From the Principal

At SFOA we play safely in Nature Play

At this week’s Assembly we spoke to students about our Nature Play area on the oval. Clearly our students really enjoy using this space and we have been trying to reinforce the safe and respectful use of this area. Last year we developed a set of 5 basic guidelines for using Nature Play and I share these with you in the hope that you might support your child/ren to understand and follow these:

1. Nature belongs to everyone. We share nature.
2. What we find in nature, stays in nature.
3. We use sticks, stones and other materials safely.
4. When carrying sticks, we walk only.
5. We respect everyone and everything in nature.

We know that there are so many benefits gained from engaging in nature play on physical, emotional, social, intellectual and indeed spiritual levels. We want our children to be able to play in nature and reap the many benefits in store. Natural resources used in nature play areas are sometimes called “loose parts”. Loose parts are materials that can be moved, carried, combined, re-designed, lined up, and taken apart and put back together again in multiple ways” from let the children play blog 2011. With your support, we would like to increase our natural resources (loose parts) for children to use for nature play. Attached to this newsletter you will find a list of ‘resources’ to donate to your child’s classroom. Please take a look at this list and see if you can help us to gather a wide variety of resources for use in our school’s Nature Play area.  All donations will be gratefully received.

To conclude, I refer you to this statement from the Government organisation, NRM (Natural Resource Management), which outlines some of the advantages for our children in using natural objects:

•  Natural materials stimulate children’s creativity and imagination as they can be used in play in many ways. For example a Sheoak pod can be a figurine in imaginative play, used for imprinting in mud or clay, or currency in a game. Natural objects with open-ended possibilities often encourage children to engage in richer play experiences.
•  Natural materials have a sensory benefit. They have different textures, sizes, colours and smells. They provide more tactile stimulation to children to help them improve their hand/finger awareness and coordination.
• Natural resources are accessible. They can be collected from backyards and natural settings (only taken from ground). The resources are renewable; their creation and disposal has minimal harm to the environment.
•  Children are learning about nature and to be resourceful. With the support of interested adults, children are learning about their local environment and strengthening their sense of place.

Thanking you in anticipation of your support with our Nature Play area and collection of ‘loose parts’ for play.

Loose parts wish list

Belinda Burford

Welcome to a new school year. Across the school there has been an uplifting energy and excitement as we embrace our new school theme, ‘Shine Brightly and Reach for the Stars.’ As we reach for the stars in our learning, our relationships and with our own self-love it’s important to remember there is enough light for all of us.  God of Love is the primary source of light and ‘LOVE’ loves the light because it has nothing to hide or fear.  When we love, we are like the lamp on the stand – God’s goodness and mercy in us is seen by all.  Let us be mindful this year to not dim someone else’s light while shining ours instead be true Franciscans appreciating differences, encouraging and supporting each other to be the best version of ourselves.

2020 Mini Vinnies

Catholic Schools are such important partners for Vinnies.  Here at St Francis of Assisi School many of our Year 4 students look forward to the valuable opportunity to learn about and organise fundraising work for people in the community who are experiencing real disadvantage. The many donations of clothing, food, money and other essential items enabled Vinnies to help more than 135,000 people in need across South Australia who turned to them for help last year. Our efforts contributed to that support providing either immediate and emergency assistance or hope for a brighter future.

During week one Jayne Shortt, St Vincent de Paul’s Schools and Community Engagement Officer, visited our Year 4 students to show them an Vinnies educational presentation that was thought provoking and insightful.  A YouTube clip, ‘Vinnies Rebuilds Lives’ was shared showing a little girl’s story about her family’s homelessness and how they worked through the challenge. Students were invited to write an application letter to show their interest and reasons for wanting to be a 2020 Mini Vinnie. The letters I received were moving and heartfelt.  The students named below were chosen and will proudly wear a Mini Vinnie pin to show their commitment. The children want to make a difference and believe they have the enthusiasm, drive and power to make small changes through their actions this year.

Congratulations on your volunteering role as a Mini Vinnie:

Sofia, Valentino, Zachary, Allegra, Avah, Alexander, Tallulah, Oksana, Jane, Seth, Adrian, Jasmin, Massimo, Yolanda, Vinny, Joshua, Ashleen and Jad.

Family Masses in 2020

This year different year levels have been allocated a weekend Family Mass to lead.  The Masses occur on the first Sunday of each month at 5pm. The children have the opportunity to offer their services of reading, participating in the offertory procession, being an altar server or singing at the Mass.  Before each Family Mass at 4.15pm in the Bishop Kennedy room (above the Church foyer) there is activity time for children around the Gospel of the day and a short cartoon. 

Please add the dates to your diary:

Term 1: 1^st March, (1^st Sunday of Lent) Year 3, 4 and 5 classes (Sacramental Registration)

  5^th April, (Palm Sunday) Year 1/2 classes

Term 2: 3^rd May, Year 6 and Reception classes

              7^th June, Year 3, 4 and 5 classes

              5^th July, Year 1/2 classes

Term 3: 2^nd August, Year 6 and Reception classes

              5^th September, (Saturday 6pm) Year 3, 4 and 5 classes

Term 4: 1^st November, (All Saints) Year 1/2 classes

              6^th December, (Saint Nicholas) Year 6 and Reception classes

Josie Cochrane

Please find attached the SFOA Important School Calendar Dates for all of 2020.

