Dear St Anne's Community,

The end of the school year is very near, with plenty of teaching and learning and special events still to come. Don't forget to check all the important dates in this newsletter, paying particular notice to our end of year events schedule and the 2024 term dates. 

Uniform

This week, Virginia Bent and I met with Anita from Lowes. The online store is in full swing with plenty of stock available. Type into Google "Lowes St Anne's Temora" and it will take you to the site. I also know that Millers here in town are clearing the last of their St Anne's uniform stock if you wanted to check what was left there also. The Lowes store in Wagga is carrying all our stock. Please call the store if you run into any troubles online. We also have items in our school uniform store if you wanted to check sizes. During the visit, Anita dropped off some samples for new school tracksuit pants. I showed the Community Council last night and we will request some further samples from Lowes, then show you the options, before signing off on them. 

Community Council Meeting (open forum)

Last Tuesday night was our open forum for the community council meeting. Unfortunately, we did not have anyone join us. The next meeting will be in Week 3 Term 1, 2024. It is at this meeting that we will hold our AGM. 

Staffing

I have been advertising a number of positions lately, both in teaching and support roles. These all begin in 2024. Once I have people locked in, I will announce to you in due course. 

Primary students will have the opportunity to visit their 2024 classroom teacher in Week 9 this term. Teachers will be announced that week. 

Student Wellbeing Officer

This year, I submitted an application for a Student Wellbeing Officer under the federally funded National Student Wellbeing Program (Formally named the Chaplaincy Program). I am pleased to inform you that we were successful in this application. St Anne's will receive $14,000 annually (300 hours), for the next 4 years. The money is governed by strict guidelines and it will be spent on delivering the program in our school, through the employment of a Student Wellbeing Officer. This position is already advertised on the Catholic Education employment website. 

Executive Planning Day

On Monday this week, the school leadership team and I met to plan for the 2024 school year. This included the important task of organising the school calendar and to discuss the Year 12 Graduation dates and format. We also reviewed our 2023 Annual Improvement Plan to see how our progress has been on meeting the school goals. I would like to thank the leadership team for their ongoing support and dedication to the St Anne's community. 

Facilities 

Church Bell- Last weekend, the church bell and frame were lowered to the ground and stored behind the church. This will make way for the temporary modular learning  classrooms to be put in that space. 

Modular learning classrooms- originally I was told that the 2x classrooms and 1x toilet block will be delivered to us at the end of this month. Yesterday, I was informed that it will now be 15th January before they arrive. Originally we were told that we would be getting 2x toilet blocks, but due to the cost, they have reduced this to just the 1. We have been busy ordering new tables and chairs for the classroom spaces, as well as 2x interactive televisions. The new toilet blocks will provide us with 6 more toilets to use. 

School Master Plan- On the 6th December, the architect will visit us to continue the great work on our master plan. I look forward to giving you an update on the first run of the concept plans in the next newsletter. 

Staff Absences

Lately, we have had an unfortunate run of staff absences due to personal sickness, injury or family illness. We continue to keep our staff and their families in our thoughts and prayers. I want to assure you that we are very lucky to have a regular and well known supply of casual teachers who support St Anne's students to continue their learning with minimal disruption to the regular teaching and learning programs. 

Enrolments

I have nearly completed all of the enrolment interviews for the new students joining us in 2024. We have setup a waiting list in Years 7 & 8 for next year due to the size of both classes. I don't like turning people away, but it is important that we have the space for the students before enrolling them. The message that I consistently explain in interviews is:

St Anne's Staff and I set high expectations on student's academics and behaviour. Classtime is for learning and students are aware of our behaviour management policy from K-12. We encourage students to take pride in their uniform and by doing that we believe that this will carry over into their school work. 

I am currently on camp with Stage 3 students and staff at Borambola Sport and Recreation Centre. The students' behaviour and participation makes me particularly proud.

Take care,

Grant Haigh

Principal

Sharing Mass

You are welcome to join us next Tuesday 28th for the Sharing Mass at 10:15am where years 3-8 will be attending Mass. Each family would have received an envelope home last week requesting support for the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. Each year we offer our contribution as a community to the local chapter of St Vincent de Paul, in support of those in need within our community this Christmas. A representative from the local chapter will be present at Mass to receive the giftcards purchased with our donation. We urge you to please give as generously as you are able by returning your donation in the envelope to the office as soon as possible. 

Year 6 Celebration Mass (Graduation)

The Year 6 celebration Mass will be held on Friday of Week 9 8th december at 11am. Kinder to Year 6 will be attending Mass to mark the completion of the student’s primary years with a celebration mass. Families and friends are warmly invited to join us for the mass and we congratulate Year 6 on this milestone.

