Santa Clara School Newsletter

Term 1, Week 4 - Friday, 23 February 2024

Principal Update

Dear Parents & Caregivers,

Whatever you are doing, the parent stuff, and for our SC staff, the school stuff, keep doing it! Based on the quote by the Dalai Lama it means we are in flow! It means you are fully present, even though you are going flat out with keeping up with everything you have going on.

I have a very privileged position as a Principal. You trust me with your kids. You trust our staff with your most precious gifts. Trust is what lets flow happen and allows us to be present in the moment. For me as a Principal, this is the big picture stuff that I want for our staff, how do we stay present in the moment with our kids? I believe it means as educators we need to keep to what we all got into this profession for and what is the most important part of what we do, connecting with others.

It sounds easy, flow is wonderful when we can stop the distractions, stop the worries that stop us living in the moment. While this is a challenge of everyday life, and as many of us have personal struggles that we deal with each day, the one thing I have discovered about SC is the support we offer each other. So many times, over these first few weeks, I have witnessed support from our families to each other. Just the other day I saw a parent translating a note to another parent, just brilliant. With our P&F, School Advisory Council and our staff, all of them have the wellbeing of our community at the heart of all they do. This makes SC the place where we are all meant to be. How good is it to be part of this community.

If we are all present here at SC at this time in our life, as a parent or staff member, then we are meant to be here. It is not by fluke. Whatever it is, we are here for a purpose. I truly believe God puts us where we need to be. It is Him and our flow that has brought us here. Take a moment to stop and reflect on a time where you felt your life was in complete rhythm. What was happening for you during that time?

Seriously though, good things are happening here at Santa Clara. No matter where I turn at the moment there is a sense of gratitude that I find surrounding me. Whether it is here at school or within all other moments that make up my life, it just seems relentlessly positive. There was a saying I once heard; ‘fear and worries disappear when we are grateful’. This is so true. I know I have written about it before, but every day I wake up I ask myself these three things:

What am I grateful for in my life?
Who will I serve today?
What is one exciting thing about my day?

Anyhow, my point is to stay focused on gratefulness. It truly changes the world you know. Changes who we are as people. Try these three questions right now, and no matter what time you read this, I promise you, the world will change for that moment. You still have time, right now to do it. There will be something that you can still do that is so exciting. Now, that could be the fact you might go to sleep half an hour earlier because your kids are asleep. Now imagine having an undisturbed night’s sleep, there is something that I take for granted now, but for you guys with young families, this must be the absolute GOLD!

Last week we commenced our Lenten season. Lent is a time that allows us to focus on our connection to others and be a hero for those in need. It is clear to me that there are many little heroes here at SC. One of my favourite people I love looking at is Kid President. He is always on about the good stuff in life, about building up confidence in kids. Looking at this quote of his, that you don’t need a cape to be a hero is truly alive with our kids. Last week I had a visit from a student who brought me some of their personal coins to add to our school Project Compassion box. They said they wanted to help. No cape, but what a hero!

I would like to end by sharing a Lenten Reflection that may get you going this Lent if you are stuck on what you can do:

A Lenten Reflection

Give up complaining..........................focus on gratitude.

Give up pessimism..........................become an optimist.

Give up harsh judgments...............think kindly thoughts.

Give up worry............................trust Divine Providence.

Give up discouragement..........................be full of hope.

Give up bitterness............................turn to forgiveness.

Give up hatred.................................return good for evil.

Give up anger.......................................be more patient.

Give up jealousy........................................pray for trust.

P&F Welcome Picnic

Tonight is our P&F Picnic on the oval. I hope that all of you can attend, throw a picnic rug on our lush oval and enjoy each other’s company. Seriously, how good is it?! I am so grateful to our P&F for organising these events that help us get together. Please support these events as all the money we raise goes directly back to our kids at Santa Clara.

Kiss & Drive

Thank you to all of you for doing the right thing in using our Kiss & Drive after school. It is something that causes a bit of anxiety at every school in the afternoon. The City of Canning have reminded me that we are responsible for keeping the kids in our gates safe. It is up to parents to do the right thing outside the gates by not banking across footpaths or intersections. These are things that we cannot control so if a staff member on duty asks you to stop, please remember they are doing the best they can for our kids.

As of late, there has been an increase in cars trying to turn right into our Kiss & Drive off Coolgardie Street. I am sure these are most likely new families getting used to our routines, however, please follow the left turn in off Coolgardie Street and left turn out of our Kiss & Drive, simply to stop traffic banking for our neighbours. Thank you for your support.

School Uniform

How good are our kids? They are looking impeccable at the moment. The odd slip up with uniform but most of them are wearing the correct uniform on the correct days. The uniform is something I will continually push with the kids as it is a way of us representing who we are and what we stand for. Well done to all of you.

Code of Conduct

Our Code of Conduct, which can be found on our website, is a set of statements that apply directly to the behaviour and conduct of all community members, parents, staff, students, and visitors of Santa Clara School. As Principal, if I notice a breach of the Code of Conduct, it is my responsibility to address the breach to ensure the safety of our students.

