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Dear St. Clare’s Community,
We are already in Week 4 of the term, and with everything we have on this term it is sure to continue racing by. I hope you had an opportunity to enjoy the show or time away over the recent long weekend. Congratulations to all the students that had entries in various show competitions. As I wandered around the displays I saw a large number of St. Clare’s students' names with commendations and prizes. Also, a huge thank you to Mrs Wall for putting together our Show Display with the students and for working so hard to put the display up at the showgrounds. It looked fantastic!
You may be aware that Queensland Education teachers are possibly taking industrial action this week. This does not include Catholic Education schools and St. Clare’s will be running as usual.
Feedback Survey
Thank you to everyone that completed the Feedback Surveys last term, we appreciate your feedback. Below are overviews of the parent, staff and student surveys. As you can see the results are very positive and we thank everyone in our community for working tirelessly to provide a wonderful learning environment at St. Clare’s.
Update on School Camps for 2026
At St. Clare’s, we have always valued the unique learning experiences that school camps provide. Over the years, our Year 4, Year 5, and Year 6 students have enjoyed these opportunities to grow, connect, and challenge themselves outside the classroom.
After a thorough review over the past 12–18 months, we’ve made the considered decision that from 2026, school camps will be offered to Year 5 and Year 6 students only.
This decision was not made lightly and reflects a number of important factors:
- Student Wellbeing: While many Year 4 students enjoy camp, a two-night, three-day program can be a big step at this age. For some, the time away from home can impact their overall experience. We are unable to source a suitable facility for one night camps.
- Safety and Suitability: Finding high-quality, well-maintained camp facilities has become increasingly difficult. We are committed to ensuring that all venues meet our high standards for safety and comfort.
- Rising Costs: The cost of transport, accommodation, meals, and activities continues to rise. We understand the financial pressure this can place on families—especially those with multiple children in the upper years. Reducing the number of camps helps ease this burden.
- Staff Workload: Organising and supervising camps requires significant time and energy from our dedicated staff, often outside of regular hours and away from their own families. Focusing on two year levels allows us to maintain quality while supporting staff wellbeing.
By concentrating our efforts on Year 5 and Year 6 camps, we can ensure a more enriching, safe, and affordable experience for all involved.
We appreciate your understanding and support as we continue to make decisions in the best interests of our students, families, and staff. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Lost Jewellery
There has been some jewellery handed into the office recently. If you have lost anything, perhaps around the time of our Athletics Carnival, please get in touch with Karran.
Unwell Students
While we want to see all students attend school everyday there are times when students are too unwell to do so. If your child is unwell or has flu-like or gastrointestinal symptoms, they must not come to school. Students staying home when sick are likely to have a positive impact on attendance levels, as a reduced incidence of an illness in the school translates into a reduced likelihood of other students and staff being away sick. Please help us to keep the spread of coughs, colds, viruses & flu to minimum and keep students at home when needed.
Sent to the Principal’s Office
A wonderful visit from some prep students last week to show me how hard they have been working with handwriting.
Blessings for the week ahead
Karran Burzacott
Faith Knowledge Community Respect
Mary MacKillop
Mary Mackillop’s Feast Day falls on this Friday August 8. As Australia’s first patron saint, a significant part of Mary’s life was spent founding schools for the poor and underprivileged (with the support of Fr Julian Tenison-Woods). Mary’s life did not always run smoothly, and she was ex-communicated at one point after a misunderstanding. In the face of this opposition, Mary stayed true to her beliefs and held steadfast in her forgiveness during this trial and was eventually reinstated. It was in 2010 that she was canonised by Pope Benedict XVI. As the only Australian saint, Mary’s Feast Day is an important day in the Catholic Church calendar.
St Clare’s Feast Day
St Clare’s Feast Day falls on Sunday August 17 this year. Our school will celebrate our patron saint during mass on Monday August 18 at 10am. This will be followed by a cake for our whole school at first break. Families and friends are welcome to join us for mass.
Who Was St Clare of Montefalco?
The patron saint of our school is St Clare. She lived in a small Italian village called Montefalco. She is also known as St Clare of the Cross.
Clare was born in 1268 and as a young 6 year old girl, went to live at a convent with her sister Joan (who was the head Augustinian nun in their area). Clare lived a secluded life and spent time only with other nuns or religious men in the monastery. Together, they would spend long hours praying together.
After Joan had passed away, the other nuns decided that Clare would be the best person to lead them. Although she did not want to, she agreed. Clare was known as a wise leader who governed with love and holiness. Her advice was frequently sought after and almost always correct. Even priests and bishops came to her for guidance. On August 17, 1308 Clare took ill and passed away. It is believed that after her death, she was found to have an inscription of a cross of her heart. This represented her commitment to prayer and her passion and devotion to Christ.
