Week 9 - Term 2

Dear parents and caregivers,

I can’t believe that there is only one more week left for term 2, before we hit the half way mark for 2021. I have thoroughly enjoyed my first term as Principal at St Francis. We have a wonderful community and there is much to be thankful for! I very much enjoyed and appreciated the recent opportunity to meet with families to hear of their hopes and dreams for our school, moving forward. I have also been meeting with our fantastic staff, and am looking forward to some intentional chats with our students as well. All of this information will be vital as we put together a new strategic plan for school developments in the latter part of this year, and I am looking forward to being able to share both a new strategic plan and a new Master plan for building  improvements by the end of this year! It is an exciting time to be a part of Catholic Education and St Francis and I look forward to sharing the journey with you!

As we come to the end of Semester one, you will receive a summary report of your child’s progress during the first part of the year. I have been reading through each report and it is very clear to me that our teachers know their students very well, and can describe their learning progress very well! You will receive your child’s report next Thursday, which is the last day of term two. Families are encouraged to make time to follow up the report, with teachers, and we have set aside week two of term three for these meetings. Please liaise with your child’s class teacher as appropriate.

Over the past three weeks we have been welcoming our brand new reception students, who will commence school in term three. We will have 20 new starters next term, and I am delighted with the interest shown in this intake of students. As previously advised, we are planning ahead for 2022 and 2023, with numbers already very strong, so if you either have a sibling child we don’t yet have an enrolment form for, or you know of families interested in our school, please contact Andrea Brown ASAP.

There are a number of activities planned for the last week of term, and early term three. Our year 5 and 6 students will compete in the Catholic Schools Netball Carnival on Thursday. My thanks to their teachers and to Mr James Daley for organising the event. Swimming for years two and three will commence next week as well. Swimming is a very important component of the Australian Curriculum, and all children are expected to be involved in these lessons. Living in a country like Australia, being able to swim is a vital life skill that provides a healthy outlet and can literally safe one’s life!

To celebrate the end of the term, there will be a Cookies and Milk special lunch day on Thursday-orders can be made via QKR!

Next term during the first few weeks, the P&F will be running a Chocolate Drive to raise important funds to contribute to the purchase of new reading resources for our receptions and year ones. I ask all families to participate in this fundraiser, and support our young learners……all the while enjoying some chocolatey treats!

I ask all families to be mindful of the residents who live adjacent the school – particularly on Arcoona Ave. I have had reports of groups of families congregating in the driveways of private residences, causing the residents some concern. Please consider waiting for your children on the school side of the road, or being aware of where you stand while waiting. Your assistance is greatly appreciated!

I wish to inform the community that Ms Leanne Cappo-long serving member of the St Francis community, has resigned from her position of ‘Director of First Impressions’ (Front Office Administrator!) Leanne’s association with our school community goes back to the establishment of the school in 1965, and over the years she has been a student, parent, volunteer, and employee. Leanne has been a much liked and valued member of our community and we sincerely thank her for what has been a lifetime of commitment and involvement.  While we are very sad to see her go, we wish her every future happiness and success.

God bless everyone,

Phil

Dear Families,

UNSW ICAS Competition 2021

Thank you to all families for the prompt return of student permission forms.

A reminder that payment is due by Friday 2 July.

Payment can be made via the new online Parent Payment System.  The Parent Payment System is a simple and secure online payment service specifically for parents to purchase ICAS Assessments.  Details and codes contained in the letter sent home.

Help with Lunches

My sincere thanks to all school volunteers and parishioners who responded to our call out for help in coordinating lunch order distribution each Thursday and Friday.

I have emailed a roster to volunteers and will include information in each newsletter.

Refugee Week (June 20-26) provides a platform where positive images of refugees can be promoted in order to create a culture of welcome throughout the country. 
The ultimate aim of the celebration is to create better understanding between different communities and to encourage successful integration enabling refugees to live in safety and to continue making a valuable contribution to Australia.
Jesus, who was himself once a refugee, commanded us: 
"You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself."
"And who is my neighbour?" (Luke 10: 27-30)

‘ANGELS UNAWARES’ Timothy Schmaltz

The first new sculpture in St Peters Square in over 400 years commemorates migrants and refugees. It is a life-size sculpture, in bronze and clay that depicts a group of migrants and refugees from different cultural and racial backgrounds and from diverse historic periods in time.

The figures stand together, shoulder to shoulder, huddled on a raft. Within this diverse crowd of people, angel wings emerge from the centre, suggesting the presence of something sacred among them. In fact, the sculptural work interprets the belief that the sacred is to be found in the stranger, in this case, in refugees and migrant people.

The inspiration behind the work is taken from a biblical passage, St Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares”. (Hebrews 13:2) Angels Unawares

As Christians, we are called to show our love to one another, including strangers.

