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Dear Parents and Carers
Welcome back for the 2021 school year. I hope that you and your family had a nice Christmas and New Year period. The school year has started well with a lovely feeling amongst the students, staff and parents. We missed seeing you in person last year. We are so pleased to welcome you back to entering the school for morning assemblies, afternoon pick up, meetings and special events. Unfortunately parents and visitors are not yet able to routinely attend the classrooms due to the COVID 2m2 requirement. However, you will be able to attend planned meetings and when you are invited by staff to come inside. Please see school staff or contact them as required so we can work together to meet the needs of your child/ren.
Leaders in Catholic Schools meet weekly to discuss COVID conditions, restrictions and allowable activities. Catholic Education is guided by the advice of the ACT Government and relevant health authorities.
We are pleased that many of our school activities are returning to ‘somewhat’ normal. Events and activities are still bound by the COVID restrictions at the time. We are planning ahead but things can change very quickly.
Year level assemblies, liturgies, masses, sports events, sacramental celebrations, excursions, incursions etc are set to start again. The number of adults and visitors permitted at each event will be limited to the COVID safe capacity of each venue. We will provide you with more information closer to each event.
2021 New Staff and Staff Returning
St Anthony’s has invested strongly in further supporting students in their learning and development and we have employed a number of new staff with a range of talents and skills.
In 2021 we have welcomed some new staff in various roles:
Mr Ben Lowe. Mr Lowe is teaching Year 4A on Wednesdays in Mrs Bartkowiak’s class. Ben also works part-time at St John Vianneys Waramanga. It is great to have a teacher with Ben’s experience join our staff. Welcome Ben.
Miss Tara Galvin. Miss Galvin is teaching Year 2P on Tuesdays in Mr Quantrill’s class. Tara is an experienced teacher. She has returned from 2 years teaching in the U.K. Tara also taught for a number of years at Holy Family Gowrie. Welcome Tara.
Ms Imogen Alexander. Ms Alexander joins our ELC staff in the role of After School Assistant. Welcome Imogen.
Miss Kasja Davis. Miss Davis joins our ELC staff in the role of After School Educator. Welcome Kasja.
Mr Jack Adamson. Mr Adamson joins our staff on contract this year in the role as a Classroom Support Assistant. Jack has worked for a few years in our OOSCA service and in classrooms. Jack is studying teaching at university too. Welcome Jack.
Mrs Jo Queripel. Mrs Querpil joins our staff on contract this year in the role as a Classroom Support Assistant. Jo has worked in our OOSCA service for a number of years. Jo brings a lot of experience to the role and is a qualified teacher. Welcome Jo.
Mrs Nancy Buckley. Mrs Buckley joins our staff on contract this year in the role as a Classroom Support Assistant. Nancy has experience working at St Francis of Assisi in a similar role. Welcome Nancy.
Mrs Helen Philippa. Mrs Philippa joins our staff on contract this year in the role as a Classroom Support Assistant. Helen also works at St Clare of Assisi in a similar role so it is wonderful to have her here at St Anthony’s too. Welcome Helen.
As mentioned, we also warmly welcome new staff to St Anthony’s:
Caitlin Brown. Miss Caitlin Brown who joins our teaching staff in 2021. Miss Brown is an experienced teacher who has worked in our system at St Thomas Moore’s at Campbell as well as a short stint in the UK. Miss Brown is very excited about teaching Year 3. Welcome Caitlin.
Katherine Eastick. Welcome to Mrs Katherine Eastick who joins our teaching staff in 2021. Mrs Eastick is an experienced teacher in our system who has taught at St Thomas the Apostle Kambah and St John Vianneys Waramanga. Mrs Eastick is very excited about teaching Year 3 with Mrs Phipps. Welcome Katherine.
Amanda Winne. Welcome to Miss Amanda Winne who joins our teaching staff in 2021. Miss Winne is an experienced teacher in our system who has taught at St Thomas Aquinas West Belconnen and St Monica’s Evatt. Miss Winne is very excited about teaching Year 2. Welcome Amanda.
Sally Gibson. Welcome to Mrs Sally Gibson who is teaching the ELC Possums class. Sally comes to us with many, many years of experience in education where she has held teaching and leadership positions. Most recently Sally was teaching at St Joseph’s ELC O’Connor. Welcome Sally.
Rod Smith. Welcome to Mr Rod Smith to our staff in 2021. Mr Smith has been appointed to the School Groundsman/Maintenance role. Rod has done casual work here in the past and also runs his own maintenance business. He has lots of experience and skill in this field. Welcome Rod.
As per correspondence last year, it is lovely to welcome back:
Mrs Orla Rutledge. Mrs Orla Rutledge is known to most families and is back after maternity leave teaching two days per week. Mrs Rutledge will teach some classes of Digital Technologies and Design & Technologies as well as a Classroom Teacher Support role. Welcome back Orla.
