Her Feast Day is celebrated on the 8^th August, not only in schools, parishes and churches across Australia but by communities and individuals worldwide. Although her death occurred more than a century ago, she continues to inspire men, women and children, whether Catholic or non-Catholic. As we celebrate the Feast Day, it is good for us to be reminded of her spirit of compassion, generosity and kindness. Mary MacKillop’s life and work are built firmly on these values which formed the framework out of which all her endeavours grew. They form the foundation of what has made her a window of hope in our world.
Fundamental to her beliefs was that God was active in her own life and the lives of others. Mary MacKillop was in touch with God at the centre of her life. Her relationship with God gave meaning to her daily life. It was from the heart of God that she drew the strength to be a witness to God’s love in the world. 

"Mary MacKillop embodied all that is best in your nation and its people:
genuine openness to others, hospitality to strangers, generosity to the needy,
justice to those unfairly treated, perseverance in the face of adversity,
kindness and support to the suffering.
Think of Mother Mary MacKillop and learn from her
to be a gift of love and compassion for one another, for all Australians."
Pope John Paul 11

 May we try each day to follow in the footsteps of Mary MacKillop.

Student Absences
As part of our new student information system, Compass, we have released a new feature to support parents in notifying the school about student absences. If your child is marked absent by the teacher, you will receive a text message at 10 am. This will contain a link where you can quickly and easily mark a reason for your child's absence.

We are hoping this will greatly reduce the number of unexplained absences, as well as being a fast and convenient option for you to use. Please note if your child has been entered as an explained absence (eg. prolonged illness, holiday, etc.) you will not receive a message.

Afternoon Dismissal - Safety
Recently Mrs Brabender and I met with Wollongong Council to discuss some of our concerns. Being, the path at the front of the school, street signage and general safety issues during the afternoon pick up. Our school endeavors to keep all our students and their families safe at all times. We understand that there is some traffic congestion in the afternoon. Just a reminder to parents that we do have a car pick up at the front and in the back lane of the school. For those parents using the back lane for car pick, it is recommended where possible to turn right at the end of the lane and go around the block to allow an easier flow of traffic at the front of the school. For those parents who pick up at the front of the school please keep the driveways in Bruce Road clear, especially the one exciting the back lane.
We would like to thank Wollongong Council for making it a priority to meet with us and look forward to hearing the answers to our requests.

Welcome the Borcher family
On Monday we welcomed Damien to St Francis of Assisi. Damien and his family have just recently moved to Australia from South Africa. We know the students in Year 2 Gold were excited to meet you. We hope you all enjoy your time in Australia.

Get well wishes
Please continue to keep Sienna Farrugia (1 Gold) and her family in your thoughts and prayers. It was great to see Sienna last week, we all missed seeing your beautiful smile around the school. Our school community sends all its love and best wishes to you Sienna. 

Boy Voyage Mrs Gerada
Our school community would like to take the opportunity to say best wishes to Mrs Jane Gerada who will be taking a well deserved holiday with her family. We appreciate all Jane does to keep our canteen running so smoothly. Thank you for everything you do and have a safe and enjoyable break. 

Condolences
I ask that you please keep Mrs Burrows and her family in your thoughts and prayers. Mrs Burrows is grieving the loss of her much-loved father who passed away last week. May they know the peace and strength of God’s compassionate and consoling presence at this time of loss and sadness.

The Feast of the Assumption

Please join us for the Feast of the Assumption whole school Mass on Thursday 15 August at 9.00am. The Christian feast day of the Assumption of Mary celebrates the belief that God assumed the Virgin Mary into Heaven following her death. 
The Feast of the Assumption is a Holy Day of Obligation and all Catholics are obliged to attend Mass. Stage 2 is preparing this Mass.

Sacrament of Penance
Last night was the first meeting for the Sacrament of Penance. A reminder to all parents that the Sacraments are a parish program that is supported by the school. Lessons were chosen and books were given out.
Commitment Masses will be held this weekend and stoles will be presented, the children will wear these stoles each weekend at Mass.  It is an expectation that children attend Mass each weekend right up until they make their First Communion. Lessons begin on Monday 12 August. Please keep these students and their parents in your prayers as the students prepare to make their Reconciliation.

