From the Principal

The Journey has begun

This week we commenced the season of Lent. As a school community we gathered for Mass on Ash Wednesday. A cross of ashes was placed on our forehead to mark the start of this time for reflection and promise. It is a time not necessarily to just give up things like chocolates, but more about giving up actions that cloud peace, love and kindness from flourishing. So it starts a time for us to reflect on who we can become by a shift of those things that hold us back and negatively impact others and our family and our community. A time to reflect is important as new begin a new year.

This year we have the hope of life getting back to normal and meeting face to face. It is in these encounters that the promise of the light of Christ can ignite. It is sure needed right now when we watch the news and see what happens when an individual gets self absorbed by their own importance and power, when people lack compassion and empathy and when groups disregard justice, peace and love. At this time we pray for the people in Ukraine and those who face conflict, isolation and despair. Sometimes this can also be on our doorstep and in our community. This is the time to notice and a time to take action. So as we walk with our children this Lent, let us choose kindness, model empathy, constructively solve conflict and take positive actions to help one another.

Pancake Tuesday

On Tuesday we had a large group of parent volunteers to cook and serve delicious warm pancakes to our children. Even Gluten free options. The children loved this treat and we thank all the parents who helped and gave up their precious time. We loved having parents helping in our school once again. We thank them for taking every precaution possible to do the cooking and serving in a COVID safe way. Thanks a million to our Parents & Friends. Special thanks to the many NEW parents who offered to help. 

The Count down has begun!

It is now 12 days to the start of the construction of our Multi-purpose Hall!!

So we are commemorating the start with a service to bless our building program and to turn the first shovel of dirt.

You are invited......

Thursday 10th March at 2:40pm

to St Francis de Sales for a

Blessing and Sod Turning Ceremony

The children will gather with Fr Des, staff, our architects and builders to mark the start of this long awaited project. It would be lovely for parents to join us as well. We would love to see you.

Junior School Picnic - Wednesday 23 rd March

This year we missed our start of the year school picnic due to COVID restrictions. In fact we have missed the last three SFS School Picnics!! We also realised that our juniors and their families have also missed so many opportunities to gather as a community and get to know one another and even to see the school!! Our junior children have also missed so many days at school due to learning remotely that they are also still getting to know one another, develop new friendships and connections. So we decided to have a special welcome to SFS to our juniors and their families this year. Our School Advisory Council has decided to hold a Junior School Picnic this year so we can catch up and get to know one another as members of the SFS school community.

Thanks to the many who have already replied to the Operoo eform. We look forward to seeing you there and connecting with you. Bring along a picnic and we will be supplying free icy-poles to the children. Let's enjoy the last of the summer and have some FUN.

Reading Night

Congratulations to all our parents who came along to our Reading Information Night last Tuesday!! You have gained some valuable insights from the teachers about the reading stage of development that your child is at and the strategies we will be focusing on at reading clinics at school for your child. You would have also taken away ideas and resources you can use to support your child's reading development at home. 

If you said, 'I have heard it all before!!" - You were mistaken. Your child is at a different level and the teachers would have explained the stage they are at now. All the school can do is provide you the opportunities and share as much as we can with you. However parents also need to join the partnership for the BEST results. 

Our school has embraced countless different ways to communicate with parents over the years from this newsletter to parent nights and now we are also starting to use apps such as See Saw to add to information shared on Operoo and the SFS School App. Each medium of communication has a slightly different purpose but the overall goal is giving parents a window into learning and building the vital partnership that will make a difference to your child.  The staff  and school leadership invest a lot of time to enhance these lines of communication and to build the partnership with you. The Reading Night was important to connect in person and to get an insight that is different to a video or reading a text. I invite you to embrace all the opportunities provided. Stay informed and stay in touch to support your child's learning.

School Fees

Please note - if school fees are paid in full 

by Friday, 11th March, 2022 

a 5% discount is applicable.

Alternatively, if you would like to set up a direct debit please fill in one of the forms below:

If you have a Health Care Card please fill in both attached forms and hand in to the office together with a copy of your card.

Collection Notice

The information collected will be used by the Australian Government to assess the capacity of school communities to contribute to the recurrent costs of schooling in order to move towards a fairer, needs-based funding model for non-government schools.

Update Operoo for 2022

It is vital that all parents ensure they have communicated updated medical information to the school for 2022.  The student profile with medical information MUST be updated with a 2022 date to confirm you have checked and that all the information is correct.

This is important for ALL students. 

Car Park Reminders

• The school car park is ONLY for Staff cars
• Do NOT park in the Drop off /Pick Up Zone or get out off our car.
• Left Turn ONLY into school car park and Left Turn ONLY leaving the school car park during drop off and pick up times.

Professional Learning Days Term 2 2022

There will be two staff professional learning days at the start of Term 2. The school Term will thus commence on Thursday 28 April 2022.

Monday 25 April - ANZAC Day Public Holiday

Tuesday 26 April - Staff Professional Learning on Positive Behaviour for Learning

Wednesday 27 April - Staff Professional Learning on Mathematics

Thursday 28 April - The start of Term 2 for ALL St Francis de Sales students F to Yr 6.

Christine White

Principal