St Clare's Catholic High School
Hassall Grove
12 November, 2018
Praise God by Your Life
To provide excellence in education:
- through quality teaching and learning
- by providing a safe and creative learning environment
- by challenging students to strive for academic excellence
- by being a place where faith and values are enriched and shared within the Catholic tradition.
Principal's Message - Mr Jones
Dear Parents/Guardians,
It is important that we provide you with an update on developments since the start of the term and inform you about planning for the end of the year.
BUILDING STAGE 1
Our building program is progressing as expected and both the Stage 4 Hub and the Stage 6 Hub are expected to be finished on time in mid-January and will be ready for use at the start of the year. This will provide fine facilities for our first students in Year 11 and our new enrolments in Year 7. The tender process for Stage 2 begins in December and building should begin in March all going well.
DATES FOR THE END OF THE YEAR
As you would be aware the building program has caused quite some disruption to the school and it is imperative that we begin next year extremely well organised. To this end, the last day for our students this year will be Friday, 14th December. We apologise if this causes any inconvenience.
DATES FOR THE START OF 2019 SCHOOL YEAR
Please take note of the following start dates for staff and students next year.
Teachers return / School Office open- Tuesday, 29th January, 2019
Year 7 and Year 11 commence - Thursday, 31st January, 2019
Years, 8, 9 and 10 commence - Friday, 1st February, 2019
TECHNOLOGY - BYOLT (Bring Your Own Learning Tool)
We apologise for the delay in providing the details to all families about the devices that we are expecting our Year 7 students and Year 11 students to bring to school in 2019. There is no change for your child if you already have a choice however if you are purchasing a new device please note the following:
- We would propose that for students starting in Year 7 have provided for them a Google Chromebook. These are moderately priced but will provide the functions that students will need throughout their time in Years 7-10.
- If your child will be in Years 8, 9 and 10 next year and they already have a mobile device they can continue using this device.
- If your child is in Year 11 next year, they can continue to use their existing devices however, if you are seeking to purchase a new device we would recommend an Apple Laptop OS 10.12 or above.
- Please note: as communicated in 2017 “the minimum size screen is 13”. No android/tablets or iPads are permitted.
- Please note: Detailed specifications are below and must be adhered to whether this is a Google Chromebook or an Apple Laptop.
STUDENT MANAGEMENT
As you are aware we have put in place some different expectations in relation to students in terms of their behaviour in class and to ensure each student’s safety. This has been a significant change and some of them are still struggling to come to terms with this. We have spoken to many parents in relation to their child’s behaviour and we have been delighted with the very positive support that we have received. We are confident that as these expectations are maintained that our students will become more and more comfortable and that this will then benefit their learning.
COMPLAINTS
It is very important that you contact the school with information you think is important to the learning and welfare of your child. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have concerns. As mentioned previously, we will be back in contact with you within 24 hours. If you contact the school (particularly in relation to the safety of your child) please make this very clear when you call or leave a message. Please don’t hesitate to contact us.
We have made a very good start to our roles here at St Clare’s and have enjoyed working with students, parents and staff.
REC - Ms Cassar
Year 9 Retreat - Week 7
Our Year 9 students will be attending a Retreat at the Benedict XVI Retreat Centre in Grose Vale from 26th - 28th November. This retreat will be a time for the students to be uplifted and inspired to reflect on their faith and spiritual journey within themselves, others and with God. They will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of engaging, reflective and spiritual activities that will help build them up to take on the challenges of their life journey and encourage them to build leadership qualities. It is also an opportunity for the year to bond as a group.
We are very excited to have this time with our Year 9 students and we look forward to the transformations and insights that will occur for those present on the Retreat. We pray that it will help propel them into the next exciting phase of their life journey, and as leaders of our school, with a newly acquired joy, hope and confidence. Keep us in your prayers as we prepare for our very first Year 9 Retreat!
Leader of Wellbeing and Learning - Ms Nielsen
School Counsellor - Mrs Luthra
This informative and reflective piece, written by Dr Paul Fung for the Parramatta Mission Newsletter, is fitting for some of the challenges a number of our students and families are facing in terms of getting to school every day. It is well worth a read!
