Welcome to St Francis 2020

Dear Parents/Carers,

What an exciting start to the new year we have had! The Innovation Centre has opened and students are enjoying learning in the well-appointed new classrooms. The surrounding roads have opened around the College making entry and dismissal a little easier.

We have welcomed over 200 new students from Kindergarten - Year 10, making our total student population around 870. We have also welcomed 21 new members of staff.

Students have had a busy start to the year. The whole school had to learn new procedures and arrangements with the new building coming online. Years 3-10 also had a very successful swimming carnival last week.

Despite the busyness, it has been a very settled start and I congratulate the students and staff for their commitment to learning.

I would also like to thank parents and carers for their patience in orienting new families and their presence at our Parent Information Evenings last week.  These sessions provided valuable information on our approach to learning and pastoral care at St Francis and also provided an opportunity for families to tour our new facilities.

Class Groupings Blue, Green, Red

I have been asked by several parents over recent weeks, “which class is the academically higher class?” Let me reassure parents that all K-6 classes are ‘mixed ability’ classes. This means that they are not grouped according to academic ability. Each class will have a mixture of academically stronger children who learn the basic curriculum quickly and need enrichment activities to deepen their understanding. Each class will have some students who struggle to learn some aspects of the curriculum and require additional support. Research suggests that all young students benefit from having a mix of learners within a classroom. It allows for modelling of best learning and peer to peer learning which can deepen understanding. So, to answer the question: there is no top or bottom class. 

The College engages in regular and routine academic assessments to provide feedback to students and parents and monitor your child’s academic performance. We also keep a database on meritorious behaviour and behaviour that requires intervention. This data is used along with teacher professional dialogue each year to rearrange the class groupings for the following year and ensure a diverse mix of student abilities and personalities for each class.

Our adolescent cohorts for Year 7 - 12 remain mostly mixed ability classes. There is one high-performance class in each year group for Year 7 & 8, 2020 based on students' English and Mathematics results.  Stage 5 (Years 9 & 10) looks different again as we begin to focus on various pathways of study.

Students can move in and out of the high-performance class depending on their ongoing academic performance. Again, all student results are closely monitored by the College and it is expected that all students be challenged in their learning regardless of whether they are in a mixed ability or high-performance classes. Students who make up the high-performance class however, typically learn faster and as such there is an expectation that they will develop a deeper understanding of course content. The majority of students remain in mixed ability classes which promote inclusive, engaged learning.

Extra Curricular Opportunities

Last year we commenced our association with a number of local businesses to provide extended learning opportunities for students. Demand for our popular Out of School Hours (OOSH) Care run by CatholicCare has continued and in 2020 we have expanded the service to cater for 140 students each day.

Homework Club run by volunteer teachers, assists students with homework and assignment help on Tuesday afternoons.

Star Soccer Academy and the Music Bus were popular last year and will continue in 2020 as afternoon options.

The owners of Kip McGrath tutoring Liverpool are keen to establish a tutoring service at St Francis and we will offer this service early Term 1.

Two exciting new options are the Australian Air League cadets (ages 8 and up) and Duke of Edinburgh Award program (Years 9&10).

Australian Air League

Since 1934, the Australian Air League has been teaching young boys and girls nationwide all about aviation, while helping them develop important life skills like leadership, discipline, self-confidence and teamwork. Hundreds of cadets have gone to develop careers in aviation.

Each week cadets attend their local squadron where you will learn valuable skills and take part in fun and interesting activities and classes. Some of our classes include Meteorology, Navigation, Photography and Community Service. Squadrons also attend training camps, sport and recreational days, flying experiences and ceremonial drill.

A new Edmondson Park Squadron will operate at St Francis. Air League welcomes boys and girls from the age of 8 years old from all different cultures and backgrounds. Parents and families are welcome to support or even join their local squadron as a volunteer. All adult members and volunteers are Working with Children Checked.

A public meeting will be held at the College Hall at St Francis on Friday 21^st February at 7:00pm to provide more information. Weekly Squadron meetings will be on Friday nights 7:00-9:00pm.

For further information call Group Field Commissioner Brendan Fox 0405 365 213 or email: oc.edmondsonpark@airleague.com.au

Duke of Edinburgh

Senior students in Years 9 & 10 (14 years and over) will be offered an opportunity to receive the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze award this year. Students have to set goals around learning new skills, actively engaging in physical recreation and voluntary service as well as completing a planned hike. Mrs Lyons & Mrs Davidson met with students and their families last Wednesday to invite their participation in the program.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award program is a global youth initiative and has been adopted by more than 130 countries. Over 8 million young people are involved worldwide. It focuses on building the capacity of the participants to make independent decisions and to negotiate priorities through active participation.

