Welcome to Week 10. We are in the last couple of weeks of the term now. Many parents took the opportunity last week via phone, to have a conversation with their child’s teacher/s about how the learning journey is progressing. I’m sure that these meetings were informative and helped provide an understanding for you of where your child’s successes and challenges are at this time. If you did not make a time to speak with the teacher, you can still do so. Please contact them by email to make a mutually suitable time for this purpose. It is an important part of your child’s ongoing development and something we would hope all families take advantage of.

Holy Week

Next week is the most important week in the liturgical calendar of the Church. The events of Holy Week that led to the death and resurrection of Jesus are an amazing story, as was the life of Jesus himself while on earth. Normally we would have a few liturgical celebrations in the Church or MPF during the course of next week but because of ongoing restrictions we will be celebrating on a smaller scale in the piazza with Community prayer each morning from 8:55am. See below;

Monday - RL and students from 3/4C leading Palm Sunday service

Tuesday - 5/6C The Last Supper service

Wednesday - 5/6V Stations of the Cross service 

If you can join us on any or all days next week your presence would be most welcome. It will be a great acknowledgement of the importance of these events and a fitting way to thank Jesus in prayer for the choices he made in dying on the cross for us.

Moving On

As you are well aware, across all of South Australia, families, schools, businesses have been affected by COVID. It has become part of our every-day life. Discussions with friends, family or work colleagues often turn to a conversation around who is unwell or in isolation or the way in which a family has been impacted by COVID.

As advised yesterday by a separate letter, with the prevalence of COVID-19 in the general community and with the recent changes to the South Australian definition of close contacts, notifications will no longer be sent to families in relation to each individual COVID-19 positive case at the school.

Please be assured the school continues to work closely with SA Health, and in instances where there are 5 or more COVID-19 cases in a class, we will activate the Catholic Education South Australia Outbreak Management Plan for COVID-19 and communicate with families at that time.

Pupil Free Days

From other documentation you would have received last week you will know that Catholic Education SA has decided that there will be 2 Pupil Free Days, the first at the end of term on Thursday 14^th April and the second on Monday 2^nd May. This is for the purpose of allowing staff to plan for all possible COVID contingencies moving forward. There may be a time soon when a whole class/year level or even the whole school may have to close for a period of time to work through a COVID outbreak. While this is not our preferred option, we will keep families informed as soon as we can if there is a need to move to remote learning at any time.

I thank our families for being so supportive and understanding of this situation and trust that as many of our children and their families stay healthy despite the challenges many people are currently facing.

I have to say it… last Friday night a goal after the siren certainly put a smile on my face 😀 and made my weekend a whole lot more enjoyable. Go Crows!

James Meiksans

We are approaching Holy Week, the most significant time in the Church calendar for Catholics to recall the events that led to Jesus crucifixion and resurrection. During Holy Week we are called to enter a time of reverence, care and devotion to Jesus who laid down his life for us. Please join us every morning of Holy Week (Wk 11) for Community Prayer as we journey through Jesus` last days before being crucified. We will celebrate Easter as a community when we return in Term 2.

Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday which is sometimes called Passion Sunday because on this day we hear the reading of the Passion narrative where Jesus is captured, suffers and dies. On Palm Sunday we remember Jesus` triumphant entry into Jerusalem where crowds shouted praise and waved palm branches. Holy Thursday is the day we commemorate the Lord’s Last Supper. Jesus gathered with his disciples, washed their feet and celebrated the Eucharist knowing that he was condemned to be crucified and betrayed. Good Friday we remember the crucifixion of Jesus and the Church mourns the suffering and death of Jesus. Crucifixes are often covered in churches on Good Friday and the altar is bare. The Easter Triduum begins on Holy Thursday and ends with the celebration of Jesus resurrection on Easter Sunday.

In this final week of Lent, we remember that no matter what we have ever done, we are greater than our worst moments. Jesus loves us enough not to condemn us, but to give us the Eucharist to find strength and hope to stop doing the things that destroy us and live a life of peace and joy. I have attached the Holy Week schedule for St Francis Parish if your family chooses to attend Mass here.

Melissa Canil

Our Peaceful Kids Program has been very successful this term and we will be offering this wellbeing intervention program to different students in Term 2. The students we nominate for this program are chosen after considering relevant information from our wellbeing data, teacher/parent recommendations and needs of our students.

Outcomes of the Peaceful Kids Program:

• Lessen symptoms of anxiety and stress in children
• Teaches children to self-calm
• Empowers children to manage their own anxiety and stress symptoms

• Builds emotional resilience
• Develops emotional intelligence skills
• Teaches children life-long skills to manage stress and prevent stress build up
• Supports children so they know that they are not alone with suffering from anxiety

Coronavirus is a part of our lives now and I am sure you have all been affected by the virus one way or another. It’s not just grown-ups worrying about the Coronavirus and the changes happening day by day, our children can often carry worries as they hear and see what’s happening. As parents it is important we listen to the questions coming from our children and that we offer clear and honest answers. Click HERE to access and article from the Black Dog Institute about reassuring your child during this time of global pandemic.

Last week we commissioned all of our Student Leaders for 2022. Congratulations to these students for being nominated by their peers to be a voice for positive change in our school community. Our Year 6 leaders recited a pledge committing to being compassionate, kind and faithful leaders in 2022. We are blessed with student leaders who bring gifts and passion to their roles and we look forward to encouraging their growth and leadership this year.

Well Being Leaders for 2022

Social Justice and  Mini Vinnies Leaders 2022

Environmental and House Leaders 2022

“For it is in giving that we receive.” ― St. Francis of Assisi

All winter uniform / formal uniform is available for purchase from the Uniform Shop. Please ensure that you make an appointment first and please note the opening hours below for the school holidays.

Alternately uniform items can be ordered on line. Online shop

Opening times for the school holidays

Due to several Public Holidays during the April School holidays the uniform shop will be closed for both long weekends

Location: 10 Newton Rd Campbelltown.

April Holidays Opening Hours:

CLOSED 15/4- 18/4- Easter long weekend

CLOSED 22/4- 25/4 - ANZAC day Long weekend

Monday:  CLOSED- public holidays

Tuesday:  1:00pm - 5:30pm

Wednesday:  8:00am - 12:00pm

Thursday:  1:00pm - 5:30pm

Friday:  Closed

Saturday 30/4 ONLY:  9:00am - 12:00pm Sundays & long weekends:  Closed

ONLINE orders can be placed 24/7 and can be collected in store or sent to school (all deliveries recommence in week 1 term 2)

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, uniforms can be purchased by appointment only. Please use the link to make a booking: Uniform shop