From the Principal

It was just LOVELY!!!

The Pancakes were scrumptious!!!

It was like a restaurant at St Francis de Sales on Tuesday with the aroma wafting into the Learning Spaces and down the corridor all the way to my office. Following the trail lead me to each learning space with the sight of fluffy pancakes topped with maple syrup or jam that was irresistible. The delightful and very appreciative faces of students enjoying this treat for Shrove Tuesday was definitely a joy.

A huge thank you to our marvelous P&F and to the many parents who were at St Francis de Sales on Tuesday to cook. They had this so well organised from making the batter, cooking and serving the pancakes. It was all done with passion and dedication. They took care of the special gluten free orders and children's preferences for jam, maple syrup or just plain. Nothing was too much trouble, even requests for extra topping. Thank you to our sensational parents for making this treat possible. We greatly appreciated your time and energy.

Ash Wednesday - The start of LENT

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of LENT. Ash Wednesday takes place 40 days before Easter Sunday. Our children from Year 1 to 4 gathered in our hall for a prayer service while our students on camp paused and gathered to pray together at Mt Evelyn.

As part of our prayer a cross from ashes was placed on children's forehead. The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous year. The ashes are a reminder that God is gracious and merciful to those who call on Him with repentant hearts.

As we journey through Lent this year let us walk in the footstep of St Patrick who reminds us of God's love for us. In this special jubilee year of St Francis let us show our love and care for one another and all God's creation. Let us open ourselves to peace! Let us welcome it and recognize it. Let us defuse hostility and cherish forgiveness. "May we become peacemakers, witnesses of the peace that comes from Christ," Pope Leo wrote.

Having FUN at Camp Mt EVELYN!!!

The weather was just perfect for our three day camp to Mt Evelyn. For some this was the first time away from home and for others they had already experienced school camp last year. We had a lot of excited Year 5 and Year 6's and quite a few anxious parents as we set off on Wednesday. However there was nothing to worry about as our staff had taken care of every detail to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the nearly 100 students we took off to camp. A BIG thanks to our staff who went to camp: Tanya, Ange, Maddison, Michael, Tamara, Ashleigh, Michelle, Melody, Amanda, Jake and Christine. Extra special thanks to Tanya for her leadership and coordination on camp and prior to camp and also to Rosie for her pre- camp support.

There were lots of new experiences to investigate and enjoy at camp. From taking care of belongings, sleeping away from home to lots of new fun activities to discover. It was great to see the team work and positive support children displayed. For some students, camp is a huge step out of their comfort zone and it was fabulous to see children challenge themselves and raise their own bar. Other activities could only be achieved if children listened to one another and collaborated or worked to support each other to solve a task or complete it safely. We were very proud of our students who demonstrated our school's expected behaviors of respect, responsibility and kindness. The camp experience has been an opportunity for growth and learning.

Eligibility for 2026 Concessional Fees

Parents with Health Care Cards that are eligible for the The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) are eligible for the School Fees Concession Program. The card must be issued in the name of the fee payer and list the students for whom the concession is to be applied.

The expiry date of the card must be after 1 January of the year for which the concession is to be applied. If an eligible concession card expires after the start of the year, the concessional fee rate will still be applied for the entire year. If a family becomes eligible during the course of the school year, then a pro‐rata concession will be granted.

Important notes

The concession is automatic for a parent/guardian/carer responsible for the school fees who holds the eligible card.
A CSEF application must be submitted for a concession to be granted.
Where the fee account is split, the concession applies to only that portion payable by the eligible card holder.
All families receiving or requesting a fee concession must notify the school should their financial circumstances change sufficiently to affect the level of concession offered.
Any offer of a concession is subject to the applicant entering into a Direct Debit Request (DDR) service agreement or Centrepay deduction arrangement. Any default in payment may result in the concession being withdrawn.
Should an application be considered ineligible, the applicant will be notified that the application has been declined.

A nForma Notice will be sent to all parents. Please indicate if you have or do not have an eligible health Care Card. If you qualify as you posses a valid Health Care Card, you need to complete the attached forms and email or bring them to the office by 1st March so that your application can be processed.

All parents are required to complete the fee agreement. Parents who are paying fees by installments are encouraged to set up a direct debit payment for 2026.

Payment for fees is essential and a matter of justice.

If you are experiencing genuine financial hardship, you are encouraged to arrange to meet with the Principal.

Save the Dates:

TIL day for staff on CAMP - No school for 5 and 6 students - Monday 23 February
Twilight Sports Night - Thursday, 5th March 5.30 pm - 8.00 pm
School Photo Day - Wednesday, 18th March, please avoid making appointments on this day.

Christine White

Principal