We respectfully acknowledge the Ngunnawal people, the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and learn, and pay respect to the First Nations Peoples and their elders, past, present and emerging.
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A Christmas Blessing
May the grace of Christ bring you hope and joy,
and may the peace of Christ be yours.
May Jesus, the Lord, the miracle of God,
fill your heart with Christmas love.
May you hear the songs of the angels this morn'.
May you feel the joy that Jesus Christ is born.
May the beauty of Christmas surround you today.
May you find joy this Christmas Day.
May you thank the Lord for the hope that He brings.
May you know the love of Jesus Christ, the King.
May you always believe that Christ came to save.
May you find hope this Christmas Day.
May the peace of Christmas bring joy with no end.
May you feel the love of family and friends.
May the wonder of Christmas surround you today.
May you feel peace this Christmas Day.
May you share this day with our Jesus in prayer.
May you share this day and show all you care.
May you gather together with loved ones this day.
May you find Christ this Christmas Day.
Author - Marcia A. Newton
On behalf of St Clare of Assisi School staff, I wish your family a happy and holy Christmas and a peace filled 2024.
We thank you for the support you have provided the school, and therefore your child, throughout this year.
We look forward to seeing you again when school resumes on Wednesday 31st January 2024. (And to our Year 6 students, all the very best for high school.)
May the true spirit of Christmas enrich you all during these holidays.
Dear SCA Families,
Congratulations to our Kindergarten students and their teachers for their fantastic Christmas Nativity on Monday. Our Kindergarten students have come such a long way since the start of the year. What great performances! It was wonderful to see so many parents and relatives at the event. Congratulations to the teachers for all their work in preparing our students. It was an enormous job. Big thanks to the many parents who assisted with this too - especially putting together the costumes!
The Year 6 students, supported by their parents and staff, formally mark the end of their primary schooling tonight. We congratulate our Year 6 students on the successful completion of primary school and give them our blessings as they progress on to the next stage of their journey. We thank, in advance, Kate Warren, Cherie Ruzvidzo and Nick Purcell for their organisation of the ceremony.
To all the families who are ending their association with St Clare of Assisi. Thank you for your dedication to our school and for assisting to make St Clare of Assisi the wonderful place it is. Best wishes in the future.
To the staff (mentioned in last week’s newsletter) leaving this year. Thank you for the contribution you have made to the life and spirit of our school. You leave with our gratitude and prayerful best wishes.
Reports
Last Friday your child’s Semester Two Report was published via Compass. Reading the reports from Kindergarten through to Year Six gave me a great feeling of pride in all that the students have achieved this year and in the teachers who have provided teaching and learning of excellence. So many children have worked extremely hard and they deserve to take credit for a most successful year.
Meet the Teacher
Students will meet their teacher for 2024 today (Wednesday). Please note that due to privacy considerations your child will not be provided with a copy of their class list, nor will class lists be displayed.
School Fees
A reminder that school fees are now overdue, for those who are not on a regular payment plan with us I ask that you settle your account with us by tomorrow so that we are able to meet our budgetary commitments.
2024
School starts, for all students, on Wednesday 31st January.
As we travel the season of Advent and prepare for Christmas, I encourage you to remember in prayer those families associated with the school who have lost loved ones during the year and those who have experienced serious illness in their families.
To each and every member of our St Clare of Assisi family, may your Christmas be blessed and truly enriched by the presence of Jesus and his Blessed Mother.
It was once said…
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family. Be the light.
Matt Egan-Richards
Principal
Dear St Clare of Assisi School Community,
As we approach the end of another wonderful year, I wanted to take this opportunity to reflect on the remarkable journey we've shared together and extend warm wishes for a safe and joyous holiday season.
This year has been filled with countless moments of learning, growth, and community spirit. Our students have shown tremendous dedication and enthusiasm in their studies, embracing new challenges and opportunities with determination and curiosity. Their achievements, both academically and personally, have been truly inspiring.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated and passionate teachers and staff who have worked tirelessly to nurture and support our students. Your commitment to providing a nurturing and engaging learning environment has been invaluable in shaping the minds and hearts of our young learners. Thank you for your unwavering dedication and tireless efforts throughout the year.
To our incredible students, your hard work, creativity, and resilience have been exceptional. You have demonstrated kindness, empathy, and a willingness to learn that makes us all incredibly proud. As you embark on this well-deserved holiday break, remember to cherish the memories you've made and take pride in all that you have accomplished.
As we look forward to the holiday season, I encourage everyone to take time to rest, rejuvenate, and spend quality time with loved ones. May this festive period be filled with laughter, joy, and moments of togetherness that create lasting memories.
