We respectfully acknowledge the Ngunnawal people, the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and learn, and pay respect to the First Nations Peoples and their elders, past, present and emerging.
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Dear SCA Families,
His Holiness Pope Francis has shared a message to all Grandparents and elderly….
…”I am with you always” (Mt 28:20): this is the promise the Lord made to his disciples before he ascended into heaven. They are the words that he repeats to you today, dear grandfathers and grandmothers, dear elderly friends. “I am with you always” are also the words that I, as Bishop of Rome and an elderly person like yourselves, would like to address to you on this first World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly. The whole Church is close to you – to us – and cares about you, loves you and does not want to leave you alone!
The SCA community keep in our prayers and blessings this week, all grandparents in our community. Grandparents are cherished members of our family. They bring gifts of wisdom, experience and love, and share with us their life of faith. We thank God for their example and ask that He bless them with happiness and good health.
This saintly couple, Joachim and Anne are parents to Mary and grandparents to Jesus.
Our students have been very excited about the activities they have created to celebrate Grandparents day. Whilst we have not been able to celebrate in person at school, I’m sure the little thoughts and blessings from our students will provide much joy and happiness for our Grandparents. Keep your eye out in the mail!
In last week's newsletter I outlined James Nottingham’s learning pit and the importance of our students developing a growth mindset as opposed to a fixed mindset. For some of our students, achieving high grades and academic success can come with little effort. For other students, they can be seen trying their best all of the time, but only achieve average or minimal academic progress and outcomes. As parents and educators this can be frustrating to witness. Carol Dweck in her research has shown that children who learn the value of effort are the ones that may achieve more success in work and life. I have shared the following with our staff this week (Taken from Steve Francis MScM, BEd, DipT in his Happy School article, discusses Effort v’s Achievement) this can also be adapted with the language we can use as parents:
If students can see the value of effort, they will be more inclined to take ownership of their learning and develop and practice the persistence required to not just survive, but thrive. So, how do we help students understand the value of putting in a good effort and show them not only how this links to achievement, but how it links to a better life?
Here are some tips to promote this development:
Embrace a growth mindset. Dr Carol Dweck’s work on Growth Mindsets emphasises de-valuing and actively rejecting ideals like natural ability and talent and focusing instead on fostering perseverance and determination. She recommends that we praise persistence and effort, not talent. Monitor your use of praise.
- Establish clear effort expectations. Be transparent and explicitly identify what a good effort looks like vs an excellent effort. Explain the difference between achievement and effort and continuously refer to the two as separate but related goals for school and life.
Provide specific feedback on effort as well as achievement and if possible, link the two e.g. “Your writing is currently sitting at a B. I can see you’ve made a solid effort to produce this draft. If you spend some time editing using the feedback I’ve provided on the criteria sheet, your efforts could help bring your work up to an A.”
Use language and actions to demonstrate that you value effort just as much as achievement. Take the time to commend the student who works hard at something, focusing specifically on the energy the student put into the task, rather than the outcome. Look for opportunities to celebrate a whole class effort and reward the students collectively.
Build on strengths rather than identifying weaknesses. Remind students how they persevered at a previous task if they are struggling with the current one.
Parent/Carer Volunteers
We are very grateful for the volunteers that are able to assist in many aspects of school life. Whilst volunteering is a very important role in our school, may I send a gentle reminder to all parents/carers, including volunteers, that it is not appropriate to approach students on school grounds about matters of conflict with other children. I’m sure you would appreciate that this can become a very sensitive issue for all involved. Please always contact your child’s classroom teacher if you have any concerns.
Compass Parent Portal App
Last week we introduced Compass as the new communication platform that SCA and our Archdiocese will be using. From term 4, we will cease using the Szapp app and will be communicating via the Compass App. This will be for us to send notifications to you and also for you to use for absentee correspondence.
Please take some time over the coming weeks to download the app so you can become familiar with this new platform.
The portal is accessible via the web and the Compass School Manager App (via the App store on your device - see image below). You will not be able to login until you receive your login details. These will be emailed to you later today. Please remember to check your junk folder in case they end up there.
Please ensure your email address is correct with the school for registration to go through. If you are having difficulties with registering please contact the Front Office on 6294 1860 or alternatively email the office at sca@cg.catholic.edu.au
Year 5 Camp
Whilst we did hope for our students to attend year 5 camp in Sydney this term, unfortunately this has had to change given the current COVID environment.
We are currently in the process of accessing a team building day for our students in Canberra.
Have a wonderful week.
With thanks for your continued support.
Erin
Erin Marmont
Principal (Acting)
'Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.'
Psalm 119:105
First Eucharist
Formation Evening - Tonight is the final Parent and Child Eucharist Formation session. If you did not attend last week, you must attend tonight with your child so they can celebrate the sacrament this year.
Commitment Masses - Please attend mass with your child over the next two weekends, where you will present your child with their commitment form to Father during mass.
Retreat Day - Next Thursday 5 August all Year 5 students will attend a Eucharist Retreat day at Holy Family church Gowrie. A separate szapp notification was sent out yesterday with details and electronic permission form attached.
Congratulations to the children who will be awarded white cards this week on Friday morning. Parents are welcome to attend.
| Kinder | Owen, Charlotte |
| Year 1 | Patrick, Krithi, Michael |
| Year 2 | Emma, Lilli |
| Year 3 | Adam, Ava, Lachlan |
| Year 4 | Scarlet |
| Year 5 | Aiden, Jacob, Ella, Jacques |
| Year 6 |
As we head towards a new communication platform all correspondence is being sent electronically. It is therefore important that your email details are kept up to date.
If you have recently changed your email details, phone numbers or address please advise the front office at: sca@cg.catholic.edu.au
Late to school or leaving early?
Please remember: If your child is late to school or leaving early an adult must sign them in/out at the front office. Children are not allowed to sign themselves in or out.
Player of the Week
Speckles – Ruby
Smarties – Mackenzie
Smiggles – Zoe, Ella and Ali
Swifts – no game
Skittles – no game
Sparkles – Xara
Smurfs – Grace
Sunshines – no game
Stars – no game
Rep Netball report
Well done to the girls from SCA who represented TNA this year in their age groups. Charli was in the U11’s and they won the ACT Championship. Ali, Susannah and Zoe were all runners up.
All of our rep players did really well over the course of the rep season. Congratulations to all of you and well done on representing SCA in the TNA rep teams!
STUDENTS LEAVING NOTIFICATION (excluding the present Year 6)
This form is for children who have an Enrolment Application pending at another school or will not be returning to St Clare of Assisi Primary School in 2022.