Educating the Whole Child for Today and Tomorrow. A school community that recognises learning is natural, creative and

ongoing.

St Francis Primary School Newsletter

Week 2, Term 2, 2016

ANZAC DAY: A prayer of remembrance Lord God, help us this day to remember the sacrifice of the first ANZACs, Australian and New Zealander, and the generations of men, women and children who have died in the cause of liberty and peace. Help us to remember those who still bear the physical and mental scars and disabilities of their service. Help us to remember the widows, girlfriends, parents and orphans and all those who waited in vain for the return of a loved one. Help us to remember the mateship, agony, courage and compassion of war service, but save us from every glorifying the horror and tragedy of war. Lord God, help us to remember.

“They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them”.

Reflection of Anzac Day This Monday, April 25th, all around Australia at various Shrines of Remembrance and War Memorials, people of all ages will gather at dawn to honour those men and women who have gone to war. It is the dawn of another Anzac Day, It is a day of remembrance of the deaths and sufferings of war, the bravery of fighting women and men and the ever present hope for the people of the world to live together in harmony and ever lasting peace.

On this day let us remember those people who live with the reality of war every day. For the many men, women and children of Afganistan, Timor, Leste, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Burundi and many other countries around the world who are experiencing the devastation of conflict. Let us remember all those who are striving to bring peace to these war torn environments. On this coming Anzac Day may we all pray for a peace-filled world and let us work together to promote harmony.

Peace and Joy Justice Integrity Creation

APRIL 2016

Mon,25th AnzacDay–PublicHoliday

Tues,26th Gr5Parents–LaptopInformationSession

MAY 2016

Wed,4th InterschoolCrossCountry

Thurs,5th NoSchoolCanteen

Fri,6th MothersDayStall&Mother’sDayAfternoonTea

Tues10th–Thur12th

NaplanTestingGrade3&5’s

Fri,13th SchoolClosureDay–StaffPD

Fri,13th AnnualDiocesanBoardGathering

Wed,18th StFrancisOpenDay

Tues,31st SchoolBoard

JUNE 2016

Wed,1st CombinedReconciliationDayMasswithSMOTA

Thurs,2nd RetreatDay–SacramentalStudents

Fri,3rd Confirmation&FirstHolyCommunion

Fri,10th GrandparentsDay

Mon,13th QueensBirthdayPublicHoliday

Tues,14th SchoolClosureDay–ReportWriting/StaffPlanning

Fri,24th LastdayofTerm2–earlyfinish:2.20pm.

TERM 2 DATES

NOTICE BOARD

Grade 5 parents: Laptop Parent Information Session, Tuesday, 26 April at 7.00p.m. in the school gathering space (library). Please note that there will be no lunch Orders on Thursday, 5 May 2016 due to St Mary of the Angels holding their athletic sports day.

Dear parents and friends of St Francis,

Last year, I remember sharing my reflections on Anzac Day and why it resonates as such an important day of commemoration. Like so many Australian families my connection to Anzac Day is through having a relative serve in the First World War. My great uncle Bill was 17 when he enlisted in the war and at age 18 he was part of the Australian campaign that landed at Gallipoli. He was in the second round of deployments a week or so after the first wave of diggers of which their heroics on the 25th April are legendary. What he endured and witnessed could only be imagined. Uncle Bill survived his service in the army in both the First and Second World War. Although his physical health was unaffected, for those closest to Uncle Bill would often say the toll mentally and emotionally was far greater than he would ever lead on. This story wouldn’t be dissimilar in most Australian families. The effects of war are far reaching and can be long lasting and is the reason why we need to continue to teach the Anzac story and commemorate for generations to come. To all defence men and women, past and present, on this anniversary of the Gallipoli landing, we honour your heroics and thank you for your service to our country. Lest we forget. Anzac Day Ceremonies ~ This Monday 25th April Services: 6am Dawn Service & 2pm afternoon service. School Captains and student representatives from St Francis will attend the 2 pm service on Monday at the Nathalia Cenotaph and will lay a wreath on behalf of our school. If students would like to be part of this service and represent our school, please meet Mr Summers out the front of Ross Smith’s shop no later than 1:45pm. Please wear your school uniform. Thank you. Have a wonderful week everyone. Chris Summers

