St Anthony's School - 2023

Joyous Festive Blessings to All!

We give thanks for the amazing gift of 2023

Happy Holidays! 

St Anthony's Parish Christmas Mass Times

Christmas Eve Sunday 24/12/23 - 6.00pm

Christmas Day Monday  25/12/23—9.30am

Dear Families and Friends of St Anthony’s School,

(Speech presented at Carols Night - Tuesday 5th Dec 2023) 

Somehow we have blinked and it's December again…. We were only sitting here yesterday – it feels like celebrating last year's Carols night. Tonight is a special moment where we gather to celebrate the gift of all that has happened in 2023. Our students share their talents and joy through song and dance. 

On Sunday we entered into the Liturgical Season of Advent – our time of preparation for the joyous news of Christmas – that Christ is among us.  At Mass on Sunday, the second reading came from the letter of St Paul to the Corinthians…. Paul writes to the early Christian community of Corinth….

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, and then St Paul expresses his deep admiration for the community through the statement, I give thanks to my God always on your account…

 

Well, tonight I would like to steal these words from St Paul and express them in 2023 to the St Anthony’s community as I say thank you and give thanks…

 

Thank you to our Parish Community who offer their prayers and warm hellos as they pass by each morning on their way to Mass. Thank you to Fr Phil for his wisdom, care, and dedication to our community. We look forward to enacting a new Archdiocese document and celebrate how we are Church together and continue to find ways of living out as Parish and School in our shared ministry of love.  

 

Thank you - to you, our community. I again want to highlight and thank over 60 volunteers who we celebrated today on the International Day of Volunteers with certificates.  Hash-tag – we can't do it without you. Thanks to our excursion guides, disco dancers, committee members, and Ant hill messengers, OMG have you ordered that reminders, pizza cutters, athletic marshals, swimming time-keepers, and camper helpers – even when it required jumping into the duck poo pond to support a student. Thank you for your time, support, wisdom, and dedication to our community that provides so much to enrich our community and especially the opportunities we can provide our students.

 

To each of our families, mum, dad, grandma, grandpa, uncles, aunties, friends, and neighbors – thank you for the countless ways you support and work in partnership with us. Thank you for the gift of your children who we are so privileged to nurture, guide, teach, and be in awe of each and every day. Each year as a part of our transition,  I have the opportunity to chat with and welcome our new families.  Most times I read a small reflection called Two Sculptors…

 

I dreamed I saw a studio

And watched two sculptors there.

The clay they used was a child’s mind

And they fashioned it with care.

One was a teacher – the tools they used

Were books, music, and art.

The other; a parent, worked with a guiding hand,

And a gentle, loving heart.

The poem finishes…

And when at last, their task was done,

They were proud of what they had wrought.

For the things they had molded into the child

Could neither be sold or bought.

And each agreed they would have failed

If either had worked alone.

For behind the parent stood the school

And behind the teacher, the home.

Thankyou for the countless ways you stand with us as we work together… we can’t do it without you….

 

To the amazing staff of St Anthony’s – thank you for your dedication, humor, joy, support, and professional pursuit of excellence. For finding countless coloring-in sheets thank you, for locating that book and getting that crazy just dance-on in the library thanks, for the band-aids or helping out on yard duty – thank you…. For support, guidance, and care of students – thanks. For cooking breakfast at OSHC and making sure holidays are fun - thanks.  For designing learning adventures that capture heads, hearts, and hands – thank you. For doing that task before I have even worked out it was needed to be done – thanks. For supporting each other through food, helping out, and most importantly laughs – thank you. Mr. Baker has worked for 30 years this year in Catholic Education and I have had the blessings of working with many amazing people and this staff ranks right up there in how they inspire me to serve and lead.

 

Lastly thank you to our students who enrich, bless, and inspire us each and every day. Thank you for living out our 5Ls which we proclaim each day as a part of our heart prayer….

 

For being - Leaders – who jump in and help out, by running library clubs, and picking up equipment without being asked, for helping our school be green, for helping fellow students, and for being examples of brilliance. Thank you. For leading mentoring moments or guiding a reception student back to class. For being the best person you can be and allowing others to do the same. Thanks

 

For being - Listeners – who show care and respect to all members of our community, for meeting each week in mentoring, helping as reading buddies, taking time to stop and be still in morning prayer, or a smiling minds reflective activity, offering respect and listening to fellow classmates or Mr Baker rabbiting on about something on the microphone. Thankyou for listening to the cries of the poor through our fundraising activities and ecological actions during September – the season of creation.

