Newsletter Term 4 Week 1 (18.10.24)

Message from the Principal -Lynne Pull

Dear Parents

I hope everyone enjoyed some down time in the holidays without the rush of deadlines, making lunches and meeting sports commitments. Students all seem quite happy to be back into the swing of things here at school with lots of happy faces and great holiday stories to tell. This is a big term for everybody – students have been reminded that their job at school is to be the best learners they can be. With formal reports due this term it is imperative that students set goals to put in big efforts, stay focused and take on feedback provided to ensure they are continually striving to improve and do their best.

BIKES/SCOOTERS

If your child rides a bike or scooter to school then s/he must abide by the law of wearing a helmet when doing so. The school rule states that students must alight from their bikes/scooters when reaching the school grounds and walk them through. Under no circumstances are they allowed to ride through the church carpark, around the church path, or in the school grounds. This also applies at the end of the day when going home. Students failing to abide by these rules will be banned from bringing bikes/scooters to school. This is in the interests of safety for all.

CRAZY SOCKS

Next Friday we will celebrate Socktober Day. Students may wear colourful, fancy, crazy socks on this day in exchange for a gold coin donation to support the Missions.

SWIMMING

The annual weekly swimming program commences on Tuesday next, 22^nd October, for students in Years 3 – 6. All students are expected to participate unless there is a genuine medical reason for not doing so. Students are still expected to go to the pool with their class at swimming times unless they have been granted an exemption which will only occur in exceptional circumstances. Students will be building their stamina and correcting their strokes during these sessions, or learning the fundamentals of swimming if they do not yet have them. Please ensure your child has all that is required for swimming with them on Tuesdays. The swimming program for students in Kindergarten – Year 2 will be held later in the term.

SCHOOL MASS

This Sunday the staff will host the parish Mass in the church commencing at 9.00am. We encourage all families to join us on this occasion so that we can celebrate together. Please bring something to share for morning tea after Mass. This is a particularly special occasion for some students: Georgina (Year 4) and Hannah (Year 2) McMahon -Smith, and Bonnie Brownjohn (Year 5) and her brother Bodhi will all be baptised during Mass. We encourage their classmates to support them by being present at Mass for this.

UNIFORMS

Thank you to all parents who ensured their children were in the correct uniforms for this week’s return to school. We have an expectation that all students will wear the correct uniform at all times. If there is a need for your child to be out of uniform please contact the school. We show our pride in our school by wearing our uniforms correctly.

HAIR

Our school rules clearly state that “attention-seeking hairstyles”, including dyed/coloured hair, are not permitted. Shaved heads are not appropriate at St Anthony’s, so please refrain from getting these haircuts for your children. Longer hair is to be tied back neatly. Tying back hair also helps in preventing nits!

WELCOME

We are delighted to welcome some new students and their families to our school this term: Fox (Kindergarten) and Grace (Year 3) Barnes, Jaxon Brooks (Year 5) and Ryder Wallis (Year 1 – returning to our school). We hope you settle in quickly and enjoy being part of the St Anthony’s community.

SADNESS

We were very saddened to hear of the passing of the grandmother of Harper Camer (Year 1) in the holidays. We extend our condolences and prayers to the family at this sad time.

BOTTLE SHOP

We were very pleased to recently hear that the proposed bottle shop across the road from the school will not be going ahead. See notice elsewhere in this newsletter.

LANDFILL OBJECTIONS

This week Mrs Barlogio and I accompanied Fr Paul and the lawyer from the Catholic Schools Office, Mr John Thompson, to a meeting with a commissioner from the Land & Environmental Court, along with representatives from the community, including the mayor and others from Tweed Valley Council in putting forward objections to the proposed landfill on land adjacent to the school. The concern is that the material to be used could cause greater risk in the event of a future flood in the area, which would impact the school to a worse extent than last time (and last time it lapped at the top step outside the front office!) A site inspection took place at the school. We will let you know the outcome once we know.

STAFFING

We are currently looking at our staffing needs for next year. This will be determined by our student numbers and needs. If your child will not be returning to St Anthony’s next year, please advise the school office as soon as possible and complete an exit form. Thank you to those who have already done so.

PRAYERS FOR PEACE

Pope Francis has declared next Friday 27^th October as a day of fasting, prayer and penance for peace in our world. He has asked all to participate in this. Our world is currently more troubled with war raging in the Middle East (and elsewhere) bringing unbelievable trauma and devastation on so many, with so many lives lost and families torn apart. The last thing we want is for this to escalate into a world war. We encourage all families to consider supporting this call for prayers for peace.

