Filter Content
- Principal's Message
- Date Claimers
- Attendance - Late Arrival and Early Departure
- Book Week Activities
- Confirmation Program - Parent ONLY Enrolment Session
- Year 2 White Assembly - Friday 1 August
- P and F Meeting - Monday 4 August
- Parents and Carers Invited - Principal Recruitment Process
- Feast of St Mary of the Cross Mackillop - Friday 8 August
- Year 6 Red Class Mass - Tuesday 12 August
- New sandpit!!
- Year 6 Mass with Bishop Brian Mascord
- Book Club Issue 5
- NSWCPS Golf
- FlexiSchools is now Live - Canteen & Uniform Shop
- NEW!! Canteen Menu 2025
- Diverse Learning Information
- Community Links Wellbeing - Parents and Guardians Workshop
- Strengthening Relationships - Parents and Carers Courses
- Families Living Well in a CyberWorld - Catholiccare
- Offertory Procession
- Parish Mass Times
- Catholic Life
- Uniform Shop
- OOSH - Before and After School Care
Dear Parents, Carers, Staff and Students,
A warm welcome back to the start of Term Three. I hope the mid-year pupil vacation break enabled all members of our St Anthony’s community the time to rest and spend quality family time.
For our Year Six students, along with other children in the parish, they will commence an important milestone in the faith journey as they begin a time of preparation in order to be ready to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. This sacrament is called Confirmation because the faith given in Baptism is now confirmed and made strong. Confirmation means accepting responsibility for your faith and destiny. Childhood is a time when you’re told what to do, and you react positively to reward and negatively to punishment. Adulthood, even young adulthood, means that you must do what’s right on your own, not for the recognition or reward but merely because it’s the right thing to do. The focus is on the Holy Spirit, who confirmed the apostles on Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4) and gave them courage to practice their faith. Catholics believe that the same Holy Spirit confirms Catholics during the Sacrament of Confirmation and gives them the same gifts and fruits. Parents need to be aware for their children to participate in the sacrament of confirmation, one parent is to attend a mandatory registration session. This is an essential part of the preparation program. You are required to attend ONE of the following sessions: either today, Thursday 31 July at 7:00 pm or Friday 1 August at 1:00 pm. At this session, the Parish will provide important information about the Confirmation program, take enrolments, distribute the Confirmation workbooks and offer guidance and support for the preparation process.
Term 3 has started with the celebration of an important whole school community event. St Anthony’s celebrated Naidoc Week with various engagement opportunities and activities and a wonderful celebration of the richness and diversity of Aboriginal culture and first nations peoples. Naidoc Week provided an opportunity for our community to come together to recognise and celebrate the rich traditions and culture of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples past, present and those of the future and their contributions to our communities. I would like to acknowledge a number of people who planned and facilitated the Naidoc Week liturgy and activities, Mrs Nicole Newton, Mrs Donna Spiteri and the staff of St Anthony’s.
Take Care
Mr Justin Devlin
Principal
Listed below are some important dates.
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2025 Term 3 July |
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| Thursday 31 | Confirmation Program - Parent ONLY enrolment session - Tahmoor Church 7:00 pm |
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August
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| Friday 1 | Confirmation Program - Parent ONLY enrolment session - Tahmoor Church 1:00 pm |
| Monday 4 | P and F Meeting at 6:30 pm ZOOM ONLY |
| Wednesday 6 | Year 6 going to Mary Mackillop Place |
| Wednesday 6 | Parent Meeting - Principal Recruitment Process at 2:40 pm |
| Friday 8 | Feast of Mary of the Cross MacKillop - Liturgy in school hall at 10:00 am |
| Friday 8 | West Region Athletics Carnival |
| Friday 15 | Feast of the Assumption |
| Thursday 28 | Soccer Gala Day |
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September |
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| Thursday 4 | Father's Day Stall |
| Thursday 18 | Year 1 Excursion - Australian Botanic Gardens |
| Friday 19 | Basketball Gala Day |
| Friday 19 | Kindergarten Excursion - Camden Park |
| Friday 19 | Year 4 Excursion - Rocks Walking Tour |
It is critically important that all students arrive at school, ready to learn on time each and every day. The school day begins at 8:30 am and increasingly there are a significant number of students arriving after this time. Consistently arriving late to school impacts student learning and just 10 minutes a day over the course of year potentially equates to 6 school days.
