Dear Families, 

As we rapidly approach the end of the year, I find it amazing to reflect on some of the many activities our wonderful staff provide for the children. 

I thank the outstanding staff who have work effectively and purposefully with your children this year. Teachers, office and support staff have all combined well to keep the school running smoothly, even with over 500 energetic and vibrant children spending their active hours here through the year. On your behalf, I thank each of them for their efforts throughout the year. The staff here work well as a team, and I am proud to work with them. 

It is a tremendous trust that parents place in the school when you send your children here. The partnership between school and parents has a telling impact on the quality of education of any school. I thank the many parents who continue to offer wonderful support to the school’s endeavours. There were literally hundreds of parents who assisted in a variety of ways. I particularly thank the School Community Council. On behalf of all the parents, this group works tirelessly and effectively all year. Thank you. We look forward to working with you again next year. 

Staff News 

In recent weeks we have been able to confirm the following staff changes for 2024. 

After providing valuable service, the following staff are leaving: Claire Walsh, Leanne Lowe, Kate Warren, Luke Brown and Kayla Murray. 

In farewelling Leanne Lowe, I acknowledge her tremendous service as a teacher for over 30 years. We have been blessed by her experience, wisdom, humour and dedication. May Leanne’s retirement be full of blessings, joy and peace. The good news is that we look forward to her returning frequently as a relief teacher.

Claire Walsh has taught many students at SCA in her years here. She has also been a committed advocate and supporter for our First Nations students and families in her role as Indigenous Support Teacher. Claire has taken up a temporary transfer to our sister school, so we hope to see her at various Parish events. 

Kate Warren has taught at SCA as a passionate, hard working and fun teacher. She has taught in just about every year level, and is widely respected by so many families and students as a teacher who cares for and gets the best our of each child. Kate’s commitment to teaching, as well as her wit and humour, will be missed by all as she makes the move to high school teaching in 2024. Watch out all those former SCA students now studying at St Mary MacKillop! 

Luke Brown started his teaching at SCA and quickly became an important part of our community.  Luke has blessed our school with his positive work ethic, warmth for all he encounters, and willingness to work hard. We wish Luke all the best for the next stage of his careers as he moves to St Anthony’s. 

Kayla Murray has also been with us since starting her teaching career. She has contributed warmly, positively and enthusiastically to Year 2 especially. Kayla is widely respected as an excellent classroom teacher, and we wish her well as she moves up the Valley to St Francis of Assisi. 

I am very grateful to each of these staff members for their contributions to SCA. Each of them has enriched our school community. As a school we will farewell them at an assembly next week. 

Reports 

Reports will be made available this Friday (8th December). They will be available, as usual, via Compass. 

It is important to remember that a school report is not the definitive measure of your child’s abilities. It is only one measure amid a wide range of opportunities, experiences and activities. Setting a pattern of constructive support should help make report time a productive and positive experience that will help your child make progress at school. A few tips: 

• Find the positive aspects of the report and praise your child; 
• Take into consideration that the A-E grading scale is very different to the one you would have experienced; (please read the descriptor in the report) 
• Discuss what your child found difficult. Look at work habits, homework routines, diet, sleep patterns, etc; and 
• Discuss how things could be improved. Offer some constructive/criticism and attainable goals for next year. 

Special thanks to the teachers for the many unpaid hours of work outside school time that go into marking assessments, preparing, editing and finalising the written reports. 

If you wish to meet with your child’s teacher to discuss their report, please contact them, either directly or through the front office, to arrange a mutually convenient time. 

January Holidays 

Our fantastic Outside of School Hours (OSHC) team run an engaging and fun holiday program for SCA children during January. Please contact Pam (OSHC Director) or our front office for further details.

Meet the Teacher 

Teacher placements for 2024 are being finalised. We will have our Meet the Teacher next Wednesday afternoon, 13th December, where children will be notified of their teacher where possible. 

