St Francis Catholic School - Hughenden eNewsletter

From the Principal’s Desk

This morning, we gathered for a beautiful Father’s Day breakfast—a heartfelt celebration of the dads, grandads, and father figures who play such a vital role in our children’s lives. At St Francis, we cherish these moments of connection and gratitude. A father's presence—whether through quiet encouragement, shared laughter, or guiding wisdom—helps shape the confidence and character of our young learners. Thank you to all who joined us; it was a joy to celebrate with you.

Last week’s Open Night was another highlight, welcoming both current and prospective families into our learning spaces. What a wonderful evening it was, showcasing the creativity, effort, and pride our students bring to their work. A sincere thank you to our dedicated staff for their engaging displays and to our families for your continued support and enthusiasm. Your presence made the night truly special.

This Friday is a Pupil Free Day, as our staff head to Winton to connect with our colleagues at St Patrick’s School. We’re looking forward to a day of collaboration, professional dialogue, and shared learning as we strengthen our practices alongside our friends across the ditch.

As of next week, I will be taking Long Service Leave. Mr Dominic Purcell will be stepping in as Acting Principal for Weeks 9 and 10. Please make him feel welcome—pop in and say hello if you get the chance!

Wishing you all a restful and joyful holiday break. I look forward to seeing you in Term 4 as we wrap up the year with energy, celebration, and community spirit.

Sharn Greenaway,

Principal

A Special Report: Parenting Styles

There are so many different opinions offered on how best to parent. New parents will often have firm beliefs about how they wish to balance love and discipline, but this ideal often goes out the window when a toddler throws their first tantrum in the supermarket!

Raising children can bring parents and caregivers great joy despite many learning ‘on the job’ and growing into the role through experience and understanding. Children will always flourish in a warm and loving environment, supported by clear guidance.

In this Special Report, parents and caregivers can gain a greater understanding of the four defined parenting styles by taking part in the quiz. It can guide parents towards deciding which style they wish to adopt and the effects it may have on their children.

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-parenting-styles

Student Of The Week

P/1: Kayden

2/3: Angus

4/5/6: Hayley

🎉🎂 Happy Birthday Charlie & Flynn! 🎂🎉

Wishing you a day full of giggles, games, cake, and fun! You’re another year more awesome, and the world is lucky to have someone as amazing as you. Keep smiling, keep dreaming, and never stop being your wonderful self.

Have the best birthday ever! 🎈🧁🎁

Prep/1 Happenings

Prep/1 Morning Activities

Each morning before the school day officially begins at 8:30, our Prep/1 students enjoy a range of engaging activities set up by Miss Brown. Recently, the class has been especially excited about playing “shop keeper” with Australian money. This hands-on play is not only fun but also a fantastic way to practise counting and learn about money in a real-world context.

Another favorite is spending time in their creative drawing books. These sessions encourage imagination and help students express their ideas freely. Creative drawing also plays an important role in supporting their writing development, as it inspires stories, builds confidence, and sparks new ideas.

What a wonderful way to start the day with fun, learning, and creativity!

Prep/1 Morning Activities

Each morning before the school day officially begins at 8:30, our Prep/1 students enjoy a range of engaging activities set up by Miss Brown. Recently, the class has been especially excited about playing “shop keeper” with Australian money. This hands-on play is not only fun but also a fantastic way to practise counting and learn about money in a real-world context.

Another favorite is spending time in their creative drawing books. These sessions encourage imagination and help students express their ideas freely. Creative drawing also plays an important role in supporting their writing development, as it inspires stories, builds confidence, and sparks new ideas.

What a wonderful way to start the day with fun, learning, and creativity!

Miss Brown,

P/1 Teacher

The Countdown is On!

Excitement is building in Year 2/3 as we prepare for our much-anticipated camp to Longreach next week! One of the incredible highlights of our trip will be attending Somerset Storyfest, a wonderful celebration of books and creativity.

At Storyfest, students will have the unique opportunity to meet real authors in person - Andy Geppert, Frané Lessac, and Dianne Wolfer. In the lead-up, our class has been enjoying many of their fantastic books, and the students have absolutely loved diving into the stories, characters, and illustrations.

We can’t wait to see the magic of reading come alive and to share this unforgettable experience together!

Miss Allison,

Year 2/3 Teacher

Our Year 4, 5, and 6 students have been enhancing their writing skills by exploring striking words, strong verbs, and powerful phrasing to make their work more engaging and impactful. They have been learning how carefully chosen language can help them express their ideas more clearly and create writing that captures the reader’s attention.

Alongside this, students have been researching natural disasters and preparing presentations to inform their peers about events such as tsunamis, volcano eruptions, erosion and earthquakes. Working collaboratively, each group investigated the causes, effects, and impacts and made their presentations even more engaging by designing a hands on activity for the class, helping their peers deepen their understanding in a fun and interactive way.

Miss Rowe,

Year 4/5/6 Teacher

In the Library this week, our older students have been exploring the idea of “not judging a book by its cover.” They discovered that behind every cover lies a story full of surprises, imagination, and meaning. This lesson encouraged students to look beyond first impressions and give every book — and every story — a chance!

All of the books were wrapped, and students could only choose their book based on the written blurb. The mystery of what might be inside created so much excitement!

Students loved the surprise element and are looking forward to discovering new stories. This activity not only encouraged lots of fun but also inspired students to explore a wider range of books, building their vocabulary and exposing them to different text types.

Keep Reading!

Miss Margy