Term 3 Newsletter 14th September- 2023
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGES
Spending Quality Time as a Family: Building Stronger Bonds
In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life. Between work, school, extracurricular activities, and technology, it can sometimes feel like there's very little time left for what matters most – spending quality time together as a family. However, it's crucial to prioritize these.
Spending quality time as a family offers a myriad of benefits. It not only strengthens the bonds between family members but also creates lasting memories and provides a sense of security and belonging for children. Here are some reasons why family time is so essential:
Connection: Family time allows you to connect on a deeper level. It's an opportunity to share experiences, thoughts, and feelings, fostering open communication within the family.
Emotional Well-being: Quality family time can boost everyone's emotional well-being. It provides a safe space for expressing emotions, seeking support, and finding comfort during challenging times.
Building Values: Family activities can instill and reinforce important values and life skills, such as empathy, teamwork, and problem-solving, in your children.
Memories: The memories created during family outings or activities can be cherished for a lifetime. These moments can shape your children's understanding of what a loving and supportive family should be. We all remember those holidays, when we were younger, when mum/dad or our relatives would take us on those unforgettable trips (some we want to forget). For me, it was “The White Horse” at Burleigh Heads, now I think is has been knocked down as a car park.
Some practical ways to make it happen:
Family Game Nights: Gather around the table for board games, card games, or even video games that the whole family can enjoy.
Outdoor Adventures: Explore nature by going for hikes, picnics, bike rides, or simply spending time at a local park.
Cook Together: Involve your children in meal preparation. It's a fun way to bond and teach them valuable life skills.
Arts and Crafts: Set up an art station where everyone can get creative. This is a great way to encourage self-expression and creativity.
Read Aloud: Choose a book to read aloud as a family. It's a wonderful way to bond and share stories.
Volunteer Together: Giving back to the community as a family not only strengthens your bond but also teaches your children the value of empathy and helping others.
Tech-Free Time: Set aside specific times when you disconnect from screens and focus on each other. This can be during meals, before bedtime, or on weekends.
While it's clear that family time is essential, it can sometimes be a challenge to make it a regular part of your routine. Here are some tips to help you prioritize it:
Schedule It: Just like you schedule work meetings or appointments, schedule family time on your calendar.
Set Boundaries: Establish technology-free zones or times to minimize distractions.
Be Present: When you're spending time with your family, be fully present. Put away your phone and give your full attention to your loved ones.
Flexibility: Be flexible with your plans. Sometimes the best moments happen when you least expect them.
Make It a Tradition: Create family traditions that everyone can look forward to, like a monthly movie night or a yearly camping trip.
Spending quality time as a family is not just an option; it's a necessity for building stronger bonds and creating a loving and supportive home environment. Make a commitment to prioritize family time in your busy lives, and you'll reap the rewards of happier, more connected family relationships. Here's to the beautiful moments and memories you'll create together as a family!
Show ‘n’ Shine
Please continue to support our school with the selling of raffle tickets for our 2023 Show ‘n’ Shine raffle. Not only are we offering some amazing prizes this year, but the sale of these tickets will go towards sending our year 5/6 students to school camp for next year. Any questions or if you need additional books, please contact Mr Red, the office, or Jessica Johnson. Happy Fundraising.
All the best for the upcoming holidays and we look forward to seeing you again in Term 4.
Wow, what a term. It has been fast paced and flown by so quickly. I just wanted to say thank you to you, our families of St Francis, for your understanding and patience. St Francis really appreciates the sacrifices that you make and the effort you put into to make St Francis a great little school.
Thank you for understanding about the decisions that we make and your support in enabling St Francis to be the very best it can be.
A massive thank also to our staff that work here. Without you, our school wouldn’t be the place it is. Thank you for all the little extras that you do and for the dedication and commitment you show. We are truly blessed to have a wonderful community here at St Frannies.
Please enjoy the next two weeks, in whatever it may bring, and we look forward to continuing a positive and enjoyable relationship next term.
Up coming dates for term 4
Mon 2 Oct – King’s Birthday – no school
Tues 3 Oct – School Resumes
Thurs 19 Oct – Prep 2024 transitions and Yr 6 Clifton High School Transition
Sat 21 Oct – Show n Shine Car Show at St Francis and the beginning of Country Week
Sun 22 Oct – Family Sunday Mass – 9:30am
Fri 27 Oct – World Teacher’s Day; St Francis Speech Competition
Sat 28 Oct – Clifton Races
God bless and thanks for reading…
Cheers,
Brendan
MIDDLE LEADER
CURRICULUM COORDINATOR
I would like to take a moment to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your active participation in our recent Parent-Teacher Interviews. Your presence and engagement during these sessions are greatly appreciated, and I believe they are an essential element in fostering a strong partnership between our school and your homes.
