Link Up Term 2 Week 8 2025

“Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it you can never get it back.” Harvey Mackay

It is simply incredible to think that almost half of the school year is over. This term has been an incredibly busy yet highly productive one. In this newsletter you will read of the multitude of events and achievements that have occurred this term. We pride ourselves on the academic and extra-curricular opportunities that exist at St Francis de Sales College, and as Principal I am very proud of what this community offers. My thanks to the dedicated and inspirational staff of our school who continue to foster a spiritual and learning culture of the highest quality.

For me Week 7 perfectly summed up all that is good about the opportunities that exist in this College. Even though it was a short week due to the long weekend, we managed to provide a multitude of rich experiences for our students. Throughout the week we had six teams competing in basketball, netball and soccer knockout competitions. All of these teams represented the College with pride and performed exceptionally well. On Thursday we held Cyber Safety workshops for Year 7, 8 and 9 students, as well as a really well attended and received parent workshop that evening. There were a range of excursions to various locations such as the Hemenji gardens, Adelaide Zoo and the Supreme Court of South Australia. On Friday we held the Adelaide Hills Student Pathways Interactive VET Expo in our Community Sports Centre. Year 10 students from across the Hills immersed themselves in finding out more about potential pathways and careers they might wish to pursue. Finally, our 30 Mid-Year Reception students had their first transition visit, an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the learning spaces they will soon call their home as they begin their learning and faith journey with us. Behind each of these activities are a dedicated group of teachers, Education Support Officers and coaches who are determined to ensure that you have the best of opportunities to excel and represent our College and I thank them for their dedication.

Semester 1 Reports

Soon all students will receive their Semester 1 report. I trust that for every student this report is what they have hoped for and, more importantly, worked hard for. A favourite book of mine is by NRL coach Wayne Bennett called Don't Die with the Music in You. It consists of a series of short stories and sayings that inspire him. In that book he profoundly says “If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always got.” So, for those students, who might be disappointed with aspects of their report, now is the time to make crucial changes if you want to see a different result at the end of Semester 2.

Sacramental Celebration

Over the long weekend 12 of our students received the sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion at beautiful ceremonies celebrated by Fr Philip Marshall. This is a very special milestone in the lives of these students, their sponsors, their families and friends. Fr Philip’s homily at these celebrations was brilliant, explaining to these young people that they have been given the gift of the sacraments to go into the world and make it a better place for others. We congratulate the students and their families.

Andrew Baker
Principal

There is a healthy buzz of busyness within our College community as students finalise Semester 1 assessment tasks and sit examinations. The end of the semester is a great opportunity to take stock of what has been achieved in the first half the year and set new goals for Semester 2. In doing so, we are reminded of our mission from St Francis de Sales to "Be who you are and be that well". Excellence does look different for everyone, but we encourage and expect all students to strive to reach their best. 

We were also thrilled to welcome our Mid-Year Receptions on campus on Friday last week as they prepare for their Term 3 commencement. We are truly blessed, as an Early Learning to Year 12 school, to accompany young people and their families on their schooling journey – from their first day to graduation and beyond.

CyberSafe Families Presentations 

Year 7, 8 and 9 students participated in a workshop delivered by Todd Murfitt from CyberSafe families. Throughout the session, students explored how technology can be used safely and effectively for positive social networking and technological advancement. Todd communicated important information to students about the advantages and risks associated with artificial intelligence, chatbots, and gaming addiction, and provided some excellent strategies to support young people to navigate these challenges. 

We also facilitated a parent session which was well attended by parents and caregivers from across our College community. You can access many of the resources and tips that Todd covered in the session through the CyberSafe Families website > cybersafefamilies.com.au.

Pastoral Care Learning 

There continues to be a number of learning opportunities that take place throughout Pastoral Care that support our students to maintain respectful relationships at school and prepare them for the world beyond school. Some of the Term 2 Pastoral Care activities include: 

MFS Road Awareness Program (RAP)
Delivered to our Year 11 students, the RAP program gives an open and honest insight into the experience of firefighters working in road crash rescue. It empowers our students to use positive peer pressure to alleviate risk taking behaviour on the road. 

Encounter Youth
In a time when developing an identity is everything, we encourage young people to be part of the majority who make positive choices when socialising and celebrating. These sessions explore: 

• Factors shaping personal identity (self-worth) 
• Alcohol and brain development 
• Risk taking and strategies to deal with tricky situations 
• Introduction to vaping and e-cigarettes 
• Personal values and choices.

Legal Services Commission
The Legal Services Commission workshops were delivered to senior students and explored; how to navigate legal issues that arise in everyday life such as in the workplace and in housing and rental agreements; rights and responsibilities related to online behaviours, racial vilification, and the implications of inappropriate online behaviour; and how intoxicating substances can increase the risk of motor vehicle accidents and the consequences of a criminal conviction. 

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. Furthermore, if students arrive at school with these symptoms, they will be directed to First Aid and parents/caregivers will be contacted to collect their child. Your support in keeping our community safe and healthy is important and appreciated.

Smart Watches 

We are 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.

All the best for the remainder of Term 2, and we look forward to seeing grandparents at our annual R-6 Grandfriends Day in Week 10.

James Gill
Deputy Principal - Community and Wellbeing

A warm welcome

It is with great joy and gratitude that I write to you for the first time as Acting Deputy Principal - Learning. Since visiting in Week 1 of this term for the whole College Resurrection Mass, I have felt truly welcomed by students, staff and families alike. It was a beautiful introduction to the warmth and spirit of the St Francis de Sales community, and I am incredibly thankful to be a part of it.