"MY CHILD WON’T GO BACK TO SCHOOL”
When I’m meeting a school-aged client for the first time, one of the key bits of information I’m looking for is simply whether they are in school. Within minutes of meeting the young person, the answer to this question gives me a sense of how complex the situation is, and for me, school refusal can be a “heart sink patient”. By the time a parent (and their child) has turned up to our service multiple strategies involving school counsellors, GPs and psychologists have been attempted, often over a period of months, to get them through the school gate.
The initial engagement period is crucial. You usually have one shot to speak to the young person face-to-face, before they refuse to come to appointments altogether. Even going on a home visit, I’ve often spent my time sitting in the lounge room listening to Mum try to coax their child out of their bedroom to no avail. So in that first appointment I want to spend my time really listening for some of the many factors that could be contributing to the young person's school refusal.
Does the child have a mental illness? I would screen for the recent onset of an anxiety disorder, depressive illness, psychotic disorder, substance use disorder, or other addictive behaviour (e.g. gaming) and then consider more long standing issues such as personality style, autism spectrum disorder, learning disorder and exposure to developmental trauma.
What are the factors pushing the kid away from school? Relationship issues with their peers e.g. bullying (face-to-face and online), crises within a friendship group, issues getting along with school staff, or the young person being unable to keep up academically.
What are the factors pulling the child towards the home? They may want to stay home to protect their mother or siblings if there has been a history of domestic violence, or they may be carers of parents or siblings who are ill or have mental health/substance use issues. They may be gaming excessively online, sometimes with friends who are in a different time zone (they could be staying up later at night and playing during the day). Being able to connect with friends easily through social media also means that young people with social anxiety can often be quite comfortable at home.
Are there other circumstances that are distracting the child? For instance, we’ve had some young people who have been caught up in gang related activity and petty crime that can be all consuming, or the young person may be desperately trying to help a friend who is going off the rails.
Parents, school counsellors and GPs who have been struggling to get a child to school can, after a while, get used to focusing all their attention on “fixing” the child. This overwhelming attention on the child can itself make things worse. Bringing our attention to the whole family system takes the heat off the child, and also helps the parents reflect on the things they can change in themselves. Parents may have difficulty enforcing rules. They could be too busy, or perhaps competing for their child’s affection and undermining the other parent’s attempts at setting limits. Sometimes there is a family culture around the benefits of being “sick”, where parents who have been absent are now spending more time with their child bringing them to appointments, modifying their interactions and making allowances for them.
The relationship between parents and schools can also turn sour. Parents can feel that the school is not being supportive enough, and schools can feel “If only Mum and Dad were more firm”. Schools have their own pressures such as not having sufficient resources, all the while having to meet attendance targets. Young people can sense this sort of dynamic, and in my experience it perpetuates the school refusal.
As you can see, the factors that may have triggered the school refusal, may not be the only ones keeping it going. Being open to all the potential issues at play can keep us from adding fuel to the fire, and begin the process of putting all the “know how” of different parties together in such a way that ultimately gets the young person back to school and on with life.
Dr Paul Fung is a Consultant Psychiatrist with Parramatta Mission. He is the Clinical Lead for Karrikin, the Youth Severe Mental Health Program for Sydney North Primary Health Network.
Business Manager (Acting) - Ms James
At the beginning of 2018, parents were offered Flexible Payment Plans (FPPs) to assist with the payment of school fees. These FPPs could be paid weekly, fortnightly or monthly between March and November 2018. All FPPs will therefore end by the end of November. If you have been paying via Direct Debit we will be attempting to contact you as your FPP completes to cancel the Direct Debit arrangement. You will be given the option to continue the Direct Debit and pay fees in advance for 2019, or cancel the Direct Debit and accept a new FPP in 2019 when fees are issued in Term 1. If you have not received a phone call and would like to cease your Direct Debit payments at the conclusion of your FPP, please contact the Finance Office to discuss.
