St Francis of Assisi News

Dear Parents & Caregivers,

What a wonderful community turnout last night at our annual Christmas Concert celebrations. The children had a great time and it was fantastic to see families enjoying the weather and food trucks prior to the concert. Our estimate would be over 800 people in attendance to witness a very polished and joyous performance from our children. Thank you to all families for making the effort for this community gathering. As I mentioned last night, all the teachers did an amazing job with their creativity for the songs and preparing the children, but a special thanks to Mrs Freeman and Ms Hamilton for their coordination and set up of the evening. Also, to Mr C for his musical talents and directing! The night was as smooth as possible with our resident MC's doing a great job - so big thanks to Mr Clarke and Ms Campbell as well.

The stream was not live due to copyright issues on Youtube with the music last year, but we successfully made it through the whole concert recording it without any technical issues. If you would like to re-live your child's performance or had a relative who you would like to share it with, please visit the link below:

https://youtube.com/live/EH8nlqPt0XM?feature=share

ANNUAL COMMUNITY MEETING

Last Tuesday 19th, we held our Annual Community Meeting where we recapped our school year and also outlined major priorities for 2025. Staffing and the School Fee Structure for 2025 was also announced. A PDF of the powerpoint, including staff announcements is attached below for parents.

2025 STAFFING

Along with several staff leaving us at the end of this year, including Mrs Hubkova, Miss Cruse, Miss K, Miss Walton, Mrs Hunt and Ms Campbell, Ms Selyer has also made the decision not to return to St Francis of Assisi. We will have the opportunity to farewell these staff members at next week's thanksgiving and graduation mass.

Whilst we will miss those staff, we welcome Miss Mairead O'Farrell to the Year 2B class in 2025. Along with Mr Rebeiro (Phys Ed), Mrs Landers (4W) and Mrs Peirce (5B), there will be a number of new faces in our school and we hope they feel very welcome. Miss O'Farrell is currently a teacher at St Simon Peter, Ocean Reef, and has been in our school previously in a relief capacity.

P&F EXECUTIVE

In 2025, Mrs Heidi Durer-Jones and Mrs Stephanie Kunder will step down from the official roles within the P&F Executive. As announced at the ACM, we received only two nominations therefore an election was not necessary. We welcome Meg Goldie and Melanie Benton to our P&F Executive for 2025. Official positions will be decided at a later date and published at the beginning of next year.

SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL

Our SAC members have re-elected for another three year term in 2025 and we welcome Jacinta Lynton in an official executive role as we thank Janelle Prunster for her service to our school. The SAC in 2025 consists of:

• Chairperson - Mr Tony Summers
• Vice Chair - Mrs Jacinta Lynton
• Treasurer - Mr Craig Grantham
• Secretary - Mrs Laura Hampson

Mrs Jevita Nilson will continue as a SAC member and Mrs Stephanie Kunder as the P&F Representative. Thank you to all parents on either the P&F or the SAC for their voluntary contributions to our school.

2025 CLASS TRANSITION

Next Tuesday, the class lists are communicated to the children when they move into their year group for 2025 at 9am for an hour of transition. The purpose of this is to help students transition to their new classroom space, teachers and friends.

As outlined in previous communications, all children in PP-6 have at least one nominated 'smart partner' that they have requested. A considerable amount of time from a range of individuals including leadership, has been spent creating the two class lists, so please do not contact class teachers or leadership asking for any children to be moved. Moving children has a huge domino effect on a number of other children and is not possible. In a two stream school, there are only ever going to be two choices. It fosters resilience in the children if the message communicated from parents is a focus on the classroom environment being a place for learning and an opportunity to make new connections.

THANKSGIVING AND GRADUATION MASS - WED 4th DEC

Next Wednesday, we will be having our end of year thanksgiving mass beginning at 8:45am for all K-6 children and their parents. After the thanksgiving mass, the Kindy children will return to class and the Year 6 Graduation Ceremony will begin. Following the ceremony, the Year 6 children and their parents are provided morning tea by our P&F. We anticipate the celebrations should conclude before recess.

