A Message from our College Principal Mr McMahon
NEW BUILDINGS OPEN!!!
It has been very exciting to see our K-4 students move into their new classrooms and learning spaces over the past fortnight.
I’m very grateful to all the staff who have prepared their resources and spaces in the new junior learning building. I’m also very thankful to our office and teaching staff, who have moved into new Administration and staff study spaces, respectively.
Building Stages 5 and 6 has been eight years in the making since the earliest days of St Francis. Our Stage 7 Library will be handed over in the coming weeks (currently delayed until Monday, Week 6), so it is wonderful to know that we almost have a complete College.
Stage 8 - our senior years' block - will not commence for a few years, but we will see a few demountables removed over the coming months and more play spaces made available. Ultimately, when Stage Eight is complete, all demountables will be removed, and another oval will be constructed.
OPEN AFTERNOON - CLASSROOM VISITS
We estimate over 200 families took advantage of our open afternoon viewing of the new facilities. It was great to see our excited students, often showing their parents/carers/grandparents or family members around their classrooms. Our students are very proud of the new spaces.
PB4L ROUTINES
Over recent weeks revised Positive Behaviours for Learning (PB4L) routines have been shared with our students from K-12. Obviously, new playgrounds and buildings have altered previous routines, but I’m pleased to say our students have been very understanding and accommodating as new changes occur. As you know, behaving in appropriate and kind ways to others is a hallmark of what we do at St Francis Catholic College.
PARKING DROP-OFF AND COLLECTION ARRANGEMENTS
As previously communicated, the new internal road and kiss-and-drop area is not available as yet. These are partially tied to stage 7 of the library's construction and its surrounds. The College is also waiting on advice from the council to ensure the neighbouring roads around the College are as safe as possible for our students and the local community. Existing arrangements will remain until further advice, and we appreciate parents' and carers’ understanding.
100 DAYS OF KINDERGARTEN
It was wonderful to see our Kindergarten students get involved in the festivities today and dress up as older people. They certainly do grow up quickly! So many students/families to great lengths in their costumes, including our own staff (many of whom were unrecognisable). It was a fun celebration!
SAVE THE DATE - St Francis Feast Day - 23 August
Please remember that our St Francis Feast Day mass and celebrations will occur on Friday, August 23, Week Five. The day will be exciting and commence with Mass with Bishop Mascord celebrating. Then, our amusement rides and festivities will commence.
Please note that there will be disruption to normal pick-up and drop-off arrangements.
More details about the event will be provided in the coming weeks.
TRIAL HSC EXAMINATIONS
I commend our Year 12 students on their approach to preparing for next week's examinations. The College wishes our students all the very best as they commence on Monday morning and continue for 11 school days.
This will be the first time that some students have sat 3-hour examinations and it will be a great way to trial and test various study habits and routines over the coming fortnight.
Prayer for our HSC students
Lord, lift our Year 12 HSC students as they prepare for their Trial Higher School Certificate Examinations next week. We invoke the intercession of St. Francis of Assisi, who embraced simplicity and sought wisdom through humility.
St. Francis, who found joy in learning and understanding, guide our students in their studies. May they approach their exams with the same spirit of humility and reverence for knowledge that you exemplified. Help them to be calm and confident, knowing that they are held in your loving embrace.
Grant them clarity of mind, sharpness of memory, and the ability to answer questions with insight and accuracy. May they be blessed with your gifts of wisdom and understanding, so that they may excel in their examinations and fulfill their potential.
We ask this through Christ our Lord, who is the source of all wisdom and knowledge – Amen.
St Francis … Pray for us
Blessed Edmund Rice … Pray for us
Live Jesus in our Hearts … Forever