Dear Parents and Carers,

I had the pleasure of attending the year 6 Confirmation retreat day on Tuesday at Holy Family Church. The students engaged in several activities designed to deepen their knowledge of the sacrament before they are confirmed later in June. I thank our Year 6 teachers, Mrs Thomas and Mrs Gowen, for their support and preparation of the students for this important moment in our student's faith life.

I will take leave for the next 2 weeks beginning Monday and return mid-way through week 8. Mrs Annie McArthur will lead the school very capably in my absence. I also thank Sharee Thomas and Amanda Ducker, who will be the Acting Assistant Principal and Religious Education Coordinator while I am away.

Assessment and Reporting

It is the midpoint of the school term, and our staff are busily compiling assessments and beginning the process of writing reports. This is no small task, with every student assessed using multiple instruments and assignments across all subject areas and finally moderated against other grade teachers to arrive at the overall grade.

Like last year, general comments will not be required on Semester 1 reports, and Parent/Teacher Conferences for every family will be prioritised. Mrs Annie McArthur is currently working on scheduling these, and they will be available to book via the Compass portal in the coming weeks. She will communicate with parents once bookings are open.

These meetings provide an opportunity to discuss your child’s progress, strengths, challenges and future focus areas. The Semester Report will still be sent home as in previous Semesters, providing A-E grading and attendance information via Compass.

In Semester 2 reports will require a general comment for all children. This general comment will provide a summative comment for the year, areas of achievement and areas to focus on for the following year. A-E grading and attendance information will remain the same as in Semester 1. We would encourage all parents/guardians to engage with their child/ren’s learning regularly, connecting with their class teacher/s to discuss learning progress.

Official Enrolment Period Closing

The official Catholic Education enrolment period closes today. We held our last open day on Wednesday, and I offer a big thank you to all our Yr. 6 leaders who volunteered to take interested families on tours of the school.  A reminder that all enrolment is completed online, and links to the portal can be found on or school website or via this link Primary ACT | St Francis of Assisi Primary School (stfa.act.edu.au).

Being a part of a Catholic system allows our school to illustrate our holistic approach to educating children who personify Catholic values and serve their communities. At St Francis, we are extremely fortunate to have strong connections with Catholic secondary colleges that have created a complete P-12 Catholic education pathway. 

We can accommodate people outside our open days for tours and to answer any questions. Please encourage those interested to contact the office to arrange a time to come in and see us.

Blessings and best wishes

Sean Rutledge

Principal