Dear families,
With only 3 weeks left of the school year, I have been reflecting lately on what we have achieved together over the course of 2024. It has indeed been a momentous year. We have delivered a wonderful new learning facility, and returned the outdoor space into a practical and usable area, along with some new play equipment. Our outdoor spaces are the envy of most primary schools! We are about to renovate some existing classrooms to make them fully flexible into the new year, such that our teaching and learning spaces can meet the needs of all learners. Over the year we have held some memorable community events, including our Arts Exhibition, Mothers and Father’s day celebrations, Colour run and sports day. Our P&F have raised significant funds, to be spent further improving outdoor spaces at St Francis.
From a wellbeing perspective, we have introduced Grow your Mind, provided ongoing parent workshops on supporting families and begun to embed ‘PBIS’ which stands for positive behaviour intervention and support. Families will see and hear further evidence of this fantastic initiative into the new year. Our connections with Christ the King parish continued to strengthen and grow, with very successful Sacramental programs, and wonderful support from parishioners in events such as Shrove Tuesday and Sports day. In the Arts and Sporting arenas, our students have shone in so many different ways, including Wakakirri, Band and CSMF, SAPSASA and SACPSSA representation and state representation.
Over the past two weeks, our children have been completing the termly “classroom Pulse check survey.” This survey is completed by students in all catholic schools every term and focuses on questions related to their learning and wellbeing. Schools use the data to make more informed decisions around each child’s learning and wellbeing. Our students reported 98% satisfaction all (80%) or most (18%) of the time, which is a testament to the high quality learning and wellbeing support provided at St Francis School! Where students report concerns, teacher follow these up directly and confidentially with children to find out what is concerning them and to put strategies in place to support them.
I am often asked by prospective families, what sets us apart from other schools? Well, here is a ‘top 6’ that could easily be a ‘top 20’:
- A welcoming, caring and inclusive Catholic community….for everyone! At St Francis, children are cared for and formed as a flourishing young people, ready to make their way in the world!
- Brand new comfortable and spacious classroom facilities fit for contemporary learning and wellbeing for all, AND substantial and beautiful outdoor areas where young people have room to move, to play and to enjoy being outdoors.
- Evidenced informed teaching and learning in Literacy and Numeracy that is ‘Gold Standard.’ Other schools are visiting us to see how it’s done! Additionally, our tiered response to intervention means your child’s learning needs are known and very well catered for right across the learning spectrum.
- An outstanding wellbeing program that focuses on ensuring all young people flourish in a culture of restorative justice.
- Class sizes that are significantly lower than the agreed benchmarks, in many year levels, meaning your child will have the best possible start to school life at St. Francis.
- Genuine pathways to local Catholic Secondary schools, as well as multiple other options!
The ‘glue’ that holds these things together are our teachers and support staff. I’m pleased to inform the community of our 2025 teaching profile:
Reception-Leonie Fitzgerald, Tania Palmato and Renee Cross
Year 1-Gia Perin/Karen Brandwood and Nikki Dytman
Year 2-Cheryl Milde, Marisa Brown and Beck Dametto/Juliette Passerini
Year 3-Chantal Driver/Angela DeNadai, Maddie Day and Chloe Auger
Year 4-Maria Silvesteri, Marissa Fernandez and Siobhan Frost/Karen Brandwood
Year 5-Corinne McKenzie/Christie Lee Hansberry, Libby Thomas and Elysse Marino
Year 6-Mary Louise Stoddart, Mark Bowman/James Goldy and Emma Gill.
Over the next 3 weeks, teachers will be busily preparing for both the end of this school year and the beginning of 2025. Their focus will be on ensuring the children stay focussed right up until the end of the school year, and making sure their wellbeing and learning are prioritised. As with any imminent change, children will probably begin to feel a little nervous about finishing this year and looking ahead to the next. This is normal and to be expected, and happens to all children in all schools every year! We will be mindful of this, and work to make sure the children are supported and nurtured through this period, and set up for a successful transition. Families can assist us in this endeavour by maintaining positive talk with children about the transition to the new year.
This week, our R-3 children will have their annual swimming lessons. My thanks to James Daley, Nives Kresevic and all teaching staff for their coordination of the week, and to all families who have put up their hands to support the safe and effective implementation of the program. Learning to swim is such an important part of living in the island nation of Australia. If young people have the basic skills needed to survive in water, we won’t see the tragic statistics of drownings, so prominently. Additionally, water based activities are a healthy and positive part of living in Australia!
I look forward to seeing you all in the coming 3 weeks, and especially at our Annual end of year concert on the 6th December.
God bless,
Phil
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