2026 Newsletter 6

Dear Parents and Families,

As we move further into the term, I would like to congratulate our students and staff on the many successful learning opportunities and events that have taken place in recent weeks. Our recent excursions to MOPA and the Melbourne Museum combined with our Yr 6 students representation at the Winter Gala Sports Day were wonderful successes, providing students with valuable opportunities to learn, compete, collaborate and represent our school community with pride. Thank you to our staff and parent volunteers who helped make these experiences possible.

Next Thursday, our Year 6 Confirmation candidates will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. This is a significant milestone in their faith journey, and we ask our school community to keep these students and their families in your prayers as they prepare to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and strengthen their relationship with God.

Our Year 5 students recently enjoyed an enriching camp experience at Sovereign Hill. Camps provide invaluable opportunities for students to develop independence, resilience and friendships while engaging in meaningful learning experiences beyond the classroom. We thank the staff who generously gave time away from their own families to ensure our students have these valuable experiences.

Over recent weeks, we have welcomed a number of school leaders and educators to visit our school to observe our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) practices and our curriculum initiatives. It has been a privilege to showcase the outstanding work of our staff and students. We are excited that more schools will be visiting next term as we continue to share and learn together.

We have also received our preliminary NAPLAN data, and I am pleased to report that the results are very positive. The data continues to demonstrate exceptional growth across our student cohort and reflects the dedication of our teachers, the support of our families, and the hard work of our students. We look forward to sharing further information with our community as more detailed analysis becomes available.

As we approach our upcoming swimming program, families are reminded to regularly check Compass for important information and preparation requirements. Ensuring your child is organised and ready each day will help them gain the maximum benefit from this valuable learning opportunity.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Together, we continue to create a thriving learning community where every student is encouraged to grow, achieve and flourish.

Warm Regards,

Michelle

📅 Term 2 Important Dates

June:

June 8 (Mon): NO STUDENTS AT SCHOOL - 👑 King’s Birthday Public Holiday.
June 9 (Tue): COMPULSORY - Confirmation Rehearsal at St James.
June 11 (Thu): Sacrament of Confirmation Celebration (7:00 PM – 9:00 PM).
June 12 (Fri): TK Tuckshop – Order via Spriggy before 8:00 AM.

[IMPORTANT] Swimming Program (June 15 – June 25) Our intensive swimming program runs daily. Please ensure students have their swimming gear ready each morning!

June 19 & 26 (Fri): TK Tuckshop – Order via Spriggy before 8:00 AM.
June 26 (Fri): End of Term 2 – Students finish early at 12:00 PM.

Looking Ahead

July 13 (Mon): Term 3 Starts - ⏰ School starts at 8:50 ⏰
August 5 (Wed): COMPULSORY First Eucharist Family Workshop (5:30 PM - 7:00 PM).
August 22 (Sat): Sacrament of First Eucharist

More Infomation Flyer- Primary School.pdf (1).jpg

🔔 Learning Starts at 8:50am.

To ensure students are settled and ready for learning, teachers mark the roll promptly at 8:50am when the bell rings. We kindly ask families to have children arrive earlier to allow time to reach classrooms, organise belongings, and prepare for the day ahead.

⏱️ Late Arrivals

Drop-off: Any cars that have not crossed the pedestrian crossing by 8:50am will be required to park, and parents or carers will need to accompany their child to the office to sign in.
Late Arrivals: All Students arriving after 8:50am must be signed in at the office by a parent or carer. Students are not permitted to sign themselves in.

⏱️ Early Pick Ups

Please be advised that the school office is unable to facilitate student pick-ups during the following break times:

Lunch: 11:10 am – 11:40 am
Snack: 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Due to the large number of students in open play areas, opening the gates during these times is a child safety risk. To ensure a smooth transition, please arrange all early departures before or after these periods.

Please note: Pick ups after 3:00pm are NOT permitted.

🔔 Dismissal - School finishes strictly at 3:20pm.

A reminder that school pick-up is strictly at 3:20pm. We strongly recommend all families to register with Extend, our OSHC provider to assist in unforeseen circumstances where you may be delayed in collecting your child.

Year 5 Sovereign Hill Camp Adventures!

Our Year 5 students had an unforgettable time stepping back in time at Sovereign Hill! A major highlight of the camp was attending a spectacular night show, which brought to life the rich history of the area and taught students about how Indigenous Australians cared for and used the land long before the Gold Rush.

Throughout the adventure, students stepped underground for a fascinating mine tour, discovering what the challenging living conditions were really like for miners during the 1850s. Back on the surface, they enjoyed a sweet live lolly-making demonstration (and yes, getting to taste them was a crowd favorite!), dipped and created their own colorful candles, and tried their luck panning for gold. After long days of exploring, everyone loved heading back to their cabins to relax, unwind, and bond with their peers.

Year 1 Visit the Theatre! "Where is the Green Sheep?" 🐑🎭

Our Year 1 students had a wonderful time last week visiting the Wyndham Cultural Centre for a special live performance of Where is the Green Sheep?. The children thoroughly enjoyed seeing this favorite story jump from the pages of the book right onto the live stage. They sang along, laughed, and did a brilliant job helping the characters hunt for the green sheep. Congratulations to our Year 1s for representing our school community so beautifully during their big day out!

