Good Day, Good People,

Welcome back to another school year. Even with the wet weather we have started well. I thank you for your patience as the morning and afternoon runs are quite slow. As always, the safety of our children is the first priority.

I take this opportunity to welcome our new families and our existing families. Once again we look forward to a productive year.

Our staff returned to work last week with a number of Professional Development opportunities. We spent time undertaking our Induction and Compliance covering all kinds of topics including Child Safety, Inclusive Learning and Integrity to name a few. We had Br David Hall address us about Catholic Identity in our modern context. We also had a session with Carolyn Blackley on Behaviour and Engagement. 

Last year we underwent our Renewal process. From this we have developed three priorities for the College over the next few years. I have listed them below:

1. Ensure the learning and teaching practices, behaviour management processes and pastoral care programs are explicitly linked to the College Vision and Mission.
2. Cultivate an environment that encourages positive behaviours, fosters strong relationships and promotes student engagement.
3. Establish a staff professional development program (PDP) that values evidence-based pedagogy to promote a culture of continuous improvement.

You will hear more about these priorities as we go through the year.

The Pope has announced this year of jubilee to be a year of “HOPE” 

I draw your attention to School TV on our website. It has a lot of information for parents and dealing with student issues.

With the weather being unpredictable we will endeavour to update you should there be any changes to school routines. Please take care of you and yours.

We look forward to working with you and your children over the year. Let us keep building a better St. Anthony’s Catholic College together.

Yours sincerely,

Barry Horner

College Principal

Good day, good people!

It was wonderful to see our students gather on Tuesday for the first day of 2025. Their excitement and readiness for a new year were contagious! A fresh start brings new beginnings and endless possibilities, paired with the comfort of familiarity and belonging. By lunchtime, it felt as though we had never been away, a true reflection of the Franciscan spirit of love, community, and belonging that unites us all.

Our students have transitioned smoothly, with only a few tears—mostly from loving parents saying their goodbyes. Despite the long weekend disrupting the routine, the children have quickly settled back into school life. Their smiles and enthusiasm reassure us of the joy ahead this year. We pray their happiness and love for learning continue to grow throughout 2025, bringing comfort and pride to their families.

PADUA - Badging of Campus Captains and Year 6 Padua Guardians

All members and friends of the College community are invited to attend the Padua Badging of Campus Captains and Year 6 Padua Guardians to be held at a date to be announced. At this stage, it will be in the Padua Greccio Place Hall.

ASSISI - Welcoming Mass and Investiture of our College Leaders.

All members and friends of the College community are invited to attend the Welcoming Mass and Investiture of Assisi Leaders to be held on Friday, February 12th, in the San Damiano Centre at 9.00 a.m.  Please rsvp to Rachel Bond at rbond@sacc.catholic.edu.au for morning tea catering. 

Beginning of the Year for Teachers:

Our Teachers spent time at the beginning of the year refreshing their understanding and knowledge of what it means to work in a Catholic School with Prof Br David Hall and the capabilities of our Teaching staff with the 4 Dimensions by Dr Carolice Blackley. To transform ways of working through understanding how interactions with others are central to organisational and personal well-being. A wonderful way to refresh and reinvigorate our staff in their vocation for teaching in our Catholic College. 

Jubilee Year of Hope

This year Pope Francis has declared a Jubilee Year of Hope in 2025.

A Jubilee is a special year of grace and conversion, involving prayer, pilgrimage and sacramental repentance, held every 25 years, or during other years as called for by the Pope. Through a series of concrete rituals, acts and commitments, the goal of a Jubilee year is to inspire and encourage holiness of life among the faithful and therefore to strengthen the Church’s witness to God’s loving mercy in and for the world.

A word of Hope:  “Since we are justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing in the glory of God… Hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Rom 5:1-2.5).

The coming Jubilee will therefore be a Holy Year marked by the hope that does not fade, our hope in God.

May it help us to recover the confident trust that we require, in the Church and in society, in our interpersonal relationships, in international relations, and in our task of promoting the dignity of all persons and respect for God’s gift of creation.