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Our brainstorming session yesterday afternoon was absolutely fabulous. A big thank you to those parents who were able to make the session and also thank you to the parents who sent in ideas via email. The brainstorming session has resulted in a calendar that has some fabulous fundraising ideas for each term. We have a couple of big events planned for the year and then smaller fundraisers that will not require as much effort. A calendar with all the details will be forwarded to you all shortly. Our first fundraiser for this term is our Mother’s Day Stall and this year we are holding our first ever Mother’s Day High Tea. More information about this below. Everyone who attended the brainstorming session are very excited about the ideas that were raised and are confident that with a little bit of help from everyone we will be able to raise our target of $8,000.00.

We will be holding our Mother’s Day stall on Friday, 6 May 2016. Students will be able to purchase a present for Mum and/or grandmothers on that day. All presents will be $5.00. For the Mum’s and Grandmothers we are holding a High Tea on the same day in our Gathering Space (library) commencing at 3.00 p.m. Invitations will be coming home shortly. We have a number of volunteers who have put their hands up to either prepare food or to decorate the library. A volunteer list will be forwarded shortly and we ask that any parent who can help in any way, please let us know at the front office or post on our FB page.

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests for years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are scheduled for Tuesday 10th, Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th May 2016. For further information regarding NAPLAN please visit: http://www.nap.edu.au/

MOTHER’S DAY

ST FRANCIS COMMUNITY GROUP

NAPLAN

On Friday, June 10th, we are having our annual Grandparents day. This is a wonderful opportunity for all Nanna's and Pop's, Grand dad’s and Grand ma's, Nona’s and Noni’s to join us for Mass and morning tea and for all of us to show our appreciation of the significant part grandparents play in our children's lives. Mass will be at 9:15am and a special morning tea will be held after mass. This invitation is open to all carers and relatives.

On Tuesday we had a very informative and productive Board Meeting with Phil Bretherton who worked through all areas of school board governance and responsibilities. I look forward to our remaining board gatherings as we formally begin the process of developing our Strategic Directions and long term plans for St Francis.

As we approach ANZAC Day it seemed appropriate for our foundation to Gr 4 students to bake Anzac biscuits in our cooking sessions this week. The smell of butter and golden syrup floated through the school causing many tummies to rumble! It is so rewarding watching our younger students reading the recipes, working out which measuring spoon they will need; watching them work out amongst themselves who is going to mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, each of them waiting their turn. They are having such a good time they don’t even realize that they are not just cooking but working on their reading and maths whilst also learning to work together - all at the same time! The best part of course though is tasting the end product – and they were delicious! We made enough biscuits to share at school and for Loula to had our to the RSL members after the Anzac Service on Monday. Our Grade 5/6 students cooked a leek & spinach tart and an apple and wombok salad. I have it on good authority that these were simply yummy but alas there was not enough for staff to taste!

GRANDPARENT’S DAY

SCHOOL BOARD

STEPHANIE ALEXANDER KITCHEN/GARDEN NEWS

This week our Positive Behaviour Blitz is Kindness. Kindness is a value which we would like others to show to us, and which we should show to others. It is a basic act, which should be instinctive to human nature. Kindness is about being helpful, friendly and considerate. It may be shown in any number of ways from one small, insignificant act to large obvious overtures. It is an act whose only reward should be in the giving, expecting nothing in return.

