Welcome to Week 7. The disco was a great success last Friday with all children having the opportunity to put on their dance moves and groove to the music. It was a great alternative to be able to use the parish hall given the MPF was unavailable. Hopefully you saw some pics on facebook, it was pretty clear that the children were having a good time!

Our teaching staff are in the final throes of preparing reports for distribution for families at the end of next week. Reports will be sent home on Friday 7^th December in a sealed envelope, along with class placements for 2019. We ask that the children do not open their reports at school as they are addressed to parents and should be viewed by you first. Of course, you are more than welcome to share your child’s report with them and I encourage you to spend some time talking through the content and helping the children to understand their successes and areas for future growth. we would ask for your support in having your child bring their report home in the envelope in the first instance. You are welcome to arrange a mutually agreeable time to talk to the teacher in the last week of school about your child’s report if you have questions about any aspect of the content. I trust that during the year you have had clear information and discussions with the teachers and that nothing in the report would be a cause of surprise for families. Our teaching staff spend significant time to put these reports together, I trust they are a source of valuable information for you.

The final few weeks of school are full of events that bring closure for the year. Classes will undertake excursions, parties and take time to celebrate and remember their year together. It is an important time as the year comes to an end for children to reflect on all they have achieved with their peers. Many of our children will be back in 2019, with a different group of friends, a new teacher and a whole set of new challenges. Children are very adaptable and often are much less fussed about class placements than their adult carers. Our teaching staff spend endless hours working through a multitude of deliberations before ultimately placing children in their class group for the following year. To a parent it may seem a simple request to ask for a particular friend or combination for their child but in a class group of 25 there are many considerations to be made in terms of every single child and their learning needs. To this end we make every effort to provide a solid placement for each child. Once class lists are finalised they cannot be changed. Your understanding of this is appreciated.

During these last couple of weeks there are good opportunities for you to attend some school events to help us see out the year. The blessing of the cribs is a traditional liturgical celebration that focuses on the true meaning of Christmas and lays at the heart of our Franciscan spirituality. Hopefully you can join us at 2pm on Wednesday the 5^th December for this liturgy. If not, hopefully you can come to celebrate the End of Year Mass with the whole school on Wednesday 12^th December. Please try and make the time to join us for this most important end of year event. I look forward to seeing you there.

Have a great week.

James Meiksans

Our Swimming Week last week ran very smoothly with all R-5 classes enjoying a very worthwhile Water Safety Awareness program at the ARC centre. I was very impressed with both the quality of the program and the level of instruction we received. As you well know, it is so important, living in Australia, to be able to be safe in and around water. Last week provided an opportunity for our students to be reminded of the necessary skills and strategies to keep safe in the water. As I listened to the instructors and observed the lessons, I myself was reminded just how important this program is for our children. I hope your children found it to be beneficial as well as enjoyable. We thank our Registered Volunteers for your support in enabling the smooth running of this program.

Yesterday I congratulated our R-5 students on their participation and cooperation in this program. From our perspective they were outstanding representatives of our school at the pool and well deserving of this acknowledgment. In addition, it is important to share with you that the ARC program manager, Jane, has acknowledged our Staff to be very caring and committed to our students. Jane works with a great number of schools and commented that our Staff stand out in their professionalism and level of care for students. We know this to be true yet it is always affirming to hear this from outside sources. So, congratulations to our Staff too on upholding our St Francis of Assisi values and reputation in such an exemplary way.

Over the next few weeks we have a number of school excursions to be held as our Year Levels engage in end of year activities. We know that a number of our parent volunteers will be assisting in these and thank you in advance for your support.

Belinda Burford

The season of Advent is only days away.  This year it begins on Sunday, December 2. As Christians it is a time to reflect on questions like, “If Jesus were coming to see me tomorrow, is there something I would change? How would I get ready? Are there things I can change now to prepare for his coming? It’s exciting to have something to look forward to whether it’s a catch up with a friend, a weekend away or waiting for roses in your garden to bloom.  Looking forward to something brings instant joy and a sense of fun throughout the process rather than just at the end. Celebrating Jesus’ humble birth and God’s promise to the world is one of those exciting times. Last year the cartoon movie, “The Star” came out about a small but brave donkey.  Together with his animal friends they become unsung heroes of the first Christmas.  I highly recommend the movie and believe it is on Netflix or DVD is available at JB Hi-Fi, K-Mart etc.  I’ll definitely be watching it again sometime during the four weeks of Advent to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.  Discerning the way to live and express the eternal reality of the Gospel and Tradition, in our particular time and place, is challenging as it was for people in St Francis’ time too. St Francis’ heart was so moved by learning about Jesus that he had such a deep desire to be a human face to the Gospel for the people of our world.  May this birthday invitation inspire you to continually welcome Jesus into your life, so that the Gospel, through the witness of our words and actions, reaches into our world with the Light of Life.

Birthday Invitation

You are cordially invited to attend a BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!

Guest of Honour: Jesus Christ

Date:   Everyday.  Traditionally December 25, but He’s always around, so the date is flexible.

Time:   Whenever you’re ready…please don’t be too late, though; or you’ll miss out on all the fun.

Place: In your heart.  He’ll meet you there…you’ll hear Him knock.

Attire: Come as you are…scruffies are okay.  He’ll be washing our clothes anyway.  He said

something about new white robes and crowns for everyone who stays till the end.

