Annual Community Gathering St. Anthony’s School

Tuesday 18th Feb 2020, 7:00pm & Wednesday 19th Feb 2020, 9am

Welcome (including Acknowledgment of Country) & Gathering Prayer

School Board Report

St Anthony’s Snapshots

School Financial Report

Strategic Directions – Review and looking forward

Nominations & Voting for School Board

Vote of thanks

Final Prayer and Blessing

St Anthony’s School

Growing in Faith Building Knowledge Working for Justice

St Anthony's Catholic School is a community of learners

who through inquiring minds and reflective hearts celebrate and nurture a love of God, each other and creation

to become the good news for the world.

LOVE LAUGH LISTEN LEARN LEAD

Communicate Connect Wonder Reflect Explore Brave Collaborate

PRAYER

(L) God of all hearts Help us to see your Good News

(R) in each other and in the world around us

(L) Help us to be your Good News

(R) in the way we treat each other and care for all creation

(L) Help us to tell your Good News

(R) with our words and with our actions.

(Facilitator) Guide us with your love and wisdom so that we can be

(All) thriving people, capable learners and

leaders for the world you desire.

We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen

The St Anthony’s School Board consists of members of our school community along with key staff from the school and Parish. The 2019 Board members were; Penny Harrison (PnF Representative), Letitia Waite, Mark Cowley, Kurt Larsen (and Finance Committee), Kate Marston (Secretary), Brett Hutchinson, Sara Sommers, Mel Hoggins, Stuart Baker, Fr Phillip Alstin and myself.

During the year the Board met on 8 occasions and I would like to thank each Board member for their dedication, passion and commitment to ensure our school community operates and functions in a safe and inclusive environment.

The Finance Committee is a sub-committee mandated to ensure that the school is operating within its financial capability and to support the Principal and Bursar in the financial decision making throughout the year. Challenge and oversight by the Board and Finance Committee ensures that decisions regarding expenditure are made with the school strategic plan in mind and for the greater good of our learners. I would like to take this opportunity to formally thank Sue Hargreaves for her contribution in ensuring that the financial needs of our school were met, our income streams were closely managed and our never-ending list of questions that we asked Sue were always answered promptly and an in-depth knowledge of the financial position of our school was always evident. On behalf of the Board, thank you Sue.

We would also like to congratulate the ever-growing Parents and Friends Committee for their dedication and commitment to providing not only social opportunities for our families to get to know each other better but for also managing several fundraising initiatives. In a special way we thank the dedication of all those who contributed to our best fete ever! Thank you to parents and families who have donated their time in other ways such as school excursions, coaching sports teams, being involved in other school committees, reading with students and all the many other tasks that require parent help to ensure the school operates efficiently. On behalf of the Board, thank you for donating your time, we are truly grateful for all that you do.

The Board would also like to acknowledge the hard work of all staff at St Anthony’s; front office staff, teachers, ESO’s and extra circular staff who guide our children through their learning journey. We look forward to supporting you throughout 2020.

Our OHSC program continues to be a value-add stream for our school and providing an ‘in house’ OHSC facility is a stand out point of difference. Hollie Parker has done an exceptional job as our OHSC director, creating stimulating programs for all ages and most recently, for her involvement with the new initiative of including students from another local school for our school holiday vacation programmes. Thank you, Hollie, for your innovation and dedication.

A special thank you to Robyn Mercer who served our school community and touched us in so many ways… including those little wooden dolls.

During 2019 a primary focus for the Board was ensuring that our school had the facilities and capacity we needed as we embarked on a new journey of being a Reception to Year 6 School. A key role of the Board is ensuring that the strategic plan and vision set by the Principal is executed efficiently, in line with the Catholic ethos and under the guidelines provided by the broader Catholic Education Department. As a Board and a School Community, we are looking forward to further enhancing our school community in 2020 and beyond. Regards Lee-anne Hills (St Anthony’s Board Chairperson)

2019 School Report – 2019, Has been about new beginning and new chapters (yr 6’s on site,

new adventures and as each year brings new possibilities and opportunities).. Tonight I wish to just share a few words about how the mission of St Anthony’s school has become a reality in 2019…

St Anthony's Catholic School is a community of learners who through inquiring minds and reflective hearts celebrate and nurture a love of God, each other and creation

to become the good news for the world.

