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- Principal Message
- From the Principal Desk
- Assistant Principal
- Religious Education & Parish News
- Sports News
- Sports Uniform Days
- Building Update
- Kindergarten 2022 Reconnect
- Speech Therapy
- Canteen News
- P&F News
- School Photos
- Happy Birthday!
- School Counsellor
- Kindergarten 2023 - Enrol NOW
- 2022 School Fee Information
- Allergy Aware School
- CatholicCare Courses Term 1
- Helping kids settle back into school
- Illawarra Immunisation Centre - COVID19 Vaccine
- School Bus Travel
Dear Parents and Carers
Welcome to the 2022 school year, I trust you all had a lovely break with your family and friends and are looking forward to the year ahead. As Term 1 begins, you would have read a lot about “COVID-smart” measures designed to keep our school communities safe. The health and wellbeing of our students, staff and families remain our priority and these measures are designed to help to keep our school open and our students learning in the classroom. I would like to thank parents, carers, students and staff for the way in which they are supporting the St Francis of Assisi COVID smart measures.
It was a delight to visit the classrooms and see how happy the students and the teachers were to be back at school. We all know that children receive the best education when parents and teachers work as a team. Parents' enthusiasm, support and involvement are integral to the success of our school as are the skills, dedication and professionalism of teachers.
Together, we aspire to create learning communities that build and maintain collaborative partnerships with parents and carers and the broader community which will enhance student learning and wellbeing outcomes.
This year we continue to work together towards our vision, to be 'an engaged Catholic community, inspired by the Franciscan spirit, empowering all learners to reach their full potential.' Our priorities are focused on improving students’ growth in faith and learning, particularly in the areas of literacy and numeracy. We look forward to sharing our school review and improvement plan with the school community.
We hope that throughout the year, our school will be a place where staff, students and families have opportunities to experience God’s presence in our lives.
Prayer for the start of the year
Lord Jesus, we ask for Your help as we begin this new school year.
Allow us to experience Your presence in the many blessings You put before us.
Open our eyes to the new challenges and exciting
opportunities that this new school year brings.
Open our hearts and mind to new friends and new teachers.
Give us a generous spirit to be enthusiastic with our learning and
the courage to accept new opportunities.
Help us to be attentive to one another and let us experience
Your presence in our new friends.
Jesus, inspire us to do our best, snd the best we can be this year! Amen.
Thank you to our parents and carers for your commitment as parents to preparing your child/ren for the new school year.
Mrs Davidson
PRINCIPAL
Welcome
Welcome back to all our staff, students and families.
A special welcome to the many new families who have joined us this year. Ariam (Year 2), Hussein and Zuzanna (Year 3) and Jack and Selihome (Year 5). We look forward to welcoming our Kindergarten students when they officially start school on Tuesday 8 February.
A special welcome to our new staff. Ms Marita Maloney, (Religious Education Coordinator and Year 5 teacher), Miss Emma Novak (CatholicCare counsellor) and Miss Lily Clarke. (School Support Officer - Term 1).
Parent-School Partnership Framework
Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) schools strive to create vibrant Catholic communities of faith and learning and believe this is best achieved when there is a genuine partnership between home and school. The Lighting the Way Together Parent-School Partnership Framework has been developed to support the creation and maintenance of this partnership. It outlines for parents/carers and schools the principles and expectations of the parent-school partnership. This framework supports the positive connections that exist between home, school and parish. Together, we are all striving to provide a school environment for the children to find meaning and purpose through continual growth in faith and learning. I encourage you to read through this framework.
2022 COVID Smart Measures for Schools
Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) schools are operating under the COVID-smart settings for NSW schools provided by the NSW Government.
The Term 1 settings for 2022 were developed in close consultation with NSW Health and can be viewed on the Department of Education and Training website.
A fact sheet for parents/carers and students that summarises the key information is available below.
Welcome back to our students, teachers and parents. It was a pleasure to see the students on Tuesday morning so keen and ready to start another year of learning and growing.
