St Francis of Assisi College - Term 3 Week 4 - 2024

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Senior Student Pathway Preparation

Towards the end of Term 3 and the beginning of Term 4, parent and student information sessions have been facilitated to provide information, and clarification around the opportunities for our students currently progressing through SACE.  In general terms this has incorporated information around academic pathways for our students, and vocational pathways through VET and School Based Apprenticeship opportunities for example.

This is an exciting period in the growth of the College, and for our senior students, as they begin to consider more intentionally their potential pathway through the senior years and life beyond secondary school.

As we embark on the subject counselling and selection process for our 2025 year 10 and year 11 students, I encourage parents and carers to engage with their child in this process.  It is not vital or necessarily realistic that students embarking on year 11 have a clear picture on their post school direction, it is important at year 11 level, that subject selections do incorporate considerations around possible tertiary and career pathways.

National Vocations Awareness Week

Last week marked National Vocations Awareness Week, as Catholics, we believe that God has a plan for our lives. He calls some to marriage, some to the priesthood, and others to consecrated life or to live as generous single people.

We all have a vocation. The word vocation comes from the Latin vocare, which in English means to call. God calls each one of us to holiness. Being called to holiness means being called to love God and others.

Someone’s specific vocation is the particular path or the unique specific way that he or she is called to follow Christ, to be more like him, but with their own personality, and characteristics, their gifts, talents, weaknesses and circumstances. Following God’s call is not about becoming someone that we are not, but about becoming more fully the ones He created us to be. As such we are all invited to reflect on how we are called to love others, making God’s love present in the world.

During this week, we are invited to pray about how God is calling us to live your own vocation more deeply. We also pray for more and generous vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.

Diocesan Vocations Prayer

Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd,

who is always mindful of your Church.

Watch over those who are baptised in your name,

and grant peace and harmony to all families.

We ask you to choose

from the families of our parish

many priests, sisters and brothers who will gladly spend their lives

in making you known and loved.

Amen

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop

On Thursday, 8 August we celebrated the spirit of one of Australia’s saints, Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop. While we celebrate a rich legacy and a significant impact on the weave of Australian society, that commenced over 150 years ago.  Just as Mary did, we too are also called to make a difference for our times, with a spirit of generosity and simplicity of life, open to the changing needs of society and prepared to stand with people in the ordinary circumstances of their existence.

The Assumption – Thursday 15 August

Thursday 15 August was the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is a Holy Day of Obligation. The Feast of the Assumption commemorates Mary’s entrance into Heaven, body and soul.

Mary is for Catholics a special symbol, reinforcing our confidence that death is not an end. In her assumption Mary is a wonderful sign of hope for us, because, after her Son, she is the first to be assumed body and soul into heaven. Just as Mary’s Immaculate Conception is a symbol of what God is doing for all people, her Assumption is also a symbol of what will happen to all people in the ‘ages to come’ when everyone who has died will be given a new and different kind of life.

So, the Assumption is a feast of profound hope; a hope that inspires all we do as a Christian community, because, as reiterated by Saint John Vianney, “Jesus on the Cross said to the disciple whom He loved: “Behold your Mother!” How sweet are those words to the Christian who is able to understand what depths of love they contain!”

CESA Community LLL Perception Surveys

By the conclusion of week five of term 3 all Catholic Schools in South Australia will complete the CESA Living, Learning, Leading Perception Surveys. The surveys are a product of a collaboration between Catholic Education SA (CESA) and Curtin University and are focussed on the development, validation and use of a system-wide survey to examine the understanding of the vision and extent to which Catholic Education SA's Living Learning Leading Framework is taking place in schools as perceived by students, family and staff.

Each survey has been trialled, refined and piloted in a range of CESA school settings and the development team is confident that schools will derive very useful information for planning and improvement.

Mr Nathan Hayes, Principal

Science Week

CSI – Curious science investigators discovering the wonders of science! 

On Wednesday, our Year 8 students celebrated National Science Week 2024 with Year 3 students from St Joseph’s School Renmark by igniting their curiosity and creativity! A morning of fun and hands-on science experiments was enjoyed by over 60 students who came together in our new Science Labs to explore the chemistry and physics outcomes of the experiments. There were many gasps and shrieks of excitement as students created exploding bags, watched flying teabags and felt the textures of snow fluff and Oobleck! Other experiments that were created included storm in a glass, elephant toothpaste, lava lamps, burning cups, water fireworks and many more. 

Finishing off the morning, all of the students came together to experiment with the College’s Van de Graaff generator and what happens when we experiment with touching it – it was a hair raising! 

Thank you to our incredible staff—Mrs. Elizabeth Beech, Mrs. Emma Warner, Mr. John Lyons, and Mrs. Jean Booysen—for their guidance and support in helping students with their experiments.

Also, a special thank you to the Australian Science Teachers Association for providing a grant towards our National Science Week activity. 

SA Landscape Trust visit - Native Turtle Species

The theme for National Science Week 2024 was "Species Survival - More than just sustainability", emphasising the role of science and innovation in supporting the survival and flourishing of diverse species in our changing world.

