Dear Parents and Carers,

At ACT Catholic Primary School’s Principal Meetings there is always much discussion about parent engagement and creating a new understanding of what that looks like in a primary school’s context, with the regular Facebook post that does the rounds often shared;

For me this quote highlights the statistic that children spend only 15% of their time at school and how vital the relationship between home and school is. Debbie Pushor, Professor of Education at the University of Saskatchewan and a leading expert in the area, states ‘how it’s done doesn’t matter, it’s the sense of the commitment to each other, then the rest will come’. For so long in schools we have been good at parent involvement, yet there is a distinct difference between engagement and involvement. The best example of the difference is the idea that if a year 7 student can do the job, that’s involvement, whilst anything that involves a child’s education and learning is engagement.

At St Clare of Assisi, we do want to engage parents and we have the best intentions, but realistically it can sometimes get lost, especially as a result of COVID. We are always looking for new ways to increase parent engagement, such as through Three Way Conferences and learning events. We are aware that majority of our parents work and are often unable to attend school events during the day, so are always looking for other ways for parents to be engaged, meet with teachers, other families and visit classrooms. If there are ways you think we can engage parents further, please feel free to email me rachel.smith@cg.catholic.edu.au

I will finish with the words of Pope Francis ‘education is a family matter, and rather than contradicting one another, parents and teachers must collaborate openly and constructively to form children in core values which enable them to face modern challenges’.

Thank you for your ongoing care and partnership in your child’s learning.

God bless.

Rachel Smith

Principal

Principal’s Notes

Year Six Camp

Last week I was fortunate enough to attend camp with our Year Six students and staff at Jindabyne Sport and Rec Camp. I believe camp is a wonderful opportunity for our students to grow and flourish as they challenge themselves to try new things. I thank the students for their fantastic behaviour and enthusiasm whilst on camp, and the staff for their planning and for ensuring every student’s need were met during their camp time. I also thank the staff for giving up time with their families to attend camp with the students. Please check out our school Facebook page for photos of the camp.

Athletics Carnival

As you read this, we will be attending the Athletics Carnival at Phillip Oval. Thank you to all staff for their organisation of this event. Thank you to those parents and carers who volunteered to help us on the day. We look forward to a wonderful day at our new venue.

Election Day Polling Booth

This Saturday, 21 May 2022, St Clare of Assisi will be a polling station. The Community Council will be holding a sausage sizzle to ensure you can snag your democracy sausage (or bacon and egg roll for the earlier morning run). If you can volunteer and help with the BBQ, please make contact at scaparentnetwork@outlook.com.au

Rugging Up in the Cold

We encourage a lot of play outside and during winter it can be quite cold. We encourage all of our students to dress with plenty of layers. Our uniform lends itself very easily to this.

Singlets, thermals or other simple long sleeve underclothes are encouraged under the shirt to add that extra layer. Our uniform policy then outlines:

Maroon jumper: worn over the shirt and dress. As it’s harder to take off it can be used inside and outside to keep warm,

Blue polar fleece jacket: to be worn when going outside over the maroon jumper and generally taken off in the classroom while the heater is operating,

Beanies/Scarves/Mittens: are very acceptable and preferably navy blue.

Sport uniform: If an extra layer is required then a simple navy blue top underneath the polo short is acceptable.

Kinder 2023 Enrolments Close on 27^th May

We will be holding our second open event this afternoon, Wednesday 18^th May 4.30pm – 5.30pm. Please spread the word amongst family and friends, reminding those with preschoolers that enrolments close on Friday 27^th May.

Reconciliation Day Public Holiday

On Monday 30^th May, the ACT will celebrate Reconciliation Day with a public holiday. As it is a public holiday, all schools in the ACT will be closed on that day. A reminder that Friday 27^th May, is the first of our two Pupil Free Days this term.

Our Lady Help of Christians

Next week, on May 24, the Church celebrates the solemnity of Our Lady Help of Christians. Catholic Australians historically had a special reason for turning to Mary. In the early days of settlement, no priests were sent to the colony and Mass was not allowed except for one brief year until 1820. It was largely the Rosary in those early days that kept the faith alive. Catholic Australia has remained faithful to Mary and was the first nation to choose her under the title Help of Christians, as principal Patroness.