Activate
On Monday 12 August our Year 6 students and the Year 6 students from St Patrick’s Port Kembla and St John’s Dapto will be involved in a spiritual day lead by the Diocesan Youth Ministry Team and youth leaders from St Joseph’s Albion Park and Corpus Christi Oak Flats.
ACTIVATE fire is a primary school Youth Ministry initiative providing catechesis and an opportunity for an encounter with Christ for Stage 3 students (Year 6). It is offered as a full day reflection experience. The theme of this event centres on the Sacraments of Initiation with a focus on Confirmation. The day is an Immersive Spiritual Experience based on the Year 6 unit Confirmation: Celebrating the Gift of the Holy Spirit. ACTIVATE fire is for all students in Year 6 who attend a Wollongong Diocesan systemic primary school. We look forward to welcoming the Year 6 students, the Diocesan Youth Ministry Team and youth leaders to our school. 

Journey Magazine
The Winter 2019 edition of Journey magazine has been issued to each family today. It is our hope that this publication shares and celebrates the many ways the Spirit is moving in our communities around the diocese.

Mrs Madaschi
Religious Education Coordinator

Term 3 Religious Education & Parish Important Dates 

All parents and families are warmly welcome to join us at our whole school and Class Masses and in the Church.

All Religious Sacraments are organised by St Francis of Assisi Parish Church.  Please contact the Parish Office with inquiries.

St Francis of Assisi Church
Fr Martin Mai - Parish Priest
Tel: 4276 3565
Email: warrawong@dow.org.au

Parish Office
9.00-1.30 Tuesday - Friday

Parish Masses
9.00am Tuesday - Friday
6.00pm Saturday - Vigil
& 1st of the Month
10.00am Sunday

Last Friday, on the feast day of Ss Joachim and Anne the grandparents of Mary our heavenly mother, we had the privilege of honouring the Grandparents, Great People and Great Friends of our St Francis of Asissi community. Our day began with our staff, students, families and visitors attending our Parish Mass. After Mass, our visitors were invited into classrooms where our students enjoyed sharing aspects of their learning. At recess time there was the opportunity for grandparents to share morning tea with their grandchildren and families.

On Tuesday 30 July, our Year 6 students attended a special Mass with Bishop Brian Mascord at Ss Peter and St Paul, Kiama. This Mass was also attended by other schools in the Diocese. It was a wonderful opportunity for the Bishop to meet the students and talk to them as they come to the end of their journey in primary school. We were very proud of our Year 6 students as they responded well during the Mass, wore their uniform with pride and their behaviour was exemplary. Congratulations to Sierra S who carried our candle proudly to the sacred space, and to Dean G who read the First Reading beautifully. Being entertained by the Diocesan Youth Ministry was a wonderful experience as they led all the students in the singing and dancing. Congratulations also to Mr Gilmore who was involved in leading the musical performance during Mass.

Olivia G: It was lovely to meet new people, make new friends and enjoy our time together.
Rayhana E: I loved the concert because the music was modern and I was dancing with my friends. I even won some chocolate.
Jasmin G: I was involved in the choir and I loved singing with Mr Gilmore and Simon, as well as students from other schools.
Yousef C and Khalil A: It was a great experience to see the Bishop and listen to him talk to us about loving God and each other. We didn’t know that Bishop Brian was such a good singer.

Soccer Gala Days

Year 3 and Year 4 - Nowra:
On the way to the Gala Day, I had to wake up early to pick up my friend Benjamin. It was a fun ride.
When we arrived, I saw my friends and warmed up by kicking the ball around until it was time to talk about the rules before the Gala Day started. Then we had to go to our field to get ready to play our game. We were short of players so the other team had to even their side up to make it fair. I was pretty happy with my efforts and tried my best and all the other boys tried as well.
My favourite part of the day was just being able to be outside and enjoy playing soccer with friends. Mr Green cheered us on all day. Thanks, Mr Green.
By Christian. M  4 Gold

At the Soccer Gala Day, we were all excited about playing soccer! While we were waiting for the first game we practised our skills as a warm-up. During my first game, I played defence and I needed to stop the other team from having the chance to score a goal and at least to help our goalie. I got to defend, as well as get the ball to our strikers and I even tried to kick at the goal post for a goal. It was fun trying, but it was tiring. Luckily, they were only short games.

