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Dear Valued StFA Community,
Welcome to Week 5, the mid-point of our term, and what a week it has been! Baby news, staff returning from overseas, the Feast of the Assumption, a dress up day to celebrate the history making Matildas and yes, I have even watched a game of soccer or two this week.
As a Catholic school the Feast of the Assumption is a celebrated occasion. This Feast Day is when we remember how at the end of her life Mary was taken up to heaven to be with God. Mary is very special because she was chosen by God to be the mother of God’s son, Jesus. And Mary says 'yes' to all that God asks of her. This week we are reminded to be more like Mary, remembering to praise God for all the wonderful things He has done and given to us.
Staffing News
We are so excited to announce that Orla, Sean's wife, gave birth to another beautiful, healthy boy on the weekend. Oisín Murphy Rusty Rutledge (pronounced Oh-Sheen; Meaning: little deer). Due to our little bundle of joy arriving a little early, I have stepped into the shoes of Principal from the beginning of this week, Sharee Thomas will be acting Assistant Principal and the new REC will be appointed early next week.
We also welcomed back Mrs Sharee Thomas from her leadership duties at World Youth Day. She has returned with a renewed sense of purpose and leadership skills. Luckily, because she has stepped into the Assistant Principal role nearly straight away. We are hoping to announce the acting Religious Education Coordinator early next week to fill Sharee's role whilst everyone is acting up in Mr Sean Rutledge's absence.
I would like to thank Mrs Amanda Ducker for all of her excellent work in RE in Sharee's absence. She achieved many goals whilst working in the role and implemented some great inititatives for the school. Her work around the Assumption Mass allowed the school to celebrate in a very special way. Thank you Amanda.
Green & Gold Dress Up
As a school we celebrated the history making Matildas on Wednesday and hoped, along with the Nation, that they would win their way through to the Final of the World Cup Soccer. Unfortunately, this wasn't to be.
We should all be proud of their efforts and learn a lesson from their gallant effort. They were gracious in defeat and are now looking forward to their 3rd place playoff. We will continue to celebrate them, support them, and hopefully learn many valuable lessons from them. If the students gain anything from this team's effort, I hope it is to be resilient when things don't always go their way. Being able to pick themselves up, dust themselves off, learn from the experience and move forward in a positive way is a great skill to be working towards. Even we, as adults, can use this as a reminder and inspiration often.
Key Leaders Day
Next Friday, along with our Assistant Priest Fr Namora and our acting REC, I will attend the Key Leaders Day. This day is held annually and is an opportunity for Principals, Priests, and RECs to come together to celebrate Faith in Learning. The facilitator this year is Professor Peta Goldburg who is an expert in her field. This will be my first experience and hope to return to school renewed with discipleship and mission.
ACT HALT NETWORK SHARESPACE
Yesterday afternoon many of the staff went to the above network ShareSpace. This was hosted by the ACT Highly Accomplished and Lead teachers, one of which was our very own Kristy Everding. We were able to network with other schools and learn about new initiatives and effective teaching practices to use in our classrooms.
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Book Week
Book Week begins on Monday, this year's theme is 'Read, Grow, Inspire'. Mrs Alison Bond has prepared a wonderful week, filled with many activities, performances, author visits, a book fair and the culmination being Friday's annual dress up day. Our first activity was yesterday for Yr 4, 5 & 6 with an author visit. We had some lovely feedback from Katrina Nannestad who said: "I so enjoyed my time at your school. The kids were great - really one of the loveliest school visits." What lovely feedback that was to receive.
Please consider dropping into the book fair to purchase your child a book and support the school library. I thank Mrs Bond in advance for all her hard work to ensure that reading is celebrated here at St Francis, as we all know just how important it is. In the famous words of Dr Seuss 'Reading can take you places you have never been before'.
Tuggeranong Track and Field
We wish all the students who are representing StFA at the carnival on Monday. Thanks to Miss Laura Hay for all her organisation of the event and team. Thanks to Mrs Tabatha Way who will be with the team on the day. Good luck all!
Year 6 Debating
Our Year 6 students begin their interschool debating next Wednesday against the local schools in the Valley. We wish these students all the best and hope they have their argumentative skills at the ready.
Building Update
I am excited to announce that the 3/4 classroom renovations are currently in full swing. It is close to lock up stage. The plastering should be completed within a week and the sides are close to done.
The ELC steel has arrived and been craned into the site. Structures to be going up within the next week or so. Please see photos.
Gospel Reflection Matthew 15:21-28
Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.’
This week’s Gospel tells the story of Jesus’ encounter with a Canaanite woman. When the women first approaches Jesus and his disciples, he does not immediately respond to her. Jesus’ unresponsiveness to this woman may strike us as uncharacteristic or shocking. Yet in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus’ ministry is directed primarily to the people of Israel. At only a very few points, such as the one found in today’s Gospel, do we find Jesus anticipating the later Christian ministry to the rest of the world.
