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 and often take the opportunity to gather for a social activity. 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 Mass on Saturday 18th. Please join us if you are able.

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.

Just a reminder that supervision of students in the mornings begins at 8:20am. If your child arrives at school prior to this time they must sit under the library in the eating area. Class teachers use this morning time up until 8:20 am for continued preparation. If you would like to see your child’s teacher in the morning please let them know and they will set up an appointment time with you.

Once dismissed at 8:20 am, students then have time to put their belongings away, check in with their teacher and friends and spend some time playing before the class bell rings at 8:35 am, and be ready for learning at the 8:40 am bell. If your child does arrive after 8:40 am, please remind them to go into the office to collect a late slip.

Staffing Update

I am very pleased to announce that Luke Mason has started with us at St. Clare’s, filling the grounds and maintenance position. Luke has much experience with maintenance and after just one short week has the grounds looking better. We will also welcome Janine Burns to our staff, filling the recently advertised position for a School Learning Officer. Janine has extensive experience in Education Support and will begin with us this week. Please join me in welcoming both Luke & Janine, both of whom I am sure will bring great value to St. Clare’s.

Attendance - currently 83.4% of St. Clare’s students have attended school 90% of the time. This is a small drop from our previous percentage and we have had a rise in illness, so we do thank parents for keeping students away when they are unwell. 18.9% 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.

Evacuation and Lockdown Procedures

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.

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

This Friday, we will celebrate St Patrick’s Day by dressing in green for a gold coin donation. Our Year 6 stewardship group will also be selling green jelly cups, topped with rainbows, for $1 at second break. All money collected from the free dress and jelly cup sales will go towards Project Compassion, our fundraising focus for the Lenten period. After the second break, children will spend time with their buddy class, engaging in more St Patrick’s Day activities together. The celebrations will continue with a St Patrick’s themed Mass, held on Saturday March 18 at 6pm in the St Clare’s Church. All of our school and parish community are most welcome to attend.

Next week, St Clare’s will celebrate Harmony Week. Year 5 will lead us in assembly explaining the significance of Harmony Week (celebrating Australia’s multiculturalism) next Friday. We will once again spend some time with our buddy classes that afternoon, enjoying some fun activities based around this event.

Thank you to those who have been supporting our Project Compassion appeal through donations. Our classes are continuing to learn about different people around the world and how they have been supported by Caritas. We will continue to collect donations up until the last day of school.

If you have a child (who has been baptised Catholic) and in Year 4 or older and you would like them to participate in the upcoming Sacramental Program next term, please get in touch (schappel@cns.catholic.edu.au). Please also pass this information on to others in our community if you think they may be interested.

With Blessings

Sharon Chappel

NAPLAN 2023

NAPLAN begins this Wednesday with Writing in both Years 3 and 5.  It is important to remember that teachers use a variety of assessments and activities to gauge student learning, not just NAPLAN; however, we would like to ensure that students have a positive experience while completing NAPLAN testing.  Ensuring students have a healthy breakfast, have a good night’s sleep and come with a nutritious lunch can all work towards encouraging a positive experience.  We ask that all students in Years 3 and 5 ensure their headphones are working. Students who are absent on a testing day will be required to catch up in the following days.  If you have any questions or concerns about NAPLAN, please contact your class teacher.

Testing Schedule

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

Parent/Teacher Interviews

Interview forms were sent out last week for online bookings via PTO.  If you are having any trouble with logging in or making your booking, please contact me on cedwards@cns.catholic.edu.au

Interviews for Year 3 begin this week, while the remaining classes will be during Week 9.  If you are unable to attend during this time, please contact your class teacher for alternative arrangements.

PLD – Promoting Literacy Development

St Clare’s have introduced the PLD – Promoting Literacy Development program this year with the Prep, Year 1 and 2 year levels..

PLD is a Structured Synthetic Phonics (SSP) approach and is based on international research and aligns with the current research of teaching children literacy skills.

Students have been involved in screening over the course of this term so teachers can target their phonic and spelling teaching to the needs of the students. The program focuses heavily on the ability for the students to blend and segment sounds, and this requires repeated targeted practice to embed skills.

PLD website has a range of resources for teachers and parents.  If you click on the following link for your child’s year level, you will find a Parent Information Sheet that offers an extensive range of parent milestone information sheets and videos.

Prep:

https://pld-literacy.org/product/foundation-parent-education-sheets-and-downloads-semester-1/

Year 1 and 2:

https://pld-literacy.org/product/year-1-2-parent-education-sheets-and-downloads/

Children benefit when home and school work together so please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher, if you would like to discuss any of your concerns. Research clearly states that the earlier intervention commences, the better the outcomes for the child.

Thank you,
Chris Edwards

Our spooky story writers have written, edited, and are in the final stages of formatting for the KSP writing competition due this Thursday. If your child has been a part of this group, I will be emailing you their completed story for entering on Wednesday afternoon. I have been so impressed with the creativity and imagination of these young writers, that I look forward to whole school writing endeavours, coming up next term for St Clare’s.

The AIA Healthiest School Challenge team have decided upon the creation of a worm farm and Tuckshop bottle recycle as our sustainability project, water hygiene reminders and advocacy for the inclusion of seasonal fruit in the tuckshop for healthy eating, the design of  a calm space for children during play time for improved mental health, and the promotion of brain breaks throughout the day for brain health and increased physical activity. We are seeking an donations of clean, unwanted cushions/beanbags for the calm space in the library to become more relaxing and quiet. If you have any of these items please email me at jlang@cns.catholic.edu.au to organise collection. We will be implementing, analysing, and reporting on these projects for our entry and thank you for your support.

