This last fortnight has seen a wonderful variety of activities on offer for our children, enhancing their learning experiences. We had a very successful Book Week, filled with Buddy activities in the Resource Centre and of course the Parade remained such a highlight. We also saw the Year 3/4 students enjoy a day of learning at Monarto Zoological Park. Our Footsteps Dance program continues for all students each Friday. This week will bring an opportunity for our children to purchase a Father’s Day gift for their Dad or special ‘Father-figure’ at the Stall on Friday hosted by the P & F Committee. We are indeed grateful that, despite COVID restrictions, we can still offer these events to our students. Of course, we would have liked to see our family members with us at the Book Week Parade, but hope that you saw many photos.

This week brings the opportunity for families to have an optional Parent/Teacher interview with your child’s class teacher. You will have already seen some information about this process. Essentially, if you wish to speak to your child’s class teacher about their learning and progress, please contact them to arrange a mutually agreeable time for a 10 minute phone conversation. At this stage we are still not able to have face to face interviews.

Last week you would have received a letter from me about proposed changes to SAPSASA and possible restructuring. This proposal held the likelihood of excluding a significant number of Catholic school students in SAPSASA representation. I am pleased to be able to report at this stage that there has been a ‘pause’ placed on this final decision. Higher level discussions are now taking place and we are hopeful of a more inclusive outcome. Once we receive further information, we will forward to our families.

From next week we welcome a new member to our Staff team at St Francis. Ms Dijana Aloi will begin on Tuesday 7^th September in the Front Office as Receptionist supporting our Administration team.  We extend a warm welcome to Dijana into our community.

Last weekend was Social Justice Sunday with the launch of the annual Social Justice Report “The cry of the Earth, The cry of the Poor”. In this document the Australian Bishops ask us to listen more carefully to what the earth is saying to us about how we can better care for our common home. They ask us to listen more carefully to those in our community and our world who are most severely affected by the misuse of God’s creation. Pope Francis formally invited Catholics to join in keeping 1 September as a Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. The Season of Creation therefore begins with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on 1 September and continues until 4 October, the feast of St Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecology. So for us, here at St Francis of Assisi School, this is a most significant time, leading up to the Feast Day of St Francis. I invite you to discern more actively about your contributions to the ‘Care for our common home’, your environmental impact, and how, through both prayer and conscious actions you can contribute to the care of creation.

As we move towards the weekend I would like to wish all our Fathers, Grandfathers, Godfathers and all Father-figures a very Happy Father’s Day this Sunday. I hope you enjoy some quality family time relaxing and celebrating.

Belinda Burford

This week the Adelaide Archdiocese celebrates Vocation Awareness Week. As teachers and parents, it is our role to nurture our children’s spirituality. We encourage our children to develop a fruitful relationship with Jesus and His Church. We teach them to love and serve Jesus and one another. This best prepares them for vocational awareness later in life.

“A vocation is not a job; it is a life commitment to a person (in marriage) or a people (in priesthood or religious life). A vocation is a love relationship defining one’s entire being: giving life to others. For a vocation to be nurtured and recognised, children need to grow up breathing in an atmosphere of faith, love and generosity of heart.” Archbishop Timothy Dolan NYC

Sacramental Program – Save the Date!

There will be an information session held on Wednesday the 15^th of September at 7pm for parents. This information session is for parents of Year 3 students who would like to commence the sacramental program. This involves preparation for the sacrament of Reconciliation which will occur in Term 4 this year followed by the preparation and sacraments of Confirmation and Communion next year. If you would like your Year 3 child to be involved, please come to the information session to find out more and what is involved in the program. Details of where and an rsvp form will be sent out closer to the date.

This week I share with you a prayer for those suffering in Afghanistan as the Taliban has taken over with more than 390,000 people (half of whom are children) forced out of their homes. 

Prayer for Afghanistan

God of Mercy and of peace,

We hold before you the people of Afghanistan.

Be living bread to those who are hungry each day.

Be healing and wholeness to those who have no access to health care amidst the ravages of pandemic.

Be a true home to all who have been displaced.

Be open arms of loving acceptance to those who fear because of their gender, ethnicity, religious or political views.

Be peace to those engaged in armed conflict and those who live within its shadow.

Turn our hearts and minds to your ways of just and gentle peace.

Strengthen our hearts to step out in solidarity with your suffering people.

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ

Amen

Melissa Canil

This week’s article for parents is about how our belief in our children’s` academic ability can influence their grades. A research study showed that parents optimism leads to better school outcomes for their children.

Click this link to read the article

Over the past couple of weeks our students have completed the Pulse Check-In Survey in classes. This survey is completed in every Catholic School across the state once a term. We use this data to track how students are going emotionally and socially and implement strategies to improve student wellbeing.

Our Wellbeing Leaders have also initiated some student-led lunchtime clubs in the wellbeing room. One of the clubs is a ‘to do’ club which is led by the Year 6 Wellbeing Leaders and students have been learning how to do new skills such as singing and dancing.

The Lunchtime Club in the Wellbeing Room, learning to dance led by our Year 6 Leaders.

Netball is being offered for the summer season (Term 4, 2021 and Term 1, 2022) at Golden Grove Recreation Centre.

7&Under and 9&Under play on a Monday afternoons from 5pm.

11&Under and 13&Under play on a Friday afternoons from 5pm..

Payment is via the QKR app.

Please see attached for more information.

Summer season of Netball at Golden Grove

In September 2021, the annual Catholic Schools Music Festival will showcase 2000 extraordinary students from the ages of 10-18 years on the stage of the Theatre in the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. We have 9 students from St Francis joining the Festival Choir and will be performing on Tuesday 21^st of September. Click this link to purchase tickets and find out more information. This is very exciting for St Francis as it has been many years since a choir has joined the Catholic Schools Music Festival. We hope you can come and support our performers.

Please see the attached programme for Vacation care during the September/October School Holidays

September/October School Holiday OSHC Programme

September/October School Holiday Programme BOOKING FORM

For online bookings: https:///www.sa.ymca.org.au/what-we-do/oshc/st-francis-of-assisi