As we navigate through another exciting academic year here at St Francis, I wanted to take a moment to delve into a concept that lies at the heart of our educational philosophy: "The Learning Pit." This metaphorical pit is where our students encounter challenges, grapple with new concepts, and ultimately emerge stronger, wiser, and more capable.
What is the Learning Pit?
Imagine a deep, dark pit, shrouded in mystery and uncertainty. At its entrance lies the comfort zone, a place where tasks and concepts are well within our grasp. However, just beyond the entrance, the ground begins to slope downward, leading us into unfamiliar territory. This is where the learning pit begins.
The Learning Pit is a representation of the discomfort and struggle that often accompanies true learning. It's where students confront difficult problems, face setbacks, and grapple with complex ideas. It's a place of challenge and discomfort, but it's also the crucible of growth and development.
Embracing Challenge and Growth
Our goal at St Francis is not merely to impart knowledge but to nurture learners who are resilient, resourceful, and ready to face the ever-changing world. The Learning Pit is a powerful tool in achieving this goal. When students find themselves in the Learning Pit, it's essential to understand that this is a normal and valuable part of the learning process. It's a place where students are pushed to think critically, seek solutions, and develop problem-solving skills. It's where they confront their limitations, push past them, and emerge stronger.
The Role of Teachers and Parents
As educators and parents, we play a crucial role in guiding our students through the Learning Pit. Here's how we can support them:
- Create a Safe Environment: Encourage students to take risks and embrace challenges without fear of failure. Let them know that mistakes are an integral part of the learning process.
- Foster a Growth Mindset: Teach students that their abilities are not fixed but can be developed through dedication and hard work. Encourage a positive attitude towards learning and growth.
- Provide Guidance: Offer guidance and support when students encounter difficulties. Help them break down complex problems into manageable steps.
- Celebrate Progress: Celebrate both the small and big achievements along the learning journey. Recognize the effort and perseverance that go into overcoming challenges.
The Path to Success
In embracing the Learning Pit, we equip our students with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in an ever-changing world. They learn not only how to overcome obstacles but also how to approach new challenges with confidence and determination.
So, the next time your child faces a daunting assignment or grapples with a complex concept, remind them that they are in the Learning Pit—a place of growth and transformation. With your support and encouragement, they will emerge from it stronger, more knowledgeable, and better prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.
Prep/ Yr1 / Yr2
Prep/Year 1/Year 2
What a busy term this has been!
With pupil free days, NAIDOC Day, sports days and last week’s ball games carnival, we were left with only 5 teaching Fridays this term but as always we have packed a lot in! Our Prep/1/2 students work hard and strive to do their very best always. Mrs Malbon and I feel very lucky to be their teachers. The growth we have seen, this term especially, is amazing and a credit to their work ethic.
HASS – In Geography this term we have been learning about Our Wonderful World. We have learnt about the continents of the world and the oceans as well as talking about the Equator and the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. We have labelled these on a World map and discussed some of the popular features of each continent.
Shared Reading and Writing – In keeping with our Wonderful World theme we have been listening to stories about pirates sailing the oceans and have imagined that we are on a cruise ship from Australia to New Zealand – We are all the captain of our own ship, of course!
In our Year 2 Literacy group (Monday and Tuesday) we have been practicing our writing stamina. Our Goal is to write continuously for 20 minutes – we are getting there! Again we are using our prior knowledge gained in HASS to write narratives about sailing the seas, being shipwrecked and rescued and finding buried treasure.
We have also learnt about non-fiction texts while we read information about bees and examine the features of non-fiction texts (captions, headings, glossaries, graphs, tables and diagrams) and how these features assist us in reading and understanding non-fiction. We are learning to find the main idea in a text and the supporting details.
In handwriting we have been working hard at adding entries and exits to our writing. We are still finding this quite difficult and still need lots of reminders but with practice we are improving.
As always one of the highlights of our Fridays is the time we get to spend with our year 6 buddies. This term we have learnt to use stencils and blend colours as we designed our Father’s Day cards.
During our library lessons we have learnt about internet safety, we know not to click on popups that appear on our screens and about the importance of keeping our passwords and personal details private. We are currently learning about data and collecting and presenting information by making groups with similar characteristics and graphing our results.
Our big goal for next term is to increase our library borrowing. Many of our students are forgetting to bring in their library bags and are therefore not borrowing regularly. Please make sure that you encourage your child to bring their library books back each Thursday and enjoy sharing their library books with them each night. There is no time more special than being able to spend time reading to your child. As well as being pleasurable this is also a great time to discuss what you have read helping to improve their comprehension and their vocabulary while instilling in them a love of books and reading.
Wishing you all an enjoyable holiday, we look forward to another busy term next term.
YEAR 3/4
Year 3/4
Prep/Year 1/Year 2
We have been spending a lot of time completing our quest narratives. It's exciting to publish our writing and share with our community. Please visit the Facebook page to enjoy our friends reading their published narratives.
