Welcome back (or welcome for the first time) to the St Francis Catholic College Community. I particularly welcome our very excited Kindy students*, our new Year 7s and all students and families who have joined the College in 2024.

It’s great to start another academic year and see our students return bright-eyed and keen for the learning adventures ahead.

As mentioned at our brief College Assembly the other day, I am excited about the coming year. Our staff have undertaken much preparation and planning for 2024, and there are many things that we greatly anticipate this year - especially our focused approach on New Pedagogies for Deep Learning - and our way of emphasising critical life skills for our students. More details will be shared about this right across 2024.

[*NB: I especially thank Casey Borg from Savy Balloons (https://savyballoons.com/ ), who supplied our Kindy students with the beautiful balloon and photo display. Casey has been very generous in recent years and supplied beautiful balloon displays for various student and school events. A huge thank you!]

2023 HSC Results

Wow!

I congratulate the 2023 cohort on such tremendous HSC results. Not only were the College results the best in the Diocese of Wollongong, but they saw the College rank in the top 150 schools in NSW - quite an achievement for a school in ONLY its second HSC cohort and for a school only seven years old last year.

You can see here a snapshot of our HSC results from 2023:

We look forward to seeing our High Achievers return to the College next week.

SWIMMING CARNIVAL

Today we held our annual swimming carnival in Years 5 to 12 (and competitors in Years 3 & 4). What a great event it was, and I thank the many parents and carers went to the pool. In particular, I think Mrs Lowe and Mrs Pavlovich for their organisation, our staff and students and our Year 12s who led the way so well and dressed up in various fabulous costumes and outfits (with either a TV or Movie Theme). 

Much energy and enthusiasm were on display and allowed a wonderful community celebration - not to mention - some very talented swimmers and some not-so-comfortable swimmers safely stepping out of their comfort zones. 

Photos of the event will be shared in the following newsletter.

TRANSPORT TO AND FROM THE COLLEGE

Buses - Please ensure you have read my letter on Compass earlier this week regarding bus travel. The College will be strongly advocating for additional bus services over the year - and pleasingly, we may already have had a win with a possible additional service to Willowdale. However, until we get the necessary outcome, I cannot stress enough the criticality of students having functioning Opal cards, which they tap on on every trip.

Bicycles - it’s great to see a number of students riding to, and from College. I emphasise that helmets must be worn when students ride to and from school.

Car entry to the College - please abide by our protocols and the signage inside and outside of the College gates. The safety of our staff and students is paramount.

Parking and car travel around the College -
we have had requests from local residents that our community members observe common sense and safely follow the parking signs around the College. Please help us by being safe and respectful to our local Edmondson Park community members. Double-parking and/or dropping students off in the middle of the road is unsafe. The local police attend our College in the morning and afternoon from time to time - and I state the obvious here - all road rules, and speed limits must be followed at all times.

Parent Carer Information Evenings

Following parent/carer feedback from 2023, various information evenings will be held in the first half of the term.

Here is the current schedule:

LA Religious Education Congress

Our Assistant Principal - Religious Education Identity Mission, Alex Mediati, our  K-4 Religious Education Coordinator, Jill Crescini and I have been selected by Catholic Education Wollongong to represent the diocese at an international Religious Education conference over the coming fortnight. 

During that time, Mrs Melissa Vella will be Acting Principal for Weeks 3 and 4 this term.

I’ve heard great things about the Los Angeles RE Congress. Apart from hearing from internationally renowned theologians, during our time in LA, we will be visiting local Catholic schools and engaging with initiatives such as “HomeBoy Industries”, developed by Father Greg Boyle and aimed at supporting trauma-abused young people who have had challenging experiences as gang members in LA.

Staffing Update

I have previously advised new staff joining us this year. Unfortunately, I must also advise that:

(i) Mrs Kellie Kells will leave us early next week to start a promotional position at an Independent school near Penrith. Mrs Kells has held various positions here at the College over a number of years and will be missed. I hope to advise a replacement in the not-too-distant future.

(ii) Miss Melissa Mangion has accepted a role at a Catholic College closer to her home. She will finish up with us next week. We wish her well.

(iii) Mr Brendan McMurdo will finish with us next week. Mr McMurdo looks to be able to work fewer days and concentrate on his passion of woodworking. We wish him well.

THE BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR – A STUDENT’S PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, I ask You for help as I begin this new year.

Allow me to experience Your presence in the many blessings that You put before me on a daily basis. 

Help me recognise the new challenges and exciting opportunities this new year offers. 

Open my heart and mind to new friends, teachers and learning experiences. 

Help me to have a generous spirit so that I am enthusiastic in my studies, compassionate and kind in my dealings with others and willing to embrace new opportunities. 

Help me to be attentive to my teachers and let me experience Your presence in my new friends and the St Francis Catholic College Community.

Jesus, inspire me to do my best this year! Amen

Welcome back to 2024! As we open our doors once again to welcome back familiar faces and greet new ones, I am filled with a sense of pride and anticipation for the wonderful journey that lies ahead.

As Deputy Principal, I am honoured to be a part of this vibrant community and look forward to working closely with our students, parents/carers, and staff to ensure a successful and fulfilling school year for all. Together, we will continue to foster a culture of excellence, collaboration, and inclusivity that empowers every member of our school community to excel and succeed.

I encourage you to stay connected and engaged with us throughout the year. Whether it's through our school events, parent-teacher-student interviews, or volunteering opportunities, your involvement and support are invaluable to the success of our students and our college. Please ensure you have the SFCC Compass APP downloaded on your device as this is the main way in which the college communicates information. If you are unsure about Compass please contact College Reception for assistance.

