Last Wednesday we came together to mark the commencement of the season of Lent, a period of forty days of reflection. During the Ash Wednesday Mass, ash was placed on our foreheads, and we recited with the words, "Repent and believe in the Gospel". Bishop Brian Mascord reminds us that the "ashes are a symbol of penance, mourning and mortality. So, what do ashes on our forehead tell us? They remind us that Lent is a time to draw closer to Jesus and to each other." Usually, the ashes are made by the burning of the palms used during our Palm Sunday celebrations. Bishop Brian said that "this year, those ashes were intermingled with ashes collected from the fire grounds of our diocese…. a powerful symbol of our need to journey ever more closely with Jesus and with each other, particularly in our most difficult hours. It is a time of conversion."

Traditionally, the church encourages us to focus on three actions: giving to the less fortunate, prayer and fasting. For most of us, providing donations for the good of others is relatively easy, and this was evident by the support for those who lost so much in the recent bushfires. Fasting and prayer can be more challenging when our lives are so busy. Pope Francis recalled that prayer is "more than a duty," but that it is "an expression of our need to respond to God's love which always precedes and sustains us." As we begin our Lenten journey, one of the key messages of Lent is that whatever actions we choose, we do it with a genuine connection to God and with humility.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
This week we have been celebrating Catholic Schools Week (CSW). CSW is about celebrating the diversity and uniqueness of Catholic education and is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the achievements of our school community. Please refer to the attachment which highlights what is taking place at St Francis of Assisi. 
Thank you for your ongoing support, we look forward to seeing you tomorrow.

Mr Peter Hill is the new director of schools for the Diocese of Wollongong. With over 30 years experience working in Catholic Education, Peter came to Wollongong from his role as director Employee Services in the Archdiocese of Brisbane, a position he held since 2011. Peter was the executive director of schools for the Diocese of Bathurst from 2008-2011. He was the executive director Mission Leadership with Mater Health Services and served as a Catholic school principal.
Tonight Peter will be commissioned as Director of Schools along with the commissioning of newly appointed Principals at the annual Diocesan Education Mass which is a most significant event in the life of our Catholic Education community in the Diocese of Wollongong.
We look forward to welcoming Mr Peter Hill next week when he makes his first visit to St Francis.

Dear students, families and school communities,

Thank you for your school's participation in Catholic Schools Week from 1-7 March. It's a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and showcase many of the fantastic things happening in your school every day, and in all our Catholic schools across the Diocese of Wollongong.

We thank you for working together in partnership with us to help make your school community such a vibrant, nurturing place of learning, faith, belonging and hope.

If you or a family member or friend would like to enrol your child in one of our schools, please download an enrolment package here.

Have a look at our Catholic Schools Week video below, celebrating what our students across the diocese love about their Catholic school. Can you spot the students from your school?

PB4L NEWS
What are our behaviour expectations at St Francis of Assisi?
The school playground is a space where the students have the opportunity to develop strong friendships and to play in an unstructured, yet supportive environment. The PB4L Framework establishes a safe and respectful play environment outside the classroom at St Francis of Assisi. Consistency of expectations supports students in knowing what they can, and what they can not do within the playground environment at school. The following table identifies the playground expectations on the main playground: -

In the event that a student needs to be corrected on the playground, school staff follow a consistent and simple approach of warning and reminders followed by positive feedback when the student complies with the teacher request. If the student continues to engage in inappropriate playground behaviour then a consequence would be put into place eg: shadow the teacher, sit out of play for a period of time. If a student is involved in a ‘major’ behaviour the student would be removed from the playground and the incident will be dealt with by a Leadership Team member.

School staff will record minor behaviours in order to collect data about each of the areas of the playground. The recording of student behaviours is not a consequence. Playground data collection is the means by which the school is able to make informed decisions about the play areas within the school.

MATHEMATICS TIPS

•  Mathematics today is about understanding number patterns, not learning by rote.
•  There is always more than one way to get the right answer.
•  Children are taught mental strategies, like using number lines,  to figure problems out in their heads.
•  Ask ‘What is the question asking you?’
•  Practise times tables.
•  Don't jump in with the answers.
•  Stay positive.
•  Talk to the teacher if your child needs more help with their homework.
•  This YouTube clip provides more information.

