Term 1 Newsletter 1st Feb- 2024

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGES

An impressive beginning….

I would like to officially welcome all new and returning staff, students and families to the beginning of the school year for 2024. It has been a tremendous start to what will be a great 2024. I am very impressed with the students, on how well they have come back and fallen into the school routines and procedures. Way to go students and all the best for the remainder of the year.

What are we about in 2024 :-.

Roll out of our Strategic Plan for 2024-2027 which will include our big focus items for the next 4 years – this will be shared next week at our Parent Information Night, BBQ and Disco – 5:00pm Thursday 8 February – all most welcome to attend. Our finer goals for 2024 are:-

1. Become familiar with the new diocesan approach to reading – based upon the Australian Curriculum Version 9 through the teaching of Language Comprehension and Word Recognition.
2. Provide updated reading resources and professional learning with Decodables Reading Australia (phonics based reading resource that aligns to the Australian Version 9 Curriculum)
3. Develop and publish, the expected learner qualities and a common language of successful learners.
4. Embed our redeveloped Benedictine values into our community and foster a deeper connection with being a Good Samaritan through Service Learning
5. Revise our current behaviour management system and embed strategies to support well-being
6. Implement the effective use of our communication method for our community – Parent Portal, Sentral and Teams/Emails, Right to Disconnect Protocols

Reminders

• For the safety of our community could we please make sure the front gate (located on Meara Place) is closed at all times
• PE takes place on Wednesdays at 2:00pm for all students – Mrs Malbon and Mr Red teaching, with the assistance of Mrs Langan and Mrs Pingel
• Parent Portal to be used for all absenteeism and some permission forms – please contact the school if you have any questions
• Communication through Parent Portal, Sental messaging (email/sms), Facebook (SFDS site)
• School Fees issued in week 4 (prompt payment is very appreciated – please speak with the school if you require an understanding on payment, invoicing etc)
• New computers to arrive shortly for our Year 4/5/6 students
• Opening School Mass – 9:00am Monday 5 February
• Parent Information Night, BBQ and Disco – 5:00pm Thursday 8 February

Changes to Calendar Events:

The list of school events are located on the school’s webpage – https://sfdssclifton.schoolzineplus.com/calendar

This is a great way of keeping up to date with upcoming events. Emails, notifications and Facebook posts will also occur throughout the year to inform and remind you of upcoming events etc. Please see the next couple of events happening very soon:-

Week 3

5 Feb – Opening School Mass – 9:00am

8 Feb – Parent Information sessions starting from 5:00pm – Welcome BBQ and Disco;

9 Feb – Allora Show

Week 4

12 Feb – Show display completed this week

13 Feb – Shrove Tuesday – Pancakes at St Francis de Sales

14 Feb – Ash Wednesday Liturgy – 9:00am; Valentine’s Day

15 Feb – CD swimming – Allora

17 Feb – Clifton Show

Week 5 – Family Week – No Homework

20 Feb – SD Swimming – WIRAC

21 Feb – Tennis CD noms due

22 Feb –

23 Feb – CD – B&G Soccer – Clifton; CD – Netball – St Pat’s Allora; CD – RL 11/12 yrs – Clifton – 12pm; Prep Screening here

25 Feb – Family Sunday Mass – 9:30am

Week 6

26 Feb – School Photos

27 Feb –

28 Feb – DD Swimming – Gatton

29 Feb – SD B&G Soccer – Warwick; SD Netball – Warwick; SD RL – Warwick 

1 Mar – Tennis – CD – Clifton

Week 7

4 Mar – Basketball SD; Marty Visit 9:00am; Cricket DD trials – Harristown

5 Mar – Cricket DD Trials – Harristown; Touch SD Warwick Scots

6 Mar –

7 Mar –

8 Mar – Nobby Triathlon

Week 8 Newsletter Week; NAPLAN ONLINE BEGINS

11 Mar – Netball – DD – Glennie; Tennis SD noms due

12 Mar –

13 Mar – NAPLAN Testing

14 Mar – NAPLAN Testing

15 Mar – NAPLAN Testing

Week 9 - NAPLAN ONLINE; Parent Teacher Interviews

18 Mar – NAPLAN Testing; St Patrick’s Day

19 Mar – NAPLAN Testing;

20 Mar – NAPLAN testing period; Tennis SD – Clifton

21 Mar – NAPLAN testing period; Softball DD – Kearney Springs

22 Mar – NAPLAN testing period; St Francis Cross Country

23 Mar –

24 Mar – Family Sunday Mass – 9:30am / Palm Sunday

Week 10 – Newsletter Week Holy Week Celebrations; NAPLAN ONLINE; Parent Teacher Interviews

