Term 1 Newsletter, 7th March 2025

Principal's Message

Project Compassion Started this Week with Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday

Written by Michael McGirr – Project Compassion

“Nelson Mandela said that education was the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world. There are plenty of people who would agree with him, one of them is Oprah Winfrey. She said that education was the way to move mountains, build bridges and to change the world.

Each week during Lent, Caritas Australia asks us to think about a special story. We pray for all involved in the ministry of education. Like Jesus may they be clear, courageous and strong as they pass values of compassion and justice to future generations. May our support for Project Compassion continue to make education more widely available.

Amen."

This week, the school began its fundraising efforts by raising $67 during our Shrove Tuesday efforts. As the season of Lent progresses, we are hopeful of raising $500 which will go directly to supporting families who need it. Our students will be made aware of where their contribution goes too and what significant change, they are in acting for people all over the world.

Communication is The Key to All Things

Time moves rapidly these days, fasten now than when we were kids. Blink an eye and your child has started school. Blink again and they have finished school. Rest an eyelid and before you know it, you are grandparents, beginning the journey again.

Time is precious, and we need to be sure what we are doing has a purpose behind it. I can’t stress the importance of communication. Talking to your child is a vital step in the learning process. It is also a wonderful tool to see how things are going including behaviourally/socially and academically at school. In order for the school to effectively do their job, we require students to let us know if there have been any incidences at school, either involving themselves or others. We require students to be vigilant and advocates for our ‘be kind’ focus for this year. Being Good Samaritans is about looking after each other, if they see or have been mistreated in anyway, we need students to let teachers know. This is an important part of looking out and after one another, just as a family should.

School Master Plan Survey, Homework Policy

If not already, please complete this very short Master Plan survey and have your say -https://forms.office.com/r/3tBxR9mGqU and look at/provide feedback about the Homework Policy.

Cross Country Training

One particular fitness activity we have on offer for our students is cross country training on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings at 8:00a.m. These sessions are not just for those interested in cross country running but a great way to improve fitness and train with your mates. In previous years, it has been great to see the increase in numbers in attendance. Spread the word as it would be great to see even more show up for a run on the oval on these mornings. A reminder that our annual cross-country carnival will be held on Friday 14 March on our oval.

Parent Teacher Interviews in week 9/10

These interviews are most important and are designed to provide parents with the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of your child’s progress and wellbeing at school. They are also a great avenue for dialogue around achievements, areas which require some further improvement and ways parents can assist. Each teacher is required to have an interview sheet which parents are required to sign as record of the discussion. Just a reminder that if you are unavailable to attend your parent teacher interview, please contact the school so another time can be arranged. I sincerely thank the teachers for their efforts in preparing and organising these interviews and to you, the parents for scheduling time for this important meeting.  

Prep 2026 -

Please continue to spread the word and promote this wonderful school. If you can direct interested families to enrol via our website, I would be sincerely grateful.

Changes to Calendar Events:

The list of school events is located on the school’s webpage – https://sfdssclifton.schoolzineplus.com/calendar

This is a great way of keeping up to date with upcoming events. Emails, notifications and Facebook posts will also occur throughout the year to inform and remind you of upcoming events etc. Please see the next couple of events happening very soon: -

Week 7

10 Mar –Cricket DD trials – Warwick

11 Mar – Cricket DD Trials – Warwick.

12 Mar – NAPLAN test window

13 Mar – NAPLAN test window

14 Mar – Cross Country, Meals on Wheels

Week 8

17 Mar – School Photo Day; St Patrick’s Day; NAPLAN Testing; Harmony Week begins

18 Mar – NAPLAN Testing

19 Mar – NAPLAN Testing

20 Mar – NAPLAN Testing.

21 Mar –Nobby Triathlon; Harmony Day

23 Mar - Family Sunday Mass – 9:30am

Week 9 - NAPLAN ONLINE; Parent Teacher Interviews

24 Mar – Swimming Titles – Chandler; NAPLAN Testing;

25 Mar – NAPLAN Testing; Swimming Titles Chandler 

26 Mar –

27 Mar –

28 Mar – Twmba Show Holiday

Week 10 – Newsletter Week Holy Week Celebrations; NAPLAN ONLINE; Parent Teacher Interviews

31 Mar – AFL DD

1 Apr – Netball DD – Twmba; Swimming State – Chandler

2 Apr – Cross Country – Central Downs

3 Apr – Holy Week Celebrations 

4 Apr – Meals on Wheels

Thanks for reading.

Regards,

Brendan

Middle Leader

Parent Teacher Interviews 

Bookings for Parent Teacher Interviews will be open from 14 March at 9am through to 21 March at 11am. Please book into your child's teacher before the closing time. 

The Science of Reading at St Francis de Sales

At St Francis de Sales, we believe in the power of reading and the science behind it. The science of reading is all about understanding how children learn to read. It combines research from different fields like psychology, neuroscience, and education to find the best ways to teach reading.

One important concept in the science of reading is Scarborough's Reading Rope. Imagine a rope made of many threads, each representing a different skill needed for reading. There are two main parts of this rope: word recognition and language comprehension.

Word recognition includes:

• Phonological awareness: Knowing the sounds in words.
• Decoding: Figuring out how letters match sounds.
• Sight recognition: Recognising common words quickly.

