From the Principal
Book an Adventure.
Our Bags were packed and we sure took flight on an epic adventure to celebrate the 2025 Children's Book Week at St Francis de Sales."Book an Adventure" was the 2025 theme for the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Children's Book Week that encourages readers of all ages to explore new worlds and possibilities through literature.
Our Children commenced the day with a colourful parade of book characters that showcased the creative talents of our parents with clever and imaginative costumes. It was a delight to see everyone involved.
The grand parade of each Home groups was followed by the staff of each Learning Space and also the admin team getting into the spirit to the delight of our children.
The theme, invites and inspires us to travel through the worlds that books open up. Just by picking up a book and reading, children are encouraged to set off on adventures through time, lands, and imagination. Children had fun with a variety of Book week activities coordinated by Joanna and our staff.
How did you go? Ask your children they can help you. What would be in your suitcase? Children selected a book and designed what four items they would place in their suitcase. Some of these are on display in the corridor outside Learning Space One. Drop by during this term and see if you can pick the book.
A BIG thanks to the P&F for organising a yummy toastie fun lunch. Thanks to Joanna for her coordination and our staff for their support and implementation of activities that made it exciting and fun. Thank you to our parents and wonderful children for getting into the spirit and dressing up. It was a memorable, fun-filled day, spectacular day that we all enjoyed.
St Francis de Sales - High Performing School
Exceeding the State and National Results
We are very proud of our 2025 NAPLAN results in all areas tested in both Year 3 and Year 5. We keep improving!!! In 4 out of the 5 areas tested in Year 3 our results exceed the State and National results. In 5 out of the 5 areas tested in Year 5 we exceed the State and National results.
In Writing, Spelling and Reading our results continue to be significantly higher than the State. In fact in Reading, Spelling and Writing in Year 5, 75% of our students exceed the State mean an exceptional result.
In 2024/2025 we put a focus on Grammar & Punctuation with an immediate positive outcome in both Year 3 and Year 5 with results above the State and National Mean.
Numeracy in Year 3 is the only area that we are the same as the State Mean, however by Year 5 our results are above the State Mean. This will continue to be an area of focus for us to get our Year 3 Numeracy results above as in all other areas. Our reviewer Stephen Russell pointed out that given we have 66% of our students commence with a language background other than English, with 27 different languages spoken at home, our results are very impressive.
At the Australian Catholic Education Conference in Cairns that I attended last week. Dr Steve Constantino talked about engaging every family in the learning partnership. A great school can be an exceptional school if we work together to support the child. Parents are important and influential because they know their children best. We are fortunate to have highly motivated students and families that value education. We need to explore the little things we can do in partnership that will give your child that extra support by working as a team, together. Consistent processes across our school is achieving our great results. If we work together to further improve consistency in processes between the school and the home we are certain to further leverage successful outcomes for our students. This will be a focus for us in our School Improvement plans for 2026-2030.
Congratulations to past student Andi !
She achieved 2nd place at the Australian Athletics Cross Country Championships in Ballarat last weekend!
We're so proud of all your hard work and dedication. What an outstanding achievement against some of the best runners from across the country.
You are Invited to Grandparents Day at SFS
Grandparents' Day is on Tuesday, 2nd September, starting at 9:45 am. We look forward to welcoming grandparents and special friends for a lovely morning together.
Parent Feedback - MACSSIS 2025
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 1 September to Friday 19 September 2025.
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.
Each family will receive an email with a link to complete the survey on Monday 1 September. 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 2026 Annual Action plans.
Submit a screenshot to show you have completed the survey to enter our MACSSIS raffle.
The winner gets a $100 gift voucher!!
Just email to admin@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au or send in a paper copy via your child to the office. All entries must be received by 10 am Friday 19 September.
Book Now - Parent Teacher Interviews
Dental Van
The Dental Van will be visiting SFS on Thursday, 11th September. Please keep an eye out for any forms or information that will be sent home regarding this visit.
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 Thursday 11 September 2025.
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.
A parent consent forms was sent home via Operoo this week. Please complete the consent form to enable your child to participate in 2025.
Preparing for 2026
We are commencing the process of making arrangements for 2026, which also includes budgeting and staffing. It is important that if your child is not returning in 2026 that you notify the school in writing. We encourage you to do this now or as soon as possible.
Prep Enrolments
Christine White
Principal