Term 4 Newsletter, 11th October 2024
Principal's Message
Welcome to Term 4 St Francis Community
Being the best version of yourself
Every day here at St Francis, we have been referring to ‘being the best version of yourself’ across the school. Either at parades, assemblies, in the classroom or on the oval, we are asking our students and staff to make a concerted effort in doing their best and being their best. At times, we make mistakes, our decision-making choices can let us down and we can get things wrong. This can happen to all of us from time to time. What we are expecting here at St Francis, is that when we are faced with the same situation or challenging moment in our lives, that we can learn from these mistakes, poor choices or misunderstandings, and work together to come up with a better solution, choice or action. Being a positive and active role model in our children’s lives is another way we can support our children to be the ‘best version of themselves’.
Learning can be tough, it’s challenging at times, but that is how we learn. Through encouragement, engagement and motivation from the school and from our parents, every child should feel and be able to celebrate success in their lives.
It is important that students are still trying their best and maintaining their effort all the way through until the end of the year. So, at this time of year, continue to encourage your child through positive encouragements, as it can make a big difference.
Show ‘n’ Shine
Please continue to support our school with the selling of raffle tickets for our 2024 Show ‘n’ Shine raffle. These are due on back, sold or unsold by Wednesday 16 October 2024. Not only are we offering some amazing prizes this year, but the sale of these tickets will go towards sending our year 5/6 students to school camp for next year. Please check out the recent posts on Facebook about helping out on the day or sending some home bake in. Any questions or if you need additional books, please contact Mr. Red, the office, or Jessica Johnson. Happy Fundraising.
Prep and School Enrolments for 2025
Prep interviews for 2025 are underway. Our numbers are looking very healthy in this cohort, so if you know of any interested families who have Prep aged children, please inform them to send in their applications in as soon as possible so they do not miss out on the chance to attend St Francis. I appreciate your diligence in assisting the school.
Families Leaving at the end of 2024
From time to time, family arrangements or factors in life can change which can bring about decisions that affect attendance at St Francis de Sales. As courtesy, if you are expecting your child not to attend St Francis de Sales in 2025, could you please let the school know, as enrolment numbers are important when making staffing decisions for the school. Thank you for your follow up on this.
School Fees for Term 4
Please keep an eye out for this term’s school fee invoices which are emailed to all families each quarter. If you haven’t received the email in the next couple of weeks, please contact the office. As term 4 is shorter, it is vital that all outstanding accounts are rectified. Some families will be receiving a follow up phone call over the coming weeks to double check current situation or change of circumstances. Chasing up overdue fees is a very time-consuming task. Your prompt payment allows us to successfully pay for class resources and extra-curricular activities. It also enables us to confidently enter the new year in a strong financial position to continue to offer quality teaching and learning experience, state of the art facilities and desired staffing levels. Your continued financial commitment to the school is an investment in your child’s education and future.
Upcoming dates for term 4
Week 3
Wed 16 Oct – Back Plains Speech Classroom Competition
Sat 19 Oct – Show n Shine Car Show at St Francis and the beginning of Country Week
Week 4
Mon 21 Oct – St Francis Speech Competition 1:30pm in MPC
Tues 22 Oct – Year 5/6 Camp Maroochydore
Wed 23 Oct – Year 5/6 Camp Maroochydore
Thurs 24 Oct – Year 5/6 Camp Maroochydore
Fri 25 Oct – Year 5/6 Camp Maroochydore, World Teacher’s Day
Sat 26 Oct – Clifton Races
Sun 27 Oct – Family Sunday Mass
Week 5
Fri 1 Nov – All Saints Day; Back Plains Speech Competition (invitation only)
Sun 3 Nov – Bunnings BBQ Fundraiser – helpers needed
Week 6
Tues 5 Nov – Melbourne Cup
Week 7
Mon 11 Nov – Remembrance Day Liturgy – 2:15pm all welcome to attend
Thurs 14 Nov – Prep 2025 Transition Day – (9:00-10:30am)
Week 8
Mon 18 Nov – Swimming Lessons (more information to come later in the term)
Tues 19 Nov – Swimming Lessons
Wed 20 Nov – Swimming Lessons
Thurs 21 Nov – Swimming Lessons
Fri 22 Nov – Swimming Lessons
Sun 24 Nov – Family Sunday Mass – 9:30am
Week 9
Mon 25 Nov – Swimming Lessons
Tues 26 Nov – Swimming Lessons
Wed 27 Nov – Swimming Lessons
Thurs 28 Nov – Swimming carnival – 9:00-11:00am
Fri 29 Nov – End of Year Awards / Carols – 5:30pm
Week 10
Mon 2 Dec – Report Cards published to the Parent Portal
Tues 3 Dec – Year 6 Transition to Clifton High School
Wed 4 Dec – Graduation Liturgy 5:30pm and Dinner for Year 6
Thurs 5 Dec – End of Year Mass 9:00am; Shared Morning Tea, Year 6 Fun afternoon
Fri 6 Dec – Christmas Disco – 9am to 11am (Last Day of School)
Middle Leader News
The Learner Quality of Confidence is going to grow this term! We have so many wonderful events happening this term and all of them will grow our students’ confidence.
