Dear Parents/Carers,

With Father’s Day being celebrated this coming weekend, I thought it was timely to write something about the importance of fathers and father figures in our lives. I have included some material from Dr. Gail Gross, parenting expert, author and speaker.

Whilst I recognise that not all families have fathers, finding a ‘father figure’ for each child is important. Studies show that if a child’s father is affectionate, supportive, and involved, he can contribute greatly to your child's cognitive, language, and social development, as well as academic achievement, a strong inner core resource, sense of well-being, good self-esteem, and authenticity. 

How fathers influence our relationships

Your child's primary relationship with his/her father can affect all of your child's relationships from birth to death, including those with friends and spouses. Those early patterns of interaction with a father are the very patterns that will be projected into future relationships. Not only your child's intrinsic idea of who he/she is as he/she relates to others, but also, the range of what your child considers acceptable and loving.

Girls will look for men who hold the patterns of good old dad, for after all, they know how "to do that." Therefore, if father was kind, loving, and gentle, they will reach for those characteristics in men. Girls will look for, in others, what they have experienced and become familiar with in childhood. Because they've gotten used to those familial and historic behavioral patterns, they think that they can handle them in relationships.

Boys on the other hand, will model themselves after their fathers. They will look for their father's approval in everything they do, and copy those behaviors that they recognise as both successful and familiar. Thus, if dad was abusive, controlling, and dominating, those will be the patterns that their sons will imitate and emulate. However, if a father is loving, kind, supportive, and protective, boys will want to be that.

Human beings are social animals and we learn by modeling behavior. It is impossible to over-estimate the importance of dad. For example, girls who have good relationships with their fathers tend to do better in maths, and boys who have actively involved fathers tend to have better grades and perform better on standardised tests. And well-bonded boys develop securely with a stable and sustained sense of self.

So let’s celebrate the important men in the lives of our children this weekend.

Happy Father’s Day to all!

May God continue to bless you

Mr Simon Abernethy
College Principal

It has come to our attention that e-cigarettes have become increasingly popular and readily available in the community. Recent newspaper articles have expressed that a chorus of Principals from schools across the country are concerned about their availability to students. 

Unfortunately last week, we discovered that St Francis is not immune to this problem. Fortunately, through the diligence of our teachers and Year Coordinators and through the assistance of responsible students, we were onto the problem very quickly to minimise the risk of harm.

The College maintains a strict zero tolerance policy towards such items and their usage. I strongly recommend that all parents/carers read the information in the links below regarding e-cigarettes and vaping. In particular, I am concerned about a particular brand called Cuvie.  The products are clearly designed to attract young people and offer a variety of ‘flavours’ laced with strong quantities of nicotine and packaged in a way that they look similar to a computer USB stick.

We encourage you to have a conversation with your young person in addressing these issues.  If you have any questions or concerns, or would like further confidential support/advice, please contact the College via your son/daughter’s Year or Stage Coordinator. 

What is a “Cuvie”?

A cuvie is a disposable e-cigarette.  They are small in size (8cm x 2cm) but each Cuvie generates 300 “hits” or “puffs” per pod and costs approximately $10 - $20.

Does a Cuvie contain nicotine?

Yes - each Cuvie has 50mg of nicotine in it.  The 300 puffs equate to approximately one packet of cigarettes.  This is a concern as young people may be using these discreetly at night and unknowingly consume the equivalent of a whole packet of cigarettes.

Are they dangerous for your health?

Young people may not be aware of some of the short and long term effects of using e-cigarettes.  Research has shown that there is an increased prevalence of lung conditions such as asthma, wheezing and bronchitis.  There are also links to heart disease, stroke and reproductive issues. Even more concerning is the impact of nicotine on the developing brain.  This can affect learning, memory and attention.  Researchers also indicate the use of e-cigarettes as a young person increases chances of developing a cigarette or substance abuse problem later in life.

Are they legal?

It is illegal to sell e-cigarettes and accessories to a person under 18 years of age.  Anyone who sells cigarettes or e-cigarettes to someone under the age of 18 can be heavily fined.

