Link Up Term 2 Week 4 2025

Welcome back to Term 2, and whilst it does seem some time ago now, I do trust that all of our families enjoyed a most happy and holy Easter. Just prior to our Term 1 holidays, we held an amazing College Day where we celebrated all that makes this community special. I am sure you have heard by now that our incredible College exceeded our fundraising efforts from last year for Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal, raising a remarkable $28,000. What an achievement, and what a generous community! These funds will make an enormous difference to others, and I can only say a genuine and heartfelt thank you to all.

In Week 1 of this term we held our whole College Resurrection Mass to remind us of the Easter story. One of the delights of this Mass was that we were joined by two Sisters of Mercy, Sr Marie Ralph and Sr Mary Mutlow. Sr Mary was a boarder here at St Scholatica’s beginning in 1942. It was terrific to have their presence among us, and to hear their stories of the pioneering Sisters of Mercy. We are so grateful to these wonderful women of service who laid the foundation of our College. At this Mass we were also able to congratulate our amazing Parish Priest Fr Philip who will celebrate a very special ‘0’ birthday on 29 May. The cheer from our students for Fr Philip was so genuine and testament to the deep connection he has with our community. You might remember that last year Fr Philip celebrated 40 years of service to the priesthood. What a remarkable life of service. We are just so blessed to have Fr Philip with his incredible wisdom and care among our College and parish communities.

Last week was Catholic Education Week, and over the course of the week we held several tours, information sessions and events. We certainly packed a lot into the week, and it is worth reflecting on the various events as they demonstrate the incredible community spirit of our College.

On Wednesday we held Senior School Learning Tours for our current Year 5 and 6 families. Often schools can focus on providing information to families outside the school, and we felt it important for our current families to understand what secondary education at St Francis de Sales College can offer. We had over 150 people attend, and it was great to be able to show families through the redeveloped Dell building in particular.

On Thursday morning we held our Mother’s Day Breakfast. This is always a highly anticipated event. Our Stage 2 students were at the College from 5am preparing a beautiful breakfast, and our guest speaker, current staff member Emma Hill (Mattner), was fantastic in speaking about her connection to our College, her life as a new mum, and it is so evident to see the impact of her amazing mum has on her life and career.

Thursday was also Savoy House Day, an initiative of the Senior Student Leaders, where the College immersed themselves in the story of St Francis de Sales and Savoy. The leaders are planning to have a day focussing on each of our four houses this year.

Friday morning saw many members of our community walk safely to school. Then finally on Saturday afternoon we held a College Tour with over 115 prospective students and their families discovering our beautiful facilities.

Now that is one big and incredible week, filled with community pride and spirit. I thank everyone involved in all of these events. It really is a privilege and makes me so proud to be the Principal of this great College.

Andrew Baker
Principal

Who am I really? What am I looking for? What direction do I want to give my life, my decisions and my actions? Why and for what purpose am I in this world? How do I want to look back on my life once it ends? What meaning do I want to give to all my experiences? Who do I want to be for others? Who am I for God? All these questions lead us back to the heart.

This quote is from Pope Francis’ Encyclical Dilexit Nos, the basis of which is a reflection on the human and divine love of the Heart of Jesus Christ. Our College Leadership Team reflected on this quote earlier in the week as a reminder of our responsibility as a Catholic school in the Mercy tradition to the holistic education of our community; that we are not just educating the mind, but the heart and spirit as well.

Throughout our community on any given day, there are countless moments that encourage our young people to consider their responses to the questions above as a way of forming their identity, values and beliefs.

College-wide Student Consultation

Throughout Weeks 2 and 3, every Home Class participated in a community consultation, where every student had an opportunity to provide feedback on our Personal Responsibility Procedure, Pastoral Care Program, and College uniform. Students responses on what they’d like to keep, stop and start will directly inform how we shape key College procedures moving forward. I’d like to commend our students for the importance they placed on having voice and agency in this process.

Senior School Learning Tour

It was wonderful to see so many of our current Year 5 and 6 students and families attend our Secondary Learning Tours last week. Students and parents were provided with an overview of our secondary curriculum offerings, diverse pathways, and were able to see our secondary learning environments firsthand through visiting classrooms, observing student performances and viewing student work samples.

To this end, I’d like to ask our current Year 6 families to save the date of our Year 7 Parent Information Evening which will take place on Wednesday 26 November at 6:00pm in the Performing Arts Centre.

Health and Hygiene in the Winter Months

We’ve already had a number of students absent so far this term with respiratory illnesses, many of which were at school while they were symptomatic. I’d like to remind parents and caregivers to please ensure they keep their child at home if they are experiencing any cold or flu like symptoms.

