Term 4 Week 6 2022

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

Last week two of our Year 6 students competed in the Colls Memorial Lecturette.  This is a persuasive speech competition where students are required to write and present a persuasive speech for a panel of judges.  Lisa Keryk and Sofia Sarri represented St Francis this year with Lisa’s speech titled Technology: Our Saviour or Slayer and Sofia’s Music has the Power to Heal.  Both girls did an amazing job, speaking passionately, articulately and confidently on their chosen topic.  Sofia came away the overall winner for the competition. Congratulations to both girls on this achievement.  Thank you to Mrs Cranitch for helping both Lisa and Sofia prepare for the competition. 

Colls Lecturette

Classes

In 2023 our class structures will remain as they have been for the past few years with our teachers working in professional learning teams.  Class teachers will be announced as soon as our teaching staff for 2023 is finalised.  Compiling class lists each year is a complex and time consuming process. A lot of thought is given to balancing abilities, needs, behaviours, personalities etc across the classes.  Requesting a teacher based on an older child’s experience or hearing certain feedback about a teacher is not grounds for a request.  Consideration will only be given to a significant situation that the teachers are not aware of already. Teachers know their students very well and always strive to place them with other students and a teacher who will help them grow and develop as a learner.  Our teachers are very professional and always have the students’ best interests at heart.  If you have any questions or concerns, please make an appointment to see me by this Friday.

Staffing News

I am very pleased to announce that our Prep teachers for 2023 will be Miss Megan Tatnell and Mrs Kelly Harris.  Kelly is a very experienced early years teacher having taught both Prep and Kindergarten for many years and brings a wealth of knowledge around early years development and pedagogy.  We look forward to welcoming Kelly to our St Francis family next year.  

Inappropriate Behaviour

Unfortunately there has been an increase of inappropriate behaviour in both our playground and classrooms over the past week.  We have had students using their hands inappropriately, using inappropriate language and speaking disrespectfully to peers and staff.  This behaviour is not acceptable and students will experience consequences if they have to be spoken to by a teacher.  I was disappointed to hear that this behaviour also occurred at Interschool Sport on Friday.  Students at St Francis are expected to be following our P.A.T.H rules at all times. These rules state that students must act safely, treat all with respect and help their neighbour by  keeping their hands to themselves, using manners, listening to staff and peers and being kind in words and actions. Students who are not following our P.A.T.H rules will lose time off their playtime for every incident.  If behaviour persists, parents will be notified and asked to attend a meeting to address this matter with the classroom teacher in the first instance and if needed myself where further consequences will be discussed. 

Article

This week I would like to share with you a Happy School article that I shared with our staff last week titled Optimism is Not Just About Being Positive.  It was a great read about the importance of developing a growth mindset and being resilient. 

Don’t forget about our final FACE meeting this Wednesday evening at 6pm in the staff room.  I hope that you are able to join us. 

Have a wonderful week

Take care and God Bless

Amanda

Religious Life of the School

In Sunday’s Gospel, Luke 21:5-19, Jesus speaks of the coming destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and warns that his followers will face persecution for their beliefs. Jesus encourages his disciples never to lose faith in him and their belief in God in times of trouble. As disciples of Jesus, we need to trust in the continuing presence and power of His Holy Spirit of love in our lives. Treating each other with respect is the T in PATH. Getting children to empathise with their peer’s feelings and walk in someone else’s shoes is often difficult for them to do. As a school community whose religious orders are founded on the Gospel values of love and compassion, we encourage our students to treat others as they would like to be treated. 

CATHOLIC MISSION:  Thank you to all who supported Catholic Mission which works to help children and their families break the cycle of poverty and work towards a better life.  Our fundraising activities raised $272.45 to send to support Catholic Mission in its work.  A big thank you to everyone who so generously gave to make this a success.

ST VINCENT DE PAUL CHRISTMAS HAMPER:  Each year we donate Christmas goodies to St Vincent De Paul to distribute to those in need in our community.  We ask that all students begin collecting suitable items for the Christmas Hampers.  If we all generously put in a little something we end up with quite a large donation to help those less fortunate than ourselves.  We will have a casual day on Friday 25^th November with the cost being a Christmas Hamper item.  Please do not send in any perishables.

REMEMBRANCE DAY:  At 5 am on 11 November 1918, three German government representatives accepted the Armistice terms presented to them by an allied commander, General Foch of the French Army. The armistice became effective at 11 am the same day, and as the guns fell silent on the Western Front in France and Belgium, four years of hostilities ended. At 11 am on 11 November 1919, Australians, for the first time, paused and stood in silent tribute to the men and women of the 1st Australian Imperial Force who had died on battlefields in Gallipoli, Europe and in the Middle East. We will celebrate Remembrance Day on Friday at 9 am with a liturgy in the Samaritan Hall. Everyone is welcome!

We remember in a special way on Remembrance Day, Lord,

the men and women who serve our country in the military.

Help them to know the gratitude we feel for their service,

and may peace be their lasting legacy.

Amen.

God Bless

Mary

Aiming for Excellence

Ready Set Write! 

Our focus this week is vocabulary.  Using provided illustrations or a title, students are asked to generate ideas and then create a word bank to match their ideas.

‘Easy’ and ‘Learning’ do not go hand in hand.

This is a quote from an article written in ‘Edutopia’ an online publication that focuses on what works in education. The article was based on the findings research and studies carried out between 2008 and 2019 by six different educationalists. The article affirms what teachers already know but find difficult to practice due to the perception by many that learning should be ‘easy’ and ‘fun’ without frustration or struggle. The article was titled ‘How Productive Struggle Fires Up Learners.’

James Anderson, in his books, refers to the ‘Learning Pit’ where children meet challenges and struggle to come out as successful learners of the topic. It’s when students go beyond their comfort zone to solve problems that are hard but still within their ability that they are engaged in productive struggle.

In class we often see children who want to complete the work as quickly as possible and ask for help to ensure they get it correct. We also see children who enjoy a challenge and will attempt different approaches to solve a problem. They view a lack of immediate success as a step in learning. These are the students who realise that temporary confusion and frustration is not a sign of weakness as they persevere and become resilient learners. These are the students who aim for excellence and through productive struggle achieve this goal.

As teachers, our responsibility is to provide the challenges that require productive struggle but are within their ability. As parents remind your children that frustration with a task is telling you that they are being challenged and their brain is working hard. Tell them that incorrect answers (as long they identify why it was incorrect) are part of learning and NOT a sign that they are failures as learners.

CONGRATULATIONS to Sofia Sarri and Lisa Keryk on their presentation of two entertaining and persuasive lecturettes. Well done to Sofia for her success in winning the trophy.   They are to be commended for their effort and perseverance in aiming for and achieving excellence.

Assessments for Semester Reports are currently being finalised with many teachers providing opportunities for students to finish assessments that were missed due to absences.

SAVE THESE DATES

NAPLAN 2023   The dates for NAPLAN 2023 are March 15 to 27. The final 5 days are available for catch - up tests. The writing MUST be administered on Day 1. More details on timing will be provided as it becomes available.

Rita Cranitch

Leaning and Teaching Adviser

Inclusive Practices Teacher

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.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.

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-parenting-styles

Library

Book of the Week Winner

Tuckshop

Swimming Carnival

Swimming Carnival Themes

Community

Long sleeved sport shirts

available from school office

$35 each

Sizes 4—14