parents being aware.

To address these risks, parents must stay proactive by utilising available tools such as Screen Time, which tracks app usage even if the app is hidden, and reviewing battery usage and purchase histories for signs of concealed apps. However, relying solely on technology isn’t enough. Open communication with children about their online life, is crucial. By blending these technical strategies with ongoing, honest conversations, parents can foster a safer, balanced online environment for their children while staying one step ahead of hidden risks.

While hiding apps might seem harmless, it can create several challenges for parents trying to monitor their child's online activity:

How Apps are Hidden on iOS 18

To hide an app on an iPhone running iOS 18, follow these steps:

1. Ensure the Device is Running iOS 18

• First, make sure the iPhone or iPad is updated to iOS 18. You can check this by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

• Select the app you want to hide, such as Snapchat or Instagram. Press and hold the app icon until an options menu appears.

• A pop-up menu will give you the option to Require Face ID. After selecting this, the device will give you the option to select Hide and Require Face ID.

• After confirming, you will receive a message that the app is now hidden. It will no longer show up on the home screen or in the search bar. However, it can still be accessed through Settings, but it will require Face ID or a passcode to open it.

Hidden Communication Channels

Apps like Snapchat and Instagram are commonly used for messaging, often in ways parents may not approve of. When hidden, these apps no longer appear in obvious places, such as the home screen or search results, making it difficult for parents to identify that these apps are being used. Teens could be using these hidden apps to communicate without supervision, potentially engaging in risky behaviours like sexting, cyberbullying, or sharing inappropriate content.

Increased Exposure to Inappropriate Content

Hidden apps can also facilitate access to inappropriate material. Whether it’s adult content, dangerous social media challenges, or interactions with strangers, hidden apps make it harder for parents to intervene and monitor usage.

False Sense of Security

Many parents rely on scanning their child’s home screen for potentially harmful apps. However, with the ability to hide apps, parents may feel a false sense of security if they can’t see any risky apps, even though they may still be in use.

How to Check if Your Teen is Using Hidden Apps on iOS 18

Despite the ability to hide apps, there are several ways parents can still monitor whether their teen is using these hidden apps:

Use Screen Time to Track App Usage

Apple’s Screen Time feature logs the time spent on each app, even if the app is hidden. Parents can view how much time their child has spent on different apps and determine if any hidden apps are in use.

How to Access Screen Time:

1. Go to Settings > Screen Time > See All App and Website Activity.
2. This will show a detailed report of app usage. If you notice apps that don’t appear on the home screen but show up in the activity log, this indicates the app may be hidden.

Check Battery Usage Reports

Even though apps are hidden, they still use up battery life. You can check battery usage reports to identify if any hidden apps are consuming power in the background.

How to Check Battery Usage:

1. Go to Settings > Battery.
2. Scroll down to the Battery Usage by App section. If an app shows up in this list but isn’t on the home screen, it’s likely hidden.

Search for Hidden Apps via Settings

Hidden apps won’t appear on the home screen or in the search bar, but they can still be found through Settings. Parents can look at the list of installed apps and check for any unfamiliar or suspicious ones that don’t appear on the home screen.

How to Find Hidden Apps:

1. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
2. This will display a full list of all installed apps, including any that are hidden. This list cannot be altered by hiding apps.

Check App Store Purchase History

Hidden apps will still show up in the purchase history of your child's App Store account. By reviewing this history, you can see which apps have been downloaded on the device, even if they are currently hidden.

How to Access Purchase History:

1. Open the App Store app.
2. Tap on the Profile icon in the upper-right corner.
3. Select Purchased > My Purchases to see a list of all apps downloaded on the device.

Additional Steps Parents Can Take

Enable Parental Controls

Use Apple’s Screen Time feature to set parental controls. You can restrict app downloads, block certain apps, or set limits on how much time your teen spends on different platforms. These controls also allow you to monitor app usage, including hidden apps.

• How to Set Parental Controls:
• Go to Settings > Screen Time > Turn on Screen Time.
• From here, you can set app limits, monitor usage, and restrict access to specific apps.

Have Regular Conversations

Open communication is essential. Talk to your teen about the apps they use and why they might be hiding them. Foster trust by establishing rules that are fair and consistent. Explain the importance of using technology responsibly and the risks associated with certain apps.

Set Clear Boundaries

Establish clear rules around app usage and make sure your teen understands that hiding apps could bypass important safety measures. Let them know that you are monitoring their device to keep them safe and that using hidden apps without your knowledge is a violation of your trust.

School Library - search for library books

CALL OUT TO

overdue or lost library books

Please look and return to the library or the school office

Here are some places you might not have looked yet.

• In a Closet: Things often get thrown on the floor of a closet. Tidy it up and you might just find a missing book buried under there.
• Under Beds: Since we often read in bed, books can get dropped between the wall and the bed.
• Under the Couch: This is another popular reading spot. Move the entire couch to make sure you don’t miss anything.
• In Your Vehicle: Look under the seats, under car seats and in the trunk.
• Chair and Couch Cushions: It’s easy for small books and paperbacks to get wedged here.
• On the Bookshelf: Imagine that! Books fall behind other books, get put in backwards, or simply get caught so deeply between other titles that they disappear from view.
• In a Back Pack: Many a missing book has hitched a ride in a child’s backpack, hoping to make friends with his textbooks, I suppose.
• In a Pile: Library books like to hide in piles where they don’t belong. Piles of school books, piles of magazines, piles of coloring books, etc.
• In a Toy Container: Check toy chests, boxes and baskets. Lots of things besides toys love to hang out there, because children (who are rushing through a clean-up job) will toss pretty much anything inside.
• Under an Appliance: Check under the stove, the fridge, washer, dryer, etc.
• Under a Rug: Area rugs can easily hide a paperback library book.
• In the Bathroom: Any place in the house where people like to read is fair game!
• Someone Else’s House: Did they take the book to Grandma’s? To a friend’s house? To God’s house?

Flying Start

Wow last week of term 3. The countdown will certainly be on for our Preschoolers who are moving into Primary School next year.

 We are fortunate enough again next term to be able to join with the kindy class to do gross motor activities each Tuesday.  We certainly love our time with them where we get plenty of opportunity to meet new friends and become familiar with the teachers and the school. We also look forward to kindy orientation next term too where we can walk over and join other children in play, and all get ready for our transition next year.

 On Monday of this week, we had a great time joining in the Colour Run with the school. It was lots of fun getting wet and colourful. We are still talking about it three days later!!

 We are rounding our term off with a focus on the story “Wombat Stew”.  We have gathered natural resources in the way of leaves, sticks, seeds, and flowers then add some mud from our mud kitchen. Water then turns it into stew and creativity, imagination and role playing is all on show.  We love that we can offer our preschoolers these opportunities from our very own yard.

 For those of you not attending vacation care we hope you have a great holiday, and we will see you all next term.

Miscellaneous

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: KINGSCLIFF4:00-4:30pm
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