Week 10 Term 4

School Website www.stanthonys.act.edu.au

The newsletter can be viewed each week on this website

Email

Office.stanthonyswanniassa@ cg.catholic.edu.au

Phone 6231 4022

Fax

6231 4420

OOSCA Phone: 6296 2261

Mobile (Emergency Only)

0413 905 557

Please support us to make St Anthony’s a NUT FREE

School

Fr Lachlan Coll

St Anthony’s Parish Presbytery Sternberg Cres

Wanniassa ACT 2903

Phone/Fax 6231 7310

Masses

Saturday 6pm Sunday 9am & 5:30pm

http://grapevine.com.au/~stanthonys/

Dear Parents and Carers,

I would like to thank you all for your support of St Anthony’s School during

2014. During this frantic time of the year I encourage you take the time to

reflect on the positive moments, memories and achievements of the year. I

thank the parents, carers and grandparents that have provided staff with

messages of thanks for all of their efforts this year.

As we await the coming of our saviour, this prayer reminds us of Jesus’

humble birth.

A Christmas Prayer

Jesus , the L igh t of the World , a s we ce lebra te your b ir th

May we begin to see the world in the l ight of the unders tand ing

you g ive us .

As you chose the lowly , the outcas t s , and the poor to rece ive the

greates t news the world had ever known,

So may we worsh ip you in meekness of heart .

May we a l so remember our brothers and s i s ters les s fortunate

than ourse lves in th i s season of g iv ing .

Amen .

At our 2014 Thanksgiving Mass yesterday your generous donations of food

and toys was collected by the parish conference of St Vincent de Paul.

These donations and gifts will go to those less fortunate than us.

As in our prayer above reminds us, Jesus is the Light of the World. This leads us nicely into our 2015 school

theme “You are the Light”. We give thanks for the gift of God’s love and may we all try to be a shining

example of that love to others.

Sadly Mrs Nikki Napier has handed in her resignation from OOSCA. Nikki has been a part of the St

Anthony’s community for many years having been a student of St Anthony’s and working at OOSCA as a

junior staff member and later returning as Director. Nikki leaves OOSCA to focus on the family business

and caring for her young family. Nikki’s last day at OOSCA will be Friday 30th January and the school will

have a farewell for Nikki in the new school year.

I ask for God’s blessings on you and your families this Christmas and that the birth of Jesus is a chance for

each of our hearts to be transformed through His love.

I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year.

God Bless,

Greg Walker

Principal

Canteen Donation

Recently the Maree Alchin our canteen manager proudly made a donation to our Parents and friends

Association of $3000. This donation has been made possible due to the viable operation of the canteen this

year under the wonderful management of Maree and the financial support of treasurer, Vicki Schmidt. The

canteen is also viable due to the terrific support of parents and their children ordering lunch orders, buying

snacks, supporting canteen tuck days and attending discos. Congratulations Maree, the donation will go

towards projects to support the students at the school.

The Clothing Pool The Clothing Pool final open will be this Wednesday 17th December (last day of school) from 8.30am to 9:00am.

We are running low on pre-loved uniforms so any donations of school uniform in good condition would be greatly appreciated - however we are no longer accepting items with the old logo. All items can be dropped off to the clothing pool room (next to the school hall) between 8.30am and 9:00am this Wednesday; alternatively they can be also dropped off at the front office.

On behalf of the clothing pool we would also like to thank everyone who has donated items and/or purchased clothing. This year we have raised over $2800 which has been redistributed to the P&F into worthy school projects.

Special thanks to Monika, Hilary and Jane who manage the clothing pool with such efficiency and

enthusiasm. Congratulations on a successful year.

‘MERRY CHRISTMAS’

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your efforts this year. Thank you for your involvement in Sacramental Programs, St Anthony’s Feast Day, Masses, Liturgies, Community Prayer and so many other celebrations.

I wish you a safe, merry and holy Christmas filled with love laughter and happiness.

