2025 Term 1 Week 1
- From Mrs Suthers' Desk- Principal
- From Mrs Grove's Desk - APRE
- Morning Routines
- Welcome New Staff Members
- Gathering Mass
- Instrumental Music
- Volunteer Inductions
- Tuckshop News
- Parent Orbit App
- Pupil Free Day Date Claimer
- Every Day Counts
- Parents and Friends News
- Important Dates for Term 1
- Community News
From Mrs Suthers' Desk- Principal
It is with great excitement that I welcome you all to the start of another school year. The first days of school are always filled with energy—new faces, fresh beginnings, and a renewed sense of enthusiasm for learning. Whether your child is joining us for the first time or returning for another year, we are delighted to have them as part of our school community.
At St Francis, we believe that strong relationships are the foundation of a successful learning journey. From the moment our students step through the gates, we strive to create a warm and supportive environment where they feel safe, valued, and inspired to grow. Our teachers are already working hard to build connections with each child, understanding their strengths, interests, and goals for the year ahead.
But we also recognise that education is a shared journey. The partnership between school and home plays a vital role in shaping a child’s experience. As parents and caregivers, you are your child’s first teachers, and your involvement in their education makes a world of difference. Whether through open communication with teachers, attending school events, or simply engaging in conversations about their day, your support strengthens the foundation for success.
Together, let’s make this a year filled with learning, growth, and achievement. If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas to share, please do not hesitate to reach out. My door is always open, and I look forward to working alongside you to ensure every child has a positive and enriching school experience.
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for the warm welcome I have received from the St Francis community. It has been wonderful to see the school year begin so positively, with children busily engaged in their learning and teachers greeting each day with enthusiasm and dedication.
I look forward to a fantastic year ahead.
From Mrs Grove's Desk - APRE
Gullarn ngheeree - Welcome to this beautiful place,
It is so wonderful to be back with our school community as we journey together in 2025. In a special way, we welcome new students and their families to St Francis Catholic Primary. It is such a delight and privilege as educators to be connected to the stories of our children and to discover their gifts and interests as they engage in our world.
In 2025 we celebrate a Jubilee year in the life of the church. Occurring every 25 years, this year Pope Francis invites us on a journey as ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.
- To see, to listen, to feel. To be in relationship with others.
- To welcome life as it is in light of the resurrection. Despite of life’s pains and sorrows, to also celebrate its gifts and joys.
- To live our faith as a journey with Christ.
- To walk with others.
- To pray. For our lives, for others and for the world.
PAX et bonum - Peace and all goodness,
Meredith
Morning Routines
As we settle into the term, we would like to share a few important reminders to ensure smooth operations to maintain a strong learning environment for our students:
- Morning Routine: Our teachers are busy preparing for the day ahead in the mornings, so if your child arrives after classes have moved to their rooms, please ensure they sign in at the office before proceeding to their classroom.
- Meeting with Teachers: If you need to discuss something with your child’s teacher, please arrange a meeting via email, as mornings can be quite hectic, and teachers may not be able to give you their full attention.
- Visitor Sign-In: For workplace health and safety requirements, all parents and visitors must come through the office if they are on-site between 8:30am and 2:30 pm. This includes dropping off forgotten items such as lunches or equipment.
At St Francis Catholic Primary, we believe in working together in partnership to ensure the best possible outcomes for our students. Your ongoing support and cooperation are greatly appreciated as we continue to create a positive and productive school environment.
Welcome New Staff Members
Along With Mrs Samantha Suthers as our new principal, we would like to welcome Mrs Melissa McBride to our St Francis Community. Melissa comes to us from Star of the Sea and is teaching our Year 5 class. We hope that you have had a wonderful first week.
Mrs Samantha Suthers - Principal
Mrs Melissa McBride - Year 5A Class
Gathering Mass
All our welcome to our Gathering Mass next Friday. Year 1 - Year 6 students will attend the mass with Preps being welcomed at 2.30 pm.
