Dear Parents and Families,
Welcome back to Term 4! I hope all our families enjoyed a restful break and are ready for another exciting and busy term of learning, growth and community celebrations. It is wonderful to have our students and staff back together as we begin the final term of the school year.
On Monday’s school closure day, teachers engaged in a range of professional responsibilities, including collaborative discussions, professional reading and planning in preparation for Term 4. This dedicated time provided valuable opportunities for reflection, professional learning and the development of teaching and learning programs to ensure a purposeful and engaging start to the term, with a continued focus on supporting student learning, growth and achievement.
Last Friday, we joyfully celebrated our School Feast Day with a whole-school Mass at Thomas Carr College followed by a range of fun activities and, of course, our much-anticipated Colour Run! It was wonderful to see students and teachers laughing, running and being splashed with vibrant colours. There was so much excitement and joy throughout the day! A heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated and supported this special event. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
This Monday and Tuesday, we welcomed our 2027 Prep students for our Step into Prep program. It was lovely to see our youngest learners begin their journey with us, becoming familiar with the school environment and taking their first steps towards starting school. We look forward to welcoming them back for our upcoming Prep Transition Days over the next two Mondays, as they continue to build confidence and connections with our school community.
This Saturday, we look forward to gathering as a community at the St James Parish Fete. The fete promises to be a wonderful day filled with fun, food and festivities, including rides, delicious treats, the cake stall, potion stand, photo booth and much more! Our talented school choir will also be showcasing their wonderful voices at 10:00 am. We encourage everyone to come along, enjoy the festivities and support this important community event.
As we begin Term 4, there is much to look forward to. Thank you for your continued support, partnership and commitment to our school community. I look forward to sharing another wonderful term of learning, faith, friendship and celebration with you all.
Warm regards,
Michelle
🎪 FETE DAY IS HERE! TOMORROW, 10 AM – 4 PM 🎪
Join us for a day packed with fun, food, rides, and games at the St James Parish Fete! Be sure to drop by our school stalls to support our community and cheer on the SFA Choir at 10:00 am. We can’t wait to celebrate with you! 🎉 - Details in Community News!
✝️ SACRAMENT OF FIRST RECONCILIATION
Please keep our Year 3 students in your prayers over the coming weeks as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of First Reconciliation.
The children are eagerly anticipating their Immersion Day next Tuesday, and we look forward to welcoming all Year 3 families to our Family Workshop this Wednesday at 5:30 PM.
Thank you for supporting our students on this special step in their faith journey!
📅 Term 4 Important Dates
September:
October 23, 30 (Fri): TK Tuckshop – Order via Spriggy before 8:00 AM.
October 17 (Sat): St James Parish Fete (10:00 am to 4:00 pm) 🎪 - See Flyer in Community News!
October 20 (Tue): Year 3 - Reconciliation Immersion Day
October 21 (Wed): Year 3 - Compulsory Reconciliation Family Workshop
October 23 (Fri): Year 5 Excursion - Werribee Zoo 🦍🦒 🐘🦁
October 28 (Wed): 🌟 HAPPY WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY! 🍎
October 29 (Thu): Year 3 Sacrament of Reconciliation
October 30 (Fri): Year 4 Excursion - Sun Theatre 🎬🍿
Looking Ahead
November 2 (Mon): Student Free Day
November 3 (Tues): Public Holiday - Melbourne Cup Day 🏇🏆
November 4 (Wed): Year 1 Excursion - CERES
November 11 (Wed): Remembrance Day 🌺
We Are Now on Social Media! 📲✨
Great news, families! St Francis of Assisi is officially on social media. We’re excited to share more of our school life, student achievements, and upcoming events with our community.
Follow us to stay connected and see what’s happening around the school:
📸 Instagram: @stfrancistarneit
📘 Facebook: sfatarneit
Be sure to like, follow, and tag us so we can celebrate our wonderful community together! 🙏 Tag a fellow parent in the comments once you follow us!
📢 LATE PICK UP CHARGES NOW APPLY
Following our previous communications, please be advised that late collection fees are now being strictly enforced.
Any child who is not collected by 3:30 PM will incur a late fee of $10 per minute, which is payable immediately upon collection.
💡 How to protect yourself from unexpected fees:
We strongly advise all families to register their children with Extend, our Out of Hours School Care (OSHC) program. Registration is free and ensures your child has a safe, supervised place to go in the event of traffic delays, emergencies, or unforeseen circumstances.
⚙️ LAUNCHING INTO SCIENCE! YEAR 1 SIMPLE MACHINES INCURSION! 🚀
What an high-energy way to wrap up Term 3! In our very last week of term, our Year 1 scientists ended on an absolute high with an action-packed Simple Machines Incursion! ⚙️💡
Building directly on everything they’ve been exploring in their Knowledge Rich unit this term, students jumped hands-on into the exciting world of physical science! 🔬 They rolled up their sleeves to experiment with levers, wheels, and simple tools to discover how different forces cause movement. 🛠️🌀
The absolute highlight of the day? Testing out real pulleys and building their very own working catapults! 🏹💥 The room was buzzing with excitement as classroom learning came to life through real-world, interactive science.
What a fantastic, brain-power-packed finale to Term 3. Way to go, Year 1! 🌟👏
🎭 "THE BEST EXCURSION EVER!" | Year 2's Magical Day at the State Theatre! ✨
Magic, music, and mind-blowing talent! Our Year 2 students stepped into a world of pure wonder with an unforgettable excursion to the newly reopened Ian Potter State Theatre!
As one of Melbourne's most iconic historic landmarks, the theatre recently underwent a massive, grand transformation—and our students got a front-row seat to experience its exciting new chapter firsthand.
