Dear SCA families,

How blessed we are in our role as educators to be surrounded by children each day who continue to remind us of the message of Hope, Love and Spirit. Over the past week our focus has been on good manners. How wonderful it has been to witness so many children across our school, greeting each other and their teachers each morning, using their manners and showing kindness and respect towards one another. This week our focus is on wearing the correct school uniform. Can you please assist us with maintaining our uniform expectations by insisting that your child wears the correct uniform properly each day. If there are any issues in relation to meeting these expectations, please contact your child’s teacher.

Over the past few days we have celebrated NAIDOC week. What a wonderful opportunity it has been for our students to learn about the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. The NAIDOC 2021 theme – Heal Country! – calls for all of us to continue to seek greater protections for our lands, our waters, our sacred sites and our cultural heritage from exploitation, desecration, and destruction. The week has been a great opportunity for each class to participate in a range of activities and to support our  local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

When visiting classrooms and speaking with students this week, I have reminded them of the importance of having a go and that when we make mistakes it is an opportunity for us all to learn and grow. Too many times I hear children say that they can’t do something because it is too hard, or that they are not good at that. Let us remind our children of having a growth mindset and discuss with them the importance of when we are challenged, not to give up easily, but instead see a challenge as an opportunity to develop skills and understanding. I have researched a lot around a growth mindset and challenging learning by James Nottingham. James Nottingham uses a visual presence of a learning pit. This concept I have seen work very effectively  with children and can have a profound impact on how students think and improve their learning. Below is an example of the learning pit.

Learning occurs when you step out of your comfort zone. And yet, many people are hesitant to take this step for fear of making mistakes or revealing their weaknesses.

That’s when the Learning Pit can help: to encourage and reassure learners that taking risks, asking questions, and trying new things can help them develop their abilities and deepen their understanding.

~James Nottingham

Have a wonderful week.

With thanks for your continued support

Erin

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

Psalm 119:105

Grandparents Day

This Monday 26 July the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne - Mary's parents and Jesus' grandparents. Through their great love for Mary, and as the grandparents of Jesus, we are reminded of our own parents' and grandparents' love for us. 

Pope Francis says:

In their home, Mary came into the world, accompanied by the extraordinary mystery of the Immaculate Conception. Mary grew up in the home of Joachim and Anne; she was surrounded by their love and faith: in their home she learned to listen to the Lord and to follow his will. Saints Joachim and Anne were part of a long chain of people who had transmitted their faith and love for God, expressed in the warmth and love of family life, down to Mary, who received the Son of God in her womb and who gave him to the world, to us. How precious is the family as the privileged place for transmitting the faith! 

How important grandparents are for family life, for passing on the human and religious heritage which is so essential for each and every society! How important it is to have intergenerational exchanges and dialogue, especially within the context of the family. The Aparecida Document says, “Children and the elderly build the future of peoples: children because they lead history forward, the elderly because they transmit the experience and wisdom of their lives” (No. 447). This relationship and this dialogue between generations is a treasure to be preserved and strengthened! 

First Eucharist Year 5

The first parent and child formation evening is tomorrow night Thursday 22nd July at Holy Family Church Gowrie, beginning at 6:45pm. The second parent and child formation evening is next Wednesday 28 July, also beginning at 6:45pm. Attendance at one of these evenings is necessary for all families who have enrolled their child for First Eucharist. 

You are also required to present your child to the parish community at one of the following weekend Masses.

• Sat/Sun 24 & 25 July
• Sat 31 July & Sun 1 August
• Sat/Sun 7 & 8 August

You can choose one of the four weekend Masses. Mass times are: 

Saturday at 6.00pm

Sunday at 8.00am; 10.00am OR 6.00pm 

Please fill in the Commitment Form that was sent out on SZapp earlier today and BRING IT WITH YOU to the Mass. Spare blank forms will also be available in the foyer of the church.

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

Sadly, over the holidays we received an email from Global School Partners (GSP) stating that the following needs to be addressed at our partner school St Joseph's Acadamy, otherwise they have no option but to close the school 

• Upgrade the kitchen in 1 month  
• Buy and install desks and chairs in classrooms within 3 months 
• Install play equipment within 3 months  

Did you know Canberran households waste thousands of dollars every year by throwing away food that could have been eaten?

Sign up to the three-week Food Waste Challenge for a step-by-step recipe to reduce food waste in your household.

Plus, the first 1500 ACT residents that complete the challenge, including the final survey, will be eligible for a $30 IKEA voucher.

act.gov.au/foodwaste