Dear Parents & Caregivers,
This week we enter the second week of Lent where we find ourselves deeper in a season traditionally marked by reflection and renewal. Whether you regularly attend services or not, Lent offers a meaningful pause in our increasingly busy lives.
This second week invites us to consider transformation. In Roman Catholicism, Lent's second Sunday tells of the Transfiguration—a moment when the ordinary was revealed to be extraordinary. This resonates even beyond religious contexts: how often do we fail to see the extraordinary potential in ourselves and others? As we navigate mid-March, Lent encourages us to examine what might be holding us back from our own transformations. What habits no longer serve us? What relationships need attention? What changes have we been postponing?
Lent isn't simply about giving something up—it's about making space for something better. This week, consider taking just five minutes daily for quiet reflection. No special prayers or rituals required—just a moment to check in with yourself. Remember, renewal isn't exclusively religious but is at the foundation of the Lenten season. It's profoundly human to seek growth and positive change and as we move through this second week, may we all find moments of transfiguration in our everyday lives.
YEAR 3 PARENT RECONCILIATION WORKSHOP
Thank you to those parents and children receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation, who attended the Parent and Child Workshop on Tuesday evening. The workshop was a heartwarming experience, guiding families through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Through interactive activities, storytelling, and reflective discussions, parents and children explored themes of forgiveness, compassion, and renewal. They engaged in exercises emphasising the importance of saying sorry, making amends, and seeking forgiveness to repair relationships. The workshop included moments of quiet reflection and prayer, allowing families to connect on a deeper spiritual level. By the end, we hope both parents and children left with a renewed sense of closeness and a better understanding of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Thank you to Mrs Kavanagh, Mr Kinder and Mrs Anderson for preparing and leading the parents and children through the evening. I know many schools choose to out-source this workshop, but the personal nature of our staff leading the children and parents always promotes a more intimate experience for our community. This Friday, our Year 3’s will be participating in a retreat with 24/7 Ministry.
YEAR 3 AND 5 NAPLAN
As our Year 3 and Year 5 students prepare to embark on their NAPLAN assessments this week, we want to extend our best wishes to all of them. This is an important time for our students, and I am confident that they will approach these assessments with the same dedication and enthusiasm they bring to their daily learning.
NAPLAN is an opportunity for our students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in literacy and numeracy. It is also a chance for them to show how much they have grown and learned. I encourage all students to do their best, stay calm, and remember that these assessments are just one part of their educational journey. NAPLAN is as much about reviewing our teaching and learning practices as it is a snapshot of our student progress. To our parents and guardians, thank you for your continued support and encouragement.
ST PATRICK'S DAY - MONDAY 17th MARCH
The Feast of St. Patrick, celebrated on March 17th, honours St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Born in Roman Britain in the late 4th century, he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave at the age of 16. After escaping, he returned to Ireland as a missionary and played a significant role in converting the Irish to Christianity. The day commemorates his death and is marked by various traditions, including parades, wearing green, and attending church services. St. Patrick is often associated with the shamrock, which he used to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish people.
In the Catholic liturgical calendar, the Feast of St. Patrick holds significant importance as it celebrates the spread of Christianity in Ireland and the legacy of a saint who is credited with numerous miracles and the establishment of many churches. It is a day of both religious observance and cultural celebration, reflecting the deep connection between faith and heritage in Irish communities worldwide. The feast day is a solemnity in Ireland, meaning it is a principal feast day that takes precedence over other liturgical celebrations.
Any Irish families within the community are welcome to wear green on Monday to celebrate!
NO RUNNING CLUB
Unfortunately, there will be no running club this Friday as Mr Rebeiro is unavailable. It will resume next Friday, 21st March.
HARMONY DAY - FRIDAY 21st MARCH
Next Friday, 21st March our school community will celebrate Harmony Day. Harmony Day is a day dedicated to celebrating Australia's cultural diversity and promoting inclusiveness, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone. It is part of Harmony Week, which runs from March 17th to 23rd. The day encourages Australians to embrace cultural diversity and to foster mutual respect and understanding.
Three important aspects of celebrating Harmony Day include:
- Promote Inclusiveness: It highlights the importance of inclusiveness and respect for all cultural backgrounds.
- Celebrate Diversity: It acknowledges and celebrates the rich cultural diversity that makes Australia unique.
- Encourage Belonging: It fosters a sense of belonging and unity among all Australians, regardless of their cultural or linguistic background.
Our Year 4's will start the day with a Harmony Day assembly and there will be classroom activities to promote the above themes. In a community with over 40 different cultural backgrounds, Harmony Day is a chance to celebrate everyone in our school. All children are encouraged to wear either ORANGE, or their cultural dress.
SOCIAL REPORTS - WEEK 9
Later this term, social reports will be released via Seqta Engage for children in PP-6. This is a snapshot of your child's transition and work habits in their new year level this year. A formal academic report and meetings are scheduled in Term 2. Please contact the classroom teacher should you wish to discuss your child's social report or academic progress.
