Please note the following dates in your diary:
2026 dates are set as best as possible at this point in time.
Please be mindful they may be subject to change and continue to check.

2026 Term 2

Week 1 Monday 20th April - First Day of Term 2 Monday 20th April - Senior Athletics - Goldsworthy Reserve Monday 20th April - Year 5/6 parents - Bodyworks infosession 6:30 online Tuesday 21st April - Bodyworks lessons commence for two weeks - year 5 and 6 Wednesday 22nd April - Prep 2027 information tours 9:30am  Wednesday 22nd April - Tuning into Kids sesison 3 6:30pm Online Friday 24th April - ANZAC reflection 10:50am Friday 24th April - City to Surf Cross Country - selected students

Week 2 Wednesday 29th April - Tuning into Kids sesison 4 6:30pm Online Wednesday 29th April - Carnivale meeting 6:45 Staff room Friday 1st May - 2027 Prep enrolments close Friday 1st May - Icypole day Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd May - Sacramental Presentation Masses (Eucharist and Confirmation)

Week 3 Monday May 4th - Swimming begins for Yr 3 and 4 (all week) Wednesday 6th May - Tuning into Kids sesison 5 6:30pm Online Thursday 7th May - Year 3 Mother's day mass Thursday 7th May - Mothers day stall Friday 8th May - Mothers day morning - details to come

Week 4 Monday May 11th - Swimming begins for Yr 1 and 2 (all week) Wednesday 13th May - Tuning into Kids sesison 6 6:30pm Online Saturday 16th May - Parish book fair school hall

Week 5 Tuesday 19th May - Division cross country - selected students Friday 22nd May - Icypole day

Week 6 Monday 25th May - student free day - staff PD Wednesday 27th May- Eucharist Family Faith Night Year 4 - 6:30pm Please note change of date. Friday 29th May - Yr 6 Winter Lightning Prem - Clairvaux sports uniform only to be worn

Week 7 Tuesday 2nd June - Yr 4 Eucharist preparation day

Week 8 Monday 8th June - Public Holiday - school closure day Tuesday 9th June - Bravehearts incursion Prep and Yr 2 Tuesday 9th June - Year 5 Camp (one night) Wednesday 10th June - Year 5 camp Thursday 11th June - Yr 5 students no school Saturday 13th June and Sunday 14th June - Sacrament of Eucharist Celebrations

Week 9 Thursday 18th June - Special treat day

Week 10 Monday 22nd June - School ends at midday to allow for Parent Teacher Meetings Monday 22nd June - Parent Teacher Meetings Midday - 6:30pm Wednesday 24th June - Parent teacher Meetings 3:40pm - 7:00pm Friday 26th June - Assembly 9:10 am - CSC semester two badge presentations Friday 26th June - Last Day of term 2 - 2:30pm dismissal

Term 3 Week 1 Monday 13th July - Student free day - staff PD day Tuesday 14th July -  First Day of Term 2

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Gracious God,

open our hearts so that we may receive the message of your coming with joy and wonder. 

Help us to discover the people and places in the midst of our daily lives where you meet us with your love and care. 

May we be the face of Christ to all those we meet. We ask this prayer in Jesus’ name. 

All: Amen.

Finding Peace in the Second Week of Advent

Dear Families,

As we enter the second week of the Advent season, the dedicated period of waiting and preparation for the birth of Jesus at Christmas, we can easily get caught up in the incredible speed and rush of the final school weeks of the year.

It's a feeling many can relate to.  It is much like the world of a tradie, where everything seems to need to be completed by Christmas!

This week, I sent a message to our incredible teachers, reminding them to truly enjoy the final days of the year with their classes. The time they have spent together on this unique learning journey has been precious, and every day is different.

In the context of Advent, this second week traditionally calls us to stay alert and prepare not just for the infant Jesus, but also for the powerful message of the adult Jesus' public ministry. We are all waiting for the joy of Jesus' birth and the well-deserved break at the end of the school year.

In these final days, I encourage you all to take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of the Advent season: a time of waiting, anticipation, and joyful preparation for the birth of Christ.