St Anthony’s school is a community –a community who gives / cares / loves and includes everyone… no greater examples this in 2019 was the school fete. We celebrated days like Mother’s Day Breakfast, Fathers Day BBQ and Grandparents gathering. Our sense of community was shared in our Catholic Education week open house, just dance at lunch time, it was shared every time you opened a see-saw

message, app update or waited for your treasures to run out of class and head home. It was celebrated and so appreciated through the work and effort of the P&F – especially executive members and Chairperson - Bernice, Fete Committee, various groups, all the amazing volunteers and members of the School Board. We extend a HUGE vote of thanks to Lee-ann Hills who has served the community as Chairperson of the school board, giving way beyond the call of duty. Thank you so much.

St Anthony’s is a place of inquiring minds and reflective hearts – this year we have learnt to submit work through Microsoft teams, researched and made animal enclosures using minecraft, mastered NAPLAN online, wrote narratives, expositions, poetry and engaged passionately in readers theatre. This year we have travelled to Canberra, braved rainy bomb fires on camp, visited the zoo, participated in netball, swimming, surfing, sailing, athletics and sporting clinics. We have made pizza, visited the market, jumped reading levels beyond our imaginations. We have stopped every

day after recess to be still and silent, we have got ourselves out of the learning pit and put a bit of SWAG into our learning. We mentored each other each week in our house groups learning about each other and our world. We wondered would we sit in alphabetical order on the plane to Canberra. We had 50% of our Yr 5 Cohort achieve significant gains in NAPLAN between Yr 3 and Yr 5, we were commended on ongoing RELATE (Yr 4 RE Assessment) results, with increased gains above the state average. We had winners in card design competitions, district and division winners in swimming, athletics and other sporting opportunities.

St Anthony’s’ is a place that celebrates and nurtures a love of God, self, each other and creation – this year we have prayed, sung, shared and celebrated within our classes, school and south west region and even in front of 250 Catholic School Leaders. We have had fun (most of the time) at recess and lunch and occasionally not had fun needing space to express our desire to get it right and say sorry. We have cleaned up on a Friday (even when the neighbours are not happy with Mr Baker’s singing), we have looked at ways we can care for creation and shared our gifts with so many others through Purple day, PJ Day, crazy sock day, soup making, tuckshop sales, collecting for Vinnies and Catholic Charities.

St Anthony’s dreams that all will Become Good news for the world – We have shared our gifts, our capabilities, our talents with each other and been a beacon of hope and light. We have been good news for our little world of St Anthony’s and through examples of service, dedication, love and leadership gone out into this crazy world to make it a better place - touching hearts through our work and acts of compassion… being good news for the world…

To staff, students & families who leave us at the end of this year – may you go with many treasured memories….

I especially acknowledge the dedication and work of Robyn Mercer – not only within the St Anthony’s community but wider Catholic Education. Too many words to say, so little time to share them - Robyn your passion, your care, you service, your commitment, your giving, your sharing of the Christian story, your leading others to come to know God’s care and love through being care and love is nothing but a gift. A gift we will treasure, a gift we will honour and a gift that we will pass on. Go with our sad blessings and may every new adventure bless you just how you have blessed us.

To our amazing graduating class of 2019 – you were trailblazers / you are trailblazers and I am so blessed that you were the first and original Yr 6 class of St Anthony’s. People thought the school was going to fall down because Yr 6’s were here and not only did it not fall down but it has been built up because of your leadership, love and compassion and some occasional learning.

2019 holds way too many memories, events, moments and experiences to name all of them now… I hope everyone gathered here tonight can hold and be grateful for memories of

LOVE

LISTENING & SHARING

LEARNING

LEADING & SERVING

LAUGHTER & JOY

Take these gifts and treasure them... Thank you for 2019…. We look forward to 2020 and commemorating our 90th anniversary and the new possibilities 2020 will hold.

The following Report provides details of the 2019 academic year. This Report meets the

school’s responsibility in reporting information to parents on its 2019 performance.

