Principal's Report
Dear Parents & Friends of St Clare’s
I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well.
The funeral of Bishop Bill Wright was held on Wednesday at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Newcastle. Bishop Bill had a lifetime commitment to Catholic Education and took an active interest in the formation of student leaders at our Catholic Schools.
He hosted a yearly camp for student leaders from the system’s secondary schools and met annually with student leaders from each of our High Schools. He was always interested to hear the views of young people and took many of them ‘on board’ as he developed the church’s response to those in need in the Diocese. Bishop Bill will be remembered for his legacy of listening to the young and investing deeply in their learning, growth and spiritual development. St Clare’s was represented at the funeral by Deacon Vince Ryan and I thank Vince for his time and for wearing the St Clare’s blazer as a symbol of the St Clare’s community’s presence at the ceremonies of thanksgiving for Bishop Bill’s life and service.
The HSC exams have continued with a minimum of fuss, as our students continue to show wonderful resilience and forbearance under ever-changing conditions. I could not be prouder of the way students and staff have supported each other over the year and look forward to the community gathering to celebrate the group’s contribution to St Clare’s on Friday, 3 December at 5 pm in the Josephite Centre.
The COVID virus continues to impact on our education system and our school: staff continue to encourage students to wear their masks and follow the hygiene protocols. A number of our families in a variety of year levels have received Health Department letters regarding their sons or daughters being exposed to the virus. The letters are not always easy to understand. If you wish to discuss the information in the Health Department letter, please feel free to call the school and we will assist you and your family in every way we can.
The St Clare’s Vinnies Group is running a toy drive and you can find information about this worthy cause a little further into the newsletter.The symbol of the tree and birth of Jesus offer us significant hope in a time of great stress and disruption. The presents collected will be distributed to those in need in our local community, sending a strong message of love and care to those who may feel marginalised and alone.
Recently we opened a new seating area for students that offers shade during the warmer months of the year. The newly covered area situated along the side of the music room was made possible by funds from the Parents & Friends Association.
Before & After
The COVID pandemic has dramatically reduced the number of parent meetings and community gatherings that we would have had over the course of the past two years. Visitors to the school will be struck by the growth and development of the plantings made during the construction phase of the Josephite Centre. We have included some photos of the grounds which are developing well and proving to be a great environment for our young people to learn and play.
The arts play an often underestimated part in the development of individuals and communities. The use of imagination is at the heart of all creativity, invention and positive change in the way we live. You can see examples of this learning in the reports around photography and Digi Ed a little further into this newsletter. Both items highlight the fun that is had and self-discipline that is learned when people plan and collaborate to bring a project to fruition.
I have been notified that MidCoast Council has commissioned an upgrade of Cowper Street, Taree. The project is set to start this week and is expected to be completed in late March 2022. The work includes drainage, pavement restoration, concrete works and turfing. The road works will be staged with one lane of traffic closed at various times. These arrangements may impact on drop off and pick up points and we ask that you observe all safety rules and directions while the works are in progress.
A number of families have had to interrupt their usual work routines to have their son or daughter COVID tested at short notice. We know that this is inconvenient and thank you for your patience and support as we continue to navigate all that the pandemic throws our way…
God bless
Peter Nicholls
Principal