St Francis of Assisi News
Term 4 - Issue 16 5th November 2020
PRAYER
PRINCIPAL'S POST
Dear Parents & Caregivers,
As we move into Week 4, there seems to have been a number of illnesses from the children across the school. It is a timely reminder for parents that if your child exhibits signs of illness, please keep them at home. This ensures any sort of bacteria or viruses do not spread throughout our community. Whilst the staff are vigilant with hand hygiene and cleaning, prevention is better than cure and it is advised to keep your children home if they are unwell.
YEAR 5 SLEEPOVER
Last Friday night, our Year 5's slept out in the school hall as part of their annual sleep out. Mrs Selyer, Mrs Bond, Mrs Bowden, Mrs Evans and Miss Mirto were kind enough to forego their comfortable beds and a good night's sleep to supervise the children. From all reports, it was great fun and the children enjoyed the experience. We can't wait until next year! Thanks again to those teachers for giving up their time.
YEAR 3 iPAD 1:1 PARENT NIGHT
Year 3 parents would have received a SeeSaw message informing them of the upcoming 1:1 iPad Parent Information Night. This night is for the parents of Year 3 children who will be entering Year 4 in 2021. The presentation will outline how the iPads are used in Year 4 and beyond and explain the cost structure to parents. It is strongly advised that one parent from each Year 3 family attends, even if you have an older sibling who accesses the 1:1 iPad. It will begin at 5pm and the AGM will follow at 6pm.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - November 25th @ 6pm
Early notice for parents that our School AGM will take place on Wednesday 25th November at 6pm in the hall. All parents are encouraged to attend as we summarise some of the fantastic achievements of our school throughout a disrupted 2020. As a sweetener, all class teachers for 2021 will be announced on this night, so don't miss it!
SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER 2021 (formerly School Board)
I am calling for nominations for a new School Advisory Council member to join our experienced and passionate group of individuals to support our school vision moving forward. Previously known as the School Board, the School Advisory Council is responsible for a range of decisions around the financial stability of the school. A complete description of the School Advisory Council responsibilities can be found here: https://bit.ly/3obaiOg Should you be interested in nominating, please email mailto:jason.baker@cewa.edu.au and I will discuss further.
CLASS LISTS & TEACHER REQUESTS 2021
A reminder to parents that we take a very measured and balanced approach when preparing class lists and student placements for each year. Classes are always evenly distributed according to academic, social and emotional needs. We aim to ensure children have at least one friend in their class, and with 60 children to place in each year level, meeting every parent request is unrealistic. I ask parents to please trust that each classroom teacher takes into account your child's personality and learning needs and unfortunately, we cannot meet parent requests as this has effects on numerous other considerations and children. When making these decisions we have to take into account the needs of all children.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT - Wednesday 2nd December 6pm
Due to the Phase 4 restrictions still being in place, we have made the decision to go ahead with our Christmas Concert outdoors! I know this has been tricky in the past with cold winds and inclement weather an issue, however, we feel this is the only way to proceed in order to maintain the wonderful community experience of the Christmas Concert. The details will be sent home in a letter next week via SeeSaw, Facebook and text, but brief details are below:
Date: Wednesday 2nd December
Time: 5pm Family Picnic time (space will be provided for blankets and rugs on the court, seating will also be provided via bench seating)
6pm Christmas Concert
Where: Outdoor Basketball Courts
YEAR 6 GRADUATION MASS - Wednesday 9th December 8:45am
In keeping with the Phase 4 restrictions, the Graduation Mass for our Year 6 children will be held in the school hall on Wednesday the 9th December at 8:45am. It will be a whole school mass with all children in attendance, however, only Year 6 parents and guests will be invited to attend. Please see the letter attached below for further details.
IMCC BURSARY PRESENTATIONS November 13th
Next Friday, 13th November, Mr Rob Marshall the Principal of Irene McCormack Catholic College will be in attendance at our assembly to present the IMCC Bursary and Aboriginal Bursary to the two successful applicants, Tarik Sibley and Digby Aaskov. We look forward to congratulating these two individuals on their successful bursary applications to IMCC in 2021.
