Learning and Teaching
Learning Space 2 Juniors
This week in Writing, our Foundation students have been busy growing their vocabulary through a fun and hands-on exploration of autumn leaves!
We began by discussing the many wonderful features of leaves, building our vocabulary around colour, shape, size and texture. Students used rich descriptive words to talk about what they could see and feel.
To bring our learning to life, we headed outside to explore the beautiful autumn leaves around our school. Each student carefully chose their favourite leaf and shared with the class why it was special to them. It was fantastic to hear their ideas and reasons!
The following day, students used their new vocabulary to write a simple sentence describing their leaf and drew a detailed picture to match. We were amazed by the variety of colours and shapes we discovered.
Matilda Farnan
LS2 Junior Team Teacher
mfarnan@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au
SWAP in the Juniors
This term, in SWAP students are exploring our Respectful Relationships Topic 3: Positive Coping through drama and elements of dance. During our first session together students participated in an experience that explored the skill of ‘Mindful Listening’, playing a “Guess the Sound” game. This helped them focus their attention, notice changes in their bodies, and reflect on how mindful listening supports thoughtful responses to others.
Students then explored emotions that can arise during play, such as when waiting for a turn or feeling left out. Through games like Rock-Paper-Scissors, they learned fair ways to make decisions and practised important social skills such as kindness, cooperation and resilience.
With the help of Kitty the Puppet students discussed and practised positive coping strategies for managing feelings like frustration, sadness and worry.
They also learned a simple and powerful chant to encourage perseverance when facing challenges:
“I think I can, I try and try, I did it!”
Students brought this chant to life through voice, movement and drama, using finger puppets and role-play to support characters in challenging situations. This helped them build confidence, practise help-seeking, and understand how to support themselves and others.
To finish, students learnt the first part of a dance routine, using a song from the movie “Zootopia 2” (there were lots of comments, matched with big smiles of how this reminded them of ‘The Wizard of Oz’).
Here are some comments from students reflecting on their session:
In SWAP we were learning about how to tell yourself to be brave, if you can’t do it yet you can say the words “I think I can, I try and try, I did it!”. It is important because you can help yourself do something you’ve never done before. - Gabriella
I think I can, I try and try, I did it! It can help us to calm down in situations if you are angry or mad. It helps us to think we can do it and that you can do anything if you just try! - Havaanti
In SWAP we were learning about how we can use rock-paper-scissors when we are frustrated and finding it hard to decide on something. Akindu
In SWAP we were learning about mindful listening because it can help us when the teacher is talking and to learn to not talk over others. - Baani
In SWAP we were learning about calming ourselves down, for example if we are sad or angry we could do deep breaths, or hugging ourselves or walking away. We also learnt about it being good to try new things because you can learn more. For example if we were doing maths we could try our best and say to ourselves “I think I can, I try and try, I did it!”. It can help us feel proud of ourselves. - Avana
Maddison Jewiss
SWAP Teacher
mjewiss@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au
Learning Space 2 Seniors – Inquiry & Religion
This term, students have been exploring how God created the Earth and all living things, developing an understanding that everything is connected in a “web of life.” Through rich discussions and activities, students have reflected on how we care for creation and our place within it.
In Inquiry, students used maps and atlases to build their understanding of continents and how our world is organised. They completed a learning investigation to locate major geographical divisions of the world.
We are proud of the curiosity and effort students have shown in connecting their learning across both areas.
Michelle Murphy
LS2 Senior Team Teacher
mmurphy@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au
TECH TIPS
Reset for Term 2
A new school term is a great opportunity to reset family tech habits — starting with how your family shares personal information, photos and videos online.
Children don’t always understand how small details shared online — like their school, location, or images — can travel further than intended or be used in ways they didn’t expect. Helping them build strong privacy habits early supports their safety now and into the future. By involving children in everyday privacy decisions, families can model consent and help children feel confident, respected and in control of their online identity — while building trust around technology use.
The eSafety Commissioner website has practical, age-appropriate advice to help your family protect their privacy online.
Taryn Bartlett
Digital Technology Teacher
tbartlett@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au
SENIOR SPORT
GRADE 5/6
On Friday our Grade 5/6’s played against St Kevin’s Primary School. It’s great to see our Senior Students enjoying the morning and being able to experience the competition mode. Both schools played with great sportsmanship. We are very proud of our students, and I commend our students in their competitiveness and showing respect to the other students from St Kevin’s Primary School.
INTER-SCHOOL SPORT
The schools we are playing, dates and locations for these events are as follows:
- Friday May 15th, Hampton Park Primary School - Home Game.
- Friday May 29th, Lyndhurst Primary School - Away Game.
- Friday June 5th, Coral Park Primary School - Home Game.
- Friday June 12th, Kilberry Valley Primary School-Home Game..