Our First Big Excursion to MoPA! 🚌🎨

Excitement was at an all-time high on Thursday as our wonderful Prep students set off on their very first school excursion! The children hopped on the bus and headed down the highway to MoPA (Museum of Play and Art) in Geelong for a day dedicated to creativity, exploration, and hands-on learning.

From the moment they arrived, the Preps were immersed in a world of interactive exhibits, immersive play spaces, and giant art installations. They climbed, built, painted, and explored with endless curiosity and huge smiles. Our youngest students represented the school beautifully, demonstrating excellent listening skills and fantastic kindness toward one another throughout the day. It was an unforgettable first milestone excursion for our Prep classes!

🔍 Today's Excursion: Grade 3 at Melbourne Museum - Ancient Rome Comes to Life🏛️

Today, our Grade 3 students swapped their classrooms for the galleries of the Melbourne Museum as part of their Knowledge-Rich unit on Ancient Rome. It was a fantastic day of discovery that brought history to life right before their eyes!

The excursion gave students a hands-on opportunity to deepen their understanding of how the Romans lived, worked, and shaped the modern world. Our young historians were absolutely captivated by the ancient artifacts and displays, seamlessly connecting what they saw in the museum to the rich knowledge they have been building in class. We are incredibly proud of the curiosity, thoughtful questions, and exemplary behavior demonstrated by all of our Grade 3 students throughout the day.

Grade 4 Excursion Wrap-Up: MCG & Sports Museum

The Grade 4 classes headed into the city for an action-packed excursion to the MCG and the Australian Sports Museum. Our students were lucky enough to get a true VIP experience, touring the player club rooms, viewing the stadium from the corporate boxes, and even walking out on the famous ground itself! They also spent time inside the museum, channeling their inner athletes by playing interactive sports games and learning about Australia's rich sporting heritage. We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm and great behavior our Grade 4s displayed throughout this fantastic day out.

Sacrament of Confirmation

The Year 6 community has been alive with the Holy Spirit as our Confirmation candidates have been enthusiastically preparing for their Sacrament, which they will celebrate next Thursday. Fr Jude was deeply impressed when he joined us for our Confirmation Immersion Day, and it was wonderful to partner with so many families during our Confirmation Family Workshop as we journey together in faith. Be sure to keep our Year 6 students in your prayers this week.

Help Us Win a Share of $30,000 with Pacific Werribee! 🛍️

We have an exciting opportunity to earn extra funds for our school, and all it takes is your weekly grocery shop! Pacific Werribee is giving away a share of $30,000 to local schools, and we need your help to climb the leaderboard.

How to support us:

Shop: Purchase your groceries at participating Fresh Food retailers at Pacific Werribee.
Upload: Scan the QR code below on the flyer (or visit their website) to upload your receipts.
Nominate: Select our school to ensure every dollar you spend earns points for our tally!

Bonus Perks for You:

Weekly Prizes: Every receipt upload enters you into a draw to win a $200 grocery gift card (drawn weekly for 6 weeks).
Early Bird Bonus: Sign up for their database before 19th June to score 10 bonus points for us and a chance to win free groceries for a week!

📢 IMPORTANT NOTICE

Late Pick Up Fee Implementation!

Due to a significant increase in the number of students being picked up late after 3:20 PM, we are implementing a formal late collection fee for any students not booked into After School Care.

Starting from Term 3, a fee of $10 per minute will apply to any student who has not been collected by 3:30 PM. This charge is strictly payable by the parent or carer at the time of the late pickup.

💡 How to avoid this fee: We strongly encourage all families to proactively register their children with Extend (https://www.extend.com.au/), our Out of Hours School Care program, so an alternative is always available if you are running late.

We appreciate your cooperation and promptness in ensuring all students are collected safely and on time at the end of the day.

❄️ **Winter Pick-Up Reminder** ❄️

Winter is well and truly here! To help us keep our afternoon pick-up safe, smooth and efficient, please ensure your family name is clearly displayed on your visor or dashboard when collecting your children.
This helps staff identify families quickly, allowing students to get to cars faster and spend less time waiting in the cold and rain.
If you need a replacement family name card, please contact the school office.
Thank you for your support in helping us maintain a safe and efficient transition at the end of each school day.

**🏆 Division Cross Country Championships**

On Thursday 28th May, ten of our fantastic students represented St Francis of Assisi at the Division Cross Country Championships.
Every single runner gave it their all, showing incredible determination, endurance, and sportsmanship against a highly competitive field. They hit the track with pride and pushed through some tough races with a smile. We are incredibly proud of their commitment, effort, and the wonderful way they represented our school community.
Huge congratulations to all of our participants for an outstanding effort!

Year 6 Winter Gala Day

On Wednesday 3rd June, our Year 6 students braved the chilly weather to participate in the highly anticipated Winter Gala Day, showcasing fantastic team spirit and determination across all sports. It was a day filled with competitive matches and great sportsmanship, with several teams pushing deep into the finals. Our Netball team led the charge with an impressive 2nd place finish, closely followed by the Softball team who secured a fantastic 3rd place. Over on the pitch, both the boys' and girls' Soccer teams played brilliantly to reach the semi-finals, narrowly missing out on the grand decider. Our AFL and Volleyball teams also faced some incredibly tough competition, fighting hard in every match and gaining valuable experience throughout the day. Congratulations to all of our Year 6 students for representing the school with such pride and giving it their absolute all!