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 fortnightly, on Thursday, via Compass and email. 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.
Positive Behaviours for Learning (PB4L)
The Positive Behaviours for Learning (PB4L) framework is implemented at St Francis of Assisi to help create vibrant and positive learning environments in which all students are supported to reach their full potential.
PB4L is an evidenced-based, organisational framework for behaviour support to enhance respectful relationships and engagement of students in their learning. It encompasses a broad range of systemic and individualised strategies and agreed practices for achieving important social and academic outcomes for all students.
This framework is an integral component of the CEDoW Student Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Policy, which articulates the need for schools to ‘play an active role in building a positive learning environment where the whole school community feels included, connected, safe and respected’
All staff at our school work together to explicitly teach, affirm and correct agreed behaviour expectations across school-wide, classroom and non-classroom settings, based on our school rules that underpin who we are and what we do at St Francis of Assisi. Students at St Francis of Assisi follow explicit behaviour expectations based on the following school rules:
BE RESPECTFUL BE RESPONSIBLE BE SAFE
Parent and carer support is an integral part of the success of PB4L at our school, and we thank you for your ongoing cooperation and support.
Read more about our Positive Behaviours for Learning (PB4L) Framework.
Assistant Principal
Welcome back to the new school year. I hope the Christmas holidays provided you with some time to relax and reconnect with family and friends.
As we have only been back at school for a short time, we are still in the process of planning our Liturgies and Masses. I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Marita Maloney and I am the new Religious Education Coordinator and one of the Year 5 teachers.
During Term 1, there will be a number of events celebrated but more details about them will be communicated in the next newsletter.
I thank both the staff and students for the warm welcome they have shown me thus far and I look forward to getting to know our parent community and parishioners. I also look forward to being able to share with you the faith and learning that is happening at school as the term goes on.
An Invitation From Our Parish
Last year our parish church piloted the Alpha program. Despite the restrictions lockdown imposed in 2021, the parish ran the Alpha course via Zoom as a means of revitalising and reconnecting with our faith community. The participants saw great value in the course and as a result they are launching Alpha for our Parish communities.
WHAT IS ALPHA?
Alpha is an opportunity to explore life, faith and God in a friendly, open and informal environment.
WHO IS ALPHA FOR?
Alpha is for everyone! Alpha is not so much a course, but an experience! Gathering once a week over several weeks, each Alpha brings together people from all walks of life. We eat together, we listen to a talk and then we gather in small groups for discussion. Whether you’re an atheist, an agnostic or a lifelong believer—everyone is welcome!
You are invited to join us this year!
WHEN AND WHERE?
Starting Wednesday 16 February 2022, 7 pm - 9 pm.
We begin with dinner at 7 pm.
St Francis of Assisi School Hall
95 Flagstaff Rd, Warrawong.
COST: Free!
BOOKINGS AND INFORMATION
Please contact Rebecca at redsadiq@bigpond.com.
RSVP by 11 February 2022.
To find out more visit the link
School Swimming Carnival - Competitors Only
Our School Swimming Carnival will be held on Thursday 17 February at Berkeley Pool from 8:30am-11:30am. This will be for competitors only for students in Year 3-6. Please see the note that was sent via Compass today if you wish to nominate your child for any events, or via the link below:
Diocesan Sporting Trials
Over the coming weeks, a number of Year 5 and Year 6 students will be attending Diocesan Sporting Trials. These are trials for individual students in the Wollongong Diocese to select a Wollongong Team to compete at the next level.
Best wishes and good luck to:
Luka C (Yr 5) and Stefan B (Yr 6) - Tennis - Tuesday 8 February
Sienna M, Chanel T, Eva G (Yr 6) - Netball - Friday 4 March
Tevita T (Yr 6) - Rugby League - Friday 4 March
School Cross Country
We are looking forward to our first whole school sporting event for 2022, our Cross Country carnival, to be held on 10 March at Integral Energy Park, Kembla Grange. We will communicate further information closer to the date.