It is the same for early pick-up. Increasingly, the office is inundated with parents and carers from 2:15 pm requesting early departure from school. Our school day concludes at 3:15 pm and as such, without a legitimate reason for leaving early, all children should remain at school until the end of the school day.
While it is understood that there is often little choice in times available for important appointments on either side of the school day, this reminder is for the habitual late arrivals and early leavers. It is not okay to frequently request early departure from school for convenience reasons.
The Education Act (1990), states that school attendance is compulsory for all students over the age of 6 years. Current research confirms that student absenteeism has a significant impact on learning achievements and success, not to mention confidence. It is more often than not the case, that students who are challenged by their learning are those who are consistently arriving late, leaving early, or have high levels of absenteeism.
We would like to inform you that this year we will not be holding a Book Week Parade. Moving forward, this will become a biennial event, taking place every second year.
While we won’t be holding the parade in 2025, we will still be celebrating Book Week and our love of reading through a range of fun and engaging activities for all students. These activities will continue to promote literacy and encourage a passion for books and storytelling.
We thank you for your understanding and continued support as we look for meaningful and manageable ways to celebrate special events within our school community.
PARENT ONLY MEETING - Thursday 31 July 7:00 pm OR Friday 1 August 1:00 pm
The Parish will be giving details of the program, taking enrolments, distributing WORKBOOKS and providing further support where necessary.
Please bring the following with you:
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Your child’s Baptismal details (including a certificate if they were baptised in another parish)
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A $20 contribution per workbook (payable by cash or card) to help cover program costs
Only need to attend one Parent Meeting, either Thursday 31 July OR Friday 1 August
Parents are asked to please watch the following video in preparation for the program.
Please see attached Parent Pacing Guide
Year 2 White will be presenting at assembly on Friday 1 August at 2:20pm. We would like to invite parents/families from Year 2 White to join us in the hall for the presentation.
Parents, Carers and family members are welcome to join us for our next P and F Meeting on Monday 4 August at 6:30 pm.
Please click on the link below to join
Our P&F meetings are a really important way for us to connect with you, share exciting news, and discuss the events and plans for the school year ahead.
Why Your Attendance Makes a Big Difference:
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Stay in the Loop: We'll be sharing all the details about upcoming school events, fundraising initiatives, and how these activities support your child's learning and school experience.
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Be Heard: This is your opportunity to ask questions, offer suggestions, and provide feedback. Your perspective is incredibly valuable and helps us make informed decisions that benefit all our students.
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Shape Our School Community: The P&F plays a vital role in building a strong, supportive school community. By attending, you're directly contributing to the vibrant atmosphere that makes our school so special.
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Connect with Other Parents: It's also a fantastic chance to meet other parents, share experiences, and build connections within our school family.
We understand that everyone is busy, but even an hour of your time can make a significant impact. We really hope to see you there and look forward to working together to make this an amazing year for our students!
Message for Parents/Carers at St Anthony's Catholic Parish Primary School, Picton
Dear Parents and Carers,
As part of the recruitment process for the next Principal of St Anthony's Catholic Parish Primary School, Picton, the Catholic Education Office would like to invite parents & carers to attend a consultation session to discuss the current context of the school and what the parent/carer community believe is important for the next Principal to demonstrate. The session will be facilitated by Brendan Hall - Team Leader of Talent Acquisition & Employee Services.
The details of the consultation session are:
Date: Wednesday 6 August 2025
Time: 2.40pm - 3.10pm
Location: St Anthony's Catholic Parish Primary School, Picton – School Library
Parent and carers are welcome to join the school for a Liturgy on Friday 8 August in the school hall to celebrate St Mary of the Cross Mackillop. The Liturgy will start at 10:00 am and conclude by 11:00 am in time for the students lunch break.
All parents and carers are warmly invited to join Year 6 Red for their class Mass on Tuesday 12 August at 10:00 am in our School Church. Kindergarten will be attending.
