Schools Clean Up Day
Since 1992, schools across Australia have made a real difference to their environment and local communities through participating in a Schools Clean Up. Over 2,000 preschools and primary schools participated in the 2021 Schools Clean Up Day, and many more have signed up for an Everyday Clean Up since then. These sites make an immense contribution to the rubbish removed by volunteers - young and old!

We will participate in Schools Clean Up Day tomorrow, Friday 3 March 2023. This is a fun and engaging way to teach young Australians about the responsible disposal of rubbish, resource recovery, and the repercussions of rubbish dumped irresponsibly in the local environment. Students are asked to bring in a pair of gloves. All students will be closely supervised as they participate in this important environmental community event.

PB4L News
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 students who are demonstrating safe, responsible, and respectful behaviours in this area.

High School Visits
Over the last couple of weeks, Years 5 and 6 have been visited by the local Catholic High Schools in our area. The students have brought home information about Open Day and information sessions, as well as how to enrol. Please contact these schools for more information. (see advertisements at the back of the newsletter)

NAPLAN
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a point-in-time assessment of literacy and numeracy skills. Each year students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 participate in tests for writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar, and punctuation), and numeracy.

NAPLAN has now moved to Term 1 and will take place on the following dates:

The reason for the change of date to March is to enable results to be returned to schools earlier in the year, which will support teachers in addressing the learning needs of their students and plan accordingly.
NAPLAN tests are just one part of our school learning assessment program, and questions are primarily based on knowledge, understanding, and skills gained from the prior year of schooling.
In preparation for NAPLAN 2023, our school will undertake activities to help students to become familiar with the format and functionality of the online tests. These activities are not an assessment of student ability and will not be marked.

Students and parents can access the public demonstration site  (https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site) to familiarise themselves with NAPLAN and the types of questions and tools available. Excessive preparation for NAPLAN is not required nor recommended.

If you have any questions about NAPLAN, please contact your child’s teacher.

PAT Testing
ACER’s Progressive Achievement approach is used in thousands of schools in Australia and around the world. The approach focuses on assessing and monitoring student growth over time and is underpinned by an understanding that students of the same age and in the same year of school can be at very different points in their learning and development.

 Why do schools use PAT tests?

• They provide a measure of student achievement in each learning area
• PAT Adaptive uses a sophisticated computer adaptive assessment model to accurately target students’ abilities and to provide richer and more accurate diagnostic information about students’ achievements and needs.
• Entry levels are automatically assigned according to students’ estimated ability, and their individualised test pathway is constructed as they progress through a series of ‘test lets’ – small blocks of test items.
• There is a common achievement scale for all tests within a learning area (PAT scale scores allow teachers to compare achievement on the tests within each learning area regardless of year level and the specific test completed and to monitor progress over time)
• They are mapped to the Australian Curriculum.
• They provide overall descriptions of the types of skills mastered and those still to be developed based on test performance.
• Individual and group reports have automatically calculated scores and sorting functions that allow comparison of scores across students, strands, etc.
• They can be used to inform teaching and learning and to assist in planning effective and targeted learning programs.

Students in Years 2-6 have been engaged in PAT Reading and PAT Mathematics Adaptive tests during the last two weeks. The results will now be analysed and used to guide the planning of learning activities.

Mr Rod Green
Assistant Principal

Last week, a letter went home to children in Years 3 and 6 who have been baptised in the Catholic faith regarding the Sacramental programs being offered in our parish this year.  If you would like to enrol your child in any of the programs this year, and you have not yet returned your enrolment form to Father Damien or Deacon Mick, please do so this weekend so numbers can be finalised.  (NB: Enrolment forms are to be returned at Mass.  Please do not return them to the school.)
As indicated on the note that was sent home, for those enrolled in this year’s Reconciliation program, there is an information night scheduled for next Thursday night, 23 February.  This meeting will take place in St Francis of Assisi Church at 6 pm.
On the weekend of the 25 and 26 February, those enrolled in the Reconciliation program will attend a Commitment Mass in preparation for their lessons which begin in Week 6. 

• Commitment Mass at St Mary of the Rosary, Berkeley:   
  • Saturday 25th Feb @ 4 pm
• Commitment Masses at St Francis of Assisi, Warrawong:
  • Sunday 26 Feb @ 10:30 am

Mary Kavanagh ~
Following the Footsteps of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi
Mary Kavanagh will be visiting our parish soon and while she is here, she is going to be giving a series of talks and reflections about St Francis and St Clare of Assisi.  Mary spent some years as a Poor Clare, in communities in the UK, where she deepened her relationship with these two extraordinary saints.

The talks will focus on:

• The Call to Gospel
• Living Lady Poverty
• Seeing God in all Creation
• Prayer
• Journey’s End

Dates:  Tuesday 14 March - Saturday 18 March 2023
Session Details:

• Tuesday to Friday sessions 9:45 am -10:45 am at Warrawong (followed by morning tea)
• Sessions repeated 7:00 pm-8:00 pm at the Parishes House in Berkeley (followed by supper)
• One joint session on Saturday 18th March from 10:30 am -11:30 am at the Parishes House (followed by a light lunch).

Please contact the parish office;
Phone: 42763565 or email berkeleywarrawong@dow.org.au to register your interest or to find out more. 

Presentation of Swimming Ribbons, Medallions and House Trophy

Dear Parents and Carers, 
Our Swimming ribbons and medallions will be presented at our School Assembly tomorrow - Friday 03 March at 2:15 pm in the School Hall. We will also present the House Champion Trophy to the winning house. 
Please note the ribbons are only presented for 50m events. The 15m races were simply for enjoyment and participation, not competition, and no ribbons will be awarded for these races. 
Please see Mr Murphy if you have any questions.

