Term 1 Week 5 2025

From the Principal

Good afternoon families,

At St Francis, our Catholic identity is at the heart of everything we do. As a Catholic school, we are committed to nurturing the spiritual, moral, and academic development of every student, helping them grow in faith and knowledge.

Next week we get to deepen our understanding when we officially launch Caritas’s Project Compassion with Bishop Tim Harris. Reflecting on our faith calls us to act with compassion and generosity. Through Project Compassion we are not just raising awareness but embodying the teachings of Jesus by serving others, particularly those in need. 

We invite you to partner with us in nurturing the faith journey of our students. Thank you for your continued support in making St Francis a place where faith and learning grow together.

God bless,

Lisa

Religious Life of the School

Dear Families,

This week, we focus on the final part of our Catholic Identity model, “Love in Action”.

Love in Action: Inspired by the Good Samaritan

As part of our Catholic Identity, we focus on “Love in Action,” which encourages us to show love through our actions, not just words. One powerful example of this is the story of the Good Samaritan. In this story, Jesus teaches us that love means going beyond what’s easy or convenient. The Good Samaritan sees a man who is hurt, and despite the challenges, he stops to help, even when others ignore him. The Samaritan shows love by taking action to care for someone in need, regardless of differences.

At our school, Love in Action means showing kindness, respect, and support to everyone around us—whether it’s through helping a classmate with their work, standing up for someone who is being treated unfairly, or simply offering a smile to someone who might be having a tough day. It's about taking the time to notice those who need help and stepping in to make a difference, just like the Good Samaritan did.

This focus on love isn’t just about grand gestures; it’s the small, everyday acts of kindness that add up. Whether it’s helping a friend pick up their books, including someone who’s alone at lunch, or showing understanding when someone is upset, Love in Action is about making our school a place where everyone feels cared for and valued.

Let’s continue to live out this call to action at St Francis by looking for ways to show love in our daily lives. When we act with compassion and kindness, we make our school community stronger and more connected. Together, we can bring the message of the Good Samaritan to life, making our school a true reflection of Christ’s love for all.

We have a big week coming up with lots of events happening.  We would love you to join in all our celebrations.

Project Compassion                                                                        On Tuesday, 4th March, we are excited to host the Project Compassion 2025 Launch. St Francis has been chosen to lead the launch for this important initiative. Bishop Tim will be officiating at the Liturgy, and we will be joined by special guests from Caritas Australia, the TCE Office, school representatives from the Diocese, and members of our Burdekin Parish. It promises to be a wonderful event, and we warmly invite you to join us in this special occasion.

This Lent, we are called to Unite Against Poverty through Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion. By taking home a Project Compassion donation box or envelope, you’ll be answering the Gospels’ call to care for our global family and walk alongside the most vulnerable.

Your generous support this Lenten Season will enable Caritas Australia to provide life-changing support to communities facing poverty, food insecurity, lack of education, and water shortages while building resilience against future challenges. Together, through faith and action, we can bring hope and opportunity to those most in need.

Shrove Tuesday

Tuesday, March 4th, is Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Tuesday. It is the day preceding Ash Wednesday. The word "shrove" is derived from the Old English term "shrive," meaning to confess one's sins and seek absolution.

Traditionally, Shrove Tuesday is a day of preparation and reflection before the solemn period of Lent. On this day, people often indulge in rich and fatty foods, particularly pancakes, as a way to use up ingredients like eggs and butter before the fasting season begins. The act of making and consuming pancakes has become a popular and festive tradition in many cultures around the world.

We will be making pancakes to share with the students. If you're able to help cook or lend us a frying pan on Tuesday at 11:30 am, please let the office or me know.

Ash Wednesday: Beginning of the Lenten Season

Ash Wednesday marks the start of the Lenten season in the Catholic Church, a time of reflection, repentance, and spiritual renewal leading up to Easter. On this day, Catholics receive ashes on their foreheads in the shape of a cross, symbolising both our mortality and the call to repentance. The ashes serve as a reminder that we are called to reflect on our lives, embrace humility, and turn away from sin as we prepare for the solemn season of Lent.

