Listed below are some important dates.

During the Christmas Eve Mass at Tahmoor Church children are invited to dress up as angels and shepherds.

Awards

Congratulations to the following students who will receive an award at assembly on Friday 8 December for being a great learner and wonderful community member.

Gold Pennant - Jack Fenning, Matilda Oldfield, Ruby Sharp, Ethan Callaghan, Taiya Fardella, Brayton Fardella, Maddison McBurney, Georgia Oldfield, Jesse Slater, Indie-Rose Szczerbanik, Isaiah Banasik, Annabelle Brown, Luella Fletcher

Gold Awards - Jackson Swallow, Nate Latta, Nixon Lawson, Flynn Batty, Xander Gibb, Ivy Mitchell, Hazel Quilter, Marco Simeoli, Luca Albanese, Tayte Gibb, Bella Noble, Nicolas Piscioneri, Matilda Oldfield, Zoe Falconer, Nicholas Morschel, Maddie Morris, Ella Henderson, Ella Williams, Harmony Williams, Mercedes Furina, Alexis Gordon, Toriana Humphries, Jack Sharp, Diesel Medd, Breanna Short, Alexander Ross, Jayden Greene, Joey Bayeh-Dennis, Eliza Fiumara, Amyra Durable, Kye Micallef, Nicholaz Sanchez, William Moon, Luke Nikolic, Lachlan Magee

In previous years, our tradition involved reaching out via phone calls to inform parents of students selected to receive awards at our end-of-year ceremony. While this personal touch has been greatly appreciated, we have recognized the time-consuming nature of this process.

Starting this year, we will be notifying parents through email using our Compass Parent Portal to convey the news of students who will be receiving awards. This streamlined approach aims to ensure timely and comprehensive communication while allowing for easier access to this celebratory information.

This adjustment will not only enhance our communication process but also aligns with our commitment to harnessing technology for more efficient school-parent communication.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this change. 

Thank you for your ongoing support and involvement in your child's educational journey.

We are thrilled to extend a heartfelt invitation to the upcoming Year 5 Christmas Assembly, which promises to be a delightful showcase of our students' hard work and festive spirit.

Date: Monday 11 December

Time: 10:00 am to 10:30 am

Location: School Hall

Our Year 5 students have been diligently practicing their Christmas performance, and we are excited to share their efforts and talents with you during this assembly. 

Please join us to celebrate the end of the year in communion with each other. Outdoor Mass will take place on Friday 15 December at 10am under the shelter. All are welcome and please bring a picnic chair. The students will have lunch and first break at 11:00 am followed by the Award presentation at 12:00 pm in the hall and parents of award recipients will be notified by email through Compass and are invited to join.

The year 6 Clap Out will be held under the COLA shelter at 2:30 pm

YEAR 6 END OF YEAR EVENTS - EVENT ON COMPASS

An event has been posted in your Compass Parent Portal for consent and payment. The $60 fee per student is a one off fee to cover all end of year costs for Year 6 graduation. Costs include Yearbook, Cake/Cupcake, Disco, catering on graduation night and school/teachers gift. Please log into the portal and give consent and payment by Friday 1 December.

This is important information for families with Year 6 students and students in other grades who will be leaving St. Anthony's at the end of 2023. Please take note of the following:

1. **Access to Compass Parent Portal:** When your child leaves St. Anthony's at the end of 2023, parents will lose access to the Compass Parent portal. This change will occur unless your child is transitioning to a Wollongong Diocesan High School/Primary School. If you child is attending one of our Diocese of Wollongong High Schools all records will remain on your Compass Parent Portal.

2. **Access to School Reports:** After your child leaves the school, you will not be able to access your child's school reports through the Compass Parent portal.

3. **Action Required:** If you wish to retain copies of your child's school reports for future reference, it is important to download and print them before Friday, 15 December, 2023. This will ensure you have access to this valuable information after your child's departure from the school.

It's crucial to make the necessary arrangements to secure these reports if you want to maintain records of your child's academic progress. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and if you have any questions or need assistance with this process, please reach out to the school for support.

I am excited to extend an invitation to our next Parents and Friends (P&F) meeting, which is scheduled to take place on Friday 8 December, in the school library.

This meeting marks a wonderful opportunity for us to come together and celebrate another successful year of the P&F, reflecting on our collective achievements for the benefit of our students and the school community.

We will commence our gathering with a casual meet-up in the library at 1:30 pm, providing a chance to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee along with some refreshments before we start our meeting agenda.

Your presence and participation are invaluable as we discuss our accomplishments and look forward to planning for the upcoming year. Your ideas, contributions, and support are vital in shaping the initiatives that benefit our school community.

Warm regards,

P&F Committee Member

CSNSW SPORT is offering a fantastic school holiday opportunity for students enrolled in Catholic schools in NSW.

Our pilot AQUATHLON event is open to participation for students aged 8 years to 19 years with age divisions in both mainstream and Multi Class events.

Please share with your school community. We have attached a flyer to display.

For more information - https://csnsw.sport/sports/csnsw-sport-programmes/aquathlon

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.