Term 1 Week 3

Weekly 5 with Leadership

Gullarn ngheeree – Welcome to this beautiful place,

Another week of growing and learning is drawing to a close. The ‘settling-in’ to a new school year period is complete in most classes with expectations and routines established to support positive learning environments for our students.

This week I met with two groups who are critical to the life of our school.

The School Board met for the first time on Tuesday evening.  These monthly meetings provide a means for genuine partnership in planning and decision-making at St Francis Catholic Primary.  Central to the Board’s function is identifying, nurturing, and celebrating the Catholic Identity of our school with a particular focus on the spirituality that weaves through our school life. The Board has an important role in connecting our school with the parish, the diocese, and Catholic Education.  Importantly, it is a conduit between the school and the families it serves. Board Members are introduced in today’s newsletter and will wear a badge at the Welcome BBQ this evening as a means of introduction.

The Outside-School-Hours-Care team (OSHC) also met this week.  I often think of these committed educators as our ‘guardian angels’, providing a safe and engaging space for our children from the ‘wee’ hours of the morning and into the evening.  This service is essential for many of our families, having an OSHC on site allowing for a seamless flow of our children’s day.

Term 1 school fees were emailed to parents at the beginning of Week 2 with payment due this Monday.  Several payment options exist to suit families, please contact our Finance Secretary, Mrs Michelle Croft, for further information.  As a Catholic school, St Francis receives a percentage of government funding in comparison with the public-school sector.  It is requested that term fees are settled in the term in which they are due.  Please refer to the School Fee Information Package in this week's newsletter.

This evening we 'journey as family in peace through love' at our Welcome BBQ. How blessed we are to have an incredible P&F Executive Committee.  These members will also be wearing a badge this evening, as means of introduction.  I look forward to gathering with our families once again and extend on your behalf a special welcome to new families for 2024.  May this evening provide a time to connect with one another.

PAX et bonum – Peace and all goodness,

Meredith

From Kylie's Desk - Assistant Principal, Curriculum

Being "Ready to Learn" with Consistent Predictable Routines

Helping our students enter the classroom ready to learn is a consistent practice here at St Francis Catholic Primary School. Whether it is lining up in classes, listening to the morning messages, or walking calmly along School Street to the pods, students are encouraged to prepare themselves for learning.

On entering the classroom, teachers use consistent predictable routines to encourage this readiness. Classes line up outside their rooms after unpacking bags. On entering the classroom, students know the routine and this allows them to prepare for learning. The more predictable routines are embedded into our days, the less cognitive load in making decisions there are. I know that if I have my clothes ironed for work and my lunch prepared before I go to bed, my mornings are more pleasant, not requiring me to make more decisions. The same is true for our children.

On each desk, students have a Read to Learn scale. Our younger students have a three-point scale and older students have a five-point scale. You will see these when visiting Open Classrooms next Tuesday afternoon from 3-4 PM. If students require co-regulation, they may move their counter to "Not quite ready to learn". Students feeling settled and calm are likely to have their counter on "Ready to Learn." This visual scale provides a non-verbal insight for our staff to check in on students throughout the day.

Classes are also preparing Ready to Learn Plans. These individual plans allow Student Voice to help when co-regulation is required. Students share ways that help them return to learning, for example, a brain break, toilet break, Hub token, etc. Ready to Learn plans are research-based with the Berry Street Education Model, of which all of our teachers have taken part in the four-day professional development. 

Please ask your class teachers if you have any questions.

Fees - Parent Information Booklet

School fees were issued at the beginning of Week 2 with payment due on Monday 12th February.  Payment options exist to suit the needs of families, please contact Michelle Croft, Finance Secretary, for more information. As a Catholic school, St Francis Catholic Primary school receives a percentage of government funding in comparison with the public-school sector.  It is requested that term fees are settled in full in the quarter in which they are due.

Uniform Update

Media Consent Forms

Attendance Matters

In honouring each child’s contributions to learning and the importance for our children to experience success as a learner, daily attendance is critical, unless they are sick.

Open Classrooms - Feb 13 3.00-4.00pm

Reintroducing our Teaching Staff

Inclusive Curriculum Teachers

St Francis School Board 2024

Welcome BBQ - Friday 9th Feb

Shrove Tuesday - Tuesday 13th Feb

Ash Wednesday - 14th February

Pupil-free day: Friday 16th February

News from the Snack Shack

P&F Executive Committee 2024

CCDNA - Netball Sign On day

BITS Saints Football Sign on Day - 11 Feb

The BITS Saints AFC Club is holding our annual sign on day this February 11th from 10am-12pm.