Welcome to the School Newsletter for Term 4 Week 7

Dear Families

What a fantastic community night we had for our annual School Fete. This year we trialled a night time fete and by all feedback received it was a raging success. St Francis was obviously looking out for us and turned on a spectacular evening. The weather was beautiful and everyone seemed to have a great time. Obviously an enormous amount of work goes into this day. A big thank you to Sandy Scensor, our Fete Convenor for doing an outstanding job. Thanks to Tiffany Reedy, who coordinated from school. A big thanks to the group of fantastic parents and teachers who made up the Fete committee and did so much to ensure Friday was such a financial and community success. And finally, thanks to all staff and parents for attending and supporting, and more importantly, for assisting on stalls and help set-up and pack-up. We can’t do this without parent support.

Obviously the purpose for our fete is financial. We raised approximately $20,000 that the Community Council will prioritise next year. The other reason for the fete is for community building. What a great day to spend time with family and friends and supporting our school. I was overwhelmed by the support of parents and for the positive messages highlighting the great community spirit. I am very proud of this school and the community.

RECONCILIATION

This week our children from Year 3 and older students celebrated their First Reconciliation. This Sacrament was instituted by Jesus Christ in his love and mercy to offer us forgiveness for the times we have sinned and turned away from God. At the same time, we are reconciled with the Church because it is also wounded by our sins.

Every time we sin, we hurt ourselves, other people and God. In Reconciliation, we acknowledge our sins before God and the Church. We express our sorrow in a meaningful way, receive the forgiveness of Christ and his Church, make reparation for what we have done, and resolve to do better in the future. 

The children and their families experienced the 2nd Rite of Reconciliation.  During this rite a communal gathering was held, we listened to the Word of God, reflected on the message of the readings and then met with a priest for individual confession. The emphasis in this celebration is repairing relationships through forgiveness.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS

Our 2019 Christmas Carols night will be held on Monday 9^th December, commencing at 6pm. We would like to invite all parents and families to come along to a night filled with music and song. It is also an opportunity for the teachers and staff at St Francis to thank you for your tremendous support throughout the year. It is expected that all students and their families attend this event as each grade level will perform. All students have been practising in music lessons. There might even be a special visit from Santa

The concert will take place in front of the Sacred Heart Church commencing at 6pm sharp. Please arrive 15 minutes early so students and visitors can be seated for a prompt 6pm start.

Following the concert, we will have a ‘Thanksgiving BBQ’. The evening is a relaxed social gathering and we invite you to bring along a picnic dinner to have with your children afterwards on the lawns outside the church. Alternatively, there will be a BBQ where you are welcome to purchase a sausage sandwich. We will also have left over items from our fete for sale such as drinks, ice-creams and lollies. There may even be a few show bags left over.  Please bring blankets, chairs, Santa hats and good cheer!

KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION

Our final Kindergarten Orientation was held on Tuesday. This was a very successful morning. All our current Pre-Schoolers are happy, settled and ready for ‘big school’.

SCHOOL FEES 2020

The Community Council will meet on Monday night for the last time for 2019 to discuss school fees and the budget for 2020.  We will publish the breakdown of School Fees for 2020 in next week’s memo.

Peace and best wishes

Kate Markcrow

Principal

First Reconciliation Celebrations

Congratulations to all our students who celebrated their First Reconciliation, the sacrament of forgiveness, this week! Their reflections are later in the Umbria.

*****

Masses

On Wednesday 27 November, 2 Fire participated in Mass at our Sacred Heart Church at 9:30am. 

1 Water will be going to Mass next Wednesday 4 December.

1 Earth will be at Mass on 11 December.

You are always very welcome to join them.

*****

Vinnies Christmas Appeal - 2 weeks to go!

Please send in Christmas hamper items, food items or special gifts to make Christmas a bit brighter for a local family in need. 

Each class has a box for donations.

Suggested items are:

Kindergarten – Candy canes or bon bons

Year 1 – Shortbread biscuits or packet jelly

Year 2 – Tinned corn, beetroot or pineapple

Year 3 – Savoury biscuits

Year 4 – Chips, Cheezels, Pringles, corn chips

Year 5 – Tinned fruit

Year 6 – Sweet biscuits or long life custard

Please send an item or two in to school this week and next week until Wednesday 11December.

With best wishes,

Lisa Conroy

Religious Education Co-ordinator

A highlight of the retreat day was going in to and touching things in the church that you normally cannot touch, like holy water, candles and behind the curtain in the little confessional room. Jayden

When we explored the church in the tour, we learned there is some of a saint’s DNA in the altar. It was such a fun day! When I coloured the leaves for our school Reconciliation display, I felt like my past worries were falling away and a new life is growing. Mackenzie

There is a room, the sacristy, where the priest keeps the bibles, candles, wine and glasses which we were allowed to go in to. Ella

When Father James talked to us about forgiveness, he said that it’s hard to say sorry. I really enjoyed going on the retreat day as it’s helped me to be a lot more prepared to celebrate my First Reconciliation. Frieda

When I entered the church I saw Jesus on the cross and remembered how Jesus gave up his life and died on the cross for us. I think I know what Reconciliation is for. I think it’s for starting again, like washing away our sin. Aimee

The church tour was my favourite part of the retreat day because we got to explore the rooms to the side of the altar. I also loved listening to Mrs Jones read us a bible story about Zaccheus. Cruz

I learned a lot of important information about the church and the meaning of the sacrament on the Reconciliation Retreat Day. River

I loved the church tour and making my sacramental stole. To me, reconciliation means to start again and ask for forgiveness from God. Peyton 

The following Year 4 students represented St Francis of Assisi Primary as future Mini Vinnies 2020 at the Vinnies Social Justice Day held recently.  Thanks to Miss Ciuffetelli who accompanied them.

