From the Principal
Prayer for Peace in Israel and Gaza
Let us pray for the many people whose lives have been torn apart by conflict in Gaza and Israel.
Be with those who need you in these days of suffering;
We pray for people of all faiths – Jews, Muslims, Christians and for all people of the land.
We remember especially those who have died, those who are grieving, the injured and those now without food, shelter or medical supplies.
We pray also for those who have the power to bring peace. May they be touched by a spirit of compassion and kindness.
Give wise discernment to those making decisions to pursue peace.
Teach all of us to resolve injustices with righteousness, not rockets.
Guard our hearts against retaliation, and give us hearts for love alone.
Lord hear us.
A massive thanks and hat's off to all our St Francis de Sales staff for their skilled work in educating, inspiring and supporting our students.
Every day, our staff make a positive difference by creating opportunities for their students, empowering the minds of young people and proudly teaching our future leaders, innovators and influencers. World Teachers' Day is an opportunity to celebrate and thank teachers everywhere for the important role they play inside our classrooms and out in the community.
We are so fortunate to have the dedicated, professional and passionate team at St Francis de Sales. Our recent major events is just a small example of their team spirit to provide the best opportunities possible to ensure our children shine. Three back to back events from our Blessing and Opening of our Multipurpose Hall, Junior Production and then the Senior Production involved our entire staff giving their all to ensure the success of each event. The positive feedback was immense form the Archbishop, Executive Director of MACS, special guests and parents.
All of this was above & beyond their normal daily role of ensuring the best possible learning opportunities for our students and each child. They do not work from a text book as maybe teachers you had did but plan for specifically for students personal needs and target their teaching to support students with engaging learning activities at their point of need. We know one size certainly does not fit all!! They collaborate to analyse data and plan for individual needs and write up their programs, attend professional learning after school, do yard duty, communicate to parents in See Saw and meet parents about individual learning Plans or for interviews. They attend to cuts and scrapes and provide support. They network with other schools and agencies for sport, and to organise guest visits, incursions, excursions, check medical records organise excursions, follow up parents who forget to complete Operoo notices and follow up parents who forget to complete Operoo notices!!! They audit, order, organise, create and prepare resources. They complete record information to our data base, moderate, collate information and write reports. This is just a small glimpse into what our staff do as the day to day teaching of teachers is a complex task as they plan and adjust and modify work as required during a lesson. Everyday is different and that is the joy of teaching. They deal with children with extra needs and at times unreasonable parental expectations. They do it because they love their job and making a difference. Our staff certainly make a difference. Our school results show that we are having a positive impact.
I am so grateful to all our staff do they are beyond brilliant!!
So on World's Teachers's Day let's take our hats off to the staff at St Francis de Sales and in fact to all staff working in schools.
On Friday 27 October, you can show your appreciation by posting a “hats off” selfie on social media, either on your own or with family or friends. Grab your hat – beret, beanie, bucket, bowler – and remember to tag #WorldTeachersDay @aitsl #stfrancisdesaleslynbrook
Thank you to Steven, dad of Penelope for donating 2 large tubs of Lego for our Lego Club.
Class Placements for 2024
Our teachers will soon commence the complex tasks of deciding class placement of students for 2024. Thus it is important that you have informed the school if your child will not be returning before we commence the task of placement. Please email principal@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au to inform us of your plans at your earliest convenience. We would appreciate an email before the end of October if this is already decided.
Teachers consider a number of factors when developing preliminary Learning Space and Home Group lists. They consider academic ability; special skills, needs and talents; social competencies; students who work well together and students who may not work well together. Skills needed for building new relationships are also an important part of our educative process. Our children will get asked to name three friends and we will consider their requests and place them with at least one friend in their learning space. Parent input based strictly on student learning needs, is also considered.
Parents who have specific concerns about their child's learning needs for 2024, are invited to provide written information via email to the principal. Please be aware that parent request for particular teachers will not be accepted. Please email principal@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au by 3pm Friday 3rd November 2023.
A request is taken into consideration with other factors but is not guaranteed. Please note that we are not able to consider information received after the 3/11/2023, as once class list are made up they are extremely difficult, if not impossible to change. The ultimate responsibility for student teacher allocation rests with the Principal. Our school processes are most comprehensive and professional with decisions always made in the best interest of our students.
Parents will be informed about their child's Home Group Teacher in Semester two's report in December. Students will meet their Home Group teacher for 2024 on Tuesday 12 December at our whole school orientation morning.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Christine White
Principal