Term 1 Return to School Newsletter 2022

Principal's Message

Happy New Year and welcome back to 2022.  What a different start we have had!  It will be great to finally welcome all students back to school on Monday morning.  I would like to especially welcome those students who are new to St Francis in 2022 and extend a warm welcome to their families.  

I would also like to welcome our new staff Anna Lynch and Lee-Anne Smith as well as welcome back from leave Danielle Zollner and Emma Castelanelli.  We also welcome Kerrie-Ann Wilson our new Guidance Counsellor who will be working at St Francis on Mondays and Tuesdays.  I’m sure you will make all of these ladies feel welcome when you meet them.   In some other staffing news, at the end of next week we will be saying goodbye to Margaret Redweik.  Margaret has worked at St Francis for the past 20 years as a school officer.  Margaret has contributed much to the school community over her time here and we will miss her greatly but at the same time are excited for her as she begins a new adventure.  Thank you Margaret for all that you have done for our school! 

A huge congratulations to those students who have engaged with our informal learning week activities.  There have been some great activities provided and I have heard some stories about our Year 4’s really getting into their yoga activities!  I would like to thank all of our teachers for their efforts in preparing this work.  

Over the past two weeks our teachers have been completing extra professional development  and have been planning collaboratively with their learning team, making contact with families and helping with supervision.  They have also been busy preparing back to school information for families.  This information will be coming home at the end of next week in lieu of our normal parent information evening.  The last two weeks wouldn’t have run as smoothly as they have if it wasn’t for our School Officers who have been doing the bulk of the supervision of students.  I thank them for the work they have done as without them, our teachers would not be as prepared as they are for 2022.

We are planning another year filled with wonderful learning opportunities for our students.   As you know at St Francis we believe that quality relationships and partnerships with families is integral to students' overall development.  We believe that students achieve their best when parents and the school work in close partnership together.  To that end if you have a concern, please do not hesitate to let us know. Early and ongoing communication can help us address concerns before they become serious.  I have an open door policy and am always more than happy for people to drop in for a chat.

At the end of last year our P&F Executive all stepped down from their roles.   The P&F plays a key role in organising and supporting events that bring our school community together – students of all ages, their families, friends and the staff of St Francis.  Through fundraising, the P&F also makes a significant contribution to activities that support your children’s development.  Getting involved in the P&F is a great way to meet new people and make a difference to the social life of the school.  Schools do not succeed by themselves, therefore I encourage you to be actively involved in the life of our school.  Please let me know if you are interested in putting your hand up for any of the following positions: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Fundraising Officer, Diocesan Representative

We understand that life is busy but many hands make light work, so when it comes to volunteering it’s a case of the more, the merrier!  This year I encourage you to think about what is one thing that you could help with in our school community.  In the coming weeks, we will be sending home a list of events that we will require assistance with throughout the year and I ask that you consider nominating yourself for one of those events.  Also, we are always keen to utilise the skills of our families.  If you have an interest or skill in a particular area that you feel would benefit our school, I encourage you to let me know.  At the end of the day everything that we all do is for our students, your children and the more involvement families have in our school, the richer the children’s education will be.

Have a wonderful week.

Take care and God Bless

Amanda

Return to School

Dear Parents and Carers,

Thank you for your ongoing patience while we finalise our return to school plans for 2022.  We are all looking forward to welcoming back all of our students on Monday 7th February. I ask that you read this letter carefully as it contains important information around the plans for the next four weeks.  As I’m sure you can understand this is an ever changing situation and we appreciate your support.

Over the next 4 weeks we will be limiting the number of visitors coming onto our school site by:

• Asking parents to refrain from coming onto the school site with the exception of parents with students in Prep or Year 1 or students experiencing vulnerability.  
• We ask parents not to enter classrooms where possible and to avoid congregating in groups.

If at any time you need to come into the school, please ensure you are wearing a mask, enter via the Office and sign in.  Should you need to contact a teacher, please do so via email in the first instance so that they can arrange a time to call you. 

During this time we will be suspending whole school gatherings such as assemblies, liturgies and Masses.  As a school we will work towards how we can celebrate our students' achievements over this time.

Please ensure that if your child is unwell in any way that they remain at home.  If a student presents as unwell during the day, parents/carers will be called and asked to collect them.

