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Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to Term 4. I hope you managed to have a safe school holiday period where you were able to get into some sort of energy credit. This term is always a busy one with reports, Kinder Orientation, meeting new teachers, our fete, Christmas and end-of-year events, to name a few. This term will certainly go very quickly.
Thank you for the lovely well wishes I received while I was away on Paternity leave. My wife and I welcomed our son Oisin (Pronounced ‘Oh-Sheen’ of Gaelic origin and meaning ‘Little Dear’) mid-way through last term. I thank the staff, particularly Mrs McArthur, Mrs Thomas and Ms Radanovich, for taking on higher duties and providing excellent leadership and management of the school. I am blessed to have these outstanding leaders in the school, which allowed me to enjoy this special time with my family.
Boorowa Touch and Netball
After a hiatus of several years due to weather events and COVID-19, we will participate in the Boorowa Touch and Netball carnival next week. I want to thank our Sports Coordinator Laura Hay for her organisation of the carnival. I would also like to thank the team of teachers who have volunteered to attend the carnival. Without these dedicated teachers attending and supporting our students, this carnival would not be able to operate. Thank you also to the parents who have volunteered to manage and coach on the day. This is also a pivotal and often overlooked role vitally important to our teams' viability. We will have more than 100 students representing the school next, which is a great turnout. I wish all teams the best as they compete at this event and proudly represent our school.
Registration Panel
Next week, I will be away from school on Wednesday and Thursday to be a member of the registration panel for another archdiocesan Catholic school. Every 5 years, all schools undergo a registration process to ensure compliance, quality assurance and make recommendations to assist the school in refining their ongoing improvement journey. Principals are asked to be a part of this process once every 5 years to maintain currency and knowledge of the registration process to assist their own school in this process. St Francis is next up for registration in 2026.
Yr 3/4 block Renovation
We have begun the final fit-out, carpeting and joinery on our Yr. 3/4 block. Our scheduled handover is set for 30th October and we will aim to have students into these classrooms as soon as possible. The move back into these rooms will be relatively straightforward as the spaces will be fully furnished. Students and teachers will effectively only move personal items and teaching resources back into the new rooms. Our furniture is onsite and ready to be deployed in rooms once final fit out is complete. The end is insight!
ELC update
A very exciting week for our ELC, with the Director and Office Manager officially joining the team. We welcome Gabe Adams and Dipti Rathod to the St Francis community and wish them a long and happy association with the school. In the coming weeks, parents will be contacted about booking interviews with Gabe as the first step in our orientation process. The building is also at a significant milestone, with the bricklayers putting up walls this week. We expect a window delivery next week and should be at or close to the lockup stage in the next couple of weeks.
Fete
Our Bi-Annual fete is fast approaching, and I thank all parents for supporting this fundraising and community-building event. Please keep the evening of the 17th of November free to come along and experience the community atmosphere, great rides, stalls and competitions at our fete.
Classes for 2024
Shortly, we will begin the process of examining class lists for 2024. As you can imagine, this is quite a complex process and I have included some of the considerations teachers, as professionals, consider when looking at placements. When forming the class lists, the following factors are taken into consideration for all students:
- Additional Needs
- Work Habits
- Cognitive ability
- Friendships
- Behaviour
- Gender
- Health considerations
- Religion (to assist in achieving a balance between classes, especially in Sacramental years)
- Common names
Ideally, we aim for a balanced and equal spread of both positive and challenging characteristics. Where practical, parental requests based on genuine educational concerns will be considered.
Parents who wish to discuss particular concerns regarding the placement of their children in specific classes should put their concerns in writing and address them to me via email by Friday, 3rd November, Week 4 (Term 4). All Parent concerns with genuine educational considerations will be examined and seriously considered during the process. However, it must be clearly understood that there is no guarantee that these can be honoured.
Blessings and best wishes
Sean Rutledge
Principal
St Francis of Assisi Feast Day
On Wednesday we will be celebrating our patron saint- St Francis. The actual date for his Feast Day is October 4th but due to it being in the holidays we will gather next week. St Francis (1181 or 1182 – 1226), founder of the Franciscan order of the Catholic Church, lived during the late 12th and 13th centuries in Italy. He is remembered for his generosity to the poor and his willingness to minister to the lepers. However, what many people recall about him is his love for animals and nature. St Francis died at Portiuncula, Italy on October 4, 1226.
