Dear St. Clare’s Community,

Week 8 is Wellbeing Week, and we take the opportunity for a little reflection time and acknowledge all that we are grateful for. Students (and parents) have the week off from written homework. For staff, we do not hold a formal staff meeting in Week 8. Hopefully you can replace homework time this week with a family activity and enjoy some time together.

As we head into the final weeks of Term 1, things are still busy with a few events yet to take place, including the St. Patrick’s Day Free Dress and buddy activities on Friday 15th.

Over the next two weeks our students in Year 3 and 5 will participate in NAPLAN. Students will start with writing on Wednesday, Language Conventions and Reading on Thursday and Numeracy the following Monday. We wish these students all the best for NAPLAN.

Cyber Safety Solutions Parent Session - Susan McLean will be running a parent information session tonight. I strongly recommend that you attend this if you are able. There will be confronting information about keeping our children safe online, Susan has extensive experience and knowledge to share to assist. Susan will also run a session for our Year 3-6 students during the day.

Attendance - currently only 79.1% of St. Clare’s students have attended school90% of the time. 10.3% of absences are unexplained, please remember to contact the office to notify of student absences. If you are experiencing difficulties with attendance/ lateness for reasons not related to illness, please make contact as we may be able to offer support to assist reluctant or anxious students.

 

Uniform Days

From Term 2 onwards, our sport lesson days will return to Tuesday & Thursday. So uniform days will be Academic Uniform - Monday, Wednesday & Friday, Sports Uniforms - Tuesday & Thursday. As we are now going back to having a day between wearing our Sports Uniforms, house shirts will no longer be able to be worn on these days.

2024 School Board

St. Clare’s School Board held the first meeting of the year yesterday. The School Board consists of:

Fr. Joby Jose
Karran Burzacott
Kerrie Waters
Alice McNamara
Alicia Johnston
Jim Chaffey
Elisha La Fauci
Kirstel Kampe

The Board updated the Use of Mobile Devices by Students agreement, which can be found below for your information. If your child should need a mobile phone at school, or a wearable device such as a Smartwatch, please read and sign the agreement and return to the office.

Throughout the year if you would like to bring any matters to the attention of the Board please make contact with any of the members listed above so that it can be put on the meeting agenda.

As part of the school’s emergency plans it is important that we practise procedures for various emergencies that could occur within the school. 

The emergency lockdown procedure. During lockdowns students and staff stay inside the rooms and await further instructions. The signal for this procedure is music which is played across the school’s PA system. Evacuation procedures are in place for fires and other threats to buildings. Students and staff are aware that the sound for this drill is a siren through our PA system. When they hear this siren students as well as anyone else on the school site are expected to evacuate the buildings and assemble on the school oval to await further instructions. Class rolls are taken at this time to ensure that all persons on site are safe. As part of school compliance, we are required to practise both of these drills during the year using different scenarios. If, at any time, a drill has taken place and your child becomes anxious, please let your child’s teacher know so that we are able to support students.

Tully 100 celebrations

You are no doubt aware that Tully is celebrating 100 Years this year with many celebrations and events occurring. Lots of information can be found here: https://www.tully100.online

The committee has also put the call out for volunteers for the street parade to be held on June 8th. If you can assist on the day please make contact with the committee: tullystreetparade@gmail.com

Sent to the Principal’s Office

Over the past two weeks I have been visited by students showing off some amazing writing skills. I have read some great recounts full of descriptive language, tricky words and fantastic punctuation and spelling. Thanks everyone for sharing!

Karran Burzacott
Principal

Easter Saturday falls on Saturday March 30 this year and the parish is seeking children who are available to be a part of this mass. If your child is able to attend, please contact Fr Joby at the parish office (0417 568 439).

The 2024 Sacramental Program (Reconciliation, Communion and Confirmation) will be starting in Term 2. If you have a child who has been baptised and is in Year 4 or older and would be interested in continuing their sacramental journey, please contact me for more information.

Our Year 6 students are busily preparing jelly cups to sell this Friday for St Patrick’s Day. We encourage children to come along in a green themed free dress (gold coin donation) and buy a green jelly cup ($1) at second break. The Year 6 class will also be selling icy cups at first lunch on Tuesday March 19 (after the Cross Country) for $1 each. The final fundraising venture will be a hot chips day on Wednesday March 27. All of the profits from these events will go to Project Compassion.

As we move closer to Easter, may we remember the 3 pillars of Lent - prayer, fasting and almsgiving. 

With blessings,

Sharon Chappel

Assembly

Friday  15/3/2024

Coordinator: M Vipiana   Helpers: A Bailey  S Orsmond

Bakers:  K Teelow   L Johnston (Cupcakes)

Friday  22/3/2024

Coordinator: M Vipiana   Helpers: D Cavallaro    L Robertson

Bakers:  M Dowie   M Kurschat (Cupcakes)