Dear Parents/Carers,

The College experienced a bittersweet moment last week, with the removal of the last remaining large gum tree from the site. The old tree has stood for many years and was somewhat iconic, as the area around Edmondson Park has lost so many trees due to land clearance.

During the evening of 26th September the Edmondson Park area experienced gale force winds.  On the following Sunday morning I visited the College to check the site, and I discovered that approximately one-third of the tree had blown down due to the high winds.

Arborists were called to investigate & it became clear that the tree had significant sections that had rotted and sustained attacks from borers. 

Gum trees are renowned as limb droppers and are often referred to as ‘widow makers’ and so for the safety and protection of all, it was clear that the tree needed to be removed. 

We were aware that the tree had become a home for cockatoos and so arborists worked in conjunction with WIRES volunteers to ensure the tree was safely removed and that bird life was protected.

It was a significant task with a crane having to be hired to help remove the tree. 

The College master plan incorporates a significant amount of landscaping around the perimeter and throughout the site. I have asked that it not incorporate tree varieties that are known to drop limbs.  Moving forward we will beautify the site, have the bird life return and ensure that safety is maintained. Thanks for your cooperation and patience. 

Last week we said farewell and a big thank you to Mr Anthony Haddad.  Anthony has worked since the College’s foundation over almost 4 years as a School Support Officer.  Anthony has helped many students over that period, providing learning and well-being support. Anthony is leaving to start a new career assisting youth. We wish Anthony every blessing in his new job. 

Last fortnight it was a pleasure to attend both the Junior Years Assembly & Middle/Senior Years Assembly. Assemblies were banned originally and then later greatly restricted due to COVID. Some restrictions have now been lifted, allowing us to recognise some of the great work students are doing at St Francis.

Further in this newsletter, you will see images of our Bronze, Silver & Gold Award winners. These students deserve great praise as they have worked hard to achieve these milestones. Well done to them!

Another great pleasure during the assemblies was to present ICAS certificates to students who received either a Merit, Credit, Distinction or High Distinction in these international external assessments facilitated by the University of NSW.

St Francis students performed amazingly, with many students being recognised with these awards. To receive a High Distinction students must be in the top 1% of all students who sat the exam.  To receive a Distinction students must be in the next 10% of all students. 

Congratulations to all of our high achieving ICAS students. It just goes to show that students at St Francis can compete with students from any selective or other school. 

The end of year is fast approaching and students will be working solidly up until Week 10.  Details regarding our revised End of Year Mass and Award Ceremonies can be found in this newsletter.

Our last day for Year 10 students will be Friday 11th December 2020.

For all other students the last day will be Wednesday 16th December.

May God continue to bless you and your family.

Mr Simon Abernethy
College Principal

As you would be aware, due to COVID and the significant changes to teaching and learning as well as the modified Semester 1 Reports, the College decided not to distribute Semester 1 Awards this year.

As we have returned to regular teaching and learning and students have been onsite in both Term 3 and 4 we are pleased to advise we will be distributing Semester 2 Awards.

These awards will be distributed to students from K-10 as follows:

Open Minds - students who have achieved academic excellence
Open Hearts - students walking in the footsteps of Christ
Commitment to Learning - students who demonstrate outstanding effort across all Key Learning Areas 
Positive Behaviours 4 Learning -  students who demonstrate exemplary behaviour

We will not be distributing our three major End of Year Awards this year as these awards are reflected in a commitment to College life that has been significantly affected by COVID. We look forward to getting back to normal in 2021! 

In 2019 our award ceremony was held in the Mt Carmel Hall.  Due to COVID it is not possible for us to travel to another school for this years ceremony. Therefore our Semester 2 Awards will be presented on site. Unfortunately our current venues for these ceremonies will not be large enough to support a parent audience.  We will ensure photographs are taken and published in the College newsletter and on Facebook for students with permission to do so. 

