Newsletters
Annesley News Issue 228

School Funding – Government vs Non-Government

There has been recent, misleading coverage in the media about school funding. A nationwide approach this week by NewsCorp and others, holds many inconsistencies and inaccuracies within the data being put forward by the Australian Education Union, who are promoting the message that non-government schools receive more Government Funding than Government Schools.

Misleading comparisons between non-government and government schools are often made using only the amount of Federal Government funding. The Federal Government is the main contributor of funding for non-government schools and the state and territory governments are major contributor of government schools.

The only meaningful way to compare funding between the non-government and government school sectors is to combine federal and state/territory funding.

Nationally, independent non-government school students receive nearly 50% less government funding per student than government schools.

It is the responsibility of the Australian Governments, federal, state and territory, to provide an amount of funding for all Australian students, regardless of the school they attend. It is simply not true that non-government schools receive more government funding per student than government schools. Parents in non-government schools are in fact subsidising their child’s education, affording them the privilege of choosing the school that their child/ren attends. The Government rely on non-government schools to educate a large percentage of Australian school students. Parents who choose non-government schooling for their child/ren make a significant contribution to their child’s education and the national education system as a whole.

Graham Catt, CEO of Independent Schools Australia, recently stated:

“Rather than fuelling division between sectors, we should be united in ensuring every Australian child receives the best possible education.”

Jo Rossiter | Principal

Base 5 have officially completed their sequential Quest program for the term. The culminating event was a 3-night, 4 day expedition to Camp Willochra, Melrose.

The Flinders Ranges provided the most spectacular backdrop for students to showcase the skills that they had acquired over the term. Students spent time hiking Alligator Gorge, mountain biking through the Willowie Forest Trails, cooking on Trangias, climbing trees, sleeping in tents, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

The Willochra expedition truly encompasses the essence of experiential learning. It highlights the important role that the Quest program plays in teaching students the transversal skills that can only be gained through experiences in the rich and diverse outdoor terrains that our great state has to offer.

We are excited to share that, thanks to Anna, Alfred’s mum in Reception, our school has won the Rabo Community Fund 2024 ‘George the Farmer’ Book Competition!

Out of over 450 entries from schools across Australia, Anna’s nomination stood out, awarding us a fantastic 2024 George the Farmer book collection bundle valued at $260.00.

These wonderful books will be a fantastic addition to our library. With our own Annesley farm onsite, they’ll help our students make meaningful connections between the stories and the experiences they encounter on our farm.

Thank you, Anna and Alfred!

We ask our families to refrain from undertaking U-turns on Rose Terrace when bringing your child to school or collecting them at the end of the day. It is unlawful to do a U-turn over the yellow barriers on the road and a safety concern during peak times for our community along Rose Terrace during these busy times.

A reminder to all families that if you have younger children that you have not yet submitted an application form for, that it can be done via this link: https://enrol.annesley.sa.edu.au/application-for-admission/start

An application must be submitted in order for a child to be considered for a place.

If you are not sure if you have submitted an application and wish to check, or for any other questions, please contact Laura in the Student Enrolments Office on 8422 2211 or email enrolments@annesley.sa.edu.au

Through recent engagement with the Unley Council, they have confirmed guidelines for our community to follow when using the Kiss ‘n’ Drop zone. Drivers must remain within 3 metres of their car in this zone and can only remain stopped for 2 minutes. If a driver moves further than 3 metres away, the 2-minute period no longer applies. We have had regular inspections from Unley Council of this zone recently. We ask our community members to adhere to these guidelines to avoid getting fined, and to keep our Kiss ‘n’ Drop zone functioning effectively.

A reminder to Primary families that supervision for our students is provided from 8.30am on school grounds. Prior to this time, students are not to be left onsite without an adult family member. Our Before School OSHC Service is available to families requiring early supervision from 7.30am to 8.30am. Similarly, staff supervision is provided after school until 3.45pm. OSHC is available to families needing care after school until 6pm.

Calling all families to donate gently used Annesley uniforms to Unify, our student-led pop-up shop for second-hand uniforms. Your contribution not only promotes sustainability but also helps support many of the school’s initiatives. Your ongoing participation is greatly appreciated and contributes to the continued success of our school community. Donations can be left in the Unify tub located in the Front Office.

Our Bouncing Bean Café and Unify Second-Hand store are open at the following times each week:

Before School: 8.15am – 9am, Everyday
Morning Break: 11.05am – 11.45am, Everyday
Wednesday Afternoons: 3pm – 4pm

We warmly welcome our Grandparents and special friends to join us on the following dates. These special event dates have been planned and integrated into the students’ learning experiences in each year level. Teaching staff will share more details as these events approach.

Reception: Wednesday 6th November
Year 5: Thursday 17th October

Monday 16th – Wednesday 18th September: School photos
Wednesday 18 September: ELC Orientation Day
Wednesday 18 September: Year 1 Market Day
Thursday 19 September: Base 3/4 Hot Shotz Tennis Carnival
Monday, 23 September: Base 4 Celebration of Learning
Tuesday 24 September: Year 6 PYP Exhibition
Wednesday 25 September: ELC Orientation Day
Thursday 26 September: Base 3 Celebration of Learning
Friday 27 September: Base 3 Celebration of Learning
Monday 30 September– Sunday 13 October: Sept/Oct School Holidays

Our website now has a volunteering page under the Community Tab that outlines clearly the process we require our family members to follow to volunteer at Annesley. This process meets legislative requirements in order to keep our children and volunteers safe at Annesley. See more here.