This year’s theme for Catholic Education Week is ‘Go out into the world and spread the Good News to all creation’, from the Gospel of Mark 16:15.

The Director of Catholic Education (Diocese of Sale) Ms Maria Kirkwood states, “The theme is a call for all members of a school community to enact a vision for a better world, one where people can live in harmony with each other and with, in response to the call of Pope Francis, the environment. The theme also reflects the core purpose of Catholic education which is to nurture the potential of each child, and develop their knowledge and skills to become compassionate and contributing members of society.”

Join us for our Whole School Assembly this Friday at 2.15pm in the modular where our Year 3 students will lead the celebration of Catholic Education Week. 

Divisional Cross Country has been rescheduled to Friday 3 June.  We wish our 5 students representing St Clare's (Beth, Brodie, Luca, Charlise & Ava) the best of luck and cross our fingers for no rain on Friday.

UNIFORM

We remind everyone the winter uniform is now compulsory.  Please ensure that the uniform is worn perfectly and proudly.  For girls, this means grey tights (not socks or leggings) and the crossover tie.  For the boys, the winter uniform includes the tie.

Students are to wear black leather-type footwear. The sporting-type shoes are only for sport days.

Thank you for the feedback we have received on the girls trousers. 

School Closure Day for Staff Professional Development

ALL school staff will be particpating in Professional Development on Friday 10 June.  Therefore there will be NO SCHOOL for students and the SCHOOL OFFICE will be CLOSED.

Camp Australia will be able to prpvide all day care from 6.30am to 6.30pm - please note this has been increased from what was previously advised.

Catholic teachers shine at Awards Night

Outstanding staff from local Catholic schools were recognised for their commitment to Catholic Education at the Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Ltd (DOSCEL) Leadership Dinner on Friday May 27, 2022.

Two teachers from St Francis Xavier College, Beaconsfield and one from St Clare’s Catholic Primary School, Officer received awards for excellence.

Mr Simon Cuckson from St Francis Xavier College received a prestigious Spirit of Catholic Education Inspiring Faith award.

The award recognised Simon’s exemplary work in leading a successful youth leadership and personal development program for many years at St Francis Xavier College. He has continued to develop new ways to inspire faith development in students, leading Retreats for Year 11 and 12 students and extra curricula opportunities such as the Berwick Soup Van.

Mr Paul Kimonides received a Service Award in recognition of 25 years or more of service to Australian Catholic education. Paul has been at St Francis Xavier College for 25 years and has been a leader in advancing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) learning. He is currently teaching Religious Education and Systems to broaden his career.

Ms Carol Browne of St Clare’s Catholic Primary School at Officer received a Spirit of Catholic Education Inspiring Learning award.

Carol has worked in Catholic schools in the Diocese for many years at St James Primary School at Nar Nar Goon, Mary MacKillop Primary School at Narre Warren and more recently St Clare’s Primary School at Officer. She has been instrumental in promoting literacy and learning and working with staff to develop comprehensive Personal Learning Plans for students with disabilities.

The three were among 11 staff members and three students from Catholic schools across the Diocese of Sale to receive awards on the night.

Director of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Sale, Ms Maria Kirkwood, congratulated the award recipients for the wonderful work they do in inspiring faith and learning.

“Our schools are led by educators and support staff who are passionately committed to the learning, safety and well-being of each student in their care.

The Leadership Eucharist Dinner and Awards presentation launched the beginning of Catholic Education Week (May 27 – June 3) in the Diocese of Sale.  This year’s theme is ‘Go out into the world and spread the Good News to all creation’ from the Gospel of Mark 16:15.

The Diocese of Sale covers 38 Catholic primary schools and seven Catholic secondary schools in a geographic area that spans from Melbourne’s outer south eastern suburbs, throughout Gippsland all the way to Orbost in the east.

Catholic Education Week is an opportunity for Catholic Schools to welcome people to attend open days and events and see the inspiring activities happening in Catholic schools every day.  For information on tours and enrolment contact your local Catholic school.

A SPECIAL REPORT: Managing Overwhelm

Due to the pandemic, the world we now live in is a very different place. The hyperconnected nature of our current environment means that we are constantly being reminded of the challenges we face via numerous media and social media channels. Our connectivity to the digital world exposes us to a barrage of messages that can leave us feeling overwhelmed. As a result, many children and their parents are reporting higher levels of stress and anxiety.

