Santa Clara School Newsletter

Dear Parents & Caregivers,

Welcome back to Santa Clara School for the 2024 school year. We welcome all new students and families to our beautiful community. We hope that your time here with us will be enjoyable for you and your children. An extra warm welcome to all our new Kindy students. I have had the best time visiting the Kindy area and watching the confidence of the students in their new learning environment. We also welcome Miss Maria Nieto (Pre-Primary) and Miss Tanya Pavlovic (Year 4) to our staff and community.

I am sure you have all enjoyed being out of routine over the summer holidays, not needing to iron uniforms or make lunches! I am also certain, the last week and a bit may have been hectic trying to re-establish those old routines. My eldest daughter, Izabella, has commenced her final year of school, that is right, the dreaded Year 12! Finding routines at home is proving difficult as she wants to study but we also want her to find the balance to enjoy life. Please be gentle on yourselves as these routines once again fall into place, which they will.

Each year I try and have a bit of a focus that impacts me both at school and in my personal life. Towards the end of last year, I read a book called 4000 Weeks by Oliver Burkeman. It is a book basically about time management which has had a profound impact on me as a person. His message is pretty clear; in our attempt to master time, time ends up mastering us. And the 4000 weeks? Well, that is the average life span. When you think of that, life can be seen as terrifyingly short!

Burkeman writes about the issue of not having enough time along with an anxiety about the future. He describes that although planning ahead is a good thing, the future is unpredictable, and things may not go to plan. Therefore, embracing the imperfection and realising there is uncertainty even though you may think you have planned meticulously, you begin to let go a bit of that anxiety. In dealing with the limited time we have, he recommends prioritising work tasks and activities in the physical world over the digital world, as well as choosing to spend more time with family, friends and the community, all while realising that endless to-do list will never actually be accomplished.

I have shared this with the staff and have encouraged them to work towards all of this so that they can find that balance that allows them to carry out their work which they all love, while prioritising time with the important people in their lives. As a staff, we are committed to our personal growth as well as our collective growth as educators, however, it is important to remember that we will not get it ‘right’ all the time and that is ok. It is so important for us all to be on the same page and value what we do as a staff. Our biggest commitment is to each student’s growth. We want to see each student flourish during their time at Santa Clara.

With accepting the imperfect, can come a sense of nervousness as at times we need to step out of our comfort zone. That is why I love this quote. I mean, think about the start of the year for our students. They enter a new room with a new teacher, who they may have not even met before. The thing is, having a positive mindset to the nervousness allows us to enjoy the moment as you start to see good things. It is not easy when we face the unknown but being happy in anticipation of what is to come brings a sense of joy that allows us to be gentle on ourselves and embrace all the messiness and imperfection that may come our way, even though we think we have planned so carefully.

In commencing the new year, I have once again read a quote from Pope Francis which I do each year. It is one of those quotes that I think is worth all of us thinking about, not just for ourselves but also our children. He says, “You can have flaws, be anxious and even be angry, but do not forget that your life is the greatest enterprise in the world. Only you can stop it from failing. You are appreciated, admired and loved by so many. Remember that being happy is not having a sky without a storm, a road without accidents, a job without effort, a relationship without disappointments. To be happy is to stop feeling like a victim and become the author of your own fate. It’s walking through deserts but being able to find an oasis deep in the soul. It is thanking God every morning for the miracle of life. It’s kissing your children, cuddling your parents, having poetic moments with your friends, even when they hurt us.”

What I love about this speech is that Pope Francis is reminding us that when we make a mistake, we start over, and it ties so well into the message in the book. Being happy is not about having a perfect life, instead our challenges and mistakes shape who we become from what we learn about ourselves and that we must make time for those moments that mean so much to us.

As your child enters this new year, if you have any concerns about them make sure you make an appointment to see their teacher as they are eager to work with you. As Principal, I am always there to assist you during your time at Santa Clara, however, your child’s teacher should always be your first contact regarding your child and their learning. Maintaining open and honest communication is important for us at Santa Clara School as it is a way to help alleviate some stress for you. Parents are encouraged to notify your child’s teacher of any concerns you may have and to make an appointment at a mutually convenient time before or after school. The easiest way to make an appointment is to email your child’s teacher directly or via Seesaw.

