Dear St Clare's Community,

As Mother's Day approaches, we take time to celebrate the special women in our lives who have loved and nurtured us unconditionally. We recognise the incredible impact they have had on our lives. They have provided us with support, guidance, and endless amounts of love. On their special day, let's take the time to show our appreciation and gratitude for all that they do. Happy Mother's Day! For all our mums and those we hold dear, I hope you have a lovely Mother's Day this coming Sunday.

We have received our order of new sandpit toys for use in the downstairs playground. All of these trucks, diggers, buckets, scoops and rakes have been purchased with a very generous donation from the St. Gerard Committee. This donation has allowed us to buy many toys that will be able to be enjoyed by a larger number of children.

Attendance data to date - 79.4% of students have attended 90% (or more). Our goal is 90% of students attending 90% of the time. 19% of student absences are unexplained. Our goal is 0 unexplained absences. If you child is away - please notify the office.

Attendance Matters (why it’s important)

✔ A bright future for your child starts with good school attendance every day, all day.

✔ Good attendance doesn’t guarantee positive outcomes for students, however, positive outcomes are unlikely to occur without good attendance.

Every day counts

✔ A day here or there may not seem like much, but your child missing one day a fortnight will miss four weeks in a year, and nearly 1½ years of school by Year 12.

✔ If your child misses 3 weeks of school a year, that’s a year of school by the end of Year 12.

Every minute matters

✔ Being just ten minutes late every day adds up to nearly half a year of lost schooling from Prep to Year 12.

✔ Good time keeping means making sure that your child is at school and ready to learn before the school bell rings.

Good habits start early

✔ It is important that children develop regular attendance habits (over 95%) at an early age. The pattern of attendance in Year 1 is highly predictive of what patterns of attendance will be in subsequent years. Let’s work together

✔ Our attendance goal is 90% or more of students attending 90% or more of the time and 0% unexplained absences.

The main reasons for absence and what we can do

✔ Sickness – Naturally there are times when students need to miss school, such as when they’re ill. It’s vital that they’re only away on the days they are genuinely sick, and setting good sleep patterns, eating well and exercising regularly can make a big difference.

✔ Holidays – It is vital that holidays are planned during school holidays where possible, and not during the term if it can be avoided.

✔ ‘Day off’ – Think twice before letting your child have a ‘day off’ as they could fall behind their classmates – every day counts.

Karran Burzacott
Principal

Faith Knowledge Community Respect

This Saturday night, we gather as a community to celebrate Mother’s Day at mass. We invite all members of our community to come along with their mothers, grandmothers and other important women in their lives as our Prep to Year 3 students assist Fr Kerry Costigan (who is our presiding priest while Fr Joby is away for his annual break).

The 2023 Sacramental Program will also kick off at Saturday’s mass, where this year’s candidates will receive a cross and recite the Creed before beginning their preparation lessons next week. If you wish for your child to participate in this year’s program (and they are baptised Catholic, in Year 4 or older), it is not too late to enrol. I am looking forward to leading this group of children in the next step of their faith journey.

With Blessings
Sharon Chappel

Back Row: Indiana, Darcy, Brodie, Noah, Henry, Phoebe, Eden, Laine
Front Row: Alice, Nylah, Ezra, Edward, Lincoln, Mila

Invoices were sent by email to all parents on Friday, 28th April.
Due date for fees to be paid is Friday, 12th May.

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, cheque, direct debit or internet banking).

Thank you.

Photos can be still ordered for up to 2 weeks from today.

FETE UPDATE No 1

The fete organizing is well underway. Its great to see some families have already sold and returned Raffle Tickets, donations have already started to come in for class hampers, this is also wonderful. Can we just ask as the fete is still 4 months away that chocolates are not sent in until next term as we have to keep them for too long a period and our weather is very temperamental.

Attached to this newsletter is an updated store roster, thank you to those who have contacted the committee or returned forms on where they can help. You will see where we still need help we only ask for an hour of your time. If you would like to give more or do a smaller shift talk to your store convenor, we can make anything work we just want to see our fete be a success to benefit our children.

Thanks