Reflecting Together

A wonderful way to slow down and focus on the reason for the season is through conversation with your children.

• Ask your children what they have been learning about in their prayer and Religious Education lessons.
• Hearing it from the children can have a profound impact on all of us, reminding us of the true reason for Christmas.

Thank you, as always, for your unwavering support and partnership this year. Let us cherish these final weeks and embrace the spirit of Advent together.

Professional Development Closure Day with Christina Hughes and Tricia Spreadborough - MACs Indigenous Cultural Education

Last Monday we were fortunate to have Christina and Tricia from MACs to engage us in a cultural awareness of our First nation.  The professional learning opportunity was a chance for us to gain a deeper understanding of our history and the importance of being culturally aware of how we can effectively educate our school community.

Creating Culturally Safe and Inclusive Learning Environments.

The intended outcomes of the  session included:

• Enhancing knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, and their importance within educational contexts.
• Strengthening confidence in addressing the AITSL teaching Standards by demonstrating respect for, and responsiveness to, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, histories, and cultures.
• Deepening our understanding of Child Safe Standard 1 by exploring strategies to create and sustain culturally safe environments for our Aboriginal children and young people.
• Promoting cultural respect, inclusion, and reconciliation within our school communities, and fostering more culturally responsive and inclusive learning environments.
• Developing a deeper knowledge, understanding, and empathy to meaningfully embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into everyday teaching practice.

Brendan

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At last week's Parent and Friends meeting, clarity was sought of the role and responsibility of the School Advisory Council.  The following will provide you with a brief understanding of the Clairvaux SAC.  Current members include Fr Tho, Christine Brennan, Kat Quinn, Sarah Smith, Luke Primus, Shervonne Vass, Leanne McAlister, Steve D’Arcy and Myself.

The School Advisory Council: A Parent's Guide

The School Advisory Council (SAC) is essentially the main way parents, the local church (St Bernards parish), and the community can work together with the school leadership to make the school the best place it can be for our kids.

What the SAC Is (The "Partnership")

• As a  Support Team: It's a formal group that brings together the Principal, the Parish Priest, and Parents (plus sometimes other community members).
• A "Voice" for Parents: It gives parents a dedicated place to contact the SAC members to share their ideas, concerns, and wisdom directly with the Principal.
• As a  Principal's Sounding Board: The Principal and Parish Priest can use the SAC as a place to discuss big ideas or challenges, and get feedback from the parent community before making decisions.
• Consulting, Not Deciding: The SAC is in essence advisory—meaning they give advice and perspective. They do not make the final decisions; those are made by the Principal and Parish Priest, always with the children's well-being and success always being the top priority.

In short: The School Advisory Council is a valuable formal group where parents' insights are sought and used to advise the Principal and Parish Priest on what is best for the students and the future success of the school.      

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The Parents and Friends meeting last Wednesday was attended by a strong core of parents last week.  We are in a rebrand phase but also conscious of what our main purpose is.

Supporting Our School Community: That's the Parents and Friends (P&F) Group!

The P&F is a volunteer team made up of parents and friends dedicated to the well-being of our school. Our main goals are to:

• To Fundraise: Organize activities to bring in extra funds that pay for resources, equipment, or improvements that directly benefit our students' learning and school environment.
• To Build Community: Create opportunities for families to meet, socialize, and feel connected to the school through various functions and activities.
• To Communicate: Act as a helpful link, sharing information and feedback between the wider parent community and the school staff.

Please see Caity Foster Dawes for a complete list of support, the passion and energy displayed by the parents and friends this year.

 Community Care in Action: A Note of Thanks

This past week, we experienced an unfortunate incident in the school yard involving one of our youngest students, Marigold (Goldie) from the Prep class. Goldie sustained a deep head wound that required 20 stitches, and while she was understandably distressed, she is now recovering well.

In times of unexpected difficulty, it is profoundly encouraging to witness the swift care and compassion demonstrated by our community.

