Each year at St Francis of Assisi we have a focus on specific improvement priority areas. The strategic approach to improvement is a way for the school to focus its professional learning time, resources and management in the right areas in order to have a positive impact on student learning, wellbeing and faith development.
This year our school priority areas are:

• Build and nurture authentic partnerships between the school and parish, so that we continue to explore the concepts of Mission and Catholicity within our Catholic Context.
• Continue to establish K-6 reading practices that are responsive to student data so that there is a focus on oral language and reading comprehension in order to improve student learning outcomes.
• Embed all aspects of the Assessment framework in Mathematics, so that students are able to reflect on feedback, provide peer and self-assessment and articulate and set goals for their learning.

During our learning walks and throughout the day our staff ask the students five 5 key questions to track the learning process. What are you learning? How are you doing? How do you know? How can you improve? Where do you go for help?
Throughout our newsletters, we will continue to share our learning journey with you. 

Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
On the Solemnity of the Annunciation, Pope Francis carried out a solemn Act of Consecration of humanity, and Russia and Ukraine in particular, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  Pope Francis invited priests, religious and the faithful to assemble in their churches and places of prayer to also recite this prayer.

At the conclusion of last Friday’s parish Mass, our students from Years 3-6 Mass joined the parish community in this special prayer.  Below is an extract from the prayer provided by Pope Francis.

Extract from the Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Therefore, Mother of God and our Mother, to your Immaculate Heart we solemnly entrust and consecrate ourselves, the Church and all humanity, especially Russia and Ukraine.  Accept this act that we carry out with confidence and love.  Grant that war may end and peace spread throughout the world.  The “Fiat” that arose from your heart opened the doors of history to the Prince of Peace.  We trust that, through your heart, peace will dawn once more.  To you we consecrate the future of the whole human family, the needs and expectations of every people, the anxieties and hopes of the world.

Project Compassion Feature Stories

Fourth Week of Lent - Rosalie from the Democratic Republic of Congo

This week through Project Compassion we learn about Rosalie, who lives with her husband and seven children in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Forced to join the army when she was just 15-years-old, Rosalie experienced significant trauma and hardship during her years in the military. After she was demobilised from the army, Rosalie, like other ex-combatants, was left to fend for herself in the community.

With your generous support and through Caritas Australia's partners, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) and Caritas Bukavu, Rosalie was able to connect with other members of her community and participate in business skills training to help her to reintegrate into society.

She joined a savings group that helped her with a loan to start her own small business selling second-hand shoes and natural remedies.
“I can eat, dress, maintain my health and help others. My children study and manage to eat twice a day. I have learnt to work hand-in-hand with other members of the community. Really, there is more joy in sharing with others.” - Rosalie

Fifth Week of Lent - Shaniella from the Solomon Islands

Next week’s Project Compassion focus person is Shaniella who is attending a vocational school in the Solomon Islands, supported by Caritas Australia Solomon Islands (CASI). 
Not long after Shaniella started, the school was hit by a landslide, flooding and a cyclone, all in quick succession.
With your kind support, CASI helped install water tanks, restoring clean water access to nearby schools, health centres and the wider community. Training was held in agricultural skills to help boost the school community’s food security, as well as in environmental risk management and emergency responses.
Now, Shaniella can complete her skills training, with enough water and food to eat, and improved sanitation. She is improving her ability to earn an income, learning skills which will expand her job opportunities. Students are also better prepared to respond when disaster strikes.

To watch a short film about Rosalie’s story click here and for Shaniella’s story click here.

Please support Project Compassion:lent.caritas.org.au

MUFTI DAY - Friday Week 11
On the last day of Term 1, we are having a MUFTI Day at school. We ask that students bring a gold coin donation on this day to go towards Project Compassion.

Whole School Commemoration of Holy Week - Thursday 7 April

Next Thursday, 7th April, you are invited to join us in St Francis of Assisi church at 11:30 am for our Holy Week liturgy.  During the liturgy, each grade will be helping to recall the events of Jesus’ life during his final week on earth and connecting these events to what the church does today to celebrate Holy Week. 

Sacramental Dates for 2022

Confirmation - Confirmation will be celebrated on Wednesday 20th July @ St Francis of Assisi Parish Church, Warrawong at 7 pm. 

 

Penance - First Reconciliation will be celebrated on Thursday 1st
September @ St Mary of the Rosary Parish Church, Berkeley at 7 pm.  

