Dear Parents, Carers and Community Members

Well, Semester 1 is ending, and the students and staff are looking forward to a well-earned winter break.  As Principal, I look back at our students’ achievements this semester with pride, as there has been much to celebrate within our school community.  On the sporting field, in the areas of mathematics and science, the creative and performing arts, community service and the individual achievements by students academically.  We are not a big school compared to other schools in Newcastle, Port Macquarie and Sydney yet we have individual students and teams doing themselves, their families and St Clare’s proud.

Reports for Semester 1 will be open through Compass Friday, 30 June.  These reports indicate how well your child or children have been able to engage in their learning, and aspire to be the best they can be, while also recognising their achievements and efforts.  Reports are also a good vehicle for parents to open up conversations about what is working well and what areas need attention to make improvements in their learning.

At the start of the year, I challenged the students to be the best they can be ‘to be successful’ and I asked them to think about this question.  How are you going to achieve personal excellence, be successful this year?  The questions I now ask the students as we reach the midpoint of the year.  How are you going at achieving personal excellence?  Have you been successful in obtaining your goals?  What do you need to do or change to showcase the best of you?  Remember, you will need to take ownership for your learning, set yourselves clear goals and work hard to achieve these goals.

Bishop Michael Kennedy

We had the pleasure of the Bishop for the Maitland/Newcastle diocese, Bishop Michael Kennedy visit the St Clare’s community on Friday, 23 June. It was a great opportunity for the staff and students to meet and listen to the Bishop especially considering the last time a Bishop visited the school our current Year 12 students were in year 7.

Bishop Michael in his address to the community shared his life story from a student to his role as a Bishop and leader of our faith community.  In particular, he spoke about the point in his life after initially starting his young adult life as a teacher, to where he felt the calling of God.  The thoughts, the processes he went through before making the decision to commit himself to God and start his journey as a faith leader.

It was also a unique opportunity for the school community to come together and celebrate with two of our students being presented in person with Bishops Award for 2022 by Bishop Michael.  The Bishop Awards recognise the efforts of students and young people of faith within our diocese who have contributed to the community through their Parish, church group or church agency.  This may include involvement in groups or agencies such as Caritas, Youth Ministries, St Vincent de Paul, Vinnies or similar church groups.  This also includes contributions made within parishes e.g., Liturgy and Youth Ministries.  

The two recipients of the Bishop Award were Emily Boere and Ava Doherty, both year 8 students.  Below I have included the citations that were read out as Bishop Michael presented the awards to the girls.

Ava Doherty & Emily Boere

Emily Boere -

Emily has been an active member in her Parish and at her school St Clare's.  Emily also volunteers at the local CatholicCare Community Kitchen of her own volition.  Emily is a kind person who wants to support others in any capacity she can.

Emily has been an altar server in both Old Bar and Taree since she was 8 years old.  Emily understands that other people need support and chooses to do this through her actions and participation in her faith community.

Emily demonstrates the Gospel values specifically in the Service of those in need, such as the Community Kitchen and in being an active part of Mini Vinnies and St Clare’s Taree Environmental group.  Emily works for others with Faith, Love and Compassion because she wants to make the world a better place the best way she can.

Ava Doherty -

From a very early age, Ava has participated in her local church and Parish, attending Mass every Sunday.  Ava has served at the altar for over seven years and has developed good relationships with parishioners of all ages.

Ava tries to be a good example of what it means to be a Catholic Christian, for example, when her friends have issues, she is able to help because of what she has learned and what she has been taught in church. 

Ava participates in many parish activities such as: 

• Celebrating feast days, dressing up for All Saints Day, participating in various roles in the Christmas and Easter celebrations, participating in Corpus Christi and Stations of the Cross.
• Helping out in the piety store and assisting in selling Catholic Lighthouse CDs.
• Helping promote and sell tickets for Parish cinema screenings, such as St Paul the Apostle, Unplanned, and Apparition Hill at Fay’s Twin Cinemas.
• Helped raise money for new church items.
• Assisted high school students to raise money to attend the Australian Catholic Youth Festival and renovations to the church hall.  

Finally, students enjoy the time away from school, come back safe and ready to learn.

‘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

Kind Regards

Phillip Gibney
Principal