Dear Families

Welcome back to the beginning of Term 3. I hope you have had a restful break with your family. Term 3 is a nine week term, with lots of learning and great events that will happen over the term. Keep an eye on the upcoming dates so that you are aware of what is happening.

The last week of the holidays was NAIDOC Week (6-13 July). NAIDOC Week encourages all Australians to celebrate the rich histories, cultures, contributions and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. I share a prayer with you about NAIDOC Week.

Dear God,

We thank You for the rich cultures, languages,

and stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Help us to listen, learn, and walk together with respect and kindness.

May we celebrate the wisdom of Elders past and present,

and honour the deep connection to Country.

Guide us to build a future where everyone feels proud, safe, and included.

Let NAIDOC Week remind us to care for each other and the land we share.

Amen.

Semester 1 Reports

A reminder that all student reports have been released today at 4:00pm via PAM. We encourage all families to take the time to read and reflect on their child’s report. Children are often very honest and insightful about their own progress, so it’s valuable to listen to their thoughts. Start by celebrating their strengths before discussing areas for growth.

In Week 3 (4–6 July), we will hold our Learning Conversations — another great opportunity to connect with your child and their teacher about learning and progress. Bookings will open on Friday 25th July at 4pm (end of Week 1).

Thank you to our dedicated teaching staff for their time and care in preparing these reports and conversations.

Roadworks Update

Thank you to our school community for your patience and understanding over the past month during the extensive roadworks at the front of our school. We’re pleased to share that the major works are nearly complete, with only minor finishing touches expected over the coming week.

A special thank you to the local council for their swift action in progressing these improvements so efficiently.

Safety Reminder: Driveway and Car Park Use Near Assisi Kindergarten

We continue to observe, or have had reports from parents, of unsafe driving practices in the driveway and around Assisi Kindergarten.

Despite clear signage, some vehicles are still entering the gravel car park via the main driveway, which is marked with a DO NOT ENTER sign. We kindly ask all drivers to follow road rules and signage carefully, as some kindergarten parents and their young children have been caught off guard while crossing the road.

Let’s work together to keep our children, families, and staff safe. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Update on water damage of Staffroom and Administration area

As previously shared, our staff room and administration area experienced significant water damage in late May. Following assessments over the holiday break, we’ve had to remove the pinboard (and artwork—sorry Carmel!) from the administration wall, along with partial plaster removal.

To aid the drying process, a temporary plastic structure was installed in both rooms. We’re hopeful this will be removed next week, allowing refurbishments to begin shortly. We anticipate another 5–6 weeks of disruption before we can return to using the staff room comfortably.

Upcoming Pupil Free Day

Please be advised that St. Francis of the Fields, along with all Catholic Diocesan schools, will observe a Pupil Free Day dedicated to Staff Spirituality. As a result, our school will be closed on Wednesday, 13 August.

We appreciate your understanding and support as our staff engage in this important day of reflection and professional growth.

YMCA OSHC will again offer supervision of students on this day should families require it. Please contact the St Francis YMCA OSHC staff on 0459 988 313 or stfrancis@ymca.org.au to make your booking. Please note, the running of this service will be dependent on the number of bookings taken.

Farewell to Shane Owins

It is with sadness that we announce Shane Owins will be finishing his time at St. Francis of the Fields Primary School on Thursday, 31 July.

To honour Shane’s many years of dedicated service to our school community, staff will gather for a morning tea on his final day.

We extend our warmest wishes to Shane and Reecy as they begin their next chapter. Thank you, Shane, for everything you’ve contributed—you will be missed.

P & F Meeting - Thursday 31 July @ 7.30pm

We warmly invite our Parents & Friends community to come together on Thursday, 31 July at 7:30pm in the Staff Room.

Our P&F team plays a vital role in fundraising to support the purchase of valuable resources for our students. All parents are welcome—whether you're a regular attendee or joining us for the first time. We look forward to seeing familiar faces and welcoming new ones!

Advisory Council Meeting - Wednesday 6 August @ 5:30pm

Our Advisory Council will gather on Wednesday, 6 August at 5:30pm in the Meeting Room. All council members are warmly invited to attend. Together, we will review the progress of our Annual Action Plan and reflect on how our school can refine its practices.

Shed Unavailability

The shed will be unavailable for training use on the following dates in Term 3:

Tuesday 12 Aug - School Disco (Set up will occur from 12pm)
Thursday 14 Aug - Whole school Mass setup (afterschool training affected)
Thursday 4 Sept - Father's Day Mass setup (afterschool training affected)

Assembly

4C & 4S will lead our next school assembly on Friday 2 May from 2.45pm in the Shed. All parents, grandparents and guardians are most welcome to attend.

Christ has no hands but yours.

Tim Moloney

Principal