Kindergarten Class of 2020
Today we welcomed our Kindergarten students for their first full day of school. It is such an exciting time for them and their families. There were lots of smiles and photographs as they confidently lined up for the morning assembly. As the students settle into life at school, please continue to talk positively about school and keep the teachers informed about any changes to their normal routine. Welcome to St Francis of Assisi.

School Newsletter
The school newsletter is a form of communication across the school community. All parents and carers are asked to read the newsletter and to take action if and when necessary. The newsletter is distributed on Thursday fortnightly via email and Compass. It is important to have the Compass app and ensure your email address is up to date in order to receive all school notices. Further school information can be viewed on our school website. 

Why is my Child’s Teacher out of Class?
Like professionals in other fields, all teachers are required to keep up to date with current thinking on best practices and new developments in areas such as curriculum and technology. From time to time, teachers are required to attend professional development opportunities to learn about changes to the curriculum, new methods of teaching & learning and other ways of integrating technology. These sessions sometimes occur during the day, after school or in the school holidays. Teachers also have entitlements such as long service leave, maternity leave, family leave, etc., sick leave, bereavement leave, jury duty etc. Consequently, there will be times when your child’s teacher is absent from the classroom. On these days, the teacher’s program and lesson day plans are taught. Teachers on a grade/stage work closely together, allowing the grade/stage partner to liaise with the casual teacher so that teaching and learning continues and routines are kept. At all time, student needs and school timetables are considered. We thank you for your support.

Welcome back to our students, teachers and parents. It was a pleasure to stand in front of all of the students on Wednesday morning and see them so keen and ready to start another year of learning and growing. It was evident the pride the students have in wearing their school uniform correctly to start off the year. Thank you, parents, for your support with this.

`A few photos from last week

Parent Information Evenings 
On Tuesday 18 February, we will hold our parent information sessions for Years 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6. These meetings are crucial in establishing class expectations and home/school communication for the year ahead. All parents are warmly invited to attend these meetings. The meetings will be held in the classrooms at the following times: 

6.00 pm—Year 5
6.30 pm—Year 1 & 6
7.00 pm– Year 3 & 4

Meet and Greet Session
Year 2 - Mrs Grey and Mrs Agius would like to hold some meet and greet sessions with the Year 2 parents. This information will be sent shortly to these parents.

Kindergarten - We have shared quite a lot of information during our transition program. Mrs Beckhaus will notify parents later in the term if a meeting is required.

Your support and partnership is extremely valued and appreciated.

Welcome back for another year of faith-filled learning. Thank you for allowing us to help you guide your child as they grow loving Jesus and living by His example.
For Term 1 we have a few celebrations planned and please join us for all or as many as you can this year. Please refer to the school calendar for Mass times.

Staff for 2020:

South Coast Swimming Carnival
The South Coast Swimming Carnival will be held on Thursday 5 March at Corrimal Pool. A small team from our school will represent St Francis of Assisi at this event. The squad will be announced this week and permission notes will be handed out to the students.

Diocesan Football Trials
On Friday 6 March, Cohen (Year 6), Tianna (Year 6), Paige (Year 6) and Emma (Year 5) will participate in the Diocesan Football Trials. From these trials, a Diocesan team will be selected to compete in the MacKillop Championships. Goodluck Cohen, Tianna, Paige and Emma.

AFL – Paul Kelly Cup
Every year a senior team of girls and boys compete in the AFL Paul Kelly Cup. Teams will be chosen form in Years 5 and 6 to compete at Thomas Dalton Park, Fairy Meadow on 10 March. 

School Cross Country
Our first school sporting event for 2020 will be the Cross Country. All students from Kindergarten to Year 6 will compete on the day. This carnival will be held on Friday 20 March at Integral Energy Park, Dapto. More information will be communicated as we get closer to the date.

All families are invited to join us for our Welcome BBQ on Thursday 13 February at 5pm - 7pm.

A sausage sizzle and drink will be provided.  Please feel free to bring your picnic chairs and snacks.

We look forward to celebrating the new school year with you. 

The best way to keep track of dates for assemblies, carnivals, Masses, etc.  can be found on the calendar in the newsletter. Click on the School Calendar tab as shown (see red arrow below)

From your smartphone, on your Compass App. When you open the app you will see the days events and notifications which have been sent. To see future dates select the calendar icon on the right hand of the date (see red arrow below).  You can then select future dates to see what is happening.