VEGE WEEK
This week we joined many other schools from around NSW to celebrate Vege Week. On Thursday primary schools across NSW attempted to break the record for the most students crunching vegetables at the same time. We were one of them. 

WELCOME BBQ
In Week 5, the Parents and Friends held a Welcome BBQ, with many families attending. Thank you to the Parents and Friends for organising this great night. The families all enjoyed the night, especially those who won the Lucky Door Prizes and Mr Gilmore, who was crowned Teacher Handball Champion.

A special thanks to our wonderful P&F and band of helpers who made our night so successful. Thank you again.

CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY
On Friday 28 February our school participated in the Schools Clean up Australia Day, with all classes responsible for cleaning up part of our local community. Our school clean up was a great way to inspire our students to learn about the impact of rubbish on their local environment while playing an active role in their community.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK MASS
The theme for National Catholic Schools Week 2020 is “Embracing Our Future together” Our Director, Peter Hill, said “Catholic Schools Week is about looking back and looking forward, acknowledging the past and being re-energised by the future. Our work is about keeping hope alive and providing the best possible Catholic schools for our young people, as a place of faith where they’re invited to encounter Jesus.” 

As a school, we will celebrate CSW with Mass at 9 am on Friday followed by Principal and Values Awards and Kindergarten Welcome Certificates.

Parents and friends are then invited to visit the students in the classrooms and join them for morning tea in the playground. Please bring a picnic blanket and some food to share. Tea and Cofee will be available for adults.

DIOCESAN EDUCATION MASS
The staff along with Fr Martin will attend the annual Diocesan Education Mass at St John Vianney’s Fairy Meadow on Thursday night. This Mass is attended by the staff from all Catholic Schools in the Diocese. Also at this Mass, we will welcome our new director Mr Peter Hill. 

LAUNCH OF PROJECT COMPASSION
Last Tuesday Mrs Davidson, Mrs Madaschi and our two captains, Daunte and Olivia attended the Launch of Project Compassion at St Benedict’s Oran Park. The students received a candle and collection box that are now displayed in the foyer. Each class has a project compassion box to collect donations and posters to display. These posters also explains where the project compassion money goes.
Our students also had the pleasure of meeting our new director, the captains responded extremely well to what they would like to do as leaders of St Francis of Assisi this year. Well done Daunte and Olivia!

ALTAR SERVERS
Some children have expressed an interest in becoming altar servers. Fr Martin with Mrs Madaschi will be training new servers from next Wednesday 11 March at lunchtimes. Altar servers must have made their communion. The commitment to be an altar server must include serving on Sundays about once a month. Please discuss being an altar server and the commitment involved with your child as the parents must also be committed to bringing them to Sunday Mass. A separate note will be sent out and needs to be filled in with Mass choices and permission from parents before Wednesday 11March.

ANDREW CHINN AND SUNDAY MASS
Please join the parish and school community on Sunday 8 March for the 10 am Mass. At this Mass, our students will be part of a small choir singing with Andrew Chinn and Mr Gilmore. We thank Andrew and Rich for making our liturgy special through music and song.

For the first time in nearly 20 years, the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux, one of the most popular Saints of modern times, will visit Australia on a four-month pilgrimage along with the major relics of her parents, Saints Louis and Zélie Martin. From February to May 2020, the family’s relics will travel across the country to 17 dioceses in city and rural areas.
Known as the Little Flower of Jesus, St Thérèse is the Patron Saint of Missionaries.
The great legacy of St Thérèse of Lisieux is the example she gave through the writings of her connectedness to God. Her struggle with weakness but her fierce determination to be loyal and faithful to God’s will is the legacy that everyone can participate in.
The pilgrimage of the relics in 2020 will be an opportunity for Australians to come together, to have that sense of belonging, and to find inspiration in the life of St Thérèse and her parents.

