Dear Parents and Carers

Refugee Week 2020 - Welcome
The theme of Refugee Week 2020 is celebrating the year of welcome. A more welcoming country doesn’t start with politicians; it begins with us. Welcome is a posture and attitude towards all people, including people from refugee backgrounds.

Refugee Week is the 14 - 20 June 2020. This week only comes around once a year. It is a unique opportunity to make time to learn about the experiences of people from refugee backgrounds and to celebrate the valuable contributions made by refugees to the world. It is a reminder that we are all responsible for creating a welcoming country.

Refugee Week is Australia’s peak annual activity to raise awareness about the issues affecting refugees and celebrate the positive contributions made by refugees to Australian society. This was originally celebrated in 1986. Refugee Week coincides with World Refugee Day (20 June).

It is a unique opportunity for us all to experience and celebrate the rich diversity of refugee communities through theatre, music, dance, film and other events which take place all over Australia and highlight the aims of the week which are:

• to educate the Australian public about who refugees are and why they have come to Australia;
• to help people understand the many challenges refugees face coming to Australia;
• to celebrate the contribution refugees make to our community;
• to focus on how the community can provide a safe and welcoming environment for refugees;
• for community groups and individuals to do something positive for refugees, asylum seekers, and displaced people, within Australia but also around the world; and
• for service providers to reflect on whether they are providing the best possible services to refugees.

Prayer For Refugees
Loving God,
We pray for the world’s refugees,
They have experienced trauma beyond our imagining.
God of healing, bring them healing.
They endure the most trying of circumstances.
God of strength, bring them strength.
They face an uncertain future.
God of hope, bring them hope.

We pray for the countries from which refugees come,
They are experiencing conflict.
God of healing, bring them healing.
Their people are torn apart by violence & other types of persecution.
God of strength, bring them strength.
They face a difficult future.
God of hope, bring them hope.

We pray for refugees who have resettled in Australia.
They have experienced great loss.
God of healing, bring them healing.
They are building new lives in a foreign land.
God of strength, bring them strength.
They are courageously carving out a future.
God of hope, bring them hope.

We pray for asylum seekers living in Australia.
They have experienced great loss.
God of healing, bring them healing.
They may never see their families again.
God of strength, bring them strength.
They have no certainty about their future.
God of hope, bring them hope.

We pray for asylum seekers detained on Manus Island & Nauru
They are experiencing great pain
God of healing, bring them healing.
They live in harsh and difficult conditions
God of strength, bring them strength.
They are losing hope.
God of hope, bring them hope.

We pray for our nation
We have hardened our hearts against refugees
God of healing, bring us healing
We have grown weary of caring
God of strength, give us strength
We need to find a better way forward,
God of hope, bring us hope.

Year 6 Mass with Bishop Brian and ACTIVATE Youth Team
We have been advised that due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the Year 6 Mass with Bishop Brian scheduled to be held on 4 August and Year 6 ACTIVATE Day with the Diocesan Youth Team on 12 August have unfortunately been cancelled.

The Catholic Diocese of Wollongong is hoping that there will be an opportunity for Bishop Brian to correspond with our Year 6 students later in the year before they leave primary school and move into their secondary education.

Confirmation
Please be advised a decision has not been made regarding the Sacrament of Confirmation.   We will keep you informed of developments.

Weekend Masses
A reminder that if you wish to attend weekend Masses at Warrawong or Berkeley, you must register with the parish office - Phone: 4276 3565.

Mrs Madaschi
Religious Education Coordinator 

What do I need to do if my child is sick?
If your child is sick, they must stay at home.

What do I need to do if my child is sick before school?
If your child is sick for any reason, they must stay at home. If a student is sick with flu-like symptoms, they should stay home, go to the doctor and if advised, get tested for COVID-19. 

If your child has been tested for COVID-19, please notify the school immediately. The child should remain at home while awaiting the test results. The school MUST be notified of all test results - positive and negative. Students should only return to school once they have fully recovered, and they have medical clearance.

What if my child is unwell at school?
Given the presence of COVID-19 coupled with the commencement of the influenza (flu) season, our school has an important responsibility to provide a safe environment for students and staff. The first symptoms of COVID-19 and flu are similar, in that they both can cause fever, cough, sore/scratchy throat, running nose, fatigue and shortness of breath. When the parent/carer of the student collects their child from school, a letter will be provided to them, which outlines the steps required for the student to be able to return to school.

Your support in keeping our school healthy and safe is appreciated.

All absences must be explained by parents in the Compass portal. There are some outstanding absences, please log in to your Compass Parent Portal and update these. Thank you.

