Dear Families,

Halloween has typically been associated with children doorknocking for lollies or playing practical jokes on unsuspecting neighbours. But we shouldn’t forget the more authentic link to all the saints. 

The term ‘Halloween’ is shortened from All-hallow-even - the evening before ‘All Hallows' Day’ or ‘All Saints' Day’. Halloween is celebrated on October 31 which was initially a day of pagan sacrifice to mark the eve of the Celtic winter. Fires were lit and costumes were worn to ward off evil spirits who were allowed to visit earth that evening. In the 8th century, the Church designated 1 November as the Feast of All Saints thus Christianising the pagan festival.

May we all give thanks for the lives of saints and all others who have, through their lives, made the world a better place.

Fete

The countdown to our biggest event of the year is well and truly on. Please let all your extended family and friends know about our Fete on Friday 17 November, from 4 – 8pm.

Thanks to our generous (and small) group of volunteers who are working extremely well to make sure everything is organised. Your help is needed, so please follow links and directions elsewhere in this newsletter to give a hand.

Please remember that this Friday is Crazy Hair and Sock Day. Normal uniform is to be worn, but the splash of colour with socks and hair is sure to brighten our day. Please check later in the newsletter for requested items the children can bring in.

Hats

Please remind your child to have their school hat at school each day. They should also be wearing it before and after school to ensure they are fully protected. I highly encourage all families to check tonight to make sure hats are clearly labelled.

Purple Happy Day / RU OK Day and Boorowa

Thank you so much to the staff and parents, and Fr Namora, who helped with both of these events. They are great community days and can only happen with the help of our SCA family. Thanks also to the staff who organised these events. It takes a lot of work, and we really appreciate the efforts to give everyone a couple of fun days.

Community Council

Our Community Council met last night for the second last time of the year. As well as the usual reports from the principal, canteen and OSHC, we discussed the following:

• New CE Schools Community Council Charter
• School Fees and Budgeting
• Fete
• Playground equipment
• Kindergarten Orientation
• Final Meeting for the Year

Catholic Education (CE) has introduced a new charter for all School Community Councils across our Archdiocese. Having only received the Charter this week, we will spend the next few weeks trying to understand the changes and implications. We will keep you informed regarding any changes.

Catholic Schools Building Fund

The Canberra Catholic Schools Building Fund has spent around $200,000 on the grounds and buildings at SCA this year. Much of this has gone towards the landscaping changes to ensure our buildings and paths are no longer covered in water when it rains. We have also had electricians, plumbers, carpenters and air-conditioner mechanics perform a great deal or repair and maintenance work. Thank you to the parents who are able to and have contributed towards this fund with your tax deductible contributions.

As previously advised to ensure the continued compliance of the Building Fund, we need our families to voluntarily Opt-In to contributing to the Building Fund. This request will be required to be repeated annually, re-confirming their continuing intentions. As such, CE has developed an automated process that will be sent to families in the next couple of days, which will track and record all the responses from families. 

This email will be sent from a donotreply-accounts@cg.catholic.edu.auemail address.  This is an authentic CECG email address and is not SPAM, so if you could let your families know this would be great.

The emails will be sent to the primary contact of the debtor, this is the first contact as recorded in Compass.  For split families, each family will receive their own individual email.

I encourage all families to, where possible, Opt-In, to ensure we have the funds required to maintain and develop our school.

End of Year Events – Please note them in your diary now

• SCA Fete – Friday 17 November from 4.30pm
• End of Year Thanksgiving Mass – Friday 8 December at 9.30am
• Semester Two Awards Assembly – Tuesday 12 December at 9.00am
• Kinder Christmas Concert – Monday 11 December at 12.10pm
• Year 6 Graduation – Wednesday 13 December at 5.00pm
• Term Four Ends – Thursday 14 December (at 3.00pmJ)

It was once said…

Blessings to you and your family.

Matt Egan-Richards

Principal

matthewer@cg.catholic.edu.au

Kinder Retreat

This Thursday, our Kindergarten classes will participate in a retreat session, coordinated by our Youth Ministry Leader, Osley Gwese. The retreat, called the Goodness of God, builds on the content taught through the Kinder RE curriculum, and will help to deepen the students' understanding of God, the wonder of creation and a personal call to prayer. Thank you to Osley for coordinating this.

First Reconciliation Commitment Masses

The final weekend of Commitment Masses is this coming weekend. If you have enrolled your child in the Parish Sacramental program and did not attend a commitment mass last week, you will need to attend a commitment mass this weekend. Mass times are Sat 6pm, Sun 8am, 10am and 6pm. If you have any concerns about this, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with myself via email (Rachel.kennedy@cg.catholic.edu.au) or the Parish Office, (6291 6688 or tuggeranongsouth@cg.org.au )

Save the Date

Wednesday 1^{st Nov}  we will be gathering to share a liturgy to acknowledge All Saints Day. Thank you to our Year 4 students who will lead this.

Mrs Rachel Kennedy

Religious Education Coordinator

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

2023 TERM 4

WEEK 3 (23rd October to 27th October)

Friday 27th October - Crazy Hair and Silly Sock Day for Tombola - Normal uniform is to be worn, but the splash of colour with socks and hair is sure to brighten our day.

WEEK 6 (13th November to 17th November)

Friday 17th November - SCA Fete

WEEK 10 (11th December to 14th December)

Monday 11th December - Kindergarten Christmas Concert

Wednesday 13th December - Year 6 Graduation Liturgy 5pm

Thursday 14th December - Year 6 Big Day Out

Thursday 14th December - Last Day of School for Term 4

Boorowa

What a fantastic day we had last Friday at the Boorowa Touch and Netball Carnival!!

Some of us travelled by car and some went on the bus.  It was an early start for us all but once we got there, we were super excited.  It was a beautiful day with the sun shining and every now and then, we got a whiff of sheep poo!!

There was lots of eating, running, sweating and sunscreen but most importantly, lots of fun!

We had 175 children representing SCA and every one of them showed amazing skills whilst playing, as well as exceptional sportsmanship.

The trip home was much quieter as we were all pretty tired but it was worth it for such a great day!

A huge thank you to all the parents who came to support our school and of course to the coaches – we simply couldn’t have done a day like Friday without you.

Thanks to the staff who came to supervise our kids and watch them play awesome games of netball and touch.

Katherine Austin

Mura Lanyon Youth and Community Centre offers the following community services / supports to better support local families.

I also encourage you to check out the new resources that have been developed to support families via the NEW Southside Initiative.