Dear St Clare's Community,

Welcome to Week 6! It is hard to believe that this week marks the halfway point of Term 1. We continue to see staff and students absent due to COVID. Again, thank you to our families for keeping us informed of positive tests and close contact details.

From Friday 4th March some restrictions will ease. Below is a summary of what changes will take place for St. Clare’s.

Mask Changes

1. Until 4 March 2022 – Mask wearing requirements in schools remain the same.
2. After 6pm 4 March 2022- Mask wearing is not required of staff or students but:

• People are encouraged to wear masks if they feel they are vulnerable.
• Unvaccinated staff who have a medical contraindication must continue to wear masks according to their risk assessment.
• There are some workplaces where masks are still required but schools are not one of these.

Vaccine Mandate - remains in place, no changes. Staff, volunteers and contractors are required to be fully vaccinated.

Assemblies, Gatherings and Site Access

From 4th March, venue density rules and gathering rules will be removed. This also means:

• No requirement to limit site visits to essential work only.
• Face to face meetings can resume.
• Normal school assemblies can resume.
• Restrictions for vaccinated service providers and contractors remains in place (QR code).

Congratulations to our students who participated in the Rugby and Netball Carnivals last Friday. It was a successful day for all and we are proud of all students for their participation and sportsmanship. We particularly thank Mrs Mason for her work in the lead up to this event, staff and other volunteers that coached and managed teams.

It was a sea of tie-dye, tu-tu’s, tiaras and ties for 2’s day last week. Thanks to everyone that added a little brightness to the day  - a wonderful way to spread some smiles!

We still have quite a number of mosquitoes hanging around. Paul has sprayed outdoor areas, however this is not very effective. It may be a good idea to apply repellent to students before school each morning.

Lent

This week we begin our Lenten journey as a school and parish community. Lent is a time to take inventory of our lives and to see where we need to get back on track.

God of life:

You sent Jesus into the world to show us how to live.

Help us to embrace the example and teachings of Jesus, by spending time with Jesus, the living Word.

Draw us deeper into unity with you and our brothers and sisters, through our efforts to live in peace and justice with one another. Inspire and encourage us to be agents of the Gospel as we strive to be an influence for good in our world.  We ask this through Jesus, the light of the world. Amen

During Lent, our Yr 6 leaders are involved in various justice and stewardship activities that support Project Compassion.  We thank them for their leadership and for Mrs Chappel in supporting them.

2023 Enrolments

It seems early to be discussing enrolments for 2023 BUT if you have a child born between 1/7/2017 and 30/6/2018, your child is eligible to start Prep in 2023. Please go to our website to complete an online enrolment - https://www.stclares.qld.edu.au/enrolling/enrolment-application/. We already have a number of students registered and places are limited. Interviews will commence in Term 2.

Volunteer training

Have you completed volunteer training?  All parents assisting with sport training, tuckshop, sport days, transport, excursions, classroom assistance etc need to complete the training, each year, found on the Catholic Education website. Go to: https://www.cns.catholic.edu.au/our-school-communities/parent-engagement/volunteer-training/  

Wishing you all well for the week ahead

Karran Burzacott
Principal

Welcome   Community   Hospitality

What a lovely sight it was this morning as students gathered to share a pancake breakfast to signal the beginning of Lent tomorrow. Thank you to the Year 6 students and staff who had an extra early start this morning to ensure the pancakes were ready for our first arrivals at 8am. Tomorrow, we will gather again to acknowledge Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. The Year 5 and 6 students will participate in a Liturgy in the church, while the Prep to 4 classes will hold their own prayer ceremonies in class, to receive their ashes.

Each year, St Clare’s uses the time of Lent to focus on raising funds for Caritas. Their Project Compassion theme for 2022 is ‘For All Future Generations’. It comes from one of the great moments in Scripture: after the flood has receded in the book of Genesis, God puts a rainbow in the sky as a sign that the earth will never again suffer in such a way. God makes a promise with the human family and the whole of creation “for all future generations.” This theme challenges us to venture into a new experience of compassion: one full of hope in God’s promise. Each week, our students will hear inspiring stories from all over the world, highlighting the importance of working with communities around the world. This Lent, we are encouraged to make simple lifestyle changes and act with care for each other and our environment. Our challenge is to respond with love and hope, now and for all future generations. Students will bring home a small money box tomorrow and they are encouraged to collect small change each week, which will then be brought into their class money box each Friday for collection. 

Sacramental program

If you are interested in your child participating in the Sacramental program this year (generally students in Year 4 or above), this will most likely occur in Term 3 or 4. I will keep parents informed as more information comes to hand.

With Blessings
Sharon Chappel

School Calendar 2022

We have an amount of $500 that was deposited into the school Bpay account. This transaction was on the 15th Feb with no reference number and no remittance advise was sent to the school office. This amount cannot be posted to a family until we have the reference number. 

Parent is required to contact the school office and supply their bank transaction receipt so it can be cross checked with details in the Bpay account.

Thank you.

Friday  11/3/2022

NO TUCKSHOP

Invoices were sent by email to all parents on Tuesday, 15th February.
Due date for fees to be paid is today, 1st March.

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 one 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, direct debit or internet banking).

Thank you.

Term 1, 2022
Week 4

Prep

Zara, Lucas, Dilshan

Year 1

Isabel and Belle

Year 2

Eva, Blake and Alice

Year 3

Tina, Mia and Aghi

Year 4

Darcy, Eden and Laurence

Year 5

Indiana and Jeffrey

Year 6

Amber, Declan, Sahib

Student Awards Week 5

Term 1, 2022

Prep 

Mia, Mitchell, Mac

Year 1

Sienna and Louisa

Year 2

Lachlan and Thomas

Year 3

Noah and Phoebe

Year 4

Layla and Grace

Year 5

Ayla and Lexie

PIE DRIVE

It’s that time of the year again “PIE DRIVE TIME”. Order forms will be going home with the eldest in the family this week and this year orders that you collect will need to be placed by you, via the Flexischools App. There will be a 29c fee exactly like when you place a tuckshop order. This process will be a lot easier than you having to send money into school.

All orders are due by 9am the 30th March with Pies being delivered Wednesday 11th May between 2.30 and 3pm from the Tuckshop.

The family size pies are made by the crew at the bottom bakery and prices have remained the same as last year.

I will have regular reminders in the newsletter and via other forms of communication over the next few weeks. Please support this wonderful fundraiser.

If you require any further information please let me know.

Thanks Marie

0418 158 872