It is hard to believe that we are already in Term 3. So much has happened since last term and it is always nice to recap why we do what we do here at St Francis Catholic College. Our touchstones of Inclusive Community and Justice & Solidarity affirm the values of Gospel Spirituality that our Religious Education programs, outreach initiatives and advocacy provide to our students and staff. 

The St Vincent de Paul and SFCC Winter Sleep Out was held on Friday 29th of July and had roughly 110 students from Years 4-12 and 25 volunteer teachers in attendance. Students and teachers participated in evening activities centered around issues on homelessness in the community and social justice.

The younger students built cardboard shelters and there were presentations and activities encouraging advocacy and awareness for the remainder of the evening. The older students packed hundreds of snack packs for kids in need as well as male and female hygiene packs which will be delivered to the NAGLE Centre in Campbelltown - a family care and support service helping families and individuals experiencing crisis in the Macarthur area. Teachers cooked and served a delicious simple dinner of pasta and bread for the students with the evening activities ending in a movie for the 7-9's and an Amazing Race for the 10-12's.

Thank you to all those families who sponsored our community in raising $1,578.75 for the St Vincent de Paul Society.

Congratulations to the Year 4 students and teachers for completing the Year 4 Religious Literacy Assessment. One of the aims of Religious Education (RE) in our Catholic schools is to develop students' ‘Religious Literacy’ – that is, the way children use their literacy skills to communicate their understanding of the religious tradition to themselves, their peers, teachers and members of the wider faith community. The Religious Literacy Assessment program in the Diocese of Wollongong provides information about the way children process and express their religious knowledge. Year 8 students, will sit their assessment next week. 

Monday will be a special day for staff as they prepare to participate in their Staff Spirituality Day. This day coincides with the Soleminty of the Feast of the Assumption. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven is the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her earthly life. This day is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Australian Church’s calendar. Staff will be attending mass and then hearing from guests speakers about how to be of service to others and ourselves from a Catholic perspective. Serving others is part of our church’s teachings, the living out of Christ’s love and following in the footsteps of Mary, St Francis and Blessed Edmund is what we strive to do here at the college.   

A reminder for families of both students and staff to submit a photo of their child/children with their father/grandfather or special male in their lives. Photos uploaded are to be jpeg files. Please be aware that photos supplied will be used for various presentations including prayers and slide presentations and  may also  be used on the schools social media platforms. It is not compulsory for families to supply a photo. Cut off is Tuesday 23/8/22. Please use the link to upload your photo. Using a computer/laptop is advisable not a smartphone when submitting forms. The Junior Years assembly prayer in Week 8 (September 5th) will be a thanksgiving for fathers, grandfathers and significant males in our lives. All are welcome! 

Sincerely,
Mrs Alexandra Mediati