SCHOOL PHOTOS
It was great to see the children looking so well groomed for their class and individual photos earlier this week. Students were in the correct uniform, hair was tidy and there was a sense of pride in their appearance. The challenge is to maintain this high standard every day! I encourage parents to support their children in taking pride in wearing their school uniform and maintaining high grooming standards.
INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT
We are official on 'The Gram'. For those parents who are avid users of Instagram, please follow our newly created school page http://www.instagram.com/stfrancisbutler/. You can search the handle and follow @stfrancisbutler. Thank you to Mrs Caitlin Evans and the Digital Learning Team for setting up and running this page on behalf of the school. Instagram will be used to promote the wonderful things happening in our school complete with fancy filters and effects!
YEAR 6 CONFIRMATION CANDIDATES
I know Miss Campbell has mentioned this below, but we wish all our Year 6 Confirmation Candidates God's blessings for receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation next Thursday 12th November. Despite a disrupted year, we are glad to be celebrating this last Sacrament of Initiation. Thank you goes to Mr Kinder, Mrs Freeman, Miss Campbell and of course Father Dariusz and Father Marian for their preparation of our children. We look forward to celebrating with our children next week.
You may have noticed a few of the men of St Francis of Assisi forgetting to shave the upper lip since Sunday. We have decided to take part in a great cause, Movember. This cause brings awareness to a number of health issues affecting men in Australia, such as mental health and suicide, and prostate and testicular cancer. We are reaching out to any men in the St Francis community to 'Grow a Mo, Save a Bro!' There is no pressure to donate, but feel free to join our team by clicking here: https://au.movember.com/team/2383197 Good luck to any other follicly challenged men like myself!
Not a great result for the Wallabies last Saturday night as the Bledisloe once again returns to our neighbours across the Tasman. If you're a NSW Blues fan, then it was a double dose of disappointment. Let's hope the Wallabies put up a strong fight this Saturday.
Have a great fortnight ahead.
Jason Baker
Principal
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
CONFIRMATION
Confirmation is FAST approaching! It's next week on Thursday 12 November at 6pm. Please keep our Confirmation Candidates (Confirmands) in your prayers over the next week.
Please keep checking seesaw for updates, and a reminder to read the note sent home (and on SEESAW) about HOW the children will receive the Holy Spirit and what the role of the SPONSOR is during the Mass.
CONFIRMATION PHOTOGRAPHY
The Office of the Archbishop adheres very strictly to the Privacy Laws, and as such families are unable to take photographs or videos during the Mass. We will have an official photographer at the Mass, who is available from 5:15pm - 5:45pm for family photos. The photographer will also take photos of each child receiving the Holy Spirit. These photos will be available for purchase online. A note has already gone home about this, and details will be posted on SEESAW after Confirmation.
ALL SAINTS MASS
It was lovely to have a few more family members join us for the All Saints Mass last Friday. Thank you to all our readers (parents, staff and children); it has a real community feel when all elements of our school are involved. Thanks must also go to Fr Marian for leading us in prayer, Mr C and the choir, our altar servers and offertory people, and all the students and staff who praised God so beautifully in song and our responses!
THANKSGIVING MASS
Our final whole school Mass of Thanksgiving will take place on Wednesday 9 December at 8:45am. This will be combined with Yr 6 Graduation and will be limited to the parents of the graduating students.
CHRISTMAS HAMPER APPEAL
As mentioned in the last newsletter, The Christmas Hamper Appeal is fast approaching! The Christmas Hamper Appeal has been pushed back to Monday 23 November - Monday 7 December. A list of items, as well as reminders will go out on SEESAW and the school Facebook Page.
ST ANDREW'S FEAST DAY CELEBRATIONS
Our parish, St Andrew's Parish (Clarkson), will celebrate the Feast Day of St Andrew on Sunday 29 November. Please see a letter attached below for information about the upcoming celebrations. It would be wonderful to see lots of St Francis faces there!
"A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows." St Francis of Assisi
Miss Dee Campbell
SPORT NEWS
Year 5 Wheelchair Basketball Incursion
Last Thursday the Year 5 children were treated to a fun and interactive disability education and awareness experience called WheelLIFE. They participated in wheelchair basketball learning the rules and how to manoeuvre the chairs. In addition to this they gained a more inclusive outlook by giving them a practical understanding of what it is like to live with a physical disability.
Year 6 Sport
In the coming weeks the Year 6's will be participating in a few excursions including sailing at Hillary's Yacht Club, a Year 6 interschool carnival playing indoor beach volleyball, cricket and tennis. To help them prepare they will be travelling to the Indoor Beach Volleyball Centre in Joondalup where they will learn the skills needed to participate in a beach volleyball game. Further information and permission slips will be sent home next week. Please check your child's bag and return slips ASAP.
Regards,
Amanda Croxall
Teacher
LIBRARY NEWS
I hope everyone enjoyed the Book Week dress up day and the incursions as well as the small handouts given to all students. Congratulations to all students as well as our winners.
Many new books are on display for students to borrow. Why not try a new author or a non-fiction book – ‘The scary solo’ by Sally Rippin, ‘The mummy smugglers of Crumblin Castle’ by Pamela Rushby and ‘Australia’s extraordinary animals’ by Frances Payne.
Mrs Marie Gray
Library
SFOA BREAKFAST CLUB
When: Every Tuesday/Thursday
Time: 8:00am - 8:20am
Where: Hall
Come in and grab some toast with vegemite or jam and start your day right!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Happy Birthday to the following students who are celebrating a birthday over the next two weeks:
Jacinta De Dut, Hollie Keogh, Lilly Smith, Mia Whelan, Sebastijan Rados, Alyssa Unthank, Logan Harms, Liam Piwowarczyk, Miakol Chol, Ryder Sibley, Oliver Hansord, Daemyn Bunt, Aaron Ward, Harresh Rakesh.
We wish you all a wonderful day!!
IMPORTANT DATES
Fri 6 Nov - Year 4 Performance Assembly
Sun 8 Nov - Fri 14 Nov - NAIDOC Week celebrations
Mon 9 Nov - Year 6 Confirmation Retreat
Tues 10 Nov - P&F Meeting (8:45am)/PP excursion/Year 7 2021 IMCC Orientation
Wed 11 Nov - Remembrance Day (10:50am)/Board meeting
Thurs 12 Nov - Year 6 Confirmation (6:00pm at St Andrew's Church)
Fri 13 Nov - Merit Assembly (8:45am)/P&F Disco
Tues 17 Nov - Year 3 Excursion/Year 6 Indoor Beach Volleyball
Thurs 19 Nov - Year 5 Beach Safety Incursion
Fri 20 Nov - Merit Assembly (8:45am)/P&F Colour-A-thon/P&F sausage sizzle lunch
SCHOOL FEE INFORMATION
Dear Parents,
School fee reminder statements (including Direct Debit statements) will be sent home tomorrow. Kindly attend to the balances ASAP. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, either contact me on 9562 9500 or email geneve.bastian@cewa.edu.au
Please update your expired health care cards in order to continue receiving the discount for this year. If updated health care cards are not received by 13th November your discounted fees will revert to full fees.
Kind regards,
Geneve Bastian
UNIFORM SHOP
Monday: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Where: NEW LOCATION - Operating out of the demountable at the rear of the school!
Ph: (08) 9204 1701
Address: 1/85 Guthrie St, Osborne Park 6017
Email: mailto:admin@jfe.com.au
**Please note: the uniform shop won't be open on Monday 7th December but will be open on Thursday 10th December 2-3pm instead.
CAMP AUSTRALIA
VACATION SWIMMING
Enrolments are now open for VacSwim swimming lessons during the summer school holidays.
VacSwim in January offers fun lessons at beach or pool locations during the long break. Not only are they a great school holiday activity, they teach valuable safety skills to help keep your child safe in the water.
Your children can start as young as five years old.
Don’t wait! Enrol your children in VacSwim now at education.wa.edu.au/vacswim
CONTACT US
Mon-Thur: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Friday: 8:00am - 3:30pm
Email: admin@stfrancisbutler.wa.edu.au
Website: www.stfrancisbutler.wa.edu.au
Location: 1051 Connolly Drive, Butler WA, Australia
Phone: (08) 9562 9500
Facebook: facebook.com/stfrancisbutler
ST ANDREW'S CATHOLIC PARISH
Email: standrewsclarkson@gmail.com
Website: http://www.standrewsclarkson.com/
Location: 53 Belleville Gardens, Clarkson WA, Australia
Phone: (08) 9407 7512
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standrewsclarkson/