Newsletter Term 2 Week 2 9.5.2025
Principal's News
High Expectations
As we finish Week 2 of Term 2, it is fitting to congratulate our students on their focus on learning, the way they are looking after each other, their responsibility to make good choices and the positive attitude they are demonstrating towards working with their teachers each day.
As a school, it is so rewarding to receive emails, talk to prospective families or receive letters or phone calls from people both inside and outside of our school community acknowledging how well behaved, polite and respectful our students are here at St Anthony's. It is a credit to our students, their families, our staff and our school.
Mother's Day
As the smell of coffee and bacon and eggs filled the school, it was beautiful to see so many of the special women in our lives enjoying time with their children and catching up with friends.
Mother’s Day is an opportunity for us to remember and honour our mothers for their love, kindness, selflessness and generosity. As we celebrate these women, we pray together as a faith community and acknowledge this gift that God has given to us.
Catholics around the world have a long-standing tradition of honouring the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, during the month of May. As believers, we also receive Mary as our mother. She is our advocate, our helper, our mediator and our intercessor. Let’s honour and look to Mary, the first and most perfect disciple, through this month and always.
We thank all of or mothers, grandmothers, mother figures and special women in our lives who were able you to join us for our breakfast, photos and liturgy . We pray that all our mothers will have a wonderful day on Sunday and find time to enjoy family and friends and even a little time for yourselves doing something that brings you joy.
On behalf of our St Anthony's community, we hope that you all have a wonderful Mother's Day.
Parent Community Group
I would like to personally invite you to attend our Parent Community Group meeting on Monday 26th May. The meeting will be held in the school and will commence at 5:30pm in our staffroom. The Parent Community Group is one way of supporting school initiatives, being part of school decisions and developing a stronger sense of community. I thank you in advance for everything you do to support your child’s education and I look forward to seeing you on the 26th May if you can make it. Please find the draft agenda below.
- School Learning and Wellbeing Data.
- Parent Learning Opportunities.
- School Events
- Update on initial Feedback from our first meeting.
Animals In Schools
For the safety and wellbeing of all our students and staff, I kindly ask that pets not be brought onto school grounds during drop off, pick up times, or any school events, unless they are a guide dog or therapy dog. While I understand that many families consider their pets part of the family, animals at school can cause allergic reactions, fear, or unexpected behaviours that may lead to safety concerns.
I thank you in advance for helping us maintain a safe and welcoming environment for everyone. If you have any questions or need assistance with this, please feel free to reach out through the school office or send me an email at michael.piccoli@lism.catholic.edu.au
From the School Calendar
Week 3, Term 2, 2025
- Monday 12th May - 2:15pm School Assembly Yr 4
- Thursday 15th May - K-2 Mass 9am
- 2026 Kindergarten Interviews continue
- Sunday 11th May - Mother's Day
Week 4, Term 2, 2025
- Sunday 18th May - 9am First Communion Commitment Mass
- Tuesday 20th May - Dio Cross Country
- Thursday 22nd May - K-2 Mass 9am
- Friday 23rd May - Year 6 School Leaders GRIP Day
Week 5, Term 2, 2025
- Monday 26th May - 2:15pm School Assembly
- Monday 26th May - First Communion Retreat Day
- Wednesday 28th May - Kindergarten Excursion to Fleay's Wildlife Park
- Thursday 29th May - 3-6 Mass 9am
- Friday 30th May - Year 6 attending Glow at Mt St Pat's Murwillumbah
- Saturday 31st May - First Communion Masses begin
Week 6, Term 2, 2025
- Wednesday 4th June- Shannon Kitchener Visit K-2
- Thursday 5th June - Griffith University Stem Challenge
- Thursday 5th June - K-2 Mass 9am
- Friday 6th June - Wildfire
- Friday 6th June - AFL Gala Day
Week 7, Term 2, 2025
- Monday 9th June - Public Holiday
- Tuesday 10th June - Pupil Free Day-Staff Spirituality Day
- Thursday 12th June - 3-6 Mass 9am
- Friday 13th June - St Anthony's Feast Day 9am Whole School Mass
Week 8, Term 2, 2025
- Monday 16th June - 2:15pm School Assembly
- Monday 16th June - Class Public Speaking Competition begins
- Thursday 19th June - K-2 Mass 9am
- Friday 20th June - NAIDOC Celebrations
Week 9, Term 2, 2025
- Monday 23rd June- STEM Excursion to St Finbarr's (Yr 5 STEM Team)
- Tuesday 24th June - Athletics Carnival
- Wednesday 25th June - Year 5 Excursion to the Planetarium
