The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a point in time assessment of literacy and numeracy skills. Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in the annual tests in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. All NSW schools will sit NAPLAN online in 2022. 

Our school will be participating in NAPLAN between 10th and 20th May 2022.

In preparation for NAPLAN, our school will also be participating in practice tests next Thursday 24th March. The practice test is a trial run and is not an assessment of student ability so these tests will not be marked.

Excessive preparation for NAPLAN is not recommended. Students can use the public demonstration site (https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site) to familiarise themselves with the types of questions and tools available in NAPLAN.

If you have any questions about NAPLAN, please contact your child’s class teacher (Year 3) or homeroom teacher (Years 5, 7, 9).

Bronze Awards

Congratulations to the following students on achieving their Bronze award recently:

Year 5
Jonathan S
Gabriel W
Euanne Z

Year 6
Saira P
Anushka N
Marco V
Rafael A

Year 8
Annika L
Joyce E
Vevina  K
Elizabeth L

Silver Awards

Congratulations to the following students on achieving their Silver award recently:

Year 5
Jade M
Annabelle P
Nirvik S
Ryan O
Abraham J

Year 6
Mithi B
William B
Sebastian S
Reet G

Year 7
Verrell S
Irene J

Gold Awards

Congratulations to the following students on achieving their Gold award recently:

Lent is a time to give and contemplate through prayer all the blessings we have as a community. This week, at SFCC we are fortunate enough to be part of many social justice activities. A Splash of Green was on Thursday in order to celebrate the Feast Day of St Patrick. This day is to commemorate the introduction of Catholicism to Ireland in the early 5th Century and celebrates all things Irish (including our very own Mrs Lyons!). This day is very important for our own Treacy House, as it is named after the Irish Bishop, Patrick Ambrose Treacy- who was responsible for establishing the Christian Brothers Community in Australia. At SFCC and in the tradition of Edmund Rice, we are committed to being liberators of education just like Bishop Treacy and St Patrick. Many students and staff wore ‘A Spray of Green’ and donated a gold coin to Project Compassion. We saw many green socks, green hair ties, green scarves and green hats to celebrate. 

If any family wishes to make an additional donation to our campaign this year, please donate online at https://fundraise.projectcompassion.org.au/stfranciscatholiccollegeedmondsonpark  

The Catholic Youth Ministry Wollongong (CYMW) team provides many opportunities for students around the diocese to be part of their faith journey in a safe and welcoming environment. Thank you to all the staff who volunteered with Ms Flegg and the CYMW team to facilitate the Live event on Thursday evening. Without their commitment to our students and Catholic community, these events wouldn’t be successful.

Monday 21st of March (Week 9), is Harmony Day. It is an international day for the elimination of racism and cultural bias. Here at SFCC, staff and students are encouraged to wear some orange for mufti day and donate a Gold Coin to Project Compassion. Traditionally, orange signifies social communication and meaningful conversations. It also relates to the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect. Wearing orange shows mutual support for cultural diversity and an inclusive Australia. 

On Harmony Day, students in the Junior Years will participate in Cultural Activities within their grade groups and then in the afternoon they will watch some students perform cultural songs and dances from various countries around the world. Students will also join the Middle and Senior Years students in the Rainbow House Challenge. This community challenge will allow House groups to compete in the spirit of raising funds for Project Compassion but also to advocate for our inclusive community.

Finally, we remember St Joseph who was the husband to Mary and the stepfather to Jesus. A carpenter, a father and a friend, he is the patron of the Universal Church, unborn children, fathers, workers, travellers and immigrants. We ask St Joseph to bless us all over the coming weeks towards the end of Term 1. 

A Child’s Prayer to St Joseph (Feast Day 19th March)

Dear St Joseph,

Help us to love and care,

To be gentle and fair.

Help us to work and play together,

Help us to live and grow together,

To be always glad to help each other,

Happy in your loving care.

Amen

St Francis Catholic College is a Level 3 Earthcare school and currently working towards Level 4. We have a strong commitment to environmental change and encourage our families to join us on this journey!

We encourage our families to register to the Earthcare families program!

The Earthcare families program is designed to help families engage with Pope Francis’ Laudato Si. Laudato Si calls families to care for our common home: 

“In the family we first learn how to show love and respect for life …. In the family we learn to ask without demanding, to say “thank you” as an expression of genuine gratitude for what we have been given, to control our aggressivity and greed, and to ask forgiveness when we have caused harm. These simple gestures of heartfelt courtesy help to create a culture of shared life and respect for our surroundings.” – Laudato Si 213

In 2021 the Laudato Si Action Platform was released asking families to respond to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor through making meaningful action over 7 years. The Earthcare families program will accompany families on their journey. Families have the opportunity to work at their own pace to achieve 4 certificates and demonstrate their commitment to achieving the 7 goals of the Laudato Si action platform. Families can register here:

https://catholicearthcare.org.au/laudato-si-families/ “

The urgent challenge to protect our common home includes a concern to bring the whole human family together to seek a sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change.” – Laudato Si 13.

We also pray for our families who are engaging with the program.

Catholic Youth Ministry Wollongong (CYMW)P is excited to announce that LIVE Local is returning to Macarthur! Starting on the 20th March LIVE local will now run every Sunday night in the school term from 6:15pm - 8:15pm, at St Johns  the Evangelist Parish Campelltown. This regional youth group is open to young people aged     13 - 17 who want to make new friends and grow in their faith. Come along for snacks, games, formation, prayer and music. For more information, please contact our Deanery Youth Group Coordinator Luke Vail at luke.vail@dow.org.au or call (02) 4222 2427.

For more details on youth groups, https://www.dow.org.au/cymw/