From the Principal
Welcome Back to St Francis de Sales
Welcome to St. Francis de Sales as we commence a new school year together as the 2021 school community. A special welcome to our new children, new families and new staff. A very BIG welcome to all our Foundation students who have made a great start to their first year at school!! Great to see lots of happy parents join us for a Cuppa on Friday when just our foundation students came to school.
We look forward to an exceptionally wonderful year together so that we are enriched, can flourish and grow. We pray that 2021 will bring many blessings, dynamic learning opportunities, strengthen and expand networks, restore health and bring inner peace and well-being to our world and to all our lives.
There is a lot to look forward to this year. We shall see a dream realised with the plans for a new multipurpose hall finalised so that the long awaited construction can commence. This year we will celebrate our 10th Anniversary as a community (as we did not get to celebrate this in 2020!) and we look forward to our junior school production, “Jessie in the Jungle” and our senior production, “Global Groove.” We commence a 1:1 device trial with our Year 3’s. We embrace the simple joys of life. It will be great to enjoy being together as a community for our events like whole school Masses and assemblies, a picnic, Twilight Market and grandparents day! We will joyfully embrace each new day and all that it brings in this new year.
In Term 3, 2021 we will have a School Review and an external validation and report of our work over the past school improvement plan (SIP) 2018-2021. We have already commenced the process of reflection and evaluation what has strengthened in our school and are gathering our evidence of where we are. This important work will help us collectively determine our next key priorities and the direction for our next school improvement plan 2022 - 2025.
The new Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools ( MACS) theme for 2021 is – ‘Faith in the Future”’. This year we celebrate 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia. As we build on the achievements of our predecessors, may our efforts ensure that every child at St Francis de Sales has the opportunity for an excellent education and formation in faith. May our actions and words inspire a love of learning and a willingness to be the face of Christ in the world now and in the future.
As we open the door to a New Year, let us always remember to walk in Jesus’ footstep with a loving heart and to be open to listen with our whole self to the perspectives of one another as we walk into the school grounds, our classrooms, offices and participate in school events. Together let us passionately build a community that is respectful and kind to all members of our community. If you have any concerns it is vital that you discuss them with me or the staff immediately. It is important that we work in partnership as a team to ensure constructive solutions and ensure the best possible outcomes.
As a community may we respond and attend to the signs of our times with courage and hope. May we be role models, living compassionately and with respect, upholding our school values in word and deed.
This is the year; the time is now to really make a difference and to let our light shine in our world. We pray that our school St Francis de Sales will be a beacon of light in 2021 in our actions, words and deeds.
A warm Welcome to our new staff
This year we warmly welcome the following staff members who have joined our team this year.
- Rebecca Xavier - Junior Home Group teacher LS2.
- Logan Wilson - Digital Technology/STEM specialist teacher.
- Natasha De Silva - Learning Support Officer LS1 Juniors.
- Rhonda D'Mello - Learning Support Officer and tutor.
We will also welcome a new school based psychologist - Gabriela Perotti and in March we will welcome Bronwyn Northcott an Occupational Therapist.
Introducing our new Staff.
Name: Logan Wilson
Country of birth: New Zealand
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite holiday place: Japan
Favorite footy team: Essendon
A quote/ saying you like: "Be your own superhero"
What do you like about SFS:
"I like how supportive and welcoming the SFS community is"
Name: Rhonda D'Mello
Country of birth : India
Favorite food: Soups
Favorite holiday place: Malta
Favorite footy team: Tigers
A quote/ saying you like: "Love is the greatest gift of all."
What do you like about SFS:
"Unity in diversity."
Name: Natasha De Silva
Country of birth: Australia
Favorite food: Greek food
Favorite holiday place: Vanuatu
Favorite footy team: St Kilda
A quote/ saying you like:
“Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age and dreams are forever.” — Walt Disney
What do you like about SFS:
"How friendly and welcoming everyone is."
Name: Rebecca Xavier
Country of birth: Australia
Favorite food: I love Indian and Mexican street food
Favorite holiday place: Anywhere by the seaside
Favorite footy team: Magpies
A quote/saying you like:
We cannot all do great things but we can do small things with great love - Mother Teresa
What do you like about SFS? -
"SFS is such a welcoming community! Every person, little and big stands out for their genuine care for each other. What a special place to be!"
School Uniform
Thank you to all parents that have sent their children to school looking smart in their correct school uniform. If you experience any difficulties obtaining any items of our uniform please let me know.
Please remember that any child who has hair longer than their shoulders needs to tie it back.
In 2021 all junior boys in Yr Foundation, Yr 1 and Yr 2 need to be wearing the white shirt that is being phased into the school.
Please take note of the days your child needs to wear their sports uniform. On all other days your child needs to wear black school shoes with their uniform.
A second hand uniform shop is run by the P&F on a Friday and all items are $5 each.