From the Principal
February 14th, 2024, marks the convergence of Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday, offering a chance to reflect on love, sacrifice, and commitment. Valentine's Day, traditionally a celebration of love and romance, finds itself sharing the stage with Ash Wednesday, a day of fasting, prayer, and reflection that marks the beginning of Lent.
At St Francis de Sales our Year Foundation to Year 4 students gathered with some of our school families for a Ash Wednesday Mass in the hall. Later in the day our Year 5 and 67 students also gathered in a special prayer at Mt Evelyn to reflect and pray together as we commence Lent and prepare to celebrate Easter after 40 days.
Fr Fabian reminded us that in this time of reflection we pray, fast and give to others. We can pray for ourselves and for others and we are called to reach out to others who are in need. He said, that we often chase things we want but do not really need. However, there are people who do not have basic needs. We can reach out in love and make a difference. He said fasting can be difficult for us when we are young, however he challenged us to maybe think about giving up something and use the time to connect with our family. Maybe think about a device free evening. Let us take up the challenge that this season presents and grow stronger in our connection and love for one another and God.
It has been a great week and we thank our Parents & Friends for the delicious pancakes we all enjoyed on Shrove Tuesday. We are ready now to make a BIG impact by our actions this Lent.
In the Light of Jesus
Last Friday 9 February we gathered for our first Mass to celebrate the start of the school year. At the start of the liturgy, our home groups each brought up the prayer cloths they had made. They are all so beautifully capture the theme for our year - In the Light of Christ. The prayer cloths will be used during Morning Gatherings and prayer times in each Home Group and Learning Space. It was a lovely first Mass and we were so proud of all our children, especially our Preps who all joined in prayer and song in a very reverent way.
RED Alert
Operoo and medical information shared with us
Alert to ALL parents The student profile with medical information MUST be updated with a 2024 date to confirm you have checked and that all the information is correct.
This is important for ALL students.
Please open the Operoo student profile.
1. Click on the name of the Profile.
2. If you need to edit or update something, Click the Edit button on the far right.
3. Update the information. Upload current medical plans. e.g Asthma. Click Save and Continue.A Medical Management Plan must be completed for each student with an identified health care need (not including those with Anaphylaxis as this must be documented in an Individual Anaphylaxis Management Plan).
All medical Management Plans MUST be updated annually.
Even if there are NO changes. Click Save and Continue.
4. You will be taken to the Consent section and you will need to re-consent to confirm that the profile has been changed and/or that the medical information contained within is up-to-date.
You will now have a 2024 confirmation date and the school will know the profile shared about your child is accurate.
Consented by: John Brown on 14 February 2024 at 4:42 PM AEDT
Please assist us and avoid a call from the school if the plan has not been confirmed with a 2024 date by the end of this month.
All Yr 5 and 6 students have done this before they could go on camp.
Now all Year 1-4 students need to do this.
The school relies on the accuracy of these records when we are away from school and also when we are at school to care for your child. As a parent it is your responsibility to ensure the details are accurate and shared.
Please note that no medication can be given to a child without a Medical Authority Form properly authorised by a medical practioner and parents and guardians. All Medical Policies are available on the school website.
Car Park and Drop Off
A reminder to parents that the car park in the school grounds is ONLY for staff use. It cannot be used before school to drop children off and enter the school for any reason, even if your child is going to camp!! We are lucky to have ample street parking. 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 between 9:30 am to 2:30 pm or before 8am and after 4pm.
2024 School Fees
Statements / Invoice will go home on Monday 19th February.
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.
Customise your SFS School App
Personalise your SFS School App so that you only receive notifications that are relevant for you. It only takes a few easy steps. We want to send out notifications just to specific groups rather than to all students. So follow the guide and customise your SFS School App
You can now customise the notifications you receive.
If your child is a Senior, you only want to leave green/switched on the following: All students; Senior Home Groups and your child’s specific home group e.g S Group LS1 AO as well as choir if they are part of the choir. In addition if your child is in Year 3 you are also asked to toggle on their year level for notification just for a specific year level. The rest you can toggle off and they will become grey which means you will no longer receive those notifications that are not relevant for you.
If your child is a Junior, you only want to leave green/switched on the following: All students; Junior Home Groups and your child’s specific home group e.g J Group LS1 LY. In addition if your child is in Year Foundation, you are also asked to toggle on their year level for notification just for that specific year level. The rest you can toggle off and they will become grey which means you will no longer receive those notifications that are not relevant for you.
Now you will only receive notifications that are relevant
and not all notifications sent out!!!
Enjoy a wonderful weekend
Christine White
Principal