“I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me. The truth is, every time you did this for the least of my sisters and brothers, you did it for me.”     (Matthew 25: 35, 40)

Through the use of ancient scripture, contemporary and historical figures, and a universally held symbol of spirituality, the work truly is relevant to the Vatican as well as cities around the world that strive to emphasize that all life is sacred and should be treated as such.

Every moment of our life can be a prayer. No activity, no involvement need distract us from God who is at the heart of everything, and who loves us and calls us to himself. Every occupation, and in a most wonderful way marriage and family life, can be a sacrament of love.

As, like Martha, we are busy carrying out our mission God has given us in and for the world, let us remember, like Mary, to sit at the Lord’s feet and listen to him.

In this way, we may gradually learn in our silence and in our activity, to give God our undivided attention.

Enjoy a safe and happy holiday with the people you love.

Peace and blessings,

Helen Wilsdon-Smith APRIM/School Chaplain

Term 3 and 4 Team Sports

Nominations have now closed for Season 2 of both Netball and Basketball for students in year 2-6 and we cannot accept any late nominations unless it can assist in our team numbers. Please contact me if you feel you have missed out on submitting your child’s notice. James Daley

Any students that will not be continuing to play school basketball in Season 2, can you please make sure your child’s basketball singlet is returned to me by the end of week 10 before we break up for the school holidays.

Year 2/3 Swimming Lesson/Water Safety

During week 10 all of our students in Year 2 and 3 will take part in a the swimming lessons/water safety program that is conducted at Thebarton Aquatic Centre. Please make sure your child’s completed paperwork is returned to their class teacher by the end of today, Thursday 24th June.

SAPSASA Cross Country

What a fantastic effort by our 10 students who participated in the recent SAPSASA State Championships at Oakbank racecourse. The conditions on the day were a challenge with the air temperature near freezing and the track very muddy and in parts very slippery, our runners certainly had a task ahead of them. With each race consisting of 100-200 runners from all districts across the state it was wonderful to see the best of the best all coming together for a great event.

Each of our runners ran extremely well, all completing the course and leaving nothing out on the track as they crossed the finish line near exhausted. Once again a wonderful achievement and certainly one that our entire school and community are proud of, Well done!

See picture below......

James Daley

Sports Coordinator

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Recent lockdowns and border closures with other states reminds us that we need to be ready in the event of ever changing conditions due to COVID-19. It is essential for students and families to be aware of the plans for any instance of a short term school closure. This communication provides you with the information about Seesaw and it’s use during a school closure. St Francis will continue to provide effective teaching and learning for students who are learning from home. All learning programs will be maintained, though some changes to curriculum delivery and assessment may occur. In line with our school vision, we are committed to our students' education through being engaged, connected, creative and reflective learners.

Today your child brought home their own new, unique Home Learning Code if they are in R-3. If they were a student in 2020 and have a home learning code please use this new one. This code is to be kept safe and secure.

If your child is in Years 4-6 they will log into Seesaw with their own individual email and password.

Seesaw can be accessed by students at home on a computer via the website: app.seesaw.me or via the CLASS app on a device. Please download the Seesaw CLASS app if you do not have it on a device. If you already have that on a device please make sure that it is updated. If you have more than one child using the app or computer, please ensure they log out each time to allow the next child to log into their own journal. So please keep the QR code/text code in a safe place to allow students to easily log in.

Students cannot use the FAMILY app to access their learning journal. Parents and caregivers will still use the Family app as normal and will receive announcements, notifications as per normal. Each post the students put on will still go to the teacher for approval.

If you experience any problems please either message me on Seesaw or email: mbrown@sflockleys.catholic.edu.au Alternatively you can contact Seesaw directly: help.seesaw.me

Seesaw Home Learning allows us to stay connected to our students and families and support them. Learning will look different through the year levels. You will find a mix of tech based learning and non-tech learning and experiences as guidelines. If we are in school closure during the holidays, teachers will not be posting learning tasks. During the normal school term if we are in school closure, teachers will post guidelines for activities that may be done and will endeavour to be available during school hours only.

A few reminders:

*The CLASS APP is for the students to use only – they post their work and they write or record audio comments on their work. The Home Learning Code or email access allows students to use it exactly how they would in the classroom.

*Parents/Caregivers we would love you to comment on your child’s work through the FAMILY APP – not in the CLASS APP.

*Teachers have the ability to send back work for the students to add to. It is called a draft. Please get your child to check their inbox and journal regularly so they can add to it. Students can also save something as a draft and then go back and work on it later.

*Comments made on a post that went to Everyone in the class or on a post with several students tagged in it, are seen by everyone connected to that post and the parents/caregivers connected to it. Comments made on your child’s own post by parents/ caregivers are only seen by your child and the parents/caregivers connected to your child.

*Each student can have 10 people connected to their journal. We have some students whose grandparents or aunts or uncles are interstate or overseas who are able to view their journal – a great way to stay connected. They just need the QR code for the FAMILY APP connection. See your class teacher or message me if you need one.

*Regularly check for updates for the Seesaw App as they are constantly improving it.

Marisa Brown

POR Curriculum