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Dear Families
NINJA WARRIOR COLOUR RUN
Today we had our Annual Colour Run. We are very fortunate to have such fantastic weather for the day. Although we have had to cancel many of our events throughout the year, this was one that children look forward to so it was great that we could run it again.
Unfortunately we were unable to have spectators this year but I am very grateful to the parents who were able to volunteer, both outside on the course and in the canteen for our special lunch.
It was so heart-warming to be outside with the children joining in on the fun that they were having today. A special thanks to Mr Peter Collins and his committee in ensuring this day went off without a hitch.
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’. Our Kinder Teachers for 2021 are Mrs Jo Grogan (0.8), Mrs Michelle Aiken (0.2), Miss Lauren Mewburn and Mr Nathan Hosie. I thank each of them for their work in making this a memorable day for all our new students and their families.
STAFFING
Last week Mr Matt Smith accepted a leadership position at St Mary MacKillop College for 2021. We are very fortunate to have Mr Steven Joyce start with us next year. Steven is currently the Assistant Principal at St Patricks at Cooma and is a former staff member of St Francis. We are very much excited at having Steven join our teaching team in 2021.
I am still in the process of placing teachers in their classes for 2021 and I hope to publish this next week.
SCHOOL FEES 2021
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.
CANTEEN
Please see the Canteen News in today's newsletter - opening days for next week will be Wednesday 2 December and Thursday 3 December. The Canteen will not be open on Friday 4 December. Normal trading on Thursday and Friday will resume in Week 9.
FRONT OFFICE REFURBISHMENT
The refurbishment of our front office is well underway, with demolition now complete. We have been advised of a move-in date of mid Term 1 next year.
Peace and best wishes
Kate Markcrow
Vinnies Christmas Appeal
A big thank you to everyone who has brought in items so far for our Christmas Appeal. We have had a very successful beginning with our Mini Vinnies members collecting your many generous donations!
Please send in Christmas hamper items, food items or special gifts.
Each class has a basket 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
A reminder to please send your items in plastic bags to minimise handling if possible.
We are continuing the Christmas Appeal until Tuesday December 8th.
Christmas Wishes
With Christmas less than a month away, schools were asked to submit two hope-filled Christmas Wishes written by students with a chance of being published in the Catholic Voice. Below are the student entries that we submitted:
Now I know, and I’m sure everyone else would agree with me, that 2020 has been a very weird year! Starting with the Australian bushfires in January then to Covid-19. Many of us have been through a lot and have lost many things which is why my Christmas wish is for everybody to be happy.
Christmas will be very different for a lot of us, but I want everyone to be happy and spend time with one another. Take Christmas as an opportunity to sit back and put your feet up for a bit. Celebrate Jesus and all the good things that have happened this year.
Happiness is what every deserves wrapped up as a Christmas present this year.
By Imogen Bond
My Christmas wish from this year is hard to decide because this year has been so difficult with the bushfires, the floods and especially COVID-19. But after a lot of time thinking about it, I have finally come up with a Christmas wish. My Christmas wish for this year Is for everyone to have hope, a lot of hope for next year.
By Jazmyn Mamo
Advent Week 1
The First Week of Advent begins this Sunday
During Advent, which means ‘coming’, we are waiting for Christ to come. How do you feel when you are waiting for someone special to arrive? We get excited when we think about the wonderful things that are going to happen.
In our scripture readings during Advent, we see people who are also waiting. We hear about Jesus’ mother, Mary, waiting for the birth of her son Jesus. We hear of John the Baptist, who was sent to get people ready for the day when Jesus would begin teaching them. In the Gospel for this First Sunday of Advent, we will hear that Jesus will come again at the end of the world. We can rejoice and not be afraid of the end times because Jesus showed us how to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to God. Throughout history, there have been, and continue to be, many people whom God has chosen to help us follow Jesus. John the Baptist was one of them. He lived at the time of Jesus. He told people to think about the way they are living and to change their way of life for the better so that they could be prepared for Jesus’ coming. John lived in the desert and had dedicated his life to God. He ate simple things that were found in nature and wore clothes made from animal skins. What can we do to prioritise God in our lives?