Smart Watches

The College is currently reviewing whether the increased prevalence of smartwatches is having an impact on the learning environment. Fortunately, the vast majority of students in our community comply with the College’s directions on mobile digital devices and contain their phones in their locker or check them into Student Services.

Students are reminded that smartwatches are not to be connected to their phones or to the internet during school hours and should only be worn for the purpose of telling the time. To support our students in developing their personal responsibility, I remind parents and caregivers to contact us on 8393 1000 during school hours should you need to deliver a message or make contact with your child.

James Gill
Deputy Principal - Community and Wellbeing

We warmly invite you to attend a Cyber Safety Parent Information Session on Thursday 12 June at 5:30pm to be held in our Performing Arts Centre.

This important session will be presented by Cybersafe Families, an eSafety Commissioner-endorsed provider. The presentation will share the latest research and best-practice approaches to online safety education for families.

The evening session will complement presentations delivered earlier in the day to Year 7, 8 and 9 students, which are designed to promote positive online experiences and digital citizenship. These sessions will encourage students to navigate the online world with responsibility, resilience, respect and empathy.

During the parent session, you will receive practical strategies and helpful resources to support a cyber safe home environment. All Cybersafe Families presentations are delivered by professionals who understand that children are at different stages in their online journey.

The parent session will include:

• An introduction to the most current and popular social media platforms
• Tools to recognise and manage cyber bullying
• Information on online grooming and associated risks
• Communication strategies for starting difficult conversations
• Practical strategies to support positive online behaviour, including managing screen time

Register your attendance online at St Francis de Sales College > Cyber Safety Information Session.

We look forward to your participation as we work together to empower our College community to navigate the online world safely and confidently.

For enquiries please email info@stfrancis.catholic.edu.au.

Term 2 has started like a whirlwind, with the unseasonally dry weather providing excellent conditions for our staff and students to get fully immersed in a range of teaching and learning experiences around the College and within the wider community. Learning has taken place in many different forms with a variety of excursions, sports activities, guest speakers and community events supplementing the daily learning experiences taking place within the classroom.

The term began with our College community gathering with members of the local parish for our R-12 Resurrection Mass. We took time within the Mass to acknowledge the life and work of Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday, linking his legacy of compassion for the poor and deep care for our natural environment to the message of hope in our lives that we can all take from Jesus’ resurrection.

Term 2 Secondary Learning Experiences

Our Senior School students have been involved in a range of different learning activities, with our musicians travelling to Mt Gambier, enjoying the sounds and the atmosphere of the Generations in Jazz Festival and the opportunity to perform and sharing their music passion with like-minded people. Our Stage 1 Outdoor Education students braved the cooler weather during their Bushwalking Exploration Journey in the Deep Creek Conservation Park, and our Year 11 students engaged in their Year 11 Retreat experience, themed My Journey at the Woodhouse Adventure Park. The Retreat was facilitated by Sam Clear, from Walk4One and was a wonderful opportunity for students to connect with each other and their teachers, in a manner that invites positive reflection about self, others and God.

The Year 10 cohort recently attended the Adelaide Careers and Employment Expo at the Adelaide Showgrounds, providing students with an opportunity to speak with professionals involved in a vast array of careers and complementing the careers and pathways work the students do here at school. Our Year 10 Japanese students recently attended the JLTASA Movie Making Day at St John’s Grammar School, joining with Japanese students from other schools to create a storyboard, write a script and edit a commercial (in Japanese) for an everyday item.

Our recent Mother’s Day Breakfast was a huge success and a large part of that was the outstanding catering of our Stage 2 Food and Hospitality students who brought together all their learning from this semester to create a wonderful spread.

Just this week the Stage 2 Physics students spent a day at the University of South Australia, attending workshops in Momentum in Two Dimensions, Motion and Relativity and Electricity and Magnetism – work that will help broaden their understanding of the topics they are covering through their studies.

R-6 Learning Activities

Our R-6 students have also been actively involved in their learning, both in and outside of the classroom. Some recent sporting opportunities included our Year 5/6 Girls 9-a-side AFL Footballers participating in the Dublas Girls Cup at the Summit Sport and Recreation Centre and our Year 4-6 students who represented St Francis de Sales at the Barker District Cross Country Carnival at Woodside. As we expect, these students were outstanding ambassadors for our College, competing in a fair and respectful manner, whilst also exhibiting high level skills.

A number of our Junior School students have recently undertaken activities helping them to deepen their understanding of the Catholic nature of our school, including our Reception and Year 2’s who visited Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church and the Year 3’s who shared Mass with the local parishioners, led by Father Philip Marshall.

We are very proud of the wide and diverse array of learning opportunities available to our students, and the way they actively engage in these experiences. As always, I encourage all students, with the support of their teachers and families, to set high expectations of themselves, and to continue striving for their best by continuing to push towards their next level of learning.

