Learning and Teaching
SFS CROSS COUNTRY AND COLOUR EXPLOSION
What an amazing morning we had at school today! Staff, students and parents excitedly cheered for their Houses, as students ran by them on the Cross Country course.
Well done to all the students for taking part!
12/13-Year-Old completed 3 laps
11-Year-Old also completed 3 laps
9/10-Year-Old completed 2 laps
8 Year Old completed 2 laps
Foundation, Grade 1 and Grade 2 all completed 1 lap
Congratulations to all students!
A big congratulations to our winning House Teresa !
A fantastic effort and they were presented with the shield at our assembly in the afternoon. Well done also to all the students who came in 1st to 10th in their age or level group. Each received a ribbon and points for their House. Those who came in 1st were also presented with the perpetual trophy that will have their name engraved as the 2025 winner and remain at the school as a record of their excellence:
12/13 Year Old Boy: Dier
12/13 Year Old Girl: Evangeline
11 Year Old Boy: Anik
11 Year Old Girl: Chitra
9/10 Year Old Boy: Kristian
9/10 Year Old Girl: Lorelai
8 Year Old Mixed: Lincoln
Grade 2 Boy: Jeremiah C
Grade 2 Girl: Angeth
Grade 1 Boy: Oliver
Grade 1 Girl: Emilia
Foundation Boy: Adam
Foundation Girl: Marvy
Students who came in the top 7 places for 9/10, 11 and 12/13 year olds will now have the opportunity to train and represent SFS at District Level next term. We congratulate all these students and wish them all the best. Permission notes and information about training will be sent out to parents via Operoo early next term.
Congratulations Dominique Winner of the Year 6 Gift from the Twilight Sports
A big thank you to our staff. They give up so much of their time assisting and supporting events for the benefit of our students. And also a big thank you to Parents & Friends that added a splash of colour and slime to our Cross Country day. The students had a great time!!! Well done everybody and thank you!!
Lulli & Giuliana
PE Team
Visual Art - Term 1 2025
Once again our students work was on display last week at the Statewide Catholic Education Creative Arts Exhibition 2025. We had Grade 6 students from 2024, Layla and Odin’s “Selfie” portraits on display as well as our In The Light Of Christ Cross that has a drawn image from every grade 3 - 6 2024 student reflecting on the presence of Jesus in their lives.
We received the very exciting news that this group collaboration artwork may be used for imagery on the 2026 Catholic Student Diary so you might be seeing more of this! We wait excitedly to see if it is the chosen image.
Our students started this year creating another whole school collaboration for SWELL Week and Harmony Day. Using the quilted art work of Libs Elliot as inspiration students reflected on the meaning of Harmony and then used harmonious colours, which are colours next to each other on the colour wheel, to create a paper Harmony Quilt piece considering symmetry and design. The result is wonderful and you will see this on display in our corridor at the moment.
In the art room Junior Students have been exploring the element of pattern, value and colour mixing techniques to create a symmetrical heart design.
Finally our Seniors have been exploring chalk pastels and creating landscapes using the iconic imagery of Uluru and Kata Tjuta. These are well underway and will be on display soon.
Katherine Slater
Visual Arts Teacher
ITALIAN
Buongiorno a tutti!
The juniors have been involved in singing, matching, cutting and pasting tasks to learn body and animal name vocabulary. Early in the term we discussed looking after pets, animals in our environment. The children have enjoyed the actions and sounds in Nella Vecchia Fattoria and The body songs.
Enjoy the break and Holy Week traditions in whatever way you do. Buona Pasqua a tutti.
A presto.
Filomena Erdely
Italian Teacher
ferdely@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au
Term 1 - Music at SFS
Music with the Juniors at SFS
This term in Music, our Junior students at SFS have been busy exploring rhythm and melody through lots of hands-on activities. Using untuned percussion instruments, they’ve been learning to find and keep a steady beat, play together in time, and follow start and stop signals. They’ve also started using simple graphic scores with body percussion and building their musical vocabulary with words like beat, pulse, crotchet, quaver, and rest.
We’ve also been diving into the Kodály method, where students have been learning solfege notes (do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do’), practicing hand signs, and playing simple tunes on tuned percussion. They’ve been getting into the groove with Kodály rhythm names, clapping back patterns in Call and Response games, and keeping a steady beat.
