From the Principal

Dreaming with Eyes Open

This year at St Francis de Sales we celebrated Book Week on Monday 22 August. It was great to be able to be together once again to dress up and have a fun day of activities that focused on books. We have not been able to do this together in over three years and we certainly appreciated Book Week 2022. Dreaming with eyes open invited children to arrive at school in their favorite book character or come in their PJs. There was a parade in each space, an incursion to enjoy as children participated in a Story Quest. The performance was held online and children in each learning space gathered in the community room to participate with other schools in the interactive screening. In addition, children also created spectacular art pieces around books shared. Parents will get to see some of these master pieces at our 2022 Art Show at the Twilight Market in November. We had a fabulous day together.

Bodyworks

Finally after a two year wait we have launched the Bodyworks program with our Year 5 and Year 6 students this week. On Monday 22 August a Parent Information session was held on Zoom. Further information and access to a resource list has been shared with parents of Year 5 and 6 via Operoo. The program with students commenced on Friday. Amanda Parsons is running the sessions with students. 

Bodyworks Health & Wellbeing, is about equipping children with the knowledge, attitudes and lifelong behaviours that will enable them to make wise choices and deal more effectively with the challenges they may encounter throughout their lives. With confidence and awareness about how their bodies function and change throughout life, along with the development of personal health, wellbeing and safety strategies; we can equip our children with essential life skills. In 2022 this program is being implemented as part of our current Life and Living health unit with students in Year 5 and 6.

Multipurpose Hall Update

If you are driving past the school, you will see that the footprint and size of our new building is very evident. It is certainly looking very impressive as it takes shape and like a jigsaw the pieces are coming together. This week the scaffold around the roof has been erected and the delivery of materials for the roof have started to arrive. In the coming weeks we will see the roof being installed.

Works along the back fence line

Next week we will also see some works go on in the far corner of our school behind the football oval and goals. In this far corner we will see the works to install the new sewer pit. The final change over will occur over the school holidays so that it does not impact the school. This work is being organised by the Archdiocese of Melbourne. As part of this work, they will be rectifying the soil levels where they have had to install the sewer line and replant grass seeds. When the weather improves we will also have the back fence replaced as we have not been satisfied by the standard of work that resulted in the fence blowing over just after it was constructed. 

PARENT/TEACHER/STUDENT INTERVIEWS

Interviews will be held at SFS from 2.30 pm - 8.30 pm on Thursday, 15th September.  You can book interviews at a time that suits your family.  You can book via the School App or by going to www.schoolinterviews.com.au 

NAPLAN

NAPLAN 2023

On 16 March 2022, it was announced that from next year, NAPLAN will be held earlier in the year to give teachers and parents important information about a student’s skills and capability sooner, so that more targeted support can be delivered to improve literacy and numeracy skills throughout the year. In 2023, NAPLAN will be held during Term 1 from Wednesday 15 March to Monday 27 March. 

NAPLAN 2022

This year our Year 5 students did all there NAPLAN assessments online and Year 3 students did all except their writing assessment online. NAPLAN online 2022 was a tailored test that adapted to student responses, thus providing better assessment and more precise results. Results for students who participated in NAPLAN 2022, is expected to be delivered next week from Wednesday 31 August. A printed individual report for each child who complete NAPLAN 2022 will be sent home soon after it is received.

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS): 

Monday 29 August – Friday 16 September 2022

In 2022, students, families and staff are invited to participate in MACSSIS surveys via our secure and purpose-built online platform. The MACSSIS survey platform is operated by an independent supplier, ORIMA Research Pty Ltd. The platform meets with the high security and privacy standards for handling student and school data. 

Our community’s opinions are critical to understanding how our school is performing – MACSSIS is a key data source for guiding the ongoing work to improve our school. 

All participation is invited, welcomed and 100 per cent voluntary. 

The surveys are not a test; they are an inclusive way to support the work we are already doing to improve our school. Please help us collect valuable information about our school by participating in MACSSIS 2022.

Have a great weekend. Time to enjoy the finals - Go Magpies!! 

Christine White

Principal