How do we pray for peace from half a world away?

How can words salve and soothe real wounds, assuage real fears, wipe tears from real eyes?

God of endless compassion, transform our prayers from words to bridges,

That span the distances between us, uniting our hearts in yours.

Every time we turn our keys in a lock, may we remember all those who are losing their homes.

Every time we step into our cars, may we remember all those who are having to flee.

Every time we embrace our children, may we remember all who are trying to shield theirs from war.

May our besieged brothers and sisters be drawn into the arms of the suffering Christ,

And may our cry be heard as one voice, ringing out in every corner of the earth:

God of endless mercy, grant us peace.

AMEN

As you can see it has been a busy week already! And there’s lots more to come this term. We look forward to you working with us throughout the term.

God bless

Lynne

Important Dates & School Information

Term 4 2024

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

Wednesday, 23rd October - Science Day - Cutting Edge For Kids Griffith University

Friday, 25th October - Crazy Sock Day

Tuesday, 22nd  October - Swimming starts for students in Years 3 – 6 (Every Tuesday till 3rd December)

Tuesday, 29th and Wednesday 30th October - Kindergarten Orientation from 8.45am to 10.45am

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

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

Monday, 25th November - Cyber-safety Workshop Twilight Meeting 3.30pm to 5.00pm

Wednesday, 27th November - Mount St Patrick College Year 7 Orientation Day

Thursday, 12th December - Year 6 Graduation Mass, Morning Tea and Assembly

Friday 13th December - Awards and Final School Assembly

Wednesday, 18th - Last day of 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

The Comfort of Knowing that God is Near

I knew a man who fought cancer to the end. He took to every type of possible healing. We had all been told it wouldn’t work. I know another who just opened himself to it all and wouldn’t even take chemo. These are different approaches to suffering. One fought it and the other accepted. I admired the both of them.

Many people go into hospital wondering about their illness, and worry that death might be close. That’s part of life. As for Jesus: it’s a fearful time, confusing, and sometimes draws us into more faith. We can transform our pain into suffering, and find some great graces in it. There is the challenge to find new life in it. Pain becomes suffering. Jesus doesn’t want the chalice of the garden, but he allows it become fully part of him so that his inner strength is big! It doesn’t mean a simplistic approach, rather it means an acceptance of darkness in life.

Jesus found in his passion that God the Father is near. This can be our way and we can find that through helping each other. We can help people at times of suffering – listening, being present. We find this in
our hearts, not in books – we find that we can grow through suffering and we realise on a bad day that peace invades the soul, or that there is a bright light in the darkness.

Excerpted from Gospel Reflections for Sundays of Year B by Donal Neary SJ

We Remember At This Time…

“The first sign of hope should be the desire for peace in our world, which once more finds itself immersed in the tragedy of war” (Irish Bishop’s Conference Autumn 2024)

We pray to the Lord that we don’t despair and always have hope for peace, and that God will give us the grace to be peacemakers in whatever troubled situation of life we find ourselves in. Amen!

“Those who are peacemakers will be called ‘children of God’” Matthew 5:9

https://sacredspace.com/

Message from the Assistant Principal - Julianne Barlogio - Learning & Teaching

Liquor Licence Application Rejected for Proposed Venue on Pearl Street

We have welcomed the decision by authorities to reject a liquor licence application for a proposed BWS on Pearl Street, directly across from our school. The decision follows significant concern and opposition from parents, educators, and local residents regarding the potential impact on the safety and wellbeing of students.

Big thanks to all who contributed to the community petition and all the parents who submitted  letters of opposition. This opposition led to the decision we were hoping for. The rejection of the application highlights the community’s commitment to maintaining a safe and supportive environment around St. Anthony's School and the power of us coming together as a community. Well done!

Message from the Assistant Principal - Gemma Ballantine - Mission

Next Friday we will be raising funds for Socktober, Catholic Mission Australia’s major campaign in schools. All of our students are encouraged to get creative and wear some crazy socks. Classes will also be creating a ‘sockball’- made from old socks and bags and typically used in communities where the students can’t afford soccer balls and need to use what they have to play.

This year Mission Australia is raising awareness and funds for the Caring Center in Mongolia. The Caring Center provides a home for Otgonbayar and his friends who have nowhere else to call home. The students will be finding out more about Otgonbayar and his community next week.

