Dear St Anne's Community,

Welcome back! It was nice to see students return on Tuesday this week. We started the day with a whole school assembly, which included a prayer for the term ahead, a minute’s silence for ANZAC Day and we welcomed our new staff and students.

Enrolments

Today, I sent an email to all parents outlining our enrolment period. Please read over the booklet that was attached to my email and contact me if you have any questions or concerns. 

We welcomed back the Townsend family on Tuesday. It is nice to see Frankie, Molly, and Billy in our school again.

Staffing

A warm welcome to Miss Jordan Barrett on Year 1 and Miss Kim Irving on Year 6. Miss Barrett has joined us on a permanent basis and Mrs Irving will be with us for Terms 2 & 3 while Mrs Overs is on maternity leave. I have another couple of announcements in staffing to make next week. I would like to thank our secondary parents for your understanding with the changing of your child's teachers this year. Some classes have changed teachers again this term and we will have some other changes in Week 3. I will provide parents with a full list of classroom teachers next week. I will also be able to announce the teacher that will be covering Mrs Eberle's Kindergarten class while she is on maternity leave. 

Playground Equipment

Our small playground equipment has arrived. This was purchased through a government grant last year. It has taken some time to arrive due to shipping delays. There are 4 pieces of equipment, and we will install these over at Fr. Hannan in amongst the trees. 

School Community Council

The next meeting of the school community council will be held on Tuesday of Week 3 at 7:00pm.

The Resilience Project

I look forward to seeing the ongoing benefits of this program in our school. Please keep an eye on our school newsletters to see how you can utilise this at home also.

St Anne's Principal

The position of Principal here at St Anne's was advertised over the break. Applications close on the 12th of May. It takes some time for the panel to complete the recruitment process, with an announcement on my replacement unlikely to be given until the end of this term. 

ANZAC Day

Thank you to the staff and students who attended the ANZAC Day march and service last week. We had 64 students representing our school. It gives me a great sense of pride to see so many of our students participating in this special day.

I wish all our students a happy and successful term 2.

Take care,

Grant Haigh

Principal

Sacrament of First Reconciliation

Any children in year 3 and above who have been baptised as Catholics and who wish to take the next step in the practice of their faith are invited to make the Sacrament of First Reconciliation. (Please make contact with either Mrs Virginia Bent Parish secretary or Mrs Jacqui Collins Religious Education Coordinator if your child, or if you know of another family whose child wishes to be involved and is not currently in Year 3 at St Anne’s. After school sessions will be run for these students in St Joseph’s hall).

Information Packs will be sent home to families in hard copy by Monday 6th May 

Please note that the celebration of First Reconciliation has been delayed this year in Fr Sijo’s absence. The Year 3 students who attend St Anne’s have already begun preparations during Religion lessons in class time in preparation. Students from other grades who may like to be involved or from other schools will complete these in after school sessions with catechist support from Anne Sleigh. All of the relevant information about the program and the celebration of the Sacrament is being sent home to families in hard copy and the main details will also be sent via email. Please be sure to read this information carefully and feel free to contact either Mrs Virginia Bent Parish Secretary or Mrs Jacqui Collins Religious Education Coordinator should you require further clarification. 

First Reconciliation enrolment dates: Sunday 12th May 10am (Mother’s Day)

                                                                 Saturday 18th May 6pm

                                                                 Sunday 26th May 10am

Children are expected to attend at least one of the above Masses in order to be presented to the parish by their family. This is considered an expression of intention to both enrol and participate fully in the program for the reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is expected that families will all make a concerted effort to attend mass particularly during the preparation of the Sacrament. (N.B. If you are unable to enrol your child at either Mass you are required to make contact with Fr Kose who is currently filling in for Fr Sijo to arrange an alternate weekday Mass time).