“Spes Non Confundit - Bull of Indiction of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025 (9 May 2024): Francis.” 2024. Spes Non Confundit - Bull of Indiction of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025 (9 May 2024) | Francis. May 9. 

MASS at ST ANTHONY’s PARISH

Everyone is welcome to attend Mass at St Anthony’s Parish. 

Please see the Parish Website or Facebook Page for details about Mass times and locations.

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM

Students from Grade 3 to 8 are invited to be part of the St Anthony’s Parish Sacramental program.

• Parents are the first educators of children in the faith and traditions of the Catholic Church, where faith is learned and lived.
• Parents are best placed to discern their child’s readiness for the Sacraments;
• however, our Parish requests that children in Grade 3 and over enroll in this
• programme.
• The parish is responsible for establishing and running programmes for sacramental preparation and the celebration of the Sacraments.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO   

• See the Information Pack for the enrolment form and Bank details. This will be sent out via email during Week 1.   
• Complete the enrolment form and return it to the Parish as soon as possible with a copy of the candidate’s Baptism certificate (this can be done by email). 
• Pay the enrolment fee of $50 per child- which must be paid online to St. Anthony’s Parish before the commencement of the programme unless arranged otherwise with Fr Vinoj.
• Attend all lessons with your child.   
• Attend Mass on Saturday (St Clare’s) OR Sunday (St Anthony’s) with your child.
• Complete activities with your child and talk about the Sacraments with them both during the lesson and at home.

For further information, dates and or queries please contact:

Fr Vinoj Francis (Parish Priest) Ph: 4751 5217

Email: deeragunparish@tsv.catholic.org.ay

Or speak with an Assistant Principal - Religious Education

St Anthony’s Catholic College

Rose Fitzsimmons 

Ph: 4751 7200 

Email:  rfitzsimmons1@sacc.catholic.edu.au 

Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak. 

(St Anthony of Padua)

God Bless

Rachel Bond                                                                          Rose Fitzsimmons

Acting APRE (Secondary)                                                        APRE (Primary)

Good day good people,

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas break and enjoyed quality time with family and friends. I feel incredibly fortunate to be leading Padua Campus this year. We've had a fantastic start to the year, and it was wonderful to see both our new and returning families on Day 1.

The start of the school year is always an exciting time, and it's been a joy to see so many happy children and their families. A heartfelt welcome to everyone, especially the new families and staff who have joined our school community this year. We’re looking forward to a fantastic year ahead, filled with countless opportunities for learning and growth.

As we start the new academic year, we encourage our students to make the most of the many opportunities available both inside and outside the classroom. Our dedicated staff are always here to offer guidance and support to help our students thrive. With a year full of exciting events and activities ahead, we look forward to enriching our students' learning experiences.

Staffing Update

We are pleased to welcome these wonderful teachers to our school community: Kasey Griffin, Cian Mendiolea, Shae Moon and Aimee Bowden.  

Class Teachers for 2025:

Uniforms

Thank you to the majority of families for ensuring our uniform and dress code expectations have been implemented for 2025. If your child is wearing incorrect items, their teacher will initially reach out to you directly, either in person or via email, as a reminder. We kindly ask for your support in helping your child wear their uniform correctly and with pride, including adhering to the hairstyle guidelines. If uniform issues persist, you will be notified via COMPASS, and continued non-compliance may result in contact from a member of the Leadership Team. 

Stop, Drop and Go Zone

Our families are fantastic when Shining at the Pick up and Drop off zones however a quick recap, particularly for our new families:

• Only use the Drop off and Pick up if you are not getting out of the car. If you need to leave the car please park your car in the first row of car spaces.

• Where possible please have your children exit on the left so they are not walking out into traffic.

• Move your car as far forward into the yellow area to ensure a safe exit.

• Be aware of the speed limit, exercise patience in this brief but very busy time and show courtesy to fellow families in built up lines by taking turns to merge.

• Park only in assigned parking areas.

