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Dear Parents and Carers
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we again embark on this journey of Remote Learning. Please encourage and assist your children to join the google meets with their Learning Group teacher. This will provide opportunity for them to communicate and gather understanding for the work that is to be completed.
Although we cannot be together to celebrate book week, we will share the love of reading by having our 'Book Week dress-up day' remotely next Monday 23 August 2021.
Students are invited to dress up for their Monday morning Google Meet as a character from their favourite book or to match this year’s theme 'Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds'.
We would also love a photo of each student dressed up to share as part of a 'virtual' Book Week Parade.
Parents are also welcome to dress up!
Please send a photo to your child's teacher via email or on Seesaw by Wednesday 25 August 2021
Students will also participate in Book Week activities remotely throughout next week.
National Science Week 2021 (14 -22 August)
National Science Week is Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology!
Running each year in August, it features more than 1000 events around Australia, including those delivered by universities, schools, research institutions, libraries, museums and science centres.
The school theme for National Science Week 2021 is Food: Different by Design. It honors the United Nations International Year of Fruits and Vegetables and the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development.
Below are some DIY (do it yourself) science activities to try for National Science Week 2021, including some delicious ones based on the school theme Food: Different by design.
To find out more about how you can celebrate National Science Week visit: https://www.scienceweek.net.au/
Other National Science Week contributors have DIY activities to try too - check out these ones from:
Remember to always have an adult’s permission and supervision when completing Science Experiments.
DIY Science: Popping Candy Cupcakes
BY NATIONAL OFFICE
https://www.scienceweek.net.au/diy-science-popping-candy-cupcakes/
What you need:
- a batch of iced cupcakes
- popping candy
- a glass of water
What to do:
- Bake or borrow a batch of cupcakes for morning tea.
- Just before eating, sprinkle liberally with popping candy
- Think of the science while experiencing the explosions of joy**
**Joy in this case is a synonym for pressurised CO2 gas. Actual joy may or may not occur.
What’s happening?
Popping candy gets its ‘pop’ by setting bubbles of high-pressure CO2 gas inside the candy. After the candy sets, the crystallised sugar keeps the gas safely sealed in. However, as soon as your saliva starts to dissolve the candy, the walls holding in the bubbles get thinner and eventually they can’t withstand the high pressure, and the CO2 gas explodes out to let the pressure equalise.
This is why it is important to only put the candy on when serving morning tea – any earlier and the candy can soften a little due to humidity or moisture from the icing, allowing all the gas to escape before the fun happens.
You can actually see the bubbles of gas escaping if you put a couple of rocks of candy in a glass of water.
DIY Science: Marshmallow Constructions
BY NATIONAL OFFICE
https://www.scienceweek.net.au/diy-science-marshmallow-constructions/
What you need:
- marshmallows
- drinking straws
- scissors
What to do:
- Split up into teams of at least two people.
- Give each team a packet of straws and marshmallows and a pair of scissors.
- Make a square out of straws cut to about 3/4 length and use the marshmallows as corner joiners. Now make another square.
- Make a cube using the two squares you have already made as the top and bottom of the cube. Use four more 3/4 length straws as the risers.
- Use some full length straws as cross braces across the middle of some of the faces of the cube.
- Now compete in some challenges:
- tallest tower (or pyramid)
- strongest tower
- widest span (eg bridging between two tables)
- tallest / strongest / widest with smallest number of straws or marshmallows
- build a dome
- most creative structure
What’s happening?
Buildings are often supported by girders that interlock to provide rigidity and strength with a minimum amount of material. The basic unit of these truss structures is usually a triangle. You can see these triangle structures on steel span bridges (eg. Sydney Harbour Bridge).
DIY Science: Lava Lamps
BY NATIONAL OFFICE
https://www.scienceweek.net.au/diy-science-lava-lamp/
What you need:
- vegetable oil
- food colouring
- effervescing (fizzy) aspirin or vitamin tablets
- a glass tumbler
What to do:
- Fill a glass tumbler about 1/3 full with water.
- Add a few drops of colourful food dye.
