Term 2 Week 6- 2025

From the Principal’s Desk

It has been a busy few weeks at St Francis, and the term certainly seems to be flying by! Our students and staff have been engaging in rich learning opportunities, exciting events, and meaningful connections with visiting specialists—all contributing to a vibrant school community.

This week we have been recognising National Reconciliation Week, a significant time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how we can contribute to reconciliation in Australia. Our students participated in a range of activities that helped them reflect on the past and look forward with hope and purpose. This year’s theme invites us to work together in building a more united and respectful nation, and it has been encouraging to see our students embrace this message with open hearts and minds.

We were also fortunate to enjoy our first Performing Arts Show of the year—a lively performance of George’s Marvellous Medicine! The students were captivated by the energy and humour of the production. A big thank you to the Flinders Shire Council for bringing this wonderful opportunity to our community. Road shows like this provide valuable, real-world links to our English and Arts curriculum and contribute to a holistic education for our students.

Over the past fortnight, we welcomed several visitors to our school. Kate Sargent, our Curriculum Advisor, joined us to support teaching and learning, while Christie Sinclair and Katherine Olsen from Townsville Catholic Education’s Student Protection team led our annual Student Protection Professional Development. We also welcomed Brittany McGill, our Guidance Counsellor, and Tracy Van Reyk, our Speech and Language Advisor. These visits are vital in helping us continue to strengthen our practices and provide the best outcomes for all learners.

Earlier in the year, I applied for sponsorship through Powerlink for our 2024 Year 6 Legacy Gift. We were thrilled to be successful in receiving $4000 to assist in revamping the seating area at the front of the school. A heartfelt thank you to Powerlink for their generosity in helping our Year 6 vision come to life!

Next week, I will be attending the Term 2 APRE (Assistant to the Principal Religious Education) Conference, but I’ll be back in time for our much-anticipated Small Schools Athletics Carnival. We’re looking forward to a fantastic day of friendly competition and community spirit.

Wishing everyone a safe and relaxing Show weekend!

Sharn Greenaway, 

Principal 

School TV Topic of the Week- Cyber Safety

Young people today are growing up in an increasingly connected world where technology is part of their everyday lives –– for learning, socialising, and entertainment. While the digital world offers enormous benefits, it also comes with serious risks. From cyberbullying and online predators to inappropriate content and screen time concerns, navigating the online environment can be challenging for young people and their families.

Cybersafety is not just about blocking access –– it's about empowering young people with the knowledge and skills they need to use technology responsibly and safely. This includes understanding privacy settings, recognising scams, and developing healthy digital habits. At the same time, it's important for parents and caregivers to stay informed, have open and judgement-free conversations with their children, and lead by example through positive online behaviour.

In today's digital age, safeguarding a child's wellbeing must also include protecting their online life. This edition of SchoolTV will help you better understand the digital landscape your child is navigating and offer practical strategies to help them stay safe, confident and in control online.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to the Cyber Safety edition of SchoolTV
https://sfsh.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/cybersafety-au

Student Of The Week

Week 5

P/1: Jack

2/3: James

4/5/6: Hayley

Week 6

P/1: Jahkeim

2/3: Danica

4/5/6: Arley

Happy Birthday Jimmy! Wishing you an amazing day filled with laughter, love, and all your favorite things. May this year bring you new adventures and plenty of reasons to smile!

Prep/1 Happenings

In Prep/1, we’ve been busy growing our writing and spelling skills! Our clever Preps are learning to spell CVC words (consonant-vowel-consonant), building a strong foundation for reading and writing. Meanwhile, our creative Year 1s have been focusing on crafting interesting sentences, adding detail and personality to bring their writing to life!

Miss Brown,

P/1 Teacher

Year 2/3 Happenings

We've had a busy and exciting time in the classroom lately! Our students have been deepening their understanding of fractions, exploring how to show them in a variety of ways. Whether it's through bookwork, Chromebook games, or hands-on activities like Bingo, the children have enjoyed engaging with this concept in fun and meaningful ways.

We've also been making the most of our school oval as we prepare for next week's Small Schools Athletics Carnival. The students have been full of energy and enthusiasm, putting in their best effort to sharpen their skills and get ready to shine on the big day!

Back in the classroom, we're continuing to build strong handwriting habits. Our handwriting textbooks are helping students develop fine motor skills and improve the quality of their written work, and it's definitely showing in their workbooks!

Miss Allison,

Year 2/3 Teacher

Year 4/5/6 Happenings

Our Year 4/5/6 students have been busy exploring all things Maths! After finishing our Financial Mathematics unit, where students learned how to budget, calculate costs, and understand value for money, we’ve now moved into our new focus Measurement. To begin, students were challenged to estimate which unit of measurement would best suit different objects or distances, such as centimetres for a pencil or metres for a whiteboard. They then tested their predictions using measuring tools to check for accuracy. Students measured objects from around the school, in particular the basketball court and the playground. How many metres do you think our school basketball court is?

Miss Rowe,

Year 4/5/6 Teacher

Reminders & Notices

Uniform Reminder:

Formal Academic - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday

Sports - Wednesday & Friday

Senior Shirts (Yr 6 Only) - Wednesday & Friday