During Science this term we have been learning about the Earth's changing surface. We have learnt about erosion, biological and physical changes to the Earth's surface, fossils and how the land is formed and changes. Most students have been interested in this topic as it related well to our rural setting.
It has been a truly excellent term of teaching and learning. We look forward to the joy and excitement of term four. Enjoy your holidays- it's a beautiful time of year!
A note from 3-4 students
Charlotte- there are a lot of great things that have happened this term. I loved writing my own quest.
Shaneil- I loved completing the sacraments of confirmation and Holy Communion. I enjoyed writing and illustrating my quest.
Jackson- I really like illustrating my quest.
James- The best part of this term is SPORTS! I loved running at the athletics carnival in Allora.
Chaz B- My favourite thing this term was the ball games carnival and PE with Mr Red. I really loved the how to day.
Olive- I like book week, how to, ball games and writing the quest narrative.
Natalie- I liked writing the quest, how to day and book week dress up was a really fun day.
Chase- I am proud of my quest- Dragon Hunters.
Mitch- my favourite day was book week and our how-to speeches.
Henry- I like pretty much everything this term but I especially like sports, writing our quest and spelling.
Rhys- I loved competing in the athletics carnivals especially darling downs trials for long jump. I also enjoyed writing my quest and the how to day.
Matilda- I loved the whole term and everything about it. Learning is exciting and fun. I especially love the how to day. I want to thank all the teachers who worked with us this term.
Year 5/6 News
Year 5/6
Over the last few weeks in 5/6 we have been busy writing reports about bushfires and other catastrophic events. The students have learnt to summarise, take notes and then write these notes into sentences. This is a fantastic skill to learn.
In Religion, we have been studying prayers and saints. We explored different ways of understanding the term ' communion of saints' as the community of believers. It was fascinating for the children to discover that some countries have patron saints. I am sure they will let you know what they have discovered!
During Mathematics, we have calculated volume, percentages of numbers and rounded decimal numbers to the nearest… everything! We are so much more confident now than we were at the start on this learning concept. In number we have also been practicing multiplication and division with decimals!
SPORT
PE with Mr Red
All the students really enjoyed the Ball Games and Sports Expo last week. A massive thank you to Mr Barry Healy (PE teacher at the State School Cluster) for all his organisation and to Emu Creek for the fabulous food. We are finishing off with Touch Football this week, focusing on team work, passing, stepping and the fundamentals (and rules) of the game.
Next term will see the students begin Cricket Skills and Swimming (second last week of term 4 Monday 20 November to Wednesday 22 November) with our Swimming Carnival on Thursday 23 November.
Stay tunned for more sporting news and events next term.
Yours in all things sporty,
Mr Red
Ball Games
P & F UNIFORM SHOP
Uniform Shop Co-Ordinator: Kylie Hay
Contact Details: kurlz@live.com.au or 0487 582 107
Uniform Shop Days: MOST Thursdays & Fridays
If you would like uniforms, please fill in the updated Invoice Sheet and email or text Kylie to either arrange a time to meet or for the order to be sent home with your child. If you have an old invoice copy, please bin it and replace with our updated one. This can be found on the Facebook page or request one from me directly.
UNIFORM SHOP NEWS
- We now have EFTPOS available in the Uniform Shop at the time of collection
- We have some good quality second hand winter uniforms and also summer uniforms available for $5 per item if you’re looking for an extra jumper, shirt, shorts etc. Please note that only limited sizes and items are available but you are welcome to request second hand if available.
- We are no longer stocking the following items however we still have limited stock available for a discounted price if you would still like to purchase them.
- Green Fleece Vest $10
- Sizes 4,6,8,12 & 14 available
- Long Sleeve Boys Polo Shirts $15
- Sizes 4,10,12,14 & Small available
- Girls Green Long Formal Pants $10
- All sizes except 10 available
- Girls Green Long Sports Pants $15
- Sizes 4,6,8,10 & 16 available
- Green Fleece Vest $10
If you urgently require uniforms on a day other than Thursday or Friday, please let me know and I can arrange this with the staff at St Francis De Sales. Please note I do work and will get back to you as soon as I possibly can.
STUDENT PROTECTION CONTACTS
Feeling Safe- All students have a right to feel safe and be safe.
If you are concerned about any form of abuse that is immediate, you should call 000. A significant risk or harm to a student, whether or not you have formed this belief on reasonable ground, should immediately be raised with one of our Student Protection Contacts.
ADMINISTRATION
School Fees:
We do recommend the setting-up of a direct debit facility to pay regular amounts into the school account. This alleviates overdue bills.
SCHOOL Bank Details
BSB: 064786
A/C: 100023789
Reminder: All P&F payments & Uniform payments are paid to a different bank account NOT the school account.
P&F Bank Details
BSB: 084610
A/C: 508684159