St Clare's School Tully eNewsletter

Dear St Clare's Community,

Welcome to Week 6! We are now at the halfway point of Term. It has already been jam packed and we look forward to all the learning and activities throughout the final five weeks of term.

This Thursday, 2nd March, we hope to have the Rugby/Netball Gala Day for students in Years 4-6. This event unfortunately needed to be rescheduled due to weather, so keep the organisers in your thoughts as we wait for the wet weather of the past week to clear.

Communication between home and school is such an important part of us working together in your child's learning journey. We have many ways in which we communicate with each other and they all serve a different purpose. For any student absences or other time sensitive matters, such as bus changes and early pickups for appointments, please ring the office.

Seesaw is a wonderful platform for teachers to share work in the classroom and the message and announcement functions can be very useful. Please be mindful that teachers do not check messages while teaching and often do not get to messages and emails until the end of the day.

This Newsletter is another way we communicate and comes out fortnightly. The sign on Mars St. has upcoming events and reminders and is updated weekly. We also promote the great things happening at St. Clare’s on our Facebook page. If you don’t already follow us, please do, as many photos are shared through this platform.

Attendance - currently 85.2% of St. Clare’s students have attended school 90% of the time. Our system wide goal is 90% of students attending 90% of the time. As there have been a few bugs and colds going around at the moment, absences are sometimes unavoidable. I thank those parents that keep their children home if sick or unwell. 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.

Prep 2024 is very nearly full, with just a few spaces left. If you have a child born between 1/7/2018 and 30/6/2019, your child is eligible to start Prep in 2024. Please go to our website to complete an online enrolment - https://www.stclares.qld.edu.au/enrolling/enrolment-application/. Interviews for 2024 will commence in Term 2.

Blessings for the weeks ahead,

Karran Burzacott
Principal

Welcome Community Hospitality

As we begin the Lenten journey, our focus is once again on how we can support others less fortunate than us. Last Thursday, Andrew Knife from Caritas spent the day with our Year 6 students raising awareness about Project Compassion while developing leadership skills and exploring Catholic Social Teachings. Each student would have brought home a small money box after our Ash Wednesday mass. We would like anysmall change available to go into these money boxes and then come into school each Friday to be added to the class money box. As a school, we will also be holding a variety of fundraisers that will go towards Project Compassion. Selling pancakes on Shrove Tuesday raised over $170 and the Year 6 class are planning on making jelly cups for St Patrick’s Day, combined with a green free dress day, which will also go towards this charity.

With Blessings

Sharon Chappel

NAPLAN 2023

Students and teachers are currently preparing for 2023 NAPLAN testing. There are protocols the school must follow with regards to the implementation of tests, including the order in which they are delivered. Students must sit the Writing test before any other. If a student is sick and unable to attend school on the day of the Writing, they will need to complete this test upon their return before continuing with the remaining tests. Please see below for our school’s test schedule. If you have any questions or concerns about NAPLAN testing, please contact your class teacher.

Wed 15th March

9.00 - Year 5 Writing
9.00 - Year 3 Writing

Thurs 16th March

9.00 - Year 3 and 5 Reading
11.40 - Year 3 and 5 Language Conventions

Mon 20th March

9.00 - Year 3 and 5 Numeracy

Tues 21st - Fri 24th March

Catch up window

Seesaw

If you are not currently connected to your child’s Seesaw, please let me know via email at cedwards@cns.catholic.edu.au .

Thank you,
Chris Edwards

Hearing Awareness Week 27 Feb - 3 March and World Hearing Day 3 March

Keep Your Ears Healthy

Hearing Awareness Week is held at this time each year to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world. It is recommended that all children are screened for hearing so any issues can be detected early.

Hearing Australia has developed an app called Sound Scouts in collaboration with Australia’s National Acoustic laboratories, the research arm of Hearing Australia. Middle ear problems make up the majority of hearing issues experienced by school students. At St Clare’s, we encourage all the Prep students and other students identified by the class teachers to participate in the Sound Scout hearing screener. Hearing assessments are important as optimal educational outcomes are dependent on good hearing. Children’s hearing can fluctuate depending on the ear health at different times. A visit to the doctor can help address these issues, either on the spot, with medication treatment or by providing a referral to an Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist.

Permission notes will be sent home this week with the Prep students for them to participate in the Sound Scout hearing screener. The school receives a report from Sound Scout once the hearing screener has been completed and this is forwarded to parents with recommendations. If you would like to research more information about the Sound Scouts Hearing check, you can on the following website: https://soundscouts.com

Keep Your Ears Healthy

Follow these simple tips from the World Health Organisation:

DO use earplugs in noisy places

DO check your hearing regularly (we recommend Sound Scouts )

DO wear your hearing aids regularly, as advised

DO see a doctor if you have ear or hearing problems

DON’T put cotton buds, oil, sticks or pins inside your ears

DON’T swim or wash in dirty water

DON’T share earphones or earplugs

DON’T listen to loud sounds or loud music

Enrichment News

Students have been selected to work on two separate ventures for Term 1. We have a group of talented and enthusiastic writers, creating a spooky story for entry in a KSP Writers competition, who are challenged to create a PG rated narrative that sends chills with the after-midnight theme.

St Clare’s is also registered in the AIA Healthiest School Challenge for 2023 and we have a dedicated team of students to innovate, implement, and analyse healthy whole-school initiatives to help St Clare’s become a healthier school in areas of physical activity, mental wellbeing, healthy eating, and sustainability. We will keep you updated on our progress and how you can be involved and support our Enrichment students and St Clare’s community.