Mary, Help of Christians, watch over us with love. 

Intercede for us with your Son, to bless Australia, 

so that we can be people of peace, 

people who love and respect each other, 

and people who love and respect our land, Australia. 

We make this prayer through Jesus your Son. 

Amen.

A Message from our Youth Minister

Hi, it is Osley, the St Clare of Assisi Youth minister for 2022. I have had a wonderful time working beside the faith leaders during Term 1. During the first term, I started leading Christian meditation in different classes, with last term focused on Year 1 and Year 2.

I am looking forward to continuing Christian meditation in more of the classes this term.  

 Last term, I also learnt more about confirmation and what it meant, and I received the sacrament of Confirmation myself! For me, being confirmed strengthened my relationship with God as I became a full member of the Christian community. With everything I have learned, I am excited to be helping the Year 6s as they work towards their own confirmation this term.  

Here is a short prayer I love doing in the morning, you might like to pray this too:

O Jesus, through the most pure heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of your divine heart. Amen.

God bless, Osley 

Basecamp Retreat for Years 5 and 6

The basecamp retreat is on this weekend! It is an opportunity for Year 5 and 6 students to have fun, listen, find hope, peace and replenishment amidst the busyness of life. All Year 5 and 6 students are invited to attend. The retreat is a part of the Youth Ministry initiative in the archdiocese and our very own youth minister Osley will be one of the youth ministers in attendance.

Congratulations to the children who will be awarded white cards at the 8.45am Friday Morning assembly this week.

Beginning early Term 3, we will be implementing a 9 session program called ‘Seasons for Growth’. Staff who are formally trained as ‘Companions’, spend time with a small group of students who are dealing with some aspect of change, separation, loss or grief. The sessions do not provide counselling or therapy. Instead, they:

• aim to support young people to understand and manage the grief that is experienced because of change, the loss of a parent or significant other through death, separation or divorce.
• assist in normalising the emotions associated with the loss
• encourage the expression of thoughts and emotions
• educate about the grief process
• develop a peer support network
• help restore self-confidence and self esteem
• draw on extensive research in developing a sound educative response to loss and grief.

‘Seasons for Growth’ provides opportunities for students in  Years 1 to 6 to integrate the appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes to understand and cope with change, loss and grief, using the symbolism of the four Seasons. It helps children to:

• accept the reality of loss
• work through the pain of grief
• adjust to an environment in which a significant person is no longer present
• emotionally relocate and move on with life.

However, they do suggest that the young person completes the program six to twelve months after the loss, as they are in better position to cope with the program.

As recommended by the Good Grief Organisation, each child should only complete the program once in each of the three stages. This effectively means that students can only participate in the program every second year at school.

This program is strictly confidential and implemented with discretion and sensitivity. Please feel free to talk to me if you have any concerns or issues you would like to further discuss regarding this nomination. If you think that this program is something that your child or children would benefit from, please write their names below and the reason for nomination and send it back to school in a sealed envelope, addressed to Mrs Haines.  Please return nomination form by Friday 27^th May.

After nominations are made and numbers are ascertained, a permission slip and further information will be sent home via your child.

Mrs Karen Haines

Religious Education Coordinator

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Seasons for Growth Nomination Form 2022

I/We _____________________________ would like to nominate our child/ren for the Seasons for   Growth program for 2022.

Child/ren’s names:

1. _____________________________ Class: ______________

Reason for nomination:

___________________________________________________________________

2. _____________________________ Class: ______________

Reason for nomination:

___________________________________________________________________

Parents/Carers signature:

__________________________________________________

Player of the Week 

Speckles – the whole team

Smarties – Mackenzie

Smiggles – Sienna

Squiggles – the whole team

Swifts – Ava M and Montana

Skittles – Dakota

Sparkles – Scarlet

Smurfs – the whole team

Sunshines – Ava R

Stars - Brooklyn

Skittles Match Report

On Saturday the Skittles played the TCS Sparks. The girls have been working hard on controlling their feet and learning which foot they are landing on. Their hard work showed and we had a great flow getting the ball into our shooting circle.  Our defence was outstanding and we gained many intercepts. The growth of the girls while playing on hard courts has been amazing to watch. Our final score was 9 - 3. Well done Skittles!