As we begin another school year, let us pray that the Lord watches over us and guides us on this shared journey. Remember, our children are at the heart of every decision we make, and together, we can achieve great things. May we continue to support and encourage one another, striving to do our very best for the children. It is through unity and collaboration that we truly embody the spirit of community.

God bless,

Karen Krzelj - Deputy Principal (Acting)

Welcome students, families and friends to the Assisi Campus News. I hope this finds you and your family well. 

A very special welcome to all our new students and families to the College. This can be quite an anxious and nervous time for Year 7 students as they commence secondary schooling and for our new Year 8-11 students as they continue their schooling with us. Please be aware that our teachers and a number of specialist support staff are here to make your transition as smooth as possible. The Homeroom Teacher is a good first point of contact for parents and carers if you need to communicate any issues or concerns about your son or daughter. We also have Year Level Guardians and Curriculum Leaders who will be important teachers who can assist with your child’s social/emotional development and academic progress. We also have College Counsellors, Careers Counsellor, College Chaplain, First Nations Leader and Defence Transition Mentor who also provide assistance in specialist areas as well. All of our staff are contactable via email or simply call the College on 4751 7300 and our Office ladies will only be too happy to help. Please see the list below for all the roles and teacher names this year. 

Thank you to all the Year 7 and 12 students for their start on Monday and for the new Years 8-11 students for your part day. We hope this was a good way to start at the College. Any thoughts on your experience or concerns please let me know. 

At our Assembly on Tuesday there were some important matters we addressed with our students. Barry asked our students to be their best this year in all they do. Melissa spoke to us about how Pope Francis has designated this year as the Year of Prayer in particular the ‘Our Father’. We will support this in our Homeroom and Religious Education classes. I reminded students about the matters raised in the email I sent out to you just before school started. 

We want to partner with our parents and carers to allow your child/ren to achieve their best. It is at this time we set goals for the year ahead. It is so important for students to have a vision of where they are headed and to work hard to achieve this vision. Have you had a chance to talk to them about it? 

Uniform: Please refer to my email last week for all of this information. 

New to your child having a mobile phone: Our children are growing up in a world different to when we were at school. The Internet was just starting out and how can we forget dial up internet. Can you imagine how long it would have taken to watch a 2min Youtube clip back then? Please find a link here to a letter from a mum who bought her son an iPhone and the contract for him to follow. It is an oldie however it may be something you may consider with your child/ren. 

Upcoming: 

On Thursday 6 February we have our Assisi Opening Mass, 9:30 - 10:50am in the San Damiano Centre. At this Mass our Year 12 Elected Leaders will receive their badge and all Year 12 students receive their Senior badge.

Our Meet & Greet and Years 8-12 Awards Night on Wednesday 12 February. We decided it is better to combine both of these events. The Meet and Greet is for all parents and carers and is a great opportunity to meet our teachers especially your child/ren’s Homeroom Teacher. It starts at 5:15pm and then we move into the Awards Night at 6:30pm. Our Students and families should have received an email notifying them that they are the recipient of an Award and we would love for them to attend. 

If you have any suggestions about how to make the College a better place please feel to ring me at the College or email me at nantoniazzi2@sacc.catholic.edu.au. 

Until next Newsletter or I see you, take care

Nick Antoniazzi

Deputy Principal - Assisi Campus

When considering a subject change, remember

• Some classes are at capacity so a subject change may not be possible.
• Change requests must be made on curriculum grounds only; not based on a student or parent request for a change of teacher.

Below are some tips for parents to help their children with homework.

Welcome to the Padua Library for 2025.

Our role within the college is to:

• Inspire students’ love of reading and enhance
  their reading skills through enjoyment and
  learning
• Teach the students about the role of library and
  how to use it effectively to locate and evaluate
  information both in text and online forms
• Promote the importance of children’s literature
  in the language development of students
• Provide teaching staff with a comprehensive and current collection that will support the College’s teaching and learning curriculum.

