St Francis of Assisi Primary School

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we end Week 7, the term is moving quickly, and the end of the year is just around the corner. With Advent approaching, we are reminded of the significance of this holy season as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus. It’s a time to spiritually refresh ourselves and prepare for the coming holidays, which provide an opportunity for renewal of body, mind, and spirit.

Our teachers are hard at work finalising end-of-semester reports, which will be sent home via the Compass portal on Wednesday, 11th December (Week 9). Please keep our teachers in your thoughts and prayers as they dedicate many hours to this important work. This semester, the reports will include comments highlighting key achievements, areas of challenge, and plans for students’ continued growth.

I want to thank our teachers for their exceptional dedication and the countless hours they invest outside of the school day to prepare these detailed assessments. Their commitment to producing these important documents is greatly appreciated.

Kinder Orientation

On Wednesday, we held our final kindergarten orientation, during which our students were placed in their class with their teacher and peers. The students were amazingly settled and had a great time, leaving with a show bag full of goodies to support their transition into Kinder 2025. I am pleased to announce our Kindergarten team for 2025:

Kinder Ngadyung – Ms Kayla Murray

Kinder Dhaura – Mrs Sara Meins

Kinder Kanbi - Mrs Jess Lewis (Mon-Wed) & Mrs Alice Nordin (Thurs-Fri)

Meet and Greet

All K-5 students will participate in our meet-and-greet on Thursday, December 12th, from 2 to 3 p.m. Students will have the opportunity to meet their teacher and spend time in the classroom with their peers. This is a reminder that considerations for class placements have closed.

Community Council

On Monday next week, we will hold our final Community Council meeting for the year. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the members of our Community Council for their ongoing support of the school and the valuable advice they provide. Their thoughtful input is deeply appreciated, and I rely on their feedback to guide decision-making and ensure we meet the needs of our students, staff, and community. Their dedication and commitment play a crucial role in our school's continued success, and I am truly grateful for the time and effort they invest in helping shape our school’s future.

Bathroom Renovation

The tiling is almost complete. If you look through the windows, you will notice a massive difference. Cubicle construction and the final fit-off will begin next week. It will be amazing to have these toilets back online, hopefully before the end of the term!

No Podcast this week

As this week is Sabbath Week, there is no podcast. The StFA podcast will return next Friday, discussing how we can support our children with the transition to their 2025 classes.

Using the ring road in the afternoon

We've received some complaints from local residents recently regarding unsafe driving around the front of the school. To help address this, please refrain from lining up in the ring road before 3:15 p.m. Due to building works, trucks have been parked at the end of the ring road, which limits our ability to place cones there in the afternoon. Cars pulling up and waiting at the end of the ring road are causing additional traffic congestion on Casey Cres, especially near the bus stop, with cars coming to a standstill.

To help ensure smooth traffic flow, we block off the ring road each afternoon from about 2:30 p.m. If you can, please try to come a little later—around 3:25 p.m.—when traffic is typically clearer and cars can drive right up to the coloured pickup squares. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Blessings and best wishes

Sean Rutledge

Principal

Week 1: Advent

The season of Advent begins this week and continues through the four Sundays of Advent and ends at Christmas Eve. The first week of Advent focuses on the return of the Lord and the following weeks focus more specifically on the anticipation of the birth of Jesus. Rather than simply commemorating an historical event, Advent is a time of preparing our hearts to ‘receive’ Jesus into the world each year. Advent is traditionally marked by the colour of violet – the same colour as used in Lent. In recent years, some parishes have moved to a more blue/mauve colour for Advent to try to distinguish it from the season of Lent.

Weekend Gospel Reflection - John 18:33-37

First Sunday of Advent (Year C)

Be ready for the second coming.

The readings of the First Sunday of Advent set the stages for our reflections on the entire season. They contain a number of promises, all pointing to peace and fulfilment. Each reading depicts a dimension of suffering that was often brought on by the people themselves. The promises are assurances that the end of their suffering was in sight. The promises reveal a loving and provident, a merciful and forgiving God. These are promises full of hope.

The coming of the Lord is clearly a time of expectation, not of fear and trembling. Although the earlier tradition about the Day of the Lord included punishment of the wicked, the focus here is on redemption. The time of expectation may be preceded by apocalyptic signs in the heavens and dismay on earth, but this cosmic shift will bring fulfilment, not destruction. The love and providence, the mercy and forgiveness of God will be made manifest.

What is expected of those who receive the promise? An Advent way of life exhorts us to ‘wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ’. This way of life is both simple and profound. It does not necessarily require unusual behaviour on our part, but it calls us to live the usual unusually well. It affects the everyday events of life; it directs the way we interact with people; it informs the attitudes that colour our judgments and motivations. It is as ordinary as the birth of a child; it is as extraordinary as the revelation of God.

Adapted from Diane Bergant CSA

Sacrament of Reconciliation

This week we celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation with our Year 4 children. On Wednesday and Thursday the children will through this sacrament, meet God, showing their desire to be reunited with God and the community, expressing sorrow for mistakes and to receive God’s love and forgiveness through the Absolution of the priest. Please keep these children and their families in your prayers.

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Hampers

This week your child came home with a ticket for an item for the Christmas hamper that each class is creating. When your child brings their donation into school, we ask that they also bring back their Christmas Hamper Ticket so we can make sure each hamper has all the required items. The hampers will be presented to our local St Vincent de Paul chapter at the end of Week 9 so we would appreciate ALL donations to be returned to school no later than Monday 9th December.

We deeply appreciate the generosity and kindness that our school community consistently shows. Your support makes a significant difference and helps us come together to create a positive impact. We kindly ask that families only contribute what you are comfortable able to give.

Thank you for your continued willingness to contribute and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Have a great week!

Sharee Thomas

With the end of Term 4 fast approaching, please take a moment to check your 2024 school fee account to ensure it is up to date by the end of Term.

Leaving Families
If your family will be leaving St Francis of Assisi and not returning in 2025, please finalise your school fee account prior to the end of term 4, Monday 16 December 2024. Please contact me at the front office on 6292 4500 if you foresee any issues settling your account prior to the end of term.

Applications for Fee Concession
This is a final reminder to submit applications for a school fee concession for 2024. Concessions can only be applied to fees in the same year of application, so applications can not be applied to 2024 school fees once the school term is over.

Please email me at julie.rummukainen@cg.catholic.edu.au to request an application form.

Reminder
A reminder that Term 4 school fees are now overdue unless paying by regular instalments. Payments may be made by Cash, EFTPOS, BPay, Compass, or you may phone the front office on 6292 4500 to pay over the phone with your credit card details.

Please email me with any school fee queries and I'll respond as soon as possible.

Kind regards

Julie Rummukainen

Christmas Masses 2024 at Corpus Christi Parish Tuggeranong South

Tuesday 24 December
Christmas Eve

6pm outside at St Francis of Assisi School grounds.
(bring a chair or rug to sit on)

9pm Holy Family Church Gowrie

Carols begin 11.30pm

Wednesday 25 December
Christmas Day

Midnight Holy Family Church Gowrie

8am Holy Family Church Gowrie