Learning and Teaching

Tournament of Minds – Metro Central Region Competition

We are excited to share that four teams of seven students will represent our school at the Tournament of Minds Metro Central Region Competition at Deakin University on Sunday, August 16. 

Students will take on two exciting challenges: a short-term spontaneous challenge, where teams must think quickly and creatively, and a long-term challenge, where they will present their carefully researched and developed solutions. 

Over recent months, students have worked collaboratively to research their challenge, write their own scripts, and design and create their own props, costumes and backdrops. 

We are incredibly proud of the creativity, teamwork, problem-solving and dedication our students have demonstrated and wish all four teams the very best for competition day!

Michelle Murphy

mmurphy@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

LS2 Senior Team Teacher

Learning Space 1 Seniors

Recently, our LS1 Clinic 1 Seniors have been busy exploring angles through a range of hands-on and engaging Mathematics activities. 

We began by learning that an angle represents the amount of turn between two rays that meet at a common point, called the vertex. Students explored this idea by looking at angles in familiar situations, such as the hands on a clock, an opening door and angles they could make using their own arms.

As our learning progressed, our seniors investigated quarter, half and three-quarter turns and connected these turns to the angles they create. Students practised making, drawing and identifying angles while also developing their mathematical vocabulary. 

We explored right angles and used them as a benchmark to compare other angles, before learning to identify acute angles as smaller than a right angle and obtuse angles as larger than a right angle.

Students then had plenty of opportunities to put their new knowledge into practice. They searched for angles in everyday objects and shapes, completed angle hunts, worked through mystery angle challenges and practised recognising different angles and rotations. 

One of the highlights was Angles Bingo, where students had to carefully identify acute, obtuse and right angles to complete their bingo boards. It was a fun and competitive way to reinforce the mathematical language we had been learning!

It has been fantastic to see our students applying their learning beyond the classroom and beginning to notice that angles are all around us!

Michael Putinja

mputinja@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

LS1 Senior Team Teacher

Learning Space 1 Juniors

This term, the Grade 1 students in LS1 have been learning how to write an Information Report. Our topic has been Healthy Eating, with a focus on understanding what a healthy diet looks like.

Students have been learning to gather and record facts about a topic using subject-specific vocabulary, labels, and simple sentences. They have worked hard to practise recording facts about healthy eating and developing their skills in writing informative texts.

 Rita Karamalis

LS1 Junior Team Teacher

rkaramalis@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

CELEBRATING BOOK WEEK AT SFS

PERFORM EDUCATION BOOK WEEK PLAY

 ‘SOMETHING SPECIAL ’

On Monday, Kaemon and Maddi from Perform Education visited our school to perform the Book Week play ‘Something Special’ for both Juniors and Seniors. The play incorporated a number of this year’s Book Week shortlisted books and provided numerous opportunities for students to engage in song and dance as they worked together to create their own ‘symphony’.  It was one of the most enjoyable performances to date!

The play ‘Something Special’ followed the relationship of two primary school students, Shelly and Tom, who have to work together for a close project. The theme of creativity through co-operation was central to the evolving plot as the story explored what happens if people working together to create something don’t agree? 

The key message for students was that it is important that we not allow our differences to prevent a positive outcome, that we should learn about and appreciate another point of view and understand the importance of compromise. 

As was sung in the finale of the show, students were asked to: 

“Just listen to what someone else has to say

Don’t think you should always get your own way

It’s not about winning, it’s more about learning to play.

To make something special.”

Joanna Forbes

jforbes@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

Learning and Teaching Leader

 Senior SWAP 

This term in our Student Wellbeing and Performing Arts (SWAP) program, students have been exploring Topic 8 of Respectful Relationships: Positive Gender Relationships. 

Students have been learning to use their voice, body and facial expressions to communicate respectful behaviours and to recognise what unsafe behaviours may look like and feel like. Through dramatic scenarios, students have explored how people can show kindness, fairness, empathy and respect towards others.