Please remember to stay safe and look out for one another during this holiday season. Whether you're traveling or enjoying the break at home, let's prioritise safety and well-being above all else.
Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community. We look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for another exciting year ahead.
I want to extend warm wishes for a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a prosperous New Year! May the spirit of this season bring joy, peace, and goodwill to each and every one of you.
Warm regards,
Jo Reed
Assistant Principal
Away in a cave near Greccio, Italy, St Francis of Assisi had the first Nativity scene – a live one – staged for the faithful on Christmas Eve in 1223.
For St Francis of Assisi, who had travelled to the Holy Land, “the caves of Greccio reminded him of the landscape of Bethlehem,” the Pope said. The saint asked that a donkey and an ox, some hay and a manger be brought to the cave on Christmas Eve and invited other friars and people from the village, “creating a living Nativity scene. Thus, the tradition of the Nativity scene as we understand it was born.”
Remembering Greccio , the Pope said, people should also think of Bethlehem. Whether the Nativity scene is in St Peter’s Square, in a church or in one’s home, the Pope said, people passing one should remember Jesus’ birth 2000 years ago and be moved to “silence and prayer in our often so hectic daily lives”.
“Silence to be able to listen to what Jesus tells us from the unique ‘cathedra’ of the manger,” he said.
“Prayer to express grateful wonder, tenderness and perhaps the tears that the Nativity scene stirs in us.” – From The Catholic Leader, 2023.
As we culminate our journey through Advent with the arrival of the baby Jesus, I pray your family has felt the love, peace, wonder and awe we receive in the birth of Christ.
Vinnies Christmas Appeal
Wow! What a generous and compassionate community SCA is. We have been able to produce hampers for at least 25 families in our conference, which will be gratefully received this Christmastime. Thank you so much for your thoughtful donations and your ongoing support.
Sacraments 2024
Just an early diary notice for Sacraments in 2024.
Reconciliation: Term 4
First Eucharist: Term 3
Confirmation: Term 2.
Enrolments for all sacraments will open in Term 1 and I will provide further information regarding the process early next year. If you are looking to have your child participate in the Sacramental program, please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time to have a chat – this includes if you are hoping to baptise your child. Many children participate in the older child baptism program through our parish!
Christmas Parish Events
Please see the below details regarding the Christmas events in our Corpus Christi Parish. Don’t forget to bring a blanket or picnic chair to the Christmas Eve Mass!
Regional Choir Nativity and Carols.
Please join us for an afternoon of Christmas Carols by our Regional Christmas Choir and a Nativity Play followed by afternoon tea.
Saturday 16 Dec @ 3:30-5pm, Holy Family Church GowrieAll Welcome.
Advent 2nd Rite of Reconciliation.Wednesday 20th December at 7pm at Holy Family Church Gowrie.
Please come along and take the opportunity to celebrate this beautiful liturgy and sacrament before Christmas. There will be several Priests in attendance.
Christmas Masses
Christmas Eve Sunday 24 December
6pm (outdoors) at St Francis of Assisi School Calwell(bring a chair or rug to sit on)
9pm—Holy Family Church Gowrie
Christmas Day Monday 25 December
Midnight, 8am, 10am—Holy Family Church Gowrie
Wishing you and your family a very blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year. May the break refresh you all and I look forward to working with you in 2024.
Rachel Kennedy
Religious Education Coordinator
2023 TERM 4
WEEK 10 (11th December to 14th December)
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
If your child has any medication stored at school please remember to collect all medications from the front office before Thursday 14th December.
Last weekend Lilly T (6R) and Georgia McC (1R) competed in Cheercon Nationals “Best of the Best” competition in Sydney. There were over 8,000 athletes competing across all ages and levels of cheerleading and dance disciplines.
Georgia started cheerleading this year and her tiny novice level 1 team “Lullaby” hit the floor for their third competition for 2023. They didn’t place but competed against teams from all over Australia and their routine was awesome!!
Lilly has been cheerleading for 5 years and is in 3 cheer teams and a hip hop team. This is Lilly’s 7th competition for the year and came a week after competing in the Australian All-Star Cheerleading Federation Nationals in Melbourne where there were 12,000 athletes competing. Her teams had amazing results against massive cheer gyms from all over Australia:
Melbourne - Aria (youth level 1) came 5th, Cadence (junior level 1) 3rd and Amoroso (youth level 2) 4th.
Sydney - Aria didn’t place, Cadence 4th rhapsody (hip hop) and Amoroso 2nd!!
Congratulations girls on an awesome year of cheer!!