A reminder that the JCU Cairns Literary eisteddfod entries need to be handed in by the 31^st of March. For further information go to https://www.cairnseisteddfod.org/literary/

Jess Lang

Will now be viewed down the side of the Newsletter.  Also there is a Calendar tab at the top of the Newsletter which you can click on to view all the events.

We are transitioning from Skoolbag app to SZapp (Schoolzine).  SZapp is more user friendly than Skoolbag.

From Term 2 there will be no more Skoolbag.

Newsletter and absentee notification will now be accessed via SZapp.

The SZapp is ready to download and use.

Instructions below to download app.  Any queries please contact office.


In order to access your SZapp, you will be required to enter the following four-digit passcode:

3648

Click here to view SZapp Installation Guide, FAQ's and Printable Instructions

Click here to download a customisable PowerPoint Presentation

Term 1, 2023
Week 6

St. Clare’s Way Award

Madison, Jasten, Cole, Jonathon, Emment, Blake, Nate

 

Academic Award

Basil, Brodie, Ashton, Ekam

  

  Social & Emotional Learning Award

Asher & Laurence

Thank you to those families and staff that ordered pies from our Annual Pie Drive. Pies will be delivered on Tuesday the 28th March, these can be collected from the Tuckshop from 2.30pm on the day (28th March).

Reminders will be via seesaw as the date approaches. 

All pies will need to be collected that day as I don't have freezer space at school to hold any pies.

Thanks Marie

Thank you to those who have volunteered to help at the Touch Gala Day, I’m still looking for few more helpers in the canteen, can you please let me know if you can fill a spot on 0418 158 872.

Thanks Marie

TOUCH FOOTBALL ROSTER FRIDAY 31^st MARCH 2023

THANK YOU LADIES FOR GIVING UP YOUR TIME TO HELP and please if your child is playing and you need to watch that is OK just make sure we have enough help at the canteen before you leave.

Thanks Marie

P&F are looking to appoint a Grants Officer. This person would seek/apply for grants that would be beneficial for our school and students. If this is something you may be interested in or have experience in please contact Melissa Murphy - melmmurph83@gmail.com.

Cross Country

I want to say a massive congratulations to each and every student who competed in our cross country on Friday. We were so impressed with the level of participation at this carnival and the effort and perseverance displayed by every child. It was a very hot day and we are proud of each and every one of you. Participation at this sports event has set the bar high for our carnivals this year and I look forward to seeing everyone in attendance for our athletics carnival next Term.

Congratulations to our age champions for 2023. This is an exceptional achievement. A massive congratulations to Cooby for being the overall House winners for 2023.

Parents with students who placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the 10-12 years age groups will be invited to attend the Cassowary Coast District Cross Country which is scheduled for Friday the 28th of April. Permission slips will be sent at the start of next Term when I have received all of the information for this event. I highly recommend you add that date to your calendar.

AGE CHAMPIONS 

AGE	GIRLS	BOYS
12 yrs	Emily Quabba	Blake Blennerhassett
11 yrs	Maisy Chappel	Saxon Solien
10 yrs	Layla Morris	Heath Driemel
9 yrs	Maddison Clifford	Billy Johnston
8 yrs	Evie Parkes	Tarique Noonan
7 yrs	Willow Driemel	Lucas Flegler & Jhett Coppens
6 yrs	Aherlow Driemel	Darius Downes
5 yrs	Torah Furmage	Julian Barra

Rugby League & Netball Gala Day

What an incredible day we had the other week at the Rugby League and Netball Gala Day. Our students displayed exceptional behaviour and incredible sportsmanship. We are very proud of every student that was involved in this day. Our rugby league teams were undefeated and our netball teams played exceptionally well with the Year 6 girls team making it through to the A Grade final. Congratulations to all of the students for outstanding results on the field and on the court.

Big sports days like these are impossible without our amazing staff and parents. We were very fortunate to have several parents assist us with coaching teams and assisting with first aid. A massive thank you to Mr Emmi, Mr Clifford, Mr Silvestro, Mr Condon, Mrs Brunello and Miss Lucy who all volunteered for us at the gala day and shared their wealth of knowledge with our students. We are very grateful for your assistance and support. Thank you parents and staff for helping make this day such a big success.

The following students were selected in the Southern Zone rugby league teams and will be playing against the Northern Zone teams at the Cassowary Coast Trial this Friday.

-Blake Blennerhassett

-Basil Dore

-Laine Spencer

-Nollie Uitenweerde

-Kelly Clifford

-Logan Jesse

-Chase Frumento

-Saxon Solien

-Seb Di Mauro

-Nate Silvestro

-Kade Murphy.

Congratulations boys! Good luck at the Cassowary Coast trial.

The following girls were selected in the netball squad:

-Leah Johnston

-Lexie Waters

-Emily Quabba

Congratulations girls and a special mention to Lexie Waters who was selected in the Southern Zone team. Good luck at the Cassowary Coast Trial on Thursday Lexie.

Cassowary Coast Basketball

Congratulations to Aiden Morris for being selected in the Cassowary Coast Basketball team. We wish you all the best at the Regional Championships on the 30th of March.

Kind Regards,

Kate Mason

School Photos will be Tuesday 9th May, 2023.  More information will be provided next Term.