Dear SCA families,

Happy New Year! The new Church year commences this weekend with the first Sunday of Advent.

Advent is a season of waiting; we wait with hope, desire and expectation. One of our Advent companions is Mary, and during these weeks we remember her as she waited for the birth of her child. We know what waiting is like, as many of us wait with anticipation for the holidays.

Advent is also a season to prepare for Christmas. We know that the first coming of Jesus at Bethlehem will not happen again, so during Advent, we prepare and long for a new coming of Jesus into our lives. We take this time every year to practise how to receive Jesus every day of our lives. We remember the call of Jesus to us to make our world a peaceful and loving place, and so, during Advent, we make special efforts to be signs that God is with us. This is what the word ‘Emmanuel’ means – God-with-us.

Advent is a season with its own special mood, colours, sounds, words and joys. Sometimes it can be swamped by Christmas and we can be tempted to celebrate Christmas too early. This Advent, may we all try to wait, as the world waited long ago for the coming of Jesus, the “Light of the World”.

Our Newest Members of the St Clare's Family

68 excited pre-schoolers and their parents visited St Clare’s yesterday for the Kindergarten Orientation Day. It was great to see the children and parents leave with a smile on their face. Thanks to all the staff for planning to ensure our newest students were made to feel welcome.

Carols

All SCA families are warmly invited to join our Parish for a Community Carols Festival on Saturday 7 December in Holy Family Church. Mass will be celebrated at 6pm and Carols will begin at 7.00pm. Everyone is welcome so please bring your family and friends for food, fun and performances!

Semester Two Reports

Your child’s teacher is in the process of preparing Semester Two reports. There is a great deal of work and energy that goes into the writing of these documents, and I thank the teachers for their efforts. Reports will be sent home with the children on Friday 13^th December.

School Fees

A reminder that school fees are now overdue, for those who are not on a regular direct debit with us I ask that you settle your account with us by Friday so that we are able to meet our budgetary commitments.

January Holidays

Our fantastic Outside of School Hours (OSHC) team run an engaging and fun holiday prgroam for SCA children during January. Please contact Jess (OSHC Director) or our front office for further details.

Extended Absences

A reminder to all families that it is a legal requirement for children to attend school, and for any absences to be explained to the school. Please also note, that any planned absences of ten days or more must be applied for in advance. These forms are available on request from the front office. 

Thank You Family BBQ

To thank the many parents (and grandparents) who volunteered their time in any way this year, the Community Council is hosting an End of Year Family Thank You BBQ.

If you helped in the classroom or tuckshop, on an excursion or carnival, as a committee member or sports coach/manager, in the clothing shop or at the Soccer Carnival, or in any other way not mentioned, please come along on:

Tuesday 10^th December, from 5.30-7.00pm.

Invitations and RSVP forms are included later in this newsletter.

Library

Please have a look at home for any SCA Library books that may not yet have found their way back to their own home. You can help us to minimise the number of books we need to replace by returning them as soon as possible please.

It was once said…

“Don’t waste time looking back, you’re not going that way.” ~ Ragnar Lothbrok

Blessings to you and your family.

Matt Egan-Richards

Principal