St Francis Catholic School - Hughenden eNewsletter

From the Principal

This week, I have been in Townsville attending our termly Principal’s Conference. Over the past three days, I had the opportunity to network with fellow principals, meet with directors and consultants from Townsville Catholic Education, and hear an interesting presentation from Ross McSwan. It was an enlightening and valuable experience for our leadership teams in the diocese.

Back at school, we have marked two significant days in our liturgical calendar—Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday signifies the beginning of Lent, a season of reflection, prayer, and preparation for Easter. In our Catholic school, Lent is an important time for our students to grow in their faith by thinking about how they can be kind, make sacrifices, and help others.

Looking ahead, our Year 3 and Year 5 students will commence their NAPLAN assessments next week. These tests cover writing, reading, language conventions, and numeracy. We wish them all the best as they undertake this important aspect of their learning journey.

We also look forward to gathering as a school community for our first whole school Mass of the year with Fr. Emmanuel on Monday, 10th March, at 1:45 pm. Families and friends are warmly invited to join us for this special celebration.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Sharn Greenaway,

Principal

School TV Topic of the Week- Dealing with disappointment

As young people learn to navigate through various aspects of their life, they may face disappointment due to unfulfilled expectations, shattered dreams, or unexpected setbacks. Yet, with the appropriate tools, strategies, and a positive mindset, young people can learn to cope with disappointment and use it as an opportunity for personal growth and success.

Disappointment can be a tricky emotion to deal with at any age. It is a normal part of growing up. However, children sometimes need reminding that they have a choice in how they respond to disappointment and their response will determine the impact it has on their future happiness. Overall, disappointment is a healthy and positive emotion and plays an integral part in a child’s emotional, intellectual and social development.

Helping young people manage their disappointment is important in order to avoid stronger emotions such as anxiety and depression. Although a parent’s first reaction may be to fix the problem, it is better to encourage your child to find the words to express how they feel.

In this Special Report, parents and caregivers are provided with strategies on how to help their child process disappointment and look at the problem objectively.

Here is the link to your Special Report https://sfsh.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-dealing-disappointment

Student Of The Week

Week 5

P/1: Charlie Fryer

2/3: Angus Westcott

4/5/6: Hayley McClymont

Week 6

P/1: Alexa Alwin

2/3: Flynn Angus

4/5/6: Miranda Page

Bella Harriman- 25th February

Prep/1 Happenings

In HASS, we have been exploring our family history and the special moments that shape who we are. This week, our focus was on cherished family memories. The students were encouraged to think about a special time they have shared with their loved ones, such as family trips, celebrations, or everyday moments that hold meaning.

After choosing their memory, they created a detailed illustration to represent their experience. They then had the opportunity to share their stories with the class, practicing their speaking and listening skills while learning more about each other. It was heartwarming to see the enthusiasm as students reminisced about their favourite moments and expressed their connections to family in unique and thoughtful ways.

We loved hearing such a variety of stories, from exciting adventures to simple, heartfelt moments spent with loved ones. It was a wonderful way to celebrate the importance of family and personal history in our lives!

Miss Brown,

P/1 Teacher

Year 2/3 Happenings

The past two weeks have been busy in our classroom as we prepare for NAPLAN, which starts next Tuesday for our Year 3 students. Students have been practicing a variety of skills to ensure they feel confident and ready. In the attached photos, you can see students using the NAPLAN public demonstration site to become familiar with the test format.

In Religion, we have been preparing for Lent by exploring its meaning in the Bible and discussing how we can observe the season today. Together, we created a Lenten Tree, with purple leaves showing ways we can participate in Lent and green leaves featuring Lent-inspired prayers. Be sure to check out our tree outside the classroom!

Additionally, we have been learning about Prayers of Praise, focusing on the Glory Be prayer. Students explored its meaning in scripture and engaged in meditation while reciting the prayer as they completed a special artwork dedicated to it.

We are looking forward to another wonderful fortnight of learning!

Miss Allison,

Year 2/3 Teacher

Year 4/5/6 Happenings

In 4/5/6, we have been busy exploring new concepts in all areas.

In Religion, we have been deepening our understanding of the season of Lent, reflecting on its meaning and how we can make positive changes during this time. We also explored Project Compassion, learning about the incredible work Caritas Australia does to support those in need and how we can contribute to making a difference. Students were excited to take home a Project Compassion box, to contribute any loose change or donations to help those in need.

In Italian, students have been practising the Italian alphabet, learning to count up to ten, and expanding their vocabulary by discovering different colours in Italian. It has been wonderful to see everyone so engaged and eager to learn!

Miss Rowe,

Year 4/5/6 Teacher

SFSH Chaplain

As part of our Lenten journey, we are launching Project Compassion, Caritas Australia’s annual appeal that supports communities in need both in Australia and around the world. Through kindness and generosity, we help create a more just and compassionate world.

Each student has received a Project Compassion collection box to take home, providing an opportunity to give what they can throughout Lent.

To support this important cause,we are hosting a range of exciting initiatives:

Ice blocks are on sale every Friday during Term 1.
Project Compassion Colouring Competition – lucky winners from each class receive a prize!
St Patrick’s Day celebration – students enjoy delicious Green Spiders & Cupcakes.
Project Compassion Disco – everyone gets ready to dance the night away!

Let’s come together, have fun, and make a difference this Lent!

Miss Howie,

Chaplain

Captains

This week we were privileged to receive delicious pancakes for Shrove Tuesday, thank you Mrs Howie for making and preparing them. On Wednesday, we kicked off Lent for the next 40 days. Also on Wednesday, we received our Caritas Project Compassion boxes. We are fundraising for those in poverty.

Last week we were lucky enough to have the North Queensland Cowboys come for a visit and we all had a blast. We did some drills and small games.

This weekend Rhianna will trial for the North West team in Netball, we wish her luck.

Rhianna and Miranda,

School Captains