SEMESTER TWO ACADEMIC REPORTS - WED 4th DEC

A reminder to parents that the S2 academic reports will be released next Wednesday 4th December for Kindy to Year 6 children. If you have forgotten your password or have not accessed Seqta Engage before, please email ithelp@stfrancisbutler.wa.edu.au or call the office on Wednesday.

2025 TERM DATES AND PUPIL FREE DAYS

All relevant 2025 Term and Pupil Free Dates are in the attached document so please mark these on your calendar.

As this is the final newsletter of the year, I would like to take the opportunity to express my gratitude to all parents, staff and children on a fantastic year. We have an amazing community that can be very proud of all that has been achieved, in large part to our dedicated parents and staff. Thank you for your efforts in the past 12 months and I look forward to starting fresh next year.

Wishing all families a blessed and safe Christmas holiday period. Be safe and enjoy a wonderful summer break together.

Best wishes

Jason Baker

Principal

Dear Parents & Caregivers,

CHRISTMAS HAMPER APPEAL 2024

Our Christmas Hamper Appeal for SVDP began last week and finishes this week. Please get any last minute donations in ASAP. All donations will be greatly received. SVDP do an amazing job servicing the local Clarkson and surrounding suburbs, particularly at Christmas when a lot of families may be experiencing stress. Thank you to our wonderful community for giving so generously to help others in need - just like St Francis of Assisi.

ADVENT

What is Advent? Anticipation. Expectant waiting. This is what Advent has always been and will always be about. After Christmas began being celebrated on December 25th (in the 4th century), church leaders started to treat it similarly to Easter and asked people to worship and prepare their hearts in advance to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The Advent season is an opportunity to focus on Jesus and prepare our hearts to receive the gift of His love.

Christ has died, Christ has risen, and at Advent, we remember that Christ will come again.

Advent became a time to remember that we are living between two advents: the first coming of Christ (His birth) and His second coming. Today, many Christians mark the four weeks before Christmas as the season of Advent, focusing each week on a different aspect of our relationship with Jesus: the hope, peace, joy, and love He brings. Advent also serves as the beginning of the Catholic Church Liturgical Calendar.

This year Advent begins on Sunday 1st December. (the beginning of the last week of the school year). On Monday in Week 9, the Year 6 Christian Service Leaders will share Advent prayers with our school community.

THE NATIVITY & ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI

Around the Advent and Christmas seasons, it is common to see a display of the Nativity scene: a small manger with the baby Jesus and his family, shepherds, the three wise men believed to have visited Jesus after his birth and several barnyard animals.

Did you know the Nativity scene now recreated in shopping centres and churches worldwide was originally conceived by St. Francis of Assisi? As members of the SFOA school community we are very familiar with the story of St Francis. How the young and wealthy Francis of Assisi freely abandoned his wealth to serve Christ’s Church as a poor, travelling preacher. One of the world’s most beloved saints, St Francis cared deeply for God’s creation. He also loved Christmas, the feast of the Nativity of Our Lord. St. Francis’ meditations on the life of Christ led him to create the first-ever Nativity scene in Greccio, Italy, in 1223. It is believed Francis’ inspiration to do a live representation of the birth of Jesus came from his time in the Holy Land in the years 1219 and 1220. Seeing the holy sites of Christ’s birth, life, death and resurrection made them feel all the more real — and he wanted to recreate that experience.

THANK YOU

it is difficult to find the words to express the deep gratitude and love I have for the St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School community - children, parents and staff. I will treasure the memories and relationships that have ultimately led to me being here for so long. St Francis of Assisi is a thriving, welcoming and caring community and one I feel blessed to be a part of. I wish each and every family a joyous Christmas and a wonderful 2025.

"All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle" St Francis of Assisi

Miss Dee Campbell

Thank you for your incredible support throughout this year. Your encouragement at carnivals, dedication to your children’s development, and enthusiasm for school events have been truly inspiring. Together, we’ve celebrated achievements, fostered teamwork, and built a vibrant sports community. Wishing you a joyful and restful holiday season!