As I receive further information regarding the wearing of masks, rapid antigen tests and communication regarding positive cases I will share this with you.

As I’m sure you can appreciate, we are doing everything we possibly can to keep our entire school community safe and healthy.   I thank you in advance for your assistance with this.

Kind regards

Amanda Jones

Principal

School Uniform Policy

Uniform Policy

STATEMENT OF POLICY

St Francis is committed to providing a sense of belonging through the wearing of the School uniform.

INTRODUCTION

This policy addresses the need to provide consistent and clear expectations for uniform and appearance.  The St Francis uniform should be worn with pride on all occasions.  It is the collective responsibility of all to ensure the following dress requirements are applied.

 RATIONALE

The uniform identifies students as members and representatives of St Francis School. A consistent uniform dress code promotes a sense of belonging. Students are encouraged to develop important life skills through consideration of issues related to personal appearance including personal hygiene, health and safety issues.  All students have a responsibility to be positive role models within the school and in representing the school in the wider community.  The school uniform can be purchased from Michael’s Menswear.

 POLICY DIRECTIVE

The correct school uniform is to be worn at all times.  If, for some reason, a student is unable to wear the correct uniform on a particular day, a note must be sent to the classroom teacher.  Uniform items must be clearly marked with the child’s name.  All students must wear the school hat to school events including external sports.

Students are expected to ensure that their personal appearance meets school expectations as per the principles below. Students who do not comply with the uniform policy will receive a uniform slip for rectification of uniform.

The final decision on acceptable dress and appearance is that of the Principal.

Hairstyles

Hair should be:

• Neat and clean with no fashion extremes in styling or cut. This includes but is not limited to mullets and tracks.  This will be at the discretion of the Principal or Assistant Principal.
• Off the face and tied back if shoulder length or longer.
• Natural colour.
• Ribbons, bands, headbands and scrunchies should be simple and understated in school dress fabric or in school colours of plain blue or red.

Jewellery

It is preferable that no jewellery be worn to school.  However, if students do wear jewellery, please note that the school accepts no responsibility for lost or damaged items.  Students may only wear:

• Religious symbol on chain
• Watch (no smart watches)
• Plain studs or plain sleepers in the ears only

Makeup and Fingernails

Makeup of any description is not permitted to be worn.  Students are not permitted to wear nail polish or false nails such as acrylic nails.  Fingernails should be clean and neatly trimmed.

Prep students require the sport uniform only.

Formal Uniform - Year 1 - Year 6

• Blue check dress
• Short blue socks
• Black shoes
• School hat

 Sport Uniform - Prep - Year 6

 School sports polo - long or short sleeved

• Royal blue school skort or embossed polyester shorts (no holey shorts)
• Plain white socks (no ankle socks)
• Predominantly black or white sandshoes/joggers
• School hat

Plain navy blue or maroon jumper for winter.  On colder days, students may wear navy blue tights.

Formal Uniform - Year 1 - Year 6

• Blue jack shirt
• Navy blue shorts
• Long school socks
• Black shoes
• School hat

 Sport Uniform - Prep - Year 6

 School sports polo - long or short sleeved

• Embossed polyester shorts (no holey shorts)
• Plain white socks (no ankle socks)
• Predominantly black or white sandshoes/joggers
• School hat

Plain navy blue or maroon jumper for winter.  On colder days, students may wear navy blue tracksuit pants.

Uniforms

ESafety

Safer Internet day is on Tuesday 8th February. Our school regards safety online as an essential part of education today and strivest to work with parents in emphasising to our students the importance of using the internet appropriately.The Australian Government has an eSafety Commissioner whose department produces information to help everyone become safe when using the internet. We recommend this site to access helpful information for all age groups. There is a great section for parents and carers.

St Francis school has produced material appropriate for each year level for eSafety day on the 8th February. Each year level will engage with material related to cyber safety based upon Education Queensland’s 5P’s: Profile - use a nickname, Positive - everything you put on the internet should be positive, Permission - have permission to use a new site or app, Protect - Tell someone if you are bullied and don’t bully back, Privacy - keep passwords and personal details secure.

In addition to providing our students with information about cybersafety on the 8th February, each year level is also required to teach a unit of work throughout the year involving the safe use of the internet.

Birthdays

Community