Dear SCA Families

This Sunday is St Patrick’s Day. But did you know that, two days later, we also celebrate the feast day of Saint Joseph?

We know little about the life of St Joseph but what we do know is that God chose him to play a special role in the salvation story. Joseph stood by Mary and trusted her account of God’s intervention in her life through an unexplained pregnancy. It was Joseph who protected the infant Jesus and Mary when they fled to Egypt to escape certain death. Under Joseph’s care and influence, together with that of Mary, “Jesus grew in wisdom and grace, finding favour with God and among people”. (Luke)

St Joseph is a model for us of good living, of living and acting in such a way that reflects God’s goodness and love by constantly doing what is right and good. We celebrate the Feast of St Joseph on 19^th March^.

May St Joseph and St Patrick bless our school community this week with a desire to always do what is right, and with a firm faith in God’s loving presence within and among us.

Jewellery and Hair

To work effectively as partners, we respectfully ask parents to ensure each child follows the school guidelines, as documented on our website, in relation to jewellery and hair:

• No jewellery may be worn other than small, plain (silver or gold, no colour) ear studs, a watch and medical alert identification.
  In some cases the wearing of small, plain sleepers may be permitted If there is a health reason. Only one stud or sleeper per ear (i.e. earlobe)
• Hair should be clean and neat. A student’s hair should be cut off their face and, if longer than shoulder length, it must be tied back in an appropriate school coloured band. Hair should also be of natural colour and extreme haircuts are not allowed. Rats tails, dreadlocks and geometric shapes cut into the hair are not permitted.

Year 6 Camp

Congratulations to the Year 6 student for your participation, cooperation and team work shown in Jindabyne on your camp last week. I extend a sincere vote of thanks to Mrs Thomson, Mrs Wilkes, Mr Purcell, Mr Aifantis, Mr Wells and Mrs Reed for giving of their time to ensure the children had a great time.

Fence, and closed gates

Our fence is certainly not to keep our families away. It is to ensure a safe environment for all in our community. Visitors are welcome, but we need to know, especially in case of emergency, exactly who is on the school grounds. If visiting, please sign in via the Front Office while saying “g’day” to our friendly office team. We also have a couple of children who need the fence to keep them from going astray and into danger.

Principals’ Gathering and Retreat

Last Thursday and Friday, I attended the Catholic School Principals’ Retreat at Bowral. This is an annual retreat generally held at a location which is a midpoint in our archdiocese. Most schools in this region are located in the ACT; however, a significant number are situated in regional areas of New South Wales. The archdiocese stretches from Pambula in the South to Lake Cargelligo in the West. As a visiting lecturer once remarked “Good Lord! That’s about as big as Ireland.”

Given the significant distances between schools, this was only one of two occasions this year that principals throughout the archdiocese have an opportunity to meet and catch up.

The retreat leader was Fr Timothy Radcliffe. Fr Timothy is a distinguished figure within the Catholic Church, acclaimed for his profound contributions as both an English Catholic priest and a Dominican friar. Fr Timothy told many stories, most of them humorous, on the themes of hope, finding God, friendship, leadership and truth.

Should you have a couple of hours spare on Thursday evening this week (14^th March) you too could listen to the engaging and positive speaker, Fr Timothy Radcliffe, at Merici College from 5.30pm. For details, please check out https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/where-to-next-with-the-synod-an-evening-with-fr-timothy-radcliffe-op-tickets-799041182687?aff=oddtdtcreator.

Community Council

Our Community Council will have its second meeting of the year next Tuesday (19^th March) evening. Should you wish to send a message to our Council, we would love to hear from you on council.scaconder@cg.catholic.edu.au.

Our Council is looking for a person to take on the role of Secretary. It’s not an onerous task, and, other than two meetings a term, only requires a small amount of time each term in preparing the agenda and minutes of our meetings. Please feel free to chat with me for further details.

