Learning and Teaching

ANZAC Day Service – Cranbourne 

On the 25th of April, at Cranbourne, for ANZAC Day, I was laying the wreath to acknowledge my deep reverence and respect towards the ANZACs who fought for us. I felt a bit scared and nervous, but I was so happy that I got chosen. This was truly a fun and memorable experience. 

Connor 

My experience going to lay the wreath was truly one of the most honourable moments of my life. As we arrived there, I was so surprised and amazed by how many people came to attend one of the most special commemorations in Australia’s history.

First, we all walked together to lay the wreath. This was very significant because it reminded me of how many people died to make Australia the country it is today. Overall, I feel very grateful that I attended.

This ANZAC Day service was truly unforgettable. Lest we forget.

Hannah B

Last Saturday, I went to lay a wreath on behalf of our school. On ANZAC Day, it was a very solemn occasion. When I heard the news that I had been chosen, I was filled with joy and happiness.

Phebian (LS2 Seniors-AE) 

Students in attendance: Connor, Declan, Hannah, Phebian, and John. 

Tanya Petersen

LS1 Senior Team Teacher

tpetersen@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

Going to Great Lengths in LS3 Seniors! 

It has been a busy and "measurable" week for our Clinic 2 Seniors! We have officially dived into our new Maths unit on Length, where students have been transforming into measurement experts. Through our hands-on lessons, the children have been exploring how we use different units and instruments to understand the world around us. We started by debating whether objects like paper clips or pencils make good measuring tools. The consensus? While fun, they aren't uniform, so we need formal metric units to ensure our measurements are fair and accurate! Our seniors have been working hard to master several key skills:

• Identifying Metric Units: Learning when to use millimetres (mm) for tiny details, centimetres (cm) for everyday objects, metres (m) for larger spaces, and kilometres (km) for long distances between suburbs or cities.
• Tool Selection: Deciding whether a ruler, a tape measure, or a trundle wheel is the right "weapon of choice" for the task at hand.
• Precision & Estimation: Practising how to record exact lengths using whole and part units, and comparing different measurements to see how they stack up.

As you can see in the photos, the students have been putting their mathematical knowledge into practice:

• The Trundle Wheel Challenge: Students took their learning outdoors, using trundle wheels to measure larger distances like the school courtyard. They’ve discovered that a metre is roughly the length of one big step or the width of a doorway!

   

• Precision Measuring: Inside the classroom, you’ll see students using tape measures and rulers to find the exact length and height of classroom objects—from whiteboards to magazine holders.

   

• The "Human" Measure: We even got creative by measuring each other! Students used their understanding of centimetres and metres to record heights, practice using scaled instruments, and compare their findings with their peers.

   

It is wonderful to see the children justifying their thinking, asking "How do we know for sure?", and realising that in the world of measurement, we don't just guess—we measure!

Rosie Joseph

LS3 Senior Team Teacher

rjoseph@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

Visual Art News

Our young artists have started Term 2 with putting their creative minds and hands into action by working on a variety of art pieces involving painting, drawing and raised foil art methods. 

In our juniors first art piece, stained glass Easter eggs and enlarged crosses have been created to continue celebrating Easter and the important symbols during this special time in the Catholic church. Each piece on each egg along the with the attached crosses were thoughtfully and uniquely designed and created with wool and pastel coloured textas to symbolically express the message of hope in our new beginnings. 

Recognising the importance of Visual Art in Indigenous Aboriginal Cultures has also been explored across all levels. Students listened to the traditional dreaming story “Scaly-tailed Possum and Echidna” and further studied the view of The 12 Apostles from the owners of the Eastern Maar Nation to construct with paper plates animals in the bushland and dioramas of the iconic natural landmark. 

Inspired by young Aboriginal artists Rheanna Lotter and Billy Reynolds, our students used earthy tones to paint the pieces and design their own Aboriginal symbols to show their cultural connection to the Australian land and people. To see the junior display walk down the hallway to see the Learning Space 3 art wall. Look for the Seniors dioramas that will also be on display in the coming weeks. 

