Dear SCA Families,

It may seem strange to write a reflection on Lent as it comes to a close, with Holy Week commencing this Sunday. However, for many of us the last few days may be the only time we can or do stop and reflect on this seminal season.

Lent is a time when we push to the side things that are not so important. It’s a time for a change of heart. It’s a time to recognise what is in our heart. Our orientation is not for one person or one interest group but for all people. We are free to push to the side what doesn’t really matter, it’s our choice.

Our leader Pope Francis seeks a return to the notion of Community. He reminds us that we are our best when we are in a Community. In life, where there is danger there is also opportunity. Often, we can be risk averse. But risk is part of life. During his life he has faced times of risk which turned into times of growth for him.

Recently he travelled to Iraq. Wow! that’s a risk in itself. There is no doubt that vulnerability leaves us open to growth and reflection. Pope Francis encourages us to dare to dream. At SCA we always dare to dream. Times of calamity can be times to dream even bigger. COVID gives a lie to the myth of self-sufficiency. Self-sufficiency in itself is a threat to community. Rather we should trust and rely on one another.

Even in Australia where the impact of COVID has not been so great, we have been in a zone of liminality. That means we are not in one state or another. We are left working out who we are and what we really value. Our experiences with COVID have given us antibodies to indifference and lead us back into the service of others. The challenge is to lose ourselves to indifference.

We are called away from individualism and called towards the true meaning of what it means to be a “disciple of Jesus” and true to service of our own God. We are called to be experts in the human condition and to ask, what we can do to help the common good? What is our position on those in the world most at risk and in need: Rohingyas? Black lives Matter? Climate Change? Uighur's minorities in China?

We have the Scriptures to guide us in matters of coping with change. For example, St Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus in which he had a “turn around “experience. Let us take up the challenge to turn around our own mindset!

Term 2 and Winter Uniform

A reminder that, when Term 2 commences on Tuesday 20^th April, winter uniform should be worn by all students.

Parking on the Netball Courts

The Netball courts near the Infants Playground is a dedicated “play space” that is also used for overflow parking. If you do park on the courts, to ensure it is available for school and after-school sport, please remove your car by 9.00am in the mornings and 3.20pm in the afternoons.

Parking Infringement Notices

Please be aware that some of our parents have been booked for stopping in the bus zone in front of the school on Heidelberg St. According to the ACT Parking Infringements Guide, “A motorist who is not operating a public bus must not stop in a bus zone.”

Three Way Conferences / Oral Reporting

In Week Two of next term (27 – 29 April) teachers will be available for Three-way Conferences at which your child’s progress can be discussed. Teachers are looking forward to meeting with the parents of every child in their class. Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher should you feel a longer interview or an alternative time may be required.

In 2020 Three Way Conferences were conducted via Zoom. Our Community Council has asked that this option again be available, as it is often easier for parents to be present via technology than in person at the school.

To enable this, teachers will send an invitation, via email, to families in Week 1 of next term. The email will provide a link for you to join the Zoom meeting with your child’s teacher. The teacher will admit you at the scheduled time, so all that you have to do is log in a couple of minutes, from home or work, before your time. More details regarding this will also be sent home next term.

Families wishing to meet at the school may still do so. You will be required to sign in and out, confirming that you are well. If you wish to come to the classroom, please let your child’s teacher know when they send home the Zoom invitation.

Please see details later in this newsletter regarding the process for making a booking.

Where?

Tomorrow (25 March) is nine months until Christmas. Not surprisingly then, it is also the feast of the Annunciation; celebrating the day Mary came to be pregnant with Jesus. On this day we are grateful to Mary for saying yes. Because God always gives us a choice.

God calls us to choose love, to choose to share and choose to do all we can to make the world a better place.

Maybe something we can all do with our kids today is to write a list of all the good things people in their lives do, and write a list of good things that they will do for others in the coming week.