Mrs Vanessa Phipps. Mrs Vanessa Phipps is well known to most families and she returns after maternity leave teaching Year 3 this year, working with Mrs Eastick in a job share position. Welcome back Vanessa.
Mrs Sasha Daunt. Mrs Sasha Daunt returns to teach after time off on maternity leave for part of 2019 and 2020. Many of the students and families know Mrs Daunt and she is teaching Year 3/4 next year. Welcome back Sasha.
New Building Opens - 6 new classrooms and facilities
Great News! On Friday Week 1 we received access to the new classroom block, including new features and surrounds. Students in Year 4A, Year 5 classes and Year 6 classes movies into the new block.
It is a stunning, contemporary building designed to inspire student learning. Each classroom is larger than we have in other blocks and have bi-fold doors allowing for a larger space with a connection to outdoors and nature. Two ‘open’ learning streets connect groups of 3 classrooms. A specially designed presentation room separates these 2 learning streets and provides a place for group work and collaboration. The whole block is surrounded by an extensive pelmet made from a combination of wood decking and concrete. Contemporary seating options are provided for learning and eating outside each classroom.
We look forward to acknowledging all of the partners that made this amazing project possible. Parents and carers may get their first glimpse of the new block during the Meet the Staff sessions next week or in coming weeks when you are at school. Here are some pictures of the new block!
ELC - Year 5 Meet the Staff Sessions - Week 3
You are reminded to check SZapp/Schoolzine for the details of your Meet the Staff Session/s for 2021. They are on next Tuesday 16 February and Thursday 18 February. We have had to offer a range of different times and sessions due to COVID spacing restrictions inside the school buildings/classrooms. *Note: Year 6 will be at camp next week so there sessions are in Week 4.
Year 6 Camp - Week 3
Next week we wish our Year 6 students and teachers all the ebay for their 3-day, 2-night camp to Narrabeen in Sydney. The students will travel directly to and from the NSW Sport and Recreation centre at Narrabeen and undertake a range of outdoor and leadership activities. The camp is from Tuesday 16 February to Thursday 18 February.
2021 Year 6 Student Leaders
Congratulations to our Year 6 students on their great start to the year. This week all of our Year 6 students received a leadership badge that was blessed by Father Tony Percy at the opening school liturgy. Students and staff also voted on the students to be elected into specific leadership roles for Semester One. Congratulations to all students, and in particular to the following students:
Semester One School Captains
Alexander B and Kailey C
Semester One Portfolio Leaders
Mission Group | Jaie F & Evangline M |
Canteen | Jasmine R & Zoe W |
Environment | Zephane T & Stephanie B |
Events | Samantha P & Sarah F |
Library | Riley E & Gene S |
Stem | Donitabelle W & Keshav S |
Wellbeing | Tyler M & Elizabeth F |
Semester One House Leaders
Fraser | Layla F & Manny C |
Paterson | Caomh M & Caitlin D |
Bradman | Alexander L & Amelia L |
Gilmore | Tyler C & Kleanikki J |
Wishing you all the best for the week ahead.
God Bless.
Greg Walker
Principal
Dear Parents and Carers,
As part of the pastoral care program for students, St Anthony’s School have access to a Student and Family Counselling service provided by CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn (CCG). CCG are contracted by St Anthony’s School to provide a counselling service to students and their families on site. There is no fee to access this service.
The role of the counsellor is to focus on the emotional, social and educational well-being of the students. Counsellors welcome contact with students having difficulty with some part of their life, whether or not it affects their school work. The problem does not have to be a big one. It is better to seek help sooner than later. Some typical concerns that counsellors work with include: anger, anxiety, behavioural problems, depression, eating problems, family breakdown and family conflict, grief and loss, learning and educational challenges, parenting challenges, peer and other social relationships, school avoidance, stress and study skills. As well as individual sessions with students, counsellors do family work, consult with parents and teachers and make referrals to other services and supports.
Student and Family Counsellors subscribe to a set of professional ethics that include duty of care and respect for the individual rights to privacy and confidentiality. The counsellors’ obligation is to ensure the safety, wellbeing and confidentiality of the student they are working with. All counsellors are mandated to report any disclosure or sign of abuse (including self-harm) or neglect to Child Protection Services. Outside of our mandated requirements, all counselling sessions are confidential and the details will not be discussed with other parties unless written consent is given by the client.
2021 has seen some changes to the school counselling service. The biggest change relates to consent and permission. Parent consent is now required for all students under 14 years of age, consent will be sought and provided via email. Referrals and requests can be made by completing this online referral form: https://catholiccare.force.com/housing/s/school-referral-form
St Anthony’s Primary School has one Student and Family Counsellor: Mercedes Pasco-Provisional Psychologist, Ph: (02) 6231 4022, who is onsite Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.