What do the candles in our Advent wreath mean?
The Advent wreath, four candles on a wreath of evergreen, is shaped in a perfect circle to symbolize the eternity of God. In some churches, four candles, one for each week in Advent, are used with one larger white candle in the middle as the Christ candle.
During each Sunday of the Advent season, we focus on one of the four virtues Jesus brings us: Hope, Love, Joy and Peace. The white Christ candle is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day reminding Christians that Jesus is the light of the world. The wreath continually reminds us of whom we are called to be as followers of Jesus.
Week 1: Light one purple candle, for hope.
You may wish to pray as a family while lighting the candles.
Learn, pray and act through each day of Advent.
As you light the first purple candle of hope this Sunday, consider what changes you can make to bring your family closer to God.
Next week for Week 2 of Advent: Light two purple candles, for hope and for peace.
You may wish to pray this prayer as a family while lighting the candles.
Prepare the Way of the Lord
God, may we prepare our hearts for Jesus’ return.
Amen
For ideas to prepare for Christmas at home click on http://www.caritas.org.au/advent
Catholic Mission Fundraiser Still Open
Thank you to those families who have already donated to the Catholic Mission Fundraiser for 2020. Catholic Mission is working to empower children and young adults with a disability at the Arrupe Centre in Cambodia. This centre works to care for people who are otherwise lacking support and opportunities to lead a fulfilling life.
For more information, visit https://www.catholicmission.org.au/
If you would still like to support this cause, donations are being accepted through Qkr for another week. Thank you!
Warmest wishes
Lisa Conroy
REC
A reminder that there is no usual canteen service this Friday 27 November because of the Colour Run Hot Dog Day.
Please note the following changes to the canteen opening hours Week 8 next week:
The canteen will be open on Wednesday 2 December and Thursday 3 December and you will be able to order on QKR as usual. The canteen will not be open on Friday 4 December.
Canteen services will return to normal in Week 9.
Many thanks
Kathy Crosbie
Term 4 Fee Reminder
A reminder to all families that Term 4 fees are due for payment by Friday 27 November 2020, unless paying by regular instalments.
If you are paying by regular instalments, please ensure your payments are sufficient to have your school fee account paid in full by the end of Term 4. If you need any assistance calculating your instalments through till the end of the year, please get in touch with me and I will be happy to help.
School fees may be paid by cash, cheque, EFTPOS, Bpay, QKR or you may phone the front office to pay over the phone with your credit card.
Leaving Families
If your family will be leaving St Francis of Assisi Primary School and not returning in 2021, please ensure your school fee account is finalised prior to the end of Term 4. Please contact me if you foresee any issues settling your account prior to the end of term.
Update Direct Debit Instalments for 2021
School fees for 2021 are under review, and will be considered for approval by the Community Council later this term. Once approved the 2021 fees will be communicated to all families. There is likely to be a small increase in fees for 2021 including the Tuition Fee set by Catholic Education and local school levies.
If you are paying your fees by instalments, it is important to update your payments to keep your school fee account up to date in 2021. Early in Term 1 next year, please email me susan.rowell@cg.catholic.edu.au to update your Direct Debit instalments for the year.
Kind regards
Susan Rowell
A sibling discount of 20% will apply to the CEO Tuition Fee for the eldest child attending an ACT systemic primary school where they have an older sibling in a systemic secondary school.
In preparation for the 2021 school year, we ask all families to complete the attached form detailing how many students you will have enrolled in systemic secondary and primary schools in 2021.
This information is essential for our accounting system to function correctly. Please complete the form and return to the front office by Friday 11 December 2020.
Many thanks
Susan Rowell
Please be advised that the cut off date to order school banking rewards this year is Wednesday 2 December 2020.
School banking will continue until Week 10 this term.
School banking will resume on Wednesdays in 2021 commencing in Week 1 Term 1.
Please like and follow St Francis of Assisi Primary School on Facebook and Instagram to receive updates, reminders and much more.
