Dear Parents, Carers and Community Members

This week we received the sad news that Mr Rex Doutty a long-time member of our teaching staff passed away on the Saturday, 18 March.  At this time, we keep his family and friends in our thoughts and prayers, especially his wife Pam, children Shane, Donna, Daniel and grandchildren.

Mr Doutty was a much-loved member of our community, a beautiful soul who dedicated his life to ‘Living by Giving’ through the education of our young over the past 50 years including as a teacher, and our first official WHS officer at St Clare’s.

Rex had real love of science, his passion in this area is best exemplified with Rex ‘s decision to donate his body to the science department at Macquarie University.

Rex will always be part of our community, not just in memory but also physically with the Big Umbrella that sits proudly in the senior yard.  Rex was at the forefront in sourcing funding and research into shade structures that enabled the erection of this umbrella in 2006.

Please take the time to read a few comments from his fellow teachers:

Rex was always there to listen supportively to all staff and especially teachers.  He brought a wealth of knowledge and wisdom from a great many years of teaching experience and shared professional literature with teachers.  He cared deeply for the school community.  He was adaptable and happy to teach in any subject area and was always happy to work with children with difficult circumstances.
Mr Jason Koenig

Rex was an uncommon man.  Uncommon in the sense that he overcame extreme adversity as a child and was able as an adult to assimilate this struggle into a life filled with love and dedication to the needs and safety of family, friends and his community.  Rex was a man that could be taken at his word and a man never to let you down.  Rex was a rock of stability, a clear life choice in contrast to the tumultuous chaos of his youth.  Life thrust many challenges on Rex that set his stone at an early age.  A person is truly defined an adult when they can choose their own life path, and actively decide the type of person they want to be regardless of life’s adverse challenges.  Rex chose education, peace, loyalty and acts of selfless service to the betterment of all children.  Teaching seemed to fit the bill.

He told me once, in an all-in bar brawl in a Bankstown pub, early in the 1970’s, “Out of the entire pub, they arrested me.  Just because I was the biggest, I wasn’t even in the fight.”  He laughed as he said “the hardest part was explaining to his principal the next day why he couldn’t come to work.”

Rex clearly matured into teaching over a long career, two Masters Degrees later and a wealth of leadership experience, we knew Rex in the later winding down part of his long and distinguished career.  Science, knowledge, children and community were always his passion.  A deep thinker and a man always willing to share the latest research paper on a topic of discussion.  A man of action not just words, a man of integrity, never willing to yield to any bully or any form of political injustice or intimidation.  A true hero and role model to us all.  Once Rex had made up his mind he was a powerhouse of energy and action.  Calmly methodically grinding away until the goal was achieved.  I respected Rex and I loved him as a colleague and as a man.  He taught us all a lot about life and dignity in action.  He taught me through his life to face the challenge head on, with everything you have.  A life well lived, devoted husband and true model for kindness and strength in compassion.  Until we meet again.
Mr Phil Chalmers

Rex, in his infinite kindness towards our school Rex donated copies of the Cambridge Ancient History. Rex also organised 2 full bags of Ancient Egyptian replica artefacts and books that were donated to the school, from a friend he knew. These are displayed in the Library and Room 7 and are a valuable source of interest to student, another valuable legacy Rex has left behind.
Mrs Eloise Thomas

It is hard when the time comes to say goodbye to a friend that is dear to our hearts, this especially is the case with Rex who showed us all how to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, through both his actions and words.  In saying goodbye, we pray the Blessing of St Clare.

May Almighty God Bless you
May he look upon you with the eyes
of Mercy and give you peace.
Here on earth may he pour forth
graces on you abundantly
and in heaven may he place you
among the saints

Rex’s Memorial Service will be on Friday, 12 May at 2 pm at the Tuncurry Bowling Club auditorium.

Relationships make the world go round and nearly everything we do and achieve in life will come from working with others.

At our school, we strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and supported.  One of the most important ways we do this is by fostering quality relationships between students, staff and parents.

Research has shown that positive relationships between teachers and students can have a significant impact on academic achievement, student engagement and classroom behaviour.  Students who feel connected to their teachers are more likely to be motivated to learn, more likely to participate in class, and less likely to exhibit disruptive behaviour.  Moreover, strong relationships between parents/carer’s and teachers can also benefit students.

We encourage our teachers to get to know their students on a personal level and to create a welcoming and inclusive classroom environment.  Our CLARE lessons conducted three times a week have a dual purpose.  The first is to provide the opportunity for students to work though their wellbeing journals to build their wellbeing banks to draw on when confronted with life’s inevitable challenges, and an opportunity for teachers to get know the students through conversation and build quality and respectful relationships with the students under their care.

Creating quality relationships is not always easy, but it is worth the effort.  There are many different dimensions to consider when trying to build the relationship or establish a rapport with another person.  Our students’ brains, especially during adolescents, are not necessarily completely wired and therefore, need to be shown and taught how to build quality relationships.

Some of the personal attributes students need to learn and develop are:

• Living and learning collaboratively and in cooperation with others – learn from others.
• Living by giving – a core value of St Clare, St Mary MacKillop and our Catholic school.
• Focusing on mutual respect – everyone is special and celebrate diversity.
• Appreciating others and their thoughts – building connections with others.
• Being true to themselves, respecting themselves and showing the best of themselves.
• Building empathy for others, their feelings, needs, and views – being positively mindful.
• Positive communication - use positive language and avoiding negative comments or criticism.
• Listening with their eyes, their ears, and their heart.

The acquisition of these attributes will enable students to build healthy and respectful relationships with others.  To learn how to mix with and accept people of all ages, differing cultures and backgrounds and in a variety of situations, including at school, home, work, and on social media formats.

At St Clare’s, we are committed to building quality relationships between students, staff, and parents.  We believe that by doing so, we can create a positive, inclusive and connected school community where everyone feels valued and supported.  Thank you for your support in this important endeavour.

‘Together with Christ we serve our community’.

Inspired by GOSPEL VALUES and the practical examples of St Mary of The Cross MacKillop and St Clare of Assisi our Mission is to…

CONNECT LEARN ASPIRE RESPECT ENGAGE

Yours in Christ

Phillip Gibney
Principal