- Thursday 26th June - 3-6 Mass 9am
- Friday 27th June -Thursday 3rd July Murwillumbah Eisteddfod- School Choirs
Week 10, Term 2, 2025
- Monday 31st June - 2:15pm School Assembly
- Wednesday 2nd July - 5:30pm Orators Night
- Thursday 4th July - K-2 Mass 9am
- Friday 5th July - Rewards Day- Last day of Term 2
Term 3 and 4 Dates
- Book Week-Friday 22nd August Book Character Parade and Book Fair in the hall(tbc)
- Friday 5th September Confirmation
- Father’s Day- Monday 8th September 3-4:30pm
- Grandparent’s Day- Friday 31st October
- Year 6 Graduation Mass 10am Friday 12th December (tbc)
- Monday 15th Year 6 Big Day Out
- Christmas Nativity 16th December, 2pm
- Wednesday 17th December-Final Day of 2025 School Year
MISSION NEWS
Pope Francis once shared the story of his unexpected call to the priesthood and later, to the papacy. These were not paths he sought out, but roads that unfolded before him as part of God’s divine mission. He came to understand, as we all must, that God doesn’t call the equipped - God equips those who answer the call, even when it feels uncertain or overwhelming.
In the silence, Jesus waits. He knocks gently at the door of our hearts. The Holy Spirit doesn’t shout over the noise of life but speaks in quiet whispers, urging us toward something deeper, something greater. But how do we recognise that voice? What does it mean to be called?
So often, we expect God’s voice to arrive with drama, a booming word, a sudden revelation, a late-night phone call that changes everything. Yet, as the saints have shown us, God rarely speaks through spectacle. God’s voice is found in the stillness, in the sacred pauses of our lives, where something stirs quietly in our spirit. It’s there in the calm, the discomfort, and the ordinary that we begin to hear God.
And still we struggle to listen. Why?
G.K. Chesterton once wrote, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.” He recognised that the Christian life isn’t always easy. It asks something of us, courage in small things, faith in unseen outcomes, obedience without full understanding. But in its simplicity lies its power to transform.
When we say yes to God’s call, however it comes, we open ourselves to the strength of the Spirit. We begin to live our vocation. And in doing so, we help others encounter Christ.
In the end, we don’t need to be world-changers, heroes, or podium speakers. We are called, simply, to listen. To be faithful to the whisper. To follow “The Call” with integrity, even when no one is watching. That is where transformation happens. That is how we make the most profound difference.
And now, in this moment in the life of the Church, we welcome a new Pope! Another humble servant stepping into the shoes of the fisherman. Popes come and go, but Jesus remains the same: the unchanging cornerstone, the Good Shepherd who leads His flock through every season.
We pray that this new Holy Father may be strengthened to serve with wisdom, compassion, and courage. May he, like Peter before him, say yes, not because the path is easy, but because Christ has called him. Just as Pope Francis once shared how his call came quietly and unexpectedly, we remember that the call to serve is rarely glamorous and often comes when we feel least ready. But we know this truth: God equips those who answer, and blesses those who serve His Church with an open heart.
Let us ask the Lord to bless Pope Leo XIV , guide him with the fire of the Holy Spirit, and to help him lead us in faith, hope, and love.
(The Soul, May 2025)
COMMUNITY NEWS
FLYING START
Term 2 has started with a bang!!! Many of our preschoolers enjoyed vacation care over the holidays and mixed with our friends from primary school to extend on friendships and make new ones. We love that we can give these opportunities to all children in our care.
This term we are having a big focus on gross motor skills. These are being delivered each afternoon where we move out to the soccer field and learn all about both large and small group games. These games all involve throwing, catching, running, and following instructions to ensure that everyone gets to participate and learn games that they might not have ever played. We are already witnessing some great skills and more importantly great teamwork and working together. We are also spending our Friday afternoons with the kindergarten class to do sport and how lucky are we that we get to see old friends and spend time both in and outside the classrooms getting active.
Lastly, we have our Mother’s Day morning tea on today so we would like to thank all our mothers, Grandmothers, Aunties and all who take on this very important role in our children’s lives. We hope you all have a wonderful Mother’s Day on Sunday.
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: KINGSCLIFF4:00-5:30pm
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