These are their thoughts on the day:

I really liked the experience of the different workshops, especially ‘Street to Home’. We learnt that some people have temporary housing until they figure out a housing plan with the government. Every group gave me a deeper understanding of how Vinnies helps everyone and anyone in need. Ebony

The day was fun and full of games, activities and presentations. We learnt all about the homeless and what is in the Night Patrol Van. Ella K

We loved seeing what’s inside the Night Patrol Van which serves hundreds of people each week. Ella R

I found it interesting talking about disabilities because my sister has a disability. Peta

We learnt about how Vinnies helps the community and shows care to everyone in Canberra and around the world. I learnt a lot and I hope others did too. Imogen

I liked seeing the Night Van and learning about how people don’t always have a choice in the circumstances that lead them to homelessness. Maddi

We learned how Vinnies helps and heard so many stories of who they have helped and how, even a real story about a man who lived in his car. This was a really informative and fun experience. Amelia

The night van has sleeping bags, gloves, coats, socks, toiletries and beanies in it. Taylor

I loved all of the Vinnies Social Justice Day! I really liked the workshop about the Night Van. It made me feel sorry for those people. I learned a lot about how people are helped by Vinnies. Thank you. Bronte

Advent and Christmas 2019

St Vincent de Paul Giving tags, cards and calendars will be available from next weekend.

Festival of Carols: 7pm on Saturday 7 December, Holy Family Church. Join in the carols singing and at 7:30pm see the story of the nativity told by our parish children. Refreshments will be available from 7pm. To assist with catering we’re asking people to provide a plate of sweet or savory, there is a sign on sheet in the foyer. An opportunity will be available to make a donation towards the priests / parish by the swipe of a tap machine.

Volunteer’s Thank You Supper: Thursday 12 December starting with Mass at 5.00pm in SHC. Then a light supper in the Assisi Room, Calwell till 7.00pm. For catering purposes we would appreciate an idea of numbers attending so please place your name on the sign on sheet in the foyer.

Advent 2nd Rite of Reconciliation
Thursday 19 December at 6pm at St Anthony of Padua, Wanniassa.

Christmas Mass Times
Christmas Eve: 6pm outside family Mass at Sacred Heart Church, Calwell.
Midnight, with Carols from 11:30pm at Holy Family Church, Gowrie.
Christmas Day: 8am & 10am at Holy Family Church, Gowrie.

Congratulations to the winners of our 2019 Fete Raffle:

First prize: McGovern Family

Second prize: Rob & Hazel Barron

Third prize: Tracey Holmes

Thank you to everyone who supported this year's raffle.

If you paid for a Christmas Photo at the fete on Friday evening, but did not receive your images via email, please contact the front office so that we can put you in touch with the photography team to send your photos through.

Thank you for your support at this year's school fete!

Thank you to the parents that came along to our BYOD information presentation on Monday night.

In case you missed the session, please find attached some information from the evening.

As the year is drawing to a close we will be running our stocks down, as such substitutions may be made - thanks for your understanding with this.

Sue and Jo. Canteen Managers. PH: 6292 7477.

Helpers roster for week 8 and 9

Monday 2 December

AM Help please

PM Help please

Tuesday 3 December - Mexican Day - please let us know if you can help.

Wednesday 4 December

AM Help please

PM Help please

Thursday 5 December

AM Help please

PM Help please

Friday 6 December

AM Maz S-Gaffney

      Help please

PM Alex Wilson

      Help please

Monday 9 December

AM Help please

PM Help please

Wednesday 11 December

AM Help please 

PM Help please

Thursday 12 December

AM Help please

PM Help please

Friday 13 December

AM Maz S-Gaffney

      Help please

PM Help please 

A reminder that our annual Carols by Candlelight and Thanksgiving BBQ evening will be held on Monday 9 December from 6.00pm on the lawns out the front of the school.

Sausages in bread will be available to purchase for $2.00 as well as a limited number of of ice creams, drinks and show bags left over from our school fete.

It is expected that all students and their families attend our carols evening, as each grade level will perform. All students have been practising in music lessons. There might even be a special visit from Santa!

Dear families

A reminder that Term 4 fees are due for payment today - Friday 29 November 2019.  If you require a copy of your school fee statement please send me an email to susan.rowell@cg.catholic.edu.au and I will send one through.

School fees for 2020 are under review and will be communicated to all families next week, after they have been approved by the Community Council.  After this time, please get in touch if you would like to recalculate your instalments for next year.

Kind regards

Susan Rowell

Statements for Term 4 Weeks 5 and 6 Before and After School Care were issued on Monday. 

Statements for Term 3 Vacation Care are now overdue, with payments requested to be made this week.

Kind regards

Kurt Munro

kurt.munro@cg.catholic.edu.au

We would like to say thank you to Trish Johnstone from Oath & Stones Design for creating the wonderful invitations for the Year 6 Graduation dinner. You can find Oath & Stones on Facebook if you are in need of a designer. Thanks Trish!

We wish to advise that there have been confirmed cases of Chickenpox at the school this week. 

Attached is a fact sheet from ACT Health.

Chickenpox.pdf

If you have any medical concerns, please consult your doctor.

A scooter that was left at the scooter storage area along the outside of the hall, is missing.

If anyone has seen a gold scooter, can you please let the front office know so that we can reunite it with its owner.

Thank you