Language comprehension includes:

• Background knowledge: Understanding the world.
• Vocabulary: Knowing the meaning of words.
• Language structures: Understanding grammar and sentence structure.
• Verbal reasoning: Making sense of what we read.
• Literacy knowledge: Knowing how books and stories work.

When all these skills come together, they form a strong rope, helping children become skilled readers. If any part of the rope is weak, it can make reading harder. At St Francis de Sales, we use this knowledge to support our students in every step of their reading journey, ensuring they become confident and proficient readers.

Tips for Parents to Help at Home

Here are some simple ways you can support your child's reading development at home:

1. Read Together: Spend time reading with your child every day. Choose books they enjoy and talk about the story and pictures.
2. Play Word Games: Engage in fun activities like rhyming games, word puzzles, and letter hunts to build phonological awareness.
3. Build Vocabulary: Introduce new words during everyday conversations and explain their meanings.
4. Encourage Writing: Provide opportunities for your child to write, such as making shopping lists or writing letters to family members.
5. Ask Questions: After reading a book, ask your child questions about the story to improve comprehension and verbal reasoning.
6. Create a Reading-Friendly Environment: Have a variety of books available at home and create a cozy reading space.

By incorporating these tips into your daily routine, you can help strengthen your child's reading skills and foster a love for reading.

Mrs. Busiko

Prep/1/2 News

In our Religion unit, we have embarked on a heartwarming journey towards understanding and fostering a world filled with love and peace. We have identified and explored the profound connections we share in our relationships with family, friends, coaches, teachers, and God.

Building Connections: The children have been engaged in meaningful discussions and activities, discovering the importance of family bonds, celebrating the unconditional love and support from our families. They have also understood the value of loyalty, trust, and kindness among friends, and recognized the role of coaches, teachers, and mentors in our lives. Additionally, they are deepening their relationship with God and appreciating the spiritual guidance He provides.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son: This week, we delved into the timeless Parable of the Prodigal Son, a powerful story that illustrates God's unconditional love and forgiveness. Through this parable, the children have learned about God's love for us, which knows no bounds, just as the father in the parable welcomed his son back with open arms. They also learned the importance of forgiveness and the joy it brings when we reconcile with those we care about, as well as the value of self-awareness and the willingness to seek forgiveness when we make mistakes.

Living the Message: We encourage you to continue these conversations at home. Reading the Parable of the Prodigal Son together and discussing its message can be a great way to start. Practicing small acts of kindness and forgiveness in daily life, and sharing stories about forgiveness and love within your own family can further reinforce these values.

We are inspired by the children's openness and eagerness to learn about love, peace, and forgiveness. Thank you for your continued support in nurturing these values at home.

Mrs. Skillington

Yr. 3/4 News

The students of 3/4 have had a busy and productive fortnight. 

In HASS, students have been learning about the importance of rules and laws in our community and their impact. Students enjoyed engaging in Blooket (a learning platform where teachers host games through question sets and students answer on their laptops) and creating posters demonstrating their learning so far. We are looking forward to when Councillor James O’Shea from Toowoomba Regional Council will visit the 3/4 classroom. Councillor O’Shea will talk to students about his role as Councillor and share some valuable insights into the role of local government in community. We look forward this wonderful learning opportunity. 

In English, students have been using their digital technology skills to plan and create a poster to persuade their peers and families to visit a new theme park. Prior to creating the poster, students viewed several posters and collaborated on the types of language features, phrases and images that make a poster effective. 

Congratulations to Roy, Hunter O and Chase who this week demonstrated success with achieving their personal math goal. These students will set a new math goal and plan how they will go about achieving it. Due to a short week, not all students had a goal check in, these check-ins will continue into week 7. We look forward to further goal success in 3/4 and seeing the students embrace challenges to learn, grow and reach their full potential. 

Mrs. Malbon

Yr. 5/6 News

Brilliant Writing Adventures

Our Year 5/6 class has been buzzing with creativity and critical thinking! This week, students have been diving into the world of narratives and persuasive writing. Inspired by the book War Horse, students crafted compelling persuasive essays, showcasing their ability to argue their points effectively. Their narratives have also been a joy to read, and this week, the students have begun reading their own narratives to the class. 

HASS Highlights

In HASS, we wrapped up our unit on the colonisation of Australia with engaging PowerPoint group presentations. Students explored various reasons for colonisation, such as the search for new resources, the expansion of the British Empire, and the establishment of penal colonies. The presentations were informative and demonstrated the students' deep understanding of the topic.

Religion

Our journey through the Bible has led us to learn about prophets. The students now understand what a prophet is and have been particularly interested in the prophet Samuel. Soon, each student will choose another prophet to research and present to the class. This activity promises to be both educational and enlightening, as students delve deeper into the lives and messages of these significant biblical figures.

 
Mrs. Busiko

P.E. with Mr. Red

We have been working on continuous moving for set periods of time through game-based exercises and being efficient when running long distances through breathing techniques and relaxing the body. Our annual cross country is on Friday 14 March beginning at 9.15am on our oval (please see program below) Please reach out if you would like to purchase a school sports coloured house shirt ($5), as house colours are allowed for such events like this one.  

9:00 am                       Assemble and talk through the course

9:15 am                       Races begin  

10:25 am                    Presentation of ribbons and medallions

Please be mindful that starting times may change due to the finishing of the previous race.

Presentations will take place after the last race.

All parents most welcome to attend.

1 km = 1 lap

2 km = 2 laps

3 km = 3 laps

Photo Day-17th March 2025