• Gratitude to Staff: Our heartfelt thanks go to the dedicated staff members who provided immediate and skillful treatment for Goldie's injury. Their professionalism and calm response ensured she received the necessary care without delay.

• A Special Mention to Langdon: We would also like to recognise the extraordinary support shown by Goldie's older brother, Langdon. His maturity and understanding of the seriousness of the injury allowed him to provide invaluable comfort to his little sister. His actions were a true testament to the loving bonds within our student body.

We are so grateful to be part of a community that rallies around its members. We send our very best wishes to Goldie for a complete and speedy recovery.

Maanya, Uganda: Building a Better Future Together

We are pleased to announce that our annual financial support has been sent to the Maanya community in Uganda this week. Father Emma is delighted with the yearly boost it provides.

This support is central to Clairvaux's belief in "Building a Better Future." What was once considered "mission impossible" is now a community brimming with spirit and potential, thanks to focused efforts in education, infrastructure, and human kindness. Our ongoing partnership fuels a sense of limitless possibility. It serves as an important reminder, particularly now, of the privileges we have here at Clairvaux.

Navigating the Final Weeks of the Year

As we successfully conclude Week 9, let's all be mindful and supportive of one another as we face the natural pressures that accompany the end of a busy school year. We still have many wonderful events ahead!

Please note these key upcoming activities:

• Today: Clairvaux Got Talent!
• Next Tuesday: "Step Up Day." This exciting day includes:
• Welcoming our new Preps and their families.
• All children learn who their class teacher and classmates will be next year.
• For Year 6: The fun of the Adventure Park excursion and the formal Graduation ceremony.
• Friday, December 12th: Our highly significant End-of-Year Mass at 9:15 AM.

 Let’s hold it together.  

Brendan

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Vinnie’s Christmas Appeal Reminder

Thankyou  for all the wonderful donations of food, toiletries, gifts and gift cards that have given by our Clairvaux families to the the Vinnie’s Chrismas Hamper and Giving Tree Appeal.  Our generosity will help support and bring Christmas joy to many local families.  Our final collection date is Wednesday 10th  December.  Donations will continue to be accepted in classrooms and the school office up until this date.

Clairvaux End of Year Mass

An invitation is extended to all Clairvaux families to join us at our final whole school mass for 2025 on Friday, 12th December at 9.15am in St. Bernard’s Church.   Our theme for the mass celebrates the Jubilee Year as Pilgrims on a journey - “Hope lights our Path.”  We will focus on our journey forward and reflect on ways we can shine our light of HOPE, peace, joy and love this Christmas season.  It is also a time to celebrate and give thanks for our 2025 school year and take time to farewell our Year 6 students as a school community.   We hope you can join us!

 St. Bernard’s Family Christmas Eve Mass 

All Clairvaux families are warmly invited to come along to the St. Bernard’s Parish Family Christmas Eve mass at 6pm on Wednesday 24th December.  Thankyou to the students who have signed up to take part in the nativity play, readings and the choir for the mass.  Any enquiries regarding this can be directed to Jess Hepworth at St. Bernard’s parish office - belmont@cam.org.au or 52432739.

Year 2 Advent Prayer Service

Today our Year 2 students celebrated an Advent prayer service in the Foley Centre.

It was a prayerful and special time for the students as they took time to reflect on how they can prepare themselves for Christmas. It can be a busy time of year, but Advent reminds us to slow down, wait and make room in our hearts for Jesus

  

The following is a prayer that was part of the celebration today…

Wake up!

Wake up my eyes, Lord!

So that I can treat others with respect and love.

Wake up my hands!

Help them to make the earth more welcoming and fair.

Wake up my ears!

Help them to hear joy and sorrow each day.

Wake up my mouth!

Help my words be encouraging and kind to others.

Wake up all of me, Lord!

So that I’ll be ready to welcome you this Christmas.

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As we come to the end of term 4, here are the keys dates for any uniform purchases. 

Friday 5 Dec - FINAL shop open for 2025, 8.45 - 9.15am.  

Tuesday 9 Dec - Special open for Step Up day, 11am - 1pm. 

