Dear Parents, Carers, Staff and Students, 

A school is supposed to be full of energy, children’s voices and classes full. Over the past week, as the children have settled back into school life, the focus has been on everyone’s social and emotional wellbeing. As the students have walked through the gates, the sense of joy in their faces as they connect with their peer group and teachers is a wonderful sight to see. Whilst settling back into quality learning and teaching our teachers have concentrated on the key elements of engagement and connection.

Last Sunday was Pentecost Sunday and in the reading from John’s gospel, Jesus utters those beautiful words to the disciples “Peace be with you!” Remembering that Pentecost always occurs fifty days after the Easter Resurrection of Jesus, the disciples were overwhelmed with joy and excitement to see Jesus. This is the same joy I have seen in the faces of our school community, including our parents,  as we have all returned to the routines and expectations of school life. 

In the coming weeks we will have the opportunity to celebrate the feast day of St Anthony (Saturday 13 June). On Friday 12 June the students will engage in classroom-based liturgy followed by some activities signifying this important event. Unfortunately we are unable to have a collective  school-based liturgy or provide an invite to parents for this important event in the life of the school. One of the key insights we take from St Anthony was that he was a man of service. Therefore, we will continue with our tradition of awarding our St Anthony’s award and on the Friday we will also be announcing the recipients of this special award.

Over the last few weeks I have met with parents and carers wishing to enrol their child into Kindergarten at St Anthony’s in 2021. So many of them have been able to express in some way the desire for their child to be a part of our Catholic school and its mission. During the interview it is always a pleasure to take them on tour of the school, especially when we walk into the kinder rooms and here our students greet our visitors with those lovely words ‘peace be with you’. From the very start of this partnership, be it new families or existing families, our new enrolments experience the very essence of a catholic community to be greeted with peace and joy.

Please continue to stay safe and healthy.

Take Care

Principal