- Friday June 19th, Summer Lightning Premiership
Venues for each sport are as follows for Lightning Premiership:
- Soccer - Melbourne City Synthetic Pitches (Casey Fields)
- AFL 9’s - Oval 2 (Casey Fields)
- Netball - Casey Stadium
- Volleystars - Casey Stadium
- Teeball - Oval 3 (Casey Fields)
Lulli Barbakos
Physical Education Teacher
Senior Sports Coordinator
lbarbakos@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
JUNIOR SPORTING EVENTS
SPORTING SCHOOLS - TAEKWONDO CLINICS
The Juniors had a great time today at their first Taekwondo Clinic run by Harrison and Kieran, who are coaches from Melbourne Taekwondo Centre.
Today students were told by the coach that the skills learnt at taekwondo are never used with friends or families. They can show family members what they have learnt but are not to use the skills unless there is a coach with them. Students today learnt a variety of kicks which are used in taekwondo.
Students will have 3 more clinics. Below are the days the Taekwondo Clinics will be held so that you ensure your child is wearing their sports uniform for the day.
This term all Juniors will have their clinics on the same day. Reminders will also be placed in Morning Gathering as well as in the Newsletter.
Week 5
Friday 22nd May
Week 7
Monday 1st June
Week 10
Monday 22nd June
If your child is enjoying the Taekwondo Clinics and you are looking at enrolling them into an after-school club, details for Melbourne Taekwondo Centre can be found below:
COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES –
PREP & GRADE 1 STUDENTS
U8 BASKETBALL
We have a fantastic opportunity for our Prep and Grade 1 students to become involved with the ne U8 Basketball Program run by the Casey Basketball Association. If you think your child might be interested please refer to the flyer below for more information.
SENIOR SPORTING EVENTS
DISTRICT CROSS COUNTRY
Congratulations to our District Cross Country Team who will represent SFS at the District Competition on Tuesday May 5th. We wish them all the best and will be eager to hear how they go. Results will be in our next newsletter so please keep an eye out for them.
Parents please ensure students are wearing their sports uniform and have their snack and lunch with them as well as their water bottle. If rain is forecast, please ensure your child has a wet weather jacket and a change of clothes, especially socks and shoes. Students will need to arrive at school, sign in at their Learning Space and then meet Lulli in the Community Room with their bags by 8.50 am.
Our District Cross Country Team
Our District Cross Country Team
If there is any parent who is able to attend the Cross Country with the students please contact me at school or via the email listed at the end of this article. Students will leave school at 9.00am and return at approximately 2.00pm. Parents a reminder that if you would like to assist you will need to have a current WWCC registered with the school office.
WHOLE SCHOOL SPORTING EVENTS
SFS LEAGUE STARS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM RETURNS IN TERM 2- NOW FREE!!!
Yes, parents that is correct the League Stars After School Program will now be FREE!!! You will have the option to purchase the League Stars Pack during the registration process. Please use the links below to register your child. Registration is completed through NRL who will also be running the clinics. You will need to create an account with NRL and then search the programs for Lynbrook to find the program, Term 2 – 2026 – League Stars After School Program – St Francis de Sales, Lynbrook then click on register.’
League Stars – St Francis De Sales Primary School, Lynbrook (5-8 Year Olds) | FREE
League Stars – St Francis De Sales Primary School, Lynbrook (9-12 Year Olds) | FREE
To promote our NRL League Stars after school program, which will begin in Week 5 this term, Ali the NRL Game Development Officer has organised coaches who will come to school and provide free Rugby clinics to all our students. The clinics will be held in Week 3 and 4.
Details are below:
Monday May 4th – Senior Rugby Clinics
Monday May 11th – Junior Rugby Clinics
Please ensure your child wears their sports uniform on the appropriate days.
We have been given an excellent opportunity for Term 2 to have the NRL League Stars Program run after school (3.30-4.15pm) on Wednesdays here at SFS. This program will only be available to SFS students.
‘LEAGUE STARS after-school program is RETURNING to ST FRANCIS DE SALES PRIMARY SCHOOL in 2026. JOIN in the FUN and Games in this NON-CONTACT Rugby League Program. The Program Is Open for ALL Ages from 5 Years to 12 Years of Age. The Program will be over 6 Sessions with the First Session scheduled for Wednesday 20th May 2026 in Week 5, running consecutively each week on Wednesdays for 6 weeks and ending on Wednesday June 24th.
Ali is happy to organise students to be returned to After School Care once the program finishes at 4.15pm.
COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITY - CASEY THUNDER ALL GIRLS TERM 2 AUSKICK CENTRE
An exciting opportunity for our girls. Registrations are now open for the Casey Thunder All Girls Term 2 Auskick Centre.
All-girls programs play an important role in creating a fun, inclusive and supportive environment where girls can build confidence, develop skills, and enjoy being active with friends.
Program Details:
- Hunt Club Oval, Cranbourne East
- Thursdays | 5:30pm – 6:15pm
- Starts May 21st (5-week program)
- Ages 5–12 | $55
- Registration: https://www.playhq.com/afl/register/226141
If you think your daughter might be interested please register via the link above or the QR code on the flyer.
Any queries please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Giuliana
Extra-Curricular Coordinator