Term 1: Week 10

Dear Families, 

We have reached the end of Term One, which has been filled with lots of learning and fun. Michelle is still on Pilgrimage, where she is following the steps of St Paul, which has taken her to Greece and Turkey. She will return for the start of Term Two and she is looking forward to sharing her spiritual journey with the community.

We thank our families who have participated in a range of different school events this term, such as Inform and Empower, Wonder of Living, Liturgies, School Masses, Stations of the Cross and the Easter Bonnet parade, just to name a few. Your involvement in these events further strengthens the partnership between school and home.   

We congratulate our Prep students and new families who have settled into SFA so seamlessly and have immersed themselves in this vibrant school community.    

As we approach the Easter season, we pray that this holy time brings peace and blessings to you and your loved ones. May you experience the joy of resurrection, the hope of new beginnings, and the warmth of family togetherness.

We hope this Easter is a time of reflection, renewal, and spiritual growth for your family. May God's love fill your hearts with grace and joy.

Wishing you a blessed and safe Easter,

Denice, Tom & Gill - Deputy Principals

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23 APR 2025 - First Day of Term 2

24 APR 2025 - 4pm Mother's Day Scone orders close in QKR

25 APR 2025 - ANZAC Day - No students

2 MAY 2025 - Mother's Day Stall

9 MAY 2025 - 1 - 2:30pm Mother's Day Afternoon Tea

23 MAY 2025 - 2:40 - 3:10pm School Assembly in the Billabong

9 JUN 2025 - King's Birthday - No Students

13 JUN 2025 - 2:40 - 3:10pm School Assembly in the Billabong

18 JUN 2025 - 7 pm Sacrament of Confirmation Celebration (Year 4)

20 JUN 2025 - No Students: Learning Conversations

30 JUN 2025 - Year 5 Camp (Day 1/3)

4 JUL 2025 - Term 2 Ends

21 JUL 2025 - School Closure Day - No Students

22 JUL 2025 - Term 3 Begins

Knowledge Rich Curriculum - Dr. Nathaniel Swain 

We are excited to inform you that our upcoming Professional Development Day, scheduled for Tuesday, 22nd April, will feature Dr. Nathaniel Swain, an expert in knowledge-rich curriculum approaches. Dr. Swain will guide our teachers in enhancing reading comprehension through a curriculum that provides students with a strong foundation of essential knowledge. Teachers will explore effective techniques, such as structured vocabulary instruction and regular check-ins for understanding, to make these strategies more engaging and impactful in the classroom.

This professional development opportunity will deepen our teachers' knowledge and have a positive impact on your child's learning experience, and we appreciate your continued support.

If you would like to know more ways that a Knowledge Rich curriculum can enhance reading comprehension, you can view Dr Swain’s blog here.

School Awards Now in Seesaw

Our school assemblies are being held approximately every 3 weeks this year. Our changed bell times also make our assemblies shorter than they used to be. Therefore, we have moved the awarding of certificates online into our Seesaw classes. Homegroup teachers will post awards in Seesaw at least every three weeks, and they may sometimes grant extra awards more frequently.

At SFA, we grant awards to students who display the school dispositions of being Collaborative, Courageous, Creative, Self-Directed and Striving for Mastery. We also grant a Friendly Franciscan award to students who demonstrate care for others and display characteristics of St Francis.

Last week, we gathered with our Year 4 families to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It was a special occasion as 40 students made their sacrament, while nine students who are not baptised chose to participate and received a special blessing from Fr Jude and Fr John. From this year onwards, the Sacrament of Reconciliation will take place in Year 3, and the Sacrament of Eucharist will be celebrated in Year 4. We thank our families and parish community for their support in guiding our students on their faith journey.

Year 3 Sacrament of Reconciliation Save the Dates

In October of this Year, our Year 3 Students will have the opportunity to Celebrate the Sacrament of First Reconciliation, or join us for a special blessing. Please note the following dates:

Reconciliation Immersion Day Monday 13th October (for students) 

Compulsory Sacrament of Reconciliation Family Workshop Wednesday 15th October at SFA commencing at 5:30pm

Sacrament of First Reconciliation

Wednesday 22nd October.10am at Thomas Carr College Chapel or 7pm at St James the Apostle Catholic Church, Hoppers Crossing

Year 3

Last week the Year 3’s celebrated their Term 1 achievements. We did this by holding a YEAR 3 DISCO! We have had a jam-packed Term, and this was a lovely celebration for our students and all they have learnt this term. We definitely danced till we dropped! Congratulations Year 3’s!

ANZAC Day Pins

In Support of the Werribee RSL, we will be selling Anzac Pins for a gold Coin donation from outside the Drop Off and Pick Up Zone double doors on Wednesday 23rd and Thursday the 24th April. 

On Anzac Day, 25th April, our School Captains will represent SFA by laying a wreath at the Cenotaph during the dawn Service.

Mother’s Day Stall 

On Friday 2nd May, students at SFA will have the opportunity to purchase a gift for their mum, or someone who is like a mum at our Annual PIP Mother’s day stall. Gifts range from $1.00 to $5.00.

Students should bring their cash to school on or before the 2nd May to purchase a gift from the staff.

Mother’s Day Afternoon at SFA

On Friday, 9th May, Mums are invited to join us at SFA from 1 pm. You will have a chance to join your children in their learning community, and you are invited to join us for afternoon Tea from 1:30 pm.

If you would like to enjoy a delicious Scone for Afternoon Tea, at a cost of $3.00 per scone, be sure to place your scone order in QKR before 4 pm on Monday, 24th April.

This week has been National eSmart Week! By following the eSmart guidelines, an initiative of the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, we ensure that students learn how to be smart, safe, and responsible digital citizens. eSmart is a trusted, evidence-based program that provides schools, teachers, and families with free resources to help students navigate the digital world confidently.

At SFA, eSmart is embedded in our PBL Matrix, with one column dedicated to how we can be safe, respectful, and responsible in online environments. This reinforces the importance of positive digital behaviours and helps our students develop the skills to engage safely and responsibly in the online world.

The Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) are currently promoting the importance of regular school attendance. A snippet of their message is below, and further details can be viewed here.

Congratulations to our Year 6 students who participated in the Summer Gala Sport Carnival last week. Each year, schools in our zone come together for both summer and winter competitions, giving students the opportunity to play and compete in a range of sports. This year, our students took part in cricket, basketball, T-ball, tennis, and Volleystar, showcasing great sportsmanship and teamwork throughout the day. It was a fantastic event filled with fun and friendly competition, and our Year 6 students are already looking forward to coming together again for the Winter Gala next term.