When emailing please consider what is appropriate to be emailed and what needs to be discussed face to face. In relation to emails, I need to reinforce that there is no expectation from me that staff members are to be communicating via email during the school day or after school hours or the weekend. Likewise, questions or requests sent via email cannot always be answered or responded to immediately. My expectation is that some kind of response, even if it is pending further follow up, should be received within a maximum of 24 hours of sending an initial enquiry, not including weekends. Our staff are very professional, and service focused, but their role involves them wearing multiple hats throughout the day. I ask that you allow them time to address your questions professionally and in a realistic timeframe.

As a staff, we have been looking forward to the beginning of another year and I must say that as parents you should be very proud of the way your children have settled into their new classes, especially as this has not been a normal start. The children at Santa Clara School continue to set such a high standard and I encourage them to continue this. I would also like to acknowledge the staff for the care they show our students each day. How lucky am I to be working with such a great bunch of people.

Early Close Term 2 and Term 4

Parents and caregivers are reminded of our two Early Closes this year for Parent Teacher Interviews on Wednesday, 22 May and Wednesday, 13 November. On these days our school will close at 11:50am.

Approval has been obtained for our OSHC service to be available to families who have children enrolled in OSHC on the early close days from 11:50am to 6:00pm. Over the coming weeks Tahlya Perez will provide details regarding booking your child into OSHC on these days.

Child Safe Framework

Have you heard of the CEWA Child Safe Framework?

Our CEWA Child Safe Framework help us to make decisions surrounding child safety in the school using nine elements.

These nine elements include:

• Support and Healing: Responding to those who have been injured or hurt through abuse and harm and to assist them to heal.
• Voice of the Child: Recognises each child and young person’s right to be heard and to have a voice in all that happens to them.
• Culture: All members of the school community share responsibility for, and actively promote an environment that prioritises the best interests of children and young people.
• Governance and Leadership: School leaders understand, create and promote environments that are safe, supportive and engaging. They make their decisions based on the best interests of students.
• Policy and Procedures: Structures and processes that are accessible, consistent and transparent. Policies must be understood, implemented and actioned everyday.
• Human Resource Practices: These practices assist our schools and care centres to identify the most suitable people to work with our students and to provide appropriate training.
• Risk Management: Proactively identifying and limiting potential risks.
• Investigation and Reporting: The development and implementation of processes that are transparent, fair and clearly understood by the school community.
• Quality Assurance: Systematic, continual improvement is evident through ongoing evaluation and assessment.

Code of Conduct

At Santa Clara School, all staff, parents, and visitors adhere to our school Code of Conduct. This year, we will be reinforcing our Code of Conduct with all families and at our Catholic School Advisory Council meetings. The code is outlined below:

Conduct Statements

1. You act safely and competently.
2. You give priority to students’ safety and well-being in all your behaviour and decision making.
3. You act in accordance with the values of the Gospel as defined in the Code of Ethical Conduct.
4. You conduct yourself in accordance with laws, agreements, policies and standards relevant to your relationship with the school community.
5. You respect the dignity, culture, values and beliefs of each member of the school community.
6. You treat personal information about members of the school community as private and confidential.
7. You give impartial, honest and accurate information about the education, safety and well-being of students.
8. You support all members of the school community in making informed decisions about students.
9. You promote and preserve the trust and privilege inherent in your relationship with all members of the school community.
10. You maintain and build on the community’s trust and confidence in Catholic schools and the Church.
11. You act reflectively and ethically.
12. You allow students to have a voice in their education, safety and well-being.

Should any member of the school community have concerns about someone not adhering to the Code of Conduct, they may access our Code of Conduct Breach Form via our school website.

