Dear Parents and Carers,

Last week, we celebrated the blessing and opening of our renovated ¾ classrooms and new ELC. It was a beautiful event that was well-attended by a large contingent of people from Catholic Education, project contributors, previous principals, and parents. I want to thank Fr Richard Thompson (Vicar General), Ross Fox (CECG Director) and Yvette Berry (Deputy Chief Minister for their support in blessing and opening these buildings. I would also like to thank the Commonwealth Government (BGA ¾ project) and ACT Government (BSK ELC) for their generous contributions towards these projects. I would also like to thank our choir, who performed three songs and provided a beautiful ambience to the ceremony. I gave a vote of thanks on behalf of the community and have included some of this below:

“We extend our heartfelt thanks to Total Project Construction, Munns Sly, and Moore Architects for their exceptional craftsmanship, creativity, and expertise in bringing our vision to life. Their attention to detail and commitment to excellence have resulted in spaces that inspire learning, creativity, and innovation. We are immensely grateful for their collaborative spirit and dedication to creating environments that will foster the growth and development of students at St. Francis for many years to come.

To our educators and staff, thank you for your unwavering dedication, passion, and tireless efforts in creating nurturing learning environments for our students. Your commitment to excellence and your steadfast belief in every child's potential is commendable. I especially want to thank you for your diligence in establishing temporary learning spaces while the Year ¾ block and ELC were renovated and constructed. The impact of your work extends far beyond the walls of these classrooms, shaping the future of our community one student at a time.

Last but certainly not least, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to the students and their families. Your enthusiasm, resilience, and unwavering support have been the driving force behind this project. Your eagerness to embrace change and your commitment to lifelong learning serve as a beacon of inspiration to us all.

As we celebrate this momentous occasion, let us remember that the true measure of our success lies not only in the bricks and mortar that surround us but in the lives that are transformed within these walls. May these newly renovated classrooms and the Early Learning Centre serve as a testament to our collective commitment to providing every child with the opportunity to thrive, learn, and succeed.

Once again, thank you to all who have contributed to this remarkable journey. Together, we have laid the foundation for a brighter future filled with endless possibilities. In the words of St Francis, ‘Start by doing what is necessary, then do what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible’.”

Drilling and machinery

You will have noticed machines and drilling occurring on the ring road in the last week which are a part of the electrical upgrade required as we add the ELC and electrify more of the school's heating. The new connection should be established in the July holidays. We are currently working with the contractors to ascertain how or if this may impact any school holiday care arrangements.

Carpark

In the coming weeks we will be undergoing some maintenance in the carpark. Works planned include:

• disability parking at the ELC
• remarking of parking spaces to utilise areas of the carpark better
• Stump removal
• Repair of potholes

There should be minimal disruption to the carpark, and some of the work will be scheduled during the next school holidays to minimise impact on pick-up arrangements.

Mothers’ Day Celebrations

I would like to wish all of our mums a very happy Mother’s Day for last Sunday. I hope you were justly spoiled and had a day where you felt affirmed and blessed for the immeasurable gift you are in the lives of your child or children. This year, we tried something different with the support of the Community Council and ran an open classroom and afternoon tea. The comments I received from parents were overwhelmingly positive, with many reporting that it was nice not to rush out the door in the morning to try and make the traditional breakfast that we have run in previous years. I would like to thank our organising committee who made this special afternoon happen. Like anything, there are always things we can improve upon. There is currently a feedback form on Compass if you want to comment.

Enrolment Period

All Catholic schools are in the formal enrolment period. Parents are strongly encouraged to submit any applications for 2025 enrolments before the end of May. Our final Open Day is on Wednesday, May 29^th, from 9 am – 11.00 am and again from 4-6 pm. We will have students on hand to provide school tours. If this date and time doesn’t work, please contact the school at 62924500, and we can arrange an alternate time to visit the school.

We have already received a large number of enrolments for the school in all year levels and also the ELC. There will likely be a waitlist in some grades next year. Get your application in before the end of May to ensure you don’t miss out.

Community Council

The new Community Council Executive met on Tuesday and welcomed a number of new members. We are currently working on a get to know your council document, which will be released in the coming weeks.

Siloam & Leave

I will be away Tuesday and Wednesday next week at a Principal Professional Development Day and Siloam retreat. Later this term, I will be taking two weeks leave from 3^rd June to 18^th June. I will be back at school in Week 8. Annie McArthur will be the Acting Principal during this period and lead the school capably in my absence.

Blessings and best wishes

Sean Rutledge

Principal