Dear SCA Families,

There’s something quietly powerful about the moment just before a young person is Confirmed. It’s not loud or dramatic, there’s no fanfare or fireworks, but it carries the weight of something deeply meaningful. It’s a moment of choice, of stepping forward, of saying “yes” to a journey that began at Baptism and continues with growing faith and understanding.

This evening, many of our Year 6 students will gather at Holy Family Church to celebrate their Confirmation. For quite a few, it will be a night of nerves, excitement, and perhaps even a little confusion about what it all means. And that’s okay. Faith is not a destination; it’s a lifelong unfolding.

Confirmation is not just a ceremony. It is a sacrament of strength, a deepening of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and a public affirmation of belonging; to God, to the Church, and to a community that walks together in faith. It is also a reminder to each of us, young and old, that we are called to live with courage, compassion, and conviction.

We pray for our students and their families this week. May they feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in their hearts and homes. May this milestone be more than a memory. It may not come with fencing wire and flying tumbles, but we hope it leaves a lasting mark of grace, purpose, and joy.

We also remember the words of our patron saint, St Clare of Assisi, who reminds us:

“Love God, serve God; everything is in that.”

May our children grow in love and service, strengthened by the Spirit and supported by the community that surrounds them.

We pray too for all young people across our Archdiocese who will be Confirmed this year. May they know they are loved, supported, and never alone on their journey of faith.

Child Safety

Child safety is a shared responsibility. That is, a partnership between school and families working together to ensure the wellbeing of every student. We encourage all parents and carers to have regular conversations with their children about staying safe, particularly when travelling to and from school, or while waiting to be picked up.

There are many excellent resources available to support these conversations, including those from the Daniel Morcombe Foundation and Child Abuse Prevention and Education Australia (CAPE). One helpful article from CAPE, titled “Stranger Danger: What Should Kids Do?”, offers practical advice and can be found at:  https://www.cape-au.com/blog/strangerdanger

Here are a few key points adapted from that resource:

• Talk about who is a stranger: A stranger is someone who is not part of your child’s safety network; someone they don’t know or haven’t met with a trusted adult. Just because someone seems friendly doesn’t mean they are safe.
• Use role play to explore scenarios: Ask your child, “What would you do if someone you don’t know asked you to get into their car?” Encourage them to respond with actions like:
  • Yelling “NO!”
  • Running away to a safe place
  • Finding a trusted adult or calling a parent
• Reinforce that it’s okay to say NO: Children should know they are never in trouble for saying “no” to an adult if they feel unsafe or unsure. Safe adults will never try to trick, scare, or pressure them.
• Remind them of safe behaviours: Safe adults won’t:
  • Ask children to leave school or the playground without permission
  • Offer gifts or treats without checking with parents
  • Make them feel uncomfortable or afraid

By having these conversations regularly and in age-appropriate ways, we empower our children to make safe choices and seek help when needed.

A Healthy Community

A safe and healthy environment for all students, staff, and families requires us to work together to prevent the spread of illness.

• If your child is unwell, please keep them at home to rest and recover. This not only supports their own wellbeing but also helps protect others in our school community from becoming unwell.
• Emergency contacts: Please ensure your child’s emergency contact details are up to date. This allows us to reach you quickly if your child becomes ill or is injured during the school day.
• Medication at school: If your child requires medication during school hours, a “Request to Dispense Medication” form must be completed. This form is available at the Front Office or on the SCA website.

A few important reminders:

• Students are not permitted to self-administer medication.
• Medication must not be kept in school bags.
• All medication must be handed in at the Front Office upon arrival at school.
• All medication must be in original packaging and not outside the expiry date.
• All prescribed medication must be in original packaging and have the pharmaceutical label.
• Our trained staff (Carlie Temple, Annette Galvin, or Jo McCarthy) will administer medication and record all details in our medication register.
• Teachers are not responsible for administering or supervising medication.

Thank you for your continued support in keeping our school community healthy and safe. If you have any questions or need assistance with medication procedures, please don’t hesitate to contact the Front Office.

Staff Absences

As winter sets in, we are seeing an increase in seasonal illness across the community, including among our staff. Over the past week, several staff members have been unwell, and like many schools, we are occasionally unable to secure relief teachers due to high demand.

When this happens, we do our utmost to ensure continuity of learning by reallocating available staff. However, there may be times when your child is placed in another class for the day with set work. We appreciate your understanding and support as we navigate these challenges while prioritising student wellbeing and learning.

Working With Vulnerable People (WWVP)

A friendly reminder to all parents, carers, and volunteers: if you are coming into the school to assist in any capacity, you must carry your WWVP card with you.

While we do record your card number at sign-in and keep a photocopy on file, you must be able to present the physical card if requested during an audit. Failure to do so may result in a personal fine and a fine for the school. We sincerely thank you for your cooperation in helping us meet these important compliance requirements.

Planning for 2026 - Leaving SCA?

As we begin planning for next year’s enrolments and class structures, it’s important for us to know if any families are planning to leave St Clare of Assisi at the end of the year (excluding our Year 6 students, of course!).

If your family is relocating or changing schools, please let us know as soon as possible. This helps us ensure a smooth transition for your child and supports our planning for staffing and class placements in 2026.

Semester One Reports

Teachers are preparing Semester One reports which will be made available on Compass on Friday 27 June.

Please note the following is used in all Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn schools.

For Kindergarten students:

• Achievement in each subject is reported using a four-point scale (Above Expectations, Meeting Expectations, Working Towards Expectations, Experiencing Difficulty).

For Year 1 to Year 6 students:

• Academic grades for each subject using a five-point scale from A-E will be reported using the ACT Common Grade Scale.

For all students:

• Strand Achievement will be reported in English, Mathematics, Human Society and its Environment, PDHPE and Creative Arts using a five-point scale (Consistently, High, At Standard, Partial, Limited).
• Engagement with Learning statements, which are taken directly from the Australian Curriculum, will provide specific information about your child’s Critical and Creative Thinking, and Personal and Social Responsibility, using a three-point scale (Consistently, Usually, Developing, Needs Improvement).
• Individual student comments will NOT be used in the Semester 1 Reports.

Dialogue is an important feature of reporting. The Semester Report in this format encourages parent engagement and conversation about student learning. We want the report to be the entry point for three-way conferences where we can engage in genuine conversation about your child’s strengths, challenges, effort and areas for growth.

These conferences will take place later this term, to allow each student, with the support of the school and family, to set goals and processes in place for the rest of the year.

School Community Council Meeting

Our final School Community Council Executive Meeting for the term will be held next Tuesday (17 June) in the school staff room. The following items are on the agenda:

• OSHC report.
• Future Open Meetings
• Trivia Night.
• Family Christmas Picnic / BBQ.
• Newsletter feedback.
• Enrolments.

If you would like to discuss any of the items, please speak with one of our Council members, or email council.scaconder@cg.catholic.edu.au

Term Dates

A reminder that Term Two will conclude for students on Thursday 3 July. Staff will remain on site for a planning day on Friday 4 July.

Looking ahead to Term 3:

• Monday 21 July is a pupil-free day for all Catholic primary schools in Canberra. On this day, our teaching staff will be engaged in professional learning focused on enhancing planning and teaching strategies.
• All students will return to school on Tuesday 22 July to begin Term 3.

Thank you for noting these important dates in your calendars.

It was once said…

Easter blessings to you and your family.

Matt Egan-Richards

Principal

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