Dear SCA Families,

We welcome the following students and their families to SCA this term: Yumi (2 Green) and Oliver Webb (4 Red), William Hancock (2 Red), Xavier King (3 Red) and Hunter Svensen (5 Red).

At the start of a new term I remind you of our strong belief in working closely with the parents and carers of our students. Please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher, or myself, over any matter.

Don’t forget, following the reports sent home last term, if you require an interview with your child’s teacher, please contact them directly. We have held our formal whole school interviews earlier in the year, but parents are welcome and encouraged to meet with the child’s teacher at any time during the year. These meetings are a good way to discuss the report and set goals for the future.

I implore that you take the time each week to check the contents of the newsletter, which will be sent home electronically every Wednesday.

Our Silver Jubilee

Our school is worth celebrating. In its 25 years, thousands of children, parents and staff have benefited from, and contributed to the SCA family.

If you are presently, or previously have been, connected to our wonderful school, please join us on Friday 9^th August to celebrate this milestone.

It promises to be a great night.

For details, please refer to Facebook, our App, Website, or call us on 6294 1860.

School Focus

Through this term we continue to focus on the school theme, ‘Be the light of Leadership. In doing this we will explore the question, ‘What are some of the qualities of good leaders?’

Tuckshop Helpers

We are in desperate need of more helpers this term. If you can help, once a week, once a fortnight, or even only once a month, please contact the school to let us know. Thank you.

First Holy Communion

We pray for the children in our school and parish who are preparing to participate, for the first time, fully in the Eucharist next month. May they come to know and cherish the place of Jesus in this sacrament and their lives.

Parent Network

We offer a sincere and heartfelt thanks to Kate Blenkin for an awesome job heading up the Parent Network for the last two years. She has quietly and effectively worked with parents and staff to ensure the effectiveness of this initiative.

We also thank and welcome on board Anne Scollen, whose children are Ella (4 Blue) and Hayden (2 Green), who is taking on the role of Parent Network Coordinator.

Annual Satisfaction Survey

An annual satisfaction survey of parents, students and staff will be conducted on behalf of all Catholic schools in the Diocese this term. The surveys are designed to gather feedback from parents, staff and students about our school and will be used to inform school improvement. Responses are confidential and individuals can not be identified.

The surveys will be launched via email on 29 July and close on 9 August 2019 using the email addresses supplied to the school. If you do not receive an email with a link to the survey, you can access and complete the survey at the following link. https://www.research.net/r/stclareofassisiparent2019

Whooping Cough

Late last term one of our students was diagnosed with whooping cough. Following advice from the ACT Health Protection Service, we share the following key messages:

• You can still get whooping cough even if you are fully vaccinated as protection from the vaccine wears off over time. For this reason a booster dose of whooping cough vaccine is offered in Year 7 at high school.
• If your child has been vaccinated, the cough may be mild, particularly at the start of the infection. Even if the cough is mild your child is still able to pass the infection to others.
• Please see your doctor as soon as possible if your child has a cough. A swab test is most accurate in the first 4 weeks of coughing. There is no need to have your child tested if they do not have a cough.
• If your child is suspected of having whooping cough and the doctor has ordered a swab test, please keep your child at home until the results are available as they may be infectious.
• If your child is diagnosed with whooping cough, they must be excluded from school until they are no longer infectious, which is usually after taking an appropriate antibiotic for 5 days.
• Whooping cough is most serious for babies under 6 months of age.

Please contact ACT Health on 5124 9213 if you require any further information about whooping cough.

Grandparents Day

We will celebrate the “grand-folk” in our children’s lives on Friday 2 August. Please let all grandparents and “grand-figures” know they are invited to St Clare’s for this occasion.

School Fees

School Fee Statements will be emailed to all families next week. Please ensure the office has your correct email address. If you haven’t received the fee statement by next Thursday, please contact the school.

It was once said…

“Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children.” ~ Alex Haley

Blessings to you and your family.

Matt Egan-Richards

Principal