Sporting Schools - Basketball
We have been fortunate to secure a Sporting Schools grant for Term 1 this year. Students in Year 1-6 will have the opportunity to participate in skills and games program later this term. Further details will be communicated closer to the date.
These events will be run in accordance with current NSW Health Covid-19 Public Health Orders, and St Francis of Assisi and CEDoW policies.
What day does my child/ren wear their sports uniform
| Wednesday and Friday | Kindergarten |
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Year 1 |
| Year 2 | |
| Year 3 | |
| Year 4 | |
| Year 5 | |
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Tuesday and Friday |
Year 6 |
Dear Parents and Carers
The building renovations were due to be completed during the school holidays. Due to the unavailability of some building materials and the impact of COVID on trades, the building projection timelines have not been met. Some of the exterior painting will be completed on the weekends.
The students in K, 1, 4 and 6 are using the stairwells in the administration area to adhere to our COVID safe measures. Whilst we did not envisage this outcome we will look forward to moving our staff and office into the admin very soon. Mrs Brabender and Mrs Jimenez have set up a temporary office in the hall.
Thank you again for your patience and understanding.
Kindergarten 2022 Reconnect
Yesterday, Wednesday 2 February, some of our Kindergarten class of 2022 reconnected before their first day of 'big school' next week! It was a great opportunity to
re-establish their relationships with their peers and teachers. The students will have another opportunity to reconnect next Monday afternoon, 7 February at 1.30 pm.
Speech Therapist news!!
We have been fortunate to seek the employment and services of a speech pathologist from Necessity Kids- based in Dapto, to work alongside our staff for Term 1, 2022. Jenny Hill will be overseeing this service on Wednesdays at Saint Francis of Assisi School. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in the field of speech pathology. This is an exciting venture that we have needed and wanted for a long time now.
Speech Pathology (therapy) is aimed at helping anyone with difficulties communicating. In early childhood and early years of primary school, this covers learning to talk clearly, using words in sentences with appropriate grammar, sequence ideas to clearly express details as well as understanding and following complex instructions. Speech therapy also includes stuttering therapy, voice disorders and helping children who have a specific diagnosis of communicating without words, e.g. sign language, using computer-aided apps or visuals.
Canteen Lunch Orders only Term 1
from 16 March
Parent Helpers are Needed
For this service to the children to be successful, we need help from parents. If you can help in any way, please return the Volunteer form below or email the school with your contact details and availability - info@sfawdow.catholic.edu.au.
2021 School Photo orders
Last year photo orders were received this week and have been sent home with the students. Thank you for your understanding of the delays and changes due to COVID-19, we hope that 2022 will be better.
2022 School Photo day
School photo day will be held on Thursday 31 March ~ Week 10. 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. Order information below to order online including family photos.
Visit: - www.advancedlife.com.au
St Francis of Assisi Advancedlife online order code is CZF PZ6 2FX
Staff and Student Birthdays
Happy Birthday to the following students and staff who are celebrating their birthdays in January:
Quinton (K), Raphael (K), Joseph (1), Ayva (2), Riott (2), Ariam (2), Victoria (3), Joshua (5), Samuel (5), Hassan (5), Abbas (5), Savannah (6), Tevita (6), Mrs Grey, Mrs Agius, Mrs Brabender and Mr Green.
I am employed by CatholicCare’s School Student and Family Program which aims to promote the wellbeing and development of students. I provide counselling support to students for issues such as anxiety, friendship issues, anger and behaviour management, sleep problems, support through family breakdown, grief and loss, or any other concerns you may have for your child.
At times I may also run groups on social skills, dealing with anxiety or coping with family separation. I am also able to provide information in relation to referrals for other CatholicCare services.
Schools fees for 2022 have now been invoiced and statements will be issued by the end of Week 2 with annual or first installment payment due on 28 February 2022. You may view school fees in the Compass Parent Portal. Please find below information from the Catholic Education Office regarding the management of school fee accounts.
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.
