Term 3 Week 10 2024
From the Principal
Dear Families,
WOW! We have made it to Week 10. What a massive term we have had. It started with Book Fair in Week 1 and each week we had some sort of major event. Week 2 was one of the coldest weeks I remember living in North Queensland and we all braved the wind during our Athletics Carnival. It must have been the cold that prevented the parents/staff from beating the students in the relay! From there we moved into Catholic Education Week which included Founders’ Day, Mass at the Cathedral. In Week 4 I had the privilege of interviewing some of our new Prep students for 2025. We celebrated Sacramental weekend with a number of students being fully initiated into the Church through the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. Prep interviews continued throughout Week 5 and our District Athletics team did us proud at the Districts Carnival. We celebrated Science Week in Week 6 with many families joining us for hands-on Science activities. Book Week went off with a bang in Week 7 and our Year 5 & 6’s headed off to camp at Virginia Park Station. We celebrated our learning with Learning Breakfasts in Week 7 and 9 as well as Under 8’s Day and our Family Movie Night. Finally today, we finish the term with Samaritan Day. In between all of this our students engaged in learning new concepts and skills. I know that the students are all ready for a well deserved break (and so are the staff!).
Today we say goodbye to Nicole O’Connor. Nicole has been an invaluable part of our leadership team and our school and her contributions have truly made a difference. From her exceptional organisational skills, wonderful leadership in Religious Education, relationships with students, families and staff to always bringing a positive attitude, her presence will be greatly missed. On a personal note, I am incredibly grateful for Nicole’s support and friendship and will miss her immensely. I wish Nicole, Nick and Alice all the best for their move to Western Australia and hope that this next chapter brings them nothing but joy and happiness.
Next term, we welcome Danielle Zollner back to our teaching staff. Danielle will be teaching 1/2B of a Thursday and Friday. We also welcome Maria Johansen to the Acting Assistant Principal Religious Education role for Term 4. Maria will be in this role of a Thursday and Friday.
Hairstyles
School holidays are usually the time when parents take the opportunity to get their child’s hair cut. Just a reminder about our Uniform Guidelines in relation to hair styles. Students must not have tracks or extreme parts. Extreme hairstyles, such as mullets, rats' tails, mohawks, shaved heads or sections of hair are also not appropriate for school. Hair should be neat and out of students’ eyes, and must be of a natural colour. If shoulder length or longer, it should be tied up or back in a ponytail or plaits. Ribbons, bands and scrunchies should be simple and understated in school dress fabric or shades of plain blue, red or maroon. Thank you for your support with this.
I would like to thank each and every one of you for your continued support of our school. Your support of your children, our staff and our school is greatly appreciated and ensures that we can work together in partnership to provide the best possible education for our students.I hope that you all have a wonderful break. If you are travelling take care on the roads. Thank you for your support over the past 10 weeks. I look forward to seeing you all again on Monday 30th September.
We thank you, Lord, for this term.
For the challenges, the successes, and the mistakes from which we have learnt.
Be with us as we spend our time with family and friends.
Give us strength and courage to do what is right: to be witnesses of our faith.
Help us to be practical people these holidays, to appreciate what others do for us, to give time and effort to help others.
To be peacemakers in our family.
Keep us safe in our activities; give us good rest and good fun.
Bring us back refreshed and ready for a new term.
We thank you for our classmates, teachers, parents
And a community that cares for us.
May we always be conscious of you in our lives.
Amen
Have a great break
Amanda
Religious Life of the School
Dear families
Term 3 has come to an end and it is time I face reality. I have been in denial about my move west but it is all coming to fruition. As I prepare to say goodbye, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all of you, students, staff and families, for making my time here truly special. As I reflect on my time as a teacher and Assistant Principal - Religious Education, my heart is filled with gratitude. It has been a privilege to work alongside such dedicated staff, enthusiastic students, and supportive families. Together, we have built a vibrant and caring school environment that I will deeply miss.
I am incredibly proud of all that we have achieved and feel honoured to have been part of your journey. Though it is time for me to move on, I carry with me the wonderful memories and valuable lessons I have learned here.
I am sad to be leaving my Assistant Principal role and wish Maria a successful Term 4 with many end of year events. My first position at St Francis was in Year 2B while Danielle Zollner was on maternity leave. Three babies later she steps into 1/2B as I leave. It is with love and gratitude I wish Maria, the students, Danielle and Jaimie all the best for the rest of the year.
Thank you for the trust, encouragement, and kindness you’ve shown me over the past six years. I wish everyone continued success, growth, and happiness in the years to come.
Missionaries of Charity
On Wednesday we welcomed the Missionaries of Charity. Years 6A, 5/6B, 5A and 4A listened to the sisters speak about St Teresa of Calcutta and the wonderful work she did. We are very grateful to the sisters for visiting and look forward to their return.