Instrumental Music
Music fills the heart and lifts the spirit!
Volunteer Inductions
Are you interested in becoming a parent helper? This could be assisting in the classrooms, helping at the tuckshop, or being actively involved in the Parents and Friends Association.
At St Francis, we are committed to providing a safe working and learning environment for all employees, visitors, contractors and students. We acknowledge that volunteers play a vital component in the social, environmental and cultural well-being which is an integral role in the school community.
A huge thank you to all volunteers for their individual efforts.
Tuckshop News
Parent Orbit App
The App, Parent Orbit, which is connected to Parent Lounge, will improve our communication with each other as it offers a quick and easy way to receive notifications, add Student Absences, view and pay School Fees, accept excursions via the Events and Activities, check the school calendar, update details and permissions and much more.
Some of you may already be using the Parent Orbit App for Chanel College and you will simply add St Francis as another school you can access.
The App uses your Parent Lounge log in to access and will be a great way to access Parent Lounge features as you will not have to log in every time. New families for 2025 should have received their login details in an email yesterday. If you did not, please contact the office.
To download the App to your mobile device please visit your APP store.
This will be our main form of communication, so it really is a good resource for you to have at your fingertips.
Pupil Free Day Date Claimer
Every Day Counts
WOULD YOU LET YOUR CHILD MISS A YEAR OF SCHOOL?
One day off each fortnight is equal to missing more than a year of schooling by the end of Year 12.
A reminder to our families to develop good habits with your child by ensuring they always attend school, unless there is reasonable excuse. The more time your child has at school, the more likely they will achieve in their learning
Absentees are to be lodged via the Parent Orbit App. If you require assistance with your login details, contact Mel or Ash in the office 4994 8320.
Parents and Friends News
Welcome back to school! We hope all our families had an enjoyable summer break. We’re looking forward to bringing our children some wonderful memories this year, while building connection and engagement within our school community.
Welcome Banquet 2025
One of our favourite events of the year – we love welcoming the new school year, welcoming new families to our school community and reconnecting with old friends, and of course this year, an opportunity to welcome our new Principal, Mrs Samantha Suthers.
Our welcome this year will be a casual shared picnic dinner, with the oval and playground areas available for the kids to play. Please bring along a plate of sweet or savoury finger food to share, BYO drinks and camping chairs or picnic rugs.
This will be held on Friday 7th February, 5pm – 6:30pm, at the school grounds. Guardians are responsible for supervising their children at all times.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Interested in Getting Involved?
Our first Parents & Friends meeting will be held on Friday 14th February at 8:30am in the staffroom. All welcome! Younger siblings are welcome to attend.
Come along for a coffee and find out how you can get involved, big or small, while we discuss the plan of activities and events for 2025. We have vacant committee positions so we ask that you consider taking up a role. Please have a read through the below role descriptions, some are event specific while others require a small contribution throughout the year.
If you’re interested but unable to attend, please reach out via email SFTS_PandFSecretary@rok.catholic.edu.au. Minutes from the meeting will be published in the following week’s school newsletter.
Volunteer Inductions for Parent Helpers
Considering helping out in the classroom, tuckshop or at a P&F event this year? School requires parents and friends (guardians, grandparents, etc) helping out with school activities to have completed the Parent Volunteer induction. There are two in-person inductions scheduled for next week, and we recommend you consider attending one of them if you can.
Monday 3rd February, 8:30am – 9:10am, staffroom
Thursday 6th February, 2pm – 2:30pm, staffroom
If you're unable to make either of the above scheduled in-person inductions, you may collect the paperwork from the office, complete in your own time and return the signed paperwork to the office.
Woolworths Fruit Collection
Woolworths has a Free Fruit for Kids Initiative, that gives our kids access to fruit in the office in case they are still hungry after they've eaten all their lunch or forget their fruit break. In order to utilise this initiative, we're looking for a volunteer to collect the box of fruit each Monday for this term.
