Anzac Day

Anzac Day holds a special place in our hearts as it commemorates the bravery and sacrifice of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) during World War I. It is a day to honour all those who have served and continue to serve in our armed forces, ensuring the freedoms we enjoy today.

We are incredibly proud of our students who represented our college at the Hamilton Dawn Service. Their participation in this solemn event reflects their dedication and respect for our nation's history and the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women. The Dawn Service is a poignant reminder of the courage and resilience of our soldiers, and it is heartening to see our students actively engaging in this important tradition. On return to school we recognised the service of the ANZACs in a whole school assembly and students were respectful and sincere throughout.

Mother’s Day

Friday 9^th May saw over 550 members of our community come together to celebrate the special women in our lives. Our Mother’s Day breakfast was a heartwarming event filled with joy and appreciation. It was wonderful to see so many families gathered to honour the incredible contributions of mothers, grandmothers, and all the special women who play such vital roles in our lives. The morning was filled with delicious food, gratitude, and a strong sense of community spirit.

We extend our deepest thanks to everyone who attended and helped make this celebration truly memorable. Thank you for joining us in recognising and celebrating the remarkable women who inspire us every day.

Stage 6 Course Information Evening

We were delighted to showcase the range of Stage 6 courses we are offering for 2026 at our Stage 6 Course Information Evening on Wednesday 7^th May. There was a great turnout from families which reflected the excellent numbers indicated for our first Year 11 cohort. The buzz and interest around the courses were impressive and the feedback from students, parents and carers about the knowledge, passion and awareness of our students and how they learn overwhelming. I invite you to peruse the latest edition of Keeping Connected Keeping Connected Term 2 2025 A4.pdf for further information and to hear the feedback provided by some of our parent community.

Property Update

Late last year Mr Burgess provided an update about the building works currently moving through design and approval processes. Throughout this process, the Diocese has revised the schedule and timing of capital and major maintenance building works for the remainder of the year across a variety of projects, and this has impacts to a portion of the expected works here at San Clemente.

I’m pleased to advise the addition of the Flexible Learning Village for our new General Learning Areas, including those for VET Construction class, the planned Covered Outdoor Work Area (COWA), Senior Study area and the refurbishment of the Science classrooms will all go ahead.

This ensures we have all the required specialty spaces to support Stage 6 (Years 11 and 12) learning.

I know how much our Year 10 students are looking forward to utilising our new Senior Study area next year. A purpose-built space will be transformed in our current Chapel area, complete with access to kitchen amenities like fridges and microwaves for student use, as well as quiet spaces for study and connection.

These works are still intended to be complete for the commencement of our 2026 school year, pending building work timeframes, which are subject to change due to the reliance on external approval processes and timeframes associated with materials and weather.

We have recently refreshed our library space to ensure the best possible resources and technology are available for our students. The planned relocation of the library, which was scheduled to occur over the school holidays, has not commenced as our library will currently stay in the same location. While the refurbishment of the library and some of the work we had planned for our staff and administration spaces will not occur this year, I assure you that this revision of the schedule and timing of capital and major maintenance building works will not impact the breadth and quality of education we provide to our students.

Upcoming Parent and Carer Information Sessions

Our diocese source a range of webinars provided by reputable providers, free of charge. Please use this link to access the term 2 webinars featured on the list included below.

Online safety-focused sessions:

• Understanding and using parental controls to help protect your child online, hosted by the eSafety Commissioner
• eSafety 101, hosted by the eSafety Commissioner
• Exploring the online experiences of boys and young men, hosted by the eSafety Commissioner
• Sexual extortion: What parents and carers need to know, hosted by the eSafety Commissioner
• The Social Media Guide: What Every Parent Needs to Know in 2025, hosted by The Cyber Safety Project

Mental health-focused sessions:

• Anxiety and Depression in Children and Adolescents, hosted by Learning Links
• Teen Mental Health Matters, hosted by The BlackDog Institute

Senior schooling years and post-school pathways sessions:

• Supporting your child through the HSC, hosted by CCSP NSW/ACT and Beyond
• A parent’s roadmap to careers and pathways, hosted by CCSP NSW/ACT and Beyond
• Navigating post-school pathways, hosted by MyFuture

Parenting sessions

• What kids need now, before the teenage years, hosted by CCSP NSW/ACT and Michelle Mitchell

More information about these webinars, including registration links, can be found on the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle’s Catholic Schools. 

With prayers and blessings,

Mrs Emma South, Principal