Dear Families,

Welcome back to Term 4, even though it is virtually. I hope you and your families had a chance to relax and take advantage of the warm weather that we experienced throughout the break.

This term we welcome three new students to our school community. We welcome Darcy Alexander and Paige Jensen into 2N and Ricardo Rodriguez into KK.  It is always tricky starting at a new school, but to do it in a remote setting is especially hard. We welcome you and your families and look forward to meeting you in person fairly soon. I am sure everyone will make you feel especially welcome.

We look forward to seeing our Kinder, Year 1, Year 2 and Year 6 students back at school on Monday 25 October. More information will be coming home about this in the coming weeks.

CONGRATULATIONS

A warm congratulations to Sean Rutledge, who has been appointed Principal of St Francis of Assisi Primary School from 2022. Sean is a past staff member who is very excited about returning to Calwell and leading the school. We welcome Sean back to the St Francis family and wish him well in his new position. 

ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI FEAST DAY

What a wonderful celebration we had! Yesterday, we acknowledged our patron saint’s feast day (which is really 4 October) with a day packed with fun and frivolity.  We started the day as a whole school community, with a prayer assembly, prepared by Lisa Conroy, praying that we might be more like St Francis. It was a wonderful, prayerful liturgy and the children were so reverent in their participation. It was also great to hear a message recorded by Fr Josh and we look forward to seeing him in our virtual classrooms over the coming weeks.  

COMPASS PARENT PORTAL

In line with other Catholic Primary Schools, and as a way of communicating more effectively, St Francis has introduced a new online portal called Compass. This Parent Portal allows you to receive information about your child’s school and their progress. It will give you access to school reports, messages, classroom blogs and the ability to submit attendance notes.

The portal is accessible via the web https://stfa-act.compass.education and the Compass School Manager App (via the App store on your device). Logins have been sent home to parents and SZapp has now been turned off. All communication will be sent through Compass.

This Parent Portal will make engaging with your child’s school faster, easier and more secure.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

• Receive relevant messaging through the app or desktop
• Submit absence notes
• Give consent for events/excursions
• Communicate directly with teachers (desktop only)
• Book parent-teacher conferences
• Access your child’s academic reporting
• Update basic contact information knowing your data will remain secure

Please see the flyer in this newsletter for further information about accessing the parent portal and who to contact for help logging in.

CLASS ALLOCATIONS FOR 2022

During this term, we will be finalising our staffing arrangements for 2022. Below is a copy of the ‘Class Allocation Policy’ (available on our website) which aims to ensure there is a fair and just process in allocating students to classes for the upcoming school year. My firm belief is that teachers are in the best position to decide a child’s placement because they know all the children in their classes and have a view of the ‘big picture’. However, I invite parents to inform me of anything that you feel needs to be considered, for your own child’s well-being or development. Please note all requests need to be in writing and need to be addressed to me at kate.markcrow@cg.catholic.edu.au. No request made to classroom teachers will be considered.  

Could you please have a read and be aware of the following policy? As there are usually three streams of classes each year at St Francis of Assisi Primary School, Calwell, there are different combinations of children in classes. When forming the class lists the following factors are taken into consideration: gender, special needs, work habits, cognitive ability, friendships, behaviour, health considerations, religion (to assist in achieving balance between classes, especially in Sacramental years) and common names.

Ideally we aim for an equal spread of both positive and challenging characteristics.

Where practical, parental requests based on educational concerns will be considered. At St Francis of Assisi, the staff and parents will follow these principles and guidelines when considering placement of students each year:

• Every care will be taken to ensure that each child is placed in the best situation to enhance learning and social development;
• Parents who wish to discuss particular concerns regarding the placement of their children in particular classes should put the concern in writing and address it to the Principal by Friday of Week 4 (Friday 29 October);
• Parent concerns will be seriously considered during the process. It must be clearly understood, however, that no definite guarantees can be given regarding parent’s requests;
• Where appropriate, advice will be sought from the Learning Support Teacher, School Counsellor, etc during this process;
• Taking into account all of the factors listed above, the current class teachers compile class lists during the last week of November and hand to the Principal for confirmation;
• Children will be informed of their class placement for the following school year in December (usually the last week of school) and the opportunity will be provided where possible for them to spend some time with their new class teacher;
• A class lists will be made available for parents during the last week of the year. No changes are made after this time; and
• Throughout this process the Principal, after appropriate consultation, reserves the right to make final professional decisions regarding the placement of children.

Please be aware that requests for particular teachers or for a particular gender of teacher will NOT be considered. Also, we do not accept friendship requests.

Have a great weekend. 

Peace and Best Wishes

Kate Markcrow

Principal