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Welcome to the School Newsletter for Term 4 Week 3
Dear Parents,
The weather is finally starting to warm up and it is great to see the children enjoying the sunny weather. As we see the temperatures start to get quite warm, please be reminded that the children need a school hat and a water bottle to help keep themselves safe and hydrated during these warmer months.
I hope you are enjoying the weather and making the most of the outside time that we can benefit from in the afternoons and over the weekends.
WORLD TEACHERS DAY
Next week we celebrate, as a staff, World Teacher’s Day. It is a great day that recognises all the hard work that teachers do in nurturing your young children. I am so very blessed to be able to lead such a dedicated group of teachers, assistants and administrative staff who work harder than any other staff that I have known.
The extra work that our staff takes on is above and beyond, with our teachers giving up lunch breaks, weekends, evenings with their family and holiday time to ensure that the children in our school receive every possible opportunity to succeed at school and enjoy the learning environment that we are so fortunate to have.
I am sure you will join me in thanking such a dedicated team. Feel free to drop your child’s teacher an email expressing your ‘vote of thanks’.
RECONCILIATION
Our Year 3 students are very busy in preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Reconciliation is a time when we recognise our shortcomings, say sorry and reconnect with the Church.
Tonight is the Parent Information Session with Fr James for all those who intend on their children participating in the Sacrament this year. All Year 3 children will be involved in the retreat day on Wednesday 13 November.
WORKING BEE - CANCELLED
Our Working Bee that was planned for this Saturday has been cancelled.
PRINCIPAL’S LUNCH
Next week I will host the first of my Principal’s lunches for the year. The children will meet me in the hall and we will watch a movie together and enjoy a yummy Pizza lunch. More information will be provided to those students who have earned their 3 blue wrist bands during the year. I will host another lunch closer to the end of the year for those students who are very close.
STAFFING
A very big thank you to Mrs Marshall, who has been acting REC whilst Ms Conroy has been on leave. She has been very busy organising the Christmas appeal and preparing our Year 3 children for reconciliation. Thank you Mrs Marshall.
Congratulations to Sarah Ciuffetelli, Lauren Mewburn, Tim O’Brien and Anna Corkery who have all been reappointed in classroom teaching positions in 2020. We also welcome to our staff Miss Emily Barr, Mr Simon Hargraves and Mrs Shelley Salzke who will join is next year. All are experienced teachers who have worked at other schools within our Canberra Catholic school community. Mrs Karen Western, from St Jude’s Holder, will join Christine as a Learning Support teacher from 2020. She has a wealth of experience and we are very fortunate to have her join our team.
BOOROWA TOUCH AND NETBALL CARNIVAL
What a fantastic day. Last Friday over 120 St Francis students made the trip to Boorowa to compete in Touch football and netball games. The weather was extremely windy which led to a rather unfortunate accident. The parent involved is doing better after being offered medical treatment on the day. Apart from this, the parents and students from our school had a very successful and happy day competing against schools from around our region.
PICKERS
It seems like we are slipping back into old habits.
This term we are having parents and carers queue up behind the cones in the afternoon. Pickers does not open till between 3:15 and 3:20 pm and we ask that if you are here before that, you park your car and collect your child/ren from the hall.
A simple system ensures that we are not blocking the road and that all children in our school are safe. The new system has worked very well for the majority of the year will all motorists behaving in a way where we put all children in our school first.
The simple rule is – ‘if the cones are still out – please drive around’.
CLASS ALLOCATIONS FOR 2020
During this term, we will be finalising our staffing arrangements for 2020. 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.
Could you please have a read and be aware of the following policy? As there are usually two or 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 8 November);
- 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.
SCHOOL SATISFACTION SURVEY
This year, a ‘Parent Satisfaction Survey’ was distributed to all parents via email from Catholic Education. This information is used to assist the school in parental perceptions and used to assist us for planning for the future.
The parent satisfaction survey was undertaken in August 2019. Invitations containing a link to the on-line survey instrument were sent to all parents. 157of the 610 parents completed the survey (26% completion rate is considered satisfactory).
Below are some results:
The colour indicates the level of satisfaction with green being highly satisfied .It is great to see the level of satisfaction surrounding our school. The teacher work very hard to ensure that all children are happy, safe and learning whilst at school.
Peace and Best Wishes
Kate Markcrow
Principal
Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves. (Romans: 12:10)
Mission Mass 2019
Year Six students represented St Francis of Assisi School at the Archdiocesan Children's Mission Mass at St Christopher's Cathedral last Wednesday. As part of the Extraordinary Missionary Month it gave an opportunity for reflection, prayer and support for the missionary efforts of individuals, communities and the whole Church.