This is an overview of the key dates for the year that are fixed for your reference.

SFOA Important Dates for 2020

Dear Families and Friends,

On Monday, 16th March (Week 8) we will be celebrating the Italian language and culture that we have been learning about in class with a Carnevale Day. This will include an exciting Carnevale Mask Parade! 

Please keep the date free.

Further details to come in the upcoming weeks.

Grazie,

Signora Rossi.

This message is to advise all parents and caregivers that parking in and around the school will be compromised this week due to the Church carpark being closed at different times. 

Please make every effort to be patient and courteous while trying to navigate for a parking space. 

We are asking all drivers to strictly observe the speed limit of 10kmh throughout the entire school grounds. 

We understand that it can be frustrating not to be able to access a park, especially when you have preschool siblings that you need to load in and out of the car. 

The 10 minute parks in the school grounds closest to the church should be priority parks for those with pre-school children and prams. 

We are doing our best to keep everyone safe and happy. Your cooperation is important in making this happen. 

If a staff member speaks to you about safe driving speeds please understand that we are only doing this in the best interest of keeping your child safe from harm.

Parking in non-designated areas on the basketball courts increases the risk for possible accidents. Please refrain from doing this at any time.

As the driver of your vehicle, you are in control and your positive and safe driver behaviour will support everyone to make better choices.

Your cooperation is appreciated.

James Meiksans

Principal

St Francis of Assisi School

In valuing our Franciscan heritage of sustainability, the school’s communication, commencing 2020, will be constructed to eliminate/reduce the amount of paperwork being sent home.

While making some changes to achieve this, there will be no change to the importance & value of clear concise communication in the partnership between the school and parents/caregivers.

To ensure that you receive all the information that you require it is important that you have access to the following: -

1. SKOOLBAG APP – how to download this is available in the school website  - www.sfoa.catholic.edu.au – news/events – Skoolbag.             
2. SEESAW- class/student information access – information can be obtained from the class teacher as to how to access this.
3. EMAIL: Please ensure that your email address is kept up to date. You can use the “contact us” – “Update information” email on the school website to update your email address or any other information.
4. QKR APP: This is the app for making financial payments but also holds the forms associated with those payments, e.g. permission notes and order details. Details of how to  download the app is also on the school website – www.sfoa.catholic.edu.au – News/Events – QKR

While this sounds like a lot of things to look at, it can be easily managed.

Newsletter: The newsletter is published each fortnight and contains school happenings, school calendar, event updates and information from Leadership.

SeeSaw: A quick look at SeeSaw each day will provide you with any updates from your child’s teacher and information on his/her studies.

A Skoolbag notification will come up on your phone should the school need to advise you of information urgently or remind you of closing dates etc.

Emails: It is assumed that if you have an email address you check it on a regular basis and therefore any information sent to you via email will be read in a timely manner.  

Parent -Teacher and Teacher to Parent: Please be advised that teachers are not required to respond to emails, seesaw or any other form of communication before 8:30am or after 4.30pm on a school day or during holiday periods, including weekends.

If you wish to have a face to face conversation with your child’s Teacher, please make an appointment for this. Conversations in the classroom at drop off or pick up time, are not appropriate as the teacher cannot give you the required attention as they have students to attend to.  If you make an appointment, the conversation is focused, and the teacher can be prepared with any information you may require.

St Francis of Assisi School

January 2020

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

If you have a child due to start school in 2021 and have not submitted an enrolment form would you please do so by 17th February 2020. Enrolment interviews are now being finalised.

Enrolments for 2022 and beyond may also be submitted.

Please be aware that an application form is required even if you already have a child at the school. The application form can be collected from the Front Office or downloaded from our school's website. 

Thankyou

Carmel Spagnoletti

Enrolments Officer

Please follow the link to the latest edition of the Southern Cross 11/2/2020

School Calendar Dates

TERM 1 2020

Week 3

· Monday 10th February -  Assembly 2.30pm

· Tuesday 11th February - P&F meeting, 2.30pm 

· Tuesday 11th February - Volunteer Induction, 6pm

· Wednesday 12th February - Volunteer Induction 9.15am

· Friday 14th February - Community prayer, 8.55am - 4/5CP

Week 4

· Tuesday 18th February - Principal’s Tour, 9.15am.

· Friday 21st February - Community prayer, 8.55am - 4/5H

Week 5

· Tuesday 25th February - Shrove Tuesday pancakes

· Wednesday 26th February - Ash Wednesday Mass, 9.30am

· Wednesday 26th February - Project Compassion begins

· Friday 28th February - Community prayer, 8.55am - 3/4D

· Sunday 1st March - 1st Sunday of Lent Family Mass & Sacrament Commitment Mass for Yr 3/4s - 5pm

Week 6

· Monday 2nd March - Assembly 2.30pm

· Friday 6th March - Community prayer, 8.55am - 3MF

Future Dates

· Week 7 Student Free Day - Tuesday 10th March

· Week 8 Carnevale Day - 16th March, Year 5 Camp - 19th March

· Week 9 - Parent /Teacher Interviews