Term 2 Week 7
Weekly 5 With Leadership
Gullarn ngheeree - Welcome to this beautiful place,
I continue to meet with families who are enrolling their children in Prep for 2025. When I ask what it is that draws them St Francis Catholic Primary, the common thread comes back to community - a community that is nurturing, inclusive and allows their child to thrive; a community where people know each other’s names, where they hope to feel a sense of belonging as they begin their journey with us. Having been at St Francis Catholic Primary since its inception in 2005, these ‘precious as gold’ threads weave across the years, it is incredible that next year we celebrate 20 years ‘Walking as family in peace through love’.
A large part of that community is the students and staff who engage and learn together every day. We also journey with our families - mums, dads, younger siblings, grandparents, cousins - who are at the very centre of our students’ lives. At the last Parents and Friends group meeting a coordinating committee evolved which will be the conduit of communication and planning. This committee provides a practical mechanism for conversations with myself, with ideas shared and opportunities for parent engagement and discernment through the school newsletter and at General Parents and Friends meetings. Gratitude is expressed to Jayne Hurst, Kirstie McMurtrie, Belinda Styles and Claire Totton for your generosity in these roles.
I am delighted to announce the launch this afternoon of our Parent Orbit app. This app is used extensively by schools within Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton, with many features that exist on Parent Lounge now at your fingertips! Please see further information in our newsletter.
Last Sunday morning, I attended Liturgy at St Peter Chanel church on our school site. Sr Noreen led us in this celebration as we gathered for Holy Trinity Sunday, reflecting on the relational aspects of the Catholic faith - God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. My thoughts took me to a Creator God who is all around; to Jesus Christ who walks alongside me through His humanity and His divinity; and to the Holy Spirit, the flame within me that strives each day to live faith through prayer, words, and actions. The mystery of God as three, yet one, tells of a flow of relationships that is invitational to a community of faith.
Sr Noreen suggested that we are most like God when we reach out to others in love. When we give love selflessly and when we receive love; we are called to be connected to our part in humanity. The ‘flipside’ of connection is disconnection, those moments when our thoughts focus solely on self, regardless of our impact on others. In a world that perhaps leans into an individualistic culture, the strength of our school community is built on the bedrock of the Gospel teachings of Jesus Christ as we strive each and every day to ‘walk as family in peace through love.’
As shared in recent newsletter, Mrs Kylie Linforth will be Acting Principal from Monday June 3 through to Friday July 19 whilst I am on leave.
Continue to pray for me, as I do for you,
PAX et bonum - Peace and all goodness,
Meredith Grove
(Principal 2024)
ALL NEW - Parent Orbit App
Queensland Health - RSV
There has been a recent case of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) at St Francis. Please refer to the Queensland Health link below. Please seek medical advice should your child develop these symptoms and keep your child at home to prevent the spread of infection.
Athletics Carnival
Certificates for Age Champions and Record Breakers will be presented at Wednesday's 8:30 AM assembly in the hall. Thank you to Chanel and Ann-Marie for their photos from last Friday.
Congratulations to the following:
9 years: Noah and Taylor
10 years: Mia, Noah and Daniel
11 years: Ariana & Carter
12 years: Adele & Tyson
Athletics Carnival
Fee Advice #2
Please find attached Advice #2, developed to inform our Catholic Education families of the new Federal
Government Funding model (Gonski model) and the impact on funding for Catholic Schools.
Advice #2 outlines State and Federal Government responsibility with Non-Government school funding and how parent community Capacity to Contribute (CTC) shapes School Fees.
Advice #2 illustrates the relationship between the three funding sources in funding 100% of the School Resource Standard (SRS) and importantly explains how the total funding to Catholic Schools operates
Australian Early Development Census
New School Jacket ... coming soon
Parents & Friends group news
Coming out of the last Parents and Friends meeting, and the meeting minutes shared via last week’s newsletter, a new Parents and Friends Group Core Committee has now been elected following the disbanding of the previous P&F core committee.
Over the coming weeks, the new committee will be re-establishing committee processes and in turn, looking at new ways of generating high levels of parent engagement in all aspects of our school community.
We strongly encourage the participation of all parents of St Francis students in future P&F activities.
Wish to volunteer at school?
There will be a wide range of volunteer opportunities communicated via “Sign Up Genius” links, Seesaw announcements, and the weekly newsletter. Please keep a look out for these opportunities in your emails and Seesaw in order to sign up.
Your engagement will aid our students, school body and P&F in organising events and providing services that benefit our whole school community.
We also highly encourage you to attend P&F group meetings to share your ideas and have your say. P&F meetings will be held at least once a term. Keep an eye out for upcoming dates via the weekly newsletter, Seesaw announcements, P&F display board by the tuckshop, and the Parent Lounge calendar. Younger siblings are welcome to attend.
Thank you for your continued support of student life at St Francis.
We want to hear from you!
Feedback, ideas, agenda item requests, and suggestions can be provided to St Francis’ P&F Group via email SFTS_PandFSecretary@rok.catholic.edu.au or a new feedback box stationed at the school office.
We appreciate and encourage your thoughts and involvement which nourish the St Francis community.
Parents & Friends Group
Around our community ...
MND Research Fundraiser
This event is to raise funds for research into Motor Neurone Disease in the hope of one day finding a cure for this hideous terminal disease. Our committee is made up of local residents who have lost loved ones to MND.
This event would be a wonderful way for many to kick back and relax and celebrate the finale of Term 2 of the 2024 school year while supporting an extremely worthy cause.
Your support is gratefully appreciated.