What is the College Policy on e-cigarettes?

E-cigarettes are a strictly prohibited item at the College and serious consequences will apply to any student(s) in possession of e-cigaretes and/or using e-cigarettes.

How are young people using e-cigarettes and hiding their behaviour?

Since many vaping devices, especially Cuvies, are inconspicuous in size and overall look, many adolescents may find it easy to hide their habits.  The vapour from the e-cigarettes is odourless (or has a sweet smell, depending on the flavour), so parents are less likely to detect an aroma.  Online purchasing appears to be one avenue that an adolescent could pursue to bypass the age limit barrier.

What should I do?

It is important that parents sit down with their young person for an open conversation about the effects of nicotine.  It is also important to encourage help-seeking behaviour.  For information and examples of how to generate a conversation around the topic, please watch SchoolTV resource from Dr Michael Carr-Gregg - School TV: e-cigarettes and Vaping.

If there are any concerns regarding your son/daughter, please contact myself, Mrs Rita Agostino (Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care) or your child’s Year/Stage Coordinator.  

For more information about the health concerns please click on the links below.

We also recommend all parents/carers access the information on the Alcohol and Drug Foundation website and additional resources below to assist you with keeping up-to-date with this important adolescent area.

Healthline- Is Vaping Bad for You?

Drugwatch- The Side Effects of e-Cigarettes

Thank you in advance for your support

Mr Simon Abernethy
College Principal

Social Media site – Omegle

It has been brought to our attention that some students at the College are accessing a social media site titled Omegle.  Omegle has been around since 2009 and is used to chat and socialise anonymously with other users.  There are so many risks associated with the site that the Apple App shop and Google play even banned the site some time ago.

The site encourages users to be safe as “predators have been known to use Omegle”. The free website offers online chat with random strangers via text, voice or via video link. There is no requirement to register or identify yourself to use either feature.  A user outlines a few of their interests and is then connected to a random stranger to initiate either a text, chat, voice chat or a video link.

It is highly recommended that you discuss with your child the dangers associated with this site and perhaps even check their devices to see if they are accessing it. 

Please be aware that as Omegle is a website, clearing a search history will simply remove any evidence of use by your child. This will make it difficult when checking your child’s devices as search histories may not be available. 

A fact sheet has been included below to provide you with more information about the site.

Mrs Agostino
Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care

Thank you to our families who have met their school fee commitment.

A reminder that the balance of fees is due by Friday 4 December 2020. Please note that fee credits will be processed this term.

If you would like to discuss your College Fees statement, please contact our College Finance Officer, Kerrie McDonald on 4645 3400 or via email to accounts_sfcc@dow.catholic.edu.au

This week staff and students at St Francis will be participating in "Sabbath Week".  In Christianity, the Sabbath is a holy day of rest on the seventh day of the week as commanded by God.  On this day, Christians rest, pray or meditate and spend time with their family.

With next week being Week 7, the St Francis community will be given the opportunity to slow down and take respite.

The following has been planned for the week:

• No homework for K-6 students.
• Students from 7-10 will not receive homework but are expected to continue working on formal assessment tasks.
• Staff meetings outside school hours have been cancelled.

Staff and students are encouraged to go home each afternoon and participate in some wellbeing activities.

Students in the Junior and Middle Years will be given a list of suggestions to complete throughout the week.  These activities range from exercising, assisting parents with preparing dinner, having a family movie night and tidying up their room.

We hope you also enjoy the week and opportunity to spend some quality time with your child/ren.

On Friday 4th September, as part of the ‘Year of Favour’, all students in the Mackillop House ONLY will be permitted to wear a Jersey with jeans, tracksuit bottoms or shorts (which must be the same length as the College shorts, no shorter). 

Footwear must be fully enclosed and normal College expectations remain in terms of hair and grooming.

Due to COVID restrictions our communal water bubblers cannot be used.

Students are required to bring in their own labelled water bottles, especially on days that they have Sport/PRAC lessons.

As the weather is heating up, if Middle Years/Senior Years students do not bring in their water bottles and hats for Tuesday sport, they will be placed on sports detention.

