Dear SCA Families,

I vividly remember my own Confirmation on a mild, Canberra Winter evening. Unfortunately I remember more the events following Mass than the ceremony itself. Running around on the vacant block next to the school hall after Mass (What else do 12 year old boys want to do after sitting quietly for 2 hours?) I came to a sudden and violent halt. A waist high strand of fencing wire had been placed across the block to stop cars from driving on the school oval. It certainly stopped me! I remember to this day the feeling of acute pain across my abdomen while wondering why I was suddenly flying backwards as fast as I had been running forwards.

If Confirmation is a sign, then I must have needed a more obvious one than the rest of my friends.

This week many of our Year 6 children celebrate their Confirmation at Holy Family Church.

Confirmation is a time for young people to renew their Baptismal faith and for the local Church to witness and accept that commitment in furthering the mission of the Church. We pray that the children gain an understanding that Confirmation is an expression of God’s commitment to us, and our commitment to God, in their process of becoming full members of the Christian community.

We pray this week for all the young people in our Archdiocese who will Confirm their membership of the Christian community this year.

School Starting Time

Imagine if, at the end of the year, you were “given” a whole extra day?

A child who is 7 minutes late to class each day (dropped off 5 minutes late, 1 minute walk to the classroom, 1 minute to unpack) will have missed more than 23 hours of schooling in the year!

When late, children miss important announcements, social interactions and vital learning time. It also disrupts the entire class, as the teacher needs to stop what they are doing to welcome the child and repeat directions.

We know that unexpected delays can happen. A road accident, a sick pet, or even a broken dishwasher can all cause us to be late. Please though, try to do the best by your child, and the others in the class, by having children at school BEFORE 8.45am each day.

Our “warning bell” starts ringing at 8.43am, which allows students and teachers to move to classrooms, ready to begin at 8.45. On a practical note, the busiest time on in the school drive way each morning is at 8.43 – 8.50am.

Parent Survey

I thank the parents who have already submitted their responses to the parent survey Tell Them From Me (TTFM). A link was sent home via last week’s newsletter. The survey closes this Friday 11th June.

You are able to access the parent survey on your computer or mobile device by using the URL below:

http://tellthemfromme.com/sca2021par

WWVP

Just a reminder to anyone coming in to the school to help that you must have your WWVP card on you. Although you sign in when you arrive and record the WWVP card number and we have a photocopy of this, if we are audited whilst you are in the school building, you must be able to show the card. If you are unable to, you will be given a personal fine and the school will also be fined. Thank you so much for your cooperation with this compliance.

Registration

Today brings to a close the three days of our formal Registration Panel visit. The panel will provide a formal, written report, hopefully before the end of this term. Not long after, we will share with you the highlights of the report.

Thank you to the staff, students, Community Council, Parent Network and others who made the panel feel so welcome. Special thanks to SCA’s leadership team, (Val Ciuffetelli, Karen Haines, Belinda Breen and Jo Thomson) who did so much work to ensure we put our best foot forward.

Uniform Inspections

Thank you to the majority of parents who send their children to school in the correct uniform, especially shoes and school colours for hair accessories. Teachers are sending home notifications when your child is seen to be not wearing the correct school uniform as outlined in our school policy. I would appreciate your support in ensuring that the uniform policy is followed.

Semester One Reports

Teachers are printing Semester One reports this week which will go home with the students on Tuesday 15^th June.

Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn has made some changes to the reporting format we are using.

For Kindergarten students:

• Achievement in each subject will be reported using a four-point scale (Well Above Expectations, Above Expectations, Meeting Expectations and Working Towards Expectations).

For Year 1 to Year 6 students:

• Academic grades for each subject using a five-point scale from A-E will be reported using the NSW Common Grade Scale.

For all students:

• Strand Achievement will be reported in English, Mathematics, Human Society and its Environment, PDHPE and Creative Arts using a five-point scale (Excellent, High, Sound, Basic, Elementary).
• Engagement with Learning statements, which are taken directly from the Australian Curriculum, will provide specific information about your child’s Critical and Creative Thinking, and Personal and Social Responsibility, using a three-point scale (Beginning, Developing, Consistently).
• Individual student comments will NOT be used in the Semester 1 Reports.

Dialogue is an important feature of reporting. The Semester Report in this format encourages parent engagement and conversation about student learning. We want the report to be the entry point for parent-teacher interviews where we can engage in genuine conversation about your child’s strengths, challenges, effort and areas for growth.

The following week, commencing Tuesday 15 June, you are invited to attend a Parent-Teacher interview to discuss the report and set goals for your child for Semester 2. These will be via zoom, once you have booked your interview your child's teacher will send you a zoom invitation. Information about booking a time will be sent, via SZapp, to all parents today.

Parking on the Basketball / Netball Courts

The Basketball and Netball Courts are in important area for the school and OSHC. This area is used regularly to provide sporting and recreation activities for the children.

It is opened in the morning and afternoons for overflow parking. Please, however, only use this area if you intend on staying for a brief time only. Drivers are requested to move their cars off this area by 9.00am (Morning drop off) and 3.15pm (afternoon pick up).

School Fees

Thank you to everyone who has paid their school fees. Term 2 School fees are now well overdue. Prompt payment would be appreciated and can be made by cash, credit card, eftpos or Bpay. Please see me if you are experiencing difficulty with payment to save embarrassment all round.

It was once said…

The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow.

- unknown

Blessings to you and your family.

Principal

matthewer@cg.catholic.edu.au

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

Psalm 119:105

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

Volunteering at SCA Fete

Ever thought about helping out at the top fundraiser for SCA?

The 2021 SCA Fete will be held on Friday 19 November 2021. The Fete Committee is looking for additional stall coordinators, an entertainment coordinator, and qualified first aid person to help out.  If you’d like to know more about these positions, even if you can’t make it to Fete Committee meetings, please drop us a line at SCAFete@outlook.com to find out more.

Fete Sponsorship

Do you own or work for a business that would like to sponsor the 2021 SCA Fete?

There are lots of sponsorship options available – from the donation of cash, to the donation of goods for raffles.

Sponsorship not only supports the school, and your children, it also supports your business.

Sponsoring the Fete will give you exposure to over 400 SCA families as well as the broader community in the Lanyon Valley.

For further details on sponsorship packages please contact Sponsorship officers Danielle and Jesse through SCAFete@outlook.com

Feeling Crafty?

If you are a talented crafter and able to donate some of your wares to be sold at the SCA Fete, we need you! Donations of materials to be turned into items to sell would also be useful.

All donations can be dropped off at the front office. If you’d like to discuss, please contact Craft stall coordinator Fiona via SCAFete@outlook.com  Thank you

The next Fete Committee meeting is on

Wednesday 16 June

6pm at the Lanyon Viking Club

Player of the Week 

Speckles – Bye 

Smarties – Asha 

Smiggles – Charli and Zoe 

Swifts – Indi 

Skittles – Jasmine and Lilah 

Sparkles – Emily 

Smurfs – Sara 

Sunshines – Rose 

Stars - Jaimee 

TNA turns pink for Breast Cancer