Week 2 - Term 3

Dear families,

Term 3 has begun smoothly, and the children have settled back in well to class and school routines. The learning program across all year levels is both interesting and purposeful and the students are actively engaged in their learning. I am particularly impressed with the quality of work, and the progress being made, through our “Science of Reading” focus. Our staff continue to develop their skills through quality professional learning opportunities, and the impact of this learning is clearly evident in their classrooms.

Last week, we welcomed 24 brand new receptions to the St Francis School community! They and their families have settled in well to school life and they are a joy to have with us! Thankyou to Ms Diem Savy for her wonderful work with the children during transition, which has set them up for a successful start to school!

Covid -19 continues to have an impact on both student and staff attendance, and so it is vitally important that we all continue to follow the current health advice. Hopefully you will have all seen the letter I sent last week from the Director and the Chief Public health Officer, strongly recommending the wearing of masks for all children from year 3, and for all adults in indoor settings. Our staff are wearing their masks vigilantly to keep your children and themselves as safe as possible. We encourage you to consider sending your child to school with a Mask. Families are asked to wear masks whenever attending indoor venues at school-eg classrooms, OSHC, front office. Hopefully the current wave is passing and things will further settle.

There are a number of key events over the next few weeks at school. We have a variety of Sporting teams competing and representing the School and we wish all students every success in their endeavours. While on sport, we heartily congratulate Miriam Fisher (girls Football) and Aria De Pasquale (Hockey) on their selections in the SAPSASA South Australian State Sides for their respective sports. This is a huge achievement for both girls and a proud moment for our school!

Plans are well underway for this year’s Sports Day, to be held on the last Friday of term 3-September 30. We are grateful for our dedicated P&F team, who are planning some yummy food and drinks for everyone on the day! Stay tuned for more information as the term progresses.

While on the P&F, our first meeting for term 3 will be held on Monday 8th August. The committee, along with all of the class parent reps will discuss a range of plans and activities for the remainder of the year. Being involved in the P&F is a fantastic way to support your children’s positive experience of school life!

Next Wednesday, our Wakakirri dance troupe will perform at the festival Theatre and we wish the whole troupe and their dedicated teachers Ms Gill and Ms Bozzon, every success. I am very much looking forward to the performance. The troupe will rehearse in front of all classes in preparation, so all children will get to see them perform!

Our year 5 students are gearing up for their annual camp, which is to be held from the 17th-19th August at Wirraway campsite in Strathalbyn. Camps are an important part of school life at St Francis, and they provide opportunities for learning outside the classroom, as well as developing life skills and resilience. Thanks to all the staff who will attend and support the camp experience.

Last Friday, we held our first school gathering for some time! Covid restrictions this year have meant that coming together hasn’t been possible, so it was lovely to have the whole school together, to celebrate the many great things happening at school. We will gather fortnightly from now on.

Care and supervision of students is a priority at St Francis School. In order to ensure the safety of everyone, there need to be some protocols in place at drop off and pick up times. In this spirit, the school playground and the sports fields are not to be used at drop off and pick up times. While we do understand that children and families enjoy these moments, we simply do not have the staff available to provide supervision and if there were to be an accident, the school would carry the liability. We ask that all children and families respect these protocols and not use the playground or sports field before or after school.

Have a great week everyone!

God bless,
Phil

Dear Families,

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).

Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:

• year of schooling
• category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
• level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.

This information assists schools to:

• formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools
• consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools
• develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with disability.

The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability.

The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information. To find out more about these matters, please refer to the Australian Government’s Privacy Policy.

Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal .

Parent Fact sheet information.

If you have any questions about the NCCD, please contact your child’s teacher or myself.

Our Lady of La Vang will be holding a ‘Exploring NDIS Options & Post School Pathways Expo’ night . This night aims to provide you with some insight into information about various NDIS organisations that may assist you and your child.  The evening is designed that providers set up booths and speak to families in a 1:1 personalised environment. We invite families from other schools to come along.

If you are unable to arrange a carer for your child, you are welcome to bring them. 
We will have strategies in place to assist with social distancing and hygiene requirements. 
For further information, please contact Our lady of La Vang directly.

Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge

Bebras is an international initiative aiming to promote Computer Science among school students at all ages. The Bebras challenge is open twice a year to Australian Students in Years 3-12, and engages students' computational thinking and problem solving skills in a fun, interactive environment.

We congratulate the following students who as part of our OSHC service, participated in this competition.

Neil, Vincent, Reuben, Charlotte, Bianca, Jack, Layla, Alexandra, Emilio, Sameeya, Joshua and Ashima.

School Photos

Please note that our school Photo Day will be Wednesday the 10^th August, 2022  (Week 3)

God Bless

Nives Kresevic

Welcome to the start of a new term. I hope you were able to enjoy the break with your family.

Term 3 Class Masses

Year level Masses will be resuming this term, Wednesday at 9:15am (or as indicated by your child’s teacher) in the Christ the King Church. All welcome.

Solemn Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, August 8th

Born in Melbourne (Australia) in 1842.  Died in Sydney on this day in 1909, was beatified on 19th January 1995 and canonized a Saint on 17th October 2010. Took the religious name Mary of the Cross.  Responding to the isolation of colonial families, she pioneered a new form of religious life to provide education for their children.  She and her sisters shared the life of the poor and the itinerant, offering special care to destitute women and children.  Remembered for her eagerness to discover God's will in all things, for her charity in the face of calumny, and for her abiding trust in God's providence.

Saint Mary MacKillop Prayer 

Ever generous God, 

You inspired Saint Mary MacKillop to live her life faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and constant in bringing hope and encouragement to those who were disheartened, lonely or needy.  With confidence in your generous providence and joining with Saint Mary MacKillop we ask that you grant our request….

We ask that our faith and hope be fired afresh by the Holy Spirit so that we too, like Mary MacKillop, may live with courage, trust and openness. Ever generous God hear our prayer. We ask this through Jesus Christ. Amen

The Assumption of the Virgin Mary into Heaven, August 15th 

Holy Day of Obligation

This feast originated in Jerusalem before the fifth century as the "Falling-Asleep of the Mother of God." It was adopted in Rome in the mid-seventh century and was renamed the "Assumption" in the next century.  It celebrates Mary's passing over, body and soul, from this world into the glory of her risen Son.

  
The whole school will be attending The Feast of the Assumption Mass at 9:15am in the Christ the King Church. All welcome.

National Vocations Awareness Week August 7-14

Jesus said “I have come that you may have life and have it to the full.”

(John 10:10) If we are to find that fullness of life promised by Jesus, there is a need for each of us to take the time and opportunity to discover, and consciously choose, the vocation, or calling, that best fits our gifts, talents and personalities.

Prayer for Vocations

Lord Jesus,
Following you is a bit like jumping in at the deep end.
Help me as I discern how I can best be me.
Be close to me as I search out which way of life is best for me.
Give me your grace to trust in God, your Abba, and to walk the path that draws me closer to you.
You know my deepest desires.
Give me the courage to follow with a ready willing and open heart.
Amen

God Bless,
Angela De Nadai
APRIM

Sporting Achievements

Girls State Football (Aussie Rules)

Congratulations to Miriam Fisher from Year 6 who has been selected in the South Australian Girls Aussie Rules Football team. The Carnival Week will take place during week 3 here in Adelaide. Miriam and her South Australian Team members will take on the best players from around the country. Good Luck Miriam and GO SA!!!!!

Girls State Hockey

Congratulations to Aria De Pasquale from Year 6, who has been selected to represent South Australia in the Girls Hockey team that will travel to Canberra to compete in the carnival week where they will take on the other state sides from around the country. Well done on your selection and we wish you all the best. GO SA!!!!!

SAPSASA Airport District Soccer

Boys

Congratulations to Alexander Pedisic, Hudson Dylan and Peter Moutzouris from Year 6 who have all been selected to represent not only our school but the Airport District team at the coming SAPSASA District Carnival. A wonderful achievement and we wish you all the very best.