Thursday 11 Dec - online orders for 2025 CLOSE at 8.00pm. 

Friday 12 Dec - final day online orders are PACKED. 

Orders placed after 10am on Friday 12 Dec cannot be guaranteed for delivery in 2025. 

The first shop open for 2026 is planned for Tuesday 27 January. This will be confirm via the P&F Chatter Facebook page in January 2026. The open will be 30mins only for exchanges for preps or last min items due to growth spurts. No full prep fittings will be done on this day. 

Thanks to all our amazing volunteers for their support in 2025. 

We always need more hands in the shop. You can volunteer to pack orders on a Wednesday or serve customers in the shop on Friday mornings. Babies and toddlers are welcome. To find out more, email clairvauxuniforms@gmail.com 

 

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It has been a busy term for grade ones in the Performing Arts room.  Students have enjoyed learning to play untuned percussion instruments such as shakers, hand drums and clave (rhythm sticks) to new and known songs.  They have also been working hard to clap rhythms by reading simple notations and creating their own rhythms.  We are finishing off the term with some festive fun by learning the song and actions to 'Rock 'n Roll Snowman'.

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What an incredible term it has been, culminating in the dazzling display of student creativity and skill at Clairvaux's Got Talent! We have been consistently amazed and inspired by the diverse range of acts, from powerful vocal performances to gravity-defying dances and truly unique instrumentalists. Congratulations to all the participants who stepped onto the stage—it takes immense courage and dedication to share your talent, and you have made the Clairvaux community immensely proud. A huge, well-deserved round of applause and congratulations goes out to our sensational winners, Zoe Wright and Molly Zeng, who captivated the judges and audience with their standout performances.
A big thankyou to Damian and everyone involved for making this year's talent show a massive success!

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What you need to know if your child has a medical condition

Important Reminder: Student Medication at School

As the weather warms up, we know that many students may begin experiencing hayfever or other seasonal allergies. To help us support your child’s health and safety at school, we’d like to remind families of our current medication procedures.

In line with the MACS Medication Policy (introduced in 2022), the school is unable to administer any medication—including over-the-counter items—without the correct documentation.

If your child requires medication during school hours, please ensure the following forms are completed:

• Medical Authority Form – This must be filled out by a health professional (Doctor or Pharmacist) for any medication, including over-the-counter medicines such as Paracetamol, Antihistamines, or creams.

• Medical Management Form – Required if your child has an ongoing medical condition that needs regular medication or treatment.

All relevant forms and policy information can be found on our school website.

We appreciate your cooperation and support in keeping our students safe and well cared for. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the school office.

Please keep medical details up to date.

All medication is to be stored in the First aid room and will be administered by staff.  No medication is to be stored in your child's bag.

• Asthma: Asthma Action Plan signed by the doctor every 12 months.  
• Allergy:  Allergy Action Plan signed by the doctor every 12 months.  
• Anaphylaxis:  Asthma Action Plan signed by the doctor every 12 months. 
• Epilepsy: Epilepsy Management Plan signed by the doctor every 12 months

                    (All these forms are supplied by your doctor).

You will receive an email via SIMON (PAM) when your child is due for a new plan or if your child's medication has expired.

If your child requires any medical care or medication at school you will be required to take the following forms to a Health Practitioner to be filled in and signed off.

Medical Management Form 

Medical Authority Form 

We can no longer give any medication eg. panadol, antibiotics, antihistamines, creams etc to your child at school unless these forms are filled out. 

These forms are available from the office and also on our website under Welbeing, to download.

To update your child's medical information on PAM, please see these instructions 

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Parents & Friends (P&F) Committee – Thank you for a wonderful 2025

                              

As we come to the end of another busy and successful year, the Parents & Friends Committee would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all parents and caregivers for their continued support throughout 2025. Your involvement whether through volunteering, attending events, donating goods, or offering ideas, has played an essential role in enhancing the student experience at our school.

Throughout the year, our committee has worked to improve student life by hosting events, supporting equipment upgrades, and coordinating fundraising efforts that contribute to larger school initiatives. These efforts are only possible because of the generosity and engagement of our school community, and for that we are truly grateful.