Throughout our sessions students have discussed how everyone has the right to feel safe, valued and included. Students have learned that violence and unsafe behaviour can take many forms, including hurtful words, teasing, exclusion, embarrassment or actions that make someone feel disrespected. We discussed how gender-based violence can occur when someone is treated unfairly because of their gender (boy/girl) interests, abilities, clothing or because they do not fit into stereotypes about what girls and boys “should” do. 

Through collaboration we unpacked different scenarios by exploring: 

• Feelings: How might a person feel in this situation?
• Body: How might their feelings appear through body language?
• Words: What might they say or how might they sound?
• Thoughts: What might they be thinking or needing?

Students explored the scenario “Sport and Recreation Day”, where characters experienced unfair treatment because of their interests, clothing or abilities. Through discussion and role-play, students identified the people involved in situations of harm, including the person using unsafe behaviour, the person affected, witnesses and upstanders. Students considered how they can safely support others and challenge unfair behaviour.

Students also revisited the No-Go-Tell model and discussed ways to respond when they or someone else experiences unsafe behaviour:

• Say No: Use a confident voice to communicate that something is not okay.
• Go: Move away from a situation if possible and find safety.
• Tell: Speak to a trusted adult or person who can help.

Over the next fortnightly sessions, students will continue building these skills as they create and perform short drama pieces in the format of their choosing that promotes respect, kindness, inclusion and positive relationships.

Maddison Jewiss 

mjewiss@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

Junior Teacher/ Student Wellbeing and Performing Arts 

Visual Art Special News

The result for the SFS Student Art Show Competition, as voted by our SFS staff has been revealed!! 

It is with great pleasure that we announce Aurha in LS2 as our winning artist! This would also be the first time our school has run this competition.

We congratulate Aurha on her effort, interest and enthusiasm with creatively designing and entering this competition. Aurha’s winning Art Show logo will be displayed through SFS to promote our 2026 Art Show. 

We would also like to congratulate and thank the other students who eagerly shared their creativity and enthusiasm for art by entering this art competition. We look forward to showcasing their logo designs at the Art 

Show too! 

Parent/ Carer’s Art Show Pieces

Thank you to the parents who have already produced their wonderful art pieces! SFS parents/  carers are invited to continue to send their art pieces, either a 2D or 3D, to school. The art pieces will be showcased on the night of our Art Show. Artists keen to know further details could look at flyers advertised through SFS. Alternatively, for more information please contact Melissa (Visual Art Teacher) - mjunkeer@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

Final submissions for Parent/ Carer’s art work will be by Term 4, week 2. Any completed pieces can be delivered earlier and left at the office. 

Housekeeping:

If you would like to donate buttons and newspapers please send them through your children to pass on to me. Thank you!  

 Enjoy this term and until next time, keep on making the spark in your art grow! 

  Melissa Junkeer

mjunkeer@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

Visual Arts Teacher

SENIOR SPORTS

Grade 5/6 Sport

Today, our Grade 5/6 students competed against St Kevin’s   Primary School. They performed admirably and demonstrated commendable sportsmanship throughout their various sports. Congratulations to all the participants from Grade 5/6 for their efforts today. They are enhancing their understanding of strategies to improve their gameplay, which will contribute to their confidence and preparedness for the upcoming Lightning Prem later this term.

The  Interschool Sport, Grades 5 and 6 students will be participating in one of the following sports: Cricket, Tennis, Basketball, Handball and Softball  Five games and a lightning premiership against local schools have been scheduled.  The schools we are playing, dates and locations for these events are as follows:

• Friday August 21st Hampton Park Primary School – Away Game   
• Friday August 28th Kilberry Valley Primary School- Away Game 

Tuesday September 1st  Lightning Premiership  

BASKETBALL-CASEY INDOOR STADIUM

TENNIS – CRANBOURNE TENNIS CENTRE

CRICKET, SOFTBALL – LIVINGSTONE RESERVE

EUROPEAN HANDBALL – MELBOURNE CITY SOCCER PITCHES

DISTRICT ATHLETICS

Our District Athletics Team have been selected and are training hard to represent St Francis DeSales Primary School for District Athletics which will occur on

 Tuesday 18th of August at Casey Fields Athletics Track.

