Term 2 Week 1 2023

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to Term 2! I hope that you all had a wonderful Easter break and are feeling refreshed and ready for a new term. Last week you would have received an email that had the Term 2 Calendar attached.  As you can see it is already shaping up to be a very busy term.  Please keep an eye out in the Newsletter and on our Facebook page for any updated information in regard to the calendar.  We have also included the Term 2 Calendar in this week's newsletter.

At the end of Term 1, I spoke about the importance of high expectations in regard to school uniforms. Our students are representatives of our school whenever they are in school uniform, therefore, it should be worn with pride on all occasions.  It is the collective responsibility of all to ensure that the requirements as laid out in the Uniform Policy are adhered to. This includes hairstyles, hair accessories, shoes and jewellery. This term, students whose uniform does not comply with our Uniform Policy will be receiving a Uniform Concern note via Compass. If you receive one of these notifications, I ask that you work towards rectifying the notice as soon as possible. I thank you in advance for your continued support.

3A Teacher

After going through a significant recruitment period, we, unfortunately, had no applicants for the Year 3 teacher position.  However, I am pleased to announce that Nicole O’Connor and Rita Cranitch will be job-sharing in 3A for the remainder of 2023. I am grateful that Nicole and Rita have been able to take on this role.

ANZAC Day

Next Tuesday is ANZAC Day and St Francis will once again be participating in the ANZAC Day March. Students need to be wearing their full formal school uniform and have their hats.  

ANZAC Day is a day of remembrance and reflection on the sacrifices made by Australian and New Zealand soldiers in past conflicts. It is an opportunity to honour the bravery and selflessness of those who served, as well as to remember the hardships and tragedies they endured. To cope with the tragic losses our country saw at Gallipoli, the men and women of Australia searched for the positive in the experience. To get through such a horrendous time the soldiers had to develop strong bonds with each other and demonstrate extraordinary courage, endurance and bravery. It was here that the ANZAC Spirit was born.  When we hear people speak of the ANZAC Spirit we think of courage, bravery, endurance, mateship, determination and sacrifice. It is these values that were demonstrated so strongly by the soldiers at Gallipoli and are important in defining Australia as a nation. On this day, it is important to reflect on the significance of ANZAC Day and what it means to us as a society. It is a day to acknowledge the sacrifices of those who fought and died for our freedom, to pay tribute to their courage and resilience and to recognise the impact of war on individuals, families and communities. 

While ANZAC Day was originally meant to honour the soldiers who fought and died at Gallipoli, it is now used to honour all soldiers who have fought and died.  Even though Australia is not at war, many Australians are currently serving in operations overseas. ANZAC Day is a particularly important date for Australians with friends or family members in the Australian Defence Force. On ANZAC Day, many families think of their partners, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers or sisters who are currently deployed either domestically or internationally.  In many locations around the world, Australians are also working with other nations to maintain peace and provide stability after natural disasters.

ANZAC Day is a day to honour the memory of those who served and continue to serve, those who sacrificed for our country and to ensure that their legacy lives on. We should never forget the sacrifices that were made and the courage that was shown and we should strive to live up to the ideas of courage, selflessness and service that they embodied. ANZAC Day is also a day to consider the lessons we can learn from past conflicts and to renew our commitment to peace and understanding. We can reflect on the importance of unity, cooperation and empathy in building a better world and preventing future conflicts. 

As the wife of a current serving Defence Force member, ANZAC Day holds special meaning for my family.  The role of being an Army wife doesn’t come easily or mean that life goes smoothly. Over the years I have learnt to have a Plan A and then a Plan B - Z! Things always change and they change frequently. As an Army wife, I have a network of friends that spans right across the country and it is through Defence life that I have met my very closest friends. People often ask me how I deal with deployments, postings and exercises.  It seems strange to say but you get used to it. Trips away are hard at first, but after the first few days, you settle into a routine. It’s slightly different to that of a usual day, but it becomes your new normal. The lead-up to my husband returning home is full of anticipation and before you know it he is home again and everything is back the way you have always known it to be. This life isn’t for everyone, but it is one I love and I am proud to call myself an Army wife. 