A highlight this term has been learning the Kodály song Tick Tock. Students have been singing it in tune, clapping the rhythm names (Ta and Ti-Ti), showing the solfege hand signs, and even playing it on the glockenspiel! We also introduced the idea of soundscapes, where students worked together to create their own musical interpretations of the picture book Rhythm of the Rain, using instruments to bring the story to life.
It’s been a fantastic start to the year, with students growing in confidence, teamwork, and musical skills through all these fun and engaging experiences.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MyyYp0Wn9Li6Z6Pj-ZaAa7T80h8WWziF/view?usp=sharing
Music with the Seniors at SFS
This term in Music, our Senior students at SFS have been developing their keyboard and music analysis skills through the Musical Futures program. Musical Futures is a student-centered approach that encourages learning through playing, listening, and performing music in a practical and engaging way. Using this approach, students started by learning the A minor chord and gradually added F Major, C Major, and G Major to their repertoire. Along the way, they’ve been practicing playing in time, following musical instructions, and playing along with video tracks to reinforce their learning.
In addition to chords, students have been expanding their knowledge of rhythm and notation. They’ve been identifying and playing rhythms using semibreves, minims, crotchets, and quavers, understanding how each note value fits within a beat.
A key focus this term has been using the S.Q.U.I.L.T (Super Quiet Uninterrupted Listening Time) method to analyse music. Students have applied concepts like tempo, timbre, dynamics, and mood while listening to and discussing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music.
Students have also been deepening their understanding of musical notation by exploring the Treble Clef and Bass Clef. They have learned to identify and label notes in both clefs, using mnemonics such as ‘FACE’ and ‘Every Good Boy Deserves Fruit’ for the Treble Clef, and ‘All Cows Eat Grass’ and ‘Good Boys Deserve Fruit Always’ for the Bass Clef. They have practiced drawing the clefs, reading notes on the staff, and connecting this knowledge to their keyboard playing.
With a strong foundation in chords, rhythm, and music analysis, students have made awesome progress in their musical journey this term!
SFS Senior Choir
The SFS Senior Choir has had an incredible and busy start to the year, putting in countless hours of rehearsals and delivering some truly memorable performances. Their dedication has shone through at key events, including the Jubilee Mass at St. Kevin’s Church, the Ash Wednesday Mass, and two school assemblies. One of the standout moments was their lively rendition of Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog, which was an absolute crowd-pleaser—especially with Raphael E. on drums. Raph has been rehearsing after school, putting in extra effort to perfect his part, and we couldn’t be prouder of his hard work and commitment!
The choir has already achieved so much this term, and it’s been wonderful to see their enthusiasm and teamwork grow with each performance. Being part of a choir is more than just singing—it’s about building confidence, forming friendships, and creating a sense of belonging. Choir members develop important musical skills, learn to listen and harmonize, and experience the joy of making music together. Plus, studies show that group singing can help reduce stress and boost overall well-being!
We’re so proud of everything the Senior Choir has accomplished so far, and we can’t wait to see them take the stage for even more exciting performances in the months ahead!
Kristy Galea
Music Teacher
Digital Technology Update
The beginning of the year in DT always has a big focus on how we look after our technology and cyber safety. This is something that will always be an ongoing focus, and we recommend is spoken about at home as well.
Remember, our cyber safe strategy of Stop, Block, Tell!
If there is something that comes up when you are using technology that makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable then stop what you are doing, block or remove yourself from that situation and tell a trusted adult.
JUNIOR DT
The juniors began the year learning about the components of technology, in particular how we can classify something as being technology (a digital system) and identifying hardware and software which is essential to enable our technology to run.
The juniors ended the term with a STEM focus where they have been bringing together their understanding of their inquiry topic of ‘living things’ with technology.
They have created a digital diagram of a living thing within the school by using the editing functions in the image settings to add arrows and text boxes. They have also participated in an experiment to understand how bird beaks adapt based on their diet and habitat.
SENIOR DT
The seniors have begun the term by reading through and completing their own technology user agreement. They have learned about cyber safety and what is safe to share online, their digital footprint, the red flags that can be found to identify a scam and how to sort and organise their data in Google Drive. The Grade 3 students also received their very own Chromebooks this term which has been very exciting!