Term Dates

Term 1 ends next Thursday, 1 April as Friday is a public holiday (Good Friday). Catholic Education has declared Monday 19^th April as a pupil free day for all Catholic schools in Canberra. Students will commence Term 2 on Tuesday 20^th April.

It was once said…

Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier. ~

Saint (Mother) Teresa of Calcutta

Blessings to you and your family.

 

Matt Egan-Richards

Principal

'Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.' 

Psalm 119:105

Dear Parents of Year Six children to be enrolled for Confirmation in 2021,

Congratulations to the children who will be awarded white cards this week on Friday morning. Parents are welcome to attend.

TERM 1

WEEK 8 (22nd March to 26th March)

Wednesday 24th March - Parent Teacher 3 Way Conferences Bookings Open

WEEK 9 (29th March to 1st April)

Thursday 1st April  – Last day of Term 1

Thursday 1st April  - Easter Hat Parade 8.45am assembly

TERM 2

WEEK 1 (19th April to 23rd April)

Monday 19th April - Pupil Free Day - No school

Tuesday 20th April - All students commence Term 2 in Winter Uniform

Friday 23rd April - Cross Country Carnival

WEEK 2 (26th April to 30th April)

Monday 26th April - Anzac Day Public Holiday ACT - No school

Tuesday 27th April to Thursday 29th April - Parent Teacher 3 Way Conferences

Friday 30th April - Athletics Carnival

Friday 30th April is our Athletics Carnival. Many permission forms are still outstanding, links below again for your convenience, these must be submitted by next Thursday 1st April.

Athletic Carnival Kindergarten and Year 1 Permission Form:

https://stclareconder.schoolzineplus.com/form/127

Athletic Carnival Year 2 Permission Form:

https://stclareconder.schoolzineplus.com/form/125

Athletic Carnival Year 3 - 6 Permission Form:

https://stclareconder.schoolzineplus.com/form/123

The school cross-country carnival is on Friday 23^rd April.  It should be a great fun day and the children will be in training over the next two weeks of Term 1 and at the beginning of Term 2.  The course is a section of the footpath that leaves the school up the hill toward the top of Conder and then back again. Parents are invited to come along to assist with running the carnival and watch their children perform.

All children are asked to wear sports uniform with a house coloured t-shirt.  Students with asthma – remember your puffers. 

• All children will participate unless they are unable to run for medical reasons. Please send in a note to your child’s teacher. 

The times are as follows:

Please note these times are approximate ONLY!

• 11:25 Whole school gathers for War Cries
• 11:30 Kinder
• 11:40 Year 1 (& 7yr old Year 2 children born 2014)
• 11:45 12 Year B & G – born 2009
• 12:00 11 Year B & G – born 2010
• 12:15 10 Year B & G – born 2011
• 12:30   9 Year B & G – born 2012
• 12:45   8 Year B & G – born 2013

The ages are based on the age your child is turning or has turned this year.

There will be more information coming in the next term about the Tuggeranong Regional Cross Country Carnival, so please look out for that.  

Distances are as follows:

• Kinder children use school ovals
• Year 1 & 7yr old Year 2 children use school ovals and a short distance of bike path
• 8 year olds run 1 km = 1 lap of 1km loop
• 9 and 10 year old run 2 km = 2 laps of 1 km loop
• 11-13year olds run 3km = 2 laps of 1.5km loop

Request for Assistance

To ensure a successful carnival, a number of helpers are required to sit/stand at various points to supervise the track, or in assisting on the recording desk.  If you can help, please complete the link:

https://stclareconder.schoolzineplus.com/form/131

All you need to do then is meet on the oval near the gates at 11:00am on the carnival day.  Please bring a hat and a chair if you can.  Mobile phones will be handy and we will also be using Walkie Talkies.  

Thank you in advance.

The Cross Country Team

Thursday 1st April

8.45 am Assembly

EASTER HAT PARADE

For a bit of fun and frivolity this year we will have an Easter Hat Parade. 

It can be as simple as a pair of rabbit ears cut out of cardboard and taped together, cut out paper plate or however far your imagination takes you and your child.  

