St Francis Catholic Primary School - Tannum Sands eNewsletter

A Message from Leadership

Semester One reports are now available for viewing via Parent Orbit. These reports provide a detailed snapshot of your child’s academic progress and social development throughout the first half of the school year. They highlight each student’s achievements, strengths, and areas for growth, offering valuable insights into how they are engaging with the Australian Curriculum at this midway point in their current year level.

Understanding the Semester One Report

As an interim report, this is a reflection of your child’s journey so far, halfway through this year’s learning. It provides an opportunity to celebrate their successes, acknowledge their efforts, and identify areas for improvement. The report also offers a broader view of your child as a learner, capturing not only their academic performance but also their engagement with learning, their social skills, and their personal growth.

At St Francis, we believe in nurturing the whole child, recognising that every student has unique gifts and talents. Some children excel academically, while others may shine in creative pursuits, physical endeavours, or in their application to learning, as well as their ability to collaborate and show kindness to others. These reports are designed to reflect these diverse strengths and to provide a balanced picture of progress, rather than focusing solely on grades.

How Parents Can Engage with Reports

We encourage all families to take time to review the report together with their child. This is an excellent opportunity to:

Celebrate Strengths: Acknowledge and affirm your child’s hard work and successes, no matter how big or small.
Set Goals: Discuss areas where growth is possible and set meaningful, achievable goals for the second half of the year.
Focus on Growth: Emphasise that learning is a journey, and progress—not perfection—is what matters most.

It’s important to remind children that everyone learns differently and at their own pace. While some students may find certain learning areas or skills easier, others may need more time and support. What’s essential is that they continue to try their best and approach challenges with resilience and a growth mindset.

Support and Communication

If you have any questions about your child’s report or would like to discuss it further, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher. Teachers are here to partner with you in supporting your child’s learning and wellbeing, and they can provide additional context or suggestions for supporting progress at home.

As we look forward to the second half of the year, let’s work together to nurture each child’s potential- academically, socially, and spiritually. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to your child’s education and for being such a vital part of our school community.

Wishing you all a wonderful break over the holidays!

Mrs Samantha Suthers- Principal

Catholic Education Week - Lego World Exhibition

Catholic Education Week is an important celebration in our Term 3 calendar running from Monday 28 July to Friday 1 August. One of the wonderful events will be an exhibition of 'Faith, Hope and Love' through the creative minds of our children. Holidays and chilled days in the coming fortnight might provide the opportunity for your child to begin construction!

More information regarding Catholic Education Week will be forthcoming in the first week of Term 3.

Mrs Meredith Grove - Assistant Principal Religious Education

Winter Warmth Appeal

With great appreciation, Mr Peter Doherty from St Vincent de Paul, spoke on assembly on Monday highlighting to our students the ripples of kindness that stretch across the Gladstone community through the generous donations of blankets, pj's and food.

Weekly Reflection - Want or Need

Never have we known so much about healthy eating and yet our society is plagued by the results of unhealthy eating: obesity, anorexia and excessive emphasis on body image. Just consider that last one. People will choose what they eat according to how it will affect their body image. In fact, what this means is someone will choose what they eat according to how someone else at a later time may judge the look of their body – even people the only ‘encounter’ through cyberspace. This is crazy, but it is also common.

We should eat according to what we need or what we want. If we truly listen to our bodies, and appropriately discipline them, we may come to that happy state where what we eat and what we need are the same. Recent studies have show that people who eat slowly and take time to enjoy what they eat are less likely to be obese. In other words, they focus on what they want and need and enjoy that. They are not mindlessly eating food they particularly don’t want or need. A good way to balance our eating habits is to ask “Do I really want or need this?” and if the answer is “Yes” to take the time to enjoy it.

Jesus used the experience of wanting or needing food as a sign of our relationship to him. Our hearts are made for the experience of God’s love, but we spend so much of our lives pursuing experiences and things that we neither want or need. Jesus speaks often of the hunger in our hearts and how he desires to fulfil that. The Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Jesus, given under the form of Bread and Wine, shows how far he will go to fulfil our needs and wants. But we are looking for that fulfilment in all the wrong places. To find our true heart, a good question to often ask ourselves is, do I really want this or do I really need this?

Loving Father, help me to truly seek the things that will fulfill my heart and my life and make me a more loving person. I ask this in Jesus’ name confident that you will hear me.

Sr Kym Harris osb

Monday 14th July - 1st Day Back Term 3

RACQ Roads Ahead Workshops

The RACQ Community and Education Team will be delivering the RACQ Streets Ahead road safety lessons to Prep to Year 2 students on Monday 14th July.

If you would like to reinforce and extend your child’s learning of pedestrian, passenger and riding safety, you can access Resource Packs with different age-appropriate activities in each. In addition to these packs, there are also four educational videos demonstrating the strategies taught for Prep – Year Two students. These resources will assist you to continue teaching road safety, implementing the strategies your children will learn, and applying them to your everyday lives.

https://www.racq.com.au/streetsahead

Lunch Club

Tuesday 15th July

NAIDOC MASS - Rockhampton

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students from within the Rockhampton Catholic Diocese have been invited to attend the Mass focusing around the 2025 NAIDOC theme 'The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy'.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 2025 NAIDOC School Mass will be held at the Holy Family Church in Rockhampton.

Physical Education Lessons

All students will participate in PE lessons today with Mrs Kylie Linforth.

Students to wear their sports shirts. Hats and water bottles are essential.

Digital Technologies Lessons

Students from Prep to Year 2 will participate in Digi Tech lessons today with Mrs Meredith Grove.

Lunch Club

Tuckshop Day

Private Music Lessons

Instrumental music lessons today with Miss Erin Moynihan. Great news - the school band will be putting an entry into the 2025 Gladstone Eisteddfod, well done team!