 

For being - Learners – who aspire for excellence and “fill the page” as a wise Yr 1 told me, who publish books, make models of the Adelaide Oval bigger than the Adelaide oval, for asking amazing questions at the high court – even when Mr. Baker had had enough and wanted to go… for filling in excursion booklets, designing Science week experiments, for making and building during early years investigations that fill the room. For reaching black belts in Japanese, for accomplishing that dance move for the concert, for pen licenses, for learning to make the sign of the cross or reference scripture text correctly. For being determined to do better, seek feedback and grow – thankyou.

 

For being - Lovers – who offer a handshake of good luck to a student from another school as we get ready to race them at the athletics carnival, For giving high 5s to younger siblings who haven’t started at our school yet, for letting little ones join in a morning game of volleyball. For running up and saying hello and asking how I am. For greeting each day with a smile and allowing us to share in your joys and struggles.

 

For being - Laughers – who dress up for book week, PJ Day, Wear your colours day, and purple day, who share a song and dance on the stage of the Capri theatre, for being gracious losers during a staff vs student volleyball game. For helping Mr Baker when he was attacked by an elf on the shelf or allowing me to come into class and totally disturb your learning, have a laugh and then ensure you re-focus. For being amazing young people of joy in all you do….

 

St Paul finishes his letter to the Corinthians by saying -  I never stop thanking God for you. I always remember you in my prayers. You St Anthony’s – Parish, Community, Families, Staff, and Students are always in my prayers and I will never stop thanking God for the privilege and honor it is to be a part of this community.  

Thank you for 2023 – may the approaching festive & holiday season bless each and every one of you and provide you with rest and relaxation – ready for an amazing 2024. 

 Last year we said goodbye to Mrs Travers for the year in the hope she would be back – but we share tonight with our community that we officially say goodbye to Mrs. Kylie Travers. Kylie is unable to be here tonight. But we will ensure these gifts, including a certificate acknowledging Mrs Travers 28 years of dedicated service to Catholic Education from the Director Of Catholic Education will be delivered. I like so many of you have been privileged to have my heart touched by such a caring and dedicated professional. I reckon if you looked up teacher in the dictionary you would see a picture of Kylie, giving with love, exciting students to learn, and serving without cost. I look forward to reminding Mrs Travers of the love the St Anthony’s community holds for her and all she has done to touch the hearts of so many.

We welcomed Mr Stoyel at the start of this year as he joined our community to guide and lead our Year 4/5 class. Josh has brought a reflective and caring manner to his work in our community. He has supported students in their times of worry, extended an outreach email to offer support, and excited learners with a range of learning adventures.  We wish Mr Stoyel all the best for future chapters and thank him for his service to our community.

Boyd – the other Mr. Baker has been an amazing member of our OSCH and support staff team for the last few years and while I am sure Boyd would love nothing more to stay and ensure toast and cereal are served at before-school care – we think that finishing a teaching degree might open more doors. In fact, the doors opened wide for Boyd after his final placement at Kimba Area school, when they saw the care and talent we have seen and offered him a teaching position for next year. Boyd thankyou for your amazing dedication to our students and we wish you well on your teaching journey.

 

This award is donated by the State Member for Elder, Nadia Clancy - Awarded to the student who has contributed to the community through dedicated service.      

This award is donated by the Dominican old Scholar’s Association  Awarded to the student who, over their years at St Anthony’s, has displayed honesty, respect and kindness, with a commitment to building knowledge, growing in faith and working for justice. 

 This award is donated by the Knights of the Southern Cross— Edwardstown and Plympton branch. We appreciate the generous donation provided to our school by the Knights of the Southern Cross that supports this award.

Awarded to the student who has demonstrated commitment to overall learning, an enthusiasm for all areas of school life, leadership within the classroom and wider community and an awareness of the needs of others.

This award is donated by the Parents and friends Association - In memory of former St Anthony’s student, Ivy Krause.  Awarded to the student who has made a significant contribution to St Anthony’s School, through his/her unconditional sharing of loyalty, courage, kindness and resilience. 

 Awarded to students who, have earned the respect of staff and students through their attitude, growth, and leadership potential.                     

 Awarded to students who, have earned the respect of staff and students through their attitude, growth, and leadership potential.                     

St Anthony was a friend and member of the religious order started by St Francis of Assisi. The spirit of the Franciscans was one of peace, care, and love.   The St Francis of Assisi Award  is presented in celebration of a student who has taken up the call and demonstrated leadership in the care of others and our whole school community.  This student has lived out the spirit of St Francis through their compassion, care, impeccable manners, and dedication to learning and involvement in all aspects of our school. 

 

To our amazing Graduating class of 2023…. What an adventure…. What growth …. What joy….  May you take with you all the laughs, the ways you have led, all the loving you have shared with others and each other, the moments you have listened and the amazing learning. Go with our sad blessings and we can not wait to hear about you thriving and flourishing as you begin your high school journey….