St Francis of Assisi School Newsletter 6th May 2025
Dear Families,
Great Start to the Term
Term 2 gives us the perfect launching pad for growth—both academically and socially. The calendar is clearer than Term 1 in a deliberate manner to allow us to tackle big concepts in teaching and learning.
Attendance
School attendance prior to COVID used to average around 92% across South Australian Schools. Over the past few years following the major years of the COVID pandemic attendance has hovered closer to 85-89% at this school and across schools in South Australia. I’m pleased to report that this year our attendance average is currently sitting at 92.57% ! This is a fantastic achievement by this community and is a great indication of the wellbeing of our school community. Let’s do everything we can to keep that up moving forward in 2025.
I know it can be challenging sometimes in the morning. Sometimes when I get to work in the morning after school drop off and it’s like I’ve already lived a day. It’s even harder through the colder months when there may be more regular coughs and colds that can limit attendance. But keeping routine and keeping consistent practices with our students is vital to their wellbeing.
What are we working on this term?
Each week our staff meet on Wednesday for professional development, and once a fortnight in our learning teams for formal learning meetings. In staff meetings over the past few weeks, we have been working on:
- Creating clear, attainable assessments for our children: What we want is our children understanding exactly what they need to do to be successful. To do this we have begun to use a school wide assessment template that helps students understand what is required of them as they move up grades.
What separates a C from an A? Probably the biggest difference from when many of us went to school is that a C is an acceptable standard. The difference between a C and an A often comes down to the actions we are asking students to do with the information they have learnt.
For instance, to achieve a C, students asked to do more simpler actions such as identify, list, and describe the information they have learnt. At a B or an A level, they are asked to use more sophisticated cognitive actions such as analyse, interpret, and evaluate information. As teachers we need to design tasks that allow students to achieve this.
- Implementing The Writing Revolution strategies: The Writing Revolution focuses on building strong sentences, ensuring consistency and coherence in writing instruction across all subjects. I thought I’d share an example of three different sentences that we teach children that are extremely important to their writing across all grades. Perhaps you can try it home with your child.
We teach students about using because, but or so in their writing. Each of these conjunctions allows their writing to take a different form. I’ve given you an example below:
A because sentence - Combines two ideas using "because" to show cause and effect.
The plant died because it didn’t get enough water.
A but sentence - Shows contrast between two ideas using "but."
She studied hard, but she didn’t pass the test.
A so sentence - Shows a result or consequence.
He forgot his umbrella, so he got wet.
A simple exercise you do with your child at home (no matter the age) is give them a topic and ask them to write (or say)three sentences a because, but or so sentence. Give it a try!
Election BBQ Thank you
Thank you to all those who assisted with our Election BBQ and Bake Sale, and those who came along and enjoyed a snag, a coffee, or a cake from the school. Overall, we sold over 300 sausages, plenty of cakes and made over $1500 for the school. More than that though it was a great day to be out in the sun and chatting to people in our local community. I’d like to publicly thank our staff who contributed all the cakes and biscuits for the cake sale. We thought we’d give the parents a rest after the amazing contribution for the Sports Day Bake Sale, and it’s just so pleasing to be at a community where everyone is willing to chip in for the betterment of the school community.
We had many of the MP’s come through the bake stand as well as old scholars, previous parents in the community and other people who had never been to our school before.
Gala Sales
We will be holding the price for the Gala tickets for another couple of weeks. Ticket Sales have been promising, and we have some incredible footage that we’ve pulled from old VHS tapes from the 90’s that we can’t wait to show on the Gala night. Make sure you tune into the podcast series over the next few weeks to hear from many significant people in our school’s history.
Please use the link in the post in this newsletter for tickets.
Scott March
Principal
APRIM News Week 2 Term 2 2025
Happy Easter
Christ is risen! As we began the new term we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus. This reminds us of the hope and new life He brings and we now rejoice in this season of joy. Easter is not only on Easter Sunday. We celebrate the Easter Season for 50 days, right up until Pentecost.
Project Compassion and Vinnies
If you have yet to return your Project Compassion collection box from home, please return ASAP. Thankyou to the families that have already brought in their contributions. This money goes directly to Caritas Australia to help the less fortunate. Thankyou to the children who held stalls at the end of last term and raised over $500 for Project Compassion by selling homemade items.
The Vinnies Winter Appeal will launch next week in our community. We will be asking families to donate pantry items such as cans to support our local Vinnies. More information to come.
Pope Francis
Next week we will honour and celebrate the life of our Pope who recently passed away. Pope Francis was a leader who truly embodied the spirit and mission of our patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi. He lived a life dedicated to the values of humility, compassion, and care for all creation. Pope Francis is special to our community as he was the only Pope to take the papal name of our patron saint. He is truly a role model to our students and community as he lived out the values of St Francis of Assisi. All members of the community are invited to join us for Mass on Wednesday 14th May at 9:30pm in the Church to remember Pope Francis.
Sacraments
On the 25th of May students from Parish and School will make their First Holy Communion and Confirmation at 5pm Mass. Please keep these children in your prayers as they prepare for these special sacraments and becoming fully initiated into the Catholic Church.
- A reminder that our final workshop is this Thursday 8th May at 7pm in the Parish Hall.
- A rehearsal with sponsors is next Thursday 15th May at 7pm in the Church
Blessings for the week ahead,
Melissa Canil
APRIM
Mothers's Day stall will be this Friday May the 9th.
Gifts are $6 per gift and MUST be PRE ORDERED through the QKR app before midnight on Wednesday May the 7th.
All Mothers (and other family members) are invited to our Mothers Day Community Prayer on Friday 9th May at 9am in the MPF led by 3/4C. Followed by a special Mothers Day Morning tea. Please join us.
Showdown donuts Friday May 9th.
Please order showhdown donuts via the QKR app by Wednesday 7th March.
Dear Families,
This year, we are thrilled to celebrate 60 years of St Francis of Assisi School, and we warmly invite you to join us for a special evening of connection and celebration at our 60th Anniversary Gala Dinner.
This milestone event is a chance for our school community—past and present—to come together and honour the rich history of St Francis of Assisi. Throughout the evening, we will reflect on the journey of our school, share stories, and celebrate the people who have helped shape the welcoming and nurturing environment we cherish today.
Event Details:
📅 Date: Saturday, 21st June 2024
⏰ Time: 6:30 PM
📍 Venue: National Wine Centre of Australia, Adelaide
👔 Dress Code: Black Tie
We would love for our current families to be part of this special occasion. Whether you have recently joined our community or have been with us for years, your presence would make this event even more meaningful.
Tickets are available for purchase via the following link or by scanning the QR code on the attached invitation.
https://events.humanitix.com/st-francis-of-assisi-60th-anniversary-gala
The evening includes a four-course meal and a drinks package, promising a wonderful night of celebration.
We hope you can join us in marking this significant milestone in our school's history!
Warm regards,
Scott March
Principal
Have you thought about instrumental music lessons for your child?
At St Francis of Assisi, we offer instrumental lessons with expert tutors who come to school and conduct one-on-one lessons with students during the school day. We are currently offering lessons in piano, violin, viola, cello, drums and guitar. Click here to fill in the form Instrumental Programme expression of interest or feel free to contact me on therese.smith@sfoa.catholic.edu.au if you have any questions about our program.
This is a wonderful opportunity for your child to develop skills in a musical instrument and the benefits of music include improved memory, enhanced coordination, stress reduction, and increased creativity, as well as fostering discipline, confidence, and social skills.
Ella playing with her best piano posture for her teacher Mrs Lee.
Ruby trying the low notes on the piano in her lesson.
Evie finding the correct finger placement with help from her teacher Mrs Yang.
All Volunteers wishing to continue as a registered volunteer at the school MUST update their RRHAN-EC training and provide the school with the new Cerificate. It will have a new date of 31/12/2027.
ALL previous RRHAN certificates expired in 2024 are no longer valid.
Please use this link to update the RRHAN certificate. Plink
Uniform Shop
10 Newton Rd, Campbelltown SA 5074
Contact details:
Website: shop online
Phone: 7095 2535
Email: campbelltown@noone.com.au
Trading hours:
Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm
Saturday 9.00am - 1.00pm
Sunday and public holidays CLOSED