Tickets: Admission is free.  He’s already paid for everyone. (He says you would not have

been able to afford it.  It’s cost Him everything He had!)

Refreshments: New wine, bread and a far-out drink He calls ‘Living Water’, followed by a

supper that promises to be out of this world!

Gift suggestions: Your Heart.  He’s one of those people who already has everything else.             (He’s very generous in return; wait till you see what He has for you!)

Entertainment: Joy, peace, truth, light, love, real happiness, communion with God,

forgiveness, miracles, healing, power, eternity in paradise and much more! (All rated ‘G’ so bring your family and friends.)

RSVP: Very important! He must know ahead so he can reserve a spot for you at the table. 

Also, He’s keeping a list of his friends for future reference.  He calls it the Lamb’s Book of Life.”

Christmas Reminders

May the Christmas presents remind you of God’s greatest gift – his only begotten Son.

May the Christmas candles remind you of him who is light of the world.

May the Christmas tree remind you of another tree on which he died for you.

May the Christmas cheer remind you of him who said, “Be of good cheer.”

May the Christmas feast remind you of him who is the bread of life.

May the Christmas sun remind you of the healing power of Christ.

May the Christmas bells remind you of the glorious proclamation of his birth.

May the Christmas carols remind you of his glad tidings which we are to proclaim to all mankind.

May the Christmas season remind you in every way of Jesus Christ your King.

Hope to see you at our “Blessing of the Cribs” Liturgy in the parish hall at 2pm next Wednesday, 5^th December.  St Francis is the inspiration behind the ever popular and lasting tradition of the Christmas Crib and this is a lovely way to come together as a community to  complete our liturgical celebrations for 2018 before our End of Year Mass on Wednesday 12^th December at 9am.

Josie Cochrane (APRIM)

On Tuesday evening of week 5, I was very fortunate to witness inspiring performances by our Instrumental Music students.

All students performed extremely well, and should be proud of how far they have progressed with their instrumental playing ,and general musicianship.

Congratulations to all students!  

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our music tutors Won Lee, Paul Kaiser, Daniel Wiggins and Casey Cumming who have worked with our students in 2018; and also Angela Abdilla for her fine work in assisting the night be a huge success.

Warm Regards,

Tyffany Madigan

Performing Arts Teacher /Coordinator

Band Director

We congratulate 3 former students from St Francis on their outstanding results in the 2018 Yr12 Academic year at Kildare College.

Vittoria Storti has been awarded Dux for the subject of Music - Performance Special Study.

Stephanie Morgillo has been awarded Dux for the subjects of Biology and Nutrition.

Kimberly Butcher has been awarded Dux for the subject of Workplace Practises.

Positive Relationship and Well Being Policy

SAVE THE DATE:

Term 1, Week 2;  Monday 4^th February, 2019 at 6.30pm

Parent Information Evening/ Launch of Positive Relationship and Well Being Policy

Special Guest Presenter : Michael Lincoln, CEO Consultant in Restorative Practices

Launch of Our Positive Relationship and Well Being Policy.

All parents are invited to attend the information session on Restorative Practices and Year Level Information Sessions. Please keep this date free. More information will be sent home  in our first Newsletter of the 2019 school Year.

Ninetta Papa

OSHC will be holding an end of term 'party'. We are inviting parents on Tuesday 4th of December to come and see what their children have been doing in OSHC over the year. We will celebrate with a movie, a concert performed by the children, afternoon tea for both the children and parents to share, as well as a information about their children (pictures and videos taken over the course of the year and reflections and observations made by the educators). 

This will begin once school has ended  at 6:30pm.

ALSO OSHC will be open on Friday the 14th from 7am-6pm. If a parent has enrolled on our parent portal and created an enrolment form they can book their child in or message me to book their child in. The session fee is $52.00 for the full day, or if booked in with under 24hours notice it will be $55.00. Breakfast will be offered to the children from 7am-8:10am, lunch will be provided at 1pm, a fruit platter will be provided at 3pm and an afternoon tea snack will be provided at 4pm. The children will need to bring their own snacks and recess.

We are also offering vacation care in April next year, in the first week of the holidays, for only 4days as a trial run. Could we please inform parents of this. Monday to Thursday from the 8th of April to the 11th. We will be asking for suggestions towards an incursion and an excursion. Two days will be in house. 

Kind regards, 

Credence Reid

OSHC Coordinator

St Francis of Assisi School

57 Newton Road

Newton      SA   5074

0448 932 226

TERM 4

WEEK 8

· Monday 3rd December -  Year 6 Excursion

· Tuesday 4th December - Yr3 Excursion to Thorndon Pk

· Wednesday 5th December -  Year 4/5 Excursion

· Wednesday 5th December - Blessing of the Cribs Nativity. 2pm in the Parish Hall

· Thursday 6th December -  Year 6 Liturgy 9.30am

· Thursday 6th December -  Year 7 Excursion

· Friday 7th December -  Receptions Excursion to Bounce

WEEK 9

· Monday 10th December -  Whole School Assembly 2.30pm

· Tuesday 11th December - Year 1/2 Excursion to Morialta Park

· Wednesday 12th December - End of Year Mass 9.30am

· Wednesday 12th December -  Year 7 Graduation

· Thursday 13th December -  Last Day of School - End of Term 4

· Friday 14th December -  Pupil Free Day