2026 Newsletter 1

As we begin a new school year, we warmly welcome all families back to our school community. A special welcome to our Prep students and their families. Starting school is a significant and joyful milestone, and we are delighted to walk alongside you as your child begins their learning journey with us. We hope these first weeks are filled with curiosity, confidence and a growing sense of belonging.
We also extend a warm welcome to the new staff members joining our community this year. We are grateful for the gifts, talents, and enthusiasm they bring, and we look forward to the contributions they will make to the learning, faith, and well-being of our students.
Our year began beautifully with the celebration of our Opening School Mass. Coming together in prayer reminded us that we are a faith-filled community, called to learn, grow and serve with love, kindness and compassion. Guided by our shared values, we look ahead to a year of learning, partnership and hope in the Franciscan spirit and Jubilee year.
Thank you for the trust you place in us each day. We look forward to working in partnership with you to support all our children to flourish throughout the year ahead.
Warm Regards,
Michelle

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12 FEB 2026 - 2:30- 3:15pm - Parents In Partnership (PIP) Meeting - All Welcome
13 FEB 2026 - No Preps at School
17 FEB 2026 - Shrove Tuesday - Students celebrate with a Pancake
18 FEB 2026 - 8:50 - 10:15am - Open Morning: PBL
20 FEB 2026 - No Preps at School
**6 MAR 2026 - Student Free Day: Staff Faith Formation Professional Learning Day**
**9 MAR 2026 - Student Free Day: Labour Day Public Holiday**
11 - 20 MAR 2026 - NAPLAN TESTING : Years 3 & 5
11 MAR 2026 - 5:30 - 6:30pm - 2027 Prep Information Night
16 -18 MAR 2026 - Year 6 Camp - Mill Valley Ranch
2 APR 2026 - **End of Term 1: Students finish @ 12pm**
20 APR 2026 - **Student Free Day: Learning Conversations**
21 APR 2026 - **First Day of Term 2: Students return**
25 - 27 MAY 2026 - Year 5 Camp (Day 1/3)
26 MAY 2026 - Confirmation Immersion Day: Year 6
26 MAY 2026 - 7 - 9 pm Inform & Empower Parent Session
11 JUN 2026 - 7- 9 pm Sacrament of Confirmation Celebration

We warmly invite parents and carers to visit the school to see firsthand how we support safe, respectful, and responsible learning at SFA.

Our Open Morning Program received such strong support in 2025 that we have decided to continue to open the school regularly in 2026 to share different aspects of our learning.

St Francis of Assisi has been recognised by MACS as a Lighthouse School for Positive Behaviours for Learning (PBL) in the Melbourne Archdiocese. We are so proud of the way that all students follow the structures and routines that are central to PBL, and which help us to meet our commitment that “At SFA all students have the right feel safe and be safe, all the time”.

Please respond to the event in Compass to reserve a place at our Open Morning

Learning Conversations

At SFA, we value Learning Conversations as a vital way to ensure a shared partnership for student learning. These sessions are an opportunity for parents and teachers to discuss the strengths, achievements and challenges of each child.

To provide consistent support throughout the year, we have scheduled three key touchpoints for 2026:

Term 2 : Monday 20th April - Student Free Day
Term 3 : Monday 10th August - Student Free Day
Term 4 (Optional): Monday 14 December

Thank-you!

We loved seeing so many smiling faces as we welcomed you back to school last Thursday. Thank you to everyone for being so patient while we worked to ensure that all families have access to **Compass**.
As we settle into the year, we will be using Compass for more aspects of school life, making it our central hub for communication and information.
Accessing Past Reports
To assist with your record-keeping, all past reports have now been uploaded to Compass. You should now have easy access to the full record of your child’s learning over recent years.
This will be especially helpful for our **Year 5 families**, as most secondary school applications for **2028** are now open. Having these reports readily available will streamline the application process for you.

Our Play Village is Open!

This week marks the exciting launch of our new **Play Village**! While the structural work was completed late last year, we intentionally kept the area closed over the break to allow the new plants and landscaping time to establish.
The Play Village features a **water pump and a dry creek bed**, offering a wonderful space for imaginative and sensory play. To ensure everyone has a chance to explore the new space safely, we have officially timetabled classes for the area. Currently, all students are participating in lessons on how to play safely and responsibly within the village.
**Pro Tip:** Given the popularity of the water pump, we anticipate some very enthusiastic explorers! You may like to pack an **extra pair of socks** in your child’s school bag if you think they will find the water play particularly enjoyable.

Tuesday the 17th February is Shrove Tuesday. This day is commonly referred to as Pancake Tuesday.
In preparation for Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, the 18th of February 2026, as part of their Religious Education lessons, students at SFA will be learning about Shrove Tuesday.
During lunch time, members of the SFA Parents in Partnership Team (PIP) will provide students at SFA with a delicious pancake to eat.
Keep an eye open for a permission note in Compass to allow your child to enjoy a pancake on Shrove Tuesday.
Ash Wednesday
The Catholic Church marks the beginning of Lent with Ash Wednesday, a time when we reflect on how we can be more like Jesus and turn our hearts toward God. It is a season of prayer, reflection, and preparation.
To mark this occasion, each Year Level will hold a Liturgy in its learning space on **Wednesday, 18th February**. During these gatherings, we will place a cross on each person’s forehead using ashes made from the palms of the previous year's Palm Sunday. This ancient tradition serves as a visible sign of our commitment to grow in faith and kindness throughout the forty days of Lent.

Staff Faith Formation Day: Friday 6th March

All schools in the St James Parish will join together on Friday, 6th March to learn from Professor Brother David Hall. We are very lucky to have secured a date with such a distinguished leader in the Marist tradition and Catholic education.
Professor Brother David Hall serves as the Dean of La Salle Academy at Australian Catholic University, where he oversees the mission and identity of Catholic schools across the country. During the day, our staff will explore how to deepen our school's spiritual identity and better support our students' personal growth. His insights are sure to inspire our educators as they continue to foster a vibrant, faith-filled community at St James.
**This school closure day is the Friday before the Labour Day Long weekend**, meaning that families will be able to enjoy a 4-day weekend.

New: Friday School Canteen Trial

We understand how busy the morning rush can be! To help support our families and ensure everyone is ready for school with a healthy meal, we are excited to announce a trial of a school canteen service through TK Tuckshop.

The service will commence on Friday, 13th February and will run every Friday.

Fresh Variety: There are over 40 lunch packs available to cater to all dietary needs, including sushi, pancake boxes, and hot meals.

Easy Ordering: All orders are placed via the Spriggy Schools App.
Classroom Delivery: Food will be delivered directly to your child's classroom at Lunchtime (first break).
Order Deadlines: Standard orders can be placed until 8:00 am on the day.
Special Note for Sushi: Because it’s prepared fresh, sushi orders must be placed by 10:00 pm the night before.

Download the Spriggy Schools App

To get started, download the app on your preferred device:

Apple App Store (iOS): Download here
Google Play Store (Android): Download here

The safety of everyone in our community at SFA is of paramount importance. We want every child to arrive safely at school and to arrive home again safely in the afternoon.

We understand that drop-off and pick-up times can be busy around our school; with your support, we can minimise congestion and keep everyone safe.