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Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope you were able to enjoy some rest and relaxation over the Canberra Day long weekend. Last week, I attended the Principals’ Retreat in Bowral. Over the three days, we looked at the Catholic education system's directions and initiatives, including an evaluation of the Catalyst project, which has a had significant system and school-wide impact on student achievement. We spent some time examining the change to governance coming to Catholic Education in 2025 as we move towards incorporation. We then spent 2 days in retreat with Fr Timothy Radcliffe, who spoke about encounter, beauty, discipleship, mission, leadership and even gave some insights into who the next Pope might be. I thank Annie McArthur for running the school so capably in my absence.
NAPLAN
This week, our students in Years 3 and 5 have been sitting the NAPLAN tests. As of today, they will have completed Writing, Reading and Language Conventions (Grammar/Punctuation). Then, on Monday next week, they will complete their numeracy test, followed by catch-up sessions for absent students.
The tests are an important snapshot of the student’s learning as a whole cohort and can be useful for identifying learning trends and areas that may need attention in the future. It is also useful for identifying learning trends over a period of time, and progress that has been made.
It is important for any individual student to remember that it is one test on one day and many factors can influence their performance. As such, it may not necessarily be indicative of a particular student’s learning or progress. I thank the teachers and Mrs McArthur for supporting and preparing the students and instruments in the lead-up to NAPLAN.
2025 Enrolments
Although still relatively early in the year, we will shortly enter the enrolment period, which will begin early next term. Soon, signs in our feeder suburbs advertising Open Day tour dates will appear. We know the best enrolment tool for the school is word of mouth from our parent community. Please consider speaking with friends, neighbours and/or family about the opportunities we can provide for their children at St. Francis. In the next Newsletter, we will advertise key dates related to our enrolment period for ELC-Yr 6.
ELC Update
You will notice some significant milestones have been reached in the last two weeks with power being connected to the site. The building is 98% complete, and we will begin building sign-offs next week. Landscaping is also drawing to a close, and we expect the majority of the work to be completed by the end of next week. The ELC now has its own Facebook page, so please like and share.
Carpark
I thank you for your patience with a busier than usual car park to begin the school year. With the building of the ELC drawing to a close, we expect to have fewer car parks occupied by builder's cars and trucks. We also expect to have parking space returned to us once the temporary fencing comes down. Once this happens, we will ask parents to please refrain from parking on the ring road grassed areas. This is a gentle reminder to please be mindful of where you park in the car park so as not to block off the entry or exit for other vehicles.
Fee Help
You would have received a letter from me on Compass today outlining some more information related to the centralisation of school fees by Catholic Education and also changes to sibling and systemic discounts.
We recognise that the current cost of living crisis and high-interest rates are having an impact on many people in our community. If you are experiencing difficulty or need support, please get in touch with myself or Julie Rummukainen-julie.rummukainen@cg.catholic.edu.au for a confidential chat about how we can support you during this period.
We have various options available to support our community, from fee Concessions based on an Income test to supporting families with extras such as Camp. We all experience periods of financial uncertainty, which are often short but can be very stressful for families. Please reach out if we can support you.
Blessings and best wishes
Sean Rutledge
Principal
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR B
Gospel- John 12:20-33
If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it yields a rich harvest.
We want to see Jesus
I can observe a baby, but the parents ‘see’ their baby very differently. They gaze with total fascination, trying to perceive what this little bundle of flesh is really all about, trying to get an insight into its personality, visualising a possible future, hoping for a response.
This Gospel passage begins with a request from some Greeks ‘to see Jesus’, surely in all the ways parents see their baby. They were trying to perceive what this Jesus was really all about, trying to get an insight into his personality, imagining a possible future, hoping for a response.
And there was a response full of allusions to the future.
Jesus was as a grain of wheat. He died and was buried in the earth and that death was fruitful for the whole of humankind. He foresaw being nailed to the cross which would be dropped upright into a hole in the ground.
Our Lord says of that scene: ‘When I am lifted up I will draw all people to myself.’ How were people drawn to this scene?
People saw the length to which Jesus was prepared to go in order to persevere in his mission to live out the message that his Heavenly Father was full of mercy and wanted all people to share in Divine Life. This led to his being lifted up on the cross, being buried in the ground like a grain of wheat, only to rise to new life.
We could take a moment to pray that we will shortly see all this with the eyes of faith as we participate in the rituals of Good Friday and Easter.
Adapted from Michael Tate
HOLY FAMILY CHURCH GOWRIE
HOLY WEEK AND EASTER MASS TIMES
Altar Server Training & Refresher Sessions
For current servers and those aspiring to be altar servers. Servers need to be Catholic and in Year 4 or upwards.
Friday 15 March at 4pm in Holy Family Church
Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge
Next week all students at St Francis will bring home an Individual Student Reading Record sheet after their library lesson. They are strongly encouraged to fill this in to complete the Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge for 2024.
What is the Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge?
Every year, tens of thousands of students across the ACT participate in the Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge. The challenge aspires to allow every young person in the ACT to discover the joy reading can bring. St Francis of Assisi Primary School is proud to have all children at the preschool and primary school registered in this challenge.
What do students need to do to complete the challenge? The CHALLENGE is to read 30 books by Friday the 5th July 2024. These need to be written on the record sheet and certified by a parent, grandparent, teacher or the school librarian.Where can I get books for my child/ren to read?
Home, the school library, the school classroom, the public library, ANYWHERE!! Any book can be added to the reading record that has been read by the student (or read to the student) in it’s entirety during the challenge time period. It might be a book read at bedtime, during class time, in the library or at Open Library afternoons. Any book, read anywhere counts!
What do I do once my child’s sheet is complete?
Once the sheet is complete, students return it to Mrs Bond in the library to receive a special certificate. Your child’s name will also be added to a special prize draw with names drawn regularly to win book prizes. The first class that returns all of their sheets will win a free clothes day!
What do I do now?
Encourage your child to read and record their books on the sheet! Remember that students should come home with an Individual Student Reading Record sheet next week after their library lesson. Alternatively you can print one out or collect one from the library.
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs Alison Bond.
The issue preventing people with an Android Phone using QKR! has now been resolved. Parents/users can now download the QKR! App from from the Google Play Store.