We are absolutely thrilled to announce the completion of our brand-new sandpit play area, a fantastic addition to our school grounds that the children are already loving! This inviting new space features a wonderful sandy area perfect for imaginative play, exciting stepping blocks for little adventurers, and beautiful sandstone seating for quiet moments and collaborative activities.
This incredible transformation would not have been possible without the extraordinary generosity and hard work of one of our very own families, Moonscapes Prestige Landscaping. We extend our deepest gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. Moon and their dedicated staff who spent several days in the holidays transforming this play space into something truly special for all our students. Their dedication and skill have created a valuable learning and play environment that will be enjoyed for years to come.
Thank you, Moonscapes Prestige Landscaping, for your incredible contribution to our school community!
On Tuesday, 29 July, our Year 6 students had a wonderful opportunity to join students from five other local Catholic schools for a special Mass with Bishop Brian at St Thomas Aquinas in Bowral.
This significant event brought together Year 6 students as they prepare for their transition to high school. The Mass provided a chance for them to celebrate their faith with Bishop Brian and other students who will soon be embarking on a similar journey.
Following the Mass, students enjoyed time to interact and play games with their peers from the other schools, fostering new connections and friendships. It was a memorable day of community and shared experience for all involved.
Book Club Issue 5 has been sent home with students this week.
If you wish to place an order, please do so online via the LOOP App by Tuesday, 8 August 2025. Please allow approximately two weeks from the order due date for delivery of the books.
Kindly note that we are unable to accept cash payments or office orders—all orders must be placed online.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.
St Anthony's is simplifying school life!
We're excited to announce the launch of Flexischools for online Lunch & Uniform Orders with cashless payments. Please note that Kellie will still be taking traditional orders at the Canteen for those who wish to still order lunches this way.
No more scrawling orders on paper bags , or holding out until the uniform shop is open
Enjoy the ease and convenience of managing school orders and payments anytime, from any device.
Simply download the app or register online here www.flexischools.com.au/parents (or scan the QR code in this post).
Students are still able to order via the old system and the online ordering is optional. Please note orders are only available for lunches and drinks and all snacks, ice blocks etc will have to be ordered over the counter.
If you order online and your child has Gluten Free or Allergies, please hand their orange lunch bag to Kellie in the canteen in the morning.
Don't forget the cut-off time for canteen orders is 8:00am daily, so if your Lunch Order is for Monday, the cut off would be 8:00am on that Monday. We encourage you to order in advance to ensure your child doesn’t miss out!
Lighten your mental load and embrace Flexischools today!
Please read the FSG/PDS and TMD at www.flexischools.com.au/legal and consider if the service is right for you. Issued by InLoop Pty Ltd (trading as Flexischools). Fees and charges apply. Any advice given is general in nature.
Please see our new canteen menu which includes a new range of gluten free options.
We now have online lunch orders and if you would like to order, simply download the app or register online here www.flexischools.com.au/parents (or scan the QR code in this post).
Supporting our Diverse Learners and families at home offering some strategies on how to help foster engagement in learning and promote success both at school and at home. If you need any support for your child please reach out and make contact as we highly value positive partnerships with our parent community.
Miss Karyn Wescombe
Diverse Learning Support Leader
Wildflower Holistic Services - Principal Psychologist Alexandra McCarthy
Why Kids Struggle to Talk About Their Feelings - And What Parents Can Do to Help
You ask, “What’s wrong?” and your child shrugs. Or they explode in anger, slam the door, and leave you guessing. As a parent, it can be frustrating and confusing when your child can’t (or won’t) talk about their feelings. But there’s usually more going on beneath the surface. There are many reasons why kids struggle to talk about their feelings, here are some:
- They Don’t Have the Words Yet
Many kids simply don’t have the vocabulary to name what they’re feeling. “Mad,” “sad,” and “fine” become the go to words, because they don’t yet know how to say, “I’m disappointed,” “I feel left out,” or “I’m overwhelmed.” - They Don’t Understand What They’re Feeling
Sometimes emotions are layered or confusing. A child might feel both excited and nervous about a party, or angry and ashamed after yelling. Without guidance, these mixed emotions can feel impossible to untangle, let alone explain. - They’re Worried About Getting in Trouble or Being Judged
Some kids learn that certain feelings, like anger, jealousy, or sadness, aren’t “okay” to show. So instead of talking, they shut down or act out. - Their Brain Is Still Developing
The parts of the brain that manage emotion, language, and self-awareness are still developing throughout childhood. That means emotions often come out through behaviour like yelling, hiding, crying, not neatly worded explanations.