The real round one kicks off this weekend with both WA teams in action. Whether you bleed purple or you’re a die hard Eagles fan, we hope your team gets over the line in their first hit out of the 2025 season!
Have a great fortnight ahead!
Jason Baker
Principal
RECONCILIATION WORKSHOP
On Tuesday the 11th March, the students receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation attended the child and parent workshop. It was a wonderful evening of prayerful reverence and a showcase of what the Sacrament of Reconciliation is all about. Thank you to Mrs Anderson, Mr Kinder and to all the families who attended the evening workshop. We look forward to celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation at St Andrew's church on the 25th March 2025.
ASH WEDNESDAY
On Wednesday the 5th March, we celebrated a beautiful Ash Wednesday mass. This mass signified the beginning of Lent and the season of repentance. Father Marion lead us in a reflective way to understand how we can become closer to God during the season of Lent.
CARITAS PROJECT COMPASSION 2025
Our Project Compassion campaign has begun and we thank you for the coin donations we have received so far. Please continue to donate to this very worthy cause. There will be a 'crazy hair day' on the 28th March where all gold coin donations will go towards Project Compassion. The class with the most amount raised will receive a class prize.
BENEDICT FEAST DAY
This Tuesday the 18th March, the students in Pre-Primary to Year 6 will celebrate the feast day of Saint Benedict. Students who are in the Benedict faction are to wear their green faction sport uniform on this day and will receive a pizza lunch. The whole school will participate in a liturgy at 1:45 followed by a fun afternoon of games and activities for the children in the Benedict faction.
UPCOMING DATES
Reconciliation retreat (children only) Friday 14th March
Sacrament of Reconciliation- Tuesday 25th March- Please be seated by 5:55pm
Benedict Feast Day- Tuesday 18th March
Crazy hair day- Project Compassion Fundraiser- Friday 28th March
Year 2 Liturgy- Friday 4th April
Sarah Kavanagh
Assistant Principal
This week, we introduce our Year 4W teacher, Mrs Rhonda Landers. Mrs Landers was previously our Health Teacher and is now working within a great Year 4 team.
- My most used app on my phone? Facebook! It's my go-to app for staying connected and keeping up with friends and family, or just mindful scrolling
- Favourite all time movie? I don’t often rewatch movies, so I don’t have a single favourite, but I’m always up for a good romantic comedy or feel-good film. Something light-hearted always does the trick. Or on the flip side - a True Crime!
- If I could any animal, what would I be? I’d probably be a wolf. I’m loyal and protective of my pack, a bit introverted and socially independent, but I also like to be playful.
- Podcast/book or Netflix recommendation? Why? I highly recommend the trilogy by Dave Pelzer: A Child Called It, The Lost Boy, and A Man Named Dave. I read them back in high school, and their powerful message of resilience and courage has stayed with me ever since.
- Three famous people, alive or dead are coming around for dinner - who would they be and what would you cook? I’d invite Bob Marley, Ed Sheeran, and Will Smith (back in the day Will). With Marley’s wisdom, Sheeran’s charm, and Smith’s humour, it would be a night full of deep conversations, live music, and endless laughs. I’d cook my favourite traditional Zimbabwean dish - Sadza, with and all the delicious trimmings (muriwo, derere, cabbage and nyama) to share with them.
We hope you are enjoying the Year 4's as much as they are enjoying having you, Mrs Landers!
Dear Parents,
Thank you to all parents who have returned their payment option forms. Families who have not yet given their forms, please do so ASAP. All payments for school fees should now have commenced via Bpay, Direct Debit, Eftpos or cash.
Please remember to send in your current Centrelink concession card to continue receiving the discount for 2025.
Kind regards,
Geneve Bastian
Happy Birthday to the following students who are celebrating their birthday over the next two weeks:
Ben Swan, Mckenzie Peacock, Elijah Gauvain, Nohn Kiir, Isaac Magistro, Antonio Magistro, Charlie Hayman, Luisa Freitas Libardi, Harley Murphy, Theory Saggers, Matteo Barrientos Gullotto, Jonah Messiha, Aloyo (Elizabeth) Sebit, James Stratfold, Chet Rudduck, Lauren Clark, Charlie Jones, Joshua Epple, Evelyn Witham,
We wish you all a wonderful day!!
Enrolment for Musicorp's music program is still open for Term 1 2025 at St. Francis of Assisi! If your child is interested in exploring the world of music and learning an instrument at school, we encourage you to sign them up today. There are plenty of instruments to try such as Violin, Guitar, Piano, Drums, and more!
For a full list of instruments we offer, to enrol or gather more information, please visit the website at https://rent.musicorp.com.au/tuition_online_eoi/ or you may contact Musicorp directly on 1300 858 911.
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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
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Email: standrewsclarkson@gmail.com
Website: http://www.standrewsclarkson.com/
Location: 53 Belleville Gardens, Clarkson WA, Australia
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