Important Dates
SAPOL Band visit - 1.30pm
Yr 3/4 Excursion to Urrbrae Wetlands
Showdown donuts
Mother's day Community prayer and Morning Tea - 9am
Mother's Day Stall
Assembly led by 1/2VS - 2.15pm
Mass for Pope Francis - 9.30am
Class Liturgy 6V - 9am
National Simultaneous Storytime
SACPSSA Lacrosse Carnival for ALL yr 5/6 students
Community Prayer 1/2P - 8.55am
SCHOOL CALENDAR - Term 2, 2025
FUTURE DATES
TERM 2 2025
- Pizza day Friday 30th May
- Pupil Free Day - 6th June
- Kings Birthday Public Holiday - 9th June
- 60th Anniversary Gala dinner - 21st June
- Term 2 concludes 4th July
Is your child due to start school?

SFOA Merchandise

SFOA Umbrellas are now available on the QKR! app. Get your orders in quick - limited stock available!
OSHC

CLICK HERE to enrol online!
Available before / after school hours with Vacation Care during school holidays.
The Southern Cross Newsletter

Uniform Shop
The uniform is available from:
NOONE uniform shop
10 Newton Rd, Campbelltown. (See Google maps)
Phone: 08 7095 2535
Email: campbelltown@noone.com.au
Please use the link to visit the Noone Uniform Shop to shop online or to book an appointment for a uniform fitting. Shop Online
Opening hours are:
- Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm
- Saturday 9am to 1pm
- Sunday and Public Holidays - closed
Parish Bulletin

Latest Parish bulletin available here
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