HIGH ACHIEVERS 2022

It was wonderful to welcome back six of our seven high achievers from last year’s 2022 HSC cohort this week for our College High Achiever’s Ceremony.

Incredibly in 2022, our College had two duxes (Cooper N and Aaliyah S) with both students receiving exactly the same high ATAR; a very unusual feat. What’s more, it turns out both students will be completing the exact same university course at the same university! 

Both Cooper and Aaliyah spoke to Year 11 and 12 students about what worked for them and key strategies they used to study right across their HSC.

Following presentations of certificates and plaques, all high achievers then stayed back to answer questions from our current HSC students. A range of tips from being balanced, organised, valuing and preparing for the Trials, managing time despite work (and or sports/hobbies) were all provided and there was a wealth of valuable information shared.

I thank Cooper and Aaliyah as well as Rayaan G, Sarah A, Maya C and Adithya A for their attendance and sharing their wisdom. I congratulate them all and wish them the very best in their future endeavours - all commencing various university courses this week and next.

CAMP WEEK

This week I had the opportunity to visit the Year 7 and 9 camps, and it was wonderful to see the students involving themselves in a broad range of outdoor education activities.

Despite (particularly on the Year 7 camp) incessant, and at times, quite heavy rain, our students were able to push through and show great resilience and determination as they completed various activities such as high ropes, high tower, mud runs and ‘survivor’ activities. For students to be able to push through fears or reservations was great to witness and helps build overall confidence. Indeed, it was a great opportunity to see the students cooperate, collaborate and build upon their friendship networks across the days.

While I was unable to personally visit the Year 10 Camp I’ve also heard how our students were in ‘fine form’ as they too overcame adversity and showed persistence and tenacity in their camp activities.

I thank all of our St Francis staff for their dedication and for giving up so much time away from their own lives. It is greatly appreciated.

Photos and more details of these camps will be provided in our newsletter in a fortnight’s time. 

NAPLAN

In the coming weeks our students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will participate in NAPLAN Online. In the coming fortnight, students will commence preparatory activities, ensuring that they are ‘ready to go’ for the various parts of the NAPLAN Tests.

Historically, St Francis students perform particularly well in these forms of tests and we suspect that there will be no difference this year. 

I encourage students to embrace these testing opportunities, which then enable staff to diagnostically assess where students are at and where any gaps (if any) may exist. Further details will be provided in the coming weeks.

DIOCESAN PROJECT COMPASSION LAUNCH

On Tuesday, three of our students (Joaquin C., Lexi N. and Carmen G.), Mrs Mediati, Mrs Crescini and myself attended the Diocesan Caritas Project Compassion Launch with Bishop Mascord. This is an annual event for the diocese and, in the spirit of Lent, supports the almsgiving work of CARITAS Australia.

CARITAS Australia provides educational resources which help our students recognise numerous challenges which people both overseas and domestically face in terms of disadvantage and, in some cases, extreme poverty. They also direct important funds to those in need right across the world.

Our students symbolically collected our Project Compassion box and everyone present was informed of CARITAS focus areas for 2023 with stories of particular families in Vietnam, Nepal, Zimbabwe and Australia being shared. 

Across the month at St Francis there will be various activities in the lead up to Easter to fundraise for those in particular need. Classes as well will watch various videos to inform them of the plight, and also some of the opportunities and success stories from previous CARITAS fundraising efforts. 

With almsgiving being one of the three Central tenants of Lent, it is only appropriate that we do look to those in great need in these challenging times.

UPDATE ON BUS OVERCROWDING

Thank you for so much positive communication and support in regards to this matter. As soon as more information is provided I will communicate this to the whole community. In the meanwhile, if your daughter or son travels by bus - please ensure they have an Opal Card and that they are using it on every trip. This data is what will be used to see if we qualify for additional buses or services.

PRAYER

The following poem/prayer is most fitting to celebrate and recognise the commencement of Lent.

ASH WEDNESDAY

(By Cameron Bellm)

We forget sometimes that ashes come from fire,
That this soft black powder was once a firm green frond,
Bright and vibrant before it became dry and brittle,
Stiff and fibrous before a flame transformed it into dust.
Every living thing submits to change.
Let’s not fear it.
From seed to plant, palm to ash,
This bit of the earth smudged on our foreheads today
Was carried lovingly in the hands of the creator.
What fires will we step into this Lent?
What new forms will our souls take
When we encounter the holy blaze of the Living God?
We are – it is true – ash to ash and dust to dust,
But whether in youth or in old age, in life or in death,
Let us be assured,
We are held, and we are God’s.

Amen