The senior students ended their term with a STEM focus where they learned about biomimicry and how living things have influenced man made objects. They had to match the natural/living item to the man made object and then use what they had learned as inspiration to then come up with their own design that they felt would benefit the community.
Striking a Balance Between Sleep and Technology: How to set children up for success for positive sleep hygiene
Alannah & Madeline Foundation, along with eSmart have released some articles to help navigate parenting in a technological world.
SWAP Specialist Junior Session
During our recent Junior SWAP session, we explored permission and consent, helping students understand how asking and giving permission shows respect.
Through discussion and role-playing, students practiced asking politely, accepting “no” respectfully, and recognising body language cues. They brainstormed different situations requiring permission, such as borrowing items or holding someone’s hand. We illustrated the different scenarios where we ask for permission and need to receive consent.
We emphasised that true consent is given freely, not due to pressure or rewards.
SWAP Specialist Senior Session
During our recent Senior SWAP sessions, we explored the many ways people and families can be different and how we can appreciate and respect those differences. Students discussed how kindness is valued in every culture and how families teach us important traditions, celebrations, and values. They shared special cultural traditions, such as festivals, foods, and activities, through drawings and short stories. We emphasised that ‘DIFFERENCE IS DELIGHFUL’ and ‘DIVERSITY MAKES OUR WORLD A RICHER PLACE’.
Rachel Lenko
Wellbeing Teacher
SENIOR SPORT
Interschool Sport
The schools we are playing, dates and locations for these events are as follow
- Friday May 2nd, Lyndhurst Primary School - Home Game.
- Friday May 16th, Rivergum Primary School - Home Game.
- Friday May 23rd, St Kevins Primary School - Home Game.
- Friday June 6th, Coral Park Primary School - Away Game.
- Tuesday June 17th, Winter Lightning Premiership
Venues for each sport are as follows for Lightning Premiership:
- Soccer - Livingston Reserve
- AFL 9’s - Livingston Reserve
- Netball - Casey Stadium
- Volleystars - Casey Stadium
- Teeball - Casey Fields- Oval 3 (behind the Athletics Track)
For away matches and the Lightning Premiership students will travel to and from the venue via chartered bus with staff members attending.
Lulli Barbakos
Physical Education Teacher
lbarbakos@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
JUNIOR SPORTS
YEAR 2 INTRA TAG RUGBY
A big thank you to Ali, the Game Development Officer from NRL for offering our Grade 2 a chance to play tag rugby.
Students had a great time and loved learning all the new skills needed to play rugby. They were all wearing velcro waistbands and had coloured tags hanging from them which the other team had to pull off before the team made a touchdown. Students went back to the Learning Spaces saying they had a fantastic time! Thank you to Ali and all his coaches for providing this amazing opportunity for our Grade 2 students.
See below in whole school sporting events for the opportunity for your child to be involved in after school rugby clinics right here at SFS next term.
WHOLE SCHOOL SPORTING EVENTS
AFL SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAM
AFL Victoria and Melbourne Football Club are delivering an AFL School Holiday program near us these holidays. If you are interested in finding out more please follow the link: https://play.afl/play/school-holiday-programs
LEAGUE STARS
This is a fantastic opportunity for all SFS students in Term 2. Tag rugby after school clinics will be run here at SFS straight after school on Wednesdays starting on the 28th May from 3.15 – 4.00pm. Students can go straight to the clinic which will be held on the oval and then parents can then pick up students at 4.00pm entering through the school and heading out to the oval. Students that attend after school care will be taken back to care after the clinic.
The program includes 6 after school sessions and the cost is $79. Your must register your child through the link https://www.playrugbyleague.com/league-stars/ . Enter the Lynbrook postcode, 3975and search. Our school will be the first program that appears, Term 2. 2025 League Stars After School Program – Lynbrook. If you then click on the arrow, it will give details of our program. To register you will need to create an NRL account but once you press register it will prompt you through this.
Please refer to the flyer below and the screenshots for how to register for our program. I hope to see many students there!!
Any queries please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Giuliana
Extra-Curricular Coordinator