7th May 2012
Volume 30
COLLEGE CAPTAIN MEETS FEDERAL EDUCATION MINISTER
College Captain Bishoy Iskandar was asked to join College Principal Mr Gary Underwood on the SBS television program Insight which went to air over the recent school holidays. Their objective was to remind the public and the Education Minister that not all private schools are wealthy or charge high fees and that these small schools certainly need the federal government to maintain or increase government grants to our schools. About half of all private ISV schools have under 500 students, a quarter less than 100! These schools need more government funding, not less. After the recording of the show, Bishoy had the opportunity of talking with the Minister about our school and his future directions. The Minister now has a better understanding of the needs of schools like St Anthony's.
Well done Bishoy!
PRINCIPAL’S NOTE: Term 1, 2012 was a short term. But very busy with testing of all students at Years 2-10, writing of Individual Learning Plans for each student, Information Nights for all year levels, as well as Parent Teacher Interviews for Middle and Secondary parents. VCE students have got off to an excellent start with teachers reporting a serious approach to their studies and students undertaking work on time. In term 2 VCE students have started to undertake Work Requirements for their VCE assessment, and this will become a larger part of their work through Term 2 & 3. The College staff are also working exceptionally hard at the moment with all of the above as well as the work that is required by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) who are reviewing the operation of the College in all its aspects from finance to class discipline. I take
this opportunity to thank them for their work to date, and for their extra work they did over the holidays to comply with the requests of VRQA. Our new Bus Manager Geoff Bell has settled in to the College and progressively going through the buses in the fleet, excluding the new buses, to ensure all are up to government regulations regarding safety. This will take another month and I ask for your patience as we take these buses in and out of service to do the testing and work. Unfortunately the canteen will be closed in term 1 & 2. We want to ensure the canteen provides nutritious foods, even during fasting. So if you can help as a volunteer, or would like to be considered for the paid position, please contact Michaela or myself at the College.
HALF OF PARENTS HAVE NOT PAID THEIR FEES With the long-term illness of Ms Matta, our Business Manager, I am working with Ms Michaela to sort out all the accounts. I apologise that this has meant a number of parents having to ring us and sort out their account. While this has been happening, no-one was chasing fees and now over half our parents have not paid their school fees or bus fees. Our College cannot survive unless fees are paid in advance. Please, we need your support to pay your fees on time and we need them paid now. All Term 1 and 2 fees should 2
have been paid by now. If you haven’t paid your outstanding fees, and you have not received fee relief in writing, your fees are overdue. Contact Mr Underwood if you need help to pay because a process has been put in place which applies to all parents equally and helps those in need. Otherwise, we will be writing and ringing you in search of the funds we need to run YOUR college. Gary Underwood, Principal.
ST ANTHONY’S MONASTRY RETREAT Last week the Coptic Department organised an overnight retreat at St Anthony’s Monastery. The retreat was a great success. It was also a very rewarding experience for our students. Under the careful guidance of Nermine Kereakos, Fr Matta and Fr Dawood, the students spent two days in spiritual reflection. They praised the Lord and prayed. The boys stayed overnight in the monastery while the girls at a local motel. The response to this new initiative was excellent with all students agreeing the monastery was a great place for retreat and spiritual reflection. It was a chance to experience and understand the famous Coptic monastic life. Our College objective is to “prepare student for life” and this new initiative was a successful new step in that direction and we look forward for more to come. “It was great and lots of fun. I loved the monastery and the motel. I wish we could have a trip like this again.” Catherine “It was great and we didn’t expect a 5-star motel! We had a lovely time praising the Lord and the monks were lovely.” Marina “It was the best time ever. I enjoyed every moment of the trip. I wish we could have a trip like this again.” “It was fun and my friends had a good time as well. It was heaps of fun.” Tony
3
HEAD LICE MAKE A COMEBACK Please ensure your son keeps his hair short during this outbreak of head lice. Girls MUST have their hair tied back, as required by the uniform policy. Please check your child’s hair every night and treat your child’s hair with remedies available at your local chemist. Students with head lice are NOT permitted to go to school under guideless set by the government. COLLEGE APPOINTS FUND-RAISING AND EVENTS MANAGER St Anthony’s welcomes Ms Kym Frost to its staff team. Ms Frost has the challenging task of raising the funds we need to provide an even higher quality of education. Importantly the funds she raises will help pay off our buildings and pay for the interest on the loans we obtained to finish the new primary school. That means lower fee increases into the future for our families. She is also establishing the Old Collegians Group, forming links with business and the wider church community. A wide range of events are being planned. If you can help us raise funds please call her at the College. Her first task was to contact parents so that some students who could not afford to go to camp, were able to go. Can you help a child go to camp or on an excursion? I am sure Ms Frost will be in touch with you to attend one of our events, to donate or sponsor our college in the near future. Sponsor a child who cannot afford uniform, books or go on excursions. Ring Ms Frost on 97863145 to provide an exciting outdoor adventure for a child in need.
