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

The Compass Parent Portal is now live.  If you are having trouble logging on, require a password reset or need help finding your login details, please email office.stfranciscalwell@cg.catholic.edu.au and we will be happy to help.

Please see the attached flyer for more information about the Parent Portal.

COVID-19 restrictions and going forward

With the roadmap out of lock down released this week, from 15 October churches will be able to reopen and resume services with limited numbers. The Parish Team are currently working through how we manage Masses, along with the celebration of Baptisms, First Eucharist and First Reconciliation. More details will be available next week.

First Reconciliation

First Reconciliation enrolments are open until Monday 11 October via the Qkr! app. Information regarding enrolment, preparation and formation has been sent home through your child’s school. Formation will begin for enrolled children in Term 4 with preparation and activities completed through your child’s school online platform.

Download Qkr! on your device
1. Search for Qkr! in your app store and download/install.
2. Search for “South Tuggeranong” (our parish logo will show).
3. Create a profile under your child’s name.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)

Our RCIA program will begin next Wednesday 6 October at 7pm via Zoom. At our first meeting we will work out the most suitable day and time to meet - at this point meetings will be scheduled as Zoom meetings. If you, or someone you know, is interested in becoming Catholic, completing Catholic sacraments or learning more about the Catholic faith, please ask them to contact the Parish Office.

Watch Mass livestreamed from Holy Family Church Gowrie, Sundays at 9am  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAdf8aNPK5Vczl0GPLHixw

Thurs 7 Oct Week 1 – Fri 15 Oct Week 2

Due to the COVID situation the Carnival Bookfair will be held online.

Parents and children can view the books by the following attached PDF.

Parental Payments: (This is the ONLY payment method) These payments can be made during Thursday 7 October Week 1 to Friday 15 October Week 2.

Visit http://parentpayments.carnivalfairs.com.au/  to make your child’s payment.  Be clear in the description of the book title.

Make sure you follow the payment process to the end. 

Making a payment orders the book.  I will collate books ordered and bundle in a bag. You will be notified when your order is available to drive to the school to click and collect.

Once books have been sold out, I will place a reorder to be delivered from Carnival Bookfairs ASAP and to be distributed later.

Orders can be organised as a gift for Christmas if needed. 

I have put together this video with a selection of books: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Yx3YiQwUomOVhkT6b55v_ngZY37-8q_w/view?usp=sharing

Kind regards
Debbie Cossettini
Teacher Librarian
debbie.cossettini@cg.catholic.edu.au

Welcome to Term 4!

Thank you to all the families who have paid their Term 3 school fee accounts.  A reminder that these are now overdue and payment is required as a matter of urgency.

Term 4 school fees will be issued to all families in the next few weeks.  

If you have any school fee related queries please email me susan.rowell@cg.catholic.edu.au and I will be happy to help.

Kind regards

Susan Rowell

As we have started term 4 and continue online learning at home, it may be starting to feel a little overwhelming and challenging for parents and carers to keep children motivated and engaged. If you are starting to feel that you are becoming stressed, Reach Out has some great resources and support tips for managing your own wellbeing and supporting your child in these uncertain times. Here are three quick tips to help.

1. Take a breath

When you feel overwhelmed, take a breath to calm yourself down. Try the 4–7–8: breathe in for four seconds, hold your breath for seven seconds, and exhale for eight seconds.

2. Take breaks

Take breaks with your children – go for a walk, cook a meal or play a board game. This will help you and your child to recharge, away from the screens.

3. Routine helps

Help your family keep a regular schedule. Consistent sleep and wake up times, meal times and rest times will help things feel a bit more in control.

If you are interested in learning more about managing your stress levels and checking in with yourself, here is the link to Reach Out

https://parents.au.reachout.com/landing/online-learning

Transport Canberra’s dedicated school bus services will recommence on Monday 25 October 2021. This includes ‘S’ trips that divert into schools.

Timings have changed for dedicated school services and the regular timetable. We are strongly encouraging families to check their school pack and plan ahead.

Special Needs Transport continues to run for those families that need this service.

A range of COVID Safe measures are in place to help keep students safe on public transport. Please remind families to familiarise themselves with these measures and talk to their children about them prior to the return to school.

From Monday 25 October 2021 buses will run to a revised interim timetable. This timetable is a similar frequency to the timetable that has been running over the past two months, but with some changes to timings to allow better connections for school students.

Light rail is continuing to run to its regular frequency but will see an increase in frequency from Monday 1 November 2021. This will assist with physical distancing on board. Customers will benefit from extended afternoon peak frequency on weekdays and increased frequency on Sunday mornings.

Consider walking or riding to school – or using a Part way point

Parents and carers may also consider alternative ways to get their children to school. If they live close by they can take advantage of the warmer spring weather and walk, ride or scoot to school! 

Part way points are also a great way to get some exercise into children’s days for families that live a little further away and this also helps to ease congestion around schools. Parents or carers can simply drop their child at a point, or park and walk the rest of the way with them.

Park safely and legally
All 40km/h school zones are in place between 8am and 4pm Monday to Friday. Speed limits in school zones are there to ensure the safety of children by allowing motorists extra time to stop in an unexpected situation.

Parking across pedestrian crossings, corners, verges and double parking can block kids seeing the road. 

School packs and timetable information

The revised interim timetables and school packs are now available online.

For enquiries customers are encouraged to visit www.transport.act.gov.au or call 13 17 10.

Please like and follow St Francis of Assisi Primary School on Facebook and Instagram to receive updates, reminders and much more.