PARENT HELPER INDUCTION:

If you are interested in being a parent helper either in our K-6 classrooms, the library, or at a sporting event, etc, you are required to attend one of our Parent Helper Induction Sessions on Wednesday 28th February at either 8:45am OR 7.00pm via ZOOM (online). Sessions will run for approximately thirty minutes. During these sessions, we will explain the requirements and expectations of being a parent helper. Following the sessions all expressions of interest and available times will be passed onto classroom teachers, the Sport Coordinator and our Librarians who will contact you when they need parent helpers.

If you attended the parent helper session last year (2023) are you not required to attend again this year but we will email you an updated expression of interest form to complete for this year.

Please note that all parents who help at the College are required to submit documentation including a  Working with Children Check and proof of your date of birth prior to volunteering.

If you are interested in attending please RSVP by Monday 26th February at 9am by emailing info_sfcc@dow.catholic.edu.au . You must RSVP using the name that will appear on your zoom as only registered parents/carers will be given entry into the Zoom. The ZOOM link will be emailed to you on Tuesday 27th February.

We look forward to seeing you at one of the workshops.

I welcome all families back for the start of the 2024 school year. I hope you all had the opportunity to relax and enjoy quality time with loved ones over the Christmas break.  I would particularly like to extend a warm welcome our newest members of the College, our Kindergarten and Year 7 students.  It is wonderful to see how quickly they have settled into their new school environment and are ready to face the year ahead.  Welcome also to all new families to the College. You have joined a very special community and I look forward to meeting you over the coming weeks.

There have been some changes to the Teaching and Learning Leadership team this year and I look forward to working with such an experienced and dedicated team. The K-12 Teaching and Learning team is as follows:

Mrs Rita Agostino (Assistant Principal - Teaching and Learning)

Mrs Alex Mediati (Assistant Principal - Religious Education, Identity and Mission)

TBC  (Leader of Curriculum Yrs 5-12)

Ms Tania Kolar (Leader of Middle Years Learning)

Mrs Thuy Duong (Leader of Maths)

Mrs Siobhan Moore (Leader of English)
Mr Philip Stonefield (Leader of Science)

Mrs Daniela Borkovic (Leader of HSIE)

Ms Jessica Flegg (Leader of PDHPE)

Mrs Angela Bennett (Leader of CAPA)

Mrs Kristina Sulentic (Leader of TAS)

Miss Amber Meadley (Leader of VET)

Ms Allira Figueiras (Acting Leader of Junior Years Learning)

Mrs Jill Cresini (Leader of Religious Education, Identity & Mission K-4)

Miss Angela Papadam (K-4 Literacy Coordinator)

Mrs Kylie Jeymour (K-4 Numeracy Coordinator)

A reminder that if you have any queries in relation to your child’s learning to please contact their classroom teacher first.

Graduating Class of 2023

On the 15th February during our Middle/Senior Years Assembly, we will welcome back students from the Graduating Class of 2023 to celebrate their HSC  achievements.

Year 12 students are to be commended on their outstanding HSC results.  They exemplified remarkable dedication to their studies.  Their collective commitment to academic excellence was impressive and they embraced challenges with open minds.  Students approached the HSC with maturity and resilience and they demonstrated the ability to stay composed, focused and determined. 

2023 HSC Results

• 79% of courses offered in 2023 were above the State mean.
• Band 4, 5 and 6 results accounted for 82.4% of the candidature
• 26% of students were able to achieve a Band 6 result (90+)
• Our College Dux, Courtney J, achieved an ATAR of 98.35 and an additional 6 students achieved an ATAR over 90.  

We are equally as proud of the students who chose a vocational pathway, and did not apply for an ATAR, and moved straight into their choice of industry.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the dedicated Year 12 teachers for their exceptional hard work and commitment in preparing students for the HSC.  Their tireless efforts, passion for teaching, and guidance have played a pivotal role in shaping the academic journey of this cohort and these outstanding results are witness to the importance of teamwork and ongoing collaboration between staff and students.  I am confident that students of the Graduating Class of 2023 will make a significant contribution to the wider community and I wish our students every success in their future endeavours.

Success doe not happen by chance; it is the outcome of deliberate habits and a dedication to seizing opportunities. It is the daily routines, the ability to bounce back from challenges and setbacks, and the optimistic mindset that fuel lasting success. As we start the new academic year, I urge all students to think about the habits that will lead to their own personal success.  This is an opportunity to think about which habits will support reaching desired goals. Whether it is staying organised, establishing a regular study schedule, reviewing important concepts, or getting ready for upcoming exams – each habit plays a part in achieving overall success.

Naplan

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a point in time assessment of literacy and numeracy skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life. Each year students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in tests for writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. This year, the NAPLAN testing window is from Wednesday 13th March to Monday 25th March 2024.  If your child is participating in NAPLAN this year, please avoid taking leave during this period.  Further information will be provided closer to the date.

NSW Curriculum Reforms

Our staff have been working extremely hard as they navigate the implementation of the new curriculum.  NESA has a staggered approach to implementation across a seven year time period (2021-2028) with a varied start and end point for respective subjects.  I commend our staff who are working hard to ensure that our curriculum programs accurately reflect these reforms, while continuing to embed high-impact teaching strategies, differentiated learning tasks and student adjustments.

Wishing you all the very best for the year ahead.

Mrs Rita Agostino
Assistant Principal - Teaching and Learning