Term 3: Week 2
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back to Term 3. It will be a short but very busy term with lots happening in our school and Parish. The term started last week with celebrations for St James Feast Day. It was great to see so many of our families at the Parish Party and to celebrate Fr Jude and his significant faith service milestone.
Over the holidays we had exciting news. Maddison Lane, her husband Johnno and son Ryder welcomed the newest addition to their family, Nate. Mum and bub are both doing well and Ryder is enjoying his new role as big brother. Congratulations to the Lane family!
In bittersweet news, two of our staff members are moving on. Toyah Boyle who has been working one day a week as the Prep Visual Arts teacher accepted a full time teaching position at St Andrew’s in Werribee. We wish her well as she takes on the Year Two class and joins this lucky community. Angie Um, one of our Korean Languages teachers, has moved to the Eastern Suburbs with her family over the holidays and has made the decision that travel over the Westgate will be a bit much. Angie will be finishing up her role here at St Francis in a few weeks time. We wish Angie and her family well as they explore new horizons with their move.
Our Year 4 students have had an eventful week as they are in full preparation to receive the Sacrament of Eucharist in a few weeks time. A faith and fun filled day was had by all on Tuesday with their Eucharist Immersion day, followed by the Family Workshop on Wednesday evening. A big thanks goes to Andrea, Joaney, Isabelle and Apeksha for all their hard work preparing the students for a significant faith milestone.
Our Year 6 Netballers made it through to the Regional Division competition last Wednesday at Altona Stadium. Whilst they didn’t win their competitions, they had a great day representing our school and made us extremely proud of their efforts, sportsmanship and positive attitude. Thanks to Bernie for training, supervising and cheering the team on for the day.
I felt very special last week when students and staff celebrated Principal Appreciation Day. The students created this amazing video which I really treasured.
We also send out Happy Grandparents Day wishes to all of the grandparents in our community. Our lives are so much richer for the joy that you bring.
Enjoy the fortnight ahead,
Michelleally
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5 AUG 2025 - 100 Days of Prep
11 AUG 2025 - Bullying No Way Day - Wear a splash of Purple
15 AUG 2025 - 2:40 - 3:10pm Assembly in the Billabong
23 AUG 2025 - SAT 10:30 - 11:30am Sacrament of Eucharist Celebration
25 AUG 2025 - 9 - 10am Book Parade
28 AUG 2025 - 9 - 10:15am School Open Morning: Mathematics
29 AUG 2025 - Father's Day Stall
5 SEPT 2025 - 7:30 - 8:30am Father's Day Breakfast
5 SEPT 2025 - 2:40 - 3:10pm Assembly in the Billabong
11 SEPT, 2025 - 7 - 8:30pm Aladdin Production: Evening Show
12 SEPT 2025 - 2 - 3:30pm Aladdin Production: Matinee
12 SEPT 2025 - 7 - 8:30pm Aladdin Production: Evening Show
19 SEPT 2025 - 12pm Term 3 Ends
6 OCT 2025 - No Students - School Closure Day
7 OCT 2025 - Term 4 Begins
Open Morning – Thursday 28th August
We are excited to launch a new series of Open Mornings for our families. Over the coming terms, we will welcome our families to come into the school to see first-hand the engaging and high-quality learning taking place at SFA.
Our first Open Morning will focus on Mathematics and will take place on Thursday 28th August from 9:00 am to 10:15 am.
The morning will begin with a short information session led by our leadership team at 9:00 am. These sessions will provide an overview of what you can expect to see in classrooms and share some of the outstanding growth and results our students are achieving.
Prep – Year 2 families are invited to the Staff Room
Years 3 – 6 families are invited to the De Piro space (Year 6 area)
Our student leaders will be stationed at the front office to guide families to the appropriate locations.
Following the sessions, families will have the opportunity to visit classrooms and observe the learning in action.
The bell will ring at 10:00 a.m., signalling the end of the classroom visits. Afterwards, please join us for morning tea with some of our staff members in the Staff Lounge.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady
On Friday 15th August, all students in Years 2 to 6 will celebrate Mass for the Assumption of Mary in the Gymnasium at Thomas Carr College.
