Term 4 Week 4 2024

From the Principal

Dear Families,

World Teachers’ Day

As we continue to nurture our student's growth and learning, it’s essential to recognise the pivotal role our teachers play in this process and as such today we celebrate World Teachers’ Day as a way to honour the invaluable contributions of our teachers. It’s a day to recognise their dedication, hard work and impact they make on students’ lives. 

Teaching is a tough profession, and it’s essential that we take a moment to say thank you. Teaching is a job that extends far beyond the hours of 8:30 to 3:00. Teachers dedicate countless hours to planning, preparing lessons, marking assignments, and finding the best ways to support their students. Their commitment and passion often mean that they invest personal time to ensure every child receives the attention and guidance they need to succeed. Let’s recognise and appreciate the incredible effort teachers put in every day to inspire and empower our students!

Personally, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for our teachers unwavering commitment and dedication. Their passion for teaching and pursuit of excellence inspires not only their students but our entire school community. Every day, our teachers go above and beyond, investing their time and energy into planning lessons, fostering relationships, and creating a positive learning environment. The impact they have on students’ lives is immeasurable, and it shapes their futures in profound ways. I would like to thank them for their resilience, creativity, and for being a guiding light for our students. 

Behaviour

Over the past week we have had to have many conversations with individuals and groups of students about their behaviour choices which has been incredibly disappointing. It’s important for us to maintain a respectful and positive school environment which some of our students seem to have forgotten at the present moment and as such some students may find that they lose privileges if their behaviour continues as in line with our Good Samaritan’s P.A.T.H. expectations. The students all know the expectations and are regularly reminded of these. Teachers will be reaching out to the parents of students who may need additional support to schedule a meeting and discuss collaborative ways to best assist your child. 

I encourage you to have a conversation with your children about their behaviour at school, the importance of respect and the impact of their choices. Positive discussions can help reinforce our school expectations, which in turn fosters a supportive and learning environment. Your involvement is crucial in helping guide your children to make thoughtful choices and demonstrate respect towards their peers and school staff. Thank you for your partnership in this important matter.

2025 Student Leadership

Our student leadership positions (School Captain, Vice Captain, House Captain) play an important role in our school as students are given opportunities to have input into decisions, voice concerns and make suggestions to improve their school. We have a number of students who have nominated themselves for the position of School Captain for 2025. On Monday these students will present their leadership speech to their peers as well as our Year 4 students, their teachers and myself. After speeches, students from both of these year levels as well as all staff have the opportunity to vote for who they think will make the best School Captain for our school in 2025. Voting will be open for a short period of time, before students are informed of the outcome. We then follow the same procedure for our House Captains with these speeches being presented the following week. While we always have some disappointed students we always reinforce to the Year 5’s that everyone is a leader and that there are different ways to lead - students have the opportunity to take on leadership roles as a Planet Protector, a member of the Student Council or in Mini Vinnies. 

Personally, my favourite part of this entire process comes after we have announced to students who has been chosen as our elected leaders. Our newly elected leaders are invited to my office to phone their parents to share their news. It is always wonderful to witness the looks on the students' faces during these phone calls and to hear the conversation that takes place.

I am looking forward to sharing the outcome of our 2025 Student Leadership process with the school community over the coming weeks. 

2025 Staffing

We are working towards finalising our staffing for 2025 and as soon as this is confirmed the school community will be informed of these arrangements. However, I can confirm our Prep Teachers for 2025 will be Mrs Kelly Harris and Miss Tahnee McCahon. Tahnee is relocating to the Burdekin from Townsville where she has been teaching Prep for a number of years at Marian Catholic School. Prior to this she was teaching at St Kieran’s in Mt Isa. We are very excited to be welcoming Tahnee to the St Francis family and I am sure you will make her feel very welcome when you meet her. Do not fear, Megan Tatnell isn’t going anywhere! Megan has requested a year level change for 2025 and will still be part of our school community.

Melinda Gianni, Danielle Zollner, Emma Castelanelli and Erica Arboit will be remaining on leave in 2025.

Car Park Reminder

Please remember that the Stop, Drop and Go area is purely that. The driver and passengers are to remain in the vehicle. If your child requires help with getting in the car, putting their bag in the car or putting their seatbelt on we ask that you park and help them. The Stop, Drop and Go gets very busy and it is vital that everyone plays their part in helping to keep the pick-up line moving. Please ensure that anyone who may pick up your child/ren is aware of this.

Over the past few weeks I have noticed a few families either turning right into the school off Burke St when arriving or turning right onto Burke St when exiting the car park. There is a double line here and as such should not be crossed. Please ensure that you are following the road rules for the safety of all in our community. 

We appreciate your support in keeping the school driveway clear during drop-off and pick-up times. Blocking the driveway makes it difficult for others to access the parking lot, creating congestion and safety concerns. Your cooperation helps ensure a smooth and safe environment for everyone.

Have a wonderful week

Take care and God Bless

Amanda

Religious Life of the School

Dear Families,

Lots of things happening this week and in the coming weeks.

WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY

Thank you to Prep B who prepared a beautiful assembly around World Teacher’s Day. They reminded us of all the wonderful things our teachers do for us and how the words “Thank You” can mean so much.  

MISSION MONTH – GUESS THE LOLLIES

Congratulations to Macey Bevilacqua and Chase Delle Baite for winning the Guess the Lollies competition.  A big thank you to all students who had a guess.  All monies raised will go to help the Missions in Mongolia.   Thanks to Dylan, Harry and Sam for helping to sell the tickets to guess the lollies during playtime.

ROSARY

Prep B have been learning about the Rosary this Month. They made some beautiful Rosary circles to help them say the Rosary.

CWL LUNCHEON

On November 20 of this year, we will be holding the CWL Christmas Luncheon. We need assistance from Year 6 parents to help with the morning’s activities. I understand everyone has busy schedules, but your support is really important. If you haven't yet responded with permission, a donation, or your willingness to volunteer, please do so as soon as possible. Thank you to those who have already replied and contributed generous food donations.

This luncheon is a cherished tradition for both the school and the parish, and it’s a wonderful opportunity for students to demonstrate “love of neighbour” and “love in action” as they serve the ladies and help raise funds for local St. Vincent de Paul to support families during the Christmas season and beyond. It’s also a great chance for parents to come together, contributing to our community and parish.

FARM SAFETY CALENDAR COMPETITION

Congratulations to the children who entered the Farm Safety Calendar Competition.  They all received a certificate of appreciation on Assembly.

God Bless and have a wonderful week,

Maria

Learning Corner

HIGH EXPECTATIONS

What would you think if your child in Upper Primary told you they were reading ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’, a book they were very familiar with from the Early Years? Books, whether in hard copy or digital form, are meant for everyone. We select books that serve a specific purpose. Sometimes, we seek information out of curiosity, while other times, we want to immerse ourselves in a world of mystery and imagination.

Teachers choose mentor texts in the classroom to align with specific learning objectives. In the Early Years, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" is a delightful story to listen to, but it also teaches concepts such as the days of the week, sequencing, and colors, while exposing children to a variety of foods.

As students progress through the year levels, the book is used to help them understand the author's purpose(s) for writing and the literary devices that support these purposes. While working with Year 6 students, I observed that many became engaged with the text as we researched the author and the experiences that inspired them to write. Understanding the author's background and intentions deepened the students' appreciation and enjoyment of the text, which was evident when many children borrowed the book being studied in class.

Last week, I heard Megan Daley, an educator, author and speaker talk about ‘The Skill, The Will, The Thrill’  of reading. It is our collective responsibility to teach children the essential skills of reading. Developing the will to read involves prioritizing time for reading to and with them, making reading for pleasure a key component of our busy days.

According to Megan, the true ‘thrill’ of reading arises when children can connect with the stories. Can they relate to the experiences and settings within the books? Do they possess their own books and view them as special treasures? Do they see themselves as readers? It is disheartening to hear an adult express a dislike for books or reading.

Let us strive together to ensure that our students grow into adults who not only possess the skill and will but also experience the thrill of reading for pleasure. Wishing you a weekend filled with books!

Rita

Class in the Spotlight - PB

This week has been a busy one in Prep B! 

On Monday, we had our final assembly performance of the year. We celebrated World Teachers Day and we loved telling everyone what we think about our wonderful teachers and making a video about them. 

In Maths, we have continued collecting data and sorting our information into graphs. We have sorted our eye colours, birthdays, smarties and even jellybeans. 

In English, we have been focusing on a mentor text each week. We have enjoyed looking at the different characters, settings, and story sequences and identifying the big idea. 

In Religion, we have been learning about different ways people pray. We visited our Sacred Space and with help from Mrs J, we looked at the Prayer of the Rosary. We learnt that it is about Mary, the mother of Jesus and that it happens in October. We even got to make our own little set of Rosary Beads. 

Throughout the week, we also had our Water Safety Lesson, World Teachers Day, and Day for Daniel. If you happen to be around school, be sure to check out our beautiful Sunflowers that we planted for Science! We love them! 

PB

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First Aid

Last term, Lisa and John Furnell conducted a comprehensive First Aid course for our Year 6 students. During the sessions, the students learned essential skills, including CPR and how to treat various injuries such as broken bones, burns, stings, and bites. The students were attentive and engaged throughout the course, equipping them with valuable knowledge to assist family and friends in emergencies.

We extend a heartfelt thank you to Lisa and John for dedicating their time and expertise to teach these important skills. Your efforts have empowered our students to feel more confident and prepared when they encounter situations that require first aid.

P.A.T.H

Tuckshop

Tuckshop 2025

Dear Parents/Guardians,

This letter is to invite parents &/or grandparents to become part of the Tuckshop team in 2025.

The Tuckshop requires volunteers on Mondays to Fridays from 8:30am - 11:30am for First Break.

Working in the Tuckshop is a great opportunity to meet new parents in a friendly & relaxed atmosphere.  Please note: you will need to have completed your Volunteer Induction Online Training prior to assistance.

 Volunteer Induction Online Training can be accessed via our website: https://www.sfatsv.catholic.edu.au/about/volunteer-induction-for-parents-and-carers/

Once all modules and documents have been completed please email your certificate, paperwork to ayr@tsv.catholic.edu.au

Please return the from below to the school office at your earliest convenience. Any amount of time that you can assist will be greatly appreciated. If you have any further enquiries please feel free to contact the school office on 4783 2877.

I am looking forward to another exciting year in the tuckshop.

Thanks,

Kylie Farrell

Tuckshop Convenor

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