Dear Families,

A special Sunday

Mary, by being a mother, shows us the way to be a disciple of Jesus: by loving.

What is a mother? The following poem by Rosemary Escey attempts to capture this spirit:

What is a mother?

She is sharing in happiness, quiet in sadness,

Gentle and understanding in hours of stress.

She is always there when advice is needed. even

though she knows it may not always be taken.

A mother is the past and also the future, to

guide in her own special way.

She is wise in matters of the heart, and quick

to comfort when one has been hurt.

She is strength on weakness of others,

heeding not her own heart-breaks.

A mother is the stars and the universe; the

hopeful joy of a new summer day; the calm

and tranquillity of the dying year.

She is loyal, unselfish, gentle and serene,

but most of all,

a Mother is Love.

We all have a unique vocation in the eyes of God. The vocation of parent and mother sees these above mentioned qualities alive in daily life. This week we most especially recognise the beauty, the love and the commitment that mothers bring to their children and grandchildren. We give thanks for the example of our own mother and Mary the mother of Jesus. And we are inspired by their journey through life.

We wish all our SCA mums a wonderful celebration this Sunday.

Farewell

I offer a sincere thanks and best wishes to Lisa-Marie Russell. Lisa-Marie has been the Sacramental Coordinator in our Parish for 10 years now. Many parents and students will have benefited from her support through the parish sacramental programs. Lisa-Marie has accepted a new position at St Clare’s College and we wish her the best for the future.

Election Update

Like me, you may already be over the advertising and electioneering. But, in some good news, SCA this year will host a Polling Booth on Saturday 18^th May. We are looking forward to being able to host such a significant event.

Our parent-run Community Council will be running a sausage sizzle (democracy sausage anyone?) on the day. If you can help for even a short time, please let our office staff  know.

At every election, Catholic Education asks the major parties – Coalition, Labor and the Greens - a number of questions to clarify their policy positions on key issues of importance for Catholic schools.

This year, the four questions we asked were:

1. As the Commonwealth is the predominant funder of non-government schools, how will your party ensure Catholic schools remain affordable for most Australian families?
2. What support will your party provide to help Catholic and other non-government schools upgrade learning facilities and keep pace with enrolment growth, given the rising costs of land, construction and classroom technology?
3. What is your party's position on the right of religious schools to retain faith-based exemptions from anti-discrimination legislation in relation to staffing, enrolment and policy matters?
4. Catholic schools are providing an increasing number of pre-school services for families that chose Catholic education. What will your party do to support this important stage of early childhood education?

Click here for each party’s response.

Let’s Do it for the Children

Goal:         580 children from 400 families safely leaving school after 3.00pm.

Problem:    Congestion on Heidelberg Street.

Solution:    Work together, be patient, follow the rules.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE

 If you collect your child by car:

• ENSURE your child knows exactly where you are picking them up.
• The school bell rings at 3.00pm – do NOT park in the waiting zone at the front of the school before 3.00pm. If you are asked to move on you will have to drive around the block.
• The “donut bell” rings at 2.55pm – do NOT park in the no parking zone before 2.50pm. If you are asked to move on you will have to park, or drive around the block.
• Consider coming later (e.g. 3.10pm). Sitting waiting for your child causes delays for everyone. If you are asked to move on you will have to drive
•  around the block.
• Turn left (NOT right) when leaving the school carpark.
• Do not block the road. If there is no carpark available, you will have to drive around the block. Blocking the road is not only inconsiderate, it is an offence. If you are asked to move on you will have to drive around the block.
• Follow the direction of staff; we are only trying to ensure the safety of your kids. If you are asked to move on please do so with a smile.
• Remember that everyone’s time is important, and the value of a child’s life is priceless.

2019 Priorities

Early this year I shared our four Key Improvement Goals for school improvement for 2019:

1. Communicate Effectively
2. Systematic curriculum delivery across the school.
3. To ensure the school has a culture that promotes learning.
4. Enhance our Catholic identity and faith formation.

Our staff have worked in various ways on these four priorities, and will continue to do so. I hope you have noticed our work in these areas, and, as always, would love to hear your feedback at any stage.

In the next four weeks I will share with you, specifically, some of the things we have done to improve in each of the areas.

Enrolments – Close on 31^st May

We have a great school, with wonderful kids, dedicated staff and supportive families. Please spread the word amongst family and friends, reminding those with pre-schoolers that enrolments close on Friday 18^th May.

Mothers Day Celebrations

All mums, grandmums and mother figures are invited to join us for breakfast and a social gathering, this Friday, 10^th May, between 7.30am and 8.30am in the school Hall.

C’mon gents, give a hand!

It’s our turn gentlemen! The Mothers Day breakfast is on at school this Friday 10^th May, from 7.30am. If you are able to help prepare, serve or clean up between 7.00am and 8.30am (even just for half an hour), please send me an email to let me know. (matthewer@cg.catholic.edu.au) Don’t let the team down. ☺ 

It was once said…

God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.” – Rudyard Kipling

Blessings to you and your family.

Matt Egan-Richards

Principal

We have a much simpler email!

sca@cg.catholic.edu.au

One night isn't a lot, but it can make a whole lot of difference!

Every night, thousands of Australians experience homelessness. But it doesn't have to be that way. This year I'm taking part in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout to raise money for the St Vincent de Paul Society to support Australians in need. For one night, Mr E will be sleeping outside as part of an eye-opening experience to raise awareness and bring home the realities of homelessness.

