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This week we celebrate Catholic Schools Week (CSW). The theme for 2021 is ‘Faith in the Future’. This theme is shared with dioceses across the country as together we celebrate 200 years of Catholic education in Australia.
Catholic Schools Week is about strengthening relationships between all those who are involved in our schools, students, staff, families, priests, parishioners and members of the wider community, by giving thanks for our wonderful school and celebrating the quality learning that takes place in our classrooms every day. As we pause this week to reflect on the precious gift of Catholic education, we remember the intergenerational contributions that preceded us and that we continue to build upon. Since the very first Catholic school was established, countless children and young people have benefitted from the dedication and commitment of parents and staff in our Catholic schools.
This Catholic Schools Week we thank all our past and present teachers and staff for their passion, faith and tireless dedication to the mission of Catholic education.
This year, we have been unable to invite parents and visitors into our school for open classrooms due to COVID-19 directives but we hope to have parents join us sometime in the future. At the end of the week, we will share a video that captures Catholic Schools Week 2021. Thank you for your ongoing support.
Each day this week we have prayed and reflected on the Faith in The Future prayer celebrating 200 years of Catholic Education.
200 YEARS - Faith in the Future of Catholic Education in Australia
Almighty and all-loving God, with gratitude for the endeavours of Catholic education in the past, with confidence in our Catholic pre-schools, schools and universities today, and with faith in their continuing contribution in the future, we celebrate 200 years of Catholic education in this Great South Land.
As our Heavenly Father, we thank you for your providential care for your children in this land in inspiring priests, religious and lay people to found and staff our schools in ages past. Through them, the Good News of your Son was brought to the young even in colonial times – and ever since.
As Christ the Teacher, you grace the staff and leaders of Catholic education today. As they build on the achievements of their predecessors direct them in their present efforts to ensure that every young Australian has the opportunity for an excellent education and formation in faith.
As our Inspiring Spirit, you lead us into the future. In the century ahead grant those teaching and learning in our schools, those planning and leading, and the families and community that entrust their young people to us, a love of learning and a willingness to be the face of Christ in the world of tomorrow. Pour out your abundant blessings upon all involved in the ministry of Catholic education. Amen.
Our Lady of the Southern Cross – pray for us.
St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Patron of Catholic Education in Australia – pray for us.
St Francis of Assisi - pray for us.
Mrs Vicky Davidson
Principal
Enrol now for 2022.
Applications available online, please visit our website. www.sfawdow.catholic.edu.au Email: info@sfawdow.catholic.edu.au or collect an application form from the school office. Interviews will be held next term.
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, 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.
Our whole school focus for the next two weeks will be on our toilets. The expectations listed below will be shared and practised in each class. Teachers on duty will be reinforcing these expectations by acknowledging children who are demonstrating safe, responsible, and respectful behaviours in the classroom.
| Be Safe | Be Respectful | Be Responsible |
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National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence
We are proud to be registered for the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA). It is an important day where we will join other Australian school communities standing together against bullying and violence.
On Friday 19 March 2021 we will continue to help create positive change for students, staff and the school climate.
The National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence is an important day in our school calendar to say, ‘Bullying. No Way!’ Our school is taking action to empower its students to be part of the solution when addressing bullying in our school community.
More information for families is provided on the link below: https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/support-and-advice/for-families
Clean Up Australia Day - Friday 5 March
This Friday 5 March we as a school community are supporting Clean Up Australia Day.
There has been a surge in single-use disposable items, such as takeaway coffee cups, food packaging, masks, and sanitised wipes; all of which are polluting our local parks, bushland, streets, waterways, and beaches. In fact, research reveals more than 1 in 3 (34%) Australian households self-identified as producing more packaging waste during lockdown periods in 2020 compared to previous years, and more than 1 in 2 (55%) reported they are now more concerned about product packaging waste than they were in 2019. Clean Up Australia Chairman, Pip Kiernan, says now is the time for all Australians to Step Up to Clean Up, to help protect and conserve their local environments. “Last year saw immense disruption to our lives, not least of all to our local environments which have been impacted by increased uptake of single-use, disposable items,” said Ms Kiernan.