At the end of each game we shook hands with the other team, showing not only we are good soccer players, but that we have good sportsmanship. It was great having fun with my schoolmates and watching them play positions that they could show their best skills. It helped us win all the games.
We had great weather, which made it even a more wonderful day. Thanks, Mrs Adams for looking after us.
By Sofia. F and Alysia. A  4 Gold

Year 5 and Year 6 Boys - Albion Park:
Two senior boy teams competed against schools from the southern region in soccer at Terry Reserve, Albion Park. The boys displayed skills, team strategies, sportsmanship and most importantly fun. It was a great experience for all the boys to play on a large field as a school team. Both teams were determined to do their best on the day and as a supervising teacher it was rewarding to watch the boys organise themselves into positions and giving each other pep talks before they ran on to the field. They played 6 games all day including one game against each other. Results were fantastic and it was obvious that we have talented boys who play soccer.
Thank you to all our wonderful parent supporters for all your words of encouragement to both teams.
Mrs Briscoe

Year 5 and Year 6 Girls - Warrawong:
On Friday 2 August, the 18 of our senior girls travelled to Darcy Wentworth Oval to represent our school at the Soccer Gala Day. What a team! These girls played so well together and supported each other all day.
They played 7 games in total and were undefeated at the end of the day. They showed wonderful sportsmanship and a great day was had by all – students, parents and teacher.
A big thank you to the parents who were there supporting the girls, cheering encouragement and helping out where needed.
Congratulations to Kitarni, Sophie, Amelia, Rayhana, Jasmin, Maysa, Lara, Paige, Sienna, Ange, Sierra, Olivia G, Emilia, Mary, Samantha, Hannah, Tianna and Olivia A on your fantastic efforts and behaviour on and off the field. It was a pleasure to spend the day with you and watch you have fun and enjoy your day.
Mrs Matos

Regional Athletics Carnival
The Regional Athletics Carnival will be held at Beaton Park, Gwynneville on Tuesday 13 August. All permission notes MUST be returned to school this week. Good luck to all our competitors.

Sam Bremner Shield
On Tuesday 20 August, our Year 6 Girls Rugby league team will be attending the Sam Bremner Shield competition at Croome Road Sporting Complex, Albion Park. Thank you to the NRL who have come out to school to run some tackling clinics with the girls. Congratulations to the girls for giving something new a go! They are excited to try their luck and have been training hard to learn the rules and safe tackling techniques.  We must also say thank you to Jamberoo Junior Rugby League Football Club for loaning the girls some jerseys to wear on the day. Good luck!

Playground Behaviour Management
The staff at St Francis of Assisi are consistently looking at data gathered to modify systems across the school environment (as needed) for all students to experience success at school. Consistency in understanding and managing behaviours is central to a positive learning environment.

Staff have analysed and defined behaviours as either minor or major. The terms ‘minor’ and ‘major’ are used to assist us in:

1. Achieving consistency in responding to problem behaviours 
2. Categorising problem behaviours into those that are managed by teachers from those that are managed by the School Leadership Team 

All staff follow the Playground Behaviour Correction Sequence for dealing with minor behaviour incidents at recess and lunchtime. These minor incidents are recorded and reviewed regularly. Major behaviours are managed by the Leadership Team. Parents of all students involved in major behaviour incidents are always notified.

Mrs Matos
School Wide Positive Behaviours for Learning Coordinator

This term the school will focus on improving our efforts around reducing, reusing and recycling our waste in order to significantly decrease the amount of waste that ends up as landfill and to protect our environment.

As a school, we have an important role in re-thinking what we do with our waste by encouraging students to become instruments of change at school, at home and when they are out and about.

Guided by Mrs Welch, Mrs Briscoe, Mrs Mansbridge, SRC and Mini Vinnies, an education program will be implemented in all classrooms and new bins will be placed around the school playground.

More details will be communicated in our upcoming newsletters.

Mrs Briscoe.

As you might remember, on the last day of Term 2 and over the holidays, students in Year 1 and Year 2 participated in a NAIDOC Week colouring in competition. Congratulations to the following students (2 per class) who were (very excitedly!) presented with their winning entries and prizes last week. Well done, girls! 

Winners: Layla G (1G), Linda S (1G), Tahlia T (2B), Mia De A (2B), Tahlia J (2G), Fatima K (2G).

We are seeking volunteers to help in the Canteen on
Monday, Wednesday or Friday from 10.00am - 2.00pm.

Our Canteen is run on a volunteer basis and we are very fortunate to have the assistance of Mrs Gerarda to manage the Canteen. Please contact the school office if you can assist in any way.

      The children always love to see their relatives in the canteen.