Girls

6 St Francis Girls from across year 5 and 6 went along to the SAPSASA Girls Airport district trials and out of the 6 girls, 5 of our students have been selected to represent and compete in the Airport District team at carnival. Congratulations to Scarlett Grosso, Mia Scali, Siena Pegoli, Shayla Tarca and Stella Spiniello. Truly and wonderful representation by our students and a fantastic opportunity for the girls. Well done and good luck.

Statewide School Basketball Championships

This year our school have nominated a year 5/6 Boys and Girls team in the SAPSASA Statewide Basketball Championships, the carnival day will take place on Friday 12th August at St Clair Recreation Centre. After conducting numerous school trials first, we then selected our teams that will represent our school. Congratulations and good luck to Girls- Ella Nicholson, Lexi Brown, Leila Cosenza, Remi Brown, Claire Martland, Scarlett Grosso and Chloe Sknodras.  Boys- Mason Heatley, Flynn Hortin, Kit Saracino, Arlo Sosnowski, Jameson Ayres, Jaxon Friscic, Liam Westerhof, Zachary Herrmann, Connor Robertson and Nathaniel Williams.

SACPSSA Cross Country Team

Congratulations to the 52 students who have been selected to represent our school at the SACPSSA Cross Country Carnival on Thursday 11th August. The student in year 3-6 have been participating in school running trials since Term 2 and have shown the commitment, dedication and determination to run. We have seen some brilliant times by student across all year levels and look forward to seeing them run against all of the other Catholic Schools that attend on the day.

James Daley
Sports Coordinator

Sharing Best Practice Conference, Adelaide

Last Saturday 30th July, we had a number of staff attend the Sharing Best Practice conference held at Brighton Secondary School. One of the aims of the conference was to strengthen the bridge between research evidence and pedagogical practice in schools. The conference included researchers, teachers and practitioners, sharing and discussing evidence-based strategies that impact and enhance teaching and support the learning of all students.
We were very lucky to have some amazing keynote speakers on the day including Professor Pamela Snow, Associate Professor Tanya Serry, Jennifer Buckingham and Bill Hansberry. Pamela talked to us about the science of language and reading and described to us her Language House model (shown here). This was a very interesting talk about how language is at the heart of academic success.

Tanya Serry spoke about the personal and social costs for students who struggle with literacy and then went on to explain ways to teach based on cognitive sciences. These included Cognitive Load Theory, The Forgetting Curve and the Information Processing Model. This image is from one of Tanya’s slides and was about the best ways to help get information from the short-term memory into the long-term memory.

During the day, as well as listening to keynote speakers, we broke into breakout sessions to learn from different educators on many different topics. I was lucky enough to listen to Liana McCurry speak about delivering maths instruction through multisensory teaching and explicit instruction and to Chris Guy taking us through her school’s journey teaching spelling and morphology. Others from our school participated in workshops around Sound Walls, reading, fluency and differentiation in schools.

At the end of the day, there was a lucky prize drawn and Leonie Fitzgerald (Reception teacher), was the lucky prize winner! Thanks to Seelect Educational Supplies, Leonie won a Decodable Readers Australia kit. What a way to end a wonderful day of learning.

I would like to thank all those teachers who willingly gave up their Saturday to continue their learning about the best practice for teaching our students. We are blessed here at St Francis with quality educators who are willing to continue to improve, to learn and to follow the evidence in their practice.

Until next time, keep reading!

Christie-Lee Hansberry

During Week 5, the students at St Francis School will be celebrating Book Week. The theme for Book Week this year is “Dreaming with eyes open…”.

All the students will be involved in a Book Week Parade. The parade will be held on the Tennis Courts at 9am on Tuesday 23rd of August.

Students may come dressed as their favourite book character. We encourage them to bring the book which their character is from. Alternatively, they may come dressed as something that reflects the theme “Dreaming with eyes open…”.

If the costume is suitable for school activities, children may stay in their costume for the remainder of the day.

Parents who would like to attend will be provided with designated viewing areas outside the court area. While this is an outside event, we would appreciate the wearing of masks please, in order to promote everyone’s safety.

Yours in reading 

Andrea Edwards