Wednesday 8th March is World Maths Day, we are encouraging students to be involved in Maths problem solving activities in preparation for our upcoming APSMO challenge games starting in Week 3 of Term 2. If your child is in year 3,4, 5, or 6 and excited to be involved in this program, please advise your class teacher and get excited about Mathematics!

Jess Lang

Term 1 Collection Fee letters were sent out yesterday 27th February.

Payment of outstanding fees would be appreciated as soon as possible.

Please contact the principal if you have any issues or concerns.

Thank you to all families who have made their payment.

Sports house team shirts need to be in by 9am tomorrow (1st March) for screen printing.

School Calendar 2023

March
10		Cross Country
27	12pm	Bravehearts
31		Touch Football Gala Day Yr 4-6 Last day for Term 1

April
7		Good Friday
17		School resumes

Term 1

Assembly Classes: Wk 6 - Yr 3, Wk 7 - No Assembly

Other Weeks: Wk 8 -Yr 2, Wk 9 - Yr 5, Wk 10 - No Assembly

Just a reminder that our Pie Drive is up and running, orders are to be in by NEXT FRIDAY THE 10th MARCH. Ordering is done via Flexischools App.

Thank you to those who have placed orders already.

Marie

On Friday the 31^st March, Tully State High School is hosting the annual Touch Football Carnival. St Clare’s caters for this event, that sees all the local schools in the district compete. The carnival is opened to Year 4 to Year 6 Students.

This is a great fundraiser for the P & F and we are looking forward to getting in and raising some money for our school, BUT we need YOUR HELP. I’m sending this note out to all grades, even if you don’t have a child playing you may still like to volunteer some time to help which we would really appreciate.

The P & F executive have asked me to run a roster this year looking for helpers to fill time slots. At this stage I’m looking for helpers to work for 30mins and if you could do two time slots that would be even better. We all want to get around to watch our children compete. If I get an overwhelming number of helpers you may only have to help for 1 shift. I don’t have a draw for the day as of yet but children play more than one game so, if you are rostered on while your child is playing he or she will be playing again at some stage during the day.

All that is involved is serving food and drinks, I will be on for the majority of the day so I would be looking at another two to three helpers per shift with lunch time shifts probably four helpers. Those who send back notes first, get preference on the time slot that they have chosen. If I fill a slot I will put you down for the next available time.

We will be looking for donations of cupcakes and slices on the day as well but I will put out more information about this in the next newsletter.

PLEASE RETURN FORMS TO THE OFFICE BY MONDAY 13^th March as then I will be able to put the roster together.

Thank You
Marie Vipiana

NAME: ………………………………………………………. PHONE:……………………………………………….

	PLEASE TICK TIME SLOT		PLEASE TICK TIME SLOT
8.00 TO 8.30		11.00 TO 11.30
8.30 TO 9.00		11.30 TO 12.00
9.00 TO 9.30		12.00 TO 12.30
9.30 TO 10.00		12.30 TO 1.00
10.00 TO 10.30		1.00 TO 1.30
10.30 TO 11.00		1.30 TO 2.00

TUCKSHOP ROSTER - Term 1

Friday 03/03/2023

Coordinator: M Vipiana Helpers: K Waters T Condon

Bakers: D Jodvalkis L Morris (Cupcakes)

Friday 10/03/2023

Coordinator: M Vipiana Helpers: L Robertson F Cooke

Bakers: L Johnston S Zammitt (Cupcakes)

Tuckshop: A few reminders:

If you haven’t yet, can you PLEASE change your child’s grade on Flexischools App to what class he or she is in this year. I’m finding some parents have not changed their child’s class so then the Tuckshop orders are going to the wrong classroom on a Friday morning. To change your child’s class go into their name on Flexischools App and select what class he or she are in this year.

If you do not receive a confirmation email, your order has not been placed. For children who are placing their own orders, please check that the order has been submitted correctly.

Due to other school commitments, our tuckshop convenor is only available to assist with any changes to orders before 8.30am on Thursdays.
If you require any assistance with the Flexischools app or your child’s order, please contact Marie Vipiana.

Thanks
Marie

Cassowary Coast Representatives

We have had numerous students selected in the Cassowary Coast District Touch Football teams. Congratulations to Laine Spencer, Logan Jesse, Saxon Solien, Maisy Chappel, Leah Johnston, Emily Quabba and Eden Emmi who were all selected in the team. Congratulations also to Indiana Grimaz and Layla Morris who were selected as shadows. There is a very high level of skill displayed on the touch footy field within this district and we are very proud of all of these students for being selected at this level. We wish them all the best at the Regional Trials in Cairns next week.

Peninsula Championships - Cricket

Congratulations to Chase Frumento, William Robertson, Seb Di Mauro, Saxon Solien and Nollie Uitenweerde who recently travelled to Tolga to compete the at Peninsula Cricket Championships as part of the Cassowary Coast Cricket Team and the Presidents X1 Team (shadow players).

The Cassowary Coast cricket team, with Chase, William and Seb, were unbeaten all weekend and had a record 5 players selected to the Peninsula team, one being Chase Frumento. The grand final was a very close game with Cassowary Coast only making 84 runs in their innings batting first. But the boys defended the total with some great bowling and fielding to bowl Tablelands out with 12 runs spare. An outstanding achievement to be the best team in the north. Congratulations boys!

The Presidents XI, a team made up of shadow players from Cassowary Coast and Tablelands, including Saxon and Nollie, played with great spirit and won their final game on Monday.

A huge congratulations to Chase for being selected in the Peninsula team. We wish you all the best at the State Championships at the end of this Term.