First Reconciliation Retreat Day Wednesday June 12th 9:10am – 3:20pm

Sacrament of First Reconciliation – Thursday 13th June at 6pm Sacred Heart Church with Fr Kose (and an additional priest)

Sacrament of Confirmation

Any children in year 6 and above who have received the Sacrament of First Eucharist/Communion in the Catholic Church and who wish to further develop their faith and complete their Initiation into the Church, are invited to make the Sacrament of Confirmation. (Please make contact with either Mrs Virginia Bent Parish secretary or Mrs Jacqui Collins Religious Education Coordinator if your child, or if you know of another family whose child wishes to be involved and is not currently in Year 6 at St Anne’s. After school sessions will be run for these students in St Joseph’s hall).

Parent Information Evening for the Sacrament of Confirmation – Monday 20th May

Confirmation enrolment dates: Saturday 1st June 6pm

                                                     Sunday 9th June 10am

                                                     Saturday 15th June 6pm

Children are expected to attend at least one of the above Masses in order to be presented to the parish by their family. This is considered an expression of intention to both enrol and participate fully in the program for the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation. It is expected that families will all make a concerted effort to attend mass particularly during the preparation of the Sacrament. (N.B. If you are unable to enrol your child at either Mass you are required to make contact with the Parish secretary Mrs Virginia Bent or Fr Sijo to arrange an alternate weekday Mass time).

Sacrament of Confirmation celebrated by Archbishop Christopher Prowse – Sacred Heart Church Sunday 30th June at 10am

Anzac Day

To start our Library lesson this term, students in Kindergarten to Year 6 have been learning about the significance and importance of ANZAC Day. Thank you to Katie and Ella Hartwig for sharing their Great Pop's, Gordon Douglas Cartwright, Honour boards. The Honour Boards were a great opportunity for students to reflect on the past as they viewed them and to share stories about their own families. 

Scholastic Book Club

Issue #3 of the Scholastic Book Club has been sent home this week. Orders for this issue are due by 9am on the 16^th May 2024. Orders are to be placed using the LOOP app or by visiting scholastic.com.au/LOOP 

St Anne’s competed in the annual Stephen Bleyer Cup on the last day of term 1. The team only had ten players and defeated Temora West 27-22 in an amazing team effort. In their next game they were well beaten by Temora Public, 39-12, a particularly good effort as the team had to back up straight after playing Temora West. Temora Public just held on to defeat Temora West in the final game to take out the challenge cup. In a first for St Anne’s Georgie O’Connor competed with the boys, helping set up one of the tries of the day! Congratulations to all players for playing in the right spirit and a huge thanks to Duncan McCrone and Kris Dunstan for preparing the team. Michael Macauley was voted St Anne’s best for the day.

Term 1 School Fees are now overdue. Please make payment if you haven't already done so.

2^nd May- Western Region cross country in Batlow-good luck to our 20 runners.

10^th May Paul Kelly Cup AFL Wagga good luck to our girls and boys teams.

16^th May NSW Cup Netball Please continue to register your child to their team using the link that has been provided a number of times, please contact the office if you need help. Please remember, the day is a fun day of mixed netball for all primary students.

22^nd May Mortimer Shiels rugby league and Tag-good luck to our 2 tag teams on league team.

31^st May St Anne's Athletics carnival Nixon Park for primary and secondary students. Remember to train hard for your events and wear your house colours on the day.

21^st June Western Region Athletics carnival will be held at Nixon Park Temora. This is a great fund raising opportunity so please check future newsletters and emails regarding assistance that may be required in the kiosk, BBQ, manning athletic events etc. 

2^nd August MacKillop selection trials for Primary Rugby 7's, to held in Sydney-see Mr Hughes if interested.

For safety reasons, all students are to be picked up and dropped off at St Joseph’s hall. The DeBoos St entrance is where the buses pick up and drop off students. In the interests of staff and students safety, we would ask that this entrance be used only for the buses. When picking up your child, please do not call them from across the street. Children who are arriving late or leaving early need to be signed in or out at the front office.

A Garden Viewing meeting will be held next Wednesday 8th May @ 3.30pm on school grounds. 

Planning will commence for the 2026 30th Anniversary of the Garden Viewing at this meeting. 

For further details please contact Amber Crawford 0438 744 169 or Sally Cassidy 0456 024 199  

All Welcome!