Our brains have not evolved fast enough to adapt to this digital landscape. The combination of constant access to information and having little control over the situations presented, can be stressful and overwhelming. It is therefore important for adult carers to check in with their children and be aware of what information they may have been exposed to. It may not necessarily be the information itself that is harmful, but more their inability to process and make sense of it. Providing children with the skills and strategies to cope will enable them to flourish and thrive, socially, emotionally and academically.

The blueprint for parenting, based on our own experiences, is no longer fit for purpose in raising kids as citizens of tomorrow. This can be inherently stressful and overwhelming, not only for parents and carers, but children alike. If left untreated or unmanaged, constant stress and anxiety can lead to a number of behavioural issues or health consequences.

This Special Report suggests a number of strategies to help manage any feelings of overwhelm that you or your child may be experiencing.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to a special report:

https://stclaresofficer.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-managing-overwhelm

Religious Education News

As we approach the reporting period for our students, I thought it would be a good time to share with families a little more information on our Religious Education Curriculum.

Religious Education planning and teaching has changed a lot over the last few years. Teachers use a curriculum called To Live in Christ Jesus. This curriculum has four Strands and four Lenses.

The strands are the four areas through which content is learned and Religious Education is shared and understood.

The Strands are:

• Triune God 
• The Life and Mission of Jesus
• Sacramental Church
• Christian Life and Catholic Social Teaching

The Lenses are the illuminating perspectives through which we view the Strands. The Lenses are also bodies of knowledge divided into four learning areas:

The Lenses are:

• Scripture
• Tradition
• Christian Prayer and Liturgy
• Religion and Society (Year 5 and 6 only)

Feast of Pentecost - Sunday June 5

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak different languages. (Acts 2:1-11)

This Sunday the Catholic church celebrates the feast of Pentecost. Jesus had ascended back into the heavens, the Apostles were waiting around, scared and confused, and nobody knew what to do. Going out to baptise people and preach about Jesus was the last thing they had in mind because their lives would be in danger.

But Pentecost celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit – the force that turned a group of frightened, mixed-up people into church. There was a rush of wind, tongues of fire, and then suddenly there was courage, knowledge, direction and commitment! Everyone started speaking and was understood, no matter what the language of the listener was! These were saints suddenly on fire with the Holy Spirit. And it all began with the wind and fire of the Spirit.

The word Pentecost comes from the Greek for fiftieth day. Pentecost Sunday ends the season of Easter and comes as a Sabbath day after seven weeks of seven days. In Jewish tradition the 50th day after the Passover was celebrated as a blessing of the harvest and rather than the unleavened bread of Passover it was celebrated by leavening the bread. It was for this reason that the disciples were gathered together when they experienced the Holy Spirit empowering them. In Christian tradition, Pentecost is celebrated as the arrival of the Spirit, promised by Jesus, that animated the disciples to spread the gospel of Jesus and gather believers to form what would eventually become the Church.

COVID update

If you child or anyone within the family tests positive to COVID please let the school know immediately by email admin@stclaresofficer.catholic.edu.au or phone 03 5940 6777.

Current restrictions require anyone who tests positive to isolate for 7 days.  Household members do not need to isolate but they must have a negative RAT result, being showing no symptoms and are required to wear a mask if they attend school.

For further advise arround requirements please go to https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/checklist-cases

SCHOOL FEES

Term 2 fees are now OVERDUE.  Please contact the school to arrange payment.  If you have a direct debit set up there is nothing you need to do, this will continue to process as per the agreement.  If you would like to set up a direct debit please email finance@stclaresofficer.catholic.edu.au to request a direct debit form.

For those families who have a Pension or Health Care Card plesae ensure the school has been provided with a copy of your new card when it is received.  This will ensure we can apply for the funding to help reduce your school fees. 

If your circumstances have changed and you now have a Pension or Health Care Card please ensure you let the office know.  We can then send you the relevant forms for completion so funding can be applied for.

Applications must be lodged by the school by 24 June 2022

Here is the link for the St Clare's Parent Access Module (PAM)

St Clare's 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.

REPORTING AN ABSENCE

To report your child's absence plesae do so via PAM, email absent@stclaresofficer.catholic.edu.au or call 5940 6777