Dear SCA families,

Our diverse Parish (including its 4 schools: SCA, St Francis of Assisi, Holy Family and St Mary MacKillop College) celebrates its feast day this Sunday; Corpus Christi. This feast day is also known as the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

Having always been a Catholic, it’s something I’ve taken for granted. In recent years, I’ve been challenged in my thinking. Children and parents, Catholic and non-Catholic, have asked me what I believe about the Eucharist.

The easy and short answer is that it is a mystery and can’t be fully explained; it’s a matter of faith. But faith in what?

Three years ago I visited the Holy Land, and, at the Sea of Galilee and again in Jerusalem, I gained an appreciation for the physical reality of the person of Jesus. He was a person who walked among and sat with real people in their daily lives. His message: love each other and love God. He spoke this, he lived it. He unconditionally loved all he encountered.

In 2019 Jesus does not walk among us in the same way. Instead, he becomes part of us, most notably through the Eucharist. We are then called to go and be Jesus (unconditional love) for others.

In the Eucharist, we become one with Jesus, trusting in God’s bountiful love, and daring to share that love to others.

Happy feast day to all our SCA and Corpus Christi families.

Staff News

Congratulations to Mrs Laura Matchett and her husband, Ryan, following the addition of Elijah to their family. Elijah entered the world, with a full head of hair, last Wednesday. May the years ahead bring many blessings and joys to their family.

Community Council Open Meeting

Last night was the Community Council open meeting, where parents are invited to come along and see what the Council does and most importantly hear about some exciting things that are happening at the school. We had staff prepare updates on the Annual Improvement Plan and a presentation on the new systemic teaching of phonics that has rolled across K-2. The only problem was that we did not receive a single question or issue for discussion from any parents and we had no parents outside the Community Council attend.

One Council member therefore asked, “Does that mean everyone is 100% happy with the school?” That’s not an assumption I’d risk making, but we certainly did not receive any concerns from parents.

I thank the staff who attended and spent a great deal of time on the presentations, and the few parents from the Community Council there found them valuable.

The Community Council will be reflecting on the lack of interest in last night’s open meeting at the first meeting of Term 3 to be held in Week Three, so we encourage any feedback or questions of the Council / school leadership to be emailed through on sca@cg.catholic.edu.au.

Really?!? – Parking and Traffic

Each day we see 500 children safely leave the school in a 20 minute timeframe. Another 100 or so go to OSHC. Parents can collect children from one of two drive-by zones, or park and collect them from any place in the school. Some even catch a bus or walk/ride home! Our staff will supervise and care for each child until they are off the school grounds.

It is, however, the responsibility of parents and carers to drive and park according to the road rules. All ACT road and parking rules apply on roads around our school. If you are unsure of them, please take the time to find out. The enforcement of these rules is done by the ACT Government and the Police. Please do not express your anger at our front office staff when you have been booked for parking illegally.

Again I implore drivers to turn left when leaving the school grounds between 2.45 and 3.15pm. When you turn right it can directly impact the progress of up to 50 other cars. It might take an extra 3 minutes to go around the block, but please factor that into your trip.

A few tips for a stress free and quick departure:

• Only use the drive-by zones when your child can use their seat-belt quickly and independently;
• Turn left when leaving the school;
• Try coming a little later;
• Park at Vikings and enjoy a 2 minute walk (using the underpass) catching up with your child about their day;
• Before your child goes to school, ensure your child knows how they are getting home;
• Follow all ACT road and parking rules (to avoid that fine in the mail);
• Be patient.

Grounds Master Plan

Late last term you may have seen surveyors on the school grounds. They were preparing a full services and buildings plan of the school and its grounds. This was being done in preparation for a new masterplan to be drafted, with the consultation of the school community.

Though Catholic Education (who paid for the survey) has received the plan, the head of their Facilities division has recently resigned. This has unfortunately delayed the appointment of an architect to work with us on the masterplan. Though we are keen to develop the area outside OSHC and the Infants Equipment, we don’t want to do so before a full plan is done.

I will keep you updated on the progress of appointing an architect and commencing the masterplan. Thanks for your patience while we make sure we get this right the first time.

Winter Uniform

It’s probably not escaped your attention that Winter is here. Please help support our uniform expectations by making sure any beanies or coats are of the appropriate colour. Please also ensure easily removable items (hats, coats, jumpers) are clearly labelled with your child’s name.

WWVP

Just a reminder to anyone coming in to the school to help that you must have your WWVP card on you. Although you sign in when you arrive and record the WWVP card number and we have a photocopy of this, if we are audited whilst you are in the school building, you must be able to show the card. If you are unable to, you will be given a personal fine and the school will also be fined. Thank you so much for your cooperation with this compliance.

Semester Reports

Class teachers are currently preparing reports. Individual reports will be sent home with children on Tuesday 2 July.

It was once said…

"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is perspective, not the truth.” – Marcus Aurelius

Blessings to you and your family.

Principal