St Francis of Assisi school Newsletter 28th May 2025

Dear Families,

Time seems to be flying very quickly at the moment as we reach the midway point of Term 2.  At this time of year as the weather changes, and the grind of daily life kicks in we need to look after ourselves and look after each other. If you’re like me, there’s not too many clear days at present, as winter sport kicks in and navigating pick ups and drop offs for children at various places.

Today in a rare hour spare I thought I’d complete a bit of a longer newsletter article this time and again try to give you an insight into some of the conversations we have around education, what’s topical, how we react to changes in society and what’s important to us here at SFOA.

Let’s start with technology and screen time.

Depending on when you were educated you might be considered a digital native. In the 90s and 2000’s it was almost seen as a responsibility of a school to introduce children to technology.
To turn on and off a computer. To use operating systems. To painfully build html limited websites. It’s where I learned to type. To navigate the web.

With each new advancement, schools have adapted, explored, and sometimes wrestled with the possibilities of what technology might mean for learning.

One reflective moment from our own school’s story is a video taken in the early 1990s, showing students gathered around computer with a DOS operating system, playing a basic educational game. In the background, then-acting principal Michael Honey can be heard wondering aloud what technology might look like in 25 years’ time. Now, 35 years on, it’s fair to say even he couldn’t have imagined the reality: computers in every pocket, integrated into our daily lives through smartphones and constant connectivity. That moment captures not just how far we’ve come — but how quickly the landscape has changed.

Fast forward to today, and technology is no longer a novelty in the classroom — it's part of everyday life. Particularly in Years 3–6, this prepares them well for the digital demands of secondary schooling and future workplaces. Students collaborate online, submit work through platforms like Microsoft Teams, and use both the Apple and Office 365 suites to communicate, create, and learn.

But while we embrace innovation, we also remain deeply grounded in our beliefs about what matters most. Education is not, and should never be, about looking at life through a screen — it's about looking at a person. It’s about connection, relationship, and presence.

That’s why in Reception to Year 2, iPads are used sparingly, and only when they genuinely add value to the learning experience. Human interaction, conversation, and hands-on exploration are the heartbeat of learning in those early years.

We also take the responsibility of managing technology seriously. All devices are managed by the school — meaning we control what apps can be installed, have access to search histories, and use a filtering system to ensure students are working within safe digital boundaries.

Do our children still have slip ups? Absolutely. Last week we did a sweep of all devices and restored all settings back to normal after many children had changed cursors, backgrounds and found different ways to get around certain filters. This is normal and while it sounds like we are the ‘fun police’ in monitoring these things, the reality is these steps are taken to keep our children safe.

Sometimes the best way to understand our approach is through metaphor: if the internet is the road, we’re in charge of the road rules. We decide which vehicles (apps) are allowed on, the direction of travel (the tools used for each task), and where the speed bumps are placed. Students may be learning to drive in a digital world — but they’re not doing it without guidance.

Technology will continue to evolve. Our commitment is to ensure it serves learning, not leads it. Because no matter how advanced the tools become, the heart of education remains unchanged: the learner in front of us.

The AI conversation can wait for another day.

Faith

Next week, our staff will be heading off on retreat to Penola.

We’ll be leaving Thursday night and staying in the Southeast for two nights exploring the part of the world where St Mary Mackillop established the first Catholic School in South Australia.

We will spend time celebrating Mass in Penola, visiting St Mary MacKillop Memorial School and the Mary MacKillop Museum, and reflecting on our own rich connection to the Josephite story — a history that began with the Sisters of St Joseph leading this very school in 1965. One of the most powerful moments will be visiting the site of the original stable where Mary MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison Woods founded the order. It promises to be a meaningful time of reconnection and spiritual reflection for our team.

It's a big commitment from our staff to travel this far and spend this time deepening their faith and knowledge of our story.

Initiatives

Back in December, we shared several new initiatives with you — and I wanted to give you a quick update on how they’re tracking. We promised a lot and it has taken a lot of work to get these off the ground.

We like to consider our school size in the ’Goldilocks Zone’. Small enough to have connections with each child, but large enough to ensure we offer a multitude of opportunities for our children.

Breakfast Club
Our Breakfast Club has been an incredible success. If you haven’t been yet, it’s what the kids would call a vibe! My favourite part is watching the children sit and eat together — not rushed, not on the go, but sharing food, chatting, and starting their day with connection and calm. It’s such a simple idea, but its impact has been great. Thanks again for this term sponsor which is St George’s Bakehouse in Firle.

Strings Program
The Strings Program has gone beyond my wildest dreams. The flow-on effect has been significant — our instrumental music program has more than tripled this year. Music is alive at SFOA! Later this term, our Year 3 strings students will perform at a special graduation night. We’ll then open up expressions of interest for students who wish to continue. There is something so special about hearing strings echoing through our school grounds — it brings joy, focus, and discipline in such a unique way.

AFL and Soccer Academies
Both academies are now underway and proving to be a fantastic part of what we offer. It’s been wonderful to see students engaging, pushing themselves, and representing the school with pride and commitment.

60th Anniversary Gala
A quick reminder — this week is your last chance to order tables for our 60th Anniversary Gala. It’s shaping up to be a truly unforgettable night, and we’d love to see you there as we celebrate six decades of community, growth, and faith. We need a couple more tables to cover costs so please consider coming along.

Scott March

Principal