Dear SCA Families,

Over the past few years SCA staff have been undertaking a professional learning journey to ensure we provide the best teaching, and therefore the best learning, for our students. This journey has been undertaken in partnership with other Catholic Education schools in our Archdiocese.

By focussing on the following 8 Big Ideas, we have refined our curriculum and introduced more provide teaching methods:

1. School is where we learn biologically secondary knowledge.
2. Learning is a change in long-term memory.
3. Reading is essential for students to acquire knowledge.
4. Knowledge matters: it's what we think with.
5. The most efficient way to teach knowledge is to teach explicitly.
6. High quality, whole class instruction will help all students learn.
7. Curriculum should be ambitious, coherent, sequential and cumulative.
8. Teaching should be a profession informed by evidence.

If you would like more information about our Catalyst program, please feel free to speak with your child’s teacher, myself, or go to https://catalyst.cg.catholic.edu.au/

SCA at the Games

Since last week’s newsletter we were excited to learn that a former SCA student is competing in her first Olympic Games. Monique Suraci is making history at Paris 2024 as the first Australian woman to compete in the 50-kilogram division, the lightest weight category. She’s also striving to become the first Australian female boxer to win gold.

Congratulations Monique: everyone at SCA wishes you the best for your events. Monique’s details and Olympics schedule can be found at https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/monique-suraci_1940139

Three-Way Conferences

Thanks to the many parents who met with their child’s teacher this week. As educators, we know it’s vital that children’s learning is actively supported at home and school. Keeping in touch with your child’s teacher is a great way of supporting your child to learn and grow.

NAIDOC Mass

On Friday last week Catholic Schools from across the archdiocese gathered at St Christopher's Cathedral in Manuka, to celebrate NAIDOC Week. Many of our Indigenous students represented SCA. Thanks to Mrs Wilkes and Mrs Strickland for taking the students. A small selection of photos is available on the Catholic Education Office website.

Safe/Unsafe Foods

When sending food to school with your child, please consider the health of others. We have a number of students with life threatening allergies to nuts.

Hats On

Though it’s still cold, the UV is on the increase, so we remind you of the school policy regarding exposure to the sun: Simply stated, from August until May, there is a ‘No Hat – No Play’ policy. Therefore, from tomorrow, Thursday (1^st August, Week 3) all children must wear their school uniform hats while outside during recess and lunch.

Student Safety

To ensure the safety of all our students, external gates are closed around 8.50am each day. If you are inside the school grounds at this time the easiest way to leave will be via the front office. If you are dropping your child off after 8.50, you will need to sign them in at the front office.

I was once said…

Unknown, said not by a single athlete at the Games.

Blessings to you and your family.

Matt Egan-Richards

Principal

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

Gospel Reflection – John 6:24-35

Jesus is the bread of Life

This Sunday’s Gospel reading continues the exploration of John. This Sunday’s passage begins the extended discourse on the ‘Bread of Life’ image that runs throughout this chapter. Last week’s reading finished with Jesus virtually fleeing the scene when the crowd wanted to make him king. At the start of today’s reading, the crowd has caught up with him again and appears to be looking for a repeat performance of the miraculous feeding. Jesus accuses them of simply wanting more food and not being alert to the truth of the sign they had witnessed. The crowd asks what they must do to accomplish the works of God, and Jesus answers fairly bluntly, Believe in me!

In response, the people demand a sign from Jesus: produce manna from heaven as Moses did during the Exodus. In fact, manna from heaven is one of the signs of the coming of the Messiah that is foretold by the prophets. So, in their own way, the people ask Jesus to demonstrate that he is the Messiah. Jesus, however, explains that it was not Moses who produced the manna but God. In Jesus, God has already produced the sign – the Bread sent down from heaven. There is no need for Jesus to produce such a sign; God has already produced the sign. It is up to the people – and us – to recognise God’s gift of life-sustaining nourishment, Jesus.

In the Eucharist, we continue to celebrate Jesus as the Bread of Life – the sustaining gift of God that ‘gives life to the world’.

 Adapted from Fr Michael Tate

Important dates:

• Friday 2nd August: Catholic Mission fundraiser – Crazy Sock Day
• 3rd and 4th, 10th and 11th of August: Eucharist Commitment Masses
• Monday 12th- Friday 16th August: Feast Week Celebrations

Susan Strickland 

Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)

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

It’s on again! On Friday, 25th October 2024, the town and two primary schools of Boorowa will be playing host to the Boorowa Combined Primary Schools Touch & Netball Carnival. Boorowa is located approximately 1hr and 20 minutes from Canberra.  It is a great day out and a good opportunity for our children to play sport from schools across our region. We see this as a fun opportunity for our children to compete against different schools and give our city kids a country experience.   SCA will be nominating teams for both Touch and Netball for Years 2-6.

The carnival is due to commence at 9am and conclude, depending on the draw, at approximately 3:30pm.  We will be travelling by either private transport or by coach. The coach will be leaving the school at 6:15am and should arrive back at school by approximately 5:30pm. Children will need to take enough food and drinks for a whole day, especially water.  A full canteen & BBQ will also be operating on the day.

Children will need to wear their full sports uniform, including school hat or school netball visor and suitable clothing for any weather conditions the day presents.  Sunscreen is a must for all children.

Children are to nominate for either Touch or Netball.  We require parents to volunteer as coach for their child’s team. We are also looking for volunteers to umpire the netball games or referee the touch football games. It is an easy and enjoyable job for the day. We will endeavour wherever possible to keep the netball players in their weekend teams, though only if numbers allow.

Nomination forms are now open on Compass.

Player of the Week 

Speckles – Grace

Smiggles – Sienna

Squiggles – Vanessa

Swifts – Maddi and Ruby

Skittles – Zoe

Sparkles – Bye

Smurfs – Aisha

Sunshines – Ava R

Stars – Brooklyn

Smarties – Peta

Sunshines Match report

The sun was warm and bright for the Sunshines on Saturday, providing perfect winter netball weather! Our opponents were a strong team, keeping the Sunshines on their toes, but our girls were keen to try some new strategies, our defence was strong and our attack fast off the mark. Most importantly, the team had fun and worked together beautifully. Well done. 

HUGE congratulations to Lacey (6B) for making the ACT U12 Netball team. Lacey will be competing in Melbourne in September this year. Go Lacey!!