St Francis de Sales Catholic Primary School Lynbrook Newsletter

From the Principal

Enrol Now for Prep 2025 at St Francis de Sales

 

If you have a child (sibling) due to start school in 2025, please submit your enrolment application by Friday 15 March 2024. Thanks to the many parents who have already submitted their application.

 

We will be completing interviews for siblings wishing to commence school at St Francis de Sales in 2025 this term. 

 

Please inform neighbours and friends who will have a child eligible to start school in 2025 to book a tour. We have tours nearly every morning at 9 am. We will be commencing interviews for new families at the start of Term 2.

 

Help promote our school and share stories of the great learning and extra curricula  opportunities we provide. 

 

Word of mouth stories about our great school community is the BEST promotion.

NAPLAN 2024

 

This year's NAPLAN (National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy) is to be conducted in Term 1.  The formal test window for NAPLAN 2024 will be 13th

- 25th March.

  • Wednesday 13 March Writing (Paper Year 3, Online Year 5)
  • Thursday 14 March Reading (Online Year 3 & 5)
  • Friday 16 March Language Conventions (Online Year 3 & 5)
  • Monday 19 March Numeracy (Online Year 3 & 5)
  • 20-25 March Catch up testing

Parents should note that catch up opportunities for the writing test can only be scheduled for students in Year 3, in the case of student absences. Catch up writing tests are only allowable in Year 5 if there is a disruption to the test due to technological issues. NAPLAN tests are conducted online for all subjects, except for Writing in Year 3, which is conducted on paper.

 

We encourage all students to participate in NAPLAN, however there are circumstances where families may wish to withdraw their child from taking part. In this instance we encourage you to reach out to either your child's Home Group teacher, or speak to Angela Faiola, Deputy Principal before Tuesday 6 March. 

 

 

Testing adjustments are available for our students with formal diagnoses, or who usually receive significant classroom adjustments; further information will be sent to all families in Year 3 and Year 5 next week regarding this. Parents seeking additional information about NAPLAN, including test demonstration pages, are encouraged to visit the NAP website:

 https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/public-

School Advisory Council

  • Christine White the Principal (ex officio)
  • Fr Fabian Smith the Parish Priest (ex officio) (custodian of mission)
  • Angela Faiola  the deputy Principal (ex officio)
  • Rozeta Ambrose Religious Education Leader / Parishoner
  • Brooke Mole President parent of Year 6 students.
  • Sharon McNulty Deputy President parent of Year 5 student
  • Brad Jackson Maintenance Team Coordinator/Parent of Year 6 student
  • Courtney Thursfield Parent of Year 5 student
  • Shivanthi Perera Parent of Year 6 student

Expression of Interest

Expression of Interest in writing is invited from parents interested in joining the St Francis de Sales School Advisory Council. Please refer to the information outlined about the purpose and role of the School Advisory Council in the following documents. Please email principal@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au by Thursday 8 March 2024.

When making this appointment we will keep in mind the need for a balance of gender, cultural diversity and skill sets in forming the council. With the vast number of current School Advisory Council parent members with children in the senior part of the school, we are seeking to make this appointment from a parent with a child in Foundation, Year 1 Year 2 , Year 3 or Year 4.

 

 

 Purpose of the School Advisory Council 

The board of MACS has responsibility for the strategic direction and oversight of the operation and management of MACS schools, including St Francis de Sales Primary School. Clear lines of authority, reporting and delegation from the MACS board through the Executive Director delegate the day-to-day operational management of St Francis de Sales Primary School to its principal. (School Advisory Council Manuel)

 

 While the School Advisory Council does not have governance responsibility or decision-making authority, it supports the principal and school leadership and provides an important connection to the parish. 

 

The School Advisory Council’s role, is to give consideration to, and advice on, important school matters in order to support the principal and the strategic interest of the school’ (Working Together in Mission p. 18).

 

The following are some examples of the many ways the School Advisory Council may support the school and the principal:

  • articulating and enacting the school’s vision and mission 
  • promoting the school’s Catholic ethos and culture 
  • promoting faith formation and development 
  • supporting school policies as required 
  • giving advice to the principal on issues such as school improvement plans and enrolment trends
  • engaging in discussion with the principal about the annual school budget and other financial matters 
  • giving advice to the principal about the school master plan 
  • providing capital resource planning and maintenance support to the principal.

Car Park and Drop Off

A reminder to parents that the car park in the school grounds is ONLY for staff use. We just have enough parking places for our staff. 

 

The Drop off Zone is just a Kiss and Go Zone. Parents are asked NOT to get out of the car so that the traffic can move and children can be safely dropped or picked up without unnecessary delay.

 

Parent parking is only available in the Drop Off Zone before 8am, 

between 9:30 am - 2:30 pm  and after 4pm.

 

 

2024 School Fees 

Statements / Invoice were sent home this week. 

Please check your child's school bag.

 

Do you have one of these cards?

 

CSEF—Camp, Sports and Excursion Fund)

 

If you do, you may be eligible for $150 for each of your children from the government to go towards your swimming fees, excursion fees or camp fees.

 

It’s easy—just fill out the CSEF form available from the school office and present your current Centrelink Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card and we will do the rest for you.

 

Applications should be completed and lodged with us as soon as possible in Term 1. If you hold a valid means-tested concession card, you may be eligible for CSEF. This allowance is paid to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions or sporting activities for the benefit of your child. 

 

Catholic Schools Guide

To assist your decision making in relation to your child's Secondary Education, please find below a link to the March 2024edition of the Catholic Education Guide.

 

 

 

Christine White

Principal