Dear SCA Families,

When my youngest son was 11 years old, he was in love: he loved the Harry Potter series of books and he loved his then 20 year old sister who read to him most nights of the week. I loved Harry Potter, but I really loved watching two of my kids, separated by 9 years and their different gender, bonding so beautifully over a book (or 6!).

Since the invention of the printing press, books have long provided entertainment and escape for people of all ages. They have also provided information, but for most people that’s no-where near as much fun. Books also, as in the case of my son and daughter, allow people to share in the journey of a new story.

Our Library offers this to children all year. So, during Book Week, I thank Mrs Katherine Austin, Mrs Maria Singleton and Mrs Robyn Jolly for the work they each do to ensure the Library is a special place in our school.

Special Event this Friday 

This Friday is Dress Up day for Book Week. I am looking forward to some creative costumes and even have mine (mostly) ready.

Tuesday Afternoon

It was lovely to see so many families shown around the school by our children after school yesterday. Our Learning Journeys are a great way for families to share in and celebrate the learning of our children.

Thanks to the teachers for staying back to provide this opportunity.

Emergency Meals 

As always our community is ready to offer support for those in need. We have a supply of frozen meals for families who may need a little extra help for a night or two. If you know of anyone who could do with a pre-cooked meal, please let Karen Snowball, in the Office, know.

If you can help by cooking an extra meal for storing our freezer, it would be greatly appreciated. Please see Karen in the Front Office for details.

Social Media

It’s not unusual to hear of children across the country who have been involved in disturbing social media events. As a school, we will continue to look at ways in which we educate our students to use digital resources wisely and appropriately.

Most children access social media when they are not at school. (Social networking describes a variety of services like Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, World of Warcraft, Moshi Monsters, Twitter, Skype, Minecraft and many others.) As a parent it may be useful to refer to the Office of the Children's eSafety Commissioner website (https://esafety.gov.au/) — it has excellent information on a wide range of topics including protecting personal information; cyberbullying; balancing online time; photos, videos and social media; offensive and illegal content; sexting; and social networking. The site also lists a variety of trusted partners and online safety websites to help guide young people towards safe and enjoyable experiences online.

Our expectations of students in relation to the use of ICT at school for educational purposes is very clear and all students are required to adhere to the acceptable use of IT policy. Any breach of this must be reported immediately.

As Migrant and Refuge Sunday is this coming weekend (25 August) I leave you with the following prayer.

Lord, during Your life amongst us you taught us to love one another, especially those who are most in need. Help each of us to become people of reconciliation where migrants, refugees and all people on the move may find Australia a nation of welcome and of unity.

Prayers Please

Please keep Jaxon, Jeremy and Jaimee and their family in your prayers. Our condolences also go to all who were friends, and there were many, of Julia. We extend our most heartfelt condolences to Jason and his family.

May perpetual light shine upon Julia, may she rest in peace

It was once said…

“In every political activity, in every programme, in every pastoral action we must always put the person at the centre… And this applies to all people, whose fundamental equality must be recognised.” ~ Pope Francis

Congratulations to the children in our Parish who received Holy Communion for the first time last weekend, and to those who will do this this weekend. May they always be so welcoming of Jesus’ presence in their lives.

Blessings to you and your family.

Matt Egan-Richards

Principal

Fathers Day Celebrations

All dads, grand-dads and father figures are invited to join us for breakfast and a social gathering, on Friday, 30^th August, between 7.30am and 8.30am in the school Hall.

Will you please help!

The Fathers Day breakfast is on at school on Friday 30^th August, from 7.30am. If you are able to help prepare, serve or clean up between 7.00am and 8.30am (even just for half an hour), please send an email to let us know. (sca@cg.catholic.edu.au)

Future of ACT Catholic School Soccer and Netball Carnivals

Regretfully, this year is the final year for the ACT Catholic School Soccer and Netball Carnivals.

This decision was carefully considered and was made unanimously at the recent ACT Catholic Primary Principals’ Meeting.

Although these are great community days and have been going for many years, the huge workload on staff, increasing costs, complexity of indemnity and insurance and a lack of volunteers to assist has necessitated the decision to no longer host these events.

Schools are rostered on to coordinate, run and volunteer these events and are run, entirely, by the host school, irrespective of the school size. Parents volunteer on the day and staff work all weekend on these events. In the past few years, some executive staff have worked nearly full-time in the lead-up to pull off these carnivals, along with many staff who commit their time to support the planning and preparation, all of which is impacting on the teaching and learning agenda of the host school. 

