St Francis Catholic School - Hughenden eNewsletter

From the Principal’s Desk

It’s hard to believe we are already nearing the tail end of another wonderful and busy term!

Last week, we held our annual Small Schools Athletics Carnival and it was yet another great success! Our students represented our school with pride, showing outstanding participation, determination, and sportsmanship. I was incredibly proud of each and every one of them. A big thank you goes to all of the volunteers who supported the day—from setting up, assisting with events, to packing up. Your help is invaluable and truly appreciated. A special mention must go to our amazing canteen ladies and Mrs Crozier for leading the charge and preparing such delicious food for us all to enjoy.

Students aged 10 and older will now have the exciting opportunity to be selected for the Mid West Team, with some competing in the Mid West Athletics Trials on Monday 23 June, right here in Hughenden. We wish them all the very best!

This week, Miss Rowe has been away participating in professional development training in Sounds-Write, a highly structured and systematic phonics program grounded in the Science of Reading. This program places a strong emphasis on teacher knowledge, which is proven to have the greatest impact on improving student outcomes. As part of our Annual School Improvement Plan, we’ve been focusing on enhancing literacy outcomes across all year levels by developing staff capacity in effective literacy instruction. We are proud to be working toward a consistent, school-wide approach to literacy. Miss Rowe is the last of our three teachers to complete Sounds-Write training, and we’re excited to see the impact of this learning in her classroom.

On another exciting note—a huge congratulations to Miss Rowe! She has just received confirmation that she has successfully passed her final university assessment and completed her teaching degree with flying colours! We are all incredibly proud of her dedication, having balanced full-time teaching and study so gracefully. Well done, Miss Rowe!

Looking ahead, our Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser is coming up on Wednesday 25 June. We’re proud to be partnering with the Cancer Council to raise vital funds for those affected by cancer. With nearly 1 in 2 Australians impacted, every dollar makes a difference. We look forward to seeing you there and thank you in advance for your generous support.

Wishing you all a restful and enjoyable weekend.

Sharn Greenaway,

Principal

School TV Topic of the Week- Online Gaming

Games are an integral part of human behaviour. It is normal and healthy for young people to engage in play as a part of their daily lives, including playing games online. And like most activities, online gaming can have both positive and negative outcomes. It can be intimidating and confusing for carers trying to understand a young person’s online experiences with many considering that staring at a screen is an unhealthy habit. However, the World Health Organisation does believe that as well as the risks, there are also many positive benefits associated with online gaming and these could be key in nurturing bonds with others.

During the pandemic, there was an explosive growth of gaming as people sought much needed connection during isolation. In the media, gaming often gets bad publicity because most coverage tends to concentrate on the minority of gamers who play to such an extent that it compromises all other areas of their life. However, online gaming can teach young people many skills including teamwork, concentration, communication and problem-solving. It requires a level of interaction and skill from the player; unlike watching television, which is more passive.

Online communities provide opportunities for young people to feel socially connected and have a sense of belonging. At healthy levels, gaming can increase their self-esteem and social acceptance. However, any behaviour, when taken to extreme, can also have a negative impact on a young person’s everyday life. Understanding what your young person experiences online and knowing the warning signs if they are at risk, will help nurture a more positive relationship with online gaming and help your family find the right balance.

If you are concerned about your young person’s online gaming habits, it’s important to consider a number of factors. This edition will provide strategies in how to deal with any issues you may be experiencing.

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 Online Gaming edition of SchoolTV
https://sfsh.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/online-gaming

Student Of The Week

Week 7

P/1: Bo-Deen

2/3: Bella F

4/5/6: Rhianna

Week 8

P/1: Alexa

2/3: Sophie

4/5/6: Bella H

🎉🥳 Happy Birthday Jack, James & Hanna! 🥳🎉

Wishing you all a day filled with laughter, love, and all your favourite things! 🎂🎈
May this year bring you lots of joy, great memories, and exciting adventures ahead.

Have the best birthday ever, Jack, James and Hanna!

Prep/1 Happenings

Look What Prep/1 Have Been Up To!

If you haven’t already seen it on Facebook—big news from Prep/1! We’ve planted our very own veggie garden right here at school! 🌱🥕🍓

As part of our Science unit Living Things – Plants Edition, we decided to get our hands dirty and grow a variety of fruit and veggie plants. Our little green thumbs have been hard at work, watering the garden every day and keeping a close eye on how everything is growing.

They’ve even taken charge of reminding Miss Brown when it’s time to water—talk about responsibility! We can’t wait to see our garden flourish and (fingers crossed!) produce some delicious treats for our tuckshop.

Check out these photos of our young gardeners in action this week!

Miss Brown,

P/1 Teacher

Year 2/3 Happenings

This term in Maths, our Year 2 students have been exploring number patterns – identifying rules, continuing sequences, and confidently finding missing numbers. Meanwhile, our Year 3 students have been working hard on addition and subtraction using two- and three-digit numbers, focusing on strategies like carrying and borrowing. It’s been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they tackle more complex problems. Students are feeling proud of their progress, and so are we!

Miss Allison,

Year 2/3 Teacher

Year 4/5/6 Happenings

This term in Religion, our students have been learning about the Works of Mercy and how these actions help us live out our faith by showing compassion and care for others. The Works of Mercy are practical ways we can follow Jesus’ example by helping those in need, both physically and spiritually.

As part of their learning, students reflected on how they can show mercy in their own lives and created thoughtful and creative posters to illustrate the different Works of Mercy.

Miss Rowe,

Year 4/5/6 Teacher