Dear SCA Families,

I’m very aware that, unfortunately, 116,000 Aussies are struggling. They don’t have the basic safety of knowing where they are going to sleep tonight.

It’s why I'm taking part in the 2019 Vinnies CEO Sleepout in the middle of Canberra’s winter (20 June). To me, this is such an important event, because it gives people who are struggling access to key services and support that can help to break the cycle of homelessness in Australia.

There are two simple ways in which you can help:

1. Beanie Day – this Friday, each child in our school may wear any beanie (the brighter the better!) and bring in a donation. (Gold coins are great, but so are polymer notes!)
2. Follow this link, and give something powerful to people who are struggling?

Vinnies do an incredible job. You might want to learn more about where your donation will go, and you can do so here.

Welcome and Best Wishes

We send our prayerful best wishes to Mrs Laura Matchett and Mrs Bianca Breen who both commence maternity leave at this time. We wish them both well for the safe arrival of their respective first borns.

We officially welcome Mrs Kate Watt and Mrs Maria Singleton to full-time roles, replacing our expectant mums.

We also welcome the following students to SCA this week:

Addison T, Chloe O, Gemma O, Jacob O, Brandon O.

May they and their families soon feel well and truly a part of the SCA family. 

2020 Enrolments Closing Friday

A reminder to parents that the Catholic schools’ enrolment period closes THIS FRIDAY. If you have a younger child who is commencing school in 2020, or have friends at preschool and childcare who are interested in enrolling at St Clare of Assisi, please let them know.

National Principals Gatherings

I have been meeting in Melbourne this week with primary school principals from all over Australia. I represent the ACT as a Board member for the Australian Catholic Primary Principals’ Association (ACPPA) and the Australian Primary Principals’ Association (APPA). Our meetings spent time reviewing the latest developments in policy and research across the country. Though I have missed being at SCA, it has been a valuable experience to work with so many school leaders to discuss educational matters of importance.

Sunsafe – means no hats in June and July

Because the Cancer Council ACT does not recommend sun protection in Canberra during June and July, SCA does not enforce the wearing of hats during this time. The “no hat, no play” rule is shelved for the next two months. Bring on that Vitamin D!

Leaving SCA?

Don’t forget to let us know if you are planning to leave St Clare of Assisi at the end of the year. (Year 6 exempt of course!) We will soon commence the process of planning enrolments and class numbers for next year.

School Fees

The Building Fund is currently a voluntary contribution and therefore tax deductable. This fund is managed by Catholic Education (CE) to be used to pay for the upkeep of our schools. Under the current arrangement, should St Clare’s require a plumber to fix leaking toilets or an electrician to fix the heating or have a broken window fixed, we simply contact the CEO and they send the relevant tradesmen. The cost for this is paid by CE with the CCSBF money (ie. the building fund). Some of the funds each year are also used to support schools in small projects that they cannot fully fund at school level (eg. external lighting repairs, admin building painting, heater replacements, air conditioner maintenance for us in 2019).

Should most families elect not to pay this fund, then the CCSBF will no longer be viable and CE will no longer be able to provide these services.

Should that occur, each school would have to introduce an additional levy to fund this maintenance. This would be an expensive exercise for the school and the families; and would not be tax deductible.

I encourage our families to support the building fund in order to maintain the condition of our school. Thank you for your efforts in this aspect of our partnership.

Sick Students

If your child is ill please keep them at home for their own benefit but also so as not to spread it to other students and staff. Please make sure that your emergency contacts are up-to-date so that we can contact you quickly if your child becomes ill or is injured at school. If your child needs medication at school, you are required to complete a “Request to Dispense Medication” form which is available at the Front Office. A reminder that students are not to self-administer medication. Medication should not be kept in children’s bags but kept in the Front Office area and Karen, Annette or Jo will administer. All information is then noted in a medication book. Teachers will not administer or supervise the taking of medication. Please ask your child to take medications to the Front Office upon arrival at school.

Save the Date - Community Council Open Meeting

All parents and guardians are invited to the SCA Community Council Meeting on Tuesday 18^th June and 6.00pm.

The meeting will be an opportunity to hear about school developments and goals, while also providing a forum for parental feedback and questions. More details will be provided in coming newsletters.

2019 Key Improvement Goals

In last week’s newsletter we reminded you of our four Key Goals for school improvement for 2019. Elsewhere in this week’s newsletter is a short update on the first of third of these; a culture that promotes learning. 

It was once said…

The past cannot be changed, forgotten, edited, or erased; it can only be accepted.” – Unknown 

Blessings to you and your family.

Matt Egan-Richards

Principal