The main event was watching Housewarming, a high-energy, vibrant spectacle that swept us up in a thrilling quest to find the mysterious Lyrebird missing from the theatre’s iconic red curtain. Featuring over 100 spectacular Victorian artists, the stage erupted with: 🎪 Mind-boggling circus feats 💃 Breathtaking dance & world-class performances from The Australian Ballet 😂 Laugh-out-loud comedy & live singing 🌟 A spectacular, dazzling light show
It was an absolute feast for the senses and an incredible opportunity for our students to discover a famous Melbourne venue while soaking in the magic of live theatre. The verdict from our young theatre-goers was unanimous, with many already declaring it “the best excursion ever!” 🌟👏
⛪ PREP CHAPEL VISIT & ADVENT LEARNING
Our Prep students enjoyed a wonderful visit to the beautiful Chapel at TCC with Fr Jude last Thursday! As they gathered to begin learning about the Liturgical Season of Advent, our youngest learners showed incredible curiosity and asked so many thoughtful questions. Fr Jude was deeply impressed by their inquisitive nature and eager participation. It was a truly lovely experience for our Preps as they grow in their faith journey!
🎉 ST FRANCIS FEAST DAY & COLOUR RUN SUCCESS!
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate St Francis Feast Day last Friday!
Our morning began with a beautiful St Francis Jubilee Year Mass with Fr Jude, where our choir led us in an inspiring rendition of ‘Singing out our Joy’. The celebration and laughter continued right through the afternoon with our vibrant Colour Run!
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our wonderful PIP Parent volunteers for making the afternoon run so smoothly, as well as to every family who generously donated. Together, our school community raised an astounding $9,018.00!
🎁 Important Prize Selection Information:
All children who created a profile and raised $10.00 or more can log into their online profile page starting this Friday to choose their prizes.
PBL Focus This Term: I Take Responsibility for Myself!
At St Francis of Assisi, we believe that every student has the ability to make positive choices, develop independence and contribute to our wonderful school community. This term, our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) focus is “I Take Responsibility for Myself!”
But what does taking responsibility really look like?
Responsibility means being dependable, making positive choices and taking ownership of our actions. It’s about understanding that the choices we make matter and that we all have an important role to play in creating a safe, respectful and supportive community.
For our students, taking responsibility can look different at every age. It might mean remembering to pack their school bag, organising their belongings, following classroom expectations, completing a task independently or admitting a mistake and trying to make things right. At home, younger children might practise responsibility by getting dressed, helping to tidy up or caring for a family pet.
The little things make a BIG difference! Every time children practise being responsible, they build confidence, independence and the skills they need to become capable, caring and respectful citizens.
Families can support this learning by encouraging children to take on age-appropriate responsibilities at home, celebrating their efforts and providing opportunities for them to solve problems and learn from their mistakes.
Together, we can help our students understand that responsibility isn’t about being perfect — it’s about making good choices, learning from our experiences and doing our best, even when things are challenging.
Let’s work together this term to empower our students to take ownership, grow in independence and shine as responsible members of our St Francis of Assisi community!
📸 Footy Colours Day Highlights! 🏉
Term 3 went out with a bang! 🎉 Footy Colours Day brought maximum energy, bright team gear, and non-stop smiles across the whole school on our last day of term. 🏉✨
It was an epic way to celebrate all the hard work of Term 3 and kick off the school holidays in true champion style! 🥳 Huge thanks to everyone who dressed up, and brought the footy fever.
📅 TERM 4 PSG MEETINGS
✉️ Reminder for Families: Term 4 PSG meeting schedule details have been sent via email. Please check your inbox to view your scheduled time!
🎉 THE COUNTDOWN IS OVER — THE ST JAMES PARISH FETE IS TOMORROW! 🎈
Get ready for an unforgettable day of fun, laughter, and amazing community spirit! The St James Parish Fete is finally here, and we can’t wait to see you all tomorrow!
Come down with family and friends to explore, play, and support our wonderful school community at all our fantastic stalls! From delicious treats and magical drinks to exciting games, rides, and live performances, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy.
Event Summary:
🗓️ When: Tomorrow! (10:00 am – 4:00 pm)
📍 Where: St James the Apostle Primary School
🎶 Special Highlight: Watch our SFA Choir perform live at 10:00 am!
🛍️ Stalls & Fun: Food, rides, games, potion brewing, photo booth, and so much more!
Bring your smiles, your gold coins, and your community spirit. Let's make this fete a massive success for our children! See you all tomorrow! 🥳✨
🐋🐙 MEET OUR ART SHOW WINNERS! 🏆📸
A huge round of applause goes out to everyone who submitted an artwork, and a special CONGRATULATIONS to our category and grade winners! 🏆👇 Your dedication and artistic flair truly shone bright!
Thank you to our wonderful art teachers for their tireless hard work behind the scenes, and to all the families who came along to celebrate and support our young creators. You made this event an absolute triumph! 🐚⭐
Check out the photos of our winners! 📸👇
🌺 REMEMBRANCE DAY POPPY APPEAL 🌺
As Remembrance Day approaches, our school is proud to once again support the RSL Remembrance Day Poppy Appeal.
Poppy Appeal badges and poppies will be delivered to our school on Monday, 19th October 2026, and will be available for students and families to purchase at school leading up to Remembrance Day.
Purchasing a poppy is a wonderful way to honour those who served while helping raise vital funds for our veterans and their families. Thank you for your ongoing support of this meaningful cause!
✨ Ready for your close-up? 📸
A massive thank-you to the wonderful Mangani family for bringing their photo booth to our parish fete! 🎈 Pop in, snap some fun memories with friends, and collect your prints for only $5!
All proceeds support our parish! 🙌
