Term 2 Week 6 2022

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

What a week we have had at St Francis!  Between Eisteddfod Speech and Drama, finishing Naplan, celebrating Laudato Si’ Week, classroom learning, a Learning Breakfast, Prep Bike Day, Year 5 and 6 Carnival Day and the Waggle Bee Dance it was a jammed packed week of learning and fun!  These events don’t just happen by themselves.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank the amazing staff for ensuring that our students are able to participate in such a wide variety of experiences.  Our teachers and support staff spend many additional hours planning and preparing for these events and we are incredibly lucky to have such a dedicated group of professionals in our school.         

On Friday we held our first Learning Breakfast for 2022.  Thank you to all of the Prep families who were able to join us.  The Prep students were very excited to share their work with their families and we hope that families have a greater understanding of what their child has been learning at school.  Learning Breakfasts are a wonderful opportunity for families to be engaged in their child’s learning.  Students take great pride in being able to share what they have learnt, and the success and challenges they faced throughout the learning process.  The Year 1 and 2 students are looking forward to hosting their Learning Breakfast this Friday from 8 - 8:30am.  Remember if you ever have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s learning please contact your classroom teacher who will be more than happy to meet with you to discuss your concerns and answer your questions.

We have our first FACE meeting this Thursday evening at 6pm in the Staffroom.  We will be discussing our Term 3 events as well as our School Safe people presenting about their role and what they do in our school.  This will be a great opportunity for families to be engaged in our school community and I encourage you to come along.

As you would remember, last term and early this term we sent out our ECSI Surveys to collect information on the Catholic Identity of our school.  Those who completed the survey went into the draw to win a set of school uniforms and a pizza party for their child’s class.  Our school captains Corey and Lisa drew our lucky winner out of the basket at the end of last week.  Congratulations to Felicity Griggs who was the lucky winner.  Thank you to everyone who completed the survey.

School Satisfaction and Feedback Surveys

Townsville Catholic Education is working with all schools within the Diocese to improve the educational experience provided to our students. As a way to gain this feedback, all staff and families within our school communities will be sent a survey to shape the future directions of our schools.

Your responses are very important in this process as we continue to strive to provide the best educational, social, spiritual and emotional resources and environment for our children. 

The surveys were distributed via email on Friday 20 May and we ask that they are completed by Friday 10 June. If you have children and/or work at more than one Catholic school, you will receive a survey for each school.

I would like to thank you in advance for providing feedback and assisting us to improve our school.

Have a wonderful week.

Take care and God Bless

Amanda

Religious Life of the School

The Ascension of our Lord (Luke 24:46-53) into heaven is celebrated at Masses this Sunday. The time had come for Jesus to say goodbye to his disciples and return to his Father in heaven.  Jesus commanded that the forgiveness of sins be preached to all and then was carried from their sight but was still with them in their hearts and in their gatherings.  We are called, like the disciples, to be Jesus’ continued presence on earth bringing freedom, healing and forgiveness to all.  Each one of us in our own way can share God’s words and faith with those around us. Please join us for our second class mass as the Year 5, Year 1 and Year 2 classes celebrate together this Thursday with Father Manoj at 9am in the church.

OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS: The Feast of our Lady Help of Christians is celebrated today. Mary Help of Christians is the Patroness of Australia and also of the Townsville Diocese. The infant Church in Australia had a special reason for turning to Mary. In those early colonial days when there were very few priests, it was largely the Rosary that kept the Catholic faith alive.

When the Bishops of Australia met for their first synod, in 1844, they decided that under the title” Help of Christians,” Our Lady should become the Patroness of the Australian Church.  Mary has long been recognized for her powerful role as intercessor to her Son, Jesus, for the needs of the faithful and their protection.

Today our whole school gathered reverently and quietly for whole school meditation in honour of the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians.

Mary, Help of Christians,
 watch over us with love.
Intercede for us with your Son,
 to bless Australia,
so that we can be people of peace,
 people who love and respect each other,
and people who love and respect our land, Australia.
We make this prayer through Jesus, your Son.
Amen.

NATIONAL SORRY DAY:  National Sorry Day is an Australia-wide observance held on May 26 each year which marks the beginning of Reconciliation Week. This day gives people the chance to come together and share the steps toward healing for the Stolen Generations, their families and communities. The first National Sorry Day was held on May 26, 1998, which was one year after the tabling of a report ‘Bringing Them Home’, about the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. May we all share the steps towards healing for the Stolen Generations, their families and communities through prayer and reconciliation.

God Bless

Mary

Aiming for Excellence

Ready Set Write! 

This week students in Years Two to Six will focus on writing the main idea based on an illustration and then proceed to develop this into a paragraph by adding details. Years One and Two are learning about the difference between the main idea and detail.

This week teachers in Years Three to Six will be released from class to examine and correct student persuasive texts using the NAPLAN writing criteria. An analysis of the results will highlight the skills that need further development. These will be retaught or extended as required. Students will receive feedback on areas that need developing and how this could be achieved.

NAPLAN

Congratulations on excellent participation by Years Three and Five students and thank you to parents for your support.

NCCD

Last week we included an infographic explaining NCCD. This week we look at the process teachers work through to include a student in the NCCD.

1.Teachers identify if an adjustment is being made to overall classroom planning to ensure the student is engaged, accessing the curriculum and making progress.

2.As a teaching group, teachers decide if the level of adjustments made for each child qualifies as:

• QDTP ( Quality Differentiated Teaching Practice)
• Supplementary
• Substantial
• Extensive

The level of adjustment is determined by the type and frequency of adjustments required by a child to access the curriculum. There must be evidence in teacher planning that these adjustments are being made and documentation that these adjustments are reviewed to meet student learning needs.

Other information required to include a student in NCCD is:

-Evidence of a disability can be either a diagnosis or imputed based on evidence from the classroom.

-Evidence of communication with parents.

ALL children who receive adjustments have their data uploaded to a TCE  database.

TCE collates the data from all schools and submits it to QCEC who then submits it to the State Government Department for funding.

If a child requires adjustments for learning due to high absences, they cannot be included in NCCD as the learning difficulties are not explicitly linked to a diagnosed disability.

Next week we will look at the range of disabilities included in NCCD.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding NCCD, please contact me via email. (rcranitch@sfatsv.catholic.edu.au) for an appointment or a telephone call.

 Rita Cranitch

Leaning and Teaching Adviser

Inclusive practices Teacher

From the Guidance Counsellor

In this edition of SchoolTV - PHYSICAL ACTIVITY & EXERCISE

In the last decade, children’s participation in physical activity and exercise has been in decline. In this digital age, children are using computers and mobile devices, not only for learning, but for relaxation and recreation purposes. This sedentary lifestyle is having a detrimental effect on today’s youth. The key is finding the balance.

Research shows, that regular physical activity and exercise leads to changes in the brain. It improves cognitive function, elevates mood, enhances learning and improves academic outcomes. Playing sport helps kids develop fundamental movement skills impacting positively on their confidence, self-esteem and ability to develop social skills. Parents play an important role in helping children establish positive habits that will benefit their children in the long-term.

In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will discover practical advice relating to the benefits of regular physical activity and exercise, as well as tips on how to get their kids motivated and moving more.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school guidance counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to the Physical Activity & Exercise edition of SchoolTV
https://sfatsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/physical-activity-exercise

Students of the Week

Community