Each student is asked to have either a water-proof library bag or plastic document folder to protect their books from any damage especially from water. Should a book be damaged please return it to the library ASAP and library staff will assess whether it can be repaired.
Should a book be lost or damaged beyond repair, we do ask that parents/carers pay for a replacement so that other students still have access to a copy of the book (NB should the lost book be located and returned to the library we will refund any payment made).

Borrowing
Each class has a session in the library each week where they return and borrow their library books. Students borrow their books for a week, but they also have the opportunity to return and borrow before school from 8:15am – 8:25am or during lunch breaks. Books that students have not finished reading can also be given a renewal date.

Book Club
St Anthony’s uses the services of Scholastic Australia to provide students with the
opportunity to purchase books and in doing so support our library by allowing the school to use the discounts made through your purchases to keep our library well stocked and up to date. Leaflets are issued approximately twice a term via the classroom and ordered through the library. Once orders are placed it usually takes approximately a week before the books are delivered. If paying by cheque it needs to be made out to Scholastic Australia.

Payments by credit card are made online through the LOOP system which means you do not need to return any slips to school and the order is processed automatically.

Sue Keith
Teacher Librarian
Padua Campus Library

Welcome Back Defence Families & Carers

At St. Anthony’s Catholic College, we foster strong friendships between students and
teachers while continuing to grow our Defence community, which now includes 97
students at Assisi and 66 at Padua.

I am excited to welcome our new Defence students and reconnect with those
returning. Our college is deeply committed to supporting the pastoral care of
Defence children, understanding the unique challenges they face. We strive to
minimize these challenges by closely monitoring students and providing activities
that help them navigate both the practical and emotional aspects of Defence life.

As the primary point of contact for Defence families, we support students by
engaging with them through classroom visits and playground interactions, taking a
genuine interest in their well-being and progress. We also attend school events such
as assemblies, class activities, musicals, and carnivals. Working closely with
teachers and staff, we monitor Defence students, particularly during deployments,
training exercises, and courses.

Additionally, we offer support to partners and family members during times of
absence and provide pastoral care for students adjusting to a new school, relocating,
or coping with deployment-related challenges. We organize farewell activities for
students moving to new postings, assist with Educational Allowance applications for
tutoring support, and connect families with programs and services available within
the college, St. Anthony’s Parish, Defence Member Support (DMFS), and the wider
community.

Staff are encouraged to collaborate with the Defence School Mentor to ensure
smooth transitions into and out of the college, offering continuous support, especially
during parental deployments or training exercises.

Please contact me at Assisi Campus on 07 4751 7300 (Tuesday-Thursday) and Padua Campus on 07 4751 7200 (Monday & Friday) or email
kholliday@sacc.catholic.edu.au

Kristin Holliday                                                                                              Defence School & Family Mentor

 Instrumental Program Starts Week 2! 

We’re excited to kick off our instrumental program in Week 2 and look forward to seeing our talented students back in action. A special welcome to our new students joining the program this year!

Lesson information will be emailed out to families soon, so keep an eye on your inbox.

For more details, visit 

https://www.sacc.catholic.edu.au/extracurricular/instrumental-music

The MS Super Splash is more than just a fundraising event; it's a celebration of community spirit, aimed at raising vital funds for Queenslanders living with MS whilst fostering connections and, of course, having fun. Teams come together for an 8-hour swim challenge, complemented by music, team competitions, raffles, and much more throughout the day.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition that affects many Queenslanders, impacting the central nervous system and leading to a range of symptoms. At MS Queensland, we are dedicated to providing support, information, and funding for research towards a cure, all while ensuring that those affected by MS are never alone. The funds raised at events like the Townsville MS Super Splash are crucial in supporting over 5,500 individuals living with MS through services such as our NeuroAssist information line, NDIS support, specialist nursing services, wellness programs, and more.

For this year’s Townsville MS Super Splash, we have a goal of raising $40,000 to help Queenslanders facing MS.  Our event is taking place on Saturday the 17^th of May from 8am – 4pm at the Long Tan Memorial Pool in Heatley.

Registrations open on the 27^th of February: MS Super Splash : Register your interest