- Slowly pour vegetable oil into the glass so that it floats on the water, until the glass is almost full (tip-ping the glass a little helps it form a neat layer).
- Drop a tablet into the glass.
- Cue disco lights and music.
Safety note: Don’t dispose of the oil and water down the sink. Pour it into a container that can be sealed before putting it in the bin. Better yet, add it to your compost.
What’s happening?
The bubbles in the water are carbon dioxide gas, formed when sodium bicarbonate and citric acid in the tablets react in the water:
acid + carbonate –> carbon dioxide + salt + water
C6H8O7 + 3NaHCO3 –> 3CO2 + Na3C6H5O7 + 3H2O
The bubbles take globs of coloured water with them up through the oil to the top of the glass. The gas bubbles burst at the surface and the coloured water drops then fall back down through the oil. You can recharge the lava lamp with another tablet when the first one has finished reacting.
Theme: Lord, help me to embrace fully all that you have revealed.
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time John 6:60-69The Word of GodWhen many of his disciples heard it, they said, 'This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?' But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, 'Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.' For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, 'For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.' Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, 'Do you also wish to go away?' Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.' |
Some thoughts on the Gospel
Hard Words to Swallow: Many of the Jews would not accept that Jesus was one with the Father—that he was God. For some, Christ’s divinity was a leap greater than they were ready to make. His message had not yet penetrated into their hearts. So when he explained how he would give himself to them in the Eucharist, they balked. The first act of faith (belief in his divinity) was crucial for them to be able to make the second act of faith (belief in his Eucharistic presence). Each truth that Christ reveals about himself is connected to other truths he wants to reveal about himself. If we don’t accept one, the others can become difficult, too. Conversely, as we grow in our knowledge, faith, and love of Christ, other difficulties in our spiritual life become easier.
Prayer for Families
Loving God,
We thank you for the gift of families.
We ask your blessing on all families today and always.
Be with us in our daily life together.
Be our guide in times of challenge.
Be our strength in times of difficulty
Be our joy in times of delight
Help our families to grow stronger in your love
And show us how to love one another
As you have loved us.
May we welcome Jesus as the unseen guest in our home.
May we be His voice and hands,
Respecting and caring for those we meet.
May we look to the example of Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
As we strive to be the best family that we can be.
Most Holy Family of Nazareth, pray for us.
Amen
PAM - Parent Access Module
Thank you to the majority of parents who have set up and accessed their PAM account. All parents MUST have access to PAM. This is the portal that we will be using for all communications between school and home.
If you are having any issues please email admin@stclaresofficer.catholic.edu.au
Here is the link for the St Clare's Parent Access Portal (PAM)
You username is the email address that you have registered with the school. The first time you log in we ask that you use the forgotten password feature to set your own password.
ALL parents must access PAM to receive up to date information and grant necessary permissions. Students will miss out on events if permission is not granted.
MEDICAL INFORMATION - When you update your child's medical information in PAM - PLEASE ensure this is accurate. The school must have current up to date asthma, allergy, anaphylaxis or medical plans for those students identified with these conditions and any other medical conditions such as diabetes or epilepsy. This is to ensure we have relevant information to assist your child with the management of these medical conditions.
SKOOLBAG is no longer being used. To report student absence please use PAM, email absent@stclaresofficer.catholic.edu.au or call 5940 6777
Please ensure the school has your current contact details - this includes address, email, work numbers etc. To update details please email admin@stclaresofficer.catholic.edu.au or call 5940 6777. Through PAM parents are also able to update your child's medical details.
SCHOOL FEES
Term 3 fees are now due and payable. If you have a direct debit set up there is no need to do anything.
If you situation has changed and you now have a Pension or Health Care Card please contact the office as we can assist you with your fees.
Likewise if you are having difficulties with fees please contact finance@stclaresofficer.catholic.edu.au to arrange a time for a confidential discussion.
Monday 23 August |
Book Week Dress Up and Celebrations |
Monday 30 August to Wednesday 1 September |
Year 5 Camp to Grantville - to be rescheduled |
Monday 6 September |
Year 2 Swimming Program Commences |
All dates and events are subject to COVID restrictions at the time.