Art Competition News:

At assembly today we congratulated and acknowledged all the contestants who entered the Catholic Education Week Exhibition, especially Adi (Yr 5), Elyse (Yr 3), Grace (Yr 5), Dityaa (Yr 6) and Emilia (Yr 2) who were chosen as the recipients for the Zart Art Sculpture & 3D Art Award - Group Award category and received awards. Well done again to all our passionate and talented young artists!

Housekeeping:

If you would like to donate long rolls (used for wrapping paper), 

please send them through your children to pass on to me. Thank you!  

Until then, keep on making the spark in your art grow!    

Melissa Junkeer

Visual Arts Teacher

mjunkeer@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

SFS LS3 JUNIORS - NARRATIVES

Writing narratives is a dynamic process for our juniors, and is a wonderful way to ‘see into’ our little people’s imaginative world. During the last two weeks, Clinic Two and Clinic Three writers have been exploring the narrative writing genre. Characters such as dragons, princesses, ogres, kings and queens all came to life and took on some great and fantastical adventures in our stories. 

Clinic Two retold known fairy tales to help scaffold the writing process and sequenced their writing with a beginning, middle and end using the time connectives; ‘first, then and finally’. Here are some amazing examples of our work!

Clinic Three focussed on composing an orientation that grabs the attention of the reader by depicting the setting and characters within the narrative. They have written complications or problems that develop and are more detailed instead of being solved with a simple ‘happily ever after’. Here are some more terrific examples of our work!

Rebecca Xavier and Imogene Laird

LS3 Junior Team Teachers

rxavier@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

ilaird@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

SENIOR SPORTS

The Paul Wade Cup

Our boys' and girls' soccer teams had the privilege of participating in The Paul Wade Cup held at St John College in Dandenong, which featured a round-robin format. They faced off against other Catholic primary schools in the region. 

The students displayed commendable sportsmanship, both towards their teammates and their opponents, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We take great pride in all the participants, who relished the opportunity to engage in this event. 

The weather was favourable for play, and the facilities were accommodating, contributing to an enjoyable atmosphere. Although it was a lengthy day that left the students fatigued, they appreciated the break from their academic routine and demonstrated remarkable maturity. While they did not advance to the finals, their determination and resilience were evident throughout the competition. 

We are immensely proud of each student for their performance.

INTER-SCHOOL SPORT

 The schools we are playing, dates and locations for these events are as follows:

• Friday May 15th, Hampton Park Primary School - Home Game.
• Friday May 29th, Lyndhurst Primary School - Away Game.
• Friday June 5th, Coral Park Primary School - Home Game.
• Friday June 12th, Kilberry Valley Primary School-Home Game..

• Friday June  19th, Summer Lightning Premiership

Venues for each sport are as follows for Lightning Premiership:

• Soccer - Melbourne City Synthetic Pitches (Casey Fields)
• AFL 9’s - Oval 2 (Casey Fields)
• Netball - Casey Stadium
• Volleystars - Casey Stadium
• Teeball - Oval 3 (Casey Fields)

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL OUR SFS MOTHERS.

Lulli Barbakos

Physical Education Teacher

Senior Sports Coordinator

lbarbakos@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

SENIOR SPORTING EVENTS

DISTRICT CROSS COUNTRY

Congratulations to our District Cross Country Team! What a great effort!!! SFS came in 5th place for the District Competition.

We would now like to introduce our Divisional Team who will compete on Wednesday 27th May. 

Parents please ensure you give permission via nForma. Students will train Wednesdays and Fridays during 1st lunch.

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

JUNIOR SPORTING EVENTS

SPORTING SCHOOLS - TAEKWONDO CLINICS

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Students will have 3 more clinics. Below are the days the Taekwondo Clinics will be held so that you ensure your child is wearing their sports uniform for the day. This term all Juniors will have their clinics on the same day. 

Reminders will also be placed in Morning Gathering as well as in the Newsletter.

Week 5

Friday 22nd May

Week 7

Monday 1st June

Week 10

Monday 22nd June

If your child is enjoying the Taekwondo Clinics and you are looking at enrolling them into an after-school club, details for Melbourne Taekwondo Centre can be found below:

SENIOR RUGBY CLINICS

Seniors had a great time during their Rugby Clinics on Monday. Vaughn a coach from NRL, engaged the students with a variety of activities giving them a taste of what our after-school clinics will be like. If your child enjoyed the clinic think about registering them for our FREE SFS League Stars After School Clinics beginning in Week 5. Details are below.

WHOLE SCHOOL SPORTING EVENTS

SFS LEAGUE STARS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM RETURNS IN TERM 2- NOW FREE!!!

Yes, parents that is correct the League Stars After School Program will now be FREE!!! You will have the option to purchase the League Stars Pack during the registration process. Please use the links below to register your child. Registration is completed through NRL who will also be running the clinics. 

You will need to create an account with NRL and then search the programs for Lynbrook to find the program, Term 2 – 2026 – League Stars After School Program – St Francis de Sales, Lynbrook then click on register.’

League Stars – St Francis De Sales Primary School, Lynbrook (5-8 Year Olds) | FREE

League Stars – St Francis De Sales Primary School, Lynbrook (9-12 Year Olds) | FREE

To promote our NRL League Stars after school program, which will begin in Week 5 this term, Ali the NRL Game Development Officer has organised coaches who will come to school and provide free Rugby clinics to all our juniors. The clinics will be held in Week 4. 

Details are below:

Monday May 11th – Junior Rugby Clinics

Please ensure your child wears their sports uniform on the appropriate days. 

We have been given an excellent opportunity for Term 2 to have the NRL League Stars Program run after school (3.30-4.15pm) on Wednesdays here at SFS. This program will only be available to SFS students. 

‘LEAGUE STARS after-school program is RETURNING to ST FRANCIS DE SALES PRIMARY SCHOOL in 2026. JOIN in the FUN and Games in this NON-CONTACT Rugby League Program. The Program Is Open for ALL Ages from 5 Years to 12 Years of Age. The Program will be over 6 Sessions with the First Session scheduled for Wednesday 20th May 2026 in Week 5, running consecutively each week on Wednesdays for 6 weeks and ending on Wednesday June 24th. 

Ali is happy to organise students to be returned to After School Care once the program finishes at 4.15pm.

COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITY 

CASEY THUNDER ALL GIRLS TERM 2 AUSKICK CENTRE

An exciting opportunity for our girls. Registrations are now open for the Casey Thunder All Girls Term 2 Auskick Centre.

All-girls programs play an important role in creating a fun, inclusive and supportive environment where girls can build confidence, develop skills, and enjoy being active with friends.

Program Details:

• Hunt Club Oval, Cranbourne East
• Thursdays | 5:30pm – 6:15pm
• Starts May 21st (5-week program)
• Ages 5–12 | $55
• Registration: https://www.playhq.com/afl/register/226141

If you think your daughter might be interested please register via the link above or the QR code on the flyer.

PREP & GRADE 1 STUDENTS U8 BASKETBALL

We have a fantastic opportunity for our Prep and Grade 1 students to become involved with the new U8 Basketball Program run by the Casey Basketball Association. If you think your child might be interested please refer to the flyer below for more information.

Any queries please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Giuliana

Extra-Curricular Coordinator

gfaiola@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au 

The eSafety Commissioner website has advice specifically for young people and kids to explore. You can share the below links with your child to help build healthy online habits. These are things that we explore in our Digital Technology classes but it is always important to revisit and be sure that we are talking about these areas at home.

 Digital footprints – explains how online actions can have a lasting impact. You can use this page to start a positive conversation about protecting your child’s reputation and future online.  

 Consent and sharing photos or videos – helps young people understand why consent matters when sharing photos and videos, and how respectful choices can protect both themselves and others online.  

 Keeping personal information safe online – provides helpful information for kids to understand what personal information is, why it’s important to protect it online, and how simple choices can keep them safer.  

 Mighty Heroes online safety adventures – use stories and game as a fun way to start conversations about online safety, kindness and getting help when needed.  

Taryn Bartlett

Digital Technology Specialist Teacher

tbartlett@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au