Year 4 Sacrament of First Eucharist
Please keep our Year 4 students in your prayers, as they continue to prepare for their Sacrament of First Eucharist celebration, which will be held on Saturday, 23rd August.
Father’s Day at SFA
Calling all Dads, or special men who are like a Dad at SFA!
Be sure to save the date for our Father’s Day Breakfast celebration on Friday 5th September.
Please also note that our Annual Father's Day Stall will be held on Friday 29th August. There are lots of terrific gifts priced between $1.00 and $5.00 available for the children to purchase for the special men in their lives on the day!
Year 4 Science!
The Year 4 students have started their Chemistry Unit and have been learning about very small particles called atoms. Atoms are like tiny building blocks that make up everything around you — your toys, your food, your clothes, even you! They're so small you can't see them, even with a regular microscope. Students made their own atom models of Helium and Hydrogen using pipecleaners and plasticine.
Drop Off Zone Times
It is great to see so many families enjoying the benefit of the Drop off Zone in the mornings. Our Drop Off Zone gates open at 8:35 am.
Cars that have not passed crossing in the school when the bell rings at 8:50am will be asked to park their car and come into the office with their children to sign in.
We encourage you to aim to be at school before 8:50 am to give your child time to get to their classroom. Teachers mark the roll at 8:50 am when the bell rings.
The Power of Open Communication: Protecting Your Kids from Deepfakes
Deepfakes are a growing concern in our digital world. These seemingly real but fake videos and images can make it look like someone said or did something they never did, and they can be particularly harmful to children. While this might seem like a distant issue, especially for younger kids, building a foundation of open communication now is the best way to prepare them.
Why Talk Now?
Starting early creates a safe space where your child feels comfortable sharing anything they encounter online. This is crucial for high school, when their online world becomes more complex and they may be more vulnerable to issues like deepfakes. If your kids know they can come to you, they'll be more likely to seek help if they're targeted or see something concerning.
Keeping the Conversation Going
Talk Early and Often: Make age-appropriate discussions about online safety a regular part of your family's routine.
Stay Calm: If your child brings up a sensitive topic, react with understanding to keep the conversation flowing.
Discuss the Different Roles: Talk about how a child might be affected—as a target of a deepfake, a bystander who sees one, or even inadvertently a creator. Explain the potential harm to victims and the serious consequences for those who create and share them.
Empower Them to Act: If your child receives or sees harmful content, support them to take action. This might mean blocking, reporting content on the platform, or deleting it. Let them know who they can report to: a trusted adult, the school, the police (for serious illegal content), or the eSafety Commissioner. Reassure them that coming forward is brave and the right thing to do.
Engage with Their Digital World: Show genuine interest in the platforms they use and the content they enjoy. This helps foster a shared understanding of their online experiences.
By building this foundation of trust now, you'll equip your children with the resilience and confidence they need to navigate the digital world safely.
You can find more resources on this topic at the eSafety Commissioner’s website
Monday 11th August - Wear a splash of purple
In week 4, 11th - 15th August, SFA will be participating in: Bullying No Way: national week of action.
We encourage everyone to come to school on the 11th August, and wear a splash of purple.
Term 3 PBL Foci
Each term, we focus on specific aspects of our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) expectations to support our students. This term, we have chosen one key aspect of safe behaviour: "I keep my hands, feet, and objects to myself." We will also be focusing on two areas of respectful behaviour: "I am a kind and positive role model" and "I communicate effectively."
Growth vs. Fixed Mindset: A Parent's Guide
A growth mindset is the belief that intelligence and abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. People with a growth mindset view challenges as opportunities to learn and grow, not as insurmountable obstacles. They often replace thoughts like "I can't do it" with "I can't do it yet," understanding that the brain is like a muscle that gets stronger with exercise.
In contrast, a fixed mindset is the belief that you are born with a set amount of knowledge and skill that cannot be changed. This often leads to avoiding challenges and giving up easily.
Nurturing a Growth Mindset in Children
To help children develop a growth mindset, parents should first model this behavior themselves. It's also crucial to praise your child's effort and the process they take to learn, rather than just their ability or intelligence. Remind them of times they overcame a challenge, like learning to ride a bike, to show that effort leads to success.
For more information, visit the original article at: https://positivepsychology.com/growth-mindset/