Catholic Education Week

Catholic Education Week was celebrated during Week 3 (12-18 May) in Catholic schools across South Australia. Catholic Education Week is an annual opportunity to celebrate the excellent teaching and learning that happens in Catholic schools every day and to reflect upon the unique characteristics of our Catholic Schools and what makes them so special.

In 2025, the week highlighted the theme of #Shine With Open Hearts, and the staff and students at St Francis de Sales took time to celebrate how our school helps students shine through respectful relationships and across the diverse learning opportunities students have access to through our curriculum and extra-curricular program. Our staff and students were engaged in activities that allowed them to reflect on and celebrate the unique things they love about being part of the St Francis de Sales community.

Very successful Secondary Learning Tours on Wednesday 14 May focused on informing current and potential students and families on transition into Year 7 and pathways through our Senior School year levels. These tours were followed by another large group of families attending a College Walk on Friday 16 May. Special thanks to all of our existing families who took the opportunity to better understand what our 7-12 year levels have on offer, and to the staff and students involved in organising and supporting these important events.

Term 3 Reception Intake

Over the coming weeks, we welcome all of our Mid-Year Reception students, and their families, to our College. These students will be engaged in a number of orientation visits leading into their first day of school at the start of Term 3. We hope and trust that these visits go well and look forward to the exciting journey these students have ahead of them as they progress from Reception through to Year 12 here at St Francis de Sales College.

Upcoming Student Free Day

A reminder to parents and caregivers of the upcoming Student Free day on Friday 6 June (the end of Week 6). On this day, staff will be engaged in Professional Learning particularly focused on assessment, moderation and reporting.

Finalising Semester 1 and Beginning Semester 2

We are heading into a busy end to Semester 1, which will conclude at the end of Week 8, Term 2. Students and staff will then transition over to Semester 2 timetables from the start of Week 9 (Monday 23 June). Following the end of the semester students and families will have access to Semester 1 reports through SEQTA.

As the semester draws to a close, I draw your attention to the upcoming Festival of Arts Showcase, highlighting the work of our Senior School students in Art, Dance, Music and Drama (Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 June) and the Year 11/12 Drama Production Performances, taking place in the PAC on Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 June. Our Arts students have been, and continue to, work hard in preparation for these events, learning lines, finalising art pieces and perfecting dance routines and musical performances. I hope you enjoy the chance to experience the vibrancy of our Arts Learning Area through attending these events.

Welcome to Acting Deputy Principal – Learning

I am sure that you will all join me in welcoming Sarah Martin to our wonderful St Francis de Sales community. Sarah is coming to us from Sacred Heart College, where she holds the substantive position of Director of Learning Enrichment. Sarah will remain in this role at St Francis de Sales through until the end of 2025, whilst I take up a six month position of Enrolment and Facility Project Officer for St Francis de Sales College, supporting the work of the CESA Hills Expansion Project and then enjoy some long service leave in Term 4.

All the best for the coming weeks and the completion of a successful Term 2.

Paul Wadsworth
Deputy Principal - Learning

The Gift of Service

As I reflect upon our College community, I feel so proud of who we are and our living-out of “Heart speaks to Heart”, which is one of the core messages of the saint, St Francis de Sales. The generosity and support that our community offers each other and the broader community, is inspiring.

There are so many examples of acts of service and outreach within our College, that it’s worth highlighting some of them. Toward the end of last term, a number of our Year 11 students volunteered to participate in the annual Variety Club Adelaide Zoo Picnic. This was a very large event held for children with disabilities, and our students who attended had the opportunity to dress in mascot costumes and be a joyful presence for the children who were guests at the picnic. Lots of fun and wonderful to see the joy this created. Our College will be involved in the Variety Club Christmas Lunch later in the year too.

We also have a number of ongoing service activities that I’d like to acknowledge. Breakfast Club occurs twice a week in the Food Tech Kitchen and many students take the opportunity to come along to be with friends and have toast and Milo before school starts for the day. This is facilitated by Sr Shiji and Jade Pace, along with a number of staff and student volunteers who arrive at the College at 8:00am to begin preparing for it.

We also have a wonderful and long-lived connection with the Mt Barker Uniting Church with the Hungry No More program. On a regular basis, we have staff, parents and senior student volunteers attend this program on a Sunday evening, which involves serving hot dinners in the Uniting Church Hall, to a large group of homeless people and people who are struggling in life. Recently, our College has extended our assistance to the Hungry No More program. Under the drive of our staff member, Jodie Marafioti, any left over food from classes in the Food Tech Kitchen, gets packaged, labelled, and delivered to the Uniting Church to be distributed to people who rely on the Hungry No More program. This initiative has been named Footsteps for Food and has recently delivered over 500 meals to the Hungry No More program.