Parent Dispute and Complaint Resolution Procedure

At Santa Clara School, we are committed to handling complaints and concerns effectively and efficiently. Our full procedure can be found on our school website.

Student Code of Conduct

Our Student Code of Conduct developed by our students presents the Code of Conduct in language that is easily understood by them. Their Code of Conduct also provides them with avenues to discuss concerns or suggestions.

P&F Meeting

Please note that the first P&F Meeting of the year will take place on Tuesday 13 February in our Mandjoogoordap Room (next door to our Larney Library) commencing at 5:15pm. It is always great to see new faces and hear new ideas. This is a wonderful way for you to contribute to your children’s education. So please come along and join in the planning for the year ahead and invite other parents to come along with you.

Santa Clara’s Catholic School Advisory Council

The Santa Clara Catholic School Advisory Council is a great example of how our school and parents/caregivers work together to make our community the great place it is. We will be holding our first meeting on Tuesday, 13 February.

Holiday Works

Our school is looking amazing with all the works being completed over the holidays, including our new soft fall! As well as this, our vacation clean and garden maintenance that took place ensures our school is looking fantastic. Stay tuned for lots more exciting things happening this year at Santa Clara School.

Uniform

I would like to thank the students for wearing our uniform with such pride each day. Thank you for your support with maintaining such a high standard at Santa Clara School. Students in Years 1 to 6 are to wear the following:

• Monday: Sports Uniform with BURGUNDY SHIRT
• Tuesday: Sports Uniform with FACTION SHIRT
• Wednesday to Friday: Formal Uniform

Kiss and Drive

Thank you to all of you for being so patient as we get back into the swing of things especially in our Kiss and Drive. Staff are on duty until 3:20pm each day so there is ample time for you to collect your children. The more families we have spreading out their pickup means we have less banking of cars creating issues for our neighbours.

Unfortunately, I saw three cars make a right turn out of the Kiss and Drive today which is disappointing. I understand that turning left may add a few extra minutes to your journey, however, I urge you to keep it consistent by everyone in our community following the ‘Left Turn Only’. Our full Traffic Management Procedure can be found on our school website.

Parent Information Night

Please join us on Wednesday, 14 February at 5pm for our Parent Information Night. This night is an opportunity to connect with your child’s teacher and hear important information regarding your child’s schooling for 2024. I will address the community in the Undercover Area at 5pm and then you are invited to attend a session at 5:15pm or 5:45pm in your child’s classroom. Please remember, this is a parent only event and children should not be attending.

The night will finish early enough for that Valentines dinner!!

Street Parking

I urge you to all pay attention to the street signs as the Rangers will be visiting all schools in the area and issuing fines to parents doing the wrong thing. As well as this, please exercise your duty of care by supervising your child when they are crossing the road. Thank you for your continued support.

Merit Awards

Merit Awards will be given out at our Friday Awards Assembly. If your child is receiving an award, an email will be sent to you prior to the event so that you may attend if you wish. Our Awards Assembly commences at 9.00am sharp.

St Norbert College

OPEN DAY, Friday 1 March 2024

St Norbert College warmly invites prospective students and their parents to tour our beautiful College, its contemporary facilities and extensive grounds. Tours will be conducted at 9.00am and 1.00pm.

Enrolments for Year 7 in 2026

We have commenced our enrolments for 2026. Application forms may be obtained by phoning the Enrolment Officer, Mrs Hughes on 9350 5433.

St Norbert College - Sibling Discount

Santa Clara School is once again partnering with St Norbert College in 2024 to continue the Sibling Discount.

If you have a child attending St Norbert College and a child attending Santa Clara School concurrently the Sibling Discount corresponding to discounts of 20%, 40% and 100% will apply to the child attending Santa Clara School.

Parents are asked to complete the Sibling Discount Form and submit it to our Santa Clara School Administration Office before the end of Term One.

We very much appreciate this partnership and the benefit it has for our students and their families.

I am looking forward to seeing you all over the coming weeks. Thank you for making this community so special. Goodness your way.

Clinton Payne

Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome back for another exciting school year. We have already had a busy start to the term.

