The Community Council Executive met for the second time this term last Tuesday (25 March). We are pleased to confirm the finalised positions within the Executive:

Chair: Karen Walsh
Assistant Chair: Joel Socha
Secretary: Nicola Steenbergen
Treasurer: Matt Barrett
Principal: Matt Egan-Richards
Assistant Principal: Nikki Dwyer
Executive Member (Parent): Trudie Hargrave
Executive Member (Parent): Lori Whitelaw
Executive Member (Staff): Petar Brnabic
Executive Member (Staff): Nick Purcell
Parish Priest – Simon Falk

I am excited to take on the position of Chair of the Executive. My family has been part of the SCA community since 2020, when our son started Kindergarten. We now have a daughter in Year 3, and like many families, we juggle work, school events, and the general busyness of life. We have loved being part of this community and watching our children grow and thrive at SCA.

I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the Community Council Executive and see this role as a way to be more involved, listen to our community, and act as a conduit of information between families and the school.

At our recent meeting, we discussed some important matters:

• School Disco: Some in our community expressed interest in an out-of-school-hours disco. Due to governance requirements, the Executive unanimously agreed that this is, unfortunately, not possible. Instead, an in-school disco will be organised at an appropriate time.
• School Fete: We are at a crossroads in deciding whether to continue holding the fete every year or explore alternative events. The challenge is that we don’t have enough volunteers, and we risk burning out the few who regularly help. Since this is a community decision, yesterday we sent out a survey seeking your thoughts on the fete’s future and other ways to engage and fundraise.

I am really keen to hear from you about how you best receive information and how we can increase community engagement.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any ideas or concerns at kazzwalsh@gmail.com. As parents and carers of SCA, you are automatically members of the Council, and we want to ensure your voices are heard.

Karen Walsh
Chair, Community Council Executive

Dear SCA Families,

As we approach the final week of Term One, I thank each of our families for the wonderful start we’ve had to the 2025 school year. It has been a busy and positive term, filled with learning, growth and many special moments across all year levels.

Our students have settled beautifully into their classes, and I am grateful for the enthusiasm and support shown by our parent community. A very special thank you to our dedicated staff, who have worked so positively and with such commitment to ensure that every class began the year with confidence and care.

During the first week of the holidays, we will enter the solemn and sacred journey of Holy Week. As a school, next week we will mark this important time with liturgies that reflect the significance of Jesus’ final days. I warmly encourage families to continue their prayerful reflection and, where possible, take part in the Holy Week and Easter celebrations offered by the Parish during the school holidays.

While Easter Sunday falls during the term break, we look forward to celebrating the joy of the Resurrection together when we return for Term Two.

I wish everyone a safe and restful holiday break when it arrives, and look forward to welcoming you all back refreshed for Term 2.

The Future of Our School Fete – We Need Your Input

All families should have received a link yesterday to a survey regarding our Fete, and specifically, support for running it. You are encouraged to take a few minutes to share your thoughts. Please complete the survey by 8:00 am on Wednesday, 9^th April.

Disco

We have received enquiries from several families about hosting an after-hours school disco, like those held before the COVID period. We appreciate the community's enthusiasm for bringing back these enjoyable events that create lasting memories for our students.

After careful consideration of the Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn (CECG) new School Events and Activities Policy, our Community Council Executive has decided not to proceed with after-hours discos currently. Instead, our school staff have offered to run a disco during school hours later this year, potentially in conjunction with a meaningful event such as Purple Happy / RUOK Day.

Background to This Decision

The CECG policy classifies school discos as incursions that, when held outside of school hours, present elevated risks requiring specific mitigation strategies. Some key considerations from the policy include:

• Supervision responsibility and duty of care must rest with staff members, not volunteers or parents
• Teacher supervision ratios must be maintained at 1 staff member per 25 students
• Principals must assess and address child safeguarding risks
• Accommodations must be made for students with complex needs
• Supervising staff must be familiar with students' medical conditions and be prepared to respond appropriately

Additionally, the policy outlines significant responsibilities for the Teacher in Charge regarding medical and first aid preparedness, volunteer management, and ensuring all external participants have appropriate clearances.

Moving Forward

We believe that holding a disco during school hours will allow us to provide a similarly enjoyable experience for students while ensuring we can fully comply with all safety requirements and duty of care obligations as per the CECG policy. This approach will enable all students to participate in a secure environment with appropriate staff-to-student ratios and familiar support systems in place.