Fortnightly, we have our Community Mass in the Community Sports Centre Function Room, starting at 8:00am. After the Mass, staff, parents and parishioners who attend are able to enjoy a barista made coffee and have some time to sit and chat together. This is made possible thanks to our Year 5 teacher, Dan Peterson, who arrives at the College early to set up the coffee machine and then serve coffees after Mass.

This year we welcome Jennifer Delima into our community as a volunteer in our Music Ministry. Jennifer is a parishioner who attends Masses at Our Lady of Mercy Church, and she happily volunteers to assist and drive the live music that is part of our Year Level Masses each week. This involves attending planning meetings with teachers, rehearsing songs with students and driving the Music Ministry at each of the Year Level Masses. A tremendous effort.

Of course, we have our Faith-in-Action (FIA) Group, who enthusiastically promote our fundraising and awareness-raising Appeals each term, and also are involved in several outreach excursions to the Vinnies Shelters and Soup Kitchens, amongst many other things. The FIA Group consists of students ranging from Year 3 to 12, who volunteer their time to meet weekly and plan outreach events at the College and within the broader community. This group is enthusiastically led by Tayla B, Leila C-S, Toris B-K, Charlotte K and Giselle G.

Our Parent Community Group (PCG) volunteers are also a huge part of our service work within our College. I thank Lia Hooper and Aisha Sirop for their leadership of this group. The PCG recently held the annual Mother's Day Stall at the College, which was a great opportunity for students to buy their mum a gift, and it was also a successful fundraiser for future PCG initiatives for the College.

The tireless ministry and service to our community, of our Parish Priest, Fr Philip Marshall, is also a cherished part of what happens at our College on a regular basis. When all of these service initiatives are written and presented at once, its awe-inspiring to realise the many acts of love and generosity that occurs at our College on a regular basis. I know for sure that there are so many other acts of service occurring, which I haven’t listed here. We are part of a beautiful community.

The greatest act of generosity from our community, I think, is definitely shown during our Caritas Project Compassion Appeal efforts. We concluded last term on such a high, in great celebration of who we are as a College, with our annual College Day. This day was also the culmination of our generous fundraising for Caritas Project Compassion during Term 1.

Our liturgy to start the day, beautifully unpacked our heritage in the Mercy Sister narrative and the life of St Francis de Sales. Our students then had the opportunity to have some fun with their friends on the jumping castles, sporting activities and the Walkathon. College Day concluded with the famous Talent Show, which was entertaining.

As a College community, once again we did an absolutely tremendous job at raising funds for Project Compassion through the Walkathon and other activities/donations. The amount we raised broke last year’s College record and I’m sure is again the highest amount raised by a school in Australia. We raised a total of $28,002.50, which is mind blowing. Thank you so much for your generosity. This will assist so many people in great need.

Stories of Hope

Another example of great service and generosity, is seen in the lives and works of the many Religious Congregations who set up schools and support services in the early years of the State of South Australia. Recently, I attended a seminar with Sr Shiji and students, Holly P and Tayla B. It was an opportunity to hear the stories and historical beginnings in South Australia, of several Religious Congregations, including the Sisters of Mercy, who established the first iteration of our College in 1902. Holly and Tayla share their insights about the experience:

“The Stories of Hope event connected the Jubilee Year (Pilgrims of Hope) and the 180 year anniversary of Catholic Education in South Australia. This was started by Mary MacKillop and carried through further by Brothers and Sisters from other Congregations, shaping our Catholic Education today. A particular part of the day which stood out for me was the inspirational stories that have shaped Catholic schools and the education being passed down from the Sisters and Brothers. As was highlighted in the metaphor; “everyone is a golden thread and together we create a rope of hope streaming from Jesus and his teachings”. The Stories of Hope experience has shown me how much Catholic Education has changed and developed over 180 years, through ongoing support of young people’s hope.” Holly P

“I had the honour of joining Holly, Sister Shiji and Mr Farrugia to attend the 180th anniversary of Catholic Education at the Stories of Hope’seminar. We spent the day reflecting and discussing the history and values of Catholic Education and how it has shaped schools today. Hearing stories from the Sisters and Brothers, of their challenges and successes was both insightful and inspirational. This experience has had a profound effect on me. It reminded me of the importance of education, not just as a means of intellectual growth, but as a way of nurturing values that contribute to a more compassionate and understanding world.” Tayla B

The Legacy of Pope Francis

We are saddened by the recent news of the death of Pope Francis. However, we know that his legacy and mission will live on in our world; especially his devotion to the needs of the poorest of the poor, and commitment to taking care of our natural and living world. This week is Laudato-Si Week, where we especially focus on the message in Pope Francis’ encyclical about Care for our Common Home, which was written exactly 10 years ago. On Thursday 5 June, which is World Environment Day, we will be running a Junior School and a separate Senior School Assembly, based on the theme of Ecological Conversion. This is a concept that comes out of Laudato-Si and is about recognising the need to deepen the relationship with the natural world, which we are all so interconnected with by design. Pope Francis states in the encyclical, “There can be no renewal of our relationship with nature without a renewal of humanity itself. There can be no ecology without an adequate anthropology”.