Friday 2nd February – Whole School Mass

Last Friday the school and parish came together as one community to celebrate our first whole school Mass for the 2024. The students were so reverent and sang beautifully. The students at Santa Clara are truly second to none!

Sacramental Commitment Mass for Reconciliation (Year 3), Eucharist (Year 4) and Confirmation (Year 6)

Students in Years 3, 4 and 6 who are making their sacrament are asked to attend either one Commitment Mass this Saturday 10 February 6:30pm or Sunday 11 February 9:30am. If you cannot attend either of these Masses please notify the parish directly and arrange another time to attend Mass.

Tuesday 13 February – Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Tuesday)

On Shrove Tuesday all students from Pre-Primary to Year 6 will receive a pancake. Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday is the traditional feast before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Lent – the 40 days leading up to Easter – was traditionally a time of fasting and on Shrove Tuesday, Christians went to confession and were “shriven” (absolved from their sins).

Project Compassion Launch – Tuesday 13 February

Again, our school will support Project Compassion over the time of lent. This year, the theme is For All Future Generations is inspired by the story of the burning bush in the book of Exodus (Exodus 3:1–20). In this story, God tells Moses that he has heard the cry of the people. God responds to things not being fair and chooses Moses to speak to the Pharaoh. Though Moses is afraid, God promises to be with him. As God called Moses we are now asked to answer God's call to work for all future generations. More information will come home with the students next week.

Wednesday 14 February – Ash Wednesday Whole School Mass

Next Wednesday our school will come together to celebrate the beginning of Lent with our Ash Wednesday Mass led by the Year 5 students. This day, officially known as the Day of Ashes, is a day of repentance, when Christians confess their sins and profess their devotion to God. During this Mass, Fr Richard places the ashes on the students’ forehead in the shape of a cross.

A Friendly Reminder

Next Wednesday 14 February, we have our parent information night, and we look forward to seeing you there. This event offers you the opportunity to meet your child's teacher and learn about the day-to-day running of the classroom.

Welcome Picnic Friday 23 February

Please join us on Friday 23 February from 5:00pm-8:00pm for a picnic on the school oval. Please feel free to bring some drinks and nibblies and enjoy each other's company as a school community.

We look forward to another exciting school year ahead.

Denise Grech and Andrew Gaudoin

Assistant Principals

If your child will be absent from school, or will be in late or need to leave early due to doctor/dentist appointments etc, Catholic Education Western Australia requires written notification of all absences for each student's records.

Please contact the school office via email to admin@santaclara.wa.edu.au before 9:00am on the day or as soon as possible if your child will be absent and include the following information in the body of the email & not in the subject line:

• Student's Name & Class
• Date of Absence
• Date of Return to School
• Reason for Absence
• The Full Name of the Parent/Guardian at the end of the message - The ‘from’ email address is not sufficient as it does not necessarily have the full name of the person sending it.

If you have not contacted the school office when your child is away, you will receive an sms message from the school. Please send a reply sms with your name and the reason for your child's absence as soon as possible.

Santa Clara School places priority on protecting the identity of every child. Over the course of the year, we take pictures of your child, some of which may be used for the School Newsletter, promotional media including social media, or Catholic Education publications. If you have any objection to images of your child being used, please email the school office via admin@santaclara.wa.edu.au.

Please be reminded that it is your responsibility as a parent or caregiver to inform the school of any changes to personal details such as the following:

• Residential Address
• Telephone Numbers - Home / Work / Mobile
• Email Addresses
• Occupations - Change of Employer Details + Contact Numbers
• Amendments to Emergency Contact Names + Contact Numbers for Students

We are not able to accept changes verbally over the phone and ask that you please put all information in writing by emailing the school office at admin@santaclara.wa.edu.au.

It is important that the school is notified of any student medical conditions. We request that all medications, Medication Request Forms and Action Plans be brought to the office. Please note that Action Plans are only valid between 6 - 12 months so please check the validity of these to ensure that they are current.