What You Can Do:
- Get Curious, Not Critical
When your child is struggling, swap “Why did you do that?” for “I wonder what made that so hard for you?” Curiosity opens the door for connection. - Name Feelings in Real Time
Help your child build emotional language by gently naming what you observe. Over time this helps them connect physical signals and behaviour to specific feelings.
“You look really disappointed.”
“I wonder if you’re feeling nervous about school?”
“You’re clenching your fists - are you feeling angry?”
- Normalise All Emotions
Let them know that it’s okay to feel angry, sad, jealous, scared. You don’t have to fix the feeling, just make space for it, for example, “It’s okay to be mad. I’m here with you while you feel it.” - Offer Non-Verbal Ways to Express Emotions
Talking isn’t the only way. Some kids, actually, a lot of kids, process their emotions more easily through action, play, or creativity. You can offer:
- Drawing or using colours to show how they feel
- Movement like jumping, running, or dancing out big energy
- Sensory tools like playdough or water play to release tension
- Storytelling or puppets to explore emotions through characters
- Music, creating a playlist that matches how they feel
These non verbal tools give kids a safe outlet and can be stepping stones to talking when they’re ready.
- Model Emotional Expression Yourself
Share your own emotional world in simple, age appropriate ways to show them that feelings are normal and manageable!
“I felt overwhelmed earlier, so I took some deep breaths.”
“I was a bit nervous about today, but talking about it helped.” - Choose the Right Moment
Trying to talk during a meltdown rarely works. Wait for a calm moment, maybe while driving, playing, or cuddling at bedtime (maybe the day after if it’s a big meltdown) when your child feels safe and more open to connection.
Some kids aren’t ready or able to talk about their feelings. Expression can look like scribbles, stomping, silence, or cuddles. What matters is helping them feel seen, not forcing them to speak before they’re ready. By offering words, modelling openness, and creating safe, non verbal outlets, you're giving your child the tools to better understand and express themselves, at their own pace, in their own way.
An invitation is extended to any families/couples/friends interested in taking part in the offertory at the weekend Masses. If you would like to be an active participant in this important task, please arrive 15 minutes before Mass and make yourself known to the greeters who will introduce you to the offertory organiser for that Mass. If you are unsure and would like further information, please call the Parish Office on 46 832 230.
| St Anthony's Church Tahmoor | ||
| Saturday Vigil | 5:00 pm | Tahmoor |
| Sunday | 8:30 am | Tahmoor |
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Reconciliation |
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| Saturday | 4:00 - 4:30 pm | Tahmoor |
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Weekday Mass Times - This Week |
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| Tuesday |
5:00 pm |
Adoration |
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5:30 pm |
Tahmoor |
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| Wednesday | 8:30 am | Tahmoor |
| Thursday | 8:30 am | Tahmoor |
| Friday | ||
Sacramental Programs
Religious Education is a priority in Catholic schools. It provides the knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith and outlines what is needed to live a Catholic life. Sacramental programs are Parish based, Parish coordinated, family focused and school supported.
Each year the Sacraments of Penance, Eucharist and Confirmation are celebrated in the Parish.
A Parish based program caters to the needs of all participants. In this way children from all schools receive the same preparation for each sacrament.
The Parish based, family focused approach to Sacramental programs is widely used throughout Australia as the preferred approach. This approach acknowledges the important role of parents and families in the whole preparation process. Parents are the first educators of children in the faith and traditions of the Catholic Church. Parents involvement in Sacramental preparation is crucial in shaping the values and attitudes of each child. So it is vital, for the continual spiritual growth of the child, that the families involve themselves in the Sacramental life of Parish.
The uniform shop is now open for face to face purchases every Friday from 9 am. Otherwise orders can be emailed to the school via info@sapdow.catholic.edu.au
Orders must be at the office by 9am Fridays.