Term 1 Week 2 2023
From the Principal
Dear Parents and Carers,
What a fantastic start to the year we have had. I have had the opportunity to visit each of the classrooms and it has been wonderful to see the students eager and ready for the new school year. Everyone is getting to know their new class, and their teachers and students and teachers have been busy establishing routines and structures to promote a positive year of learning.
High Expectations
As parents and carers, you play a pivotal role in supporting your children’s well-being and learning through their educational journey. At St Francis, we recognise and value the partnership between families, the community and the school to promote student learning and high expectations for student success and personal growth.
In 2023 St Francis is promoting a high-expectations culture for all members of the school community. During our Professional Development Week, the teachers engaged in PD focused on a high-expectations culture and strategies to utilise in their classrooms that support developing this culture. The strategies that we explored are based on the work of Doug Lemov and include No Opt Out, Right is Right, Stretch It, Format Matters and Without Apology. We also discussed the importance of Wait (or Think) Time. Each classroom is currently focusing on No Opt Out. This strategy encourages students to answer when they are unable or unwilling to participate in classroom activities. Students all too often reply “I don’t know” to questions; this response is used when a student doesn’t want to participate in learning but also when a student lacks the knowledge. At the center of the “no opt-out” technique is the idea that a series of steps followed by the teacher results in the student who was unsuccessful or unwilling to answer a question ending with giving the right answer. This strategy helps promote the idea that it is okay not to know, but it’s not okay to not try.
It’s important to have expectations of not only our students but also ourselves as educators and parents because if you have no expectations then people don’t strive to improve. High expectations don’t just benefit academic growth and behaviour but also have a significant impact on attitude and self-worth. High expectations are about pushing each member of our school community to achieve their best (not BE the best); it is about letting students know that we believe in them, have faith in them and believe that if they work towards it they can achieve their goals.
How can you help at home?
Adopt a growth mindset with your children
Make expectations clear, realistic and reasonable
Aim for personal bests
Let students make mistakes
Offer support and encouragement
Carpark
I was very concerned last week to see a number of students running across the car park after they had been collected from school. Luckily drivers were paying attention and there weren’t any accidents, however, it could just as easily have gone the other way. Due to its busy nature, the car park isn’t the place to be standing to have a chat with other families after school. There is plenty of grass space around the Samaritan Centre for after-school conversations to take place. Teachers on duty will not allow students to walk through the car park to reach a parked car. Students must be collected from the school side of the car park.
I was also concerned with the number of students who were getting in their vehicles on the driver's side. It is very dangerous for students to walk around cars to enter on the driver's side. Please ensure that your child is able to access your vehicle from the passenger side.
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 their seat belt we ask that you park and help them in order to keep the pick-up line moving.
There were also several families who were driving too fast in the car park last week. Please slow down and be careful. Thank you for your assistance with these matters as we are dealing with precious little lives.
When arriving to pick up children in the afternoon, please be considerate of others and not block the entrance to the school as pedestrians cannot cross the walkway safely. Also, please do not block the driveway to the roundabout as other parents are wanting to park to pick up their children but have been unable to drive through to the car park due to cars blocking the driveway.
Family Engagement
Our Information Evening will be held on Tuesday 7th February. This is a wonderful parent engagement opportunity and a way of building a strong and productive partnership with your child’s teacher. The program will be:
5:45 - 6:00 pm - Gather in the Samaritan Centre for Prayer and staff introductions
6:00 - 6:25 pm - 1st classroom session
6:30 - 6:55 pm - 2nd classroom session (a repeat of the 1st session)
During these sessions you’ll hear about what your child will be learning, their teacher’s expectations, how you can help your child with their learning at home, how you can become involved and much, much more.
Our first FACE (Family and Community Engagement) meeting will be held on Thursday 9th February at 6 pm in the Staffroom. All families are invited to attend this meeting. If you have any items for the agenda please email them to me by this Friday.
How many times have you asked your child what they did at school that day and they said nothing? Try these questions to encourage your child to provide more information about their day.
Tell me about the best part of your day
What made you laugh?
What games did you play at lunchtime? Who did you play with?
What are you looking forward to tomorrow?
What did you learn about in (pick a subject)?
Tell me about something you read in class.
Can you show me something you learnt (or did) today?
What was the most interesting thing you learnt today?
What was the hardest/most challenging thing you did today?