Important Dates
First Reconciliation
PARENT FORMATION EVENING Tonight: Thursday 31 October at 7:30pm, Holy Family Church.
RETREAT DAY: Wednesday 13 November at Holy Family Church, Gowrie.
CELEBRATION OF THE SACRAMENT: First Reconciliation will be celebrated at Holy Family Church, Castleton Crescent, Gowrie, at 6:30pm Thursday 28 November or 6:30pm
Parish carols night on December 7th
Year 6 Grade Level Mass
In our beautiful and serenely calm patch of paradise or the peace garden was where we, Year Six celebrated mass. With the very appropriate theme of journey and thankfulness we offered up our prayers. In the busy rush of our lives we forget so many hidden treasures, a bird singing, a flower blooming or an ant searching for food. Such are the things that make the world beautiful but go largely unnoticed. We may be journeying through school, work and any other things. Most importantly we our journeying through life. I would like to call to mind the wise words of St Mary Mackillop; “We are but travellers her”. Indeed in most masses we say “till our earthly pilgrimage is complete”. It is important to recognise life as a journey otherwise you will come to its end and look back on your memories and find them not fulfilling (Jonathan P).
During the day, we had our Year 6 Mass and leading it was our new priest Fr Andrew. The theme of the mass was to be thankful of our journey of life. Year 6 celebrated our journey; we had altar servers helping the priest for the celebration. We had guests, our Principal Mrs Markcrow, parents, grandparents and the Year 6 teachers. Fr Andrew had a talk to us and asked us questions they were about readings from the Gospel that he read. We ended with a song that celebrated our journey (Zoe B)
On Tuesday the 29th of October 2019, the whole of Year Six had a Mass in the Peace Garden. We sang a lot of songs, received Communion and prayed a lot. Father Andrew was our Priest and some teachers and parents attended too. People had artworks that they had made to share, people had many different freeze frames and we also had people reading over the microphone. At the Mass, I learnt that God will always be right beside you and that you can tell him anything and he will listen. It was really fun (Bridget L).
The Gospel According to Year 3
This morning at 9.30am my class 3F went to Sacred Heart Church for Mass. Fr James told us to pray to God and Jesus every day (Kristen).
Today my class went for Mass. Firstly we waited until the parishioners came. Then Fr James started talking about sometimes we do not see people very much so we forget about them and to always remember God. He told us to pray and stay connected with God (Elissa).
The Mass was about communicating to God and Jesus (Levi).
Vinnies Christmas Appeal Launching Next Week
What does Christmas mean to you?
For me, Christmas is all about family. Spending time together, sharing a meal and creating meaningful memories. These moments are precious. But what if you couldn't provide a meal for your family, or even a home? Many Australian families face this reality this Christmas. It is hard to feel joy when you don't know where your next meal will come from. Children do not forget its Christmas just because they are experiencing poverty or homelessness. For parents, the thought that their children would not have a home, a proper meal, or even a gift at Christmas is heartbreaking. Of the 3 million Australians living below the poverty line, 731,000 are children. This is their reality.
Mini Vinnies will be asking in the next few weeks for your help to this cause. Stay tuned for more information to come.
Kind regards
Michelle Marshall
(Acting Religious Education Coordinator)
Dear Families
Term 4 fees were issued in Week 1 and are due for payment by Friday 29 November unless paying by regular instalments.
Please contact me at susan.rowell@cg.catholic.edu.au or call 6292 4500 if you would like to discuss your school fee account and payment options.
2020 school fees are under review and will be communicated to all families later in the term once they have been approved by the Community Council.
Kind regards
Susan Rowell
We would like to thank Karen Bahmann and Jessica Lever for helping with the Hotdog lunch on Monday, your help was much appreciated.
Sue and Jo. Canteen Managers. PH:62927477.
Helpers Roster Week 4 and 5
Monday 4 November
AM Help please
PM Help please
Wednesday 6 November
AM Help please
PM Help please
Thursday 7 November
AM Help please
PM Help please
Friday 8 November
AM Maz S-Gaffney
Help please
PM Lisa Hyland
Help please
Monday 10 November
AM Help please
PM Help please
Wednesday 13 November
PM AM Help please
PM PM Help please
Thursday 14 Novmeber
AM Help please
PM Help please
Friday 15 November
AM Maz S-Gaffney
Help please
PM Alex Wilson
Help please
A reminder to all families that St Francis of Assisi Primary School uses SZAPP as the main form of communication between home and school.
Please take the time to download and install the app - instructions are attached for your information.
You can set up push notifications for alerts specific to your child's year group and we publish the weekly newsletter throug SZAPP too.