Open Day & Enrolments 2021/2022

The staff in College Reception have been inundated with calls and enquiries about enrolments. Enrolments for Kinder – Year 11 2021 & Year 7 2022, officially start when we distribute enrolment packages at our Open Day.

Open Day will start at 11am & conclude at 1pm, Saturday 7^th March. This is an opportunity for existing and prospective parents & students to visit the College, tour classrooms, see displays of student work, demonstrations & talk to staff & students.

It should prove to be a very busy day, with hundreds of people attending in past years.

Traditionally, we have small army of students who volunteer to welcome new families, help with classroom displays and act as tour guides. Students will be given details next week should they wish to volunteer. We would also appreciate any parents that may available from 10:30am to assist with our food stalls. If you can help until 1pm fantastic! If you can assist for just an hour, that would be great. Please email Ms Bernadette Manchester (bernadette.manchester@dow.catholic.edu.au) by Thursday 5 March, if you are able to assist on the day.

I hope to see you at our Open Day on Saturday 7th March - it should be a great community event.

May God continue to bless you

Mr Simon Abernethy
College Principal

Thank you to all of our parents/carers for your patience as we settle into new morning and afternoon routines.  

In the morning

• Students from K-6 have been specifically taught where to put their bags upon arrival. If your child arrives after the warning bell we ask that they keep their bag with them and go straight to morning lines.
  
  
• After the warning bell sounds the students in K-4 will stop and drop and the teacher on the microphone will ask ALL parents/carers to leave.  This helps with some of the congestion on the playground, as well as, students focussing on routines they have been taught to get them ready for the start of each day.
  
  
• If you arrive after the warning bell we ask that you say goodbye to your child/ren at the gate and allow them to walk to their lines.  We will have a staff member at the gate until 8.30am.
  
  
• Any student who arrives after 8.30am will need to go to College Reception and sign in late.

In the afternoon

• Students from Years 1-4 will be seated in their class lines under the new COLA. Students from Years 5-10 will be seated towards the back of the COLA.
  
  
• Parents are asked to walk in front of the Bus students to access the COLA.  Please do not walk through the seated bench area.
  
  
• At approximately 3.05pm any students still waiting to be picked up will be moved to the CARLINE MARQUEE.

Carline

When using carline, please remember the following:-

• You must wait in line and move up in order.  Please do not drive around cars if you see an empty space.
• Students are not permitted to go behind hte car to the boot at any time.  Bags muyst be kept with the student inside the car.
• Students must exit and enter the car on the kerb side only.
• Parents are not permitted to exit the car to assist their child at any time.
• Your school allocated sign must be displayed on the passenger side sun visor so that it is easily read and highly visible.

General Comments

• Parents/Carers/Students are asked to use the paths and allocated crossings in the College Car Park.  We have many people crossing the driveway and this almost resulted in an accident last week.
  
  
• Parents cannot turn right out of the car park between 2.45pm - 3.00pm.  A staff member is on duty at the car park entry during this time to ensure a consistent flow of traffic into and out of the College site.

Thank you in advance for your continued support.  We ask that you please pass on this important information to any extended family, e.g. grandparents so they are aware of our procedures.

Mrs Melissa Vella
Assistant Principal - Teaching & Learning

Homework Club will recommence next week on Tuesday afternoons from 2.45pm - 4.30pm.

Homework Club is for Middle & Senior Years students (Years 5-10). It relies on the goodwill of teachers who volunteer to assist students if they require support to complete homework, classwork and assessments. Please note that it is not an after-school care service.

Students should only attend Homework Club if they have meaningful work they need assistance with.

I thank the many teachers who have volunteered to run Homework Club. 

A Compass alert with more information regarding Homework Club has been sent out this afternoon to Parents/Carers of Years 5 - 10.

Ms Tania Kolar
Leader of Learning - Middle Years 

Dear Parents/Carers

Thank you for your patience as our College transitions to Compass.  It is great to see that so many of you have logged on and are accessing your child’s portal.

When using Compass, the College requests the following:-

Please only add an Attendance Note if your child is absent for the whole day.

The Compass portal allows you to add in Attendance Notes if your child is absent.  Before entering the note, please check that you have the correct date selected, as the App defaults to the current day/date and you may wish to add an attendance note for a different day.  