Could you please support our 2024 Socktober campaign by sending your child to school with a donation next Friday and encourage them to wear some creative socks- even getting creative with some textas, glitter and some old socks will work! To find out more go to the Socktober site https://www.socktober.org.au/

Thanks for supporting this cause.

Sports News - Primary Swimming

Safe on Social

We are 75 days out from Christmas.....and many kids are eager to add a smartphone to their wish list. It may seem like the perfect gift to keep them connected, entertained, and fitting in with their friends. But gifting a smartphone during these special occasions can actually lead to more challenges than you expect.

A smartphone isn't just another fun gadget. It opens the door to social media, internet access, and constant communication, which require maturity and supervision. Giving it as a gift can downplay the serious responsibilities that come with it. 

• Kids may see it as just another cool present, but they need to understand the importance of using it responsibly.
   

• Without proper preparation, they could face online risks like cyberbullying, inappropriate content, or sharing too much personal info. 

A smarter approach is introducing a phone when both you and your child are ready to handle it as a tool, not a toy.

Want to know if your child is ready? Check out our self-assessment tool that you can use over and over for each app or device https://www.safeonsocial.com/product-page/eready-kids-parents-self-assessment-tool

The excitement of a holiday or birthday makes it nearly impossible to have serious talks about responsible phone use. It’s hard to compete with the thrill of unwrapping presents!

Important topics like screen time and online safety won’t stick in the middle of holiday chaos. With so many distractions, your child might need help to fully grasp the seriousness of smartphone use.A better alternative is to save the phone for a calmer time when you can set boundaries without competing with holiday hype.

Kids want smartphones because their friends have them, but holidays turn this into a gift-giving arms race. Giving in can send a materialistic message. Kids love comparing gifts, and a smartphone can ramp up the pressure to keep up with others that don’t have the means or want to hold off. Once a phone is on the gift list, future presents will be expected to match or top it. Present the phone as a tool, not just another flashy gadget to one-up their friends.

When a smartphone is a gift, it can muddle the lines of who’s in charge. Your child might think they call the shots because it’s "their" present. Your child could resist phone rules, thinking ownership means total control. A phone-as-a-gift mentality makes setting limits feel like you’re taking away their prize. Make it clear that a smartphone is a shared family responsibility, not a free pass for unlimited use.

Gifting a phone sets a dangerous precedent that technology is the ultimate prize. This can lead to unhealthy attachments. Treating a phone like a prize makes it hard for your child to see it as a tool, not a status symbol.Kids who view tech as a reward may struggle to establish healthy limits later on. Help them understand that technology is a useful tool, not something that defines their worth or is tied to rewards.

Holidays and birthdays are already filled with excitement, and adding a smartphone into the mix can easily pull your child away from the family fun. Once they unwrap their new phone, they may get lost in apps, games, or social media, shifting their focus away from spending meaningful time with loved ones. Instead of being fully present during family activities, they might end up glued to their device, missing out on important interactions and shared moments. Introduce the phone during quieter times, so it doesn’t distract from holidays.

By delaying the gift of a smartphone, you're teaching your child valuable lessons in patience and responsibility, essential skills for managing technology in a healthy way.

Focus on their readiness and maturity. The timing of when they get a smartphone should be based on their ability to handle its responsibilities, not just because it's a special occasion. This approach helps your child understand that a smartphone is something earned through demonstrating responsibility and trustworthiness, not simply another present to unwrap.

By waiting for the right moment, you reinforce the idea that privileges come with accountability, setting them up for more responsible tech use in the future.

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.

Flying Start

Welcome back!

Term 4 is here, and the countdown is on till the end of year. We are looking forward to finishing our year with lots of learning and most of all fun.

We are investigating plants, flowers and vegetables to begin our term, which means we will be planting and watching our seeds grow. This will also culminate in an excursion next week to Mate and Matt’s to see a working farm and taste all the excellent fruit and vegetables they grow.

We will continue with kindy sport this term and this will happen every Tuesday afternoon. We will also host one of these groups down at our preschool.  We will use the netball court to ride on the Ezy rollers and strengthen our gross motor skills. We love our kindy sport and having time to interact and build relationships. In addition to this we are lucky enough to be able to visit on Friday afternoons where we will be involved in indoor learning in the classroom. This will no doubt give the preschoolers some great experiences and the expectations of big school for next year.

Flying Start

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