Congratulations to the following students who were seen to be exhibiting kindness in their interactions with others:

Peyton Miller, Mitchell Daniel, Lachlan Russell, Cadence Armstrong,

Will Trower, Bailey Woods, Mia Spiteri & Kate Francis

Congratulations to our Care Box Winner: Sienna Jorgensen

Congratulations to our Sports Captains: Walsh (Blue): Taylor Wilson & Tom Butler Banyard (Yellow): Harry Dietrich & Holly Boyd Lanigan (Green): Jack Myers & Josie McInnes Kiely (Red): Jason Beckett & Hanna Summerville.

SOCIAL SKILLS BLITZ

SPORTS CAPTAINS

On Thursday, 21 April 2016 we held a combined Anzac Day Service with SMOTA on the school oval. It was a lovely, reverent service and one which the students really appreciated being a part of. As part of the service poems that had been composed by students were read. Three of our student’s poems were chosen to be read and we share these with you. Anzac Poem By Gus Bramwell (Gr 5) In Anzac Cove they sat and mourned, Still and Silent ‘till the break of dawn, Praying for friends and loved ones gone, Praying for the people who died at war, And for those coming home scarred and sore, Praying for those was have been long dead; Hating, regretting all the bloodshed, Remembering the people who died at war, Proudly displaying the badges they had worn before. Anzac Poem Bu Tom Butler (Gr 6) Could you, just could you imagine the war….. Think of it now. You shall hear what I have to say. In one night, could you imagine the cool Turkish waters being lit up by the shots of the Turkish men. Could you imagine sitting in the trenches On a cold Turkish night hoping to survive. Could you imagine hearing the ear piercing shouts, Of the wounded and cries of the dying men. So let us take a minute for the men that Risked their lives for us.

ANZAC DAY SERVICE WITH SMOTA

We will remember them By Shontay McCabe-Jackson (Gr 5) The smell of blood, Long gone from the flood. They have fought brave, Now they live proud in their grave. They would remember, Every single church member. They would shine, Together in a line. So real in their hearts Long gone, Before the dawn. Anzac By Kallia Eagleton (Yr 7 SMOTA) Sweat, fear Gripping knuckles, stress here Cold, damp In drenches, not a camp Worried, distraught The horrible sights, many fought Life, death Gripping on to the final breath Guns, bombs Red skies, the enemy comes Screams, cries You hold your comrade as he dies Soldier and nurses, Got to keep fighting, endless curses Victory, loss The war has ended, final cost Now he ears ANZAC proudly on his shirt No matter what his pain and hurt.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

ANZAC DAY SERVICE WITH SMOTA cont.

StFrancisSchoolChapelSt,POBOX66,NATHALIA,3638Phone:0358662271Fax:0358662136

St Francis Catholic Primary School acknowledges the Bangarang and Yorta Yorta people, the traditional custodians of the land on which our school is situated. We commit ourselves to actively work alongside Aboriginal people for reconciliation and justice.

ST FRANCIS CONTACT DETAILS

NORTHERN ANGELS Future Northern Angels Program: The future Northern Angels program will be a series of Football Clinics over a period of six to eight week for primary school aged girls to learn the basics skills of Australian Rules Football and have fun in a team environment whilst remaining active and also provide a future pathway for girls to one day play for the Northern Angels. The Northern Angels’ players will run this program each week under the guidance of the Northern Angels coaching panel. These clinics will run for an hour once a week prior to the Northern Angels official training session. Future Angels Program: Commencing: Monday, 2 May 2016 Time: 4.35 p.m. – 5.30 p.m. Program Duration: Six to eight weeks Where: Nathalia Recreation Reserve’s small oval. Cost: $10.00 per participant (participants will receive a Future Angels pack on completion of program). For further information, contact Northern Angel coach Phil McKenna 0427 662 104.

COMMUNITY NEWS

SchoolEmail:principal@sfnathalia.catholic.edu.auNewsletterEmail:vdaniel@sfnathalia.catholic.edu.auWeb:www.sfnathalia.catholic.edu.auSchoolWiki:www.stfrancisnathalia.wikispaces.com