Week 3 - Term 4

Dear families,

We have had a productive beginning to term four. By now you will all have begun to notice the emerging impact of the Early Works component of our building program. While aesthetically, our school isn’t looking as sharp as it usually does, I am excited to see works beginning. I know it will feel like a long process, however I am confident the end result will justify the means! I am always happy to discuss the project and its ongoing impact. Some families have joined me already to hear more about the project, and I am more than happy to continue these conversations throughout term 4.

As it stands, the last day of the term will be a significantly impacted day, as will OSHC on Thursday 15^th and Friday 16^th December, as the cranes will be onsite and moving buildings. This will obviously mean the oval area and back entrance to the school won’t be accessible. We will keep you all informed of how we plan to work through this short term disruption.

Last Wednesday I had the privilege of attending our school’s Instrumental evening. It was a joy to hear the students perform and to witness the progress they have made over the course of the year. My sincere thanks to Olivia Bozzon and all of our instrumental teachers for their dedication and hard work with the students.

There are some exciting events coming up in our school calendar. Week 5 is the annual celebration of PE Week, and along with our annual student tennis tournament and other activities, we will be having our Colour Run on Friday 18^th November! Our P&F have worked hard on this event for some time now, with it having to be postponed during covid. I encourage all families to come along in the afternoon and be a part of the fun! All funds raised for this event will go towards improving our Literacy resources and to the effective work of the P&F.

On Saturday November 26^th, we will be hosting a St Francis Gala evening, at the Palais in Semaphore. This will be a great opportunity to come together to enjoy some nice food and wine and to celebrate everything that is great about our school community. Tickets are available via QKR!, and there will be raffles etc on the night. Sincere thanks to Julie Flint for her excellent work in getting this event going.

Our Annual Christmas Concert will be held on Friday December 2^nd, on the oval. This year’s concert has a Rock n Roll theme and the students are busily getting their rock on, while learning their songs and moves! It promises to be a great evening – pop it in your diaries now!

Congratulations to Ollie Atyeo who has made the SAPSASA District Cricket side! The cricket carnival is this week, and while the weather hasn’t been too kind, I’m sure the players are still having loads of fun. James Daley and James Goldy are both coaching the district side!

Dear Families,

Earlier this year, students had the opportunity to participate in a number of UNSW Educational Assessment Competitions. These academic competitions gave students the chance to ‘compete’ in an Australia wide competition in Spelling, English, Mathematics and for the first time, Science.

Students will be receiving their certificates within the next couple of weeks.

Our congratulations to the following students who took up the challenge:

Year 3

Flynn Aikman, Bella Bosio, Felix Bowbridge, Zafira Seltsikas, Ava Mihalopoulos,

Ellie Rankin, Stephen Rapuano, Nicholas Totos, Jack Bullen and Nicholas Cavanagh.

Year 4

Bianca Barclay, Daia Costanzo, Sidney Fisher, Charlotte Formato, Reuben Horgan, Sophie Koldenhof, Sabastian Baldassari, Bianca Baldassari, Scarlett Holmes and Sameeya Dumra.

Year 5

Siena Pegoli, Neil Sharma, Oscar Nuske and Nathaniel Williams.

Year 6

Michael Pegoli, Joseph Rapuano and Armaan Kalia.

Term 4 is a beautiful time as we wait for the birth of Jesus, especially with the season of Advent around the corner. The first Sunday in Advent is November 27^th!

Sacramental Enrolment 2023

Enrolment forms for the Sacramental program 2023 have been emailed to all current

Year 3 families. If you would like your child to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Communion in 2023, please complete the registration form and return by November 11^th.

Halloween

Halloween is becoming increasingly popular in Australia. I am not a fan of the paranormal themes Halloween promotes. The name Halloween is Christian. It means, simply, hallows evening, saints evening, and it refers to the vigil of All Hallows Day, All Saints Day, celebrated on November 1. “Hallow” is an old English word for saint. We use the word in the Our Father when we say “hallowed be thy(your) name”, may your name be held holy.

As a Catholic community All Saints Day is a special day to remember the people who have lived inspiring lives and who have dedicated their lives on earth to following Jesus’ commandment to love God and love one another.

1 NOVEMBER

Feast of All Saints

This feast began in the East to commemorate all martyrs and was progressively adopted in the West.  Celebrated on this day in the eighth century and soon widely observed.  Honoured today are all holy men and women in glory with Christ: known or unknown, mighty or lowly, all whose lives were modelled on the Beatitudes and on the great commandment of love.

Give us the wisdom and courage to remain meek. . . and

to be mindful of the truth that all we have and all we

accomplish comes through you.

Give us the wisdom and courage to always do what is right. . .

even when what is right is not what is popular or easy.

2 NOVEMBER

THE COMMEMORATION OF ALL THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED (All Souls)

All Soul's Day is a Roman Catholic day of remembrance for friends and loved ones who have passed away.

This day of commemoration began early in the Middle Ages with annual prayers for the dead in monastic communities.  Fixed on this day, it spread more widely after the tenth century and now ranks with the principal feast days in the liturgical calendar.  Commonly known as All Souls, it expresses Christian faith in the communion of saints and our need to pray for one another in the Church.

Prayer for Remembrance Day, November 11^th

Originally called Armistice Day, this day commemorated the end of the hostilities for the Great War (World War I), the signing of the armistice, which occurred on 11 November 1918 - the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

After the end of World War II in 1945, the Australian and British governments changed the name to Remembrance Day as an appropriate title for a day which would commemorate all the men and women who fought and died in wars.

Tier 2 Intervention from our co-educators