St Francis of Assisi College - Term 4 Week 6

From the Principal

High Expectations

As we approach the final weeks of the school year, as a staff team, we continue our focus and expectation of high expectations for all. That includes maintaining a focus on excellence for us as a staff team, and a continued focus on supporting students to maintain high standards for the remainder of the school year.

High expectations and excellence are not the unrealistic and unhealthy search for perfection. Excellence is doing everything to the best of our own ability, with a growth mindset to always learn and grow.

Whilst students will begin to engage in different types of activities and experiential learning over the next few weeks, it is expected they do this in a way that maintains safety and respect for themselves, all students and staff.

End of Year Student Award Ceremony

All parents, carers and families are invited to our award ceremony on the last day of Week 8. This will be an opportunity to reflect and celebrate the individual and collective successes of what has been an amazing first year for St Francis of Assisi College:

Middle Years Student Award Ceremony

Friday December 8th of December

9am – 10.15am

Multi-Purpose Room

Morning Tea after ceremony

Staffing Announcements

I am very pleased to confirm we have completed our teaching appointments for the 2024 school year.

Miss Ramanjeet Arkan

As a Riverland local, Ramanjeet is excited to be returning to family and region. Ramanjeet has been teaching at St Columba College this year, mainly teaching English. She will join our community teaching in the English and HASS learning areas.

Ms Anita Modlinski

Anita is joining our community as a middle year’s specialist teacher, primarily taking Year 7 and 8 subjects, including mathematics, science and religious education. We look forward to Anita’s strong primary and middle years expertise supporting our students as they progress to senior secondary.

St Vinnies Christmas Appeal

The Christmas season is near and is a joyful time for many. Yet as we know, it can be a challenging time for less fortunate people within our community. Many people within our Riverland community struggle to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. Inflation, housing stress, high energy prices, and the rising cost of daily essentials make it difficult for families to thrive.

As a school we are taking part in the Vinnies Christmas Appeal. Vinnies Christmas Appeal aims to provide immediate relief from bills, and the basics such as food and clothing, so that families have a chance to survive and celebrate this Christmas.

Further information will be shared with students and families outlining the range of activities our students will engage in over the last few weeks of term in support the Christmas Appeal.

Leader of Learning

Career Education for 2024

Career education benefits children academically during their school years and empowers their future participation in careers across their adult years.

Students who explore, experience and think about their futures in work often experience lower levels of unemployment, receive higher wages and are happier in their careers as adults. Beneficial results are found in relation to both students who continue to tertiary education and those who enter the labour market directly from school. OECD, 2021

In 2024, at St Francis of Assisi college, we will be providing a Career Education program targeted for each level for year 7-10 students. Throughout this program, students will have the opportunity to

explore who they are and their abilities
examine employability skills
investigate jobs of the future and growth industries
experience industry visits with the local Riverland community
participate in work experience
develop a resume
participate in a mock interview
develop a Career Action Plan

Our career education program will also align with the Living, Learning, Leading Framework by enhancing students’ self-efficacy and empowering students to

explore diverse careers and develop hope for the future.
find a greater sense of purpose in their school education, seeing stronger connections between what they learn in the classroom and the knowledge required for future work.
be more motivated to develop their literacy and numeracy skills.
develop their Key Capabilities.
Acquire the attitudes and skills necessary to build a strong Learner Profile and be successful in SACE subjects Exploring Identities and Futures (EIF) and Activating Identities and Futures (AIF).
knowledge and skills to transition from school confidently and successfully to training, study or employment.

PAT and NAPLAN

In week 4, all students completed the Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT). There are two tests: PAT-R (reading) and PAT-M (Numeracy). These are diagnostic assessments conducted to measure student’s growth throughout the year. They provide valuable information to teachers about your child’s learning strengths and needs. The tests will indicate what skills students have mastered, what skills they are consolidating and even more importantly what skills they need to be educationally stretched. Later in the term, all teaching staff will analyse both NAPLAN and PAT data to enable them to better plan learning programs and ensure successful learning outcomes for all students.

Natalie Meuret, Leader of Learning