A reminder also that it is the responsibility of the parent or caregiver to manage the expiry dates of any medication submitted to the school.

For more information, please contact the school office.

School fee statements were sent home yesterday. Some families may have received two statements. This occurred because we had an error when we ran the statement generator the first time. We apologise to any families that did receive two. If there are no 2024 charges on your account this is the incorrect statement and we ask that you please delete that one.

Discounts

• If you are eligible for a discount on the concession card scheme and it has not been applied, please provide the office with a copy of your new card and the concession discount form.
• As with the last two years St Norbert College are also offering a Sibling Discount to families who have children attending both St Norbert College and Santa Clara School. If you would like to apply for this discount, forms are available at the Admin Office. Please note that discounts cannot be applied until confirmed by St Norbert College which normally occurs around the end of March.
• If you are an Indigenous Family and the discount has not been applied to your fees, please pop into the office and pick up an Indigenous Discount Scheme Form and return it.

To be eligible forms must be returned by the 23rd February 2024.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Jacqueline Wilson in the school office.

Saturday, 10 February: 6:30pm Sacramental Commitment Mass

Sunday, 11 February: 9:30am Sacramental Commitment Mass

Tuesday, 13 February: Shrove Tuesday / Project Compassion Launch / 5:15pm P&F Meeting / 6:00pm School Advisory Council Meeting

Wednesday, 14 February: 9:00am Ash Wednesday Mass (Led by Year 4) / 5:00pm Parent Information Night

Friday, 16 February: 9:00am Awards Assembly / Year 5 Participation Mass

Sunday, 18 February: 1st Sunday of Lent

Friday, 23 February: 9:00am Year 2 Class Assembly / Year 4 Participation Mass / Sacramental Enrolment / 5:00pm Parent Welcome Picnic

Sunday, 25 February: 2nd Sunday of Lent

FRIDAY, 1 MARCH: STAFF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY - SCHOOL CLOSED

Sunday, 3 March: 3rd Sunday of Lent

MONDAY, 4 MARCH: LABOUR DAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY

Wednesday, 6 March - Friday, 8 March: Kindergarten Screenings

Friday, 8 March: Interschool Cricket Carnival

Sunday, 10 March: 4th Sunday of Lent

Tuesday, 12 March: 5:15pm P&F Meeting / 6:00pm School Advisory Council Meeting

Wednesday, 13 March - Friday, 15 March: Years 3 & 5 NAPLAN Testing

Friday, 15 March: 9:00am Year 2 Participation Mass

Sunday, 17 March: 5th Sunday of Lent

Monday, 18 March: Larney Day

Friday, 22 March: 9:00am Year 4 Class Assembly / Year 3 Participation Mass

Sunday, 24 March: Palm Sunday

Monday, 25 March: 9:00am Mass of the Annunciation of the Lord (Led by Year 6)

Tuesday, 26 March - Thursday, 28 March: Year 6 Camp

THURSDAY, 28 MARCH: LAST DAY OF TERM / HOLY THURSDAY / STATIONS OF THE CROSS (Led by Year 5) / Easter Raffle

FRIDAY, 29 MARCH: GOOD FRIDAY

SUNDAY, 31 MARCH: EASTER SUNDAY

MONDAY, 15 APRIL: TERM 2 COMMENCES FOR STUDENTS & STAFF

Please note the new cut off time for Canteen Orders is 8.50am.

The Uniform Shop is open from 8:30am to 9:30am on Wednesday mornings.

You are still welcome to order online through QuickCliq at www.quickcliq.com.au.

For queries, please email: uniform@santaclara.wa.edu.au.

Find us on Facebook:

Santa Clara Primary School P & F

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1434716443415256/?ref=bookmarks

Haven’t joined already? Please send a request to be added and be kept up to date with our fundraising events throughout the year.

Email: admin@santaclara.wa.edu.au
Website: web.santaclara.wa.edu.au
Location: 91 Coolgardie Street, Saint James WA, Australia
Phone: (08) 9251 0400