Meagan Kruenert

Sports Teacher

Congratulations to the Watson family (Leo 2B & Tate KW 2025) who welcomed a new baby brother to their family, Kit Watson. The full trifecta of boys to keep mum and dad busy!!!!

Also, congrats to Arabella (5W) who now has a new baby sister, Serenity! We hope someone is getting a full night's sleep.

Congratulations to Marlee Pinkerton who on the weekend, took part in her end of year concert for Tanner Dance Academy. Marlee competed in 12 different items and was awarded the 2024 Junior Scholarship. Congrats Marlee - I'm tired just writing about it!

Congratulations also to Josephine Laurisden who took part in the Camp Australia Big Art Comp! Josephine was awarded as the winner for her artwork which was then turned into a one-of-a-kind limited edition hoodie for her to wear! The only one made. We announced this at the beginning of the term at assembly but wanted to share the great news with the whole community. Well done, Josephine.

Dear Parents,

On Monday the 2025 School Fee Structure, direct debit and letter from Mr Baker was sent out via the eldest child in the family to all families. Just a note to let you know that there is an error on the school fee structure for the Excursion Levy. It should be $69 (not $66) for all students from Pre-Primary to Year 6. Families who wish to start their direct debits in January, please see me or send in your direct debit forms by Friday 6th December 2024 to allow enough time to process before school closes.

All families on Concession Cards (CC) need to provide the school with their current card to continue receiving the discount for 2025. If your card has expired, please bring in your new card to the school office ASAP. If we do not receive your CC you will be charged the full fees.

I wish all our families a Blessed Christmas and a safe New Year. Happy Holidays!

Kind regards,

Mrs Bastian

Finance Officer

Please have action plans updated over the holidays and ensure medication such as Epi Pens and Ventolin are within date prior to commencing school 2025.

Please see below attachments for the Action Plan templates.

Well done to the following students who smashed it in the fundraising department for the Colour Run!!

Piper Bradley from PPB was the highest fundraising student. A special mention also to Ava Bisgrove from PPB and Beauden Morgan from 1W who also raised over $1000 each.
The Family who raised the most money were the Milton’s. Congratulations to Olyvh & Arkyn and well done!
The highest fundraising class (which came as no surprise) was PPB. Awesome effort PPB!!

Congratulations to Orlando from Year 5 who has won the chance to Slime a teacher on the last day of school.

Christmas Hampers
We are looking for volunteers to help put together the Christmas Hampers for St Vincent de Paul and our school community. This will be done straight after school drop off on Tuesday 3rd December.

Community Lunch
Our community lunch is on Friday 6th December, with all cash orders needing to be in by tomorrow, Friday 29th November and Quickcliq by Monday 2nd December.

Save the Date
Save the date for our Family Fun Night which will be held on the 21st February 2025

Thank you again to our amazing school community we have yet again exceeded in our fundraising efforts this year. We really appreciate all of your support.

We wish everyone a safe and happy Xmas and a lovely new year from the P & F.

Happy Birthday to the following students who are celebrating their birthday over the next week:

Faith Akera, Phoebe Allan, Elijah Richards, Lara Schulz, Lia Murphy, Lomena Stipinovich, Nathan D'Angelo, Matilda Leken Chapman, Georgia Donatti, Logan Ravat, Atheena Harper, Bol Bol.