Age Champions and the House Champions will be published here after the presentation of medallions has taken place at assembly.

Age Champions

House Champions

YELLOW House

2023 Swimming Carnival | Friday 17 February - Years 2 to 6
On Friday 17 February, we had a perfect day for our first Swimming Carnival in 4 years, the first for many of our students and parents!
Congratulations to all of our students, who participated and competed to the best of their ability, and in a great spirit.
Thank you to the huge number of parents and families who were able to join us, both in a volunteer role and those who cheered on all the students - we are very appreciative of your efforts.
To our staff, your professionalism and dedication to the students allowed the day to happen.
Everyone had a great day and we are already looking forward to next year!

2023 Sports Dates

Date	Event	Attending	Venue
Thursday 09 March	School Cross Country Carnival	K-6	Integral Energy Park, Kembla Grange
Thursday 08 June	School Athletics Carnival	K-6	Myimbarr Oval, Shellharbour
Term 1 Wk 7 - 10	Sporting Schools  Volleyball	Years 3-6	School

Paul Kelly Cup AFL

Last Friday 24 February, St Francis of Assisi attended the Paul Kelly Cup AFL Gala Day. This is a competition against other schools from our local region. Congratulations to the students, most of whom were very new to the sport, who tried their best for our school and had a fun day. We must congratulate the students on their wonderful behaviour, sportsmanship and spirit. 

Both our Senior Boys and Senior Girls teams finished undefeated in their group matches, and won their semi finals. Unfortunately, they came up against some strong opposition in the grand finals and both finished 2nd overall. This is an amazing achievement given their lack of experience in the sport, and a testament to their dedication and effort. 

Cross Country 

Our annual school Cross Country Carnival is to be held next Thursday 9 March at Integral Energy Park. Students will catch a bus from school to the park, and will need to be at school by 8:45 am. Full details and information can be found on the Compass event. 

Parent helpers are needed to support the running of this day. Thanks to those who are able to give some of their time. We require assistance with carnival jobs as well as supporting the P&F with preparing lunch orders for the students. Please see the Compass consent form if you are able to help, or contact Mr Murphy.

If you have any other questions about the carnival, please see Mr Murphy.

Thanks to the P&F who are organising lunch orders for the students. Please see the attached flyer which went home with students this week. These orders are due by Monday 06 March.

Cross_Country_lunch_Order_2023.pdf

Cross_Country_lunch_Order_2023 _pdf 348.41 KB

Sporting Schools Term 1
We are fortunate to have secured funding for Sporting Schools this term. This will commence next Friday 10 March and run for four consecutive Fridays. Students in Years 3-6 will learn the skills of the sport of volleyball, led by specialist coaches. 

Mr Murphy

Sport Coordinator

Run by the Council of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT, Anxiety and Resilience with Dr Justin Coulson PhD is a free, 60 minute webinar for parents, carers and staff in CEDoW schools to assist them in supporting the children in their care. 
Dr Coulson is the co-host and parenting expert on Channel 9's Parental Guidance and holds a PhD in positive psychology. 

Date: Wednesday 29 March 2023 at 7:00 pm

Register at https://www.ccsp.catholic.edu.au/event/52

One of the aspects of the assessment and instruction framework is building students' capacity to peer and self-assess using the success criteria. Today in Mathematics, Year 4, enjoyed the opportunity to take an active role in learning from each other by listening, analysing and problem-solving. Not only did they help each other with the task, but they deeply reflected on their own work. Great work, Year 4!

Dear Parents and Carers, 

Recently, we purchased some playground equipment for our students to enjoy in the grass playground. This includes swing sets, climbing equipment, and much more. 

We are requesting anyone who is able to assist us in building the equipment - we know we have some flat pack master builders in our community - to please give some time this Saturday 04 March from 10am in the Grass Playground. Any time you are able to give will be greatly appreciated. If you aren't the handy type of person, your assistance would still be appreciated in supporting other roles. Children are most welcome to join us, and we will need some to be the first ones to test the equipment out! 

If you have any of the following tools available, please bring them with you:
- Rubber mallets
- Wrench
- Tape Measure

We will be providing a BBQ lunch on the day for anyone who is able to join us to say thank you. Please complete the brief form to indicate attendance for catering purposes. 

We look forward to seeing you there and thank you in advance for your support.

P&F AGM 2023

All Parents & Friends positions will be made vacant and an election will be held for new committee members for the 2023 Parents & Friends Committee.  The AGM has been scheduled to be held on Thursday 16 March from 3.30-4.30.  Please see below for further information. All parents are welcome and hope to see you there.   

When families are taking holidays during the school term for 10 days or more, an Application for Leave must be completed, with notice, and submitted at the School Office.  This application is required to be approved by the School Principal prior to the leave commencing and a Certificate of Extended Leave will be issued for the parents to have with them during their travels. Please see the attached form for further information.

Please check and update any details for your children and yourself in the Compass portal. Contact details including mobile numbers and email addresses are very important.

To do this on your computer:

• Open the Compass Portal (httpss://sfawdow-nsw.compass.education/)
• Click the cog wheel next to your name in the top right-hand corner
• Select update my details 

For School Fees and payments billing

• Click your name in the top right-hand corner
• Click the billing tab (fourth tab along)
• Select Make a Payment on the left-hand side
• Select School Fees
• Follow the payment options to pay in full or in portion