Dear SCA Families,

Last Friday was the feast of St Anne and St Joachim. They are the grandparents of Jesus. I am sure they were both very proud of Jesus just like normal grandparents. When my own kids were younger and their grandparents came to visit, they couldn’t wait to show them all their art work and class awards. Imagine when Anne and Joachim visited Jesus and what he told them. ‘cured a blind man today…. Fed five thousand people today all on my own’. My mum always says if she knew grandkids were this much fun she would have had them first. I don’t know what that says about me.

G’Day to all the wonderful grandparents out there.

Grandparents Day

We will celebrate the “grand-folk” in our children’s lives this Friday 2^nd August. We are looking forward to our special visitors.

11.30am – Morning Tea in the Hall

12.00noon – Class visits

1.20pm – Lunch (BYO) on the school grounds. (Some grandparents may like to take their grandchildren early for a special afternoon away from school.)

Meeting with Teachers

Teachers at SCA are always happy to meet with parents to discuss issues concerning the children. Please be mindful, however, that their commitments to every child in the class may make them unavailable at certain times. Teachers may look free to speak when you see them outside their classroom before school, but they may need to be on duty in a few minutes, or finalising a report for a child’s specialist, or making final preparations for the day’s lessons, or any other task I may have lumped them with.

One way of organising a mutually convenient time to meet with your child’s teacher would be to ring or email them first. Please also feel free to organise time to meet with me should you wish to discuss any issue.

Hats On

Though it’s still cold, the UV is on the increase so we remind you of the School policy regarding exposure to the sun: Simply stated, from August until May, there is a ‘No Hat – No Play’ policy. Therefore, from next Monday (5^th August) all children must wear their school uniform hats while outside during recess and lunch.

NAIDOC Mass

On Friday last week Catholic Schools from across the archdiocese gathered at St Christopher's Cathedral in Manuka, to celebrate NAIDOC Week. 6 Green and some of our Indigenous and Indigenous students represented SCA. Thanks to Mrs Walsh for organising our attendance at the Mass and also thanks to Mrs Haines and Miss Ramirez for taking the students. A small selection of photos is available on the Catholic Education Office website.

Learning Journey

We are opening our classrooms for you to visit. Our children would love to show you, their parents, where they spend 5 hours a day and what they do in there. Please set aside the afternoon of Tuesday 20^th August, if possible. This event also coincides (deliberately) our annual Book Fair. More details will be provided in next week’s newsletter. 

Safe/Unsafe Foods

When sending food to school with your child, please consider the health of others. We have a number of students with life threatening allergies to nuts.

Influenza B

The flu season has been a significant one in Australia this year. At SCA, we have had two confirmed cases of students with Influenza B. To see the latest advice from the ACT Health Protection Service, please go to https://www.health.act.gov.au/about-our-health-system/population-health/winter-wellbeing-and-flu

Athlete’s Foot

Recently, Holly from Athlete’s Foot Tuggeranong visited our morning assembly. She presented the school with a cheque for $1100. For every shoe sold to a SCA member, the school receives $5 commission. Thank you everyone who has shopped at Athlete’s Foot this year.

Our Silver Jubilee

I am looking forward to our 25^th Anniversary dinner on Friday of next week. It promises to be a wonderful evening. Thanks in advance to the small group of organisers.

National Principals Gatherings

Next week I will be in Brisbane meeting with primary school principals from all over Australia. I represent the ACT as a Board representative for the Australian Catholic Primary Principals’ Association (ACPPA) and also the Australian Primary Principals’ Association (APPA). Our meetings generally spend time reviewing the latest developments in policy and research across the country. Though I will miss being at SCA (other than being in Brisbane’s warmer weatherJ), it should be a valuable experience to work with so many school leaders to discuss educational matters of importance. While I am away, Ms Val Ciuffetelli will be in charge.

Learning Time

Missing the start of the school day has a real impact on a child. The morning gathering enables us to greet each other as a community and celebrate our efforts and special occasions. However, we work hard to have the classes inside and learning quickly after the bell rings. Classes are usually inside and ready for learning 5 minutes after the bell rings. Those children who are at school before the bell rings (at 8.45am) are usually more settled and focussed in their learning.

Annual Satisfaction Survey

An annual satisfaction survey of parents, students and staff is being conducted on behalf of all Catholic schools in the Diocese this term. The surveys are designed to gather feedback from parents, staff and students about our school and will be used to inform school improvement. Responses are confidential and individuals can not be identified.

The surveys were sent via email on 29 July and close on 9 August 2019 using the email addresses supplied to the school. If you did not receive an email with a link to the survey, you can access and complete the survey at the following link. https://www.research.net/r/stclareofassisiparent2019

It was once said…

“You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.” ~ Desmond Tutu

Blessings to you and your family.

Matt Egan-Richards

Principal

Be the Light of… Leadership

Leaders we Know, Jesus as Leader, Qualities of Leaders, We are Leaders

GRANDPARENT'S DAY

We are very excited to once again be celebrating Grandparent’s day at school, this Friday 2^nd August in honour of all Grandparent figures in our lives. We look forward to sharing this special day with you.

FIRST EUCHARIST

Today our Year 4 students, who are learning about and preparing for their First Eucharist, attended their Eucharist Retreat Day. The students will be celebrating their First Eucharist in a couple of weeks.

Saint Clare of Assisi Feast Day

Whole School Mass next

Friday 9^th August

10am @ Holy Family Church Gowrie

Celebrating 25 Years

Class Mass this Friday 2^nd August:

Kindergarten

Congratulations to the children who will be awarded white cards at this Friday's assembly.

To celebrate St Clare's Feast Day the canteen is having a special feast day lunch order.

You are able to order a sausage sandwich, juice and treat for $6.00

Orders are only able to be placed using Qkr! Logon to Qkr select Feast Day Menu.

Orders close 7th August 2019 at 5.30pm

No other lunch orders are available on this day.

Help is desperately needed on the feast day. Please ring Michelle on

6294 1860 if you are able to assist.

Netball 27 July

Player of the Week and Match Reports

Speckles – Nikita Crawford and Grace Weir

Little Skittles – Ava Goolagong    

Smarties – Ayla Hogan

Squiggles – The whole team

Smiggles – The whole team

Stars – Ayla Chick

Swifts – Misha Gaur

Sunshines – The whole team

Skittles – Ella Rogers

Sparkles – The whole team

Smurfs – Isabella Exposito and Zoe Paull

Unfortunately there are no match reports this week as our lovely parents who take the time to write them were unavailable.

Closes this Friday 2nd August,2019

Book Week Dress up day Friday 23rd August

Dress up as your favourite book character or

go with the theme

'Reading is my Secret Power' 

If you were at the school last Thursday, you would have seen lots and lots of spots and dalmations everywhere!! Kinder celebrated 101 days of school as 101 dalmations. 

Everyone looked amazing and what a way to celebrate such an improtant milestone.