We also wish a Happy Birthday to our students celebrating their birthdays over the holidays:

Evie Hayman, Haylee Bisgrove, Matthias Leal Blanco, Skylar Mavinyu, Cody Keen, Xander De Swardt, Kelsey Salamon, Ty Stone, Indiana Empeigne, Tarek Stelio, Savannah Love, Nyabuok Kuol, Spencer Head, Penny Pull, Mercedes Ince, Beau Horrocks, Nicholas Leken Chapman, Elisha Patrick, Ava Goodwin, George Phillips, Chloe Anderson, Oliver Knowles, Beny Kulang, Sofia Scrivener, Goodwill Geofry, Brianna Marais, Adelyn Patterson, Zoe Stevens, Mireille George, Conor Keogh, Pranshi Bulgannavar, Emma Gerges, Janak Singh, Leah Ryan, Marlee Pinkerton, Henry Durant, Nyawichar Kuol, Josephine Lauridsen, Dennis Korzhov, Sebastian Gauvain, Toby Whitehouse, Axel Clohessy, Miguel Rojas Giraldo, Evie Corrigan, Addison Thomas, Jameel Atcha Koli, Dau Bol, Ned Horrocks, Piper Horrocks, Hugo Miranda-Becker, Meghna Rakesh, Ava Stankevicius, Brian Freitas Libardi, Ashlee Schulz, Darliah Windeatt, Zara Dos Santos-Viljoen, Destiny Cooper, Ryu Uriarte, Kamron Makawa, Corey Morrison, Angellica Kumai, Gabriel Atuer, Aiveen Greig, Jamie Leach, Harry Brown, Zachary Martin, Alistair Lawrence, Sean Viviers, Maria Clara Pires Gil, Zaire Fernandez, Abby Menzies.

We wish you all a wonderful day!!

Friday 29 November - Merit Assembly (8:45am) / Lunch with Leadership

Sunday 1 December - St Andrew's Feast Day Mass (10:00am at St Andrew's Church)

Monday 2 December - Year 6 Italian Lunch / Last Uniform shop open for the year (2:45pm - 3:30pm)

Tuesday 3 December - PP-Yr 6 Transition morning / P&F Christmas Hampers / Kindy Graduation

Wednesday 4 December - Graduation & Thanksgiving Mass (8:45am) / Reports released via SEQTA

Thursday 5 December - Yr 6 Graduation Excursion

Friday 6 December - Community lunch (12:30pm) / Last day of Term 4.

Monday 9 December 2024 to Tuesday 4 February 2025 - School holidays

Tuesday 28 January 2025 - Online order collection through School Kiss and Drive (10am-10:30am)

Friday 31 January 2025 - Uniform shop open (8:00am-10:00am)

Wednesday 5 February 2025 - Term 1 commences for students (PP - Yr 6)/Kindy staggered start

Thursday 6 February - Kindy staggered start

Friday 7 February - Kindy staggered start / Mass (8:45am)

Monday 10 February - Playgroup commences / Uniform Shop open (2:45pm - 3:30pm)

Please see below the Summer holidays program. For more information, please visit their website.

The Uniform shop is open every Monday afternoon from 2:45pm-3:30pm during school term 4. **Please note Monday 2nd December is the last opening day for this year.

Any order placed after 4pm Monday 2.12.24 can be collected from the drive through click & collect area (School drop off/ Kiss & Drive) Tuesday 28th January between 10 – 10.30am.

Online orders will be available to collect from front office at school on Wednesday 11th February (if they do not require collection from the Kiss & Drive)

A general shop will open on Friday 31st January between 8am – 10am

Normal shop resumes Monday 10th February at 2.45pm – 3.30pm

Where: Operating out of the demountable at the rear of the school!

Ph: (08) 9204 1701

Email: mailto:sales@jfe.net.au

Address: 1/85 Guthrie St, Osborne Park 6017

Mon-Thur: 8:00am - 4:00pm

Friday: 8:00am - 3:30pm

Email: admin@stfrancisbutler.wa.edu.au
Website: www.stfrancisbutler.wa.edu.au
Location: 1051 Connolly Drive, Butler WA, Australia
Phone: (08) 9562 9500
Facebook: facebook.com/stfrancisbutler

Instagram: https://instagram.com/stfrancisbutler

Email: standrewsclarkson@gmail.com

Website: http://www.standrewsclarkson.com/
Location: 53 Belleville Gardens, Clarkson WA, Australia
Phone: (08) 9407 7512
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standrewsclarkson/

** Please visit the Parish website for Christmas Mass timings. These should be available early December.