Lent is a time for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, offering us the opportunity to grow closer to God and strengthen our faith. It is also a time for families to come together in acts of kindness, helping others in need and deepening their commitment to spiritual growth. By observing these practices, we prepare ourselves to fully celebrate the joy of Easter, when we commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the hope it brings to all of us.

On Ash Wednesday, as part of our Lenten traditions, we encourage students to refrain from eating meat. To support this, the school tuckshop will provide a variety of meat-free options for lunch. This is a wonderful opportunity for our community to reflect on the meaning of Lent and join in the practice of fasting and penance. We encourage families to support their children in embracing this day with thoughtfulness and reverence.

Have a wonderful week.

God Bless,

Maria

Learning Corner

Every minute counts!

A WANT or a NEED?

When my daughter was growing up, the widespread trend was braces. Most of her friends had braces, and she came home with the notion that she must have them as well. At the time, an acquaintance was an orthodontist, and we asked his opinion as concerned parents. At the appointment, he chatted with our daughter and listened to what she had to say. He said, ‘When you walked through the door, I first noticed your beautiful smile and lovely blue eyes. You do not need braces.’ The result was a happy daughter and grateful parents.

In class, we have students who want more time to finish their work even though the teacher knows the child is capable of completing the work in the given time as they have seen them achieve this previously. On this occasion, they had spent time looking at others and letting time pass unproductively. In fear of getting into trouble from parents for not completing the work, the want becomes a need. Turning a ‘want’ into a ‘need’ does not help them become successful learners.

As NAPLAN approaches, schools are asked to identify students who will require adjustments and submit applications to QCAA (Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority) for students who need a scribe, alternate formats or assistive technology linked to their diagnosed disability and complete application forms kept at school to provide extra time, a support person, rest breaks or different coloured backgrounds. These adjustments can only be provided if they link to an identified disability and are in regular use in the classroom for those students. Although all children would benefit from these adjustments, they are not ‘needed’ by all students and, therefore will not be available to all students.

It is always a thrill to see a child’s progress because of a teacher’s high expectations. This week I was privileged to see the difference a teacher’s expectation can make to a child’s work. A student presented his teacher with work that was far below the expected standard. Previously, the teacher offered support and encouragement without success. This time she refused to accept that standard of work and instructed the child to redo the work. The result was an amazing improvement. Many times we think a child ‘needs’ what they actually ‘want’ so life will be easier.

As a parent, it is difficult to separate a ‘want’ from a ‘need’ but it is a worthwhile exercise if we wat our children to be the best they can be.

Do You Have a Child in Years 3 and/or 5 ?

The NAPLAN testing window will soon be upon us.

If you have any concerns about your child participating in NAPLAN, please see your child’s teacher ASAP.

Enjoy your weekend!

Rita Cranitch (Assistant Principal - Pedagogy and Learning)

Guidance Counsellor

In this edition of SchoolTV - SLEEP

Students today have extremely busy schedules, with ever increasing responsibilities at school and at home. Many kids, especially adolescents, are going to bed later and later and are at risk of sleep deprivation. This affects three areas of a child’s development: psychological, physiological and psychosocial. All three are essential to a child's growth, learning ability and overall wellbeing. Sleep is vital to a child’s overall development and is as important as diet and exercise.

Sleep also strengthens a child’s immune systems and supports their ability to function properly on a daily basis. Children who do not get enough sleep show increased levels of aggressive behaviour, are less attentive and are much less active. Trying to catch up on sleep on weekends is not the answer and can still lead to severe sleep deprivation.

In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will learn about the importance of sleep and how sleep deprivation can have adverse effects on a child’s health and wellbeing.

Here is the link to the Sleep edition of SchoolTV
https://sfatsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/sleep

P.A.T.H.

Library

Students of the Week

Book Club

Book Fair

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