Term 4 Week 3 2025

From the Principal

Blink and you’ll miss it has never been quite as relevant as Term 4 this year. My absences have required a lot of additional playground duties and other requirements that I would like to acknowledge with the many staff that have got in and got the jobs done.

Mrs Maria Johansen also took our Year 5’s on their Leadership Day journey with the support of Mrs Hutchesson and the Marist Brothers and from all accounts there was a great deal of learning and engagement from all.

Thank you again Mrs J for supporting our Youth Mass over the weekend. It was wonderful to hear we had well over 30 students attend!

This week we had the opportunity to celebrate our amazing teachers. Thank you Mrs Lynch, Mrs Cranitch and    Mrs J for ensuring our dedicated teachers were acknowledged on this very special occasion. 

God Bless

Lisa Fitzsimmons

Religious Life of the School

Dear families,

Welcome to Week 3 

World Teachers’ Day

Today we celebrate World Teachers’ Day — a time to thank our amazing teachers for the care, dedication, and love they show each day. At St Francis, we are truly blessed with teachers who inspire, nurture, and guide our students with the heart of Jesus, the greatest teacher of all. 

St Francis Youth Mass

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our St Francis Parish Mass last Sunday. It was a beautiful celebration of faith, community, and the spirit of St Francis. We are so grateful to all who participated and helped make the Mass such a special occasion.

Miss McCahon got married

Congratulations to Miss McCahon and her husband Ben, who were married last weekend. We wish them every happiness as they begin this wonderful new chapter in their lives together.  Welcome back, Mrs Gorizia.

Whole School Christian Meditation

Next Friday, we will have our final whole school Christian Meditation for the year. We warmly invite you to join us for this special time of prayer and reflection, especially in this year of Hope.

Blessings,

Maria

Learning Corner

LEARNING and TEACHING

Every minute counts!

The first third of the term has been completed!

During this time, students in Years 2-6 finalised the Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) in Maths & Reading.  PAT is an online test that takes about 40 minutes to complete. 

Next week, we begin the DIBELS testing in Years 2-6. This will be our third DIBELS testing for the year. DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) focuses on phonological knowledge, decoding, reading fluency, and comprehension. Depending on the child's year level, the 2-4 tests take 4-6 minutes each to administer. 

As we enter the second third of the term, teachers are finalising the teaching of the curriculum program and the associated assessments.

During staff meetings in this period, teachers will examine student work and demonstrated standards to determine the overall achievement level (A, B, C, D, or E) for the Semester Report.

In the last third of the term, we use information from the standardised tests, PAT, and DIBELS to examine each child’s progress and identify areas that require further development for them to become successful learners.  The results guide our planning for the last third of this term, when the focus of class learning and teaching is the areas of Numeracy and Literacy that require reteaching, practice, or consolidation.

All of the above will take place during a busy term filled with extracurricular events, including swimming and a carnival for Years 3–6. Many of our students are also involved in activities outside of school, which can leave them arriving tired or late. The challenge for the remainder of the term will be managing our time effectively and keeping our key priorities in focus.

Enjoy the weekend.

Rita

P.A.T.H

Parenting Styles

There's no such thing as perfect parenting. Every family is unique, and every child's needs are different. But by understanding the various parenting styles, we can make more thoughtful choices that support our children's growth in healthier and more effective ways.

Most of us parent as a blend of our own upbringing, lived experiences and external influences such as books, podcasts or parenting websites. Parenting is one of the most rewarding roles in life, but it is also one of the most challenging. The journey can be further complicated by circumstances such as divorce, separation, blended families, trauma or bereavement. Not to mention the many everyday pressures and hurdles that families face. The idea of "parenting styles" has been researched for decades, showing that the way we interact with, nurture, and guide our children has a significant impact on their development.

Whilst there are a number of different approaches, research consistently shows that children thrive when parents and caregivers are both warm and loving, while also providing clear guidance, structure and support. This balance helps children feel safe and valued, while also encouraging independence, resilience and emotional wellbeing.

By learning more about the different styles and how they influence children, you can make informed choices about the approach that best suits your family. And remember, styles are not fixed. They can evolve over time as your child grows and their needs change.

Swimming Carnival

Tuckshop

Community