Our community service visits to the Nursing Homes are back in 2024

We are delighted to finally be able to return to visiting Narraburra and Greenstone Lodges in the new year as part of the secondary community service program in our Religion classes. This is a welcome return for both the residents, staff and students as a worthwhile partnership teaching our students patience and outreach whilst also giving companionship to the residents.

The students will also be visiting Narraburra Lodge once again this Christmas to perform Chrstmas carols for the residents. The primary and secondary groups aill be attending on separate days and details will be posted via compass.

Captains were announced at our recent assembly. We are very proud to announce the following students as leaders of our school for 2024

School Captains and Prefects

Secondary Captains- Bea Balon & Sharn Ferguson

Yr 11 Prefects - Josie Crawford & Ruby Matthews

Yr 10 Prefects - Matilda Reardon & Joseph Collins

Primary Captains

Angus Oliver & Elsie Keith

House Captains

Primary

St Pauls - Adelen Crawford

St Josephs - Grace McCrone

St Pats - Hannah Pham

St Johns - Paige Reardon

Secondary

St Josephs - Rachael Thompson

St Pats-  Callie Gregory

St Pauls- Scarlett Connellan

St Johns- Kamryn Wood

Week 5 

Kinder: Pippa Hale, Charlie Crawford

Year 1: Bree Puertos, Claudia Lancaster, Peyton Derrick

Year 2: Thomas Harris, Erin Octavio, Aiden Roberts

Year 3: Simran Singh, Hayden Pham, Quinn Crawford

Year 4: Peyton Combe, Nate Swanston, Lucy Taylor

Year 5: Hannah Pham, Riley Gilchrist, Adelen Crawford

Year 6: Judd Oliver, Hayley Kite, Brodie Gray

Week 6

Kinder: William George, Ellie Fisher, Kendrea Willara Arachchige

Year 1: Patrick Wallace, Harriett Talbot, Zahlie Oliver

Year 2: James Broad, Chad O'Connor

Year 3: Bayley Piggott, Olive Coddington

Year 4: Eliana Adeyemi, Dallas Gibbs

Year 5: Mailee Reid

Year 6: Olivia Roberts, Mathias Lancaster, Meg Ruskin

Shiraz Broad - Well structured paragraph on the drought, Macey Coddington - Great recall of clothing vocabulary in French, Jarvey Crawford - Improved writing skills in Geography, Maddison Davies - Improved writing accuracy in French, Amber Haigh - Detailed paragraph on the drought,  Darcy Reardon - Well informed paragraph on the drought, Elora Octavio - Attention to detail and accuracy in her French skills.

K - 5 Certificate Presentation will be held 9.30am on Friday 8th December. 

Year 6 Celebration Mass will be held 11am Friday 8th December

Congratulations to Grace McCrone who was runner up in the Canberra Goulburn Junior sports person of the year for 2023. Grace is in Tasmania for the Athletics Nationals in Launceston this week with her family and we wish her all the best as she tries to create yet another high Jump record!!

Last Friday afternoon the Secondary students took part in our annual colour run. There was plenty fun and laughter with many unrecognisable students at the end. 

Recently, we purchased 3 classroom sets of new tables and chairs to support effective teaching and learning practices in the Classroom. 

Campaign against child sexual abuse

‘One Talk at a Time’, is a national campaign against child sexual abuse, launched by the National Office for Child Safety.

One Talk at a Time aims to protect young people from sexual abuse by encouraging adults to have ongoing, proactive, preventative conversations. For more information, please follow this link.

Link: https://www.childsafety.gov.au/one-talk-time

2024 Catholic Debutante Ball Meeting

Monday 4^th December at 5.00pm

Yr 10 Room at St Annes School

All intending parents of Debutantes and Partners are required to attend.

Term 4 - Mondays

Team 4 - Monday 11th Dec - Kerissa Reardon, Rochelle Caldwell, Danielle Haigh

Term 4 Fridays - Menu & Roster

8th Dec       Bec Reid                         Cheesy Hot Dog

15th Dec     Kaesha                            Pizza 

Term 1

Thursday 1st February - Students Return to school

Friday 12th April - Last Day of Term 1 

Term 2 

Tuesday 30th April - Students return to school

Thursday 4th July - Last Day of Term 2

Term 3

Tuesday 23rd July - Students return to school

Thursday 26th September - Last day Term 3

Term 4

Tuesday 15th October - Students Return to school

Wednesday 18th December - Last Day of Term 4