As we begin our Lenten journey

Holy God, you are the sources of all goodness, and through the Spirit of your Son Jesus,

we are blessed by your goodness. May your Word find its home in our hearts so that as

we begin our Lenten journey, we may have the grace to embrace the way of Jesus, Amen.

FAMILY SUNDAY MASS – 28 February 2016. This is a community Mass which in-

volves St Frannies’ children as ministers for reading and music. New school families

will be welcomed to the community during this Mass and we invite all school families to

consider attending. Please look out for an invitation which will come home with children

later this week.

UPCOMING DATES:

Family Sunday Mass on Sunday 28 February at 5pm

11 February 2016

We hope that throughout the year, our community will continue to come together to par-

ticipate in and volunteer at a variety of school functions, activities and events, including

celebrations of our Christian faith. In this way relationships are formed and positive atti-

tudes are developed. These attitudes give positive input to our children. It is said that a

child’s life is like a piece of paper, on which every person leaves a mark. Hopefully, all

marks left during the year will be indicative of respect, love, care and encouragement.

Central to the very existence of our school is the integration of faith and culture transmit-

ted in the various subjects and in the daily happenings of a school day. Prayer, worship

and Religious instruction play an important part in faith formation. Our communal wor-

ship every weekend and at our Family Masses provides reinforcement of our beliefs and

an opportunity for faith formation. It is not enough for us to simply hope that our stu-

dents will learn how to follow Christ. We must be proactive and provide numerous op-

portunities for them to form a relationship with Christ. In doing so we are providing a

solid platform for their own faith journey.

I invite all parents to feel welcome, comfortable and free to contribute to the cultural

context of our school community.

From the APRE….Kathy Doherty

From the Principal - Brendan O’Reilly

Dates To Remember

February 2016 Clifton Show: 12th, 13th and 14th

Battle Of The Brains: Saturday 13th at 12:15

Information Night / Meet & Greet : Thursday 18th 5:00pm - 6:00pm BBQ 6:00pm - 6:30pm New Parent’s Info 6:30pm - 7:30pm Information Session Family Sunday Mass: Sunday 28th at 5pm School Photo Day: Monday 29th March 2016 Parish Fete: Sat 19th. Starting at 10am. SFDS Cross Country: Friday 18th (Wet day 23rd) Holy Thursday: 24th Good Friday: 25th Easter Sunday: 27th

April 2016 Parent / teacher interviews: 18th to the 22nd

Representative Sport Dates for Term One

Southern Downs Swimming, Wednesday 17th Feb

Central Downs Tennis, Friday 19th Feb

Southern Downs Softball, Thursday 25th Feb

Southern Downs Tennis, Thursday 3rd March

Central Downs Netball, Friday 4th March

Central Downs Rugby League, Friday 4th March

Central Downs Soccer, Friday 4th March

Southern Downs Netball, Friday 11 March

Southern Downs Rugby League, Friday 11 March

Southern Downs Soccer, Friday 11 March

This Week’s Mass Roster

Saturday: 13th February 7 pm

Welcoming: M Cranitch

POF/OH: P Tickner

Readers: D Lyons & M Lucas

Offertory: G Harris & Family

Eucharistic Ministers: K Flynn & J Nash

Church Cleaning: School

SCHOOL CAMP

Dear Parents of our year 5/6 students,

Our Canberra trip is fast approaching. An all-inclusive

cost of the camp will be $740 per student. A deposit of

$250 for camp needs to be paid at our school office by

the end of

February. We would encourage you to make payments

in advance at our school office. I would like to person-

ally thank our wonderful parent volunteers who coordi-

nated a number of fundraising efforts, to make camp

more affordable for everyone.

Kind regards,

Brendan O’Reilly

Angela Ehmer Website: Angela offered parents the opportunity to use resources on her website for Literacy and Nu-meracy. Please see the details below: literacysolutions.com.au Literacy Solutions is an experienced team of literacy consultants. We have worked with An-gela Ehmer from Literacy Solutions to enhance our school reading, teaching and learning prac-tices. This year she will be visiting our school to coach and mentor the staff with current re-search based techniques to enhance writing. Angela has offered parents the opportunity to use her resources on her website for reading and writing activities. See the above website to access information and activities.

God Bless,

Brendan O’Reilly

Principal

St Francis de Sales Playgroup will begin on

Tuesday 23rd February from 9am to 10.30am.

All welcome.

The school is launching a playgroup for children 0 to 5

years. This will be held Tuesdays, beginning Tuesday

23rd February, from 9am—10.30am.

All parents and children are welcome. Please bring a

hat, water bottle and morning tea. Parents are to remain

at the playgroup with their child for the session. If in-

terested please phone the school on 46973366 for more

information or email:

angela.skillington@twb.catholic.edu.au

On Monday the 8th of February, we had fourteen students represent our school at the

Central Downs Swimming Carnival. We had some outstanding results from across the

school, with all students being good sports and trying their best. Well done team, we are all

very proud!

Congratulations to Michael Shingles, Charlee Murdoch, Lacey Free, Billy Joppich and Harry

Bange who have all qualified to go to the next level at Southern Downs next Wednesday.

Wishing you all the best!

Central Downs Participants

Lucy Stace

Charlee Murdoch - Age Champion

Lacey Free

Isla Rickert

Ryan Gillam

Billy Joppich

Harry Bange - Runner Up

Matty McKenzie

Heidi Burton

Joe Bange

Alister Harris - Runner Up

Liam Ruhle

Michael Shingles - Age Champion

Lily Rickert - Age Champion

Kristy Shingles - Runner Up

What do you like about school?

Award Winners

Everything.

When we get to see letter land. When we count to

twenty.

Digging in the sandpit. I like playing

around the trees.

Playing cats and dogs. I like writing.

Dominic

Savannah

Tahlia

Bailey

P&F NEWS

MEET & GREET

The Meet & Greet will be on Thursday, 18th February. This year, the P&F will provide party pies, sau-

sage rolls and cheerios for the kids and nibbles for the parents. This is a wonderful opportunity for old fam-

ilies to come together, and for new families to meet and mingle with other parents. Please reply for cater-

ing. Thank you.

CLIFTON SHOW (CHIP VAN) – P&F FUNDRAISER

Thank you for the wonderful response we have had from families to volunteer time or donate soft drinks for

the Chip Van fundraiser at the Clifton Show this weekend.

UNIFORM SHOP

The uniform shop will be OPEN on Monday’s from 8:30am. The Uniform Shop Convenor, Jenny Gillam,

can be contacted on 0408 198 538.

TUCKSHOP We need your help! If you are able to volunteer your time one Friday this term to help in tuckshop, please

contact Anna on 0439 539 371. Thank you to those families who have already offered to help, we could

not provide tuckshop without your support.

Next P&F Meeting: 6pm – Wednesday, 9th March 2016

Please email your agenda items to: Clifton.PandF@twb.catholic.edu.au

2016 P&F Committee: Simone Gillam, Emma Gascoyne, Ann-maree Bange, Lisa Lucas

TUCKSHOP MEAL DEAL - $6.00

(order Friday 12/2 for Friday 19/2)

Pasta Bolognaise & Pop Top or Popper for 1st Break and Homebake for 2nd Break

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Meet & Greet – Thursday, 18th

February

Yes, our family will be there.

Family Name:__________________________ No. of Kids:_____________ No. of Adults:____________

Please return this form to the school by MONDAY. Thank you!