On Wednesday, the Year 7s had a visit from some very special guests. Danielle from SA Landscape Trust brought in three native turtle species. Danielle presented information about the species and ended the session with an interactive blooket.

Mrs Natalie Meuret, Leader of Learning

Community Wellbeing Week

Our Student Leaders introduce Community Wellbeing Week from Monday 9th – Thursday 12th September in Week 8! 

Community Wellbeing Week focuses on promoting the physical, mental, and emotional health of students, staff, and the broader community. The week aims to foster a supportive and positive environment, encouraging self-care and resilience among the entire school community and beyond, engaging families in the process.

There will be a range of activities across the week, run in Lesson 1 and 2 each day, where students are encouraged to wear their HPE uniform each day.

See below the outline for the week, with further information to follow.

Supporting Your Child with Autism & ADHD

The College has an educational partnership with Open Parachute to support the pastoral development of our students and the broader community! Open Parachute have announced their third Parent Webinar for our community. Please see details below.

A reminder that if you have any concerns or questions or information to share regarding your child’s wellbeing or academics, please contact their home group teacher in the first instance via email or through the College phone number - (08) 8595 4500.

Mr Luke Cotter, Leader of Wellbeing

On Friday 9^th August, students travelled to Adelaide to participate in Wakakirri 2024. After weeks of hard work and rehearsals, the students produced an incredible dance performance “This Is Me” at the Norwood Concert Hall. Guided by the brilliant choreography put together by Keisha Barber, students portrayed a journey of a high school student overcoming adversity, finding hope and learning to accept, embrace and love who they are.

The performance captivated both the audience and judges, who praised the students for their excellent dance techniques and the great potential displayed by the cast. The students were honoured with several awards:

• Lead cast Award for Performance in Dance
• Ensemble Award for Dancing and Acting 
• Ensemble Award for Choreography
• Storytelling Award for a Great Blockbuster Production Style
• Producatio Arard for Soundtrack 

St Francis of Assisi College was celebrated with the Spirit of Wakakirri Award. This accolade recognised the students' excellent behavior, enthusiasm, respect, and overall spirit on the day of the performance. Choreographer, Keisha Barber, expressed her enthusiasm for the experience, noting how great the students were to work with and how fantastic it was to see their hard work come to life.

Our performance, ‘This Is Me’ also received a State Award and a National Award Nomination! This is an incredible achievement and the crew should be so proud of their efforts!

We’d like to extend our thanks to Keisha Barber, who made this an incredible experience for all students involved. Thank you also to Mrs Sheridan Bonney, Miss Annika Newman and Mr Nathan Hayes for all of the effort they put in to give the students this wonderful opportunity!

Breakfast Club is held on Friday mornings at the canteen before homegroup, with students welcome to pop in between 8.15-8.40am to enjoy a bite to eat before starting their day. Breakfast provisions including toast, cereal, juice and fresh fruit are available for all students. Over these cooler months, hot milo has been a popular choice for students to enjoy to keep them warm!

We appreciate the support provided to our College by Foodbank Riverland who contribute towards our breakfast program. Fresh fruit is also made available to students on regular occasions.

In Year 9 Kitchen Garden, students engage in hands-on learning by planting seeds in preparation for the upcoming spring season. As they eagerly anticipate the growth of their new crops, they also take the time to harvest the last of the winter vegetables.

This activity not only teaches them about the seasonal cycles of plants but also fosters an appreciation for sustainable gardening practices. By working directly with the soil and plants, students gain valuable skills in horticulture and a deeper connection to the food they grow and consume.

Mrs Burgess

In Stage 1 Child Studies, students explore the dynamics of child development, focusing on various stages from infancy through early childhood. As part of their "Life with a Baby" unit, students are tasked with caring for a simulator baby, giving them a hands-on experience of the responsibilities involved in nurturing an infant.

This exercise allows students to gain practical insights into the challenges and rewards of parenting. By reflecting on their experiences, they develop a deeper understanding of the physical, emotional, and social needs of a baby, as well as the impact of caregiving on everyday life.

Mrs Burgess

We are pleased to share the success of our recent Year 10 Work Experience Program, which provided students with invaluable opportunities to explore potential career paths and gain practical workplace skills. 

During Term 2, our students were placed in a diverse range of industries, including healthcare, education, hospitality, and technology. Feedback from both students and employers was overwhelmingly positive, with many students expressing newfound clarity in their career aspirations and employers commending their enthusiasm and adaptability. 

This experience has not only enhanced our students' understanding of the working world but has also strengthened our school’s connections with the local community. We are proud of our student's achievements and look forward to continuing this important program in the years to come.

Mrs Burgess

Our Year 10 Food and Hospitality students are taking their learning to the next level by running their own coffee shop. This hands-on experience allows them to apply their culinary skills in a real-world setting, serving up delicious coffee and treats to the school community.

As part of this initiative, the students are also working towards earning a micro-credential in barista skills, equipping them with valuable knowledge and expertise in coffee making, customer service, and business management. This project not only enhances their practical abilities but also prepares them for future opportunities in the hospitality industry.

