From the Principal
Grandparents and Special Persons Day
On Monday 5th August SFS had a sensational morning welcoming grandparents and special friends into the Learning Spaces. There was lots of talk and laughter as the grandparents and special friends engaged in activities about their family history, their life growing up and sharing photos of special events (e.g. school photos, wedding photos, baby photos, celebrations etc.).
They also had a special prayer service thanking God for the things our grandparents and special friends bring to our lives each day. This created a wonderful buzz in all 3 Learning Spaces and the students were so excited to show their grandparents and special friends their learning around the school. There was such EXCITEMENT and JOY for the students seeing their grandparents and special friends in their daily environment.
The grandparents and special friends spent an hour in the Learning Spaces and then they were treated to a special morning tea in the Multipurpose Hall. They were entertained by the school choir led by Rachel who sang beautifully and touched the hearts of all, with their beautiful voices and songs (Grandparents Day, Happy Grandparents Day and I am Australian).
St Mary MacKillop
Thursday 8 August was the feast day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Australia’s first saint. Founder of the Josephite Sisters, Mary was a brave, intelligent, and passionate woman, committed to the poor, to education, and above all, to God. She also experienced deep troubles, including excommunication, illness, and loneliness.
On this day in 1894, Mary wrote in her diary three simple words: ‘God is good.’ Despite everything she experienced, her faith in the goodness of God kept her heart steady. May we draw inspiration from St Mary Mackillop, knowing that God is a good God and will carry us through whatever trials we face. St Mary of the Cross Mackillop, pray for us!
On Thursday afternoon Learning Space 1 gathered in the hall for a special Mass to celebrate this special day.
Preparing for 2025
We are commencing the process of making arrangements for 2025, which also includes budgeting and staffing. It is important that if your child is not returning in 2025 that you notify the school in writing. We encourage you to do this now or as soon as possible.
PRIMARY SCHOOL NURSING PROGRAM - FREE TO ALL FOUNDATION STUDENTS
Please check your child's school bag for an envelope from the Department of Education containing information regarding this free service available to all Foundation students.
MACSSIS 2024
Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS) are conducted annually for schools in the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. This year’s MACSSIS window is from Monday 2 September to Friday 20 September 2024.
MACSSIS is a low impact, high return set of tools for creating, collecting, analysing, interpreting and using data to inform Catholic school improvement. MACSSIS produces perception data. This data tells us about what different people in a school community think and feel about their learning environment.
Throughout each year, we pause to listen to our students, families and staff to gauge how our learning community is travelling. This feedback is invaluable to our progress.
A significant and formal way in which we engage and gather data is through MACSSIS, the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys.
Further information will be provided in coming weeks. We encourage our families to participate in this confidential feedback. As a school we evaluate and adjust and change our plans informed by data we gather. MACSSIS data is a key source on information that informs our school improvement and our 2025 Annual Action plans.
We are pleased to advise you that our school has engaged Semper Dental to provide your children with the opportunity of visiting the dentist at school commencing on Friday 6 September 2024.
Semper Dental is a well-respected catholic family business and is a significant provider of oral hygiene education and dental treatment services with programs running in more than 70 schools in greater Melbourne.
The program is available to participating students from all year levels at the school. The basis of this offer will be fully explained in the Semper Dental parent consent forms and in the Semper Dental information flyer.
Semper Dental provides a preventative treatment program involving an oral examination and treatments such as scale, cleaning, fluoride application and fissure seals where necessary.
Semper Dental will then provide you with a treatment plan for your child following the visit and will inform you if your child requires additional dental care.
Further information and parent consent forms will be sent home via your child in coming days. Please complete the consent form to enable your child to participate in this new initiative.
Christine White
Principal