Next week, our community gathers to celebrate the inaugural St Clare’s Staff Day, a special day to honour and give thanks for all who serve within our school community. It is a day of gratitude for the many people whose dedication, care, and faith-filled service make St Clare’s such a vibrant and nurturing community for our students and families.

When we speak of staff, we speak of a whole body, each part vital to the life of our school. We give thanks for our classroom and specialist teachers, who bring learning to life each day, and our Inclusive Practices Team, who ensure that every learner is supported to flourish. We recognise our school officers, administration staff, and those who care for the day-to-day running of our school with skill and compassion. Our grounds team, cleaners, and tuckshop staff create safe, welcoming spaces that reflect our pride in St Clare’s. We also acknowledge the contributions of our IT services, guidance counsellor, speech language pathologist, occupational therapist, instrumental music staff, relief staff and Leadership Team, whose expertise enriches the lives of our students in so many ways.

St Clare’s Staff Day on October 31 also coincides with World Teachers’ Day, a time when we join with all schools recognising the sacred vocation of teaching and all who dedicate their lives to the growth and wellbeing of young people. In Catholic tradition, teaching is more than a profession, it is a ministry, a calling to be co-workers with Christ in forming hearts and minds.

Jesus himself is our model teacher. He taught not only through words, but through compassion, presence, and example. He welcomed the curious, the questioning, and the struggling; He saw in every person the image of God. Each of our staff members, in their own way, continues this mission, guiding, accompanying, encouraging, and inspiring our young people to “Be a clear light” in the world.

As we celebrate this inaugural St Clare’s Staff Day, may we take a moment to pause and give thanks for the remarkable team who embody our mission each day. Their work, whether in classrooms, playgrounds, offices, or grounds, reflects the living presence of Christ in our community.

We welcome families to join us in our celebrations on October 31, with a Learning Breakfast from 8am. We will also gather as a school community for assembly at 1.45pm, which will include the presentation of Staff Service Awards (detailed below) and the 2025 St Clare’s Staff Award. Families are welcome to show their appreciation for our staff. 

30 years Diana Buzzo

25 years Evon Downie

15 Years Laura Walker, Samantha Bebendorf, Isabel Martens, Terri-Ann Firth

10 Years Janet Bishop, Kellie Fellows, Tracey Apap, Mel Thorburn, Meg Hardy

May God bless all who teach, lead, support, and serve at St Clare’s. Through their hands, hearts, and words, the Gospel continues to be written in the lives of our students.

A note on Halloween…

As a Catholic school community, it is important that we pause at this time of year to reflect on the true meaning behind the days surrounding October 31st. While the secular celebration of “Halloween” has become increasingly popular in our culture, with costumes, decorations, and themes that often focus on fear or the occult, our Catholic tradition invites us to focus instead on something far richer: the great hope of eternal life and the communion of saints.

All Hallows’ Eve – October 31

The word *Halloween* itself comes from All Hallows’ Eve, the evening before All Saints Day. Originally, this vigil was a time of prayer and preparation, much like Christmas Eve before Christmas Day. It was never intended to be a celebration of fear, darkness, or superstition. Rather, it was about waiting in hope and readying our hearts for the great feast to follow.

All Saints’ Day – November 1

On All Saints Day, we celebrate the countless holy men and women, known and unknown, who now share fully in the life of God. This feast reminds us that holiness is not reserved for a few, but is a calling for us all. The saints inspire us by their example of faith, courage, and love. They remind us of our own vocation to be “a clear light” for others in the world.

All Souls Day – November 2

On All Souls Day, we pray for all the faithful departed, especially our loved ones who have died. It is a day of hope and compassion, when we entrust those we love into God’s mercy and renew our belief in the resurrection. Our prayers support those who have gone before us and strengthen our own trust in God’s promise of eternal life.

Instead of embracing Halloween in its secular form, families might choose to:

• Pray together: Light a candle and pray for family members and friends who have passed away.
• Visit a church or cemetery: Spend time as a family remembering loved ones.
• Learn about the saints: Share stories of a favourite saint, dress up as saints instead of scary characters, or read a children’s book about holy men and women.
• Acts of kindness: Honour the saints by imitating their love and service through a small family project. You could help a neighbour, donate to a charity, or write a note of encouragement.
• Attend Mass: Gather with the parish community for the feasts of All Saints and All Souls, deepening the meaning of these holy days.