Please find a template below that may be useful. Pinterest and google have some super easy ideas!

Three Way Conferences will be held in Week 2 of Term 2, Tuesday 27th April until Thursday 29th April. Bookings are now open. Please follow the instructions and link below to make a booking with your child/rens teacher.

• Link to book your parent teacher interview

https://stclareconder.schoolzineplus.com/view-session/11

• Instructions on how to book a conference

•  8 and 9 years old: Monday 29th March morning assembly
• 10 and 11 years old: Tuesday 30th March morning assembly
• 12 years old: Wednesday 31st March morning assembly
• Age Champions and House Sheild Thursday 1st April morning assembly

On Tuesday 23^rd of March, I had the pleasure of taking the SCA swimmers to the Tuggeranong Region Swimming Carnival at Stromlo Leisure Centre.  We had 15 swimmers from Year 3 to Year 6 and all of them did themselves and SCA proud.  We had swimmers in most of the 50 metre events and one in the 100 metre events. All of the children were so well behaved, showed great sportsmanship, had lovely manners, put in their best effort for every race and had fun.  We were also the loudest cheer squad on the day………even encouraging other schools to cheer for us if they didn’t have anyone in the race!!

Here are the placings for each of our heats:

Congratulations to all of our swimmers on a great day out and fantastic results!!

Katherine Austin

Have you set up SZapp for the new year?

SZapp is our main form of communication. We have had a number of parents advising they have missed information. Please take a moment to ensure you have selected all relevant year levels and classes.

• Select Manage
• Are Push Notifications and Default Subscription open? This will ensure you receive all messages that are sent out to the whole school community, e.g. newsletter.
• Have you selected your child/rens 2021 Year Level, as per the example Year 1 -2021? This will ensure you receive all message pertinant to your child/rens year level.
• Have you selected your child/rens 2021 Class, as per the example 1 Blue 2021 - Mrs Haines? This will ensure you receive all messages sent out by the class teacher.

As Mr E has advised in previous newsletters, Term 2 will commence for all children on Tuesday 20th April, 2021.

Just a reminder Term 2 is also a change to full winter uniform.

GIRLS WINTER UNIFORM 

• Checked tunic or navy slacks  
  (tunic may be worn as a skirt ONLY in Year 5/6)
• Sky blue long sleeve blouse with peter pan collar or sky blue skivvy
• Polo shirt is NOT to be worn with Winter Uniform 
• Maroon polar fleece with crest
• Navy tights
• Navy jacket
• Traditional black leather shoes (not jogger style)

GIRLS WINTER SPORTS UNIFORM

• Navy track pants
• Maroon polar fleece with crest
• New design sports polo with crest
• Plain white socks covering ankles
• Appropriate lace-up sports shoes

BOYS WINTER UNIFORM

• Navy trousers
• Sky blue long sleeve shirt
• School tie (navy with royal and sky blue stripe) to be worn with shirt
• Sky blue skivvy
• Polo shirt is NOT to be worn with Winter Uniform
• Maroon polar fleece with logo
• Plain white socks covering ankles
• Traditional black leather shoes (not jogger style)
• Navy jacket

BOYS WINTER SPORTS UNIFORM

• Navy blue track pants
• Maroon polar fleece with logo
• New design sports polo shirt with crest
• Plain white socks covering ankles
• Appropriate lace-up sports shoes

2021 Brindabella Blues, Girls Only

Bring a Friend and Come and Try Evening.

Where: Calwell Playing Fields. Were St Calwell. On the Upper Fields opposite the canteen.

When: Tuesday 30  March 5.30 to 7pm.

Who: Girls aged 6 to 11 who want to try football.

Cost: Free

What: Come and find out why Football is the largest junior sport in Australia. The evening will include football games everyone can be involved in and enjoy. Just wear boots or joggers and bring a water bottle and a have a go attitude.

Contacts: For further information contact Michael on juniors@bbfc.org.au or 0423 824 192.