From the Principal
Welcome Back to Term 2
Mental Health in Primary Schools Project
We are delighted to announce that St Francis de Sales Primary School has commenced participation in Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS).
MHiPS is a project aimed at building the capacity of Victorian Primary Schools to support the mental health and wellbeing of their students. MHIPS was developed in response to the 2019 Victorian Royal Commission into Mental Health that recognised that schools represent a key location for promoting good mental health, to identify signs and symptoms for those at risk of poor mental health and support external referrals to community services for those students who require extra support. The Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI), the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Education (FoE) and the Victorian Department of Education partnered to develop this project.
The project was piloted in 10 government schools in 2020 and expanded to a further 16 government schools in 2021. In 2022, this project, expanded to 100 schools, including 90 Government schools, and 10 Catholic Education schools. In 2023, a further 494 schools were included. Now, in 2024, an additional 389 schools will participate as part of a three-year roll-out to every government and low-fee non-government primary school in Victoria.
We are pleased to announce that Rachel Lenko has been appointed to take on the role as our Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader ( MHWL). Rachel will now be working in this role Monday to Thursday. Currently, Rachel and school leaders have commenced the Professional Learning for MHiPS implementation. We look forward to sharing our learning and the way MHiPS will be implemented at SFS as the year progresses. We see MHiPS will amplify and enhance what we have in place. We eagerly look forward to the benefits it will bring to our students and school community.
Some BIG Staff News!!!
This week we farewellLaurelle Young and thank her for her great contribution to our school over the past four years. In that time Laurelle has not only been an exceptional junior Home Group teacher but has also taken on the additional responsibilities of leading a team and participating as a member of the Leadership Team at SFS. We wish Laurelle the very BEST as she takes on a new opportunity as a secondary school teacher at St Peter's Cranbourne.
This week we have welcomed Subeen Mao (Sue) as a home group teacher in Learning Space 1. Subeen has been working at St Francis de Sales as a CRT teaching all levels and thus has developed a good knowledge about our school.
In some unexpected but very exciting news, I can announce that after just a term away from SFS, we will be welcoming back Kristy Galea to SFS. Kristy will return full time on Monday 6 May after serving notice at St Peter's Cranbourne her current place of work. Kristy will be replacing Rachel as our specialist Drama and Wellbeing teacher. In addition Kristy will be working in LS1 Juniors on a Friday and providing release for teachers on a Monday. I am sure you will join me in welcoming Kristy back to SFS.
Rachel as already stated will take on the role Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader.
Looking like NEW!!
A massive thank you to Ken Petersen and Martin White who gave up an entire day to install new back boards to our four outdoor basketball posts. We are very grateful for their above and beyond generous contribution of time and effort on their day off to make this installation possible. The children are delighted and the boards as one senior students said, "Looks professional!!" We look forward to several years of enjoyment on these upgraded basketball courts.
Working Bee - Saturday 4th May 9 am - 12 noon
We will be holding our first Working Bee for 2024 on Saturday, 4th May. A variety of gardening and odd jobs around the school will be undertaken to improve our school grounds.
Parents who attend 2 working bees per year, sign in and participate for the full 3 hours will receive a $250 credit towards the Maintenance Levy on their school fees.
We ask all parents to bring gloves, hat, sunscreen and a drink bottle. If you have a wheelbarrow, rakes or digging tools to remove weeds, please bring these along.
Please indicate your attendance via the notification on Operoo that will go out.
All are welcome to attend.
Applications for 2025 are due now.
Interviews for new families wishing to commence school at St Francis de Sales in 2025 will commence in April.
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.
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.
Christine White
Principal