The assemblies will provide students and staff with information about recycling and other aspects related to looking after our environment, and in the first instance invite people to join a College discussion group to build a whole College plan for Ecological Conversion. It is hoped that the outcome of the discussions had by this group will lead to a number of initiatives that can be actioned by students, staff and families.

Whilst our aim is to deepen our activity in caring for the environment, I’m aware that there is lots of positive work currently happening in this field at our College. We congratulate the Year 5 cohort, who won the Genesis Trophy at the end of Term 1, in recognition of their continued effort to keep their outdoor classroom environment clean and tidy. All steps in the right direction add to our combined efforts to create a world where humans and all living things flourish together.

Vinnies Winter Appeal

This term our charity focus is the Vinnies Winter Appeal, which includes our Vinnies Sleepout. The Appeal assists Vinnies to provide emergency relief to people at risk and experiencing homelessness. Your donation will help the Vinnies volunteers to rebuild lives of people in need within our local Mt Barker community.

Each Home Class has been given a basket to put their donations in. For our College, the Friday of Week 9 will be the close of the Vinnies Winter Appeal and the last day for people to donate items. Thanks in advance for your support of this Appeal and your generosity.

All donations are welcome, however Vinnies has informed us that the following items are most needed:

• Tinned and packaged soups
• Tinned meats
• packaged pasta
• Biscuits (sweet and dry)
• Tinned vegetables
• Vegemite
• Peanut butter
• Jams
• Coffee and teas
• Any kind of toiletries like toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorants and soaps.

The Vinnies Sleepout will be held on Thursday 26 June, and include dinner, team activities during the evening, input from a guest speaker, and the sleepout overnight under the veranda of the Dell Building in cardboard boxes. The next morning, the participants will have breakfast at Breakfast Club and then get ready for the school day. As part of the Sleepout, all participants are required to collect sponsors or donations from people, for their efforts. The Vinnies Sleepout is open to students in Year 6 to 12 and also staff. If you are interested in participating in this, please email me for more information at ofarrugia@stfrancis.catholic.edu.au.

Keep warm as we enter cooler weather ahead.

In Peace

Oreste Farrugia
APRIM

Did you know that each of our College Houses have a significant connection to the life of St Francis de Sales? Each House reflects a significant part of the story of St Francis de Sales and on Thursday 15 May we celebrated Savoy House Day. Savoy was the first house to be celebrated as it is the birth place of St Francis de Sales.

This celebration marks the beginning of a new initiative led by our Senior Student Leadership Team, as a way to help us learn more about the life and mission of our patron saint and how it connects to our College history. House Days aim not only to educate but also to strengthen our sense of community whilst having some fun.

The day began with a story and prayer shared during Morning Prayer, highlighting the significance of Savoy. Each Homegroup received gift bags containing blue lollipops and wristbands with positive affirmations written on them. To mark the occasion, the Junior School Deck and Mercy Courtyard were decorated in blue - with streamers, balloons and tablecloths creating a festive atmosphere.

Recess and lunch brought even more excitement, with music, bubbles for the Junior School, blue lollies for everyone, and a themed photo booth complete with blue costumes. Throughout the week, students also had a chance to guess the number of lollies in a jar – the closest guesses (without going over) took home the sweet prize, filled with jellybeans, M&Ms and Mentos.

Savoy House Day was a fantastic start to this new tradition. We’re already looking forward to celebrating our next House Day later this term.

Dale Hoffman
R-12 Director of Students

The R-6 community has had a positive and productive start to Term 2. Our dedicated teachers have been working hard to deliver high-quality learning that enriches the educational journey of every student in our care. It has been a pleasure to walk through the College and observe students engaged, focused, and enjoying their learning across all subject areas.

Walk Safely to School Day
On Friday 16 May, we participated in Walk Safely to School Day, with many families joining in the initiative. Two walking groups set off from separate starting points - Kmart car park and the Laratinga Wetlands. This national event promotes road safety awareness and the importance of healthy, active lifestyles. It was heartening to see such strong community participation, and everyone enjoyed the fresh, crisp Autumn morning.

Children’s University
This year, 47 students from Year 2 to 6 are participating in the Children’s University program. This initiative promotes lifelong learning and, importantly, recognises the valuable learning that takes place outside the classroom. This week, we held our first lunchtime Children’s University event, where students enthusiastically took part in a STEM challenge involving Indy bots (robotic cars). They used colour-coded pads to complete various tasks, combining creativity, critical thinking and teamwork. It was a highly enjoyable and enriching experience for all involved.