Class Community Contact Role
Here at St Francis, we believe that the Class Community Contact Role enhances the quality of relationships within our school community. Together we strive to develop mutually trusting and vibrant relationships between all members of the school community. In accepting this role, the CCC is taking on a responsibility, which requires mutual trust, confidentiality and a desire to assist in building a harmonious school environment for us all.
What is a Class Community Contact?
The Class Community Contact is a volunteer role held for the school year. This role can be held by up to 2 parents or carers for each class. This role has two main purposes:
- Be a support person for the classroom
- Work in conjunction with school leadership and the FACE Group to support school activities and events
This role requires volunteers to respect with confidentiality the events of the classroom whilst providing staff, students and families with absolute privacy. This role requires the commitment of volunteers to
Classroom | School |
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How can a Class Community Contact help you?
- Bring ideas or school-level issues to school leadership and the FACE Group
- Help arrange support for your family during difficult times
All concerns and/or enquiries from parents/carers regarding the education, health and safety of their children must be directed to the class teacher.
Class Community Contacts must complete the online volunteer induction and attend the site induction (completed every 3 years).
Thank you for your time, energy and commitment to this important role.
If you are interested in taking on this role for your class in 2023, please see your child’s class teacher.
Have a wonderful week
Take care and God Bless
Amanda
Religious Life of the School
Welcome to Week 2. It has been wonderful to catch up with different students over the past week and hear their stories of the year so far. They seem to be enjoying their time back at school but it has been a busy start to the year and I am sure the rest of the year will be just as busy.
Christian Meditation
It is in these times of ‘busyness’ when we have a great deal to do, it is the perfect opportunity to practice meditation. At St Francis, we practice Christian Meditation. Christian Meditation is the art of being still and using a mantra. The mantra helps us ignore distractions, focus the mind and express our faith. For our mantra we use MARANATHA, an Aramaic word, meaning Come Lord Jesus and it fits well with the rhythm of the breath. The length of time children sit still and meditate increases with their age.
There are many benefits to Christian Meditation, it is a life skill that enhances learning, well-being and community. Through Christian Meditation, we come to know ourselves better and have a greater awareness that God is within us. Children have said that they are nicer to others and calmer after meditating. As a teacher practising Christian Meditation with students of various age groups, I have personally witnessed this and noticed an improvement in overall student well-being.
During our Professional Development Week before school began, teachers gained a better understanding of Christian Meditation and will continue to implement it into their everyday classrooms. For further information about Christian Meditation check out the Brisbane Catholic Education site: https://catholicidentity.bne.catholic.edu.au/prayer/SitePages/Christian%20Meditation.aspx
You may like to try Christian Meditation with your children and also reap the benefits.
A Prayer for stillness when life is rushed
Oh Lord,
You know my heart
better than I know it myself.
You know my struggles and you hold
each hope and fear in your caring hands.
Teach me, Lord, to be still
and to know that you are God.
Amen.
150 Years of Catholic Education in the Townsville Diocese
This year we celebrate 150 Years of Catholic Education in the Townsville Diocese. We not only celebrate the establishment but the continued growth of education. We give thanks for those who first brought Catholic education to this diocese and we pray that their vision for faith will continue into the future so that our Catholic identity responds to the call of the church today and the diocesan vision of “Becoming New in Christ”.
See if you can find some time for stillness this week.
God bless
Nicole
Learning Corner
Welcome to 2023, and what an exciting year it will be!
Australian Curriculum Ver 9.0
This year teachers will be learning about and becoming familiar with the Australian Curriculum Version 9.0 in English and Mathematics before it is implemented in 2024. Throughout the year, we will keep you informed of changes we will see as we learn about them.
NAPLAN
This will now take place in March instead of May. The dates are March 15-27, with all students completing the Writing test on Wednesday, March 15. All tests will be online except for the Year 3 Writing test.
Students who receive adjustments in class to access the curriculum can access the same adjustments for NAPLAN testing if they fall within the NAPLAN Testing Protocols guidelines. For adjustments to be provided, a Disability Adjustment Form for the child needs to be completed with the parents. Your child’s teacher will contact you if your child is eligible for adjustments for the NAPLAN testing. If you have any concerns about your child’s participation in NAPLAN, please contact your child’s teacher by Feb 8, 2023.
In Week 3, Students in Years 3 and 5 will commence familiarisation with the format of the tests and the use of the online tools available for the tests.
Commencing in Week 4, students will complete practice tests in the NAPLAN Training Environment. This is to give them the experience of logging in to a test and answering the different types of questions they will encounter. Their names are not used for logging in, and the tests are not corrected.
