Dear SCA Families,

With Remembrance Day coming next Monday I recalled a passage from a book I once read, “The Spirit of the Digger, Then and Now” by Patrick Lindsay which explores what it is that sets Australian soldiers apart.

Peter Cosgrove is an admired Australian who himself reflects the traits we admire in the Digger – courage, leadership, initiative and compassion. In the abovementioned book he is quoted as saying:

“I think we carry our national characteristics with us, we don’t subordinate any important element of the Australian character in the making and the life of a Digger. For example, we still very much have a sense of social justice which applies not just internally to the army but in our dealings with other people. So I would be amazed if Australian soldiers seeing people of other nations suffering hardship, which they do if they go to an area of operations, they will see people who are down and out, if this doesn’t strike a tremendous chord in the Digger’s heart”

On Monday we will pray in thanksgiving for the service and sacrifice of all who have worn an Australian uniform with pride and dedication. We will of course, also, pray for peace; for we know of the strife in many areas of our world today.

Strangers in the house!

For obvious reasons my wife and I always like to know who is in our house. Visitors are greeted at the front door and welcomed.

For the safety of your child, and the other 580 in the school, we also need to know who is in the school. Even if only visiting for a short time we require all visitors to sign in at the front office.

Did You Know…

Not only do your school fees (school levies) cover the cost of all classroom materials and learning resources; they also pay electricity, water, phone, cleaning, ISP costs, internet security, grounds and many other costs.

Please do all you can to get up to date with school fee payments. If you have any concerns regarding fees, please don’t hesitate to contact Jo McCarthy or me.

BYOiPad Program at SCA

I remember my Year 9 Maths teacher telling me we can’t use calculators at school because “when you’re an adult you won’t always have a calculator in your pocket”. Guess what Mr Norgate , in 2019 I always have a calculator in my pocket. (In fact my phone has more computing power than the whole school had back then!)

In 2019, students and teachers use ICT as an integral tool for learning. When students have a device for use in the classroom and at home, learning is improved in a number of subjects, including science, maths, and English. According to research by Michigan State University, “Students received more feedback on their writing, edited and revised their papers more often, drew on a wider range of resources to write, and published or shared their work with others more often” when provided with such access.

Since 2017 SCA has had a BYOiPad program in the upper grade, and this year it was extended to Year 4. We recently surveyed the Year 3 parents about their knowledge of the program, and invited them to attend an information evening (last night).

We received 45 responses (from 79 families) to the very brief survey and 9 parents attended the information evening.

Survey Results (Year 3 families):

Awareness of iPad program commencing in Year 4 – 56%

Likelihood of purchasing an iPad – Very likely 24%, Likely 33%, Wait till Year 5 31%, Unlikely 11%

The survey also asked for parents to share what they saw as both the benefits and potential pitfalls of the program. Mr Luke Brown and Mrs Priscilla Caragh addressed these issues at the meeting last night. If you would like more information, or to find out what you missed if you couldn’t make it, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher or either Mrs Caragh or Mr Brown.

To further support parents in encouraging appropriate use of ICT, we will provide online safety lessons for all Years 4-6 students early in the year. We also hope to run an information night on the same theme, for parents early in 2020.

Please, Please, Please…

For the safety of all, and because everyone’s time is important, please do NOT turn right when exiting the school carpark during peak times.

Please, Please, Please…

We have heard about unsafe behaviour of some of our children as they travel to and from school. If your child walks or rides, please emphasise with them the importance of:

• Travelling in pairs of groups
• Walking on footpaths (not roads)
• Being safe on bridges (staying on the right side of safety barriers)
• Using crossings or underpaths.

It was once said…

“Strong people don’t put others down… They lift them up.” ~ Michael P. Watson

Blessings to you and your family.

Matt Egan-Richards

Principal

National Prayer Campaign for the gift of rain, for people affected by drought, for support services.

Eternal God,

In wisdom and love you created our earth to sustain us and give us life.

We turn to you now in faith, hope and love, asking you to look with favour on our drought-stricken land, on our starving animals, on our failing crops.

Strengthen, sustain and give new heart to our farmers and to all who are affected by drought; be with those who support them.

In your loving providence, send abundant rain and restore our parched earth.

Father of all compassion, hear our prayer through Jesus Christ your Son, in whom the promise of new life has dawned, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Lord the giver of life: Renew your faithful people; Renew the face of the earth.

Our Lady of the Southern Cross - Pray for us.

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop - Pray for us.

St Clare of Assisi – Pray for us