Dear SCA Families,

Over the past few years SCA staff have been undertaking a professional learning journey to ensure we provide the best teaching, and therefore the best learning, for our students. This journey has been undertaken in partnership with other Catholic Education schools in our Archdiocese.

By focussing on the following 8 Big Ideas, we have refined our curriculum and introduced more provide teaching methods:

1. School is where we learn biologically secondary knowledge.
2. Learning is a change in long-term memory.
3. Reading is essential for students to acquire knowledge.
4. Knowledge matters: it's what we think with.
5. The most efficient way to teach knowledge is to teach explicitly.
6. High quality, whole class instruction will help all students learn.
7. Curriculum should be ambitious, coherent, sequential and cumulative.
8. Teaching should be a profession informed by evidence.

If you would like more information about our Catalyst program, please feel free to speak with your child’s teacher, myself, or go to https://catalyst.cg.catholic.edu.au/

SCA at the Games

Since last week’s newsletter we were excited to learn that a former SCA student is competing in her first Olympic Games. Monique Suraci is making history at Paris 2024 as the first Australian woman to compete in the 50-kilogram division, the lightest weight category. She’s also striving to become the first Australian female boxer to win gold.

Congratulations Monique: everyone at SCA wishes you the best for your events. Monique’s details and Olympics schedule can be found at https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/monique-suraci_1940139

Three-Way Conferences

Thanks to the many parents who met with their child’s teacher this week. As educators, we know it’s vital that children’s learning is actively supported at home and school. Keeping in touch with your child’s teacher is a great way of supporting your child to learn and grow.

NAIDOC Mass

On Friday last week Catholic Schools from across the archdiocese gathered at St Christopher's Cathedral in Manuka, to celebrate NAIDOC Week. Many of our Indigenous students represented SCA. Thanks to Mrs Wilkes and Mrs Strickland for taking the students. A small selection of photos is available on the Catholic Education Office website.

Safe/Unsafe Foods

When sending food to school with your child, please consider the health of others. We have a number of students with life threatening allergies to nuts.

Hats On

Though it’s still cold, the UV is on the increase, so we remind you of the school policy regarding exposure to the sun: Simply stated, from August until May, there is a ‘No Hat – No Play’ policy. Therefore, from tomorrow, Thursday (1^st August, Week 3) all children must wear their school uniform hats while outside during recess and lunch.

Student Safety

To ensure the safety of all our students, external gates are closed around 8.50am each day. If you are inside the school grounds at this time the easiest way to leave will be via the front office. If you are dropping your child off after 8.50, you will need to sign them in at the front office.

I was once said…

Unknown, said not by a single athlete at the Games.

Blessings to you and your family.

Matt Egan-Richards

Principal

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