Welcome back to the final term of 2019. It is unbelievable to think how quickly the year has gone and that we are now into Term 4 with Christmas seemingly just around the corner! I hope our staff, students and families had an enjoyable break. It is fantastic to be back at school to see just how excited students are to again meet up with friends and continue their learning.

Each and every day I am in awe of the gifts and talents our staff, students and families share with our school community. Each one of us is a gift from God and He in His infinite wisdom has bestowed great blessings and talents on us all. These talents are different from one person to the next person, but that is the beauty of this wonderful world. As we move into Term 4 may we use our talents to care for others, to see the good, not the fault, in the people with whom we share our journey of life with. May we encourage others, may we see opportunities for making a real difference, may we always remember the good that is in our lives. May we always strive to make others feel good about themselves, may every opportunity we have to interact with others be an opportunity to show Jesus’ love to another person through us.

Notes, Newsletters and Notifications

Term 4 is always a busy time. There is a great deal happening at St Francis of Assisi and I would ask you all to stay in touch with what is coming up by reading our Compass notifications, notes and newsletter. We will endeavour to spread these throughout the week, however, on some occasions, there may be a few notes or notifications over the course of the week. Please do not hesitate to contact the teachers or the office if you have any questions.

2020 Kindergarten Transition to School Playgroup

Today our Kindergarten class of 2020 commenced their first Transition to School Playgroup. This is an exciting time for our new students and their families. These students will participate in nine sessions this term in preparation for school. Our next session will be on Monday 21 October at 1.30 pm in the hall. Please keep these families in your prayers. Please refer to the flyer in this newsletter for the additional Playgroup sessions.

Keeping Safe Around our School

A reminder to all parents to please be vigilant in following the drop off and pick up rules and the road rules in general when around the school. These rules and procedures are in place to keep our children safe! Always drive slowly and be on the lookout when driving around schools. 

World Teachers' Day

World Teachers' Day is celebrated in Australia on Friday 25 October (Week 2). The day is a great opportunity for everyone to recognise and appreciate teachers and the important role they play in shaping the next generation. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our teachers for their collaborative contribution in advancing the learning of our students. Teaching is a vocation, a calling from God, not just a ‘job’.  I encourage you to take the time to personally thank your child’s teacher on World Teachers' Day.

Welcome Back

Welcome back everyone to our final term of 2019. This is another busy term, with lots of learning and celebrations occurring throughout the term. It won’t be long until we farewell Year 6 and commence the summer holidays. If you have any questions about your child’s progress before the End of Year Reports go out later this term, please don’t hesitate to contact the class teacher.

Staff Development Day

The staff participated in a Mathematics Staff Development Day in Week 10 last term. On this day we looked at our sequence of learning and teaching, revising which aspects we teach at the various times throughout the year, so that the needs of the students are addressed. The staff also looked at the Mathematics resources that we have available for lessons, assessing whether they are current and accessible to all.

Term 4 Celebration of Learning

This term we will have the Year 6 Celebration of Learning in Week 6 and the Year 2 Celebration of Learning in Week 8. Please join us at these assemblies.

ICAS

The ICAS Assessments are now complete for 2019. Congratulations to all of the participants. We should start receiving the results soon.

Mr Rodney Green - Assistant Principal

Mission Fundraising

October is Mission month and as a school, we are holding a few activities to raise money for Catholic Mission.

Today we had jelly cups for sale with all jelly, cups and spoons donated by parents and students from K-2. Thank you to all everyone for your generous donations which means that all money raised goes straight to the missions.

Next week Thursday 24 October Year 3 and 4 will hold a cupcake stall and we ask all students in Years 3 and 4 to donate cupcakes that can be purchased.

On Thursday 31 October, Years 5 and 6 will be selling ice creams.

There will also be a lolly jar guessing competition. There will be 2 prizes, one for Years 3-6 and one for K-2. The guesses will be 20c each and the person who guesses correctly or is the closest will win the lolly jar.

