Dear SCA families,

4 years ago, at the Australian War Memorial on ANZAC Day, I had the privilege of listening to Curtis McGrath deliver an address at the Dawn Service. Curtis is an Australian para-canoeist who took up canoeing competitively after having both legs amputated as a result of a mine blast whilst serving in the Australian Army in Afghanistan.

He spoke with passion about the way in which soldiers support each other, especially in times of hardship and significant injury. Having myself walked the Kokoda Track, I took note when, early in his address, Curtis said, “Seventy-five years ago, Australia braced for impact, from the ever-encroaching conflict of World War II, as it made its way south through the Pacific. At a desperate low in the Kokoda campaign, stretcher-bearers lugged wounded Australian soldiers for days through strangling, unyielding jungle to reach medical help.”

Curtis is a person who has shown great strength in himself recovering from horrific injury, However, as he said, “Self-reliance matters, but it's not nearly enough”.

“On this Anzac Day, we look back on over a century of courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice. We honour those who have died and suffered through the old and the new wars. And we thank them for all they have engrained in our nation's heart and way of life.

And, may we as a nation continue to provide those men and women who have served us with the care they need. Dedicated, unhesitating, service, to our fighting force.”

During this season of Easter may we focus on the needs of others. As Curtis spoke about, and Jesus taught, serving others is a sure way to ensure the world becomes a better place.

God of peace you call us to peace,

Peace within and peace without

Peace before us and peace behind us

Peace on our right and peace on our left.

Christ of Peace you call us to peace,

Peace with our brother and with our sister,

Peace with our neighbour and with the stranger

Peace with friends and with foes

Spirit of peace you call us to peace,

Peace in work and in play

Peace in thought and in deed

Peace in word and action

Grant us peace, O God of peace. 

Welcome to New Students

We offer a very warm, SCA g’day to Nicholas L (KG),  Oliver D (2R), Jackson W (3G)  who all started at St Clare’s yesterday. We welcome our new students and their families to our SCA family.

Do not touch, pick or eat any wild mushrooms! 

Death Cap mushrooms are one of the world’s deadliest mushrooms and can be currently be found across the Canberra region. In Canberra, Death Cap mushrooms often grow near established oak trees in mild, moist weather.

Parents are asked to remind children not to touch, pick or eat any wild mushrooms. 

As the Death Cap mushroom can easily be confused with edible varieties, adults are also strongly advised not to touch, pick or eat any wild mushrooms. It is difficult, even for experienced collectors, to tell the difference between the Death Cap mushroom and edible wild mushrooms. 

All parts of the Death Cap mushroom are poisonous and eating part of a mushroom can be fatal.  Cooking the Death Cap mushroom does not make it safe.

If you believe you have spotted a Death Cap mushroom, do not touch the mushroom with your bare skin. If it is in your own yard, the best option is to leave it be and make sure others stay away from the area. The mushroom will die in a few days. 

If you believe you have spotted a Death Cap mushroom growing in a public area, please contact Access Canberra on 13 22 81. 

For further information on Death Cap mushrooms, download the fact sheet online at http://www.health.act.gov.au/datapublications/fact-sheets/environmental-health.

Enrolments - Open Days

Enrolment time for 2022 is now upon us. If you have a little one ready for school in 2022 or you know of anyone interested in looking at our fantastic school for their children, enrolment packs are now available.

Wednesday 12 May

9:00am - 11:00am 

4:00pm - 6:00pm  

Thursday 20th May

Parents are asked to book a time with the Front Office 6294 1860 for this day.

Parents Welcome (but with COVID conditions)

Our present operating guidelines allow for visitors, under certain circumstances, on site. We must not allow more than 1 adult per 2m² and always encourage physical distancing.

All parents will now be allowed to enter the school grounds under the following conditions. Visitors must:

• be healthy and symptom free;
• not have visited a COVID hotspot in the last 14 days;
• maintain physical distancing of 1.5m with non-family members;
• limit time on school grounds to less than 15 minutes;
• not enter classrooms (or the classroom blocks) except for a pre-arranged appointment. If entering the buildings, visitors must sign in at the Front Office and register using the Check in CBR app;
• Approved volunteers will be allowed inside once they have signed in at the Front Office, and register using the Check in CBR app. (This is a new government requirement.)

As always, if you wish to meet with your child’s teacher, or me, please arrange a mutually convenient time via the front office. When you arrive at school, please sign in using our iPad and register using the Check in CBR app.

NAPLAN

Students in Years 3 and 5 will sit the NAPLAN tests next month. Parents may elect to withdraw their children from these tests. If you do not want your child to sit the NAPLAN tests, please contact Ms Val Ciuffetelli at school immediately.

F Block (Year 1 and Kinder Red classrooms)

The renovations and refurbishments of F Block are complete. Teachers and students from Year 1 and Kinder Red excitedly moved back in on Tuesday. (Please see Facebook for some photos.)

Thanks to the teachers for being so flexible and working in alternative rooms during this process.

Thanks also each family who contributes to the Canberra Catholic Schools Building Fund (CCSBF) via their fees. The work was fully paid for by this CE managed fund.

Three Way Conferences / Oral Reporting

This week your child’s teacher will send you a link for a Zoom meeting. You are encouraged to use this method for the three-way conferences next week. The teacher will admit you at the scheduled time, so all that you have to do is log in a couple of minutes, from home or work, before your time.

If you choose to meet via Zoom, please ensure you situate yourself in a quiet space to eliminate distractions, and respect the meeting by not “multi-tasking” (e.g. cooking dinner) at the same time.

This link will be sent to the email that was used to book through SessionKeeper. If one parent is not on the same computer as you and your child, this link can be forwarded and used by them as well. For security, please do not forward this link to anyone else.

Please click on the link and make sure you have joined the meeting a few minutes in advance. You will be sent to a waiting room, where you will have enough time to test your camera and audio. If you can, please change your profile name to your full name, this enables the teacher to identify the right person at the right time. If you have done this correctly, you will see the below image on your screen.

Meetings will run for strictly 15 minutes, and your child's teacher will let you in at the start of your allotted time. If you think you will require more time please contact your teacher via email to discuss another option, as meetings will be disconnected at the end of the 15-minute session.

Should you, for any reason be unable to access the Zoom meeting due to technical difficulties, please contact the teacher via email so an alternative can be arranged.

Families wishing to meet at the school may still do so. You will be required to arrive 10 minutes early to sign in and out, confirming that you are well. If you wish to come to the classroom, please let your child’s teacher know when they send home the Zoom invitation.

Stuck inside?.... Front Gate

We have installed a new controller for the school carpark, automatic gate. It now means that cars exiting will automatically trigger the gate to open (if it is closed) simply by driving slowly towards it in the left hand lane. Please stop (about two metres from the gate) and wait for it to fully open. It will remain open for 15 seconds, giving plenty of time to safely leave.

Term Dates

This term (Term 2) ends on Friday 25^th June.

Catholic Education has declared Monday 12^th July as a pupil free day for all Catholic schools in Canberra.

Students will commence Term 3 on Tuesday 13^th July.

It was once said…

I don’t mean to brag, but I put together a puzzle in 1 day, and the box said 2-4 years.

Blessings to you and your family.

Matt Egan-Richards

Principal