Message from The Principal Week 1
Dear SCA Families,
A warm welcome back to all members of our SCA community. Despite the overcast and damp start to the term, there were plenty of smiles as we welcomed everyone back yesterday.
Last term, we farewelled Mrs Jo McCarthy, and at the end of this week, we send Mrs Annette Galvin off on extended leave. We wish them both the very best for their travels and well-deserved downtime.
This week, we’re pleased to welcome Mrs Shari Cooper to our front office team. Shari joins us on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays as our Finance Manager. She brings a wealth of experience to the role—and to our school, having worked here around 10 years ago.
We also welcome back Mrs Karen Snowball, who will be supporting the office for the next two weeks while we finalise staffing for the remainder of the year.
Over the past few years, SCA staff have been engaged in a professional learning journey aimed at delivering the highest quality teaching—and therefore the best learning—for our students. This journey has been undertaken in partnership with other Catholic Education schools across our Archdiocese.
By focusing on the following 8 Big Ideas, we’ve refined our curriculum and introduced more effective 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/
Speaking with Purpose – A Reminder for Term 3 at SCA
At St Clare of Assisi, we believe that words have power; to build trust, foster belonging, and shape the culture of our school community. As we begin our Term 3 focus on Speaking with Purpose, we’re reminding students to pause and THINK before they speak:
· T – Is it True?
· H – Is it Helpful?
· I – Is it Inspiring?
· N – Is it Necessary?
· K – Is it Kind?
This simple but meaningful acronym is being explored through classroom conversations, assemblies, and peer interactions. Our goal is to help students choose language that uplifts, includes, and strengthens relationships.
We also invite our parent community to actively support this initiative at home. Children learn best when they see these values modelled in everyday life—whether it’s a chat in the car, a conversation at the dinner table, or cheering from the sidelines at weekend sport.
Please join us in reinforcing the THINK message by encouraging respectful, thoughtful, and kind speech in your family conversations. Here are some simple ways you can help at home:
· gently remind your child to THINK if they share hurtful or unkind words about others
· use the same acronym when talking as a family about friendships and school situations
· model respectful, kind language about others—even in challenging moments
· celebrate your child when they show kindness and thoughtfulness in their words
Whether it’s at the dinner table, on the way to school, or during weekend activities, let’s work together to make kindness and respect the standard for every conversation.
With your support, we can help our children grow into young people who speak with purpose, care, and integrity.
Tuckshop Helpers
We are in urgent need of more helpers this term. If you can assist—whether once a week, once a fortnight, or even just once a month—please contact the school. Your help is greatly appreciated!
First Holy Communion
We pray for the children in our school and parish who are preparing to fully participate in the Eucharist for the first time later this term. May they come to love Jesus through this Sacrament as deeply as Jesus loves them.
Term Dates
The last day of Term 3 for students is Thursday 25 September, and Term 4 begins on Tuesday 14 October.
It was once said…
Blessings to you and your family.
Matt Egan-Richards
Principal