Please make appointments outside school hours, where possible.  If your child needs to be collected early for an appointment, a note explaining this is required. This note can be given to the class teacher.

COVID-19 Information Link
Please be assured as we work together to respond to COVID-19 the health and safety of our school community is the priority.

DoW COVID-19 Information Centre.

Year 2
Every Friday as part of our handwriting lesson, the children in Year 2 engage in a directed drawing to help further develop their fine motor skills. 
In response to our FABLE unit in English and our focus on "The Ant and the Grasshopper", last week the children followed step-by-step instructions to complete a sketch of a grasshopper.  It was extremely tricky and one of the most detailed and complicated directed drawings we have ever done!  All the children did an amazing job. Mrs Davidson and Mr Green enjoyed having a look! So we thought we'd share with you a selection of our fantastic grasshoppers!
Mrs Grey
2 Blue Class Teacher

Social and Emotional Learning
Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

Social and emotional learning is a focus for our school, and since the students have returned to full-time face to face learning, this continues to be a focus. During the many weeks of isolation in their homes, the children were required to find creative ways to occupy themselves. Playing with others at school requires children to learn to cooperate and negotiate with their peers. This is very different from playing with their siblings or adults, who often will give way to the younger members to keep the peace or prevent conflict. Playing with peers is very different, as children of younger years do not have the maturity to empathise or compromise with each other. 

Understandably some of the concerns that parents have is how do their children manage the social and emotional aspects of school. These elements are part of the Personal Development section of the Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) curriculum. They include making friends, learning how to work with others and knowing how to be more responsible for yourself. Other aspects include how to manage feelings and get on with others. This kind of learning starts from a very early age; many years before children start school. 

Teachers help children manage social and emotional skills at school on a daily basis. Much of my role in student management is related to helping children develop the social skills necessary for them to be able to serve their needs, as well as consider the needs of others. As parents, this is a key factor of your parenting and just like at school this happens on a daily basis. Based on the discussions I have had with parents some of the topics in this area include, coping with frustrations and worries, getting along with others, solving problems, learning how to play safely and appropriately and using their words not their hands. Interestingly these skills are lifelong skills and are needed by people of any age. Research says that explicitly teaching these skills has a positive impact on wellbeing. 

The kinds of social and emotional skills that are important for children to develop have been outlined in the Mental Health Initiative Publication, 'Mind Matters' these include; 

• Self Awareness: understanding feelings, self-confidence 
• Social Awareness: respecting and understanding others, and appreciating differences between people 
• Self Management: managing, making friends and emotions, being able to set goals and stick to them 
• Responsible decision making: choosing wisely and thoughtfully and 
• Relationship skills: cooperating communicating, making friends and resolving conflict 

Being able to manage feelings, getting on with others, and solving problems, really helps children learn better and feel better. It is hoped that as the recent restrictions continue to ease, there will be an opportunity for your children to participate in playdates and for them to continue to learn and practice the very important skills above.

Mr Green
Assistant Principal

Our school waste management goal has been to REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE and incorporate sustainable practices to reduce the school’s ecological footprint. These practices will teach our students to care for our environment now and for the future.

In 2020, St Francis of Assisi applied for a grant to buy new garden beds, seeds for seasonal planting, a Compost Green Cone, coloured waste management bins and signage. Due to Covid-19, the implementation has been a slow process but hopefully, in Term 3, students will be educated and transitioned the school’s sustainable practices.

What can we do as a school community now?

IT IS TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE !

The world is polluting over 300 million tons of plastic into the ocean every year.
This is not only harming the environment and ocean but the wildlife and people.

One way we can help eliminate this environmental issue is to change your shopping purchases. Instead of buying packaged items and putting them into your child’s lunch boxes, put them in nude food containers. Please help us REDUCE the amount of soft plastics we are accumulating at our school.

Due to our COVID-19 restrictions, it has been difficult to gather as a school community.

Our staff, students and parents remain in our thoughts and prayers.

To celebrate the end of Term 2 we will be holding a Mufti Day. The theme for our Mufti Day will be your 'favourite sporting team or code'. For a gold coin donation, the students may dress in their favourite football, soccer or other team colours.

St Francis P&F Committee

School photo day has been rescheduled to be held on Wednesday 4 November.  Students are to wear their full summer school uniform (no sports uniform).  Please note, hair must be neat and tidy and the girl's hair tied back.

Orders previously placed in Term 1 will carry over.  Orders can be placed online as follows:

Visit: - www.advancedlife.com.au

St Francis of Assisi Advancedlife online order code is CZF PZ6 2FX