To help break the devastating cycle of homelessness, let's get on board.  Can you help Mr E reach his target? If you can support, please click on this link:

VERY PROUD OF YOU MR E!!

• Kindergarten National Zoo & Aquarium Excursion Permission slip
• Year 1 Term 2 Letter
• Year 4 BYOi session
• Year 6 Hopes and Dreams Letter
• Mother's Day RSVP note - overdue
• Disco Permission Note
• Seesaw Parent Survey
• 800m & High Jump Permission Note

If you think you have missed a note:

• open sZapp (the new app), 
• select Feed (the middle tab),
• all notes will appear in date order.

Congratulations to the following children who will receive white cards at Friday morning assembly this week.

The Athletics Carnival will be held on Friday 17th May 2019 at Banks Oval.

All permission notes are now overdue, if you require a copy they can be downloaded from the school website under notes.

What the children will need on the day:

• Sports uniform with house colour T-shirt.
• Recess, Lunch, and plenty of water
• canteen available on the day - no lunch orders.

800 m and high jump events are held before the carnival. Permission notes and information was sent out on SZapp yesterday.

• 800m for 8 years and over will be held Thursday 16th May
• High Jump will be held in the hall at lunchtime:
  • Monday 12yrs
  • Tuesday 11yrs
  • Wed 10yrs

We still require parent helpers, if you can assist please contact Katherine Austin, katherine.austin@cg.catholic.edu.au

St Francis of Assisi Calwell Before and After School Care have a part time (22hours per fortnight) finance position available. Applications close next Friday 17^th May.

For more information please follow the link:

We take our responsibilities to students with asthma very seriously. We are an asthma friendly school. We have a large number of children who are asthmatics but to date we have only 2 asthma management plans returned! This is something we require to be updated each year.

Asthma is a condition that can be serious and may require emergency treatment while at school. It is therefore important to have up to date information about the management of your child’s asthma.

Please note that it is school policy for all students with Asthma to have ventolin and a spacer in their school bag while at school. This has come about due to infection control standards that require all schools to be using single use spacers. In the event of an emergency we do have ventolin and spacers available.

Please help us to responsibly care for your child while at school by completing and returning the attached plan as soon as possible. If you have any queries regarding this, please don’t hesitate to contact me on 6294 1860 or email sca@cg.catholic.edu.au

Karen Snowball

Administration Officer

Netball 4 May

Player of the Week and Match Reports

Speckles – Grace Weir

Little Skittles – Dakota Orsolic, Lacey Warren and Chelsi Watson

Smarties – Annabelle Russell

Squiggles – Elizabeth Nkieta, Katie-Lee James and Narvan Osloubi

Smiggles – Jessica Emerson, Charli Heinrich, Navya Weerasinghe, Chloe Myers and Josie Phelan

Stars – Montana Nocen

Swifts – Lara Breen and Stephanie Nguyen

Sunshines – Taylah Muller and Olivia Lee

Skittles – Mia O’Connor and Isabel Heathcote

Sparkles – Jasmine Nguyen and Peyton Joyes

Smurfs – Vinuki Geeganage and Savannah Apoderado

Smiggles Match Report

The Smiggles have had an outstanding start to the season. The team has really been working on their skills and adjusting to the year 4 rules, focussing on our spacing and really planting their feet. We were so thrilled that we didn’t get called for stepping once during our most recent game which was a hard fought match that really needed all girls to bring their enthusiasm and energy to the court. We left our run a little late otherwise it would have been a different result for sure and well done to our defensive players for keeping the game within 2 goals. Our team really is about the families as well and it’s so great to have a massive and very loud cheer squad every week to support the girls.  

Little Skittles Match Report

The Little Skittles played TCS Fireworks on Saturday. It was a tough match for our Little Skittles but they never stopped trying or smiling. We spent a lot of time in the first half of the game defending the TCS goal circle. As the game went on you could see improvement in passing and moving around to get the ball. We were working hard on our one on one defence and did really well with getting our hands up. In the second half we managed to get the ball into our goal circle a few times and our movement down the court was progressing. We also had some great intercepts.

This is the first year of netball for our Little Skittles and we are so impressed with their enthusiasm every week! Keep up the hard work girls, we think you are all superstars!!

School Sport ACT
Children in years 5 and 6 have an opportunity to participate in a number of sports at representative level through ACT School Sport. This is separate from weekend sports. Throughout the year, trials are called for a variety of teams sports. Please be aware, the process has changed from this year on.

The opportunity for children in year 5 and 6 to trial for the ACT school sport team is coming up for the following:

• Hockey for boys and girls

If your child is interested please have them see Mr Sweeney for details.
For all information about sports and trial dates, please visit their website:
https://www.schoolsportact.asn.au/

Woolworths Earn & Learn is back in 2019!

This year we will be participating in the Woolworths Earn & Learn program. Through this program we will be able to get some great educational resources for our school and all you need to do is shop at Woolworths.

From Wednesday 1st May to Tuesday 25^th June, we are collecting Woolworths Earn & Learn Stickers.  You will get one Woolworths Earn & Learn sticker for every $10 spent (excluding liquor, tobacco and gift cards). Place the Woolworths Earn & Learn sticker onto a Woolworths Earn & Learn sticker sheet, available online or at the Front Office, and when complete, place the sticker sheet in the collection box at Woolworths Lanyon or hand it in to the Front Office at school.  Stickers can also be placed directly into the collection box at Woolworths Lanyon

In the first four days you have already collected 2,340 stickers, our goal this year is 58,000 stickers, so start shopping at Woolworths and let’s see how many we can collect.