(Australian Education Act 2013).

St Anthony’s School is situated in the south west region in the suburb of Edwardstown. It was

opened in 1930 by the Dominican Sisters, welcoming families from the local community. St

Anthony’s is committed to maintaining links with its founding sisters and their charism of

welcoming all to our community. We strive to keep their motto, Veritas (Truth) at the core of our

vision; Growing in Faith Building Knowledge Working for Justice.

The vision of St Anthony’s School is to be a place where learners are inspired to be creative, take

risks, inquire and build their social, emotional, spiritual, physical and intellectual capabilities. The

values by which we live are: We Learn, We Love, We Listen, We Laugh and We Lead

We are a learning community where children develop skills and competencies that will enable

them to thrive and succeed in life and in doing so become leaders working for the common good.

Our educational vision is based on the following teaching and learning pedagogy:

Authentic - Authentic learning involves real life problem-solving activities allowing multiple

perspectives and ways of learning, it challenges and engages learning.

Creative - Creative learning enhances originality, innovation and imagination in both teaching

and learning.

Reflective - Reflective practice involves critical thinking, being open to change and an emphasis

on reviewing to improve.

Collaborative - A collaborative environment involves working together to achieve a common

goal, where accountability and equity are shared.

We offer flexible learning spaces that provide excellent learning opportunities with contemporary

pedagogies and digital technologies. Specialist programs including Music, Japanese and Physical

Education. The school has a vibrant OSHC facility (that offers Vacation Care). We employ a School

Chaplain to enhance our Catholic Identity and support children and families. Our Inclusive

Education Coordinator works with staff, children and families to accommodate children with

special needs. Whole school celebrations include St Anthony’s Feast Day, Sports Day, Book Week,

Bi Annual Fete plus others as they arise. A strong focus on Outdoor learning is supported through

the physical structures of our spaces, including a purpose built nature play area, Butterfly garden

and Veggie Patches.

Staff are committed to professional learning and embrace the notion of continuous

improvement. In 2019 we continued learning and planning in the development of a school wide

pedagogy through a focus on Visible Learning.

In our school, we are very fortunate to have teachers committed to lifelong learning. The

breakdown of the qualifications of the teaching and education support staff is:

Masters Degree 2

Bachelor Degree 10

Master Special Education 1

The cost of Professional Learning Days for 2019 was a total of $22720.00 (comprising of $15,905

for Relief Teachers’ cost and $6815.00 for Professional Development costs). All staff are supported

in working towards their goals, including access to high quality professional learning.

.

Our whole school staff participated in a number of professional learning opportunities which

occurred on Pupil Free Days and during Staff Meetings. These included:

• Effective Use of Data a Collaborative Project–USQ - a coordinated project through CESA

• Assessment for Learning – CESA Cluster Project.

• Religious Education

• Early Years Workshops

• Use of Student Data

• ‘On Holy Ground’ Ecological Sustainability

• Work Health Safety training

All teaching staff have a set of documented and regularly reviewed goals and are supported in

working towards their goals through access to high quality professional learning.

For 2019, there were 9.0 FTE teaching staff members and our total teaching staff numbers were

14 (made up of 12 females and 2 male teachers). Our staff attendance rate for 2019 was 92%.

There were 21 non-teaching staff members (4 male and 17 females) employed which included

8.3 FTE. These included our Out of School Hours Care Program and we had 5 instrumental tutors

working in our Instrumental Program every week.

1. STUDENT ATTENDANCE

The total number of student enrolments in 2019 was 137.

The percentage of Indigenous enrolments was 2.18%

The percentage of students included on NCCD was 22%

The average student attendance rate for our school in 2019was:

YEAR LEVEL TERM 1 TERM 2 TERM 3 TERM 4

Reception 95.57% 92.58% 92.26% 96.10%

Year 1 94.30% 95.85% 92.33% 95.59%

Year 2 95.10% 95.04% 90.97% 97.15%

Year 3 95.16% 96.02% 89.22% 93.33%

Year 4 95.57% 93.06% 85.50% 93.04%

Year 5 96.15% 94.19% 88.22% 94.56%

Year 6 95.31% 94.06% 89.17% 93.62%

It is an expectation that parents inform the school when their child is absent from school by

telephoning between 8.30am and 9:00am, and sending the class teacher a note explaining the

absence on the student’s return. School attendance is monitored by classroom teachers and

absences are recorded daily on our student system ceSIS, and reports are produced each term. In

the event that a high level of unexplained absences is recorded, the parent/caregiver is notified

and the class teacher informed accordingly. Should this continue without any explanation, then a

member of the Leadership Team is contacted and the school will inform Child Abuse Report Line

(CARL).