Lest we forget.

Have a wonderful week.

Take care and God Bless

Amanda

Religious Life of the School

Welcome back to school and the beginning of Term 2. It has been lovely to see the students again and hear all of their holiday adventures. I hope you found a different routine over the holidays rejuvenating and had time to relax and to be with family.

Lent is complete and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support of Project Compassion. Our Easter Raffle was drawn on the last day of Term 1 with our winners being; Chad Bugeja 5A, Mrs Munro and Sofia Felesina 6A. If you still have any Project Compassion boxes at home it is not too late to return them, just send them in to the office.

Over the holidays we celebrated Holy Week and Easter. Our prayer cloths at school are now white for the duration of the Easter season and we acknowledged the resurrection of Jesus on Monday with classroom Easter liturgies. We now look forward to Pentecost before we return to Ordinary Time on the Church calendar.

On Monday 5A will host an ANZAC liturgy at 2:15 pm in the Samaritan Centre. All are welcome to attend.

Class Masses

Class Masses will begin this term starting next week. Being able to attend Mass as a class in the Sacred Heart Church gives our students an opportunity to experience Mass in a parish setting. Each Mass takes place at 9am on Thursdays in the Sacred Heart Church.

Celebrating Mass together is a great way to build community!

God bless

Nicole

Learning Corner

What is the most dreaded part of the school day?

Professor John Hattie. Laureate Professor, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne, came into prominence in 2008 when his book ‘Visible Learning’ was published. The book documented the results of examining over 800 studies by researchers on what results in effective learning and teaching.  This first book has been followed by many more, each delving deeper and clarifying what was written in his book.

One area he looked at was homework. He questioned the effectiveness of homework for a child’s learning. Many read the start of this section and decided that homework was of no benefit and just created stress for students and parents. They did not pay attention to the rest of the chapter that described how homework is effective when it has a clear purpose that promotes learning.

Do you see homework as something that must be completed as a class expectation and to prevent your child being penalised if it is incomplete?

OR

Do you see homework as an opportunity for your child to independently complete an activity to practice what they have learnt and provide feedback to the teacher on how well your child has understood what they are learning?

In primary school, children benefit from the practice of skills learnt in class. Short daily practices are far more beneficial than one longer practice.

Our sports champions and musicians practice daily to achieve success, so it is for our students and their learning.

Making time every day for homework helps develop life long time management skills for students.

It is no surprise many children do not like homework. They cannot see a purpose. Many see it as an intrusion on their time or a punishment.

Please see your child's teacher if you have questions or concerns about homework.

Have a great last week.

Rita Cranitch

Learning and Teaching Adviser

Inclusive Practices Teacher

Class in the Spotlight - 6A

Wow! Wow! Wow! Who can believe that we have finished Term 1 for the last time ever in primary school. It has been a term to remember with so many events for everyone to enjoy. 

Whilst we have been very busy completing assessments and finalising all our work this week,  ready for the holidays, we look back on Term 1 with fond memories. We have had an amazing start to the year and we are all incredibly lucky to be sharing this year together. We know it’s just the beginning of a very special year.   

From Crazy Hair Day, External Sport, walking the Prayer Labyrinth and Clean Up St. Francis Day,  to our last ever Cross Country. We’ve experienced Learning Breakfast and of course our long awaited Badge Ceremony. Each special event creating memoriesfor us to hold on to. 

This term in English we’ve been examining and writing narratives. We learnt about language features and the different types of sentences there are. 

In Maths we have been building on our knowledge of multiples through two digits and three digit multiplication. It’s definitely getting easier as we go. 

Thank you to everyone who has made our Term 1 the best it could’ve been. We have loved every minute of this term and cannot wait to do it all again soon.

6A

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Tuckshop

Tuckshop are seeing help on Fridays.  If you are available to help out please complete the form below and return to the school office.

School Photos

School Photo Day is Wednesday 26 April 2023

Photo envelopes were sent home with students last week.  If you have not received your envelope or have any questions please call the school office.

Please note: Sibling photos will be taken during school time not 8am as noted on the photo envelope.

Mother's Day Stall

Prep Open Day

Eisteddfod

Community