St Francis Catholic School - Hughenden eNewsletter

From the Principal

Dear St. Francis Families,

I am thrilled to share that our recent St. Francis Fete was a resounding success! The evening was filled with joy, laughter, and a strong sense of community. From the exciting stalls to the delicious food, every moment was a testament to the dedication and hard work of our volunteers, staff, and students. We are immensely grateful to everyone who contributed, whether by lending a helping hand, donating items, or simply attending and enjoying the festivities. Your support, big and small, made the event truly special and allowed us to create memories that will last a lifetime.

Looking ahead, we are excited to celebrate Father’s Day next Thursday. We have planned a fun-filled morning of "Minute to Win It" games and, of course, cake! This will be a fantastic opportunity for our Dads to join us for a few laughs and some friendly competition. We encourage all Dads to come along and be part of this joyful celebration—your presence will undoubtedly make the day even more memorable for our students.

Please note that next Friday is a pupil-free day. While our students enjoy a well-deserved break, our staff will be hard at work on moderation and preparing for the upcoming changes to the English curriculum. As we transition to Version 9 in 2025, our teachers are committed to ensuring a smooth and effective implementation that will continue to enhance our students' learning experiences.

Thank you once again for your ongoing support and involvement in our school community. We look forward to seeing many of you at our Father’s Day event next week.

Wishing you all a wonderful and restful weekend!

Sharn Greenaway

Principal

Updated Enrolment Conditions

Enrolment Terms and Conditions
When a student is accepted for enrolment at our school, parents/carers/guardians sign a Student Enrolment Agreement which contains important terms and conditions. These terms and conditions are updated from time to time, and were last updated earlier this year.

The Conditions of Enrolment are available on our school website. Please contact the Principal if you would like to discuss the information contained in these documents.

Media/Photography/Video Consent for students

During the enrolment process, parents/carers/guardians consent to the use of images of their child. The consent is outlined below. Parents who wish to withdraw this consent should contact the school.

Photos, video footage and work samples of students are used regularly by the school for the purpose of acknowledging the efforts of the student/school, or for promotion, marketing or advertising the school or Catholic Education. Parents consent to the student being photographed or filmed for school, Catholic Education or Townsville Catholic Diocese related communication or for education purposes. Parents understand this may include media (e.g. television, radio, publications), school publications (e.g. newsletters, year books), online media (e.g. websites) and social media (e.g. Facebook, Instagram). Please note the student’s name and voice may be included with the photograph/video. Parent’s understand it is their responsibility to notify the school if they do not wish to consent to the student’s photograph/ video appearing in any or all of the above, or if they wish to withdraw this authorisation and consent.

Assembly

Our Prep & Year 1 students are on spotlight this week. Assembly starts at 8:30am!

Student Of The Week

P/1: Alex Sharma

2/3/4: Hayley McClymont

5/6: Krystal Shard

No Birthdays this week!

Prep/1 Happenings

This week, our Prep/1 students took to the skies—well, the school balcony!—to explore the fascinating world of forces by creating and flying their very own paper aeroplanes. In a hands-on experiment that combined creativity with science, each student crafted a unique paper aeroplane and put their design to the test in a thrilling race off the balcony. What better way to see these forces in action than by launching their very own flying machines? The results were as varied as the designs. Some planes flew straight and true, cutting through the air with impressive speed, while others took a more meandering path. After the race, we gathered to discuss the results. The students shared what they thought worked well in their designs and what they might do differently next time. Through this fun and engaging activity, our Prep/1 students gained a deeper understanding of the forces that affect flight.

Eileen Brown

P/1 Teacher

ebrown17@sfsh.catholic.edu.au

Year 2/3/4 Happenings

In Science, our Year 2/3/4 students have been diving into the fascinating world of heat! In a recent hands-on lesson, they explored the concept of heat transfer by conducting an experiment with frozen spoons and hot water. The students observed how heat moves between materials by placing three different types of spoons—wooden, plastic, and metal—into hot water. Over several intervals, they carefully monitored and recorded the changes, noting the speed and efficiency with which each material absorbed the heat. This experiment not only allowed the students to visually grasp how different materials conduct heat at varying rates but also sparked discussions about why certain materials are better conductors than others. Through this engaging activity, students gained a deeper understanding of the principles of heat transfer.

Miss Allison,

Year 2/3/4 Teacher

sallison1@sfsh.catholic.edu.au

Year 5/6 Happenings

This week, our Year 5/6 students took a journey through the solar system, and it was truly out of this world! Using a scale and classroom models, they mapped out the vast distances between the planets, discovering just how far apart they really are. Along the way, they explored the unique features of each planet, comparing Earth's atmosphere to Venus' intense heat and marveling at Saturn's rings. Our young astronomers are now well on their way to becoming true cosmic explorers!

Miss Rowe,

Year 5/6 Teacher

growe@sfsh.catholic.edu.au

Specialist Lessons- Miss Eriksen

The students in 2/3/4 have been learning about the elements of dance through Just Dance videos in their dance lessons. They have been working very hard creating their own Just Dance dances. We can’t wait to see their dances and try and follow along. The students in all classes have been working hard practising a dance routine to show the school on the last assembly of term. We can’t wait to showcase all of the dance routines to you.

Miss Eriksen,

Specialist Teacher/Inclusive Practices Teacher

leriksen5@sfsh.catholic.edu.au

Chaplain News

This term, our students have been actively engaged in the Zones of Regulation program across all three classes. They've been learning about their emotional "toolkits," understanding different types of emotions, and the importance of managing them effectively. Each class has created their own Zones of Regulation displays, which serve as daily reminders of these strategies. A special shout-out to our Prep and Year 1 students for their fantastic posters, showcasing their creativity and understanding!

Next week's Whizbang Wednesday treat: Brownies!

Miss Howie

Chaplain

thowie@sfsh.catholic.edu.au