Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to Term 2. I hope all families enjoyed a restful break over the school holiday period. Our students began the term with great joy and connection as we began discussing our revamped School Wide Positive Behaviour initiative ahead of its official launch. This will see a significant change to the old system of 'Gottchas', which were traded for maroon and blue wristbands. I thank Annie McArthur for her leadership, vision and hard work on this project. You will hear more from your children in the coming weeks, along with updates via Compass and the Newsletter.

I visited all classes on Tuesday after the morning assembly to see the great learning students were undertaking in their classrooms. It was especially nice to visit two of our ELC classes who have moved into their new building. I thank all the teachers, educators and Catholic Education staff for their efforts to move and set up this beautiful space. The official blessing and opening of this building and our ¾ renovation will take place on Wednesday next week.

Carpark Gate

The back gate and path that takes you along the back of Kinder to the Peace Garden can now be accessed and used again. Please ensure this gate is shut behind you. If the pool gate is locked, please use the gates at the front of the school like we have become accustomed to.

Enrolment Period has begun

The Catholic Schools' official enrolment period began this week and ends on Friday, 31^st May. Our school & ELC open days are Thursday, 9^th of May and Wednesday, 29^th of May.

We will host school and ELC tours from 9:30-11 am and 3:30-6 pm on both days. You will now see road signs advertising our enrollment period. You do not need to book an appointment on these days and times. Just turn up for a tour and an information pack.   

We have already received a significant number of enrolment enquiries and applications for Kinder 2025, which have been submitted through our school website Enrol Now! @ St Francis of Assisi Primary School - Calwell. Again, Can I strongly encourage all families with siblings looking to enrol in Kinder for 2025 to ensure we receive your applications ASAP so you don't miss out? If you are currently enrolled in a Catholic ELC, you must complete a new Kindergarten 2025 enrolment through the above link.

If you want to enrol in our Early Learning Centre for 2025, the enrolment forms can be found here: St Francis of Assisi Primary School ELC - Calwell.

Our Yr. 5 students are currently on Camp and having a grand time. They will return this afternoon at approx. 5:30 pm. We will update the arrival times through Compass once they get closer to Canberra. My thanks go out to all the staff who have given up time with their families so that our students can experience this Camp.

Blessings and best wishes

Sean Rutledge

Principal

Just a short one from me this week as I am currently on Camp with Year 5....

Gospel- John 15:9-17

6th Sunday in Easter

No one can have greater love than to lay down his life for his friends.

The boundlessness of God’s love is seen in the fact that God loved us even before we were deserving of God’s love. In fact, it was God’s love that made us able both to receive and to give love in return.

Love is of God; love is God. Divine love is constant and trustworthy. How easily we can think this thought or speak these words, yet how difficult, even impossible, it is to comprehend what it means. We can only really recognise love in its many concrete manifestations. Love is patient, kind and forbearing; it believes, it hopes, it endures. The love of God breaks down the barriers between Gentile and Jew, between slave and free, between the poor and the prosperous, between women and men, between the healthy and the ailing, between young and old.

Embraced by such love we are gradually transformed. We begin to recognise God’s love in places we never suspected it would be found. We discover that what we once judged unclean may merely be an unfamiliar openness to God’s truth. We discover that our own insistence on legitimate religious practice may really be spiritual elitism. Our eyes are opened to ways we have tried to confine God’s love to the conventional boundaries we ourselves have set. As we are drawn into God’s love, we eagerly embrace the commandments that help us to live righteous lives. To the extent that we love as universally as God does, we will know that we live in God and that God lives in us.

Adapted from Dianne Bergant CSA

Have a great week!

Sharee Thomas

Open Library

Just a reminder that during Term 2 and Term 3, the library is open on a MONDAY afternoon (note change of day) from 3 pm until 4 pm. 

We would love to welcome you into our quiet, calm space where reading is magic. Please browse the shelves together to discover new books to borrow or get comfy in a beanbag and share a story. 

Chief Minister's Reading Challenge

A reminder to encourage your child to write down the books they have read or listened to on their 'Chief Minister's Individual Reading Record'. Any book counts! Once the sheet is complete, please return to the library for a special certificate and raffle ticket into a book prize draw. 

Scholastic Book Club

Scholastic Book Club Issue 3 was sent home with students this week. Children, parents and friends have the opportunity to buy books for home reading or gifts. All orders benefit the school.

Only online orders will be accepted. These need to be completed via credit card through LOOP (visit scholastic.com.au/LOOP) or you can download the LOOP app. Your order will be electronically linked to the rest of the school's order. Books will be given to your children to take home when they arrive. Please let Mrs Bond know if they are gifts and she will contact you to work out alternative pick-up arrangements.

LOOP orders for Issue 3 close on the 19^th May.

If you would like to attend, please Register for event here.

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