All the proceeds from these fundraisers will go straight to Catholic Mission.

On Friday 25 October at the 9 am Mass we will be praying for all those who help in any way with Catholic Mission. Years 5 and 6 will prepare this Mass. Please join us to celebrate and also pray for those in need of Catholic Mission support.
This year, students across Australia are encouraged to learn about how the Church in Ghana is taking a lead in providing life-saving care to children with disability and fostering their personal development for a brighter future.

St Francis of Assisi Feast Day celebrations 

We celebrated our Patron Saint on the last day of Term 3. Beginning with Mass, followed by various activities across the school, a delicious BBQ lunch, and an informative Year 1 Celebration of Learning assembly. Thanks to all involved for a great day.

Diocesan Christmas Art Competition

Congratulations to Daunte for achieving a Highly Commended in the Year 5 category at the Diocesan Christmas Art Competition on Wednesday night. After individual school voting, 175 entries from thirty primary schools were sent into the Catholic Education Office for selection in the Diocesan competition. We are very proud of Daunte and all of our Year 5 and 6 students. Special thanks to our Year 5 and 6 teachers for the work they put into the 2019 Christmas Art Competition. If you are looking for something to do in the next few weeks, call into the Wollongong Art Gallery to view these amazing artworks! 

Mrs Mandy Madaschi - Religious Education Coordinator

P&F Meeting

The next P&F general meeting is on Monday 21 October (Week 2) at 9.00 am. Please join us for a cup of tea and a sharing of ideas. We look forward to catching up with you all on Monday.

Welcome back to Term 4

Returning to school after a break takes a little adjustment – especially for our younger students. This week, teachers have been helping students settle in again by reminding them of routines both in the classroom and on the playground.

Routines are very important for children to ensure that there is plenty of time and structure for learning to take place. But settling in doesn’t begin and end at school – there are a few ways that parents can help children get back into the swing of school.

1. Regular bedtimes
   We understand that during the holidays and travel, regular bedtimes can slip. However, regular sleep is essential for children and it is very important to be firm with regular bedtimes when your child returns to school.  

2. Keep up with routines at home
   Regular routines help to reduce anxiety and put children at ease, making getting ready for school easier for everyone.

3. Come to school on time
   We have our own routines in the mornings at school and they prepare our children for the day. It’s important that they don’t miss these and that they don’t arrive feeling stressed and rushed!

On Thursday 24 October, two teams from Year 5 will be participating in the Cricket Gala Day which will be held at Thomas Dalton Park at Towradgi. This will be an exciting experience for our students to compete in a different sporting arena. This may inspire them to take up the sport of cricket. Mr Gilmore will be supervising the teams on the day.

Swimming

The school swimming program will commence on Friday 25 October at the University Pool in Wollongong. Every child should have received a permission note outlining the details regarding dates of the program and what to wear on the day. Often on these days, clothes go missing so it would be advisable that all clothing and goggles be marked with your child’s name. This is a five week program but there will be NO SWIMMING on Friday 8 November. Could all notes and payments be returned to school by the Thursday 24 October?

Swimming Carnival

On Thursday 5 December, the School Swimming Carnival will be held at The Wollongong University Pool. This is an invitation for all competent swimmers from Year 2 to Year 6 who can swim 50m. This is also an opportunity to participate in 25m races as well as enjoy novelty events at the conclusion of the carnival. Parents are welcome to support students on the day, the Wollongong University Pool does charge a small cost for parent entry. Permission notes and nomination of participating events will be handed out in week 3. There is no cost for the students on this day.

Mrs Briscoe - Sports Coordinator

Senior Basketball Gala Day

On Friday 20 September, eighteen Year 6 students and twenty Year 5 students represented our school at the Regional Basketball Gala Day at Berkeley Indoor Sports Stadium. Everyone had fun and developed their basketball skills. Thank you to all the parents who came along and supported the teams and in particular to Mrs Achaechi and Ms Frew who assisted in managing the two senior girls teams.

