St Francis Catholic School - Hughenden eNewsletter

From the Principal

Dear Families ,

As Term 3 draws to a close, it’s hard to believe we are already approaching the final stretch of 2024! Just like every other term, Term 4 is brimming with exciting events, learning opportunities, and celebrations. I’m incredibly proud of our students’ hard work and dedication to their learning throughout this term and we can't wait to see the many adventures Term 4 brings.

In Week 1 of Term 4, we will hold a FACE Meeting to discuss the successes of our Fete, our upcoming Cocktail Evening, and the much-anticipated Rite of Passage and awards night. These meetings are a fantastic opportunity for families and community members to stay informed about what’s happening at our school, explore fundraising opportunities, and engage in event planning. We warmly invite you to come along and join the conversation!

Today, we join together to mark R U OK? Day, a special reminder of the importance of reaching out and checking in on others. Life's challenges affect all of us at different times, and the people in your world might not always share what’s troubling them. That’s why making ‘Are you OK?’ part of our everyday conversations is so important. By encouraging open dialogue, we can help those in need to find the right support early on and prevent small problems from becoming bigger ones. Don’t forget to check in on someone today—it could make all the difference!

Looking ahead, we are also preparing for one of our most cherished occasions: the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4. St. Francis is remembered for his profound love of animals, nature, and the poor. Born in Assisi, Italy, in 1181, he gave up a life of wealth to embrace a life of simplicity and humility, dedicating himself to helping the less fortunate and caring for all of God’s creation. His legacy continues to inspire us today to live with compassion and kindness. As Pope Francis once said, "Francis was a man of peace, a man of poverty, a man who loved and protected creation.” Let us all continue to walk in St. Francis' footsteps as we strive to make the world a better place.

As part of our Feast Day celebrations, we will once again hold the blessing of our pets, a longstanding tradition at St. Francis. This beautiful event allows our school community to come together in recognition of St. Francis’ love for animals and all living things. Over the years, it has become a joyful and meaningful experience for our students and their families, and we look forward to continuing this tradition with great enthusiasm.

Lastly, it is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of Sr. Ellen Randall, who was the last Nun to serve as principal here at St. Francis. In fact, Sr. Ellen was my principal from Preschool through to Year 4, and I was truly blessed to have known her. She was a guiding light for all who had the privilege of crossing her path. We pray that Sr. Ellen rests in eternal peace and love.

Sharn Greenaway

Principal

Sr Ellen Randall

Blessing of the Pets- St Francis Day

School TV Topic of the Week-R U OK Day

Understanding the growing challenges related to mental health among young people is an important consideration. Anxiety, depression and self-harm - are all causes for concern. Factors like academic pressure, social media, family dynamics, and societal expectations, are contributing to these issues. It's therefore crucial for parents and caregivers to take action early, remove the stigma around discussing mental health, and offer accessible support to address these issues and the wellbeing of their children.

R U OK? Day is an initiative that focuses on preventing suicide by encouraging meaningful personal connections and helping informal support networks to help recognise the signs of distress. We urge all families to take part, emphasising the value of genuine human relationships and reminding everyone to ask the important question, "Are you OK?"

Engaging in R U OK? Day activities goes beyond the classroom; it's a commitment to our students' overall development. By talking openly about mental health, schools create safe spaces where students feel understood, valued, and supported. As parents and caregivers, you can contribute by fostering open conversations, normalising feelings and breaking down mental health stigmas. Participating in R U OK? Day promotes compassion and shows our dedication to the wellbeing of the entire school community, reaffirming that together, we can truly make a difference.

This Special Report provides guidance on how to talk to your child about mental health and engage in meaningful discussions.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report:
https://sfsh.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-r-u-ok-day

Assembly

No Spotlight this week! Join us from 8:30am Friday for our last assembly of the term.

Student Of The Week

P/1: Bella Fryer

2/3/4: Morgan Hamilton

5/6: Beau Middleton

Bo-Deen Robson 07/09

Beau Middleton 16/09

Angus Westcott 17/09

Prep/1 Happenings

In Prep/1 this week we had to conduct a scientific investigation about sound. We used a range of different instruments and for each one we had to figure out what we had to do to get it to make sound. Did you have to hit it, scrap it or shake it? The students all enjoyed using all these instruments and did a great job answering the questions!

Miss Brown,

P/1 Teacher

Year 2/3/4 Happenings

On Wednesday morning, 2/3/4 students jumped on the bus to go to their Winton camp!

In English this term, 2/3/4 students have been learning all about poetry, and are going to participate in the Winton Poetry festival. Students have been counting down the days and have been practising very hard on their poems. Safe to say, they are just a bit excited about this trip.

Our school Facebook page will be updated with awesome photos of how the 2/3/4 students are going at the poetry festival, and the awesome activities planned for the rest of camp. Stay tuned!

Miss Allison,

Year 2/3/4 Teacher

Year 5/6 Happenings

As we finish Term 3, our focus this week has been on morphology. Students have explored how prefixes, suffixes, and root words change a word's meaning. It’s been great to see their growing confidence in breaking down unfamiliar words, helping them understand new vocabulary and apply these skills in their writing and reading. We will continue to focus on this over Term 4. This focus on word structure has given students the valuable tools to improve their literacy, and they’ve already started using these skills in their own writing.

Miss Rowe,

Year 5/6 Teacher

Specialist Lessons- Miss Eriksen

To celebrate their learning in Health this term, the students in Prep/1 explored toys from when they were babies to now. They were invited to bring in toys to share with the class. We discussed how the toys are different as we were able to do different things from when we were a baby to now. The students enjoyed drawing their favourite toys showing what they liked to play with.

Miss Eriksen,

Specialist Teacher/Inclusive Practices Teacher

Last Friday, our students at St. Francis eagerly participated in a hands-on activity, planting vegetables in our vibrant community garden as part of the ongoing Mercy Makers initiative. This initiative encourages students to actively engage in meaningful projects that promote care, sustainability, and community spirit. Over the coming months, the students will nurture these plants, learning about the growth process while developing a sense of responsibility. Once the vegetables are ready to harvest, they will have the opportunity to use their homegrown produce in cooking projects, adding a rewarding and practical dimension to their learning experience. This initiative not only fosters environmental awareness but also provides students with skills they can carry with them for life!

Library News

We are preparing for our bookfair in Term 4! This years theme is Bookaneer!

Wonderful Writing at St Francis

At St. Francis, we have continued our strong focus on cultivating a vibrant writing culture throughout the school. Now in our second year of The Writing Project, our students have demonstrated significant growth and success across all areas of their writing. This initiative has been instrumental in fostering creativity, enhancing literacy skills, and building confidence in our young writers.

We are particularly proud of the dedication and hard work shown by all students, with this week’s standout writing pieces coming from Bella Fryer and Jack Krogh. Their effort truly shines through in their work. Well done, Bella and Jack! Keep up the excellent progress!