Term 4 Week 6 2024

From the Principal

Dear Families,

On 11 November 1918, German leaders signed an Armistice, and the guns of the Western Front fell silent.  Remembrance Day is a day to honor and remember those who have served and sacrificed for their country. It is commemorated on November 11th, the date the First World War ended in 1918.  For the four years of the war, from 1914 to 1918, more than 330,000 Australians had served overseas. More than 60,000 Australians had died while in this service. In 1918 alone, there were 48,000 casualties, which included 12,000 dead. On Remembrance Day we celebrate life, the gift of life, and the important work towards reconciliation of nations, unity, and peace and justice.  We remember not only Australians but ALL who were involved in this particular armed conflict.

Remembrance Day is a day of commemoration. Each year at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, we observe a minute of silence to remember those lost in war.  We not only remember the dead and those who served.  It is a time to reflect on the importance of peace and to pay tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of those who have fought and continue to fight for their country. 

In early 19th Century literature, poppies symbolised sleep or a state of oblivion. In the battlefields of northern France and Belgium, red poppies were among the first plants to arise from the ground. On Remembrance Day, the red Flanders poppy symbolises the sacrifice of bloodshed.

We invite you to join us for our Remembrance Day Liturgy on Monday which will be hosted by 6A. This Liturgy will be held in the Samaritan Centre at 2:15pm.

House Captains

Monday saw our Year 5 students present their House Captain leadership speeches.  The students delivered high quality speeches again this week and they all should be incredibly proud of themselves. It was wonderful to hear so many of the students emphasise the importance of having a go even if you are not the best at something. A number of students spoke passionately about having the opportunity to lead and inspire a team where they can help make everyone feel valued, supported and motivated to participate in sporting endeavors. Students also spoke about the importance of having fun in sport and no matter whether you win or lose you need to do it fairly. Congratulations to all students who put themselves forward for House Captain.

I am happy to announce our 2025 House Captains are:

Samaritan -  Charlotte Sgroi and William Chandler

Champagnat - Dinara Scuderi and Ben O’Shea

Xavier - Bridget Ahern and Riley Bowen

Volunteers

At St Francis we are incredibly grateful for all of our wonderful volunteers who have helped us throughout the year.  These people are worth their weight in gold as they share their time and talents with us. Without these people there are many events in our school that would not happen. To say thank you we are holding a volunteer luncheon to say thank you to all who have gifted us with their time this year.  We hope that all of our volunteers can join us on Friday 22nd November at 1pm so we can say thank you.

As we wind down to the end of the year I ask for your patience. The last few weeks of the term are hectic as we have so much to fit into a short time frame. Everyone is busy and has a lot to accomplish before we finish in a few weeks. It is during this time that we often find ourselves feeling overwhelmed with everything that we need to do. It is during this time that we need more than ever to be aware of our needs and the needs of those around us. We need to be patient and generous whenever we can and when we find ourselves at the point of frustration, try to remember that others are dealing with life challenges themselves. As we enter this last stage of a busy and successful year, try to give each other time, support and understanding.

Have a wonderful week

Take care and God Bless

Amanda 

Religious Life of the School

Dear families,

As we approach the end of Week 6, it’s hard to believe we’re already over the halfway mark of the term! We have a variety of exciting events lined up, making this a particularly busy time for everyone. To keep yourself updated, please be sure to read through any communications we send out; we wouldn’t want you to miss out on anything important. Many of the upcoming activities center around Year 6, and we want you to enjoy the festivities fully. Be sure to keep track of dates, times, and any specific requirements so you can make the most of this exciting time.

REMEMBRANCE DAY

At 5:00 AM on 11 November 1918, three representatives of the German government signed the armistice terms presented to them by General Foch, the French Army commander. The armistice came into effect at 11:00 AM the same day, bringing an end to four years of fighting on the Western Front in France and Belgium. To mark this moment, at 11:00 AM on 11 November 1919, Australians observed a minute of silence in tribute to the men and women of the 1st Australian Imperial Force who lost their lives on the battlefields of Gallipoli, Europe, and the Middle East.

We will observe Remembrance Day next Monday at 2:15 PM with a liturgy in the Samaritan Hall, led by 6A. Everyone is warmly invited to join us in this solemn commemoration.

ST VINCENT DE PAUL APPEAL

This year, we are once again proud to support the St. Vincent de Paul Christmas appeal. Each class has been provided with a collection basket, and we kindly ask that all donations be non-perishable and in good condition. Please note that St. Vincent de Paul has requested that no chocolates be included, as they don’t hold up well in our climate. They extend their heartfelt thanks for your generous contributions.

As more individuals and families face the harsh realities of poverty and the threat of homelessness this Christmas, your support can offer crucial emergency assistance to those in need, as well as long-term help to foster better futures.