ACT Principals acknowledge that there may be some parents and students disappointed by this decision, however, we have agreed that the future of hosting and leading an event such as this is untenable.

This year, Holy Rosary Watson will host the final ACT Catholic Schools’ Netball Carnival.

ACT Primary Principals

Be the Light of… Leadership

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

First Eucharist

Please keep the following students and their families in your prayers as they prepare to celebrate their First Eucharist over the weekend.

Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick

A sacrament is an outward sign established by Jesus Christ to confer inward grace. It is a rite that is performed to convey God’s grace to the recipient, through the power of the Holy Spirit. The sacrament of anointing of the sick is administered to bring spiritual and even physical strength during an illness, or near the time of death. It is most likely one of the last sacraments one will receive.

Mark refers to the sacrament when he recounts how Jesus sent out the twelve disciples to preach, and "they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them" (Mark 6:13). In his epistle, James says, "Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven" (Jas. 5:14–15).

No Mass at SCA this Friday 23^rd August

 Anointing Mass at Holy Family Church Gowrie at 10:30am

4 Green attending

All welcome

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

The SCA Entrepreneur Club sold out of muffins during the Learning Showcase yesterday. What a fabulous result, congratulations to everyone involved.

You still have time to tantalise your taste-buds orders close Monday 26th August.

The St Clare of Assisi Entrepreneur Club is hosting a muffin stall partnered with the $20 Boss with 100% of the profit going to the St Vincent de Paul Society.  We chose St Vincent de Paul because we have done a survey and the community saw that there was a problem with homelessness.  Please note, all orders must be prepaid by Qkr and this form completed.  No cash will be accepted on the day.  All payments must be made by Monday 26th August.

Please follow this link if you would like to order muffins.

Friday 30th August

To RSVP and to help please follow the link below:

https://stclareconder.schoolzineplus.com/form/32

RSVP's are required by Tuesday 27th August.

A reminder that many hands make light work

Netball 17 August

Player of the Week and Match Reports

Speckles – Ruby O’Callaghan and Chloe O’Connor

Little Skittles – Jasmine Summers

Smarties – Brooke Douglas

Squiggles – the whole team

Smiggles – the whole team

Stars – Bethany Galvin

Swifts – Zoe Keen and Tully DeVoy

Sunshines – Olivia Lee

Skittles – Maddi Warren and Charlotte Izzard

Sparkles – Mariella Cokjlat

Smurfs – the whole team

Smiggles Match Report

 This week the Smiggles and the Smurfs mixed it up a bit and girls moved across teams so they could try different positions and work with different players as a way to re-invigorate our energy. Something must have worked as both teams were all over the court and fighting for every ball and really thinking about positioning ourselves well on the court. Well done to the girls for being flexible and for the Smiggles keeping the tough Holy Family team within a few points when previously it was normally a very one sided game. Also well done to the Smurfs who outdid the Maddies with their energy and it was also a close game. The Smiggles and Smurfs play each other for our next game which is always a tough battle and hopefully we will keep our new found energy all the way through to the end of the season.

Little Skittles Match Report

The little Skittles played the Dolphins on Saturday. They took the court full of smiles and enthusiasm. We watched as they tried hard to get away from their players and find space to get the ball. They managed to throw some accurate passes and get some great intercepts. The girls have improved so much since the start of the season. They have worked hard to catch and pass well, and to remember where they can go on the court in each different position. They never give up, even though they are some of the youngest and smallest in the game. We have had such a great time watching them every week. The pure joy they get from playing reminds us what netball is all about!

Well done to the Little Skittles this season, you are all beautiful superstars!

Well done to Nate Pfitzner of Year 6 Green for his selection in the U12's ACT School Sport Rugby League team, that participated in the U12s School Sports Rugby League Championships held in Brisbane 3-10 August.

 Day 1 - WA defeated ACT 12- 10

 Day 2 - ACT defeated SA 36 -6

 Day 3 - ACT defeated NT 22-6

 Day 4 - Quarter Final 3 NSW defeated ACT 40-0

 Day 5 - ACT defeated NT 32 -0

 Day 6 - WA defeated ACT 12- 10

The opportunity to participate in the Rugby League Championships was a once in a life time experience for Nate, playing against some of Australia’s most talented Rugby league school boys. He enjoyed every moment of it. His team consistently gave their all, worked together and for each other, fighting to the very last minute in every game they played. Not only did he get to play the game he loves for a week in the beautiful Queensland sunshine, he learnt how to become a leader, formed new found friendships and skills to really dig deep when challenged with adversity.