Here's our list of accomplishments for this year:

• School welcome picnic
• Colour Run and BBQ to support Mannya
• Canteen hot food fundraiser days
• Canteen special treat days
• Canteen pilot of a token system (instead of cash)
• Easter hot cross buns for all students
• Parents and friend’s trivia night
• Mum's social night
• Dad's social night
• Mother's and Father’s Day stalls
• Mothers' and Father’s Day morning teas
• Parents social night at Centra
• St. Bernards’s Day BBQ and sweet treat
• New and improved soccer goals
• Senior woodlands upgrade
• Donation drive for junior woodlands, sandpit, and shop play areas
• Foley centre furniture upgrade
• Keepsake picture plate fundraiser
• Design your own artwork keepsakes
• Care packages for Clairvaux families
• Long sleeve footy jumpers
• World Teachers Day coffee van
• Social media business advertising Mondays
• Purchasing new BBQs for events
• Clairvaux signage (inflatable arch)
• Canteen coordination
• Uniform shop coordination 
• Departing teacher gifts

 

Acknowledgments

 We offer our gratitude and appreciation for all those who held positions on the committee for 2025 and extend our thanks to those members without a formal role who continued to attend meetings and contribute their ideas and lend their support.

Our 2025 team of superstars:

• Secretary – Christine Wallis followed by Meredith Crees
• Treasurer – Alex Stebbing
• Fundraising – Gemma Willocks
• Uniform shop coordinators – Kate Sherwell and Sarah Breen
• Canteen coordinators – Kate Messinger followed by Misti Clifford
• Events – Melinda Downie, Suzy Mackenzie and Zoe Symons
• Social media – Kelly Kules
• Clairvaux Family Support Network – Jane Clark
• Buildings and grounds – Shervonne Berger
• Mother’s and Father’s Day stalls – Ebony Dwyer and Leanne McAlister
• Friendship lists – Kelly Butler

We extend out thanks to the Clairvaux Office staff and the school leadership team - Brendan, Christine and Kat - for their continued support of our initiatives and being active participants at our meetings. We look forward to partnering with you again in 2026!

And final farewell, thank you and goodbye to Leanne McAlister, our former P&F President. As many of you know, Leanne has been an integral part of our Clairvaux school community for over a decade, and this year marks her final year as a Clairvaux parent. Under her leadership, the P&F committee successfully introduced the vibrant and much-loved colour run, which has become a cherished event for our students and families. Additionally, her dedication led to the design and purchase of the fantastic play equipment in the senior play area, providing our students with endless hours of joy and physical activity. Most recently, Leanne has also served on the School Advisory Committee (SAC), where her insights and commitment have been invaluable in guiding our school's direction and policies.

On behalf of the entire Clairvaux community, we extend our deepest appreciation and wish you all the best in your future endeavours.

Looking ahead to 2026

As we plan for the year ahead, we are excited to share that the token system for canteen visits on special treat days will be reintroduced in 2026. This system was well-received in our pilot and we believe it will help streamline treat-day organisation while adding a bit of fun for students.

In addition, the committee has gathered a range of ideas and suggestions from parents on how we can strengthen and re-energise the Parents & Friends in 2026. Many parents expressed appreciation for being asked for their thoughts, and we value every contribution. More detailed feedback provided verbally has been shared within the committee and will continue to inform our planning. We also acknowledge that some families may hold different views, and we remain committed to listening to all perspectives.

Despite the variety of suggestions, several common themes emerged, highlighting simple and practical changes we can make - provided we all work together- to improve how the committee functions and to boost community engagement.

So watch this space in 2026 for a new look committee....!

Thank you once again!

 We deeply appreciate the time, energy, and enthusiasm our families bring to the school. Together, we create a warm, supportive community for our children to grow and thrive. Thank you for everything you have contributed in 2025, and we look forward to an exciting and collaborative year ahead.

Wishing you all a safe and joyful festive season!

Caitlin Foster
P&F President

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