This week, our 2025 Prep student came for their Prep Transition Day. It was wonderful to welcome them on their schooling journey.
The year 5/6s will on camp in Week 4. Remember those permission forms and please teach your child to make a bed! Camp is an amazing way to make connections, learn new skills and try new sports.
The Back Plains Speaking Competition will allow students to build confidence and resilience in front of an audience. Please talk to your child/ren and let them know that if they make a mistake, it is ok, just take a breath and keep going. Soon, all of the speeches will come home. Please assist your child by hearing and rehearsing their speech.
Mrs. Busiko
Prep/1/2/3 News
Welcome back to term four! We have hit the ground running with starting our animal research project. Children have chosen an animal of interest to research. We've developed our own research note taking booklet. Using encyclopedia Britannica online we have researched our animal's location, habitat, appearance, reproduction, predators, dynamics and interesting facts. Students have also tapped into their own prior knowledge to support their research. We were super excited to visit the Darling Downs Zoo last Friday. To have a real-world experience spotting some of our favorite animals.
This term we are learning about Mary Our Mother. This is a very special unit of work and students usually connect well with scripture of Mary. We particularly love singing hymns about Mary including Mary Said Yes and Gentle Woman, Loving Mother.
We have been learning about number patterns. We have been investigating, continuing and creating number patterns. The year 2/3 have enjoyed a problem-solving scoot to develop a deeper understanding working at their own pace. We also explored math vocab sequence and missing element.
Mrs. Skillington
Yr. 4/5/6 News
Welcome back to Term 4! I can't believe it is the end of Week 2 already.
A few reminders first up. Please remember that homework is due on a Tuesday. Times tables will be tested twice. Once a week with me on the specific table for the week, then on Friday with Mrs Groombridge for the times table challenge.
Year 5 students have now voted on their 2025 leadership shirt design. Please read the email carefully and go up at least two sizes from the size they currently wear. You will need to size up so they can grow into them.
Year 6 parents, please email me a baby photo of your child/ren at around 12 months of age and their prep photo if they were not at St Francis for their first Year of Prep. I will need these for the end of year celebrations.
Year 5/6 remember to fill in your camp forms! How exciting!!!
In class, we have been learning about Mary mother of Jesus and how she is relevant in our lives today. This week, we learnt how many Marys there are in the Bible!
In English, we have completed our Back Plains Speaking drafts. These will be sent home for your child to practice fluency, expression and gestures. Please remember that this speech needs to be your child's work, so you are unable to help them with the content. On Wednesday, Week 3, we will have the class competition for these speeches. Please be aware that all 4/5/6 students will be presenting on this day.
Mrs. Busiko
PE
The students have begun their cricket skills, rip tag football and pickleball unit for this term. Hopefully this has radiated towards home with an increase in hitting or catching balls around the house. We are looking forward to swimming. Our swimming carnival is in week 9 (as per the dates in calendar). More information will be made available with our swimming lessons and carnival.
Yours in all things sporty,
Mrs. Malbon and Mr. Red
Darling Downs Zoo Visit