RELICS OF ST THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS AT ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI
On Sunday 22nd March the relics of St Therese of the Child Jesus and her parents will be brought to our parish. The relics leave West Wollongong at 11.30 am and will arrive at approximately 11.45 am. We need children and parishioners to form a guard of honour to welcome the relics from about 11.30 am. There will be no 10 am Mass on Sunday 22 March as we would like all parishioners to attend Mass at 12 noon when the relics arrive. Parish Groups will then be asked to come to the Church for Veneration of the relics before the relics leave at 8 pm.

Fr Martin is preparing a booklet with prayers for the leaders of the parish groups to use.

Veneration of the Relics of St Therese and her parents - Group Timetable

1 pm - 2 pm - Parish council, school staff, acolytes and special ministers

2 pm - 3 pm - Italian Prayer Group and Tongan Families

3 pm - 4 pm - Divine Mercy and Secular Franciscan Order

4 pm - 5 pm-  Portuguese Group

5 pm - 6 pm - Legion of Mary and Couples for Christ

6 pm - 7 pm - Neo Catechumens

7 pm - 8 pm - Maltese Group

All parishioners and friends can join groups at any time.

DIOCESAN FOOTBALL TRIALS
The Diocesan Football Trials will be held on Friday 6 March. Please note that the new venue is now the Illawarra Hockey Centre, Waples Road, Unanderra. A reminder that studded football boots are not permitted on the artificial surfaces but joggers are the preferred footwear. We wish Paige, Cohen, Tianna in Yr 6 and Emma in Yr 5 the very best of luck at these trials.

SOUTH COAST SWIMMING
Today, sixteen students from our school competed at the South Coast Swimming Carnival at Corrimal Pool. We look forward to hearing about their day. Good luck!

CROSS COUNTRY
Our School Cross Country will be held on Friday 20 March at Integral Energy Park, Darkes Road, Kembla Grange. All students from Kindergarten to Year 6 will be competing at this event. Permission notes will be emailed to every family through Compass this week.  Please note the P&F will be providing a lunch order sausage sizzle.  Order forms will be sent home next week.

Meet our Sports Captains

P&F Meeting
The P&F Meeting on Friday afternoon was very productive.  We have received some good ideas and we are planning very eagerly for our students.  Some of the events coming up are below. 

Clothing Pool OPEN
The clothing pool will be open tomorrow after the Catholic Schools Week events at 11.30 in the Sports Room.  Please bring small change.  Feel free to donate any unwanted uniforms.  

Special Lunch Day
On Tuesday 10 March we have organised a Special Chicken lunch day (KFC).  Order forms have been sent home.  These are to be returned no later than Friday 6 March. 

Easter Raffle
All the children love the Easter Raffle and we are organising it again this year.  Raffle tickets will go home with the children next week. If each child is able to donate an Easter egg to their class basket this will help make up the hampers.

Mufti Day
On Wednesday 18 March, the children will be having a Mufti Day. This is for their Easter Egg donation. 

P&F Team 2020
Please do not hesitate to speak to any of the P&F parents if you would like to help or be involved in any way.  We would love to have you on board.

The Premier's Reading Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students and to enable them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge for each student to read, to read more and to read more widely. The Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC) is available for all NSW students in Kindergarten to Year 9. 

This year at St Francis of Assisi we are encouraging ALL our students to be a part of this wonderful challenge. An ONLINE registration note will be issued through Compass this week. A copy of this note is attached for your information. Each week we will add some rules and tips on being successful in the Premier’s Reading Challenge.

• Key dates:
  Challenge opens for student entries:  Monday, 2 March and closes for student entries:  Friday, 28 August.
  
  
  

School Zone Rules & Safety

The front of the school is a no parking zone.  This only allows parents to drop off and pick up during the times shown on the sign.

Please note: -

• Parents can only stop in this zone for no longer than 2 minutes
• Parents must remain within the vehicle 
• The vehicle must not be left unattended

Fines and loss of demerit points do apply and may be incurred by Police patrolling the school zone.

Donations being collected in classroom Mission boxes