The Catholic Church has a rich tradition of social teaching that underscores the importance of aiding the poor and vulnerable. Donating to St. Vincent de Paul reflects these values, especially during the Christmas season when we are encouraged to focus on compassion and community care.

We sincerely appreciate your generosity in supporting this important cause. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of those who need it most.

We will have a casual day on Tuesday 26^th November with the cost being a Christmas Hamper item.

YOUTH MASS

On Sunday, November 17th, we will be holding our final Youth Mass of the year. Please mark this date on your calendar. We would be thrilled to see as many of you as possible come together to celebrate with our Burdekin parish community. This is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the year, connect with one another, and strengthen our bonds of faith. We look forward to sharing this special occasion with you all!

CWL LUNCHEON

We have the CWL Christmas Luncheon coming up on 20 November.  Remember to reply with permission and let Mrs J know if you can assist during the morning.

The Year 6 students are getting excited about serving the ladies on this day. This luncheon is a tradition the school and parish enjoy every year. The money raised will be donated to the local St Vincent de Paul, to help families during the Christmas season and beyond.

Wishing you a blessed week ahead.

Maria

Learning Corner

DECISIONS! DECISIONS! DECISIONS!

2025 will be a year of implementing changes linked to the introduction of the Australian Curriculum.

The reactions to the Council’s decision to cut down a tree in the Theatre Forecourt -are often reflected in the reactions to decisions made at school.

I am not a fan or avid Facebook user, but I found the comments on the Christmas Tree issue interesting. There were valid points raised and to the people who made them, they were important.

However, when decisions made are in keeping with the current legislation in regards to accountability for overall safety and well being, it may not support everyone’s individual interests and opinions. We all have a right to opinions, but it is unfair to present them as the best course of action when all the facts and legislative guidelines for the decisions are unknown.

What happens in our Catholic and non - state  schools is directed by The Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Act 2017 (the 'Act') and the Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Regulation 2017 .

The statutory objectives of the Act are to:

• uphold the standards of education at non-State schools
• maintain public confidence in the operation of non-State schools
• foster educational choices in the State

TCE (Townsville Catholic Education) provides guidelines we are to follow to meet the legislative requirements. One of those requirements is that the Australian Curriculum is entirely taught, and that all children have access to the designated hours for each subject. These hours must be accounted for in class planning.

Any activity that does not meet the purpose and expectations of the Australian Curriculum is to be reviewed. The provision has been made for 4 hours per week, known as discretionary hours to support the particular purpose of each non- state school, to devote to activities not directly linked to the Australian Curriculum.  At our school this includes the teaching of Religion (2.5 hours per week)  Mother’s/ Father’s Day stalls, school photos and Book Fairs attended during class time.

Decisions on changes to class arrangements and calendar of activities are made in keeping with guidelines determined at a government level in the best interests of all students.

If you are concerned about any changes you see happening please contact us at school for factual information about the reason for the change.

Thank you to all parents who contact us to check the facts.

Enjoy your weekend.

Rita

Guidance Counsellor

A SPECIAL REPORT: Parenting Styles

There are so many different opinions offered on how best to parent. New parents will often have firm beliefs about how they wish to balance love and discipline, but this ideal often goes out the window when a toddler throws their first tantrum in the supermarket!

Raising children can bring parents and caregivers great joy despite many learning ‘on the job’ and growing into the role through experience and understanding. Children will always flourish in a warm and loving environment, supported by clear guidance.

In this Special Report, parents and caregivers can gain a greater understanding of the four defined parenting styles by taking part in the quiz. It can guide parents towards deciding which style they wish to adopt and the effects it may have on their children.

Here is the link to your special report:

https://sfatsv.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-parenting-styles

Class in the Spotlight - 1/2B

This week, our class has been engaged in a variety of exciting learning activities! Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to:

• Maths: We’ve been revising topics covered over the year, with a special focus on learning about time and patterns this week.
• Literacy Rotations:
• In imaginative writing, we used our creativity to imagine what the elves might be up to in Santa’s workshop as they prepare for Christmas.
• For word work, students practised sounds during PLD lessons on whiteboards and worked on understanding compound words.
• As a craft activity we made Elfie Selfies which turned out super cute! Check them out next week during our Learning Morning! 
• Religion: Students have been reflecting on God’s presence in their lives and the lives of the characters in Old Testament stories including David and Goliath. 
• HASS – Global Connections: Students enjoyed exploring their global connections by researching where their favourite foods, toys, and clothes come from around the world using laptops.
• Water Safety: We finished our final water safety lesson with Miss Lisa.
• Celebration: We celebrated Nate’s 8th Birthday and enjoyed cooling off with some refreshing icy poles!

It’s been a fantastic week of learning and fun!

1/2B

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