It is important to remember that in life, there are always going to be times when we have to work and communicate with people whom we may not always get along with so well. School is about learning for life, and it is here that we also learn how to get on with others and negotiate experiences that are sometimes difficult. When this learning takes place, the children become resilient, stronger people and gain skills that will support them through life.  

I ask you to understand that following next week, changes will not be made to classes for 2024. If your child is feeling a little unsettled about their class placement and the year ahead, as parents you have the important role of being positive in reassuring them that making new friends and working with new teachers is an exciting experience and although it may be different to begin with, they will soon settle in for a good year.

School Fees 

A reminder that school fees are now overdue, for those who are not on a regular payments with us I ask that you settle your account with us  immediately so that we are able to meet our budgetary commitments. 

Endings to Beginnings 

Students finish this school year on Thursday 14th December, and start in 2024 on Wednesday 31st January. (Staff officially resume on Wednesday 24th January.) 

Vinnies Christmas Appeal 

Please do all you can to support this appeal. It is a real and meaningful way to help fellow Canberrans who are doing it tough this Christmas. 

Library 

Please have a look at home for any SCA Library books that may not yet have found their way back to their own home. You can help us to minimise the number of books we need to replace by returning them as soon as possible please. 

It was once said… 

Blessings to you and your family. 

Matt Egan-Richards 

Principal 

matthewer@cg.catholic.edu.au  

In Spelling Mastery we Shine!

In line with our School Motto ‘Be the Light’, our beautiful students from Years 3-6 completed the end of year Spelling Mastery Tests and were all stars, shining brightly.

As has been described in previous newsletters, Spelling Mastery is an evidence-based, explicit approach to teaching spelling skills and phonemic awareness. Our students are grouped according to their needs in spelling, and this is based on recommended levels from Spelling Mastery assessments. For example, we have some Year 3s working with Year 4s. ‘Mastery Learning’ is explicit direct instruction for 25 minutes per day in Spelling, 4 times per week. It aims for the students to be ‘masters’ of particular skills/understandings about how word and sounds works before moving on to the next concept.

We are very pleased to announce that the data collected demonstrates expedential growth in every single student from Years 3 to 6. A big thankyou to our teachers who have all worked hard to ensure improved student outcomes.  

The Spelling Mastery Program will continue in 2024.

Jo Reed

Assistant Principal

Christmas Dress Up Day

Tomorrow, Thursday 6 December is our Christmas Dress Up Day. Please remember to bring a gold coin to donate to Catholic Mission and Global School Partners. 

Thanksgiving Mass and Candle ceremony

Friday 8 December, Holy Family Church. Mass will begin by 930am. 

Vinnies Christmas Appeal

Thank you for your generosity, we are in our final few days of donating. Your items are gratefully received and will go directly to those in need in our community. 

First Reconciliation

Congratulations to the following students who made their First Reconciliation last week:

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

2023 TERM 4

WEEK 9 (4th December to 8th December)

Thursday 7^th December - Christmas Dress up day, supporting Catholic Mission and Global School Partners

Friday 8th December - Thanksgiving Mass and Leadership Handover Ceremony, Holy Family Church, Gowrie

Friday the 8^th of December - Reports go home Via COMPASS

WEEK 10 (11th December to 14th December)

Monday 11th December - Kindergarten Christmas Concert

Tuesday 12th December - Semester 2 Awards

Tuesday 12th December -  Last Day Canteen Open for 2023

Wednesday 13th December - Year 6 Graduation Liturgy 5pm

Wednesday 13th December - Canteen Closed

Wednesday 13th December -  Special Lunch Order Day

Thursday 14th December - Year 6 Big Day Out

Thursday 14th December - Canteen Closed

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

2024 TERM 1

Wednesday 31st January - 1st Day for all children

The last day the Canteen will be open for 2023 is

Tuesday 12th December.

NO LUNCH ORDERS on 13th and 14th December, it is closed for end of year cleaning.

Drawing to the close of the school year some stock may be unavailable and substitutes may have to be made.

Thank you for your support!

Merry Christmas

Michelle

If your child has any medication stored at school  please remember to collect all medications from the front office before Thursday 14^th December.