Lulli Barbakos

Physical Education Teacher

Senior Sports Coordinator

lbarbakos@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES 

JUNIOR SPORTING EVENTS

JUNIOR ULTIMATE GRISBEE CLINICS

We are very excited that this term, as part of the Sporting Schools Program, which is funded by the Australian Government, we have been fortunate enough to receive funding to run extra-curricular sports. We will have coaches from DS Sports come to SFS to conduct Ultimate Frisbee Clinics with our Junior students.

This is a great way for students to continue to improve their interpersonal skills, goal setting, self-management and resilience skills, as well as learning and developing new skills in a sport they may never have experienced before. Some students may discover that Ultimate Frisbee is a sport they would like to continue.

The students will participate in 4, 50-minute sessions. The clinics will take place beginning Week 6 through to Week 10. Below are the days the Ultimate Frisbee Clinics will be held so that you ensure your child is wearing their sports uniform and brings their water bottle. This term all Juniors will have their clinics on Mondays. Reminders will also be placed in Morning Gathering.

Week 6 - Monday 17th August

Week 8 - Monday 31st August

Week 9 - Monday 7th September

Week 10 - Monday 14th September

JUNIOR & SENIOR SPORTING EVENTS

GRADE 3/4 AND LS2 JUNIORS CRICKET CLINICS

We are excited to inform you that we have been able to organise cricket clinics for the Grade 3/4 students and LS2 Junior students.  Peter who coordinates the primary school cricket clinics from Cricket Victoria, has kindly organised a coach to come out next Friday August 21st.

The students will attend a 55-minute clinic. Please ensure your child is wearing their sports uniform and has their water bottle on the day. Reminders will also be placed in Student Reminders and in the Newsletter.

We would like to thank Cricket Victoria for this opportunity. If your child enjoys the session during school, you can continue their cricket experience by joining the local cricket club. A flyer with information will be sent home.

WHOLE SCHOOL SPORTING EVENTS

SFS TERM 3 AUSKICK CENTRE COMING!!

Parents a reminder that our SFS Auskick Program begins in next week on Wednesday August 19th from 3.20pm – 4.20pm.  Tyler is happy to run a separate group for the girls if we have enough registrations. There will be 4 sessions and the cost will be $55. Like last year students who register will also receive a pack sent to their home.

If you would like your child to attend, please use the QR Code on the flyer or the link below to register your child. HURRY SPACES ARE LIMITED AND FILLING UP FAST!! 

 https://www.playhq.com/afl/register/099c1b

Information has also been sent via nForma but remember you must register your child with AFL for them to be involved.

To pick up your child, please enter via the gates off the car park near the hall. If your child is going to after school care after the Auskick clinic the coaches will take students there.

TERM 4 SWIMMING

Swimming will take place in Term 4 beginning in Week 1. An nforma permission form has been published and if I could ask parents to please complete the form as soon as possible as I will need to provide Casey Leisure with final numbers. A swimming ability form will be sent home for all prep students and any new students enrolled this year. Casey Leisure has records for the students that attended last year. If you receive an ability form please complete this form and return to your child’s home group teacher as soon as possible. These will be passed onto the pool so that students can be placed into their initial groups. Students will be further assessed in their first swimming lesson.

Parents who have volunteered to assist the juniors, I will be checking that your Working with Children Check is current and registered with the school office. I will then be in contact with you prior to swimming beginning.

Swimming timetables have been uploaded onto the nForma permission form as an attachment. Please print it off and ensure you have it available at home. Parents please note you are welcome to attend Casey Leisure to view your child’s lesson but photographs and videos are not allowed and only parents I have contacted will be able to assist in the junior change rooms. 

A reminder to parents that swimming is an important part of the PE curriculum and all students are expected to attend. It’s imperative that students know how to keep themselves safe around water. If there is a medical reason your child cannot attend, you will need to provide a medical certificate for your child to be exempt. They will then remain at school in another Learning Space.

Any queries please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Giuliana

Extra-Curricular Coordinator

gfaiola@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au