Term 4 Newsletter 31st October- 2023

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGES

World Teacher’s Day 28 October

One of the many events or significant occasions occurring this term is the annual World Teachers Day.  This year’s theme, “Teaching - where the future begins” is a particularly poignant one. It underscores the importance of education in shaping a better, more informed, and more capable future. It highlights the significant role our educators play in guiding and inspiring students to become active and responsible participants in shaping the world ahead.

When I look back over my career and schooling, it is those teachers who make the most of each moment and build connections/relationships with their students who leave the best impression. They too are the ones who stop and take time to really get to know kids and not just the ones in their class. 

I would like say my personal thank you to the teachers who give freely of their time and who make the most of teachable moments. Thank you for trying other angles to explain how something works. Thank you for volunteering to take a small group who may find a particular concept challenging. Thank you for answering thousands of questions. Thank you for extending the classroom beyond the four walls of the classroom. Thank you to all staff and volunteers. I have witnessed many of you teach…you may not have been intentional but through the giving of your time and genuine desire to see students succeed, you too have made a difference.

World Teachers Day was celebrated on Friday, last week. In the busyness of life we sometimes let occasions such as this slip by without saying anything. I hope our teachers feel the greatness of teaching and receive the due recognition they deserve. A simple thank you is such a powerful gift.

Mini Vinnies Christmas Appeal

During Term 4, Vinnies begins its annual Christmas  Appeal, seeking donations and funds to help support people during the festive season. It is estimated that there are over 750,000 children across Australia living in poverty with many families and individuals feeling socially isolated. The Christmas Appeal aims to support families and individuals who are struggling by helping to pay bills, provide food, clothing, hampers and presents during the festive season.

During Term 4 we invite you to participate in the Christmas Appeal by donating goods or gifts to add to hampers which will be given to families and individuals in our local community. This could consist of Long Life Milk; Milo; Jelly; Long Life Juice; Christmas Cake; Pancake Mix; Cordial; Lollies; Rice; Cereal;  Fruit Mince Pies; Biscuits-Sweet and Savoury; Tinned Vegetables; Pasta; Pasta Sauce; Spreads - Jam, Vegemite; Gravy Mix; Soup etc

 Show ‘n’ Shine – done for 2023

Thank you to all for your wonderful support and contributions that made the Show ‘n’ Shine one of the best ones yet. I believe we had around 61 car and bike entries this year, which is a great response from our community. Massive thank you to those parents, especially our Year 4/5s, who made the effort to either be there in person or provided home-bake. A very special mention to Mrs Jess Johnson for taking the reigns and supporting Ms Tina Hilton in the preparation, organisation and running of the event. Ladies, a huge job and managed very well. Great work. On behalf of the school, I also just want to mention the years of service and support Ms Tina Hilton has put into this event. Since 2019, this event has been her idea and a major fundraiser for camps with over $10,000 being raised since its inception. Again, a testament to Ms Tina’s support of this school. Thank you, Tina, for all that you do, we are very sad to see you go. I know though, you will be out to help and support our school next year.

School Fees for Term 4

Please be diligent and finalise your school fees for Term 4. If you haven’t received the email, please contact the office. Your prompt payment allows us to successfully pay for class resources and extra-curricular activities. It also enables us to confidently enter into the new year in a good financial position to continue to offer quality teaching and learning experiences, state of the art facilities and desired staffing levels. Your continued financial commitment to the school is an investment in your child’s education and future.

Moving to an online ordering system – QuickCliQ

Starting from this Wednesday, 1st November, the school will be moving to an online ordering system called QuickCliQ. Both the Tuckshop and P&F accounts will be closed – please update your direct debit information from your preferred banks. The one account will be the school account with the ADF details as  ADF:-

BSB – 064786

Acc Number – 1000 237 89

Why go to an online ordering system, you may ask? Well, you will be able to have one family, one account, ordering in advance by simply logging in and with a few clicks the order is submitted and paid for. Decreased administration and ordering time for the school plus no chasing up of overdue accounts – QuickCliQ! More information will come out this Wednesday.

 Upcoming Dates

Term 4 Dates (please refer to our online calendar for our most up to date list of events for the year) https://sfdssclifton.schoolzineplus.com/calendar

Up coming dates for term 4

Fri 3 Nov – Back Plains Speech Competition – Congratulations to Natalie, Matilda and Eve

Fri 10 Nov – Remembrance Day Liturgy – 2:30pm

Tues 14 Nov – High School Transition

Wed 15 – 17 Nov – Year 5/6 Tallebudgera Camp

Mon 20 – 22 Nov – Swimming Block Lessons – 9:00-10:00am

Thurs 23 Nov – Swimming Carnival – 9-12pm

Fri 24 Nov – Awards Night Celebration 5:30pm

Wed 29 Nov – Graduation Celebrations 5:30pm in our Church

Thurs 30 Nov – End of Year Mass 9:00am

                              - Shared student Lunch

Fri 1 Dec – Xmas Disco 9-11am

God bless and thanks for reading…

Cheers,

Brendan

MIDDLE LEADER

CURRICULUM  COORDINATOR 

Today, I would like to discuss a crucial aspect of student’ development—building empathy in primary school-aged children. 