2. STUDENT OUTCOMES IN STANDARDISED NATIONAL LITERACY AND NUMERACY

(NAPLAN) TESTING AT ST ANTHONY’S SCHOOL IN 2019.

Reading Writing Spelling Grammar Numeracy

Year 3 422 435 402 434 391

Year 5 551 489 510 528 520

St Anthony’s School offers many educational experiences and celebrations throughout the

year that provide special opportunities for its students, staff and wider community. These

include:

Our Catholic Culture: Throughout the year, Masses, Liturgies, and Whole School Mission Efforts

were hosted by class groups and communities. All were done in consultation with the APRIM

(Assistant Principal – Religious Identity and Mission). Fr Phillip is our Parish Priest and is the

President of our School Board.

Mission Efforts: Every term, there is a whole school Mission Effort for a Social Justice initiative.

These include Caritas, St Vincent De Paul, Soup Group for Hutt Street, Catholic Charities and

Catholic Missions.

St Anthony’s Feast Day: Our annual celebration gives us the opportunity to celebrate our Patron

Saint’s day with a Whole School Mass.

St Anthony’s offered the following programs for the benefit of the students in our care:

Inclusive Education Program: funded support for students with identifiable learning disabilities.

Out of School Hours Care Program (OSHC): a nationally accredited service providing before and

after school care for approximately 70 students. Our Program is operated by qualified staff and is

opened for Vacation Care every school break. We received an Exceeding Rating.

Premier’s Reading Challenge: in 2019, another very successful year for our school whereby almost

90% of students were involved in the program.

Gardening Club: students from different year levels work with the groundsman in maintaining the

different gardens around the school.

Music Tuition: students are able to learn a variety of instruments with trained musicians in

purpose build instrumental rooms

Out of school sport: students are able to participate in many sports out of school hours through

the coordination of the Sport teacher and generosity of parent volunteers

Music Program:

The fundamental part of the Music Program at St Anthony’s comprised of weekly 45 minute class

music lessons. Throughout the year, all students were involved in a wide range of musical

activities including singing, playing instruments, moving, and listening, reading and composing

music.

Many students were also involved in elective music groups, which rehearsed and performed

during the year. These included:

Festival Choir: The choir trained throughout the first three terms to perform at the Catholic

Schools Music Festival in September at the Entertainment Centre

St Anthony’s Ukulele Bands: The band rehearsed every Monday and performed at various school

and community events.

The Private Instrumental Program: involving 6 tutors, continued with about 38 students

participating each week. It involved a wide range of instruments including piano, guitar, voice,

drums, and violin. The R-2 Students presented a concert in the Resource Centre and the 3-5

students Recital Night took place at Sacred Heart College on Tuesday 6th December.

2019 Sports and Physical Activity Opportunities:

Physical activity opportunities for students at St Anthony’s School are a significant part of

encouraging fun, positive experiences to promote lifelong physical activity for our students. In

addition to their Physical Education lessons, the students have opportunities to participate in a

number of in-school time sporting events and carnivals. St Anthony’s School is a member and

supporter of the South Australian Primary Schools Amateur Sports Association (SAPSASA), the

South Australian Catholic Primary School Sports Association (SACSPSA) and the Australian

Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER SA).