All students are asked to bring in a pair of gloves, as we clean up areas in and around our school. All students will be closely supervised as they participate in this important environmental, community event.
Project Compassion
This year the Caritas Australia Lenten season is themed “Be More”.
As Saint Oscar Romero said, “Aspire not to have more, but to be more.”
Through your generosity and by aspiring to “Be More”, you are assisting some of the world’s most vulnerable people build better futures for themselves, their families and their communities.
The money we collect in our classrooms this term will support Project Compassion that Caritas Australia organises.
Please read the focus stories for the next two weeks.
Second Week of Lent
(School week beginning Monday 1 March)
This week through Project Compassion we learn about 39-year-old Margret, a teacher at a vocational school for deaf students in the Solomon Islands. She was born deaf, so she knows the challenges it poses to education and employment. Apart from the difficulties, the students all have, the school also faced water shortages, with not enough to supply staff and students with safe water for drinking, cooking, washing and growing vegetables.
Then Tropical Cyclone Harold damaged the school and its vegetable garden, amidst the threat of COVID-19. Staff and students rely on the vegetable garden to provide food for their meals.
With Caritas Australia’s support, the school installed water tanks, provided cyclone-proof building materials and helped to implement COVID-19 prevention measures. Margret’s school now has enough water for its students and the capacity to cater for more, with plans to boost food security, through increased agricultural production.
Around 60% of people in rural areas in the Solomon Islands don’t have access to piped water, while about 80% don’t have access to latrines or toilets. (UNICEF, 2019)
Watch a short film about Margret’s story here.
“Aspire not to have more, but to be more.” Please support Project Compassion: lent.caritas.org.au
Third Week of Lent
(School week beginning 8March)
We are now in the third week of Lent with the Project Compassion story of Oliva, a 22-year-old woman from Tanzania. She did not have the opportunity to go to school and was embarrassed that she was unable to read, write or count. As an adult, her business was losing money because she couldn’t add up her money and give the right change to customers.
Then Oliva enrolled in Caritas Australia’s literacy and numeracy classes. She also set up a home classroom to teach her neighbours, for free, because they were too shy to attend larger classes.
Oliva has now graduated, attendance at her classes are growing, her kiosk is thriving and she is helping her children with their homework. She aims to become a pastor and run for leadership in the next local election - to help her community to ‘Be More.’
Approximately 260 million children don’t have the chance to go to school (un.org)
Watch a short film about Oliva’s story here.
“Aspire not to have more, but to be more.” Please support Project Compassion: lent.caritas.org.au
2021 Catholic Schools Week Liturgies
The CEDoW theme for Catholic Schools Week 2021 is ‘Faith in the Future’. This theme aligns with the NCEC theme for Catholic Education celebrating 200 years in Australia. This year marks the bicentenary of the first Catholic school being established in Parramatta in October 1820.
Our theme this year is ‘Faith in the future’, also reminds us to maintain our hope that God’s kingdom draws ever closer while challenging us to ensure our Catholic schools continue to be vibrant communities of faith, providing opportunities for encounter with Jesus in the midst of a world often dominated by a sense of isolation, tragedy and despair. (Peter Hill Director of Catholic Education Wollongong)
Our staff celebrated a Catholic Schools Week Liturgy before the Staff Meeting on Wednesday. We heard insightful messages from the Director of Schools Mr Peter Hill and Bishop Brian, during the shared liturgy.
The whole school CSW liturgy will be celebrated this Friday, where the following awards will be presented. Principal and Values Awards, Catholic Schools Week Award and Kindergarten Welcome Certificates.
Thank you to Fr Damien, who will celebrate these liturgies with us.
Sacraments
Students received the enrolment forms for the Sacraments this week. Please return forms to your class teacher, who will pass them on to Mrs Madaschi.