All Payment Arrangements made directly with the school should also be completing. If you have not been contacted and would like to discuss the status of your 2018 school fees please contact the Finance Office.
Continuing enrolment will not be affected by a family’s genuine inability to pay fees. If you are experiencing financial hardship please contact us to discuss how we may be able to help you.
St Clare’s Finance Office 9830 2400 and select Option 2.
Leader of Learning HSIE - Mr Ahern
Vietnam Veteran Incursion
This term our Year 9 students had the great opportunity to participate in a Vietnam Veteran Incursion. Vin and Nancy who are two Vietnam Vet’s came to St Clare’s to talk to our students about the war and their first hand experiences. This was great for our students to learn through the perspective of people who actually in the war. We thank Vin and Nancy for coming and the Year 9’s for their participation.
Leader of Learning CAPA - Mr Smolen
Well done to all of the students for working exceptionally hard in the Creative and Performing Arts classrooms and making the most out of their learning opportunities.
The mandatory Visual Arts students have demonstrated a range of creative thought processes through their manipulation of wire and the art resources to create a sculpture inspired by insects and the natural environment.
Students planned their ideas through research and preliminary drawings. They then took the concept of 2D line by lifting it of the page to construct a 3D form. They starting by building an armature from their plans, then they refined the structure by adding tissue paper and colour. The sculptures were then used to develop an ink drawing with an emphasis on the use of line as one of the elements used to create meaning.
Year 9 Elective photography students have submitted their ‘Still life’ images with some very impressive results. Students manage to find a uniqueness in the everyday, mundane object and are able to create interest. They are now working on an appropriation unit where they take the concept of a well-known artwork and change it to make their own interpretation.
Year 10 Elective Visual Art students are busy preparing their stencils for their ‘POP Art’ inspired screen prints. They have shown some very imaginative ideas and I am looking forward to great results.
Year 10 Elective Photography are studying the genre of Portraiture and they are using Photoshop techniques to manipulate images to create meaning and emphasise the sitter’s personality.
Remember to set aside the evening of Wednesday 21st of November to support our talented student performances and view their art exhibition. Students can purchase tickets from the CAPA teachers at the school for $5. Show starts at 6pm.
Thank you to the students, parents and caregivers for your ongoing support of the Creative and Performing Arts.
Librarian - Ms Wood
Halloween Celebrations in the Library.
The Library was buzzing with excitement on Halloween.
Students had fun decorating with an evil theme and borrowing SCARY books to gain a TREAT .
Return of Class Novels
There are still over 60 students who have failed to return the novels that they studied during Term 2 in English. Many reminders to return these books have been given. Parents are reminded to encourage students to return items promptly to school. Replacement cost for these books would be over $1000, which would be better spent in other ways within the school. During weeks 4 & 5, phone calls will be made home to ask for parental support in getting these items back. Please get your child to check for any St Clare’s items in your home and return them as soon as possible. Thank you for your support with this.
Connecting with the Local Library
Our move to a smaller space has meant that students now have very little access to non-fiction books at school. Most students have hopefully been making use of the e-Resources available on our E-Library but sometimes a hard copy of a book is the best option and much easier for students to use. To this end I have been liaising with the local public libraries to organise membership for our students.
There are application forms to join Blacktown City Libraries , available in our library. Students need to get the form filled in and signed by a parent or guardian. The form can then be brought back to school for verification and I will pass them to Mt Druitt Library. Library cards will then be created and issued through the school.
As you can see from the information below, there are many services available through the local library. The best news is that all the services are FREE. In addition to these services we will be able to set up a system of inter-library loans to borrow boxes of books on topics when classes have assessments or research tasks.
It would be wonderful to see all our students take advantage of this great opportunity.
Leader of Year 9 - Mr Eisenhuth
Term 4 will be an exciting time for Year 9. In Week 7, November 26 - November 28, they will attend a retreat at the Benedict Retreat Centre in Grose Vale. Students should have received a ‘Medical and Consent Form’ which will need to be returned. Any students who will require medication while away at retreat will need to return an ‘Administration of Medication’ form as well. Both of these forms can be collected from office.