Mid-Year Reception Students
Next week, we are excited to welcome 29 new Reception students for their first official transition visit as part of our Reception Transition Program. This program provides valuable opportunities for staff to build connections with our newest students and for the children to become familiar with the College environment and school routines. It is a privilege to welcome these families at the beginning of their schooling journey and to support them through to the completion of Year 12.

Alice Taylor
R-6 Director of Learning

Welcome back to another full and rich term of learning. The semester is quickly drawing to a close with exams in Week 8 for our Year 9-11 students. These exams will be timetabled during normal lessons for the subject and learning will continue throughout the day as per the students normal timetable. More details will be emailed home shortly.

We also have a Student Free Day scheduled for the end of week 6 so families can enjoy an extra long weekend. There will however be a study day scheduled for those students in Year 10-12 who have outstanding work due in their subjects. Teachers will speak to the students this affects and a letter will go home to notify families.

Homework Club is continuing this term and is held every Monday afternoon in the Library from 3:30 – 4:30pm for any student  in Year 7-12 who needs extra support with their work, or a quiet space to complete their tasks. We are looking forward to another term where our students aspire for excellence in their learning, fully supported by our wonderful College staff.

Kerin Tinnion
7-12 Director of Learning

Semester 1 English Snap Shot

This semester our Stage 1 General English classes have been studying a variety of Australian novels that explore key ideas including growing up in a small town and the impacts of grief on individuals and communities. One of our Year 11 classes was fortunate to have the opportunity to speak directly with the author of Salt River Road. In an online meeting Molly Schmidt provided an overview of her writing process and the context that lead to her novel’s development; in particular how she incorporated a First Nations voice respectfully, even though she is not an Indigenous writer. The students were able to ask questions about some of the particular techniques that were evident. It was a fantastic experience.

Nadia Honner
Stage 1 English Teacher

With the recent announcement of shortlisted books by the CBCA for the Younger and Older Readers’ Book of the Year, our two teams of Shadow Judges have commenced their reading and evaluation of titles in each of their respective categories. Teams will meet to discuss the books throughout Term 2, before deciding on which to grant their one and only vote – just in time for the announcement in Book Week – 16-20 August.

Finally, I’d like to acknowledge the efforts of our Rostrum participants, Cara, Rayna and Georgia. These students all spoke on Saturday 10 May at the Rostrum Public Speaking Competition, held at Immanuel College. Each proudly represented our College, delivering engaging and heart felt speeches.

Nicole Elding
Learning Area Leader - English

Biology

Year 11 Biology students attended Cleland Wildlife Park for an informative day about local endangered wildlife. As part of their portfolio of work, students will be investigating one Australian endangered animal. The investigation will look at new strategies and developments that will help these species recover.

Here is what the Year 11’s had to say about the day:

"On the excursion we learned about Native Australian animals and why they were endangered. Cleland was a very educational day, and we had lots of fun with our peers." Indy R

"The dingoes were my favourite animal and the Tassie devils were also cute." Amelia M

"I learnt that the Tasmanian devils are going extinct because of a tumour cancer that is formed around their mouths so they can’t eat, which is really sad. I also learnt that they created a virtual fence in Woodside to light up and make a noise to scare the animal away from the road to help decrease the amount of animals getting killed." Alicia D

"The dingoes were interesting to learn about as I did not know that there was a giant fence separating them from North and South parts of Australia." Sasha A

"I learnt a lot about the different levels of extinction, I found out how different zoos breed different animals that are about to be extinct and release them back into the wild." Charlize G

"The excursion to the Cleland Wildlife Park today was fun, as I was able to learn about native species and how they are threatened, or endangered, and how extinction may be prevented." Louisa H

Brianna Schenscher
Science Teacher

Physics

On Tuesday 20 May our Year 12 Physics students embarked on an enrichment excursion to the University of South Australia's Mawson Lakes campus. In the university’s state-of-the-art physics laboratories, each student had the unique opportunity to work independently with their own set of equipment, completing six hands-on experiments that directly support the Year 12 Physics curriculum. Students explored key concepts such as the motion of charged particles in electric and magnetic fields, and the interference patterns created by light and lasers. This dynamic, real-world learning experience not only brought physics to life, but also helped students strengthen critical skills and collect valuable data for their folio assessments - all while preparing for success in their end-of-year exams.

Oscar Oliver-Dearman
Physics Teacher

Catholic Athletics

On Tuesday of Week 9, we took a team of 85 athletes to the Athletics SA Stadium in Mile End to compete in the Catholic Co-educational Schools Athletics Carnival.