All community members are also charged with the responsibility of ensuring the Code of Conduct is lived out. Should any community member notice a breach of the Code of Conduct, they can access and fill out a Code of Conduct Breach Form on our website.

Kindergarten Enrolments 2025

Just a friendly reminder to any Santa Clara School families who have a child born between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021, enrolment applications for Kindy 2025 can be handed in now. Interviews for Kindy 2025 will commence soon. Please see Suzanne in administration if you have any questions regarding enrolments.

Early Closes

A friendly reminder that we have two early closes this year for Parent Teacher Interviews on Wednesday, 22 May and Wednesday, 13 November. Please plan for these early closes. Tahlya will soon release bookings for families needing to use our OSHC service for these days, however, places are capped at 50.

Once again, thank you for all you do to make this place so special. Enjoy your fortnight ahead and I look forward to seeing you all at our Welcome Picnic.

Clinton Payne

Principal

Santa Clara School Advisory Council

Chairperson Update

Last Tuesday, 13 February, the School Advisory Council had our first meeting for 2024. It was a wonderful opportunity to welcome new committee members, acquaint ourselves with each other and recognise the strengths each of us brings to the team. We were afforded an understanding of our collective role as the School Advisory Council and reflected on the ways in which we can assist the school leadership team. Child safety was paramount on our agenda, and we discussed procedures within the school that support this. A particular focus was on drop off and pick up safety, where strategies to ensure all families are clear about the drop off and pick up procedure, how to ease traffic congestion and how to celebrate those following the rules were discussed. We look forward to the year ahead!

Renae King

CSAC Chairperson

Traffic Management

Each member of the school community has a role to play in keeping the roads around our school safe. Parents and caregivers are responsible for the road safety of the children in their care, prior to entering and immediately upon exiting the school grounds. All parents and carers are asked to ensure that they, and any other person collecting a child, is informed of and adheres to the parking and road safety guidelines. Always consider the rights and needs of the residents and our neighbours in the Santa Clara School area.

Parking

Limited parking bays are available for parents and caregivers on Coolgardie Street and Palmerston Street, check signs carefully
Additional parking is available south-east of Pollock Street. Please be mindful of our neighbours’ properties and not restricting traffic flow
Rangers frequently monitor parking and traffic around the school area

Kiss and Drive

Left turn into the Kiss and Drive
No car is to be parked in Kiss-and-Drive along Coolgardie Street during morning drop off and afternoon pick-up, parents must not exit their vehicle
Staff are available to assist students with bags and entering/exiting the vehicle
Left turn out of the Kiss and Drive
Staff are on duty until 3:20pm after school

Our full Traffic Management Procedure can be found on our website.

Assistant Principal News

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Week 3

Shrove Tuesday – 13 February

Last Tuesday, all students from Pre-Primary to Year 6 enjoyed a pancake for Shrove Tuesday. We just wanted to say a big thank you to the P&F and Michelle Kinsman who organised and cooked the pancakes for all the students! It was a massive effort; the reward was seeing the beautiful smiles on the students faces when they received their pancakes.

Ash Wednesday Mass – 14 February

Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent which is the most important time in our liturgical calendar. These 40 days reminds us that as Christians it is an important time for alms giving (helping those in need) that are less fortunate than ourselves.

Project Compassion Launch

Project Compassion was also launched last by our Year 6 Ministry Leadership Team. In tying in with the theme, Alms Giving, all money received will help those in less fortunate situations than ours. All students will have received a Project Compassion box where students are asked to donate their pocket money or spare change for this charity. In addition, there are class boxes in each room. The Ministry Leadership Team will come around and count which class has collected the most amount on money for the week. The class that wins each will receive 10 minutes free time at their class teacher’s discretion.

Parent Information Night

Last Wednesday, our school held our annual Parent Information Night. There was a great turn out and it was lovely to meet the parents and welcome them to the new school year and provide and opportunity to ask questions relating to the class teacher’s processes in place for 2024.

Week 4

Parent Welcome Picnic – Friday 23 February

Tonight is our annual Parent Welcome Picnic held on the oval. Please come down and bring a plate of food and some drinks to enjoy some time together as one community.

Week 5

Staff Development Day - Friday 1 March and Public Holiday Monday 4 March

Next Friday, our staff will be focusing on Berry Street Training which will focus on wellbeing and provide information how as a school we can best support our students both academically and pastorally. In addition, the following Monday 4 March is Labour Day which is a public holiday.

Enjoy your weekend with your friends and family.

Denise Grech and Andrew Gaudoin

Assistant Principals

Required School Documentation

Student Attendance Documentation

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.

Images of Students

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.

Change of Personal Details

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.

Student Medical Information

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 Fees 2024

Discounts

If you are eligible for a discount on the concession card scheme and it has not been applied on your School Fee Statement, 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 for the above discounts, 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.

Important Dates

February

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

March

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

April

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

Classroom News - Year 6

Wellbeing at Santa Clara School

Social Intelligence

In Weeks Three and Four, the children were exploring the Character Strength – Social Intelligence. When a person is aware of the motives and feelings of others, they are displaying social intelligence. They know what makes others tick and are comfortable and know what to say in all kinds of social situations.

6 Ways to Increase your Social Intelligence: