Term 3 Newsletter, 22nd August 2025
Acting Principal's Message
Book Week at St Francis de Sales
This year’s Book Week celebration at St Francis de Sales was a joyful gathering of imagination, creativity and community. We were thrilled to welcome students from Greenmount, Back Plains, Clifton State Schools and Treasure Island Kindy for a day dedicated to the magic of books and storytelling. With a total of 205 students, the school was buzzing with excitement and colour.
One of the highlights of the day was the lively walk around Clifton, where students proudly showed off their book-inspired costumes to the local community. Characters leapt off the pages and onto the footpaths, turning heads and sparking smiles as our parade made its way through town.
Back at school, students took part in a range of engaging activities thoughtfully organised by our passionate St Francis de Sales staff. Their dedication, creativity and enthusiasm made the day truly memorable, and we are deeply grateful for the effort they put into every detail.
A special thank you also goes to our tuck shop helpers, who kept everyone well fed and energised throughout the day. Their support behind the scenes helped make the celebration run smoothly and ensured no one went hungry. Our small school cannot operate as well without our wonderful parent volunteers. If you have the time, we would love additional helpers in the tuck shop, especially for the upcoming ballgames. Please let Mrs. Petrie know if you can assist.
Carpark Safety Reminder: Keeping Our Students Safe
As part of our ongoing commitment to student safety, I would like to remind families of a few important procedures to follow during afternoon pick-up in the school carpark.
At the end of the day, students must remain inside the school grounds until the teacher on duty arrives. Once the teacher is present, students are expected to say goodbye before leaving. This helps staff ensure that every child is safely collected and accounted for.
For those crossing the road, it is essential that all parents and children use the designated crossing. This simple step plays a big role in keeping our students safe and visible to drivers. Under no circumstances should students cross the road on their own.
Parents are also reminded to come directly to the fence to collect their children. This allows staff to clearly see who is picking up each student and helps prevent confusion or unsafe movement around the carpark.
We appreciate your cooperation in following these guidelines. Together, we can make sure every child has left school safely and confidently each afternoon.
Parent Teacher Interviews
The Parent Portal is now open for bookings for our upcoming Parent Teacher Interviews, which will be held in Weeks 9 and 10 of this term. This is a valuable opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher, discuss their progress, and work together to support their learning journey. We encourage all families to log in to the portal and secure a time that suits your schedule. If you need assistance accessing the portal or making a booking, please contact the school office. We look forward to connecting with you and continuing to build strong partnerships between home and school.
Mrs. Busiko
Prep/1/2 News
Term 3 has been full of exciting learning in our P–2 classrooms. In Maths, students explored multiplication and division through grouping and sharing. Using everyday objects, they practiced making equal groups and dividing items fairly—building strong number sense and problem-solving skills.
In Literacy, we used Daisy Eat Your Peas to learn persuasive writing. Students identified strong arguments, used emotive language, and wrote their own persuasive pieces—like convincing their teacher to have extra recess!
In Christian Studies, we reflected on Jesus Walks on Water (Matthew 14:22–33). Students discussed how faith can guide our words and actions, and how we can show courage and kindness in everyday life.
Thank you for supporting your child’s learning journey. We’re proud of their growth and look forward to more adventures ahead!
Mrs. Skillington
On Tuesday we went on a walk around Clifton. We dressed up as a book characters. I dressed up as Flash and we read lots of books and made lots of things. We did it at SFDS with some other schools and it was crazy. Everyone was so fast at book week. It was fun. Everyone was so excited and happy even me! This is why book week is the best day.
Oscar Johnson
On Tuesday we celebrated Book Week at St Francis. Lots of other school came dressed up to enjoy the activities. I dressed up as Spiderman.
Kiansh Inumpudi
On Tuesday we did book week activities with other schools. We dressed up as a book character and I dressed up as The Netball Star. I loved Spiro was a little spider and he is trying to eat food and he tried and tried to catch some food.
Olivia Bazley
On Tuesday we had book week I dressed up as Batman. I had a chicken burger and a cupcake for lunch. It was yummy. It was great day for me and it was the third best day of my life.
Billy Byrne
On Tuesday we did different book week activities with the other schools. I dressed up as Jasmine. My favourite activity was making Spiro out of clay. I had a beef burger, a juice and a cupcake for lunch. It was the most magnificent day ever. All the books were amazing. I love book week, and you should too!
Nell Skillington
On Tuesday we did book week activities with other schools. We all dressed up as different book characters and we heard different books. Then we did activities. I dressed up as Amy from Heartland.
Emily Lentini
Yrs. 3/4 News
This week, we were thrilled to welcome William, our new Year 3 friend, to the school community. William has already made a wonderful impression by sharing his farming knowledge during our Design Technology unit of work, Food and Fibre. William’s insights into free-range chickens sparked curiosity and great discussion as we compared the different methods of egg production.
In Religious Education we have been learning about the story of Joseph. Students read information, viewed video clips and then sequenced the story of Joseph. Joseph’s story is one of faith, resilience and divine providence.
In Mathematics, students have been actively revising key concepts and strengthening their skills. A highlight of our revision program has been our twice-weekly 10-minute afternoon Blooket sessions. These interactive quizzes offer a fun and engaging way to revisit mathematical knowledge, encouraging friendly competition and boosting confidence. It’s been wonderful to see students so motivated and enthusiastic about their learning—especially when they’re cheering each other on and celebrating their progress together!
Mrs. Malbon
Yrs. 5/6 News
English – Narrative Writing
Our students have been diving into the world of storytelling, drawing inspiration from The Greatest Bookshop in the World. Using this book, they’ve been creating their own imaginative narratives filled with wonder, mystery and magic. Each student is creating a unique story, exploring magical settings, intriguing characters and unexpected twists. We can’t wait to share these wonderful pieces of writing with you soon.
Geography - Natural Disasters in Australia
In Geography, we’ve been investigating the impact of natural disasters across Australia, with a particular focus on bushfires and flash floods. Students have learned how bushfires can travel at speeds of up to 14 kilometers per hour, making them incredibly dangerous and difficult to control. We’ve also explored how flash floods can occur with little warning, especially after heavy rainfall in dry areas. These lessons have sparked important discussions about safety, emergency responses and the resilience of communities affected by these events.
Mathematics
Mathematic lessons have been packed with variety and challenge this term. Students are working through concepts such as fractions, decimals and percentages, and learning how these relate to everyday situations. We’ve also been exploring shapes and tessellations, discovering how patterns can be created and repeated in art and design. In addition, students are developing their understanding of inverse operations and practising how to add and subtract fractions with confidence. It’s been fantastic to see their problem-solving skills grow.
Religion - The Common Good and Fair Trade
In Religion, our focus has been on the concept of the common good. We are understanding how we can contribute to a fair and compassionate society by treating others with dignity and kindness. Students have reflected on their own actions and how they can make a positive impact in their communities. We’ve also been learning about fair trade, discussing how our choices as consumers affect farmers and producers around the world. By exploring where our products come from and how they’re made, students are gaining a deeper appreciation for ethical purchasing and global responsibility.
Students are reminded that our first speaking presentation is coming up next week. I can’t wait to hear some jokes!
Mrs. Busiko
Book Week Activities
