Welcome to the last week of Term 2. The final copies of school Reports are being printed and ready for distribution as I write this newsletter. You will receive your child’s Report on Thursday in a sealed envelope. Take the time to read and digest the contents. Often, parents open the Reports and just look for the number of ‘A’s that are on the page. In my view the most important information in the Report is contained in the comments because it is in reading these that you gain a true insight into how your child is performing, where their strengths are and what the challenges are for them moving forward. If you have met with your child’s class teacher/s last term in Parent/Teacher Interviews, hopefully the information you read in the Report will not be a surprise. Rather, it will confirm your perception of what’s happening for your child in his or her learning. Of course you are always welcome to make a time to meet with the teacher early next term to discuss the Report content if you wish to have anything clarified.
Last Friday the Deputy Director, Mr John Mula visited our school to learn more about what makes St Francis of Assisi school such a great place to be. John was very impressed with a number of things, but the two comments he made consistently across his visit to a number of classrooms and learning spaces was in reference to how calm the children were and how strongly engaged in the learning they were. In every class we visited he was greeted by happy and focused students who clearly were enjoying the work they were doing and were focused on the task at hand. This is an absolute credit to our teaching staff who continue to value quality learning and place this at the centre of everything they do. It is most affirming for me as a Principal to have visitors in our school make comment on the quality of the learning, as this is at the heart of our mission as educators. The fact that the children were all so positive, happy and focused on their learning speaks volumes for the quality programs our teaching staff continue to provide. As we move toward the holiday break I take this opportunity to thank each and every member of staff for the energy and passion they commit to the learning program here at St Francis.
It has been a busy term with many events, but none more important than the celebration of the Sacraments for our Year 3 & 4 candidates in Confirmation and Communion over the last two weekends. Fr Phillip Marshall (Vicar General) and Fr Eldridge did a wonderful job in making these celebrations special for the children and an event in their faith journey that they will always remember. It has been a privilege to witness these young people celebrating these milestones in their life and I wish each and every one of them every blessing as they journey forward, enriched by the presence of Jesus through the Sacraments. We pray for them and their families at this very special time in their faith journey.
We will welcome a new school Chaplain to St Francis of Assisi next term. Phillip Matthews will join us and his main role will be pastoral care and support for children and families. Phillip has been working in this role for the last six years in two other Catholic schools and comes to us highly recommended. Phillip will be with us on a Wednesday and Thursday and you may see him in the yard before and after school. Please feel free to introduce yourself to Phillip when you have the opportunity.
In closing I wish you all a safe, happy and COVID free holiday. We look forward to seeing all the children back on Tuesday 20th July, refreshed, recharged and ready to learn.
James Meiksans