On Wednesday we will be celebrating Mass in the school hall at 9:30am followed by planting individual seeds to honour St Francis' love of nature. After recess we will all move to the hall for the St Francis has Talent Show. Students this week auditioned for their grade with 3 acts from each grade performing on Wednesday. After our pizza lunch we will have the much anticipated teacher swap where the teachers get to move around to a different class and share an activity with their 'new students' based on St Francis. We welcome parents, caregivers and significant adults to attend any of the activities until lunchtime!
Pizza orders will close at 5pm TODAY. Due to us ordering from our local Domino's, no late orders will be accepted. PLEASE NOTE consent to the event does not mean you have paid for a pizza- you must go to the bottom of the event and "proceed to payment". Orders that are not paid for will not be accepted. The canteen will be open as normal on Wednesday and the children are also welcome to bring their own lunches. Recess will not be provided.
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
Enrolments for Year 4 students who wish to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation have now closed. If you didn't register your child and wish for them to receive the Sacrament, please contact Anne Gowan on the following email: TuggeranongSouth.Sacraments@cg.org.au
A parent formation evening will be on THIS WEEK on Wednesday 7-8pm or Thursday 5:30 - 6:30pm. You only need to attend on 1 evening will attendance is required if you wish for your child to receive the Sacrament this year.
Sunday Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14, 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
Parable of the Wedding Banquet
Gospel Reflection by Dianne Bergant
As incredible as it may seem, some people turn down the invitation to the eschatological banquet. This is the case, both in the parable and in our world today. This invitation seems much less interesting than a sports event, the latest movie, or some social affair. So much of our time and energy is spent either climbing the economic ladder or just trying to keep our heads above water. Even if we are interested in the banquet, we do not seem able to afford the time and energy that it might require. And so we send our regrets: I cannot come. What a shame! We seem to have forgotten that everything is tending toward the end; all of our plans, interests and distractions will cease. Only the banquet will remain. All God asks of us is that we receive the blessings that have been prepared for us. We need not work for them. In fact, we cannot work for them on our own. All we can do is enjoy them. Enjoyment of the eschatological time of fulfilment is open to all, but guaranteed to none.
One theme seems to connect all of the readings for this Sunday, our total dependence on God. God spreads the banquet table and invites the guests; God punishes those who are indifferent to or antagonistic toward the eschatological banquet; God supplies whatever we need in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. We do not have to bargain with God, or make reservations. All we have to do is accept what God has to offer.
Have a great week!
Book Club
Scholastic Book Club catalogues were handed out this week. Please return cash orders to the front office or Library by Friday 20th October or order online using LOOP by Sunday 22nd October. All orders benefit the school, as Scholastic gives the school 15% back as reward points. These points are used to buy more resources for the school.
Open Library
This term the library is open to parents and siblings on a THURSDAY afternoon between 3pm and 3:45pm. You are welcome to browse the shelves, read with your child/ren and borrow some books for home reading. Remember our theme in the library this year is "Our library has all sorts of books for all sorts of people". Hopefully you can help your child find books that they LOVE to read.
Alison Bond
St Francis of Assisi Primary School
Teacher Librarian
People are invited to apply for the position Parish Office Manager, Inner North Parishes (encompassing Campbell, Canberra Central, O’Connor & Watson). This is a full-time position (subject to review in 12 months)
Essential Requirements:
- An understanding of and support for the Catholic Church and its teachings
- Excellent verbal and written, interpersonal and communication skills
- Computer literacy in MS Suite and database skills, (in particular PACS database)
- Act with tact & discretion, maintaining high levels of confidentiality, honesty, integrity, reliability and punctuality
Please email Deborah.foote@cg.org.au for a detailed copy of the duty statement and selection criteria. Applications addressing the Selection Criteria with attached resume to Fr Anthony Riosa, SSS, anthony.riosa@cam.org.au must be received by Friday 3 November 2023.