Samaritan Day
Today we celebrated the Catholic Identity of our school. We recognised St Francis Xavier, the Good Samaritan Sisters and St Marcellin Champagnat and how they have influenced our school community. We had a great day starting with liturgy and awards. The Samaritan Award for each class was introduced this year to recognise those students who live out our Catholic Identity of Love of God, Love of Neighbour, Love in Action. I hope this continues in the years to come as part of the Samaritan Day celebrations.
After lunch students enjoyed activities around the school organised by our wonderful teachers and we finished the day with our annual quiz.
Irish Blessing
May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.
God Bless
Nicole
Learning Corner
We regularly hear, ‘ My child didn’t do well because they are bored and the work is too easy’ when a teacher comments on their work effort and achievement.
Children themselves will often say, ‘I know this! It is so easy!’ However, the knowledge and understanding required for the task were not demonstrated when they completed the activity.
If children know their work they will do well. If they do not know their work, teachers must reteach and provide practice of the skill. Some children will find this repetition boring, but they need to demonstrate that they know and understand the skills that were taught.
Thank You to all parents who participated in Parent-Teacher conferences during the week. These are ideal times for spontaneous interactions and far surpass written communications, which are always subject to miscommunication and misunderstanding.
NCCD: On Wednesday, Amanda and I attended an NCCD Reflection session with Teaching and Learning Leadership teams from other Catholic schools. The session was led by a QCEC (Queensland Catholic Education Commission) leader of Inclusive Education who is involved in overseeing the NCCD (National Consistent Collection of Data) of all Catholic Schools in Queensland. We reviewed the processes we had in place to ensure all children with a diagnosed disability had access to the curriculum, how we collected evidence and how we knew that the adjustments and support we provided was effective. We were informed of the new guidelines for NCCD for 2024/2025. We documented a school plan for identifying and responding to the needs of students with a diagnosed disability and recording the support they require.
PAT R and PAT M: These are online tests for Mathematics and Reading completed each year by students in years 2-6. The results identify areas of strength and concern in both these areas and teachers are able to see the learning growth that has occurred since the last test. Term 4 will include intensive sessions on areas children have yet to master. These sessions will be either whole class, small group or individual. Students who require extension will be provided with challenging activities.
Enjoy the holidays as you talk, read and play with your children
Rita
Guidance Counsellor
A SPECIAL REPORT: R U OK?Day
Understanding the growing challenges related to mental health among young people is an important consideration. Anxiety, depression and self-harm - are all causes for concern. Factors like academic pressure, social media, family dynamics, and societal expectations, are contributing to these issues. It's therefore crucial for parents and caregivers to take action early, remove the stigma around discussing mental health, and offer accessible support to address these issues and the wellbeing of their children.
R U OK?Day is an initiative that focuses on preventing suicide by encouraging meaningful personal connections and helping informal support networks to help recognise the signs of distress. We urge all families to take part, emphasising the value of genuine human relationships and reminding everyone to ask the important question, "Are you OK?"
Engaging in R U OK?Day activities goes beyond the classroom; it's a commitment to our students' overall development. By talking openly about mental health, schools create safe spaces where students feel understood, valued, and supported. As parents and caregivers, you can contribute by fostering open conversations, normalising feelings and breaking down mental health stigmas. Participating in R U OK?Day promotes compassion and shows our dedication to the wellbeing of the entire school community, reaffirming that together, we can truly make a difference.
This Special Report provides guidance on how to talk to your child about mental health and engage in meaningful discussions. If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.
Here is the link to your special report:
https://sfatsv.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-r-u-ok-day
Birthdays
SEPTEMBER
Willow Frazer-Wilson, Zola Oar, Henry Condon, Rylan Rayner, Reece Di Lullo,
Mila Bunyan, Thomas O'Shea, Noah Ready, Parker Dal Bello, Claire Dal Bello.
Class in the Spotlight - 3A
Here’s the latest buzz from 3A:
We’ve had a fantastic time crafting our milk catchers, and the excitement hasn’t stopped! Our homemade milk catchers have become the go-to lunchtime accessory for students across the school. If you’re looking for a holiday project with a twist, gather some milk cartons and make your own milk catchers at home!
Our enthusiasm for persuasive writing is unstoppable. After acing our assessment, we took our learning outdoors with a nature walk. We crafted persuasive arguments on why it’s crucial to save the Earth, and the results were both creative and inspiring. Don’t miss the amazing photos of us hard at work!
We also had a blast getting creative with our hairstyles. We “chopped off” our hair and designed new, funky looks using all the patterns and lines we’ve been studying. The results were as inventive as they were fun!
3A