We appreciate your co-operation.

Miss Jessica Flegg
Sport Coordinator

Just a reminder, due to the current COVID-19 climate, it is no longer possible for parents/carers to send in baked goods (homemade or store bought) for student birthday celebrations.

Should you wish to send something in for the class to celebrate your child's birthday, we are happy for you to supply individually wrapped lollipops (for example, Allen's Lollipops, pictured).

Any other items apart from individually wrapped lollipops
will be sent home with the student who brings them in.

On Thursday 27th of August, the Year 7 and 8 SFCC MISA debating teams competed in Round 3 of the 2020 MISA Debating competition, via Zoom against Mount Carmel Catholic College. 

Year 7 - Thalia, Alina, Joban and Daniel, Habron (Thalia - Yr 7 reserve)
Year 8 - Nicholas, Honey, Sienna and Adalina (Sienna - Yr 8 reserve)

Year 7 debated the topic, ‘Minecraft should be allowed at school’
Year 8 debated the topic, ‘That the media should not give equal coverage to mens and womens sports.  

Both teams debated extremely well, with both our Year 7 and 8 teams winning their debates.

Our teams will debate again in Round 4 via Zoom on Thursday 10th September against Oran Park Anglican College. 

Well done SFCC MISA Debating teams! 

Mrs Sanchez, Mrs Kelleher, Mrs Vaga and Miss Shoard
Debating Coaches

National Science Week

To commemorate National Science Week, Year 2 were able to participate in a fun interactive activity using the application Quiver.

Quiver is an extraordinary digital technology resource that allows students to see an image they have coloured, in a Three Dimensional reality.

Students coloured various images and using the application were also able to learn fun factual information about a living creature. 

Miss Georgina Kaka
Year 2 Teacher

As you would be aware, St Francis Catholic College is part of the Diocese of Wollongong and therefore our sporting opportunities are governed by the Catholic Education Office Wollongong. 

Every year the Diocese of Wollongong conducts trials for a variety of sports. These trials are only offered to students in Years 5 and 6 and are designed as a pathway for selecting students directly into the Diocese of Wollongong teams to trial at Mackillop level against the Dioceses of Wagga Wagga, Canberra/Goulburn, Sydney and Parramatta.

With 30 primary schools within the Diocese of Wollongong, these trials are designed for students who are elite at their sport and expect to make it to the next level.

These trials are not Gala Days or school based carnivals.
They have not been designed for students “to have a go”.

Each sport has a selection trial criteria which students must meet before a nomination will be sent from the College to the trial convenor. Students who have been nominated for a sport will be informed if they have been successful or unsuccessful to attend the trial when the trial date is closer. Dates and venues for the sports which trial in 2021 are currently to be confirmed.

Sports offered as part of the selection trials are:

AFL: Trial - 2021
Basketball: Trial - Term 4 2020
Cricket Boys: Trial - Term 4 2020
Cricket Girls: Paper Trial - Term 4 2020
Football (Soccer): Trial 2021
Hockey:  Trial 2021
Netball: Trial 2021
Rugby League (11's): Trial 2021
Rugby League (Opens):  Trial 2021
Rugby Union:  Trial 2021
Softball:  Paper Trial - Term 4 2020
Tennis:  Trial Term 4, 2020
Touch Football: Trial 2021 

The selection trial criteria for each sport can be accessed by clicking on the dropdown menu for the relevant sport on the Diocese of Wollongong sport website https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/sport/events-primary/.

If your child fulfills the selection criteria for their nominated sport/s (students may qualify for more than one sport), please see Miss Cordina for the form.

There is no guarantee that the convener will accept your child’s nomination as all participants are at the convener’s discretion.

Please also note that it is a parent’s responsibility to transport their child to the trial venue and cover the costs associated with the trial.

Please return the completed form, including any appropriate photocopied evidence to support your application,
to College Reception by Friday 18th September, 2020.

Applications received after this date will not be considered for nomination.

Miss Cordina
K-4 Sport Coordinator