All students performed magnificently and represented our College well. We saw several exceptional individual results across various age groups and events, with several students stepping up to fill in for absent teammates, including our U13 boys who smashed the final relay.

Our collective efforts paid off, with the team finishing 1st in the U13 and Open age groups, and securing 2nd in the U14 and U15 age group and 3rd in the U16 age group.

Thank you to the dedicated staff who supported the students on the day. Your presence and encouragement were instrumental to the team’s success.

Congratulations to all involved for an excellent day of competition and College spirit.

Year 5/6 Boys Cricket

Our Year 5/6 Boys cricket team ventured to Stirling East for their first round match of the SAPSASA Knockout Cricket competition. 

In perfect conditions we batted first and made 6/82 off 20 overs. Highest scores were Archer J 19 and Archer F 12 not out.

The boys knew they had to bowl and field well and responded keeping an experienced Stirling team to 3/119. Wickets to Jett B, Archer F and Hudson C. Excellent keeping by Archer J and Kirk M kept the game close.

Despite the loss the boys should be commended for the way they played and conducted themselves.

Barker District Athletics

In Week 10 of last term, a team of 30 enthusiastic Year 4-6 students represented our College at the Barker District Athletics Carnival, held at Cornerstone College. We are thrilled to share that our students delivered an exceptional performance, securing the overall shield with a commanding lead of over 100 points.

Throughout the day, several students achieved impressive individual placings across a variety of events. A special mention goes to Blair L, who earned a perfect score of 48 out of 48 points, and Max G, who followed closely with an outstanding 46 out of 48 points. Their determination and athleticism were truly inspiring.

Beyond the results, our students represented themselves and our College with pride. Their behaviour was exemplary, and their sportsmanship and team spirit were evident in every event.

Congratulations to all students involved on a fantastic achievement.

SANFL Dublas Cup

On Wednesday Week 2, some of our Year 4, 5 and 6 girls represented our College at the SANFL Dublas Cup. Despite a chilly start to the day, the girls brought warmth and energy to the field with their enthusiasm, determination and incredible sportsmanship.

Our Year 4 teams impressed in their round robin tournament, showing tremendous growth, teamwork and skill. Out of 16 teams, they proudly placed 2nd, 3rd and 5th - an amazing achievement.

Joining them were our Year 5 and 6 teams, many of whom were new to football. Their positivity and effort were outstanding throughout the day. St Francis de Sales 2 fought hard all day without securing a win, but never gave up. St Francis de Sales 1 stormed through the competition to finish as runners-up, with a gutsy and confident performance in the final. The teams placed 2nd and 11th overall.

Congratulations to all the girls for their efforts both on and off the field and thank you to everyone who supported and helped organise such a successful day.

Trinity College Gymkhana

For the first time, we had a number of students represent St Francis de Sales at the annual Trinity College Gymkhana.

The team made up of girls from all year levels ranging from Year 5 to 11 represented the College with grace, sportsmanship and determination at the recent Trinity College Interschool Gymkhana. The girls performed incredibly well and placed 1st overall out of more than 20 schools.

From the show ring to show jumping and novelty events, every rider gave it their all, with amazing support from parents and a great team vibe. A big thank you to everyone who helped make the day such a success.

9/10 Girls Knockout Netball

The girls faced a challenging draw in the first round of the knockout netball competition, but they rose to the occasion with determination and spirit.

The day began on a strong note with a convincing 32 - 27 win over Murray Bridge High School, giving the team a confident start.

Next up was the toughest match of the day against a highly competitive Unity College side. It was a tightly contested battle from start to finish, with the scores locked at full time. The match went into overtime, and the girls showed remarkable grit to pull off a thrilling one point win after six minutes of extra time.

In the final game, the girls came up against a powerful Heathfield team. Despite giving their all, the intensity of the previous match had taken its toll, and the team fell short 45 - 15.

Congratulations to all the girls on an outstanding effort throughout the day. You played with heart and resilience - you should be very proud.

Open Girls Football

Our Open Girls Knockout Football team kicked off their campaign in spectacular style, securing dominant victories in both of their Round 1 matches. In the first game, they overcame River Mallee and Districts with a strong 5.11 (41) to 2.0 (12) win. They followed this up with another commanding performance against Birdwood, taking the game 6.13 (49) to 1.1 (7). The girls displayed outstanding teamwork, perseverance, and sportsmanship throughout the day.

Top goal scorers for the day were Sienna F (3 goals), Lily J (2), and Macy J (2), with every player giving 100% and playing a vital role in both wins. A special thank you to coach (and parent) Paul Jenke, his encouragement and leadership were key to the team’s success.

The team should be incredibly proud of their efforts and the way they represented our College. Now on to Round 2.