What is Empathy? Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It's an essential skill that helps children develop healthy relationships, resolve conflicts, and become compassionate members of society. 

Why is Empathy Important? Teaching empathy at an early age is vital because it lays the foundation for emotional intelligence and social awareness.  

Ways to Foster Empathy in Primary School Children 

1. Model Empathy: Children learn by example. As educators and parents, we must demonstrate empathy in our interactions with them and others. 

1. Teach Perspective-Taking: Encourage children to see situations from different viewpoints. Ask questions like, "How would you feel if you were in their shoes?" 

1. Practice Active Listening: Encourage children to listen actively when someone is speaking. This helps them understand others' emotions and needs better. 

1. Encourage Discussion: Create a safe space for children to talk about their feelings and experiences. Discuss current events and issues, promoting open dialogue. 

1. Conflict Resolution Skills: Teach children how to resolve conflicts peacefully through dialogue and compromise. 

Prep/ Yr1 / Yr2

Prep/Year 1/Year 2

This fortnight we welcomed our new Prep friends for 2024 Billy, Olivia and Vance. Transition one consisted of a morning of engaging, learning activities, based around the theme ‘Under the Sea’ and the book ‘The Whale and the Snail’ by Julia Donaldson. This is a heartwarming story that reminds us that anyone, no matter how small they are, can achieve great things if they put their mind to it. Our Year 2 students enjoyed a morning upstairs with Mrs Skillington learning some of the routines that come with being in Year 3. A very exciting time for our students. Transition 2 saw us welcome our Prep 2024 friends back for a delightful Teddy Bears Picnic. During our reading of the book ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ and our ‘Teddy Bear Picnic’ song and dance we had a surprise visit from Mother Bear and Father Bear. The students thought it would be great if our bears could stay for the picnic, so they did. These transitions have proved successful in building positive connections and relationships with our new students. Next fortnight, our Prep 2024 students will meet their 2024 Year 6 Buddies. An exciting time for all! Below are a few of the photos Mrs Auger and Mrs Lanagan captured from Transition 1 and 2.

In English this fortnight, we have worked on preparing and presenting our speeches to the class. The Prep-2 staff have been amazed at the quality of the speeches and the increased confidence students have demonstrated when speaking to an audience. Not an easy task but one that all students gave their best!

In Religion this fortnight, students were introduced to the Jewish concept of Mitzvah. These are the commandments that many Jewish people follow to keep the covenant and relationship with God. Students then brainstormed how we can create good relationships in our school, our homes and our community.

In Science, students have been learning about Earth's resources, including water, soil and minerals and describing how they are used. Our discussions this fortnight have been around the precious resource, water. We explored the water cycle and discussed ways that we can manage our water supply at home and school.

YEAR 3/4

Year 3/4   

What a wonderful start to the term we are enjoying! It was great to see so many students from year 3-4 supporting our annual show and shine fundraiser. We've also thrown ourselves into raising funds and non-perishable items for our local community Christmas Appeal. All items warmly accepted at the front office. As Good Samaritans we look for opportunities to serve our community. 

During Religion we have deepened our learning of morals and making good moral judgements. This topic is so relevant to the way we treat and act towards others. We were called to reflect on the 10 Commandments and consider how these are still a practical guide for us today. 

Some Commandments Re-written for a modern audience.

Rhys- Honour everyone, even the people you don't like because this could lead to a better world. 

Charlotte- Although, we have favourite singers and actors, we only have one idol which is God.

Olive- Worship and rest when you need it.

Daniel- No praising statues or something you like calling them God.

James- Don't lie- have the courage to own up to your mistakes.

Mitchel- Love your neighbour with all of your heart.

This year the quality of our speeches were fantastic. Once again it is so amazing to see growth and improvement in student learning. Wishing our class finalist all the best in the school final this Friday. 

Year 5/6 News

Year 5/6

I was so impressed with the student’s speaking skills in class last week. Their topics were varied and well researched. Speaking in front of a large group can be overwhelming for students, and I was proud of the persistence and determination shown when they presented to the class.  

This week in class, we have begun learning about poetry and their components. The students were very keen to learn about assonance, rhythm, vowel rhyme, end rhyme, alliteration and onomatopoeia. The students will create various types of poems over the next few weeks.  

In Mathematics, we have been consolidating our knowledge of angles and converting units measurements. We have been learning about dot plots and line graphs in statistics, and learning about factors and multiples and patterning.  

SPORT

PE with Mr Red

Last week the students practised game-based scenarios like run outs, hitting the moving ball and bowling down the stumps. This week, we see us move to our new unit on Volleyball. Students will have to master the skills of setting, spiking, catching, communication and teamwork. Swimming is booked in for Mon 21^st – Wed 23^rd  November – this will happen at start of the day so students can wear their togs to school. They will get changed, after the swimming lessons, back at school. More information next week.

Yours in all things sporty,

Mr Red

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 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

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