From the Principal Week 7
Dear SCA families,
In just over two weeks’ time I will be sleeping outside, with only a sheet of cardboard as my mattress, at the National Arboretum (17th June). I am sure it will be cold and uncomfortable, it will be a far cry from my comfortable, warm bedroom at home.
In the coming weeks I will talk to the children about why I would voluntarily put myself in such an unpleasant situation.
As adults we often have a hard time processing Australia’s confounding homelessness situation. But it is real, so how do we explain it to our kids, and what can I do about it?
To help us discuss it with our children, the St Vincent de Paul Society has produced a short brochure to guide us. Please find it attached to this newsletter.
The answer to the second question (What can I do about this?) is to support Vinnies in the fantastic work they do to support Canberra’s homeless.
Please follow the below link or QR code and offer what you can. If each SCA family contributed $10, it would help to provide emergency accommodation for 10 families in crisis.
https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/fundraisers/mattegan-richards/canberra
Confirmation
Next week many of our students in Year 6 will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation. As they take this step in their lives, we pray they will be able to “hear” the Spirit speaking in their lives. Please keep all the Year 6 children in your prayers as they reflect and learn about the Holy Spirit.
Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their helper and guide.
Give them a spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of right judgement and courage,
the spirit of knowledge and reverence.
Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen
Parent Survey for Years 4, 5 and 6
In the coming weeks we will be inviting students, teachers and parents to provide feedback on their experience of our school using an online survey. The surveys are an important part of our whole school evaluation and planning process.
We would like to invite you to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning survey. As we value the role of parents and carers within our school community we would greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and wellbeing at SCA.
The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete, and will be open for the next two weeks. You are able to access the parent survey on your computer or mobile device by using the URL below:
http://tellthemfromme.com/sca2021par
Registration
Non-government schools in the ACT are required to re-apply for registration as a school every 5 years. Before being granted registration, a panel of educators thoroughly reviews all operations of the school.
In the past few weeks, a panel of 7 experienced leaders has been pouring over our documentation (policies, agreed practices, curriculum, meeting minutes, parent communications etc). Next week they will visit us here at school, to see us in action, for 3 days. As well as reviewing further documentation on site, they will speak with most staff, visit each class and meet with our Community Council. Following their visit, they will write a report, in which they will, hopefully, recommend to the Minister for Education that we be re-registered for a period of another 5 years.
On top of their normal efforts with the children, our staff have been busy making sure all the documentation is in place. I thank them for their efforts to put our best foot forward.
It’s not just for decoration
It amazes me how fast some people drive in our school grounds. Is your time really so valuable that you would risk the safety of our children, visitors and staff?
The speed limit in our school carpark and entrance drive is 10 km per hour.
For the safety of all, especially our children, please adhere to this limit.
It was once said…
The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion.
Paulo Coelho
Blessings to you and your family.
Matt Egan-Richards
Principal