25 Mar – NAPLAN testing period

26 Mar – Basketball DD – Twmba; Swimming State – Chandler

27 Mar –

28 Mar – Easter Liturgy – 2pm; Holy Thursday

29 Mar – Good Friday 

Looking forward to seeing a great turn out for our Parent Information Sessions this week.

Regards,

Brendan

MIDDLE LEADER

CURRICULUM  COORDINATOR 

The start of a new school year often stirs a whirlwind of emotions for children as they navigate the transition from old to new.  Adjustment to a new school year involves becoming familiar with new routines, teachers, classmates, and academic expectations. Children may feel a mix of excitement and nervousness as they step into the unknown territory of a new classroom. As all students have a new teacher this year, we understand that it takes time to settle in to the ‘newness’, and this is perfectly ok! 

Additionally, academic challenges may arise as children adapt to different teaching styles and curriculum expectations. Some may thrive in the new academic environment, while others may require additional support to catch up or adjust to the pace of learning. 

Overall, the process of adjusting to a new school year is a journey of growth, resilience, and self-discovery for children as they navigate 2024. Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s class teacher via email. You as parents, know your child best. When home and school work together to form a partnership, children grow and flourish.  

Thank you for choosing us as your school in 2024. Please remember that in Week 9 and 10, we will be holding Parent-Teacher Interviews. The Parent Teacher Interview times slots will be open in Week 6. 

Prep/ Yr 1/ Yr 2/ Yr3

P/1/2/3

Welcome to the 2024 school year! In P-3 we have taken the time to settle in an establish expectations, routines and transition. We have read the mentor text "Old Friends, New Friends" written by Andrew Daddo and engaged in activities around friendship, zones of regulation, goal setting and langauge conventions. The children a putting on their best "please face" to persuade me to read a surprise wrapped book in the classroom. 

With the Clifton Show approaching we are preparing handwriting, art works and decorated biscuits. This is a wonderful community event which we at St Francis love to support each year. 

During Religion lessons we are learning about the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Our school was founded by the Good Samaritan Sisters over 100 years ago. The Benedictine Values of stewardship, love, justice and peace are strongly embedded in our school culture. We have discussed ways we can be Good Samaritan's at home, school and in the community.   

Year 4/5/6 News

Year 4/5/6

What a fantastic start to the Year! The classroom has been so very lovely. All of the students have been doing their best and learning our classroom rules and expectations.  

In Religion, we have been learning about the school prayer. We broke it open and discussed its meaning. We then moved onto St Francis de Sales and learnt some facts about his life.  

In English, we have been reading some excerpts from Alice in Wonderland. We discovered that this is a really old book, so we needed to research and discuss some of the vocabulary. Students worked in class on their Superhero talk for their Speaking Presentation – you can find a copy of the roster in your child’s homework book.  

Homework is due in on Friday! Students can work towards a ‘homework free task’ where their homework is reduced. The students found this very exciting.  

In Mathematics, we have been learning to read bar and column graphs. We have been estimating amounts of objects and studying place value of numbers.  

I am very excited for the year ahead.  

SPORT

PE with Mrs Malbon and Mr Red

Last week kicked off the very first whole school PE sessions with Mrs Malbon and Mr Red. Mrs Malbon taught the Year 5/6s and worked on their Forehands, Backhands, game awareness and fitness skills at the Cliton Tennis Courts (thank you to Clifton Tennis for the hire of the courts).

Mr Red introduced a series of new and fun fitness skills to prepare our Prep/1/2/3/4 students for their upcoming cross country event on Friday 22 March. We worked on foot speed, balance, coordination and skill awareness.

Next week will see the continuation of these groups and the necessary skills respectively – tennis and fitness.

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