Term 4 Week 8
Weekly 5 With Leadership
Gullarn ngheeree - Welcome to this beautiful place,
Many acknowledgements were at our recent Celebration Assembly. In particular this week, I wish to acknowledge the 2025 recipient of the St Francis Spirit Guardian Award, Mrs Elizabeth Wilson.
This award has stringent criteria that highlight exceptional service and leadership:
- The level of service must be extraordinary, significantly above that offered by other members of the community.
- The service must benefit a significant proportion of the school community.
- The level of service must have been consistently maintained over several years.
- The individual must act as a positive ambassador within the school and the wider community.
- The person must contribute passionately to leadership roles.
- The individual must be a Christian role model for the community.
- They must demonstrate clear examples of humility, kindness, compassion, and love.
We have been blessed to have Mrs Wilson as part of our St Francis family for 10 years, with her daughters Madeleine and Isabelle being students at our school. Her nurturing presence and unwavering commitment are integral to our mission of peace and love. As nominee for the St Francis Spiritual Guardian Award, Elizabeth embodies our school culture, one built on humility, kindness, and compassion.
Children who have been taught by Mrs Wilson undoubtedly have fond memories, as she understands that building strong relationships is pivotal to positive teaching and learning. She has imparted many valuable lessons, including resilience, perseverance, and the importance of a growth mindset. Her famous encouragement, “You can’t do it...yet... but we keep on trying together,” has resonated deeply with her students.
I also have fond memories of having Mrs Wilson as my teaching partner in Year 6 back in 2015. Her passion for learning, especially in the fascinating field of Science, is truly inspiring.
The curriculum offerings at St Francis provide opportunities for growth in all aspects of development, and Mrs Wilson has been a key contributor to countless extra-curricular initiatives. Almost every day, I arrive early at school, but during netball season, Mrs Wilson beats me at least once a week with her training schedules for the team. Her dedication to coaching, whether it's participating in the local BITS netball competition or representing our school at the annual Catholic schools Challenge Cup, has honed the skills of many students. Her coaching has fostered a sense of belonging, self-confidence, and the joy of being part of a team.
Over the last two and a half years, Elizabeth has been a valued member of the school's Leadership team in her role as APRE. Her leadership in the Religious Education program, the faith opportunities offered to our students, and our school masses, liturgies, and prayer celebrations have been exemplary. Elizabeth's deep Christian faith is the central focus of her essence and radiates out through all her relationships. Her commitment to our wider St Peter Chanel community is evident through her service to our Sunday masses and the nurturing guidance of our altar servers.
Mrs Wilson's extraordinary service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to our school community make her truly deserving of the St Francis Spiritual Guardian Award.
PAX et bonum - Peace and all goodness,
Meredith Grove
(Principal 2024)
From Libby's Desk - APRE
We journey as a school family to the Season of Advent - a time for preparing for the birth of Jesus, and towards the final days of Term 4. Families are most welcome to join us for our liturgies.
From Kylie's Desk - APC
Rumble's Quest
This year, those students with permission, were involved in an online quest to gather data on their well-being, commitment to learning, executive functioning and safety. Overall, St Francis Catholic Primary School students had some amazing data.
Rumble’s Quest offers a scientifically validated process for assessing multiple dimensions of child well-being. It uses age-appropriate methods designed to help 6 to 12-year-old children report directly about their experiences of the world.
Rumble’s Quest provides primary school children with an opportunity to report their own well-being across four domains central to their lives at this stage of development:
- Attachment to school
- Emotional and behavioural self-regulation
- Social confidence concerning peer relationships
- Supportive environments and relationships with caring adults
Rumble’s Quest is an effective tool for assessment, program planning, and program evaluation. It helps child-serving organisations to:
- understand children’s strengths
- plan supportive action in response to identified opportunities for growth
- review the effects of those actions once undertaken.
My New Gallery
Swimming Carnival
The mighty Rufino were the winning house this year. Congratulations!! The Spirit of Jesus Shield went to Kolbe. This was very close though. The cheering and sportsmanship were impressive in all houses.
Age Champions for 2024 were:
9 years Mia Plant and Parker Young
10 years Tommy Morley and Taylor Dewar
11 years Carter Prentice and Ruby Hewitt
12 years Cooper Jaenke and Adele Codrington
New swimming records were created by Mia and Carter. Mia set a new record for the 9-year-old girls, congratulations Mia! It is worthy to note that Carter broke a record in every event for this year. For the last three years, Carter has broken the record for every swimming event, wiping Olympian, Jack Cartwright, from our records!
A massive thank you to all of the volunteers on the day, especially Sam Keyworth, Liri Ashtar and Dane Linforth for setting up the shade tents early in the day. We thank Loftus Contracting for transporting the shade tents to and from the pool. All of the wonderful helpers who timed races and organised catering - we are so grateful.
One other special part of the day involved past student, and record holder, Ashley Knight. Ashley is the lifeguard in the photos below with Mrs Linforth. How special to still be a part of the St Francis family.
A few happy snaps...
Beach Day - 2nd December
On the last Monday of term, we walk as a school to Canoe Point. Students come dressed in SunSmart swimming gear, wearing their school hat and comfortable shoes for walking. At the beach, our staff set boundaries for the depth of waist-deep swimming. Parents are welcome to join in the fun.
Pack a towel, plenty of lunch and cold water. Once back at school, students change back into their uniforms for the afternoon. Please inform your teacher if you are taking your child home from the beach.
Carols Evening - 3rd December
Tuckshop News
Tuckshop Volunteers Week 8 - 3/4B & 4A Families
Volunteers are essential to keep our tuckshop running. Even a small amount of time can really help.
We are asking the parents and guardians of Year 3/4B & 4A to help in the tuckshop next week.
Parents and Friends News
Free Sausage Sizzle - Last Day of Term
The P&F will be supporting the excitement of the last day of term by providing a free sausage in bread for students and teaching staff.
This will be occurring from 10.00 am.
A big thank you to the parents who have already volunteered to cook this BBQ!
Second Hand Uniforms
Parish News
Community News
Boyne Island Lions Club Carols by Candlelight
Date: Sunday 1st December 2024
Location: Bray Park Wyndham Avenue, Boyne Island Q 4680
Time: 4:30pm
Annual Carols by Candlelight for the Boyne Tannum community.
Wet weather alternative venue - TSSHS Assembly Hall 4.30pm Sun 1 Dec 2024
4.30pm - Sausage Sizzle, Drinks, Glow Sticks
5pm - Santa
6pm - Carols