If any of you go past Woolworths on your way to school on a Monday, please consider if you're to help us out. Let us know via email or by popping into the Office.
Term One Key P&F Dates:
| Monday 3rd February 8:30am-9:10am | Parent Volunteer induction |
| Thursday 6th February 2pm-2:30pm | Parent Volunteer induction |
| Friday 7th February, 5pm-6:30pm | Welcome Banquet |
| Friday 14th February, 8:30am-9:30am | Parents & Friends meeting |
| Tuesday 4th March, 8am-9am | Shrove Tuesday – pancakes at drop off |
| Friday 28th March, 5:30pm-7:30pm | DISCO! |
SAVE THE DATE:
Dust off your party shoes, we've got a DISCO lined up for Friday 28th March! More information to come.
Keep an eye out for a Sign Up Genius email coming out soon to sign up to assist with these Parents & Friends activities and events. Without your help, these fun events for our kids can't happen.
Please remember, you can contact us at any time via the P&F email SFTS_PandFSecretary@rok.catholic.edu.au, the feedback & suggestions box at the school office, or by attending the general meetings.
We appreciate and encourage your thoughts and involvement which nourish the St Francis community.
Parents & Friends Group
Important Dates for Term 1
Important Dates for Term 1 (please check the calendar in Parent Orbit for the most up-to-date information):
Monday 3rd February: Volunteer Induction 8:30am-9am
Tuesday 4th February: Instrumental music begins today for registered students
Wednesday 5th February: World Wetlands Day excursion for Year 6 students
Thursday 6th February: Port Curtis netball trials for registered students
Thursday 6th February: Volunteer 2pm-2:30pm
Friday 7th February: Guitar lessons begins today for registered students
Friday 8th February: Gathering Mass & Blessing at 1:30pm
Friday 8th February: P&F Welcome Banquet 5pm
Monday 10th February: Port Curtis AFL trials for registered students
Wednesday 12th February: CAP swimming for those who are nominated
Thursday 13th February: Port Curtis Hockey trials for registered students
Thursday 13th February: Port Curtis Basketball trials for registered students
Friday 14th February: P&F Meeting 8:30am-9:30am
Monday 17th February: Awards Assembly 2:15pm
Tuesday 18th February: Open classrooms to families 3pm-4pm
Friday 21st February: Bishop’s Inservice Day- Pupil Free Day
Monday 3rd March: Port Curtis Tennis trials for registered students
Monday 3rd March: Awards Assembly 2:15pm
Tuesday 4th March: Shrove Tuesday
Wednesday 5th March: Ash Wednesday
Thursday 6th March: Port Curtis Football (soccer) trials for registered students
Friday 7th March: Port Curtis Rugby League trials for registered students
Friday 7th March: Leadership Day / Retreat for Year 5 & 6
Monday 10th March: BIEEC excursion for Year 6 students
Tuesday 11th March: BIEEC excursion for Year 4 students
Wednesday 12th March-24th March: NAPLAN Years 3 & 5
Thursday 13th March: Port Curtis Touch Football trials for registered students
Monday 17th March: Awards Assembly 2:15pm
Monday 17th March: CAP golf trials for those who are nominated
Thursday 20th March: Bishop Michael and Director Michael McCusker visiting
Tuesday 25th March: Cross Country Carnival 8:30am-10:30am
Tuesday 25th March: Parent / Teacher Conversations (bookings will be through Parent Orbit App)
Wednesday 26th March: Facing Island excursion for Year 4 students
Thursday 27th March: Parent / Teacher Conversations (bookings will be through Parent Orbit App)
Thursday 3rd April: Port Curtis Rugby Union trials for registered students
Friday 4th April: Last day of Term 1
Monday 21st April: Easter Monday – Public Holiday
Tuesday 22nd April: Term 2 Commences
Community News
Clinton Football Club
BITS Junior Golf Club
Gladstone Performing Arts Company
Gladstone South Hockey