2019 events included;

Catholic Schools Swimming Carnival (Boys & Girls Year 3-6)

Catholic Athletics Carnival (Boys & Girls Year 3-6)

Catholic Netball Carnival (Boys and Girls Year 3-6 teams)

Catholic Schools Cross Country (Boys & Girls Year 3-6)

Catholic Touch Football Carnival (Boys & Girls Year 3-6 teams)

In-school sporting promotional events included:

West Adelaide Football Club (Reception to Year 3)

SA Cricket ‘In2Cricket’ clinics (Reception-1 and Year 3-4)

PE Week – Various Activities – skipping, Zumba, Staff vs Student Basketball Game, student led

At St Anthony’s School, we offer a wide range of After School Sports to suit varying skill levels. Players

rely on the generosity of our parents who become registered volunteers in order to coach these

teams.

Parents, staff and students were involved in a 2019 Satisfaction Survey which gives us

information about how we perform as a Catholic School (Catholic Ethos), the teaching and

learning programs we currently offer, opportunities for students to grow and develop,

communication strategies used to relay information to you, and facilities utilised to deliver a

quality education. Every parent, student and staff member had the opportunity to engage in this

process towards the end of the school year.

Summary of staff strengths were

1. They can see that the school gives witness to Catholic Social Teaching 100%

2. They have opportunities to grow in their faith development 95%

3. They are kept informed about decisions that affect their roles 85%

4. They have clear understanding of St Anthony’s vision and values 95%

5. They feel that their professional development as a teacher is supported 85%

Summary of the parents’ strengths were:

They can see that St Anthony’s is a Catholic School 98%

They believe that at St Anthony’s there is a strong sense of belonging 97%

They are kept informed about their child’s progress 85%

They feel comfortable about approaching staff about their child 93.55%

Student behaviour is managed well 80%

Summary of students’ strengths were:

They can see that St Anthony’s is a Catholic School 100%

They feel their learning is improving 85.72%

They feel safe and happy at St Anthony’s 76.20%

The School listens to their ideas 85.71%

They are given opportunities to be leaders 85.72%

They are given the opportunity to participate in things that they enjoy doing 71.48%

Our goals for 2019 focused on the following areas:

Catholic Identity: To make a commitment to ecological conversation and sustainability.

Strategic Goal: For staff and children to be aware of and implement practices from the On Holy

Ground document by the end of 2019.

Strategies/Actions:

Investigate ways to make our learning visual APRIM ecological work driven by Laudato Si

Develop a whole school approach to: We care for each other and We care for our earth

For the Chaplain to have a focus on sustainability

Chaplain to work with children on developing our outdoors

Evidence:

Garden beds will be flourishing

School site will look green and inviting Produce will be used in class cooking Children

clearly respecting the environment Small groups set up to focus as green gurus

Each learning community or class to take responsibility for an area Chaplain an children

planting and selling/using vegetables and herbs

Focused Vision and Values: To further develop the market of the school in support of the clear

Vision, mission and Values.

Strategic Goal: To raise the profile of the school within the local community in 2019.

Strategies/Actions:

Professional presentation of documentation Reformat letters, policies etc

Determine difference between logo and values

Evidence:

New format and style guide for letters, policies, PIDs etc. Front office: present a clear

picture of who and what we are

High Quality Teaching & Learning & Effective Use of Data: to use feedback for whole school

improvement to provide a contemporary education where all children reach their potential.

Strategic Goal: By the end of 2019 have an agreed and consistent teaching and learning pedagogy

across the school.

Strategies/Actions:

POR’s to inform of 2019 learning and scope for development To review and revisit data –

testing, NAPLAN

USQ project continuation: review and redrafting goals Teacher PL upskilling

Tying together all areas of PL over the past few years Develop new reporting platform

POR lead moderation sessions

Evidence:

Documentation of POR work

Change in practice to force growth in results Attended USQ days, met with Dorothy

Implemented a new reporting system

POST SCHOOL DESTINATIONS

2019 Year Six students went on to the following schools;

Cabra College - 13

Sacred Heart Middle School – 13

INCOME

RECURRENT

Government Grants $1,751,582

Tuition Fees $221,473

Other Income $180,221 (includes Levies, other charges)

(Tuition Fee Discounts Applied) ($83,843) (includes hardship, SWR, sibling, school card

discounts)

TOTAL RECURENT INCOME RECEIVED $2,153,276 CAPITAL

Capital Fees (Building Levy) $22,958

Capital Grant $2,988

TOTAL CAPITAL INCOME RECEIVED $25,946