Well done Khalil, Fatima, Youssef, Gabriel, Kitarni, Olivia, Izac, Yousef, Dashiell, Zane, Amelia, Jamie, Savannah, Jake, Ethan, Maysa, Cam Tu, Jackson, James, Happy, Emily, Sienna, Ange, Emilia, Mohammed, Hassan, Dylan, Sierra, Mary, Teleah, Ruben, Danielle, Xavier, Gabriella, Tianna, Chelsea, Kyle.

We are so proud of all of you.

Mr Gilmore and Mrs Matos

Junior Basketball Gala Day

The Year 3 and 4 students participated in the Diocesan Junior Basketball Gala Day at the end of last term. The students were well behaved and displayed a strong sense of sportsmanship.  Thank you to the parents who came along on the day, especially Mr Boceski, who assisted with the boys team.

Well done Shelby, Alysia, Benjamin, Stefan, Nicholas, Monica, Sara, Eva, Ali, Cam Ly, Hope, Lamar, Noah, Joseph R, Joseph S, Michael, Grace, Chanel, Cruz and Celina.

Mr Green

Stage 3 will be attending an excursion to Mogo Gold Mining Town this Friday. This is a culmination of the HSIE - History Unit on Early Colonisation. All students are expected to be at school by 6.30 am, wearing their sports uniform. The expected time of arrival will be 6.00 pm. Stage 3 are looking forward to an informative and exciting day.

Family Verification Reports

This is a summary of the contact information the school has on record and was sent home last term. We ask that you check and return this as soon as possible. It is important all information is up to date on the school system, particularly email addresses as this is the main form of communication using the Compass App and Compass Parent Portal.

We like to inform parents when their child may be receiving an Award at special assemblies and this is sent via the Compass parent email. 

Please make the relevant changes on the form and return to the class teacher.  If there are no changes required, please sign and return.   

In Week 10 of Term 3, Kindergarten held their very own expo on Living Things.
It was a HUGE success with many parents, family members, teachers and special guests form the Catholic Education Office in attendance. 

The expo was a culmination of all the learning the students had done during the term. The focus in Term 3 for inquiry learning was based on living things but also incorporated weather, seasons, and the effect of drought on living things. 

Students went through a process of researching, writing their information down, practising an oral presentation and creating their 'living thing' out of craft materials. 

On the day, I was very impressed with the way that the children answered a variety of questions with confidence and the way they used newly learnt vocabulary to explain themselves. 

A BIG THANK YOU to our wonderful parent community for coming along to support the students. We hope you learnt a little something along the way. A warm thank you for encouraging the students on the day, even when they were a little shy to start!

Mrs Melissa Beckhaus - Kindergarten Teacher

Year 3 2020 1:1 iPad Parent Information Sessions

Thank you to the parents who supported our meetings yesterday. It was great to have the opportunity to present you with information regarding the entire process. There will be further information sent out via Compass later this term, both for those who were unable to attend and also some additional information for those who were at the meetings.

A reminder to any parents who would like further information, or have any questions, that you are more than welcome to contact the school to discuss or provide assistance.

A big thank you to Mr Gilmore and Mr Ben Woods (CEO) for their preparation and presentation at the sessions.

Mr Murphy
Coordinator

Casual or permanent after school care bookings are available. This service is available in the school hall. 

Our educators collaborate with children to provide play and leisure opportunities that are meaningful to them and that support their wellbeing, learning and personal development. Children in school-age care settings are challenged to be curious about what is of interest to them while at the same time developing self-identity and social competencies (taken from MY TIME, OUR PLACE Framework for School Age Care in Australia).

The day to day operations of St Francis of Assisi OSHC is managed by a Coordinator and supported by CatholicCare OSHC Leadership Team.