Please do not enter any notes in Compass for partial absences (leaving early/arriving late)

If your child is late or they are leaving school early, this MUST be entered into the system by our College Reception staff. 

Please do not enter extended leave/holidays into Compass.

Parents/Carers must seek approval from Mr Abernethy in writing outlining the purpose, location and duration of travel.  Once approved, it will be entered into Compass by our College Reception Staff. If the correct procedure has not been followed, leave will be recorded as unjustified.  Please be aware, in the case of extended leave during the school term, only the first 5 days will be granted as approved leave. The remainder will be recorded as unjustified leave.

We appreciate your co-operation.

Mrs Rita Agostino
Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care

Important information in regards to Anaphylaxis was presented at the Parent Information Evening last week. 

As was advised, it is now the expectation that Anaphylactic students from Years 5 - 10 must carry their EpiPen with them at all times in an insulated carrier. 

Any student from Years 5 - 10 who is going off-site (for instance Tuesday Sport or an excursion) will be required to take their EpiPen with them.

Failure to follow these procedures may result in your child not participating in College events off site.

Mrs Rita Agostino
Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care

ST FRANCIS CATHOLIC COLLEGE

OPEN DAY

SATURDAY 7 MARCH 2020

11.00am to 1.00pm

For prospective and current St Francis Catholic College families

wanting to enrol for Kindergarten to Year 11 at the College for 2021,
as well as Year 7 for 2022.

Please come along and have a look at our College
and collect your Enrolment form.

Sausage Sizzle, Drinks, Popcorn, Fairy Floss,
will be available to be purchased.

College Tours, as well as a presentation by our College Principal
will occur throughout the day. 

We hope to see you then!

Shrove Tuesday is a day of celebration as well as penitence, because it's the last day before Lent.

Lent is a time of abstinence, of giving things up. Shrove Tuesday is the last chance to indulge yourself and to use up the foods that aren't allowed in Lent. Giving up foods: but not wasting them.

In the old days, there were many foods that Christians would not eat during Lent: foods such as meat and fish, fats, eggs, and milky foods. So that no food was wasted, families would have a feast on Shrove Tuesday, and eat up all the foods that wouldn't last the forty days of Lent without going off.

St Francis will be celebrating this day on Tuesday 25th February 2020 by selling pikelets. Students will be able to buy 2 pikelets for $1 during Break 1. Toppings available will be maple syrup and strawberry jam. Gluten-free pikelets will be available for purchase upon request.

All profits raised will go towards our Project Compassion appeal. 

Mr Damian Sligar
Assistant Principal - Religious Education, Identity & Mission

and

Miss Lisa Christensen,
K-4 Religious Education and Mission Coordinator

We are looking forward to a wonderful and fun packed year ahead in our Library. 

Library sessions for Kindergarten to Year 6 begin in Week 4 (Monday 17th February) and each new student will be given a College library bag at their first visit.  Any existing students who may have lost their library bag can purchase a new one from College Reception for a fee of $10.00. 

Please note that books cannot be borrowed without a library bag and a new book cannot be borrowed if the previous book has not been returned.

Each week our Kindergarten to Year 6 students visit the Library to borrow a book, your library day was communicated in each grade Term 1 Curriculum Overview.  

Years 7 – 10 are able to visit the Library during break one and break two, each day, to borrow and return their books.

Any students with overdue books will receive a reminder letter which asks to return the book or if the book is lost to pay for the replacement cost.

Please ensure the books are all kept inside the library bag to maximise their protection. 

Thanks for your assistance.

Mrs Forbutt
School Support Officer - Library 

The College will again offer opportunities for parents and teachers to meet during term one for students with personalised plans. 

These dates will be communicated with parents as soon as possible.

Mrs Leisa Grant
Leader of Diverse Learning

Dear Parents,

Please see attached, information regarding PRIMARY All Schools Australian Football Selection Trials.

Kind regards

Miss Jessica Flegg
Sport Coordinator

At the end of 2019, our school collaborated with Catholic Care to make Christmas hampers for our local families who deserved something special.

Each of the 28 classes was assigned a family and were asked to have a discussion on what they thought would be appropriate for them. The hampers included food, toiletries, and presents for each family member.

We would like to thank everyone who helped with the hampers and presents for their generosity and consideration and a special thanks to Catholic Care for making that day possible.

The Youth Ministry Leaders