Assemblies
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Week 4 |
Year 2 |
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Week 5 |
No Assembly - Science Day |
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Week 6 |
Prep |
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Week 7 |
Year 5 |
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Week 8 |
Pupil Free day |
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Week 9 |
Year 6 |
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Week 10 |
Year 1 |
Exercise as emotional release: movement for mental detox
From - Mental Health & Wellbeing, a LinkedIn newsletter dedicated to fostering mental health awareness and promo – article dated 17 July 25
In a world where stress is silent, emotions are suppressed, and mental exhaustion often goes unnoticed, movement becomes more than just physical activity—it becomes medicine. Exercise isn’t just about burning calories or sculpting muscles. It’s about shedding emotional weight. It's about moving energy that's stuck. It's about releasing what words can’t express.
The Body Remembers What the Mind Tries to Forget
Trauma, stress, anxiety—they don’t only live in your thoughts. They reside in your muscles, your posture, your breath. The clenched jaw from unspoken anger. The tight chest from buried sadness. The restless legs from chronic anxiety. Our bodies become vaults of unprocessed emotions.
Exercise opens those vaults.
Through movement, we unlock what’s hidden. The steady rhythm of a jog, the pulse of a dance, the flow of yoga—as the body moves, it begins to speak. Sometimes it screams. Sometimes it sobs. And often, without even realizing it, we begin to feel lighter.
This is emotional detox.
Why Movement Works as Therapy
Movement works on both a physiological and psychological level. Here’s how:
- Endorphin Release: Physical activity stimulates the release of endorphins—our natural mood elevators. They help reduce stress and create a sense of well-being.
- Neurological Reset: Repetitive movements like walking, cycling, or swimming can have a meditative effect. These patterns mimic the rhythm of REM sleep, allowing the brain to process unresolved thoughts and emotions.
- Body-Mind Reconnection: Exercise helps us reconnect with our physical selves. We often dissociate when overwhelmed emotionally—movement pulls us back into our bodies, into the present moment.
- Empowerment: Strength training, martial arts, even a simple run can create a sense of control and resilience. When you move through physical challenge, it mirrors your ability to move through emotional challenge too.
- Non-verbal Expression: Not all emotions can be explained in words. But they can be expressed through the body. Dance, for example, lets grief, rage, joy, or liberation pour through motion.
Forms of Exercise That Support Emotional Release
Not all movement is created equal. Some exercises are particularly powerful for emotional detox:
- Yoga: Combining breath, movement, and mindfulness, yoga opens both the body and the emotional self. Certain poses are known to release tension and stored trauma (like hip openers, which often bring unexpected emotional release).
- Running or Walking: Especially in nature, these activities help process emotions rhythmically. The left-right movement of the legs helps activate bilateral stimulation, which aids emotional processing (similar to EMDR therapy).
- Dance: Whether it’s structured or freestyle, dance allows for complete emotional freedom. It helps express what’s felt deep inside without judgement or explanation.
- Strength Training: Lifting weights can channel suppressed anger, frustration, and even grief. It’s about taking power back—literally and metaphorically.
- Martial Arts: A powerful outlet for controlled aggression, focus, and emotional discipline. It teaches balance between strength and serenity.
Exercise as a Daily Ritual for Mental Hygiene
Just like we shower to clean our bodies, we must move to cleanse our minds.
Mental clutter builds up over time—worries, comparisons, resentments. These don’t vanish by ignoring them. But they loosen their grip when you sweat them out. Think of exercise as your daily mental reset button. It doesn’t always have to be intense. It just has to be intentional.
A 20-minute walk with awareness. A few stretches while breathing deeply. A short jog to music that moves your soul. These are acts of self-care, self-expression, and self-liberation.
The Silent Epidemic: Suppressed Emotions
In our productivity-driven culture, we are taught to “keep going,” “toughen up,” and “move on.” As a result, many carry emotional residue that never gets processed. Over time, this leads to burnout, anxiety disorders, depression—and even physical ailments.
Movement is nature’s antidote.
It doesn't require a therapist’s office, a journal, or the right words. It simply asks that you show up. That you breathe. That you move. That you let your body tell its truth.
And in doing so, you begin to heal—not just physically, but emotionally.
Final Words: Move to Heal, Not Just to Perform
If you're feeling overwhelmed, don't just sit with your emotions. Move with them. Let your sadness walk beside you on a trail. Let your anger lift weights in the gym. Let your anxiety dance wildly in your living room.
Movement doesn’t erase pain, but it transforms it. It gives it direction. It gives it an exit. It turns internal chaos into embodied release.
You don’t need to be fit to begin. You just need to feel.
So move. Not to chase perfection. But to meet yourself where words fail.
Welcome to Mental Health & Wellbeing, a LinkedIn newsletter dedicated to fostering mental health awareness and promo
One of the things that we love about The Resilience Project at St Clare’s are GEM Chats! GEM Chats are prompted around the idea of expressing examples of Gratitude, Empathy or Mindfulness in our daily life and encourages us to think about how our actions can make ourselves and others feel!
