Dear SCA Families,

Dear SCA Families,

Happy New Year! The new Church year commences this weekend with the first Sunday of Advent.

Advent is a season of waiting; we wait with hope, desire and expectation. One of our Advent companions is Mary, and during these weeks we remember her as she waited for the birth of her child. We know what waiting is like, as many of us wait with anticipation for the holidays.

Advent is also a season to prepare for Christmas. We know that the first coming of Jesus at Bethlehem will not happen again, so during Advent, we prepare and long for a new coming of Jesus into our lives. We take this time every year to practise how to receive Jesus every day of our lives. We remember the call of Jesus to us to make our world a peaceful and loving place, and so, during Advent, we make special efforts to be signs that God is with us. This is what the word ‘Emmanuel’ means – God-with-us.

Advent is a season with its own special mood, colours, sounds, words and joys. Sometimes it can be swamped by Christmas, and we can be tempted to celebrate Christmas too early. This Advent, may we all try to wait, as the world waited long ago for the coming of Jesus, the “Light of the World”.

30^th Anniversary Family Picnic – Tomorrow (Thursday 28^th November)

It’s time to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company.

I look forward to seeing as many families as possible for a fun, relaxing and enjoyable evening on Thursday. Please refer to our Facebook page, this newsletter or contact the Front Office for further details.

Our Newest Members of the SCA Family

72 excited pre-schoolers and their parents visited St Clare’s today for the Kindergarten Orientation Day. It was great to see the children and parents leave with a smile on their face. Thanks to all the staff for planning to ensure our newest students were made to feel welcome.

School Fees

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

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.

It was once said…

“Each life is made up of mistakes and learning, waiting and growing, practising patience and being persistent.” ~ Billy Graham.

Blessings to you and your family.

Matt Egan-Richards

Principal

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

This Sunday the season of Advent begins, marking a time of preparation for the birth of Jesus. It is an opportunity to reflect and pray about what truly matters. During this season, we connect with God and each other in each day's ordinary and sacred moments, feeling enlightened and loved.

The readings for the First Sunday of Advent establish the foundation for our reflections throughout the season, emphasising promises of peace and fulfilment. They highlight suffering often caused by people's actions yet assure us that relief is coming. These promises reveal a loving and forgiving God, offering hope.

The coming of the Lord signifies expectation, not fear. While earlier traditions spoke of punishment, the focus now is on redemption. Though there may be signs of turmoil, this shift will lead to fulfilment, showcasing God’s love and mercy. Those receiving this promise are called to “wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.” This Advent way of life encourages us to live our ordinary lives with extraordinary intention, shaping our interactions and attitudes, and reflecting God's revelation in every moment. Adapted from Reflections by Dianne Bergant

Important dates and reminders:

Sacrament of Reconciliation Celebrations

Next Wednesday and Thursday evening, many of our Year 4 students will be celebrating their Sacrament of Reconciliation Second Rite Liturgies. Please keep these students and their families in your thoughts and prayers during this special time.

St Vincent de Paul's Christmas Appeal

Last week, we officially launched our Vinnies Christmas Appeal. As part of this appeal, we would like to add a splash of Christmas cheer (such as reindeer ears or a Santa hat) to our Kindergarten Christmas concert. We invite students to bring their designated donations on Friday, 6th December, and wear a splash of Christmas cheer along with their regular school uniform. At 12 PM on Friday, the Kindergarten students will perform their dress rehearsal for the entire school. We encourage all students to wear their festive accessories during the performance!

Christmas Masses 2024 at Corpus Christi Parish Tuggeranong South  

Tuesday 24 December 
Christmas Eve

6 pm outside at St Francis of Assisi School grounds.

(bring a chair or rug to sit on)

9 pm Holy Family Church Gowrie

Carols begin at 11.30 pm

Wednesday 25 December 

Christmas Day

Midnight Holy Family Church Gowrie

8 am Holy Family Church Gowrie

10 am Holy Family Church Gowrie

This week White Cards will be presented on Friday Morning Assembly at 8.45am. Congratulations to the following children.

All library books need to be returned to the Library ASAP. I am sending out overdue notices this week.  If your child believes they have returned their book/s, please have them come and see me and we can have a look on the library shelves.

Katherine Austin

Librarian

As the school year comes to a close, we’d like to remind all Year 6 parents and families of students leaving St Clare of Assisi at the end of 2024 to download or print your child/ren’s school reports for your records.

Please note that after the cut-off date of 20th December, your access to the school Compass portal will no longer be able to retrieve school reports.

We encourage you to take a moment now to ensure you have copies of these important documents for your reference.

Thank you for your cooperation, and we wish your family all the best as you transition into the next chapter of your educational journey.

Yesterday, the Year 6 Community Group visited Conder Wetlands to plant 120 native plants they have been nurturing from seeds. This milestone marks the culmination of their hard work throughout the year, as they diligently cared for the plants, ensuring they were watered and monitored for growth. Their efforts have made a significant contribution to the restoration of the wetlands and provided a valuable hands-on learning experience in environmental stewardship. Well done, Year 6!

A heartfelt thank you to Rohan and Friends of Conder Wetlands for their incredible support and partnership. Your guidance and collaboration have been instrumental in the success of this project, creating a meaningful and memorable experience for our students.