Eucharist - First Holy Communion will be celebrated at St Mary of the Rosary Parish Church, Berkeley on Saturday 19th November at 5 pm and at St Francis of Assisi Parish Church, Warrawong on Sunday 20th November at 8:30 am and 10 am.  

More information will be sent to families next term.

Year 5 Exploring the Trinity - God is 3 in 1:  Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Year 5 celebrated St Patrick’s Day by exploring the symbolism used in artworks depicting the Trinity and then they created their own Trinitarian artworks. Here are some of their artworks.

Ms Marita Maloney
Religious Education Coordinator

School Cross Country
We were finally able to complete our Cross Country races for our 8-12 year old students last Thursday, albeit a little wet, and on a modified course around school.
A massive thank you to our amazing parents who gave up their time to ensure the students were safe on the modified course, and those who made sure they were fed at lunchtime. We are greatly appreciative of our generous parent community. Congratulations to all students who competed safely and with pride in their efforts. 

Congratulations to the following students, who will represent our school at the Diocesan Carnival in Nowra on Tuesday 3 May. 

Alivia G, Olivia B, Fatima H, Rocco M, Hussein S, Christian G, Isabella A, Jasmin H, Genevieve U, Antonio F, Hussain H, Ali H, Savannah G, Chanel T, Charlie M, Jaxen G, Brock F, Hussein A, Eva G, Jessica S, Sara E, Ali H, Julian G, Phillip T. 

Students can wear mufti clothes on Friday 1 April and are asked to bring a donation for the Easter Raffle as follows: -

On Monday 21 March, the St Francis of Assisi school community gathered together to celebrate Harmony Day, an important date on our calendar. With a tremendous and vibrant mix of many cultures, St Francis really is a living example of peace and harmony in a multicultural community
During the Harmony Day liturgy, one student from each class was presented with a Harmony Day award in recognition of their positive daily interactions with others. Each Stage also presented a song based on unity and harmony, culminating in a whole school moving rendition of ‘An African Blessing’.
The celebrations continued at lunchtime with a Harmony Day sausage sizzle.
A special thank you to our P&F and parent helpers who prepared the sausage sizzle.
Thank you to all who helped make this a wonderful day.

Invitation to students to attend ANZAC Dawn Service 

The celebration of ANZAC Day enables all of us to remember not only the courageous actions of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought in the battle of Gallipoli but also to honour those who died on the shores of Gallipoli on that fateful day - on 25 April 1915.

Monday 25 April marks the 107th anniversary, and our school has been invited to be a part of the commemorations at the Dawn Service (6 am) at the War Memorial, Allan Street Port Kembla. Our school leaders have been asked to lay a wreath and read a Prayer of Thanksgiving. This is a very special occasion. If any of our St Francis of Assisi students would like to join us at the dawn service, please feel free to wear your school uniform.

On Anzac Day, we commemorate all Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations and the contribution and suffering of those who have served. This includes soldiers, nurses, animals, and the families affected by war.

Today we enjoy the freedom won for us by the ANZACS. As a school community, we remember their sacrifice and pray that the gift of peace given to us by these brave people will be treasured and protected for generations to come.

Lest we forget.

School photo day was held today.  Order information is below to order online. Visit: - www.advancedlife.com.au
Enter online order code CZF PZ6 2FX

Last Friday, the Year 1 students visited the Church.  We have been learning about Baptism and were very interested in seeing the baptismal font and the Easter Candle.  We also were able to see the beautiful stained glass windows in our Church and to learn about the altar, the tabernacle, and the lectern.

Mrs Grey
Class Teacher

Book Club is available to view and order online. Orders can be placed online via LOOP.  Click on the link below to view and order online. 

Dear Parents/Carers,

The NSW Education Act (1990) and Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) require Parents/Carers to ensure that children of compulsory school age attend school on each day that the school is open for instruction. If children are absent from school, Parents/Carers are required to provide the school with an acceptable explanation, within seven days of the absence. 

During the next school holiday vacation period, the settings in Compass will be adjusted to reflect the requirements of the Education Act (1990). After seven days, absences will automatically be recorded as Absent - unexplained / unjustified if the school is not provided with an acceptable explanation from Parents/Carers. Parents wishing to provide the school with an acceptable explanation after the seven-day period will need to contact the school and the school will adjust the attendance register. Parents will no longer be able to enter the absence through the parental portal in Compass after the seven-day period. 

The school will continue to support Parents/Carers and frequently send home letters giving Parents/Carers the opportunity to provide the school with an explanation for absences.

Please do not hesitate to contact the school should you require further information regarding the change.