Barker District Cross Country

This week some of our Year 4-6 Cross Country ventured over to Woodside to compete in the Barker District Cross Country Competition. The team did incredibly well by winning the competition by an incredibly close margin - just one point and bringing the shield back to St Francis de Sales. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the hard work, determination, and teamwork shown by all our athletes.

A special mention must go to some stand-out performers:

• Paxton N, who finished 1st in the 11 year old boys category
• Elle D, who placed 2nd in the 12 year old girls category
• Thomas M, who secured 2nd in the 10 year old boys category

These students not only showed incredible athleticism but also displayed outstanding grit and respect throughout the competition.

7/8 Boys and Girls Knockout Basketball

Our Year 7/8 Basketball Teams had a fantastic day of competition. The Girls team went undefeated, securing victories over Sacred Heart, Modbury, and Tennison Woods to claim 1st place and a spot in the State Finals - an outstanding effort.

The Boys also showed great determination, finishing 3rd overall. They notched a win against Modbury and battled hard against tough opponents in Sacred Heart and Tennison Woods.

Well done to all our players for their teamwork and sportsmanship. And a big thank you to our Basketball Academy students Daisy, Emerson, Alisha and Isla for coaching the teams.

9/10 Boys and Girls Knockout Volleyball

On Thursday our Year 9/10 Boys and Girls teams represented the College at the School Sport SA Round Robin Volleyball Competition at Aberfoyle Park.

The Girls started strong, winning both pool games with impressive teamwork and energy. In a hard-fought Grand Final against Mitcham Girls High, they narrowly missed out on the top spot in a close match.

The Boys showed great determination, improving with every game after an early loss. They finished in a three-way tie, and we’re awaiting final confirmation on progression.

A big thank you to our dedicated coaches and helpers for their support.

Outstanding Sporting Achievements

We are proud to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of several students who have recently been selected to represent at district, state and national levels across a variety of sports.

Barker District SAPSASA Representatives

Football
Angas W, Angus J, Archer F, Archer J, Archie P, Blake K, Hudson C, Jett B, Luke E

School Sport SA State Representatives

Basketball – Jett B
Hockey – Angus J, Beau B
Swimming – Neil C

State Representation

U18 Football – Elliot D

A special mention also goes to Daisy H, who has been selected in the 21 named squad for the Australian U16 Sapphires Camp.

Congratulations to all students on these fantastic accomplishments. Your hard work, dedication and talent are a credit to you and to our College.

Knockout and Interschool Sporting Opportunities

Throughout the year we will continue to have a number of opportunities for students in Years 7-12 to trial for school representative teams. As these teams are nominated the coaches will place notices in SEQTA Notices with the relevant information for students. Parents/caregivers can also keep an eye on SEQTA Notices through SEQTA Engage. If there are ever any questions about these activities, please email Nadia Honner at nhonner@stfrancis.catholic.edu.au.

Nadia Honner
Learning Area Leader - Health and Physical Education and Specialist Sport Coordinator

Q. What do you get if you put amazing moves, awesome tunes, crafty characters and a gorgeous gallery together in one place?

A. You get the St Francis de Sales Festival of Arts

Join our best and brightest musicians, dancers, actors and artists as they showcase their talents at our St Francis de Sales Festival of Arts to be held in Week 6.

We welcome you to be part of the very first performance in our redeveloped Performing Arts Centre - a milestone moment for our St Francis de Sales community.

This must-see event is themed Rhythms, Visions, Stage Editions and is a celebration of the work of our performing and visual arts students throughout the semester.

This will undoubtedly be an unforgettable event.

When:
Tuesday 3 June at 6:30pm
Wednesday 4 June at 6:30pm

Where:
Performing Arts Centre at the College

Bookings:
Bookings are essential. Please book your seats at St Francis de Sales College > Festival of Arts Showcase.

Enquiries:
For enquiries please email info@stfrancis.catholic.edu.au.

Generations in Jazz Festival 2025

Our superb St Francis de Sales jazz combo deGroove represented our College at Generations in Jazz Festival held in Mount Gambier earlier this month. This year’s event saw over 4,000 students from across Australia participate in the national stage band and vocal ensemble awards.

Under the direction of Karen Redman, our students performed remarkably well in a large field of 25 other schools. deGroove proved that quality musicianship is alive and well here at St Francis de Sales… and that we are ripe to grow even bigger and better.

Reflecting on the experience, Anthony (Year 9) said he really liked being with other musos like him. Toris (also Year 9) enjoyed meeting talented musicians and learning from the workshops, and Livinia (Year 11) loved jamming with students from other schools.

A highlight of the festival was an incredible performance by US jazz great Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, providing us an opportunity to experience world-class musicianship.

Congratulations to our Music students for representing the College so ably.

Shayne Tarling
Senior Music Teacher