Fr Damien is very keen to have the sacraments celebrated this year at the following times.
| Sacrament | Proposed Date |
| Confirmation | 20th July (date confirmed by the Bishop) |
| Reconciliation | 31st August TBC |
| First Communion | 20th and 21st November TBC |
At this stage, these are the proposed dates (except Confirmation), and times and details will be subject to COVID restrictions.
Year of St Joseph
The Feast of St Joseph is on the 19thMarch. All students have a prayer card that we use for Thursday morning prayer. Please try and pray this prayer with your children.
Harmony Day
Harmony Day celebrates our cultural diversity – a day of cultural respect for everyone who calls Australia home. Held every year in March, Harmony Day coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Harmony Day is celebrated on 21 March each year. Our school will celebrate this day on Monday 22ndMarch as the official day is a Sunday.
Details for this day will be communicated in the coming weeks.
Our first whole school sporting event for 2021 will be the Cross Country. All students from Kindergarten to Year 6 will compete on the day. This carnival will be held on Thursday 11 March at Integral Energy Park, Dapto. Attached is the schedule for the events.
Diocesan Swimming Carnival
Diocesan Football Trials
On Friday 5 March, Emma (Year 6) and Julian (Year 5) will participate in the Diocesan Football Trials. From these trials, a Diocesan team will be selected to compete in the MacKillop Championships. Good luck Emma and Julian.
AFL – Paul Kelly Cup
A Senior Boys and Girls team from Years 5 and 6 will compete in the Paul Kelly Cup at Hollymount Park, Woonona on Friday 12 March. For selected students, detailed information is available on Compass in the events section.
Rugby League and League Tag
This year we are entering a senior team of boys (Rugby League) and girls (Dragon Tag) to compete in these competitions. Teams will be chosen from Years 5 and 6 to compete at Croome Road Sporting Complex on Thursday 25 March.
Mr Murphy
Dear Parents and Carers,
The Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD) takes place every year. The NCCD is a collection that counts:
- the number of school students receiving an adjustment or ‘help’ due to disability
- the level of adjustment they are receiving to access education on the same basis as other students.
Please read the attached information about this important data collection. Teachers will contact you directly to arrange a meeting (if necessary) in Week 7 this term.
Please speak to Mrs Burrows or Mr Murphy if you have any questions.
CANTEEN NOW OPEN
Recess & Lunch
New Menu
Wednesdays & Fridays
Cross Country Lunch Order Menu Available
The Canteen will provide Lunch Orders for the Cross Country. Please see the attached order form to be completed and returned in a brown lunch bag by Tuesday 9 March.
St Patrick's Day - Green Jelly Cups 50c
On Wednesday 17 March the children can purchase Green Jelly Cups from the Canteen at recess and lunch.
Parents are invited to attend the P&F AGM on Thursday 4 March at 3.30 pm. All positions will be made vacant. We look forward to continuing our parent support for 2021. We hope to see you at the meeting. Thank you.
Happy Birthday to the following students and staff who celebrate their birthdays in March:
Michael.S, Claudia.M, Sara.H, Youssef.E, Lucas.P, Selina.S, Emilio.M, Rahwa, Linda, Jasmin.H and Mrs Burrows.
Casual or permanent after school care bookings are available. This service is available in the school hall.
CatholicCare OSHC - St Francis of Assisi is staffed by a dedicated team of education professionals who are university trained early childhood teachers or TAFE trained Diploma educators who support and respect the uniqueness and individuality of children and their families. Our goal is to ensure that educators support and facilitate children’s social skills and self-confidence.
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.
Melissa Farrell
OOSH Coordinator
0447 623 580
warrawongoosh@catholiccare.dow.org.au
Being the coach
Tips for setting yourself aside to help your child in distressing situations.
We thank you for your support in keeping our school community safe. If you have any concerns, please email the school:info@sfawdow.catholic.edu.au.