In 2019 our SRC students and staff worked with our students to reduce our landfill rubbish by placing poppas and water bottles in the Vinnies Return and Earn blue bins. In 2019, through the Return and Earn partnership with Vinnies schools within the Diocese of Wollongong recycled 75, 317 containers raising a total of $28,751.35 for Vinnies social works. This means that we have reduced the amount of rubbish going to landfill and we have also raised money for the St Vincent de Paul Society who assist those people in our community who need a helping hand. 
At the end of Term 4, we were congratulated for being one of the top 12 schools who
collected the most containers in 2019. Congratulations everyone!
12th place - St Francis of Assisi Warrawong - 1362 containers recycled raising $740.81 for Vinnies.
Imagine what we can achieve in 2020. If you would like to contribute to our bins,
please feel free to bring your containers in too!

Our schools are doing their bit to respond to "the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor" that Pope Francis calls us to in Laudato Si'

Kinder 2020 Playgroup Reconnect
Yesterday, Wednesday 5 February, our Kindergarten class of 2020 reconnected for one last time before their first day of 'big school' today! It was a great opportunity to re-establish their relationships with their peers and teachers, making for a smooth transition today.

Term 1 IT News 
Welcome back to school for 2020! Over the coming weeks, all students K-6 will be participating in digital citizenship learning experiences which underpin all that we do with technology. This is all about how to safely and effectively use the technology we have available to best enhance student learning. This will be supported throughout the year in learning and teaching programs to ensure that our students are digitally aware and cyber-safe citizens.

iPads
In 2020, we are now operating 1:1 in classes Year 3-6. Year 3 will begin use on their iPads in Week 3. Year 3 teachers will model and teach students the basic functionalities and set up requirements. We have also purchased 20 brand new iPads for K-2 classes, as well as a new iPad for each class teacher (3-6) to use to optimise teaching and learning experiences. 

Compass
Thank you for your cooperation in a smooth rollover to Compass last year. We will continue to use this system in 2020, with new features continuing to be developed and enhanced.

If anyone is having difficulty accessing Compass or use of it's functions, please feel free to contact Mr Murphy to assist.

We welcome Julia Day from Fresh Start Canteens to our school community. 

The canteen will open on a trial basis in Term 1 on Monday,
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (only closed on Tuesday).

Please find attached the menu and online ordering App that
will be available.

Coming back from the school holidays, the garden was full of lovely produce especially tomatoes, capsicums and herbs. These were perfect ingredients for a pasta sauce. 

This week Mrs Welch and her assistants Maysa and Zaid from Year 6, cooked a delicious sauce as an accompaniment for the “pasta pot” option on the new canteen menu.

Zaid and Maysa: "It was a great experience because we felt like we were in a cooking class in high school. We understood how important gardens are in cooking and utilising fresh produce to create simple dishes. We look forward to creating more dishes in the future once our garden is established."

Mrs Welch

2020 Compulsory School Uniform requirements
When returning to school for the 2020 school year, it is required all students are in the correct school uniform including 2019 sport polo, navy shorts, girl's summer tunic and wearing the correct black leather school shoes and predominately white school joggers for sport. Parents are requested to purchase predominately white joggers when your child requires new shoes or at the start of the 2020 school year, thereby adhering to the School Uniform Policy.
Pictorial examples of appropriate joggers.  

2020 - Sports shoes do not need to be expensive; they can have some colour on them but must be predominately white. Thank you for your continued support.

Haircuts
Many thanks to those parents who ensure their children have haircuts that meet the expectations for students at St Francis of Assisi. Students are required to wear their hair in a neat and tidy manner.

• Haircuts should be of an even cut - extreme shaving.
• Hair should be brushed and combed.
• Hair should not be in a condition as to invite comment.
• Long hair is to be tied back or plaited, off the face and should not extend to cover the eyes.
• Only navy, blue or yellow headbands, ribbons or scrunchies are to be worn in the hair.
• Extreme styles, colouring or dyeing of hair is not permitted

Year 6 Polo Shirt
Students will have the opportunity to order a Year 6 polo next year.  Please do not purchase a new Sport polo, as they will have the Year 6 polo to wear for sports. 

Lowes Warrawong Plaza
All school uniform items can be purchased at Lowes Warrawong Plaza.  Please see the price list and information attached.  Orders can also be placed online by visiting the link below

As an Allergy Aware School, we request no peanuts, peanut paste, peanut butter (including "dippers"), nuts, "Nutella" spread or nutty muesli bars within the school.  Education about food safety and the seriousness and potentially life-threatening nature of allergies takes place within the classroom environment.  All students are reminded not to share or swap food.  We believe an effective partnership between home and school will ensure the successful inclusion of students with life-threatening allergies.  

We are committed to supporting our students with anaphylaxis within the school environment and request your support to ensure a safe environment for these students.  Thank you. 

P&F
We welcome the following who have joined the P&F team for 2020: