From the Principal
The Vital Partnership
I dreamed I stood in a studio
And watched two sculptors there
The clay they used was a young child’s mind
And they fashioned it with care.
One was a teacher, the tools she used
Were books and music and art
One was a parent with a guiding hand
And a gentle loving heart.
Day after day, the teacher toiled
With a touch that was deft and sure
While the parent labored by her side
And polished and smoothed it over.
And when at last their tasks were done
They were proud of what they had wrought
For the things they had molded into a child
Could neither be sold nor bought.
And each agreed they would have failed
If they had worked alone
For behind the parent stood the school
And behind the teacher, the home.
"And each agreed they would have failed If they had worked alone
For behind the parent stood the school And behind the teacher, the home."
These words take on even more significance and truth as we move into lock down No:6
We each could not do this on our own and the Vital Partnership between home and school is so vitally important.
It is reassuring to know that we have that kind of partnership at St Francis de Sales. I thank every staff member for giving there all. In Olympic terms, 'they leave nothing on the track!' and likewise our parents who are juggling so much are doing the same. Thank you.
Please know we are here with you and we will get through this time together once again.
As you now all know we have started a 7 day lock-down from 8pm Thursday as announced by the Premier yesterday on 5 August. Online learning will commence on Monday 9 August. Our staff will be providing a similar learning program online as we did on the previous lock down. Teachers will be working via Google Meets in real time with your child following the daily timetable. The timetable for your child will be posted on the Google Classroom Home Page for your reference. All notices will also appear on the Google Classroom Home page. The teaching sessions will be recorded and posted for those who cannot attend at the scheduled time.
Children will need access to a device to participate. All devices MUST be located in a common area of the home for participation in Google Meets.
ONLY children of essential service workers that submitted work permits on the last lockdown or who applied under vulnerable status may work from school from Monday 9 August. We will be using the student list of permitted workers and timetables we have from the last lockdown.
Kharisma Kids are offering an After Care Program. Please contact them directly to make a booking.
We have succeeded together before and despite the difficulties in going into lockdown once again, together we will succeed once again.
Take care. Keep safe.
Congratulations
A big congratulations to all our SFS students who made their First Eucharist last Sunday. May God Bless them always and may they always feel God's presence as they journey through their life.
Big Thanks to the parents who presented them for this important sacrament and to the staff who helped prepare them. Another vital partnership in action. Special thanks to Fr Desmond and Fr Anil for being our celebrants for the 2pm and 4pm Mases at St Kevin's Church. Enormous gratitude to Rozeta for all her work in coordinating and assisting our children to ensure they had a memorable day. The conditions with lock downs certainly added extra tasks due to several postponements and restrictions in 2020 and 2021. We are thankful we were able to have this sacrament between lock down 5 and 6. Despite restricted numbers it was a lovely day and we thank Anthony for making the live stream video possible. If you missed the links here they are.
Sunday, 1st August, 2021 - 2:00 p.m. Mass link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mPpfGpJNauxBh2nc5s4KAQkU96_pXQG3/view?usp=sharing
Sunday, 1st August, 2021 - 4:00 p.m. Mass
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SL7PUpmlBVWIm3OHK_rMxKCYNvqVmRB3/view?usp=sharing
Regards
Christine White
Principal