Christmas Eve Mass You are warmly invited to attend Mass at St Anthony’s Parish on 24th December (Christmas Eve) at 6:30pm. We would love to celebrate the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ with members of our School Community and members of our wider Parish Community. We hope to see you there

Graduation Mass Thank you to Mrs Alisa Spackman, Mr Greg Rick, Miss Emily O’Rourke and staff for their wonderful efforts in preparing a beautiful Graduation Mass, Photograph Reflection and Dinner for our Year 6 students. Thank you to Father Lachlan and parents and carers for celebrating this special occasion with us. Year 6 students we wish you well in your new adventures as High School Students. You are kind, caring and generous leaders and you will be missed!

Kinder Nativity Thank you to Miss Bernadette Whitfield, Miss Emily Henderson and Miss Stephanie Edlinger and the Kindergarten students for their beautiful Nativity Performance! It was such a beautiful way to celebrate this special time of Advent with our school community as we wait to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Candle Ceremony On Wednesday 17th December the Year 6 students will pass on the light of leadership to our current Year 5 students as they prepare to lead our school next year. Orla Rutledge Acting Religious Education Coordinator

SCHOOL FEES Term 4 School Fee NOW OVERDUE. All school fee accounts will need to be finalised before the end of the school year. Please return the School Fee Family Discount form as soon as possible. Please remember to list all you children and the school they will be attending in 2015. Payments may be made by cash, cheque, credit card, BPAY, EFTPOS or Direct Debit. There is a formal process to apply for fee concessions if you are experiencing financial difficulties. Please contact me for more details. Thank You. Judy Mead.

Happy Birthday to the following Students Clara V-P, Dylan G, Kyle K, Lachlan G, Joshua G, Nicholas F, Halle B, Alisha R, Piper T, Haidyn V, Kaiyu L, Alexander K, Brock P, Ben N, Georgia B, Lara E, Mia V, Sienna W, Trae R-B, Felicity R, Jack A, Georgia A, Tyson B, Adriel R, Natasha G, Natalie C, Ben S, Sam Q, John A, Brooklyn-Louise S, Emma F, Chloe K, Zoe N, Amy L, Matthew P, Tadhg M, Kate P, Lauren C, Zahra E-A, Molly T, Emma L, Baily O’R, April M, Justin N, Sophie M, Mitchell S, Abigail Mc, William B, Alyssa H, Ramya L, David R, Alyssa M, Trent’n R-B, Casey F and Ian R.

Have a Wonderful Day!

Security Roster Thank you to everyone who have offered to help with the security roster. We need some more help over the Australia Day long weekend. If you can offer assistance during this time please contact Sarah.Waller@cg.catholic.edu.au with your availability. Thank you!

CANTEEN ROSTER: 6231 4022

Maree Alchin

Wed 17/12 Vicki Schmidt 9am-2pm

Lea Huber 9am-2pm

Selina 9:30am-1pm

Tues 3/2 Selina 9am-1pm

Hanh H 1:30pm-2pm

Wed 4/2 Lea Huber 9am-2pm

Thursday 5/2 Carol Coulton 9am-2pm

Caroline Winslade 9am-12pm

Friday 6/2 Vicki Schmidt 9am-2pm

Flexischools On-line Ordering: Go to

www.flexischools.com.au

2015 Term begins Term ends

Term 1 Monday 2 February Friday 10 April

Term 2 Monday 27 April Friday 3 July

Term 3 Monday 20 July Friday 25 September

Term 4 Monday 12 October Wednesday 16 December

Dear Parents/Carers A Sibling discount of 20% will apply next year to the CEO Tuition Fee for the eldest child attending an ACT system primary school where they have an elder sibling in a system secondary school. The four CEO systemic secondary schools are St Francis Xavier, Merici, St Clare’s and St Mary MacKillop College. (St Edmunds, Marist and Daramalan are not systemic schools.) With the introduction of a sibling discount it is important that the following information be completed showing where all school age children will be attending in 2015 and returned to the front office as soon as possible. Failure to do so may mean families missing out on the discount. This will also be used to determine where the building fund contribution will be billed.