TERM 2 MEANS LEARNING OUT OF THE CLASSROOM Term 2 has started with a flourish of activity. Our Years 3-5 and and Years 6-8 have both gone away to camp and experienced learning in these unique environments. Years 6-8 are tackling the mountains of Yarra Junction/Warburton region while our Grade 3-5 students are at the coastal environment of Flinders and Westernport Bay. The weather this week is very cold but I am sure the activities will warm them up.
Unfortunately we had to take the very unusual step of cancelling the Years 9-11 camp this term. This is due to students, and I suppose with parent support, not wanting to go on camp. This is very disappointing for those students who wanted to go and sections of the syllabus covered at camp will now be done in class. I hope our camping program will have more parent support in the future.
WINTER UNIFORM All students MUST now be in uniform or have a note signed by a parent in their diary explaining why not. Students out of uniform or with jewellery, nail polish, inappropriate hair cuts etc WILL be sent home. You will be called to remove your child until the uniform can be corrected. Refer to diary for uniform details. The uniform shop, open on Thursdays, can help with uniform needs. The uniform shop is there to help parents meet the cost of uniforms, not make profit. Our shop also has second-hand uniforms. If you have good quality, clean pieces of uniform your child has grown out of, the uniform shop will make sure your donation goes to those of our community who have trouble paying for uniform. Drop them in the College or have your child bring them to the office. A Christian community looks after ALL its members.
NOT HAPPY WITH YOUR CHILD’S EDUCATION? If your child is not happy at school, or you are not happy with their progress, DON’T TELL OTHERS, TELL US! Please call your Home Room or class teacher immediately. Since teachers are in class 31 out of 35 lessons each week try calling them after hours. You can always ring our Principal, Mr Underwood at any time, day or night.
5
FRANKSTON “ACTIVATE” On Friday 20th April, students from Year 6 to Year 10 were given the opportunity to participate in a fantastic day of sport and recreation held at Ballam Park.
Frankston “ACTIVATE” was an event to showcase local sporting clubs and the activities that each of them provides. Students were given the chance to practice, participate and explore the many events on offer. Some of the sports showcased included: Ten Pin Bowling Hockey Bike Riding
Touch Rugby Dance Giant Chess Fit Tennis Boxing Calisthenics Basketball Frisbee Table Tennis And many more!
Badminton
Michael Haber PE/ Sport Coordinator
6
ENROL NOW FOR PREP 2013 The College has students already on the waiting list for Prep in 2013. It is our aim to keep our Prep class around 15, so please enrol now and secure a place for your child or a friend’s child. Please contact Ms Michaela or Mr Underwood to enrol a child or to discuss the college and see it at work. School tours with the Principal are now available, ring 97863145 for a booking.
For General School enquiries, please contact the College Secretary
Ph: (03) 9786 3145 Fax: (03) 9786 3988
Michaela Tokarczyk
Email: mail@stanthonys.vic.edu.au
michaela@stanthonys.vic.edu.au
Web: www.stanthonys.vic.edu.au
For enquiries about advertising in this Newsletter and Website, please contact the
15 Alpina Street
IT Administrator
Wael Elias welias@stanthonys.vic.edu.au
Frankston North, Vic 3200 Australia