“Among the most powerful of human experiences is to give or to receive forgiveness. I am told that two-thirds of the teaching of Jesus is directly or indirectly about this mystery of forgiveness…When we forgive, we choose the goodness of the other over their faults, we experience God’s goodness flowing through ourselves, and we also experience our own goodness in a way that surprises us. That is an awesome coming together of power, both human and divine.” 

Richard Rohr 

 Dear Parents and Carers, 

A warm welcome back to another school term. I have really enjoyed spending time with the students chatting about their holiday activities.  It is always so nice after our term breaks to return to school and hear their laughter and games in the playground. We have had a very calm and settled start to the term. 

This term, we welcome 3 new students. I would like to welcome the following children:William (KG), Hayley (2G) and Eadie (4G). It is wonderful to welcome you to St Clare of Assisi. 

The above quote from Richard Rohr is a good one to use at the start of Term 4. Advent – the time of preparation for Christmas – is not far away. Rohr’s reflection on the role forgiveness plays in our lives speaks to the way in which it prepares us, in a sense, to be more open to the movement of grace. Forgiveness is an enlarging of the self and a source of healing. To forgive, and to be forgiven, is to experience grace at work in our lives. 

Summer Uniform Reminder

A reminder that all children are expected to be in full summer uniform from Monday 23rd October.  The clothing pool is open for sales on Mondays 8.30 - 9.00 am. At SCA we wear our school uniform with pride. Jewellery, makeup and colourful hair accessories are not part of the school uniform and are best kept for parties and the weekend.   

Voting day at SCA: Referendum voting day will be Saturday 14 October 2023. 

Just like at a federal election, the AEC will open thousands of polling places around the country. Polling places will be open between 8am and 6pm, local time, on voting day. SCA is a designated voting place.  

Tong Masters Required!

Our SCA community will host a BBQ on voting day beginning at 7.30am. For sale will be bacon and egg rolls, sausage sandwiches, bags of lollies and cold drinks. If you can spare an hour, please reach out to scaparentnetwork@outlook.com.au  or phone the front office on 6294 1860. All monies raised goes directly back into purchasing student resources.  

Fete

We will be wrapping the fete gift baskets this coming Saturday from 9.00am in the Multi-purpose room. If you are able to help, please email scaparentnetwork@outlook.com.au  or phone the front office on 6294 1860 to let us know.  

ThinkUKnow Presentation- Save the Date 

St Clare of Assisi will be hosting a ThinkUKnow presentation on 06 Nov 2023 at 6:00pm and all parents, carers and teachers are encouraged to attend. 

ThinkUKnow Australia is an evidence-based education program delivered nationally to prevent online child sexual exploitation. 

ThinkUKnow Australia is a partnership between the Australian Federal Police, Microsoft Australia, Datacom and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. The program is delivered in collaboration with policing partners New South Wales Police Force, Northern Territory Police, Queensland Police, South Australia Police, Tasmania Police, Western Australia Police, as well as Neighbourhood Watch Australasia. 

The presentation will be delivered by a local law enforcement member and an industry volunteer. The presentation is pro-technology and addresses topics including self-generated child abuse material, online grooming, sexual extortion, and importantly encourages help seeking behaviour. 

This is a fantastic opportunity for you to learn more about young people and the online environment, and how you can help them to be safe and responsible users of technology. 

For more information, you can visit www.thinkuknow.org.au or contact jo.reed@cg.catholic.edu.au 

Have a wonderful week with your families. 

Best Wishes 

Jo Reed 

Assistant Principal

This Sunday’s Gospel is Matthew 22:1-14, The Banquet of the Lord. The banquet to which God is inviting us is not reserved only for the next life. In the midst of its many challenges, our lives have their joyous moments when we are called to pause and celebrate with God and with our friends and loved ones. Today’s liturgy urges us not to be so caught up in the challenges of life that we fail to respond when God, the gracious and generous host, invites us to pause, to sit down and enjoy the banquet prepared for us.

First Reconciliation

Thank you to all those who have enrolled their child in the First Reconciliation program. If you are unsure or want to talk further about this program, please contact Anne Gowen via email at TuggeranongSouth.sacraments@cg.org.au

Parent Formation sessions for First Reconciliation are next week. Attendance at one session is compulsory for all enrolled students. Students are not required to attend these workshops.

The details are:

Wednesday 18^th October 7pm Holy Family Church

Thursday 19^th October 5:30pm Holy Family Church

If you are unable to attend, please email Anne Gowen or get in touch with Rachel Kennedy to arrange a time to redo the session.

Mrs Rachel Kennedy

Religious Education Coordinator

Congratulations to the children who will be awarded white cards at the 8.45 am Friday Morning Assembly

Thursday 19^th of October, we will be celebrating

R U OK Purple Happy Day!

Purple Happy Day is an annual celebration of having fun and building awareness of the importance of good mental health and well-being for our kids.

This initiative started as a fundraiser in 2011, for a student with cancer who was part of our St Clare of Assisi community, Shanice Johnson. Sadly, Shanice passed away while she was at SCA and so we have continued this tradition to remember her but also to highlight the issues mentioned above.

During the day at school all children will be involved in a variety of activities on health, well-being, mental health and community. Students will receive a sausage sandwich at lunchtime. If your child does not eat sausages please send lunch with them.

On the day all students are invited wear purple or yellow to help celebrate this fun day. It is a uniform free day.

Thank you for your support!

Parish Office Manager – Inner North Parishes

People are invited to apply for the position Parish Office Manager, Inner North Parishes (encompassing Campbell, Canberra Central, O’Connor & Watson). This is a full-time position (subject to review in 12 months)

Essential Requirements:

• An understanding of and support for the Catholic Church and its teachings
• Excellent verbal and written, interpersonal and communication skills
• Computer literacy in MS Suite and database skills, (in particular PACS database)
• Act with tact & discretion, maintaining high levels of confidentiality, honesty, integrity, reliability and punctuality

Please email Deborah.foote@cg.org.au for a detailed copy of the duty statement and selection criteria.  Applications addressing the Selection Criteria with attached resume to Fr Anthony Riosa, SSS, anthony.riosa@cam.org.au  must be received by Friday 3 November 2023.