Surname Child’s Name Year/Grade 2015 School Attending 2015

Discounts that will apply for the CEO Tuition Fee in 2015 are: 20% for the 1st child with an elder sibling attending an Archdiocesan Secondary School 70% for the 2nd child attending an Archdiocesan Primary School 80% for the 3rd child attending an Archdiocesan Primary School No charge for a 4th or subsequent child/children attending an Archdiocesan Primary or Secondary School To enable us to pass these fee discounts on, we require you to complete the following information and return it to the school by Friday 05/12/2014 Yours Sincerely Greg Walker

St Anthony’s 2015 School Fees Schedule

Dear Parents and Carers

This letter is to explain the attached 2015 St Anthony’s School Fee Schedule.

The Catholic Education Office has set their range of 2015 Tuition Fees and the Catholic Schools’ Building Fund (CSBF) Family Levy. The Catholic Education Office has raised the tuition fee levies by 3% for primary students and 4% for secondary students respectively and the CSBF by 3% for all families.

With these increases in mind, the St Anthony’s School Board recently ratified the 2015 School Budget and School Fee Schedule to meet financial commitments and strategic priorities of the school. The cost of the St Anthony’s levies and fees will rise to make the combined increase of total fees and charges approximately 5% in 2015. This increase was approved to allow the school to continue to provide support for student learning, purchase new resources and afford improvements to school facilities that the staff and members of the community have identified as much needed.

Traditionally, the St Anthony’s School Board has maintained a very low fee structure in comparison with other A.C.T. Systemic Catholic Primary Schools, and certainly far lower than Congregational Catholic Primary Schools, Catholic Secondary Schools and childcare fees. Whilst I respect this, the fee increases in our 2015 schedule will provide a larger revenue base for the School Board to be able to strategically plan for upcoming and future projects. This 2015 School Budget continues to include income raised through the wonderful annual fundraising undertaken by the Parents and Friends’ Association. However, the difference in the new budget and fee schedule is that it frees up a degree of expenditure to allow these hard earned funds to be put towards more easily ‘identifiable’ projects and improvements that are aligned to the school strategic plan. I know that parents have been requesting this for a number of years.

I consult regularly with members of the school community in a variety of forums and through a number of means. Rightly so, I hear ‘first hand’ St Anthony’s parents’ high expectations for what they would like the school to achieve and provide for their children. The staff also keep me informed of their needs to provide education, values and pastoral care of the highest quality for their students.

I am therefore committed to implementing measures to achieve these expectations and goals. I thank you for your continued support of the school through the payment of your fees each term so that St Anthony’s continues to be a school of choice for parents. I look forward to sharing more information about upcoming strategic projects being considered by the School Board and to a very exciting and successful 2015 school year.

I remind you that a range of sibling discounts continue to apply for all of your children enrolled in Systemic Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools. Also, parents that are experiencing financial hardship and an inability to afford full fees may apply for fee concessions. Please contact the school office for more information.

Yours sincerely

Greg Walker Principal

St Anthony's 2015 School

Fees

One Child with B/F K-6

Term 1 Term 2 Term 3 Term 4 Total for Year

Tuition Fee $ 316.00 $ 316.00 $ 316.00 $ 316.00 $ 1,264.00

Operations Fee $ 195.00 $ 195.00 $ 195.00 $ 195.00 $ 780.00

Excursion/ Activities Fee $ 22.00 $ 22.00 $ 22.00 $ 22.00 $ 88.00

IT Fee $ 32.00 $ 32.00 $ 32.00 $ 32.00 $ 128.00

Building Fund Contribution $ 153.00 $ 153.00 $ 153.00 $ 153.00 $ 612.00

Resource Fee $ 60.00 $ 60.00 $ 120.00

Year Book/Calendar Fee $ 30.00 $ 30.00

GST $ 3.00 $ 3.00

$ 778.00 $ 778.00 $ 718.00 $ 751.00 $ 3,025.00

Less Building Fund

Contribution $ (153.00) $ (153.00) $ (153.00) $ (153.00)

$ 625.00 $ 625.00 $ 565.00 $ 598.00 $ 2,413.00