We value our parent volunteers tremendously and look forward to finding appropriate ways for community involvement in this and other school events throughout the year.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support of our school community. We remain committed to creating enjoyable experiences for our students while prioritising their safety, wellbeing and learning.

If you have any questions about this decision, please don't hesitate to contact me at school.

2026 Kinder Enrolments

2026 Enrolment Period is the month of May

SCA Open Days – every Thursday in May

Booking can be made through the school website: https://www.sca.act.edu.au/ please contact the front office if you require assistance.

Enrolment time will be on us again in a few weeks. If you have a little one ready for school in 2026 or know of anyone interested in looking at our fantastic school for their children, the enrolment packs will be ready for the beginning of the new term

Winter Uniform

It is time to get the winter uniforms out and dust them off. We will be wearing it when we return for Term 2 on Tuesday 29^th April. We will have the usual few weeks of change over, but students are expected to wear correct winter uniform.

In keeping with Cancer Council recommendations, school hats are still to be worn during April and May.

Term Dates

Term One ends for students on Thursday 10^th April, with Friday 11^th April being a Staff Professional Learning Day. (Please note that, on Friday 11^th April, our staff are gathering at an off-site venue. The front office will be closed.)

Term Two commences on Tuesday 29^th April for students, and Monday 28^th April for staff.

It was once said…

Lenten blessings to you and your family.

Matt Egan-Richards

Principal

matt.egan-richards@cg.catholic.edu.au

Dear families of Years 4, 5 & 6 a reminder that the sacramental enrolment period for 2025 CLOSES this Friday, 4^th April

Please enrol your child in ONE sacrament via the Corpus Christi Parish Qkr! App

 The order of the reception of the Catholic sacraments in our archdiocese is:

Please contact Orla Rutledge- Sacramental Assistant, at tuggeranongsouth.sacraments@cg.org.au if you require any further assistance.

Holy Week Liturgies

As we approach Holy Week, we invite you to be part of our celebrations next week.
On Tuesday, Year 1 will lead us in a Palm Sunday liturgy. Then, on Wednesday afternoon, we will come together again to reflect on the Last Supper, led by Year 2. Both Liturgies will be held in the school hall at 2 pm.

On Thursday, students from all classes will have the opportunity to engage in the Stations of the Cross.

This week White Cards will be presented at Friday Morning Assembly at 8.45am. Parents and Carers are very welcome to attend.

Congratulations to the following children.

This year the school cross-country carnival is on this Friday 4th April 2025.  It will be a fun day and the children have been in training during their sport lessons.  The course is a section of the footpath that leaves the school up the hill toward the top of Conder and then back again. There will be teachers and parent helpers along the track to supervise and encourage the children.

Parents are welcome to join us for the carnival and support their child. If you are able to volunteer your time in any capacity, we would really appreciate it.  If so, please email: katherine.austin@cg.catholic.edu.au

All children are asked to wear their sports uniform with a house coloured t-shirt.  Children with asthma are asked to carry their puffers with them.  

• All children will participate unless they are unable to run for medical reasons. If your child has a medical concern, please ensure you communicate this to your child’s teacher.

Time: The approximate start times are as follows 

• 11:30    12 Years B & G   (born 2013)

• 11:40    11 Years B & G  (born 2014)

• 11:50    10 Years B & G (born 2015) 

• 12:00     9 Years B & G (born 2016)

• 12:15     8 Years B & G (born 2017)

• 12:30     Year 1 (+ 7yr old Year 2 children) 

• 12:45     Kindergarten

The ages are based on the age your child is turning or has turned this year.  

Distances are as follows:

• Kinder children use school ovals

• Year 1 & 7yr old Year 2 children use school ovals and a short distance of bike path

• 8 year olds run 1 km = 1 lap of 1km loop

• 9 and 10 year olds run 2 km = 2 laps of 1km loop

• 11-13 year olds run 3km = 2 laps of 1.5km loop

The Tuggeranong Region Squad will be determined by placings at our school cross country carnival.  Parents and children will be advised if they make the squad and given all relevant information.

Katherine Austin    

Congratulations to the following students who participated in the Tuggeranong Region Swimming Carnival at the AIS on Thursday, 27th March! 

Lucas A, Roman B, Leroy K, Amelia B, Alyssa C, Peyton R, Adelaide R, Emma T, Kasia L, Fletcher T, Levi D, Ella F, Logan H, Eadie M, Elijah P, Charlotte W, Jayden W, Aubrey W, Eadie M

Well done on representing our school with great enthusiasm and sportsmanship!

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