Dear Families,

We are now in August, which means hats go back on. We will have a few weeks of grace so that students can find their hats or parents can purchase new hats if needed. Please write your child’s name on the hat so that we can return it to the correct owner if found. New hats can be purchased at the front office for $15.

Many of you may have seen Mrs McPadden’s posts on the school’s Facebook page about her travels to Spain and Portugal for World Youth Day. Mrs McPadden joins a number of other pilgrims from the Archdiocese to attend this wonderful event. Soon, Mrs McPadden will travel to Dubai to take part in a Spiritual Retreat for pilgrims before they return home. She continues to pray for us and we for her while she is away.

Today is St Mary Mackillop’s feast day. Mary MacKillop is Australia’s first and currently only saint. She worked tirelessly to educate many children and founded the Sisters of St Joseph to support this endeavour. Our own Sr Colleen is a Josephite and has continued much of this work in her own ministry. We wish Sr Colleen and all those who are part of the Sisters of St Joseph well on this day and remember their amazing founder.

We will commission the Student Representative Council (SRC) for our second semester this Friday. I thank the outgoing SRC, with the support of Mrs Mason, for all of their efforts for the first half of this year. Last semester, the SRC ran a number of fun activities and also lobbied the School Community Council to purchase two table and chair sets which are now sitting under the trees near the ELC.

Take care and God bless

August Birthdays

Samuel B, Indyah M, Chase M, Mason M, Karen F, Ari U, Frederick N, Matilda P, Liam B, Sophia H, Zoey M, Tyler E, Lachlan B, Summer P, Jaxson P, Michael P, Meghan S, Ashea K, Gabriella S, Erin H, Adeline B

Our Tournament of the Minds (TOM) Team have been collaborating on their challenge, 'Clash of the Ages'.  They will be required to have their response to their question performance ready by the end of Week 6!  This awesome team have made a great start.  Wish them luck!

Over the next several weeks students will be introduced to Ngunnawal vocabulary. This week students will be learning "Waruga" meaning "Child". Thank you Miss Evans for continuing our learning of our Ngunnawal Country.

The Beginning of August is Hats On For All of Us  
    
The beginning of August marks the start of the sun protection period for Canberra primary school settings, this is because we begin to witness daily UV levels climb to 3 and above every day, and whilst it may not be all day, it will be for part of the day in August ie lunchtime. ACT schools need to know what time to enforce sun protection each day and never rely on temperature to gauge sun protection times. 

Yes, August is still very cold in the nation's capital but it also signals Hats On Again for all Canberra primary schools and early childhood services.

STA hats are availble for purchase from the Front Office for $15 each.

We have noticed that some students are bringing soft drinks to school or ordering through Subway. We really appreciate your cooperation and hope that families will work with us to ensure students are provided the best possible opportunity to learn and maintain healthy habits. The consumption of carbonated drinks during learning time is against our promotion of developing healthy habits. Please work with us and provide children with water in a labelled drink bottle. If ordering a Subway lunch the only alternative drink available is flavoured milk.