Dear Parents and Carers

Last Friday, we gathered as a faith-filled community to celebrate our Opening School Mass, marking the beginning of a new school year at St Francis of Assisi. Thank you to Father Damien and Deacon Lawrie for celebrating with us and to Ms Maloney and the team for preparing the Mass.

During this special occasion, we also commissioned our Year 6 Student Leaders for 2025. These students have committed to serving our school with humility and dedication, leading by example in word and action. Their willingness to take on this responsibility is a true reflection of the Gospel values we strive to live each day.

In the Gospel reading last Sunday (Luke 6:17, 20-26), we are reminded of Jesus' teachings on the Beatitudes, calling us to live with compassion, humility, and a heart for others. Just as Jesus spoke to the disciples and the great crowd who gathered to hear Him, we, too, are called to be people of faith, to uplift and support one another, and to find joy in serving others. Our Year 6 leaders have embraced this call, and I encourage all our students to follow their example in showing kindness, respect, and generosity in our school community.

I was especially proud of our students’ reverence and participation at Mass, particularly our Kindergarten students, who have only recently begun their journey at school. Thank you to all our parents, family members, and parishioners who joined us, it was a wonderful way to begin our year together.

This week also marks the start of our Meet and Greet meetings, which will continue into next week. It has been great to see so many parents taking this opportunity to connect with their child’s teacher. These meetings are an essential step in building strong partnerships between home and school, ensuring that each child is supported in their learning and personal growth. I extend my appreciation to our teachers for making this possible and for their ongoing commitment to our students.

A special thank you to all the families who attended our Welcome BBQ on Wednesday. It was fantastic to see so many members of our school community come together and enjoy each other’s company. We are especially grateful to our Parish Hospitality Team for generously organising and preparing the sausage sizzle—your time and effort in supporting our school is greatly appreciated.

Looking ahead, we warmly invite all families, including those interested in joining our school community, to our Open Day on Sunday, 23 February, at 11:30 am. This event marks the opening of our enrolment period, providing an opportunity for prospective families to experience the welcoming and vibrant environment of St Francis of Assisi. If you know families considering enrolment, please encourage them to come along and see all that our school has to offer. Thank you to our Years 4, 5 and 6 students who have volunteered to assist at the Open Day.
As we embark on this new school year, may we walk together as Pilgrims of Hope, guided by faith, strengthened by love, and united in service to one another.