Dear Parents/Carers,

As Principal, I am very keen to establish relationships with local businesses, sporting groups and community groups that may be beneficial to our students and the broader school community. Last term, we started a very successful relationship with "Junior Stars Soccer Academy". This provided an alternative afternoon program that encouraged students to be active and develop their soccer skills.  

This term I am pleased to announce two more options for parents/carers. The first is the Music Bus. The Music Bus will travel to St Francis, operating outside of class time to provide small group music tuition for students who have an interest in learning a musical instrument and aims to develop a love of music in students from Kinder to Year 6.

We will be having a Music Bus Open Day on Friday 30th August. On this day, The Music Bus will be open for parents to visit from 8:00am to 8.45am, and then all students from Kinder - Year 6 will have an opportunity to visit the Music Bus for 10 minutes with their class throughout the day. Expressions of interest will be offered on the day and places will be made available on first in, best dressed basis. More information is included in this newsletter. 

We are also expecting to enter into a commercial arrangement with Kip McGrath Education, who wish to hire classrooms on Thursday afternoons to offer tuition and homework help. We have met with Fred and Emma Tanyous, the franchisees. Fred and Emma have operated a very successful Kip McGrath franchise in Liverpool and are now looking to establish a business in Edmondson Park. 

I am very confident that the teachers of St Francis will continue to work hard to meet the learning needs of students. We intend to continue with Homework Club, to volunteer one afternoon a week to assist students with assignments and homework help. Kip McGrath may however, provide additional days outside of school hours for students who require extra support or challenge. 

More information on Kip McGrath is included in this newsletter and an information night for Parents/Carers will be conducted at the College on Thursday 22 August from 7.00pm - 8.00pm.

Dad & Kids Sleep Out: Father’s Day Celebration

Following on from our highly successful Mother’s Day Movie Night, this year for the first time we will be hosting a night where Dads and men who are significant in the lives of our students have an opportunity to pitch a tent and sleep out on the College Oval with the kids. This will occur on Friday 30th August. Families will be encouraged to bring their own tents, set them up on the oval, enjoy BBQ burgers for dinner and some evening activities, and then wake up early Saturday to enjoy a bacon and egg roll for breakfast. More details and an RSVP will be provided in a note to go home to parents. 

Family Community Partnerships

Last week our Promoting Student Learning group met for their second session. It again was a great opportunity for Parents, Teachers and the College leaders to get together and discuss what is needed and what is possible. 

Parents requested an outline of events and approximate times for future sporting carnivals, better informing parents who work of periods when they may be able to see their children compete. We will aim to do this for carnivals in 2020.

Parents asked the College to consider a senior diary for students in Years 9-12 which was A4 in size and provided more space for students to write reminders for homework, assessments etc. We will aim to do this for students in 2020.

Parents wanted clarification about why Mathematics classes were combined in Year 9 and an explanation of the three levels of Mathematics (5.1, 5.2 & 5.3). Mrs Hughes (Leader of Mathematics) has sent a letter of explanation to Year 9 parents this week. 

Parents proposed that students demonstrate their learning in a learning showcase format where they are encouraged to show what they have learnt and communicate that to parents. This will be considered by the College for 2020. 

The College has initiated a number of events this term to promote student learning and involve parents, as follows:-

Friday 23rd August, students K-6 and Kindergarten students 2020 will be invited to participate in a Book Week parade. Parents and friends are most welcome to attend the parade and open classrooms. 

In the last week of term Parents/Carers will be invited to tour the new Technology, Art & Science building and Year 8 will present Romeo & Juliet and Year 9 will present their poetry/artworks. 

Facebook continues to be a very popular way to promote what is happening at SFCC.

The staff expressed frustration that there are still many parents who have not returned notes giving permission for their child’s photograph to be used in College publications and this makes publishing group photos impossible. Only very minimal photos of the Science Fair and Kindergarten’s 100th day of school, could not be posted as a result. Please ensure that all permission notes are returned in a timely manner.

The College will present an information night for Parents/Carers in Term 4 to explain the new Diocesan Social Media policy. This policy has implications for the way staff and students use social media and outlines expectations of parents. Email communication and protocols will also be presented on the night. 

The information nights for parents on literacy and numeracy have been well received. The College will continue to provide information to parents this semester. 

A digital suggestion box has been established and there is a link to it under the ‘Parents’ menu on our College website sfccdow.catholic.edu.au. This has been established to allow parents to make suggestions on how to improve the College. Please note that the users email address is required so that we can get back to you. Also please note it is not a ‘complaints box’ it should be used to propose positive changes. 

I would like to thank all members of the Promoting Student Learning FCP group for their valuable contribution. We have a third meeting scheduled for Week 7 later this term. If you have an ideas for our group please discuss with the members listed below or use the suggestion box link on our website. 

Parent FCP members attending were: Mrs Marks, Mrs Manno, Mrs Muiser, Mrs Le-Nguyen, Mrs Coe. 

Staff FCP Members attending were: Mr Chapman, Miss Laidlaw, Mrs Vella, Miss Sultana and Mr Abernethy.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Mr Simon Abernethy
College Principal