Dear SCA Families

Palm Sunday isn't just another Sunday on the calendar for Catholics—it's the kickoff to Holy Week, leading up to Easter. It marks Jesus's triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where people welcomed Him with palm branches, symbolising victory and peace.

Beyond the excitement of the parade, Palm Sunday, which we celebrate this weekend, prompts reflection on Jesus's ultimate sacrifice. It's a reminder of His humility, love, and the journey towards His crucifixion and resurrection.

As we wave our palms, let's ponder the profound message: Jesus, our King, willingly laid down His life for us, offering hope and redemption. It's a powerful start to the holiest week of the year.

School Fees

Three weeks ago, CECG sent you an email with your school fee statements, commencing for Term One, 2024. You will have noted that there is now a single school fee for your child, rather than a mix of levies and fees. The change was made to simplify billing for all our families, ensuring that the fees charged encompass all necessary costs to maintain the high-quality Catholic education that you and your children have come to expect.

I am aware of the impact that any fee increase has on families. In determining the 2024 school fees, CECG took care to consider these impacts and strived to minimise increases. If you are concerned that the fees for 2024 will pose a financial challenge for you and your family, I strongly encourage you to reach out to me for a confidential discussion regarding the assistance options available to support your child.

Parents experiencing significant financial difficulties may apply for assistance with fees. The application form is available from either our Finance Manager, Jo McCarthy, or myself.  Applications will be assessed using guidelines set by Catholic Education. All applications are kept in strictest confidence.  A fee remission is only valid for the calendar year of application. 

Your partnership is highly valued, and we extend our sincere gratitude for your ongoing support of our school community. Should you have any inquiries regarding school fees or require assistance with any other matter, please feel free to reach out to the school. We are here to assist you in any way we can.

Playground Equipment

We are excited that our new playground installations are almost ready for use. Please be patient while final safety and compliance checks are undertaken. It will still be a few days before the children are allowed to use them. 

Harmony Day

We are blessed that our school and community are filled with families from a wide range of culturally diverse backgrounds.

Harmony Day, which we celebrate tomorrow, is a wonderful chance for us to foster inclusiveness and celebrate the unique opportunities and richness this diversity brings to our community. Every child is invited to wear either orange clothing, or culturally significant clothing for the day.

Term Dates

This term ends on Friday 12^th April. Term Two commences on Tuesday 30^th April for students, and Monday 29^th April for staff.

Term 2 and Winter Uniform

A reminder that, when Term 2 commences on Tuesday 30th April, winter uniform should be worn by all students.

It was once said…

Lenten blessings to you and your family.

Matt Egan-Richards

Principal

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

Assessment & Reporting

From day 1, our highly professional and dedicated Staff at SCA have been focussed on building positive relationships with all students especially the students in their class. Positive relationships build motivation. This creates a cycle. You provide positive feedback. The student's brain releases dopamine. The student feels good and is motivated to feel that way again. A review of dozens of studies showed better quality teacher-student relationships were associated with enhanced student engagement, leading to improved academic outcomes, grades and happy kids!

A complete assessment process usually includes setting student learning outcomes, designing aligned assessment activities/methods, collecting and analysing data, generating results, and “closing the loop” making plans and designing programs for the next step. Teachers can provide structured and explicit direct instruction and learning opportunities to support the learning for all students. A big thank you to all the SCA Staff who have worked hard to gather the information and we are confident that we will continue to have those “Ta dah” and “whoop whoop” moments throughout the year.

In Week 10, on Friday 5th April, families will receive their child’s Progress Report detailing their learning and behavioural attributes for Semester 1. Parents will find the report informative, and we encourage you to discuss the contents with your child.

Formal reporting to parents takes place several times per year. This includes a SCA Progress Report in Term 1 and Semester Reports in Terms 2 and 4.

Informal reporting between a parent and teacher should be regular and occur at all stages of the student’s learning. The relaying of pertinent information which supports each student’s learning is vital. This open communication, whether in writing/email, by interview or over the phone has proven a paramount factor in the creation of a positive learning environment for St Clare of Assisi students.

In Week 11, we invite all Parents to Parent/Teacher Interviews. These will run from Tuesday 9th – Thursday 11th April. The interview times will open for bookings via COMPASS on Monday 25th March. These are a wonderful opportunity for you to discuss the report, celebrate your child’s achievements and set some goals.

For students in classes Kindergarten Green, 3 Blue and 4 Red your Parent Teacher Interviews will be offered in Week 10 from Tuesday 2nd April – Thursday 4th April. You will receive your Progress Reports on 28th March. The portal on COMPASS is now open for you to select your preferred interview time.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to lean in. Thank you again for your continued support.

Jo Reed

Assistant Principal

Palm Sunday Gospel: Mark 15:1-39        

‘Let us ask for the grace to be amazed’, reflects Pope Francis. ‘A Christian life without amazement’, he warns, ‘becomes drab and dreary’. Palm Sunday is about so much more than an annual waving of branches.

Whether our faith has become what the Pope styled ‘dull from habit’, or we find ourselves ‘trapped in our regrets’, or ‘crippled by our disappointments’, or easily inclined to ‘take refuge in legalisms’, the Pope suggests we return our gaze to Jesus’ self-sacrifice and allow ourselves to be amazed.

‘Let us be amazed by Jesus so that we can start living again,’ the Pope says, ‘for the grandeur of life lies not in possessions and promotions, but in realising that we are loved.’

When we allow ourselves to embrace this fact, our lives will be changed. As the Pope points out, many of those who welcomed Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem quickly abandoned him. They were, he suggests, ‘following an idea of the Messiah rather than the Messiah’. Their public demonstrations seem to have proved self-oriented and shallow.

‘To admire Jesus is not enough’, the Pope declares. ‘We have to follow in his footsteps, to let ourselves be challenged by him; to pass from admiration to amazement.’ This, he says, enables us to really ‘know that we are not alone: God is at our side in every affliction, in every fear; no evil, no sin will ever have the final word.’

‘And with the grace of amazement’, the Pope adds, ‘we come to realise that in welcoming the dismissed and discarded, in drawing close to those ill-treated by life, we are loving Jesus.’

By Nick Brodie

Holy Week at SCA

Please feel welcome to join us for our liturgies for Holy Week next week.

Harmony Day

Sacramental Enrolments

Is your child in Years 4, 5 or 6 and hoping to make a sacrament this year? Enrolments are now open for all sacraments. Please ensure you enrol your child ASAP to avoid missing out. When you enrol, you will receive a receipt of your payment. If you haven’t received this, please contact the Parish Office to confirm your enrolment.

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

Hello Parents and Carers

We are still looking for some people to join our Parent Network from the following classes:

Kinder Green and Kinder Blue

1 Red and 1 Blue

2 Blue

4 Green

5 Blue

6 Red, 6 Blue

The parent network is a friendly informal group who seek to foster relationships between teachers and parents and support the school community. It’s not a big commitment of time, but an opportunity to contribute to the school community when and where you can.

If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Fay Holden at scaparentnetwork@outlook.com.au