Mrs Burgess

We would like to acknowledge the Renmark Senior Citizens Club for their kind donation of a beautiful Beale upright piano to our College music program - thank you so much! Our music students will enjoy being taught how to play on this piano in the music room, learning the keys, scales, notes and more.

Donations of musical instruments that are in sound working order and in tune would be greatly received by our College. If you would like to make a donation to our College music program we welcome you to make contact with our music teacher, Miss Graney.

During Week 3 our first Rowing Day Camp for the season was held. This included rowers who will compete in upcoming RowingSA Regatta’s – Seniors (Yr 10), Juniors (Yr 9) and our program coxswains. The weather was perfect, plenty of sunshine and only a little wind through the afternoon.

Students participated in three on-water sessions. The first focused on technical drills, learning how they are incorporated into a rowing session to help develop and improve skills and overall boat speed. With the addition of another safety boat, crews were able to take advantage of 1:1 coaching, coaches filming segments and providing video analysis post sessions. Crews were then able to put feedback into practise when they hit the water for the second session; the goal for which was longer, steady rate rowing, incorporating drills into the session. Students responded well, showing technical improvements and understanding. During our final session of the day, crews took part in two 1000m time trials. This gave coxswains an opportunity to rotate through the boats, steer at a high speed, and make race calls for the teams.

Mrs Morath facilitated a team building session after lunch. It was well received and enabled squads to set clear expectations of each other. Students put some key takeaways into practise during the final on-water session of the day.

As a leadership group, we are extremely proud of how these young rowers managed themselves. They were open to feedback, made solid technical changes and developed skills in working as a cohesive team. This was evident during their time trials at the end of the day, overcoming fatigue and working together to achieve a shared goal. Well done to all rowers!!

Stephanie Turnbull, Molly Gibbons, Mae Camporeale
Rowing Program Leadership

On Monday of Week 3, the Year 7/8 knockout netball team travelled to Tanunda for the second round of the Knockout competition. The girls played exceptionally well and secured a well-deserved victory with a score of 37-14! They will now advance to the Grand Final in Week 6, which will be held at Priceline Stadium in Adelaide, where they will compete against two other schools.

A big thank you to Miss Fenwick for umpiring and Miss Graney for coaching the team. Great job, girls!

Tri State Graphis are looking for a junior staff member to work after school hours.

3.30pm to 5.30pm, 3 nights a week plus two – three Saturday mornings per month, plus extra hours.

Looking for someone who is available during school holidays.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

- Regular cleaning & dusting of the showroom and office area.

- Assisting sales staff with shop displays

- Pricing stock

- Refilling clothing racks

- Answering phones occasionally.

Required Skills and Experience:

- Ability to work independently and within a team

- Reliable and committed

- Willingness to learn

- General knowledge of computers

- Polite phone manner

- Good Communication skills

- Position to start Mid-August.

If this sounds like the position for you, please present your resumé and cover letter to our business manager in person or email a copy to: accounts@tristategraphics.com.au

Manager

Tri State Graphics

216 Renmark Avenue

Renmark S.A.

85865815

Catholic School Parents SA are delighted to share the Parenting Conference with you. There is an outstanding line up of guest speakers, who will touch on three different topics:

• Maggie Dent: Help Me Help My Teen.

• Paul Dillon: Teens, Parties, Alcohol and Vapes. What do parents need to know?

• Madhavi Nawana Parker: Being calm in the eye of a parenting storm.

Event details :

• Tickets $25 including light lunch along with the fantastic line up of speakers
• Held at The Sanctuary Adelaide Zoo  
• Term 3, Sat 31^st Aug 2024
• 9:30am – 3:00pm

For more information on RYT visit their webiste 

Home • Riverland Youth Theatre (ryt.org.au)

Many children will have a positive experience starting school or moving from primary to high school and despite some initial nervousness, most will settle in very quickly. However, we know some parents/carers may be very concerned about the upcoming changes e.g. buying uniforms, books or devices and that's where we can help.

What is Saver Plus: Saver Plus is a free online money skills program for people on lower incomes and matched savings program. It’s about strengthening financial skills, to build and develop (and keep) good savings habits.

Saver Plus encourages parents to save $50 a month (for 10 months). Savings are then matched - a free $500 for education costs.

Now accessible to any eligible Australian – no matter where they live.

To be eligible for Saver Plus, you must have all of the following:

• Centrelink payment*
• Hold a Health Care Card/Pensioner Concession Card
• Be in school yourself OR have a child in school (can be starting school next year)
• Have regular income from work (either yourself or your partner)* /Carers Payment / Child Support or Cash in hand.
• Be 18+ years old
• Not have completed the program previously.

* Many types of income and Centrelink payments are eligible, see the Saver Plus terms and conditions for more information saverplus.org.au 

If families would like to check their eligibility and receive a call back please include our enquiry link  https://www.bsl.org.au/services/saving-and-managing-money/saver-plus/ or they’re welcome to call our national number 1300 610 355 and a local coordinator will contact them directly.

Don't hestiate to contact the College office on 8595 4500 if you have any difficulty with the various mediums used by the College to commuicate with families. Or alternatively complete the form below.