Items of discussion at next week’s meeting will include:

• New Council Charter
• Annual School Council Plan
• 30^th Anniversary Celebrations

NAPLAN Weeks

This week, our students will participate in NAPLAN, the national literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students have the opportunity to undertake. Students sit assessments in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar, and punctuation) and numeracy. NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. It doesn’t replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance, but it can provide teachers with additional information about students’ educational progress.

Schools have transitioned from paper-based to computer-based assessments. All Year 3 students will continue to complete the writing assessment on paper. Online NAPLAN tests provide more precise results and are more engaging for students. One of the main benefits is tailored (or adaptive) testing, where the test presents questions which may be more or less difficult depending on a student’s responses. Your child should not be concerned if they find questions challenging; they may be taking a more complex test pathway.

See the types of questions and tools available in the online NAPLAN assessments at the public demonstration site. More information for parents and carers can be found here.

It was once said…

Lenten blessings to you and your family.

Matt Egan-Richards

Principal

matt.egan-richards@cg.catholic.edu.au

This Sunday’s Gospel is John 12:20-33: Jesus foretells of his death and resurrection. The Gospel invites us to turn our gaze to the crucifix,’ Pope Francis once said, adding that it ‘is not an ornamental object or clothing accessory.’ Rather, it is something more: ‘a religious symbol to contemplate and understand.’

This is a theme to which the Pope has repeatedly turned. On another occasion he reminded his listeners that the image of the crucified Jesus is something newcomers first encounter: ‘In churches, in the homes of Christians, even worn on their persons,’ a cross is meant to symbolise the faith of those who display it.

That being the case, it is beholden on us as individuals and communities to show what being a follower of Jesus really means. Jesus responded to Philip and Andrew by speaking of the grain that dies to yield a good harvest and of the follower who serves. As Jesus’ words suggest, real understanding comes from the witness of service and self-sacrifice.

Whenever people encounter a crucifix or cross, therefore, they should also see signs of servant discipleship. Whether in our churches, homes or daily lives, we are all called to be authentic bearers of the cross. We should strive to offer the world what the Pope characterises as ‘the witness of a life that is given in service, a life that takes upon itself the style of God – closeness, compassion and tenderness.’

‘The important thing is that the sign be consistent with the Gospel,’ says Pope Francis. Whenever or wherever people display a cross, they should also themselves be living signs of ‘love, service, unreserved self-giving.’

From Nick Brodie, 2024.

Harmony Day

Next Thursday 21^st of March is Harmony Day. This national day is a means for schools and workplaces to celebrate the diversity within them and acknowledge the cultures and traditions present. On this day, for a gold coin donation, we will be allowing students to wear orange (the colour of the National Harmony Day campaign) or dress in clothing representative of their own culture. Clothing needs to be SunSmart (no singlets please) and enclosed shoes are required. Classes will participate in some activities during the day to recognise the importance of this day. 

Holy Week

We welcome parents to join us for any of the liturgies during this immensely special period of time in our Church. 

Altar Servers

If your child is in Years 4-6 and interested in becoming an altar server, please reach out and chat to myself or contact the Parish Office as training is coming up in the next few weeks.  

Mrs Rachel Kennedy

Religious Education Coordinator

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

2024 TERM 1

All dates are available on the School Calender 

https://www.sca.act.edu.au/calendar

We are currently taking registrations for the upcoming winter netball competition.  The games are held on Saturday mornings at the Tuggeranong Netball Courts.  The season begins on Saturday the 4th of May and concludes on Saturday the 28th of May.

We have lots of registrations but we need more players in the following grades:

Year 2 need 5 or 6 more players
Year 3 need 4 or 5 more players
Year 4 need 3 more players
Year 5 need 6 more players
Year 6 need 9 more players

If you would like to register your child, please follow the link below.  Registrations are due by Friday 5th of April.

 https://www.playhq.com/netball-australia/register/f5bc6b

SAVE THE DATE

The SCA Athletics Carnival 

Monday the 20^th of May at the Woden Athletics Track.