Listed below are some important dates for Term 1 & 2.

Grade Mass 

Grade Mass has been postponed for the students until further notice. 

Assembly

Assemblies will be postponed until further notice. 

Awards

There has been a slight change to the process of how students will receive their silver awards. Silver Awards will be presented to students by their teacher in the classroom, gold pennants and gold awards will still be presented to students at the assembly.

Gold Pennant -

Gold Awards - Olive Magee, Harrison Collings, Kobe Comer, Kyan Rae, Billy Bantick, Ivy Oitmann, Hudson Maybury, Preston Rae, Jackson Carson, Jasper Dengate, Taj Davies, Savannah Spehar, Grace Mills, Seth Froude, Bella Cooney

Our school canteen will be closed this week (Monday 28 March - Friday 1 April). I ask that parents and carers provide the appropriate dietary requirements for your children. Thank you for support.

In recent weeks we have seen a spike in the number of COVID cases in our school community. Thank you to the parents who have ensured that children are kept home when they have symptoms or have tested positive. I ask that we continue to use our RAT testing procedures to ensure the safety of the wider community is supported. I pray that this phase of the pandemic passes quickly and that no one in our community suffers greatly.

On Tuesday 5 April, we will celebrate Holy Week with a school liturgy in the hall at 10:00 am. Year 6 students will be presenting the liturgy and we would like to invite one year 6 parent from each family to join us on the day.

On Friday 8 April, a selected group of students will participate in Stations of the Cross around the school grounds. In order to stay Covid safe, we would like to invite one parent from the families of students who are participating in the Stations of the Cross. There will be two presentations, Kinder - Yr 2 at 10:00 am and Yr 3 - Yr 6 at 12:00 pm.

Praying the Stations of the Cross – alone or with a group– is  a Lenten tradition. The stations are traditionally read very slowly and at each station you are invited to imagine the scene in Jerusalem as Jesus walked his Way of the Cross.  Often, the Stations of the Cross is an action prayer. Catholics walk to the fourteen stations of the Way of the Cross and stop to pray at  each one. The stations can be displayed outside in a park but are  usually found inside churches.

This year the children of St Anthony’s will have an opportunity to pray at the Stations of the Cross as a school community on the last day of this term and again on Good Friday at St Anthony’s Tahmoor church at 10am. The children will be presenting a special, child friendly version. We hope to see you at the church on Friday April 8. 

Mrs Smith

(Religious Education Coordinator)

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.

• Year 2 Sacrament of Penance 
• Year 3 Sacrament of the Eucharist
• Year 6 Sacrament of Confirmation 

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.

Every year, by law, we have to receive consent from parents to photograph and use images of your child. The photos taken will be displayed in newsletters and/or Facebook to celebrate the fun times and achievements of students. Consent forms have been sent home today with your child, if you consent or do not consent to your child's photo being taken please tick the appropriate box and return the form to school.

If we do not receive a form for your child we will not include your child in photos. 

April 22, 9am-3pm - Children up to 12 years

Join the Festival of Democracy at NSW Parliament House these April school holidays.

Celebrate democracy in Australia’s oldest Parliament with free, fun activities for children and their families from 4 to 12 years.

• Make a speech in the historic Parliamentary chamber
• Make craft animals and objects
• Learn how to vote
• Visit the historic rooms
• Purchase a Democracy sausage
• Chat with Henry Parkes, the five-time Premier of NSW
• Participate in our school holidays colouring-in competition

and more…

Bookings via Eventbrite. For details please visit

https://education.parliament.nsw.gov.au/festival-of-democracy-2022/

To participate in our colouring in competition please use the link below

https://education.parliament.nsw.gov.au/school-holidays-colouring-in-competition-april-2022/

Wollondilly Shire Council was successful in gaining a grant from the Consumers Health Forum of Australia to provide our new project “Wollondilly Wellbeing” 

As part of this project there are free Self-defence classes available at Tahmoor Community Centre on Thursdays from 4pm to 6pm.

We still have places available.

The link to register for these classes- https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/wollondilly-wellbeing-self-defence-classes-tickets-266364843417

Wollondilly Shire Council has also partnered with TAFE NSW to provide free upskilling to Wollondilly Shire Community members. Enrol in a Statement of Attainment in Skills for the Office and this can be used as a pathway to further your employment or as a way to continue studying. To enrol send an email to Emily.plews@wollondilly.nsw.gov.au