Early Years Testing
Students in Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 will complete the TCE ( Townsville Catholic Education) Literacy and Numeracy Tests commencing in Week 3 with completion by Week 5 this term. Children in Prep and Year 1 will complete the tests in a one-on-one setting with their teacher, while Year 2 students complete the test online. The analysis of the results to identify student learning needs will be carried out in Week 8 or 9 of this term by class teachers, our school Speech and Language Pathologist and our Curriculum Adviser. The information obtained about the student learning needs will then be used to plan their learning.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s learning, please do not hesitate to contact you child’s teacher.
Rita Cranitch
Learning and Teaching Adviser
Inclusive Practices Teacher
Guidance Counsellor
In this edition of SchoolTV - SCHOOL REFUSAL
School refusal, sometimes called school avoidance or school phobia, is not uncommon. It is different to ‘wagging’ or truancy and is often related to worry or anxiety-related issues about going to school. School refusal may start gradually or happen suddenly. Although it is normal for a child to occasionally miss a day of school, parents should only be concerned if a child regularly complains about feeling sick or often asks to stay home due to minor physical complaints.
School refusal is a complex issue as there is rarely a single cause. It affects children of all ages across primary and secondary levels. It can often occur during times of transition at school. More recently, the Coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the educational experience of all students, affecting some more than others. Dealing with a school refusal child can affect the whole family, adding pressure to an already challenging time. School refusal is not considered a formal psychiatric diagnosis. It’s a name given to an emotional and/or behavioural problem.
In this edition of SchoolTV, adult carers will learn how best to approach this issue and work towards a solution.
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 School Refusal edition of SchoolTV
https://sfatsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/school-refusal
Safer Internet Day
Safer Internet Day is on Tuesday 7 February this year. Each class will be doing a number of activities on this day to raise online safety awareness so that we can create safer online spaces for everyone. Safer Internet Day also emphasises the importance that we place on the ICT agreement that has been signed by you and your child/children.
The eSafety Commissioner has great resources to help parents and carers keep their children safe online. Check out the website for more information. https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents
The eSafety Commissioner also runs webinars for parents and carers. These webinars are incredibly beneficial in upskilling yourself with the knowledge, skills and tools to support your children to have safe online experiences. I encourage you to check them out. https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars
John Eade
E-Learning Guide
Mulkadee
Applications for Mulkadee 2023 open this Wednesday 1st February, 2023 and close on the 3rd March, 2023. Mulkadee is an amazing arts opportunity for all Year 5 and Year 6 students at our school and runs from 17th - 21st July, 2023. Students may choose from the following disciplines choir, dance, drama, strings, guitar, band and AV. Please see Mrs.Julyan as there are certain skill/age requirements for dance, drama, guitar and strings. Please note a free bus service will be provided to transport students to and from the event each day.
A note will be sent home this week with more information, costing details and additional information regarding the event. Please contact Mrs. Julyan ( ajulyan@sfatsv.catholic.edu.au) for more details.
Tuckshop
Parents &/or grandparents are invited to become part of this year’s Tuckshop team.
The Tuckshop operates from Monday to Friday 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.
Volunteer Induction Online Training can be accessed via our website: https://www.sfatsv.catholic.edu.au/about/volunteer-induction-for-parents-and-carers/ Attendance at a Site Induction on Thursday 2 February 8:30am or Thursday 9 February 5:30pm is also required. Once complete all modules and documents please email your certificate and 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.
We are looking forward to another exciting year in the tuckshop.
Tuckshop 2023
Parent Name:_________________________
Student Name and Class:____________________
Mobile Number: _________________________
I can work: Mon □ Tues □ Wed □ Thurs □ Fri □
I can bake: Mon □ Tues □ Wed □ Thurs □
Monthly □ OR Fortnightly □
Birthdays
Class in the Spotlight
In 2023 we are going to include our Facebook Class in the Spotlight in the Newsletter. Each week you will find the photos and information from the class that was featured on Facebook the previous week.
Our Week 1 feature is from different classes across the school as they settled into their new routines and classes.
Week 1
P.A.T.H.
The Good Samaritan’s P.A.T.H.
Persist with learning
Act safely
Treat others with respect
Help your neighbour
At St Francis, our behaviour management is based on The Good Samaritan's P.A.T.H. Over the past 15 months a team of dedicated staff members have been busy writing and establishing P.A.T.H within our school. Watch this space for more information across the year.
Our P.A.T.H note winners for Week 2 are: Cara Stockham, Olivia Barbagallo and Reece Di Lullo.
Crazy Hair Day
Community