Are they old enough?
Navigating key online milestones with your child can be challenging. You can use this advice to help you. The Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation reports that 4 out of 5 children aged 4 are using the internet, and 30% of these children have access to their own device. Half of children have their own device by the age of 12. Read more here before you make decisions on your child’s access to the internet, devices and social media.
This Friday, we will have a couple of cricket players, Callum Vidler and Tom Straker from Queensland Bulls, visiting St Clare’s for a meet and greet with students in Years 3 to 6. Children are invited to bring in any cricket related items that they may want autographed by the players at this session.
Representative Sport
Congratulations to Madison who represented the Cassowary Coast in the 11-12 Rugby League trials held recently.
Congratulations to Jaxon, Henry, Declan and Kace who competed in the Peninsula Cricket trials held in Tolga over the weekend.
Our District Athletics Carnival is being held this week. Congratulations to those students who are eligible to attend. All relevant information around Tuesday’s and Friday’s events has been sent through Seesaw and schedules are attached.
2025 Term 3 fees were due Monday 4th August 2025. Letter reminders will be going out this week.
Invoices were sent by email to all parents. Please contact the school office if you do not receive the invoice so we can check your email address, or if you require a hardcopy of fees to make payment.
Please check your junk or spam mail.
Families have the option of paying weekly or fortnightly. Internet banking, or direct debit can be arranged with your bank.
Please note:-
There is NO EFTPOS available at the school office.
- Preferrably no cash but if paying in cash, we appreciate that correct money be given as we do not carry any change in the school office.
- If paying by Bpay or EFT direct debit or internet banking, please use the school bank account details shown on the term two statement.
- IMPORTANT: Please use your Ref: 966000….....(under Biller Code). This number is to be used when paying by Bpay, or EFT -direct debit, internet banking.
- Remittance slip at the bottom of the school account to be returned to the school office with ALL payments. (cash, cheque, direct debit or internet banking).
Thank you.
LIBRARY NEWS
CHILDREN’S BOOK WEEK 2025
16 to 23 AUGUST 2025
BOOK AN ADVENTURE
Book Week is celebrated each year in August.
This annual event highlights the importance of reading, and
draws on the joy of stories and creativity of Australian Books.
Book Week is about encouraging students to read; to share
favourite writers and illustrators; to look again at old favourite
books in maybe in a different way; to be alone and just read.
The aim for teachers during Book Week is to create an exciting
Environment and the Library using displays that challenge and stimulate
students to enjoy the theme, as well as the books that
are short listed for Book of the Year.
The Book of the Year winners will be announced during Children's Book Week.
You are welcome to visit the library to view some of the Notables and Shortlisted books
and winners of the 5 categories for 2025.
You can also view by visiting the website www.cbca.org.au
Don’t forget to dress up on Tuesday 19th August as
Your favourite Book Character
Fete preparation is well underway and with only 6 weeks to the big event we are still chasing donations for the classroom hampers. A huge shoutout to grade 3 and Prep whose hampers have had constant donations. Please keep in mind all items must be new as we use them to make up cent sale prizes.
The chocolate stall is the children’s favourite stall, we are chasing donations of bars, blocks, fun size packs or boxes. These can be left in the bucket at the office.
Ride wristbands are now on sale, all information regarding purchasing was in the last newsletter.
Thankyou
Fete Committee
TUCKSHOP ROSTER - Term 3
Friday 08/08/2025
Coordinator: T Dore Helpers: C Viero E Heath
Bakers: L Boyd R Murgha (Cupcakes)
Friday 17/08/2025
Coordinator: M Vipiana Helpers: K Waters K Kampe
Bakers: E La Fauci J Gillow (Cupcakes)
Pre-purchase of tickets are available now! Order forms were sent home with students last week. If you need another one they are available from the office.
There will be 3 rides this year: the Monkey Mayhem Super Slide, a massive Jurassic Jungle jumping castle and Bungee Run, so something for everyone!
There will be 3 one hour sessions available with unlimited rides. Wristbands can be purchased for either a one hour time slot or for the entire 3 hours. These rides will be supervised by staff from Barrier Reef Jumping Castles to ensure children get the most turns possible during their time slot. Staff from St. Clare’s will also be on hand to sell wristbands and monitor each session.
Single Ride tickets are not available.
Sessions will be $25 per hour, or all 3 hours for $50. There will be a limited number of wristbands sold for each session. Order forms can be returned in an envelope with the correct money and wristbands will be available for collection from the office. A Seesaw message will be sent to parents when your wristbands are ready for collection. Lost wristbands will not be replaced and are the responsibility of the purchaser once collected.
If you know of any friends or family that are not currently students, and may want to purchase tickets, you can either add them to your order or let them know to come to the office if they would like to pre-purchase.
If you want to wait and see what the rides look like, limited tickets will be available on the night of the Fete. If you need any further information email Karran: principal.tully@cns.catholic.edu.au.