As a Catholic school, we encourage all families to enter into the beauty of these days in ways that strengthen faith, build hope, and keep Christ at the centre of our lives. By focusing on All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day, we pass on to our children a vision that celebrates life, holiness, and eternal hope.

Lunch Box Requirements 2026

As part of our commitment to providing a safe, accessible, and organised school environment for all members of our community, we wish to advise families of an upcoming change to lunch box requirements beginning in 2026.

Earlier this year, St Clare’s participated in an environmental access survey which assessed the safety and accessibility of our school grounds for students, staff, and community members, particularly those for whom mobility can be a challenge. One of the key recommendations from this review related to the bag racks located outside classrooms.

At present, many of these areas become overcrowded when both school bags and separate lunch boxes or eskys are stored outside. This creates clutter, trip hazards, and accessibility barriers, with bags and boxes often ending up on the ground or stacked across walkways and doorways.

To address these concerns and improve safety and accessibility across our school, from the start of the 2026 school year, all students will be required to:

• Use an insulated lunch box that can be stored inside their school bag. Ice bricks/packs that last all day in our North Queensland climate are readily available. 
• Esky-style lunch boxes will no longer be permitted.

This change will help ensure our learning spaces and pathways remain tidy, safe, and accessible for everyone, while still allowing students to keep food and drinks fresh throughout the day.

We understand that some families may currently use larger lunch boxes, and we encourage you to plan ahead for this change during your 2026 school preparations.

Thank you for your cooperation and continued support in maintaining a safe and inclusive school environment.

School Hairstyles Reminder

At St Clare’s, we take pride in maintaining a neat and respectful appearance. The St Clare’s Hair & Grooming expectations are as follows:

Hair should be clean and brushed and in hairstyles that are simple and neat. Hair of shoulder length or longer must be tied back with a band, clip or ribbon that is navy, white or caramel in colour (school colours). Long fringes, untidy hair around the face, mullets, dreadlocks, rats tails, mohawks, undercuts, tracks, fade shaves or shaving patterns are not permitted. Gels and creams should not be used to create these styles. There should be no dramatic differences in hair length, e.g not shaved/short on sides and/or top but long at the back. No shorter than blade 2 (blended). Artificial colouring (other than of the student’s natural colour) is not permitted. This includes bleaching. 

Please note: The Leadership Team deems what is appropriate with regard to new and emerging hair trends.

Thank you for your continued support in upholding the expectations that help our students present themselves with pride and respect for our school community.

Road Safety and Carpark Courtesy – Our Children Are Watching

It has come to our attention that some drivers are stopping along Burdell Drive and calling children across the road to enter vehicles. This practice is extremely unsafe and we ask parents to cease this practice immediately.

Crossing Burdell Drive outside of designated crossings places children at serious risk. The road is busy at school pick-up and drop-off times, and children can be difficult for drivers to see when visibility is reduced by parked cars or traffic flow.

Please ensure that all pick-ups and drop-offs occur only in the Stop, Drop and Go zone or in designated parking areas. These areas are supervised and designed to promote safe entry and exit from vehicles.

A gentle reminder to all families that safety and courtesy in the carpark are everyone’s responsibility. The school carpark can be a busy place before and after school, and it’s essential that we model calm, patient, and respectful behaviour for our children, especially when merging.

Our children learn far more from what we do than from what we say. The way we act behind the wheel, our patience, our manners, and our care for others, teaches them valuable lessons about respect and community.

Thank you for helping to make St Clare’s a place where safety, calm, and courtesy are part of every journey to and from school.

Baby Announcements

It's with great joy that Keegan, Ellie and Hadlee announce the arrival of Archer Ross Tudehope, born on Monday, September 22. Everyone is doing well, and Hadlee is getting curious about her baby brother.

Connor (IT Tech) and Courtney Feenan are delighted to share the news of the arrival of Harrison James Feenan on Sunday, 21st September. Everyone is home and doing well.