The Year 10 Award Ceremony will take place on Friday 11th December 2020. Kindergarten to Year 9 Awards Ceremonies will be held on Tuesday 15th December 2020. During these ceremonies we will also acknowledge our outgoing 2019/2020 school leaders. On this day we will also be holding our End of Year Mass which will be streamed to all classes from K-9.

It is anticipated that our new College Hall will be able to accommodate our 2021 End of Year Award Ceremony.

We appreciate your understanding and support.

A reminder that if you have a specific request regarding classes for 2021 that is essential for your son or daughter’s learning, please contact me via email on melissa.vella@dow.catholic.edu.au to make an appointment to discuss your concerns.

This must be done by Monday 30th November 2020.

Mrs Melissa Vella
Assistant Principal - Teaching & Learning

If any families/students are not returning to the College in 2021,
we would ask that you email College Reception as soon as possible
to info@sfccdow.catholic.edu.au so that we can adjust our numbers for 2021
and offer places to students who are on waiting lists.

Parents of students not returning will be required to fill out a sign out form prior to their child/ren's last day at the College.  This form can be requested from College Reception when notification of leaving is made.  

Please make sure that you request this form well in advance of the student's leaving date, as the sign out procedure can take some time to complete.

Kind regards
SFCC Administration

This term Kindergarten have been learning all about living things. What better way to explore living things than visiting Calmsley Hill Farm.

The students saw lots of different animals, saw a whip cracking show, a sheep shearing show, went on a tractor and also watched a working sheep dog show!

The students definitely went home to have a good sleep after learning lots of new things about the farm.

Fun fact: a baby koala is called a Joey!

Mrs Crescini, Miss Sultana, Miss Papadam
Kindergarten Teachers

Junior Years Assembly
10 November 2020

BRONZE AWARDS

(Back row L-R)
Ana G, Rayaan L, Aaron
Taite H, Alexander B
Kripa D, Dipsha K, Reet G

(Front row L-R)
Axel C, Rufaro N,
Akira S, Tiffany C,
Kia Q, Ethan D,
Helena O, Carmen G, Ivy M
not pictured - Kenisha S

Middle Years Assembly
17 November 2020

Gold Awards
Dominik K
Zach H

Silver Awards
Zach H

Bronze Awards
Sanya S

Congratulations to all our award winners!!

SPLICED stands for: Stretching Potential through Learning in Interactive Challenging Environments in the Diocese of Wollongong.  SPLICED provides conceptually based differentiated units of work for learners. The unit for 2020 is “Contemplating Connections” Discerning Relationships in the Complex Tapestry of Life. The unit is designed to allow for students to engage in a critical, creative and reflective thinking process.

In their choice of expressive forms, the students in the SPLICED program were invited to explain their understanding of the concept of Contemplating Connections. 

Despite the limitations of COVID during the SPLICED program this year, all students who participated in the SPLICED program from St Francis Catholic College were successful and their work will be published in the 2020 SPLICED booklet as well as on the 2020 SPLICED website. The SPLICED Launch to showcase all student work will take place remotely on Tuesday December 8 at 7.00pm.

Congratulations to Ivanna D, Victoria G and Jiya K for successfully completing the SPLICED Program for 2020. 

Ivanna expressed her understanding of the concept through explaining how we are connected through transformation of innovations in technology, transport, communication and scientific understanding.

Victoria presented her understanding of Contemplating Connections through a slide show exploring how different cultures are connected through beliefs, traditions, appearance, celebrations and festivals, history and stories. 

Jiya conveyed her understanding through an artwork titled ‘Colours of the Inner Soul’ accompanied by a written piece explaining how personalities, unique qualities, emotions in certain situations, beliefs and thoughts are what make you, your true self.

We are very proud of the quality and creativity of the responses to the topic and the way in which they dealt with the challenges placed before them in the SPLICED program. We look forward to celebrating and enjoying their work that will be published in the SPLICED booklet as well as the accompanying website.

Miss Issa
Extension & Enrichment Teacher