If you would like any information regarding our instrumental music or piano lessons, please contact Mrs Meredith Grove.

Wednesday 16th July

RACQ Roads Ahead Workshops

The RACQ Community and Education Team will be delivering the RACQ Streets Ahead road safety lessons to Year 3 to Year 6 students on Wednesday 16th July.

If you would like to reinforce and extend your child’s learning of pedestrian, passenger and riding safety, you can access Resource Packs with different age-appropriate activities in each. In addition to these packs, there are also four educational videos demonstrating the strategies taught for Prep – Year Two students. These resources will assist you to continue teaching road safety, implementing the strategies your children will learn, and applying them to your everyday lives.

https://www.racq.com.au/streetsahead

Challenge Cup - Netball

A number of Year 5 and 6 girls will be competing in the Challenge Cup Netball Competition in Yeppoon on Wednesday, 16th July to Friday, 18th July. Mrs Samantha Suthers and Ash Armfield will be attending with the team as coach and manager.

Volunteer Induction - 8.30am

All Welcome!!!

Join Our Volunteer Team - Term 3 Induction

WHEN - Wednesday 16th July - 8.30am

We will be holding a Volunteer Induction from 8.30am in the School's Staffroom.

Lunch Club

Private Music Lessons

Guitar lessons today with Wayne.

If you would like any information regarding our piano lessons, please contact Mrs Meredith Grove. If you would like any information regarding our guitar lessons, please contact Mrs Kylie Linforth.

Piano lessons today with Liping- it is delightful to hear that some of Liping's students will also be participating in the 2025 Gladstone Eisteddfod.

If you would like any information regarding our instrumental music or piano lessons, please contact Mrs Meredith Grove.

Thursday 17th July

Challenge Cup - Netball

A number of year 5 and 6 girls will be competing in the Challenge Cup Netball Competition in Yeppoon on Wednesday 16th July & Thursday 17th July.

Performing Arts Lessons

Students from Year 3 to Year 6 will participate in Performing Arts lessons today with Mrs Sharyn Dicker. Children are learning drama and dance this term.

Lunch Club

Private Music Lessons

Piano lessons today with Liping- it is delightful to hear that some of Liping's students will be participating in the 2025 Gladstone Eisteddfod.

If you would like any information regarding our piano lessons, please contact Mrs Meredith Grove.

Friday 18th July

P & F Meeting - 8.30am

WHERE - Staffroom

All welcome! The P&F Committee is looking for nominations for several roles, including Vice President and Diocese Delegate. Please consider if you’re able to contribute to the P&F by filling one of these roles.

Gold Coast Suns AFLW Visit

The Gold Coast Suns AFLW visit for Girls AFL team from 9am - 11am

Private Music Lessons

Piano lessons today with Liping- it is delightful to hear that some of Liping's students will be participating in the 2025 Gladstone Eisteddfod.

If you would like any information regarding our piano lessons, please contact Mrs Meredith Grove.

Lunch Club

Tuckshop Day

2026 Prep Enrolments

Prep 2026 Enrolments Are Open!

Interviews have started- don't miss the opportunity to secure a place for your child in our welcoming and nurturing school environment.

Contact us today on 49 948 320 or enrol online via:-

https://www.rok.catholic.edu.au/st-francis-catholic-primary-school-tannum-sands/

St Francis Enrolments

Tuckshop News

Our School Tuckshop is urgently needing volunteers for the following dates:

- Friday 18^th July

- Friday 25^th July

- Friday 1st August

- Friday 8^th August

If anyone is able to assist, please call the school office on (07) 49 733 600.

Our tuckshop relies on volunteers to operate, therefore, your help is very much essential and valued!

2025 Premier's Reading Challenge

Principal_letter_template_to_parentscarers_to_accompany_reader_record_form.pdf

Parents & Friends Association

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT

A big thank you to all who supported the Family Movie Night last Friday – the families who came along, the generous sponsors who helped to keep it a fun and affordable family night out, and to the wonderful volunteers who made it happen. We appreciate you all.

If you have any feedback regarding the evening, please let the P&F know so that we can continue to improve these events and activities. See contact options below.

NEXT P&F MEETING – Friday 25th July from 8:30am

All welcome! The P&F Committee is looking for nominations for several roles, including Vice President and Diocese Delegate. Please consider if you’re able to contribute to the P&F by filling one of these roles. Attendance at meetings is not required and the roles have plenty of flexibility to suit the nominee. Reach out to the committee via email or P&F Facebook page if you’re interested or have any questions.

STAY IN CONTACT

The P&F Committee is always willing to hear from you. We can be contacted via email SFTS_PandFSecretary@rok.catholic.edu.au or by messaging the St Francis Tannum Sands P&F facebook page.

School Uniforms

St Francis Uniform Shop

Did you know that Wearitto comes to St Francis every Tuesday?

The shop is open 8:30am -10:30am in Green Pod the room beside the Hub.

Please sign in through the QR code in the office or on the uniform shop door. When prompted for organisation please type 'visitor'.

Alternatively, you can order online and items can be picked up from the office in the afternoon of the next Tuesday after the order is placed:

https://www.wearitto.com.au/schools/st-francis-catholic-primary-school-ts

Second Hand Pre Loved Uniforms

Pre_loved_Uniforms_Flyer.pdf

Community News

Goals Football Development - Winter Holiday Clinics

⚽️ June school holiday soccer clinics are back with Goals Football Development!! Very limited places remaining 🥅 Run by A-Diploma candidate coach!
Links for booking below:
💚 https://www.trybooking.com/DCGAA
🧡 https://www.trybooking.com/DCGAN
❤️ https://www.trybooking.com/DCGAT