Behind Matthew’s text we can hear this early Christian community’s struggle to understand how God’s selection of Israel is consistent with two events: Israel’s rejection of Jesus and the Gentiles’ acceptance of Jesus. Just as Jesus was surprised by the faith expressed by the Canaanite woman, so too the first Christians were surprised that the Gentiles would receive the salvation God offered through Christ… The faith that the Canaanite woman expresses is an affirmation of and confidence in God’s abundant mercy. Yes, salvation comes through Israel, but it overflows for the benefit of all.
Source: https:/www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/liturgical-yearsunday-connection/
Eucharist Retreat Day
All year 5 will travel to Holy Family Church on Thursday 24th August to participate in a day of prayer and reflection. We will have pizza for lunch and the children will be able to wear casual clothes. Please watch out on compass for a permission note and more information coming.
World Youth Day
This week I returned from 2.5 weeks away travelling to Lisbon for World Youth Day. Our Pilgrimage also took us to Avilla, Segovia and Salamanca in Spain as well as Fatima Portugal and on the way home, Dubai. It was such a faith filled experience where I witnessed the Holy Spirit working in so many ways through every day encounters I had with the pilgrims and others. I will write a larger article when I have processed my time overseas and can put into words the amazing experience that I had but below are a few photos from the trip. Thank you for praying for me while I was away and a big THANK YOU to Amanda Ducker for holding down the REC role in my absence.
In this Parent & Carer edition of Project+ we introduce the inclusion of our First Nations Cultural Connection prompts and provide some ways families can participate in similar activities using the GEM principles.
Next week during Book Week, St Francis is hosting a Carnival Book Fair in the mini library for students, parents and friends!
Please come and visit!
It will be like a small book shop with a wide range of quality books from some of the best Australian and overseas, authors and illustrators.
All books are discounted and every purchase from the Book Fair earns free books and resources for the school. The Book Fair is open at the following times:
Monday 21st August to Friday 25th August
Mornings:
8:30-9am.
Lunchtimes 1:30 - 2pm.
Class library lessons as scheduled.
After-school:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday till 4pm.
Tuesday till 4:30pm.
Payment Methods:
Pay cash on the day.
Pay by cheque made out to Carnival Fairs.
EFTPOS.
Buy an online voucher to use instead of cash (see info below):
ONLINE VOUCHERS
Use the 'Parent Payments' link (top right of home page) on the above website to buy a voucher with a credit card:
- Visa and MasterCard only
- Follow the payment prompts
- Click on 'Submit Payment' then be sure to print your receipt
- Click 'Finalise' to finish the payment
- Purchasers bring the receipt to the Book Fair or give it to their child
- The receipt can then be used to make any purchase at the Book Fair
- Online payment does not place an order for books
- Books must be chosen from the books at school
Please note: Students are able to buy books themselves at lunchtime or during their library lesson. It is strongly encouraged that parents buy a voucher for this, so that money is not lost or misplaced. Alternatively, students may bring cash or card, however if this is lost, the school accepts no responsibility.
No change is given for vouchers, however small additional items (e.g. pencils, bookmarks) can be purchased to make up any additional amount.
If you have any questions, please contact Alison Bond at alison.bond@cg.catholic.edu.au
We look forward to seeing you next week!
School Fees
Thank you to those families who have settled their Term 3 fees. A reminder that Term 3 fees are due for payment by Wednesday 30th August unless paying by regular instalments.
Term 1 and Term 2 fees are now overdue and payment as soon as possible would be much appreciated.
If paying by instalments, please take the time to check your fee statement to ensure your instalments are enough to have your fees paid in full by the end of Term 4 2023.
As of September 1 we will be transitioning to a new finance system.
The following payments methods will no longer be accepted for school fees:
- Direct debit
- Direct bank deposit
- QKR!
The preferred method of payment will be BPAY (your BPAY details are listed on your school fee statement).
More information about this will be sent to families next week.
Year 5 & 6 Camp
Fees for Camp are now seriously overdue and payable immediately. Please contact me if you are having any difficulty in paying. Any camp balances that remain unpaid by 25th August will be transitioned to school fee accounts.
If you have any finance related queries, please send me an email to julie.rummukainen@cg.catholic.edu.au and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Kind regards
Julie Rummukainen
Hello everyone,
Volunteer opportunities for "Canteen Volunteers" are now open for Term 3.
Please click on the following web link (or copy it into your web browser if clicking doesn't work) to go to the signup sheet:
To sign up, just follow the instructions on the page. It only takes a few seconds to do.
Thank you for volunteering!
Kathy Crosbie
Kathleen.Crosbie@cg.catholic.edu.au
Everyone is invited to the Archdiocesan ecumenical Online Integral Ecology Pilgrimage commencing Thursday 31 August. It is open to anyone living in the Archdiocese and everyone is welcome. Pope Francis has declared the Season of Creation from 1 September until 4 October and this Online event is part of answering his call!
Please find the attached flyer for more information