When I officially commenced in Week 4, I had the pleasure of joining the Reception classes on their visit to Our Lady of Mercy Church. Seeing the awe and reverence from our youngest learners was incredibly moving. Later, in Week 5, I had the opportunity to accompany our Year 9 and 10 students on their church visit and was equally impressed by their maturity and respectful engagement. These experiences affirmed for me the strong values and sense of Catholic faith that are deeply embedded in our community.

Highlights in Learning

One of the highlights of the term so far has been the Festival of Arts Showcase in Week 6. Witnessing the talent of our students from Reception through to Year 12 in Dance, Drama and Music was truly inspiring. Their confidence, creativity, and stage presence were a testament to both their individual talents and the support they receive from their teachers.

I was also privileged to attend the Year 12 Drama production of Amadeus in Week 8. The performance was outstanding, polished, compelling and full of depth. The students displayed remarkable confidence and professionalism, and it was clear how much time and effort had gone into perfecting their craft. It was a memorable evening that reflected the richness of the arts in our College. It is certainly evident that students are living by the words of St Francis de Sales “Be who you are and be that well” and working diligently to share their talents with their community.

I have also thoroughly enjoyed my learning walks through classrooms across the College. It’s been wonderful to observe explicit teaching in classrooms, particularly literacy and numeracy in Junior School classes and specific content and concepts in Senior School classes, and to see students so engaged in their learning. There is a real sense of purpose and pride in the way students are striving to complete Semester 1 successfully.

End of Semester 1

The final few weeks of Term 2 are always a busy time as students and staff work through the completion of Semester 1 and move in the start of Semester 2. The start of a new semester is an exciting time as it represents a new beginning for many of our students, with different elective subject classes for Years 7 to 9 and some different semester subjects for Years 10 and 11. In our Junior School, we are excited to be welcoming a new group of students into our Reception community from the start of Term 3. Our newest Receptions have been onsite for orientation opportunities, and I know that they, and their families, are excited about starting their school journey here at St Francis de Sales. We wish them all well and hope their educational experience here at our College will be everything they could hope for.

Exams and Upcoming Reports

This week, our Year 9-11 students are undertaking exams, and it’s been encouraging to see the way they’ve approached this important part of assessment programs - with commitment, focus and the steady support of their teachers. It also serves as opportunities to practice and refine exam preparation and exam protocols prior to completing examinable Year 12 subjects.

As we approach the end of Semester 1, exams and other summative assessments are being finalised before reports are distributed on the last day of Term 3. I remind parents/caregivers to continue to access SEQTA for ongoing information about your child’s learning. Reports will again be distributed via the SEQTA platform, so if you are currently having any issues with SEQTA Engage, please contact the College for support.

Thank you

We thank families for your ongoing partnership and support in your child’s learning, and encourage contact with the College if concerns arise regarding any academic or wellbeing needs. As usual, the Home Class Teachers are the first port of call, but our Year Level Leaders, Learning Area Specialists and College Leadership Team are also available to support if required.

I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all students, families and staff for the warm and generous welcome I have received. I feel blessed to be a part of the St Francis de Sales community and look forward to continuing our shared journey of faith, learning and growth.

Have a wonderful end to Term 2 and a restful holiday break.

Sarah Martin
Acting Deputy Principal - Learning

National Mercy Conference (AMSSA)

“We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us.” This quote by Catherine McAuley, the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, holds deep significance for our College community and we are fortunate to encounter this as a daily experience. A teacher who nurtures curiosity or a student who uplifts their peers embodies this idea. Education itself is about spreading light – illuminating minds with new ideas, perspectives and discoveries that contribute to the collective brightness of our community. A well-lit space feels safe, warm and inviting. In the same way, our College community that embraces diversity, values every individual, and encourages open-mindedness becomes a place where everyone feels welcome and that they belong.

The Mercy Sisters who first came to Australia in the mid 1800s, deeply lived by these values and heartsets, which we are most grateful for today. Recently, James Gill, Paul Wadsworth, Jo Cains and I attended a Mercy Conference held by the Australasian Mercy Secondary Schools Association (AMSSA), which our College is a member of. It was held in Perth and hosted by the three Mercy schools that are situated there. The sense of being part of a larger Mercy family was awe inspiring, and one of the greatest aspects of the experience was the opportunity to build connections with staff from other Mercy schools and share story and insights. Through the various workshops, seminars, and pilgrimage experiences, we were able to deepen our respect for and understanding of the courage and dedication of the Mercy Sisters who first arrived on Australian shores. Their foresight and commitment to their mission has created a Mercy legacy today that unites us in a very special way, and invites us to be light to all those we encounter.  

A time to Retreat and reflect

Earlier this term, our Year 11 cohort participated in their two day (one night) Retreat, held at Woodhouse Adventure Park. It was an enjoyable and insightful experience, with external presenter, Sam Clear, facilitating it and sharing his amazing journey of walking for Christian unity for 15,000km across 20 countries, in the space of 18 months. Sam’s presentations over the two days definitely took our students out of their comfort zones and provoked new perspectives on life for many. The Year 11 Retreat was a real growth experience for our students and was the main focus point for the Stage 2 Spiritualities, Religion and Meaning assessment task, which the students have just completed.

We look forward to soon journeying with our Year 9 students on their Reflection Day on 2 July at Sunset Rock, Stirling. This will be facilitated by the Passionist Youth Ministry Team, and its focus will be on exploring more deeply, the life and spirituality of our patron, St Francis de Sales, in an energising and interactive manner.

Ecological Conversion

“Because all creatures are connected, each must be cherished with love and respect, for all of us as living creatures are dependent on one another.” Laudato-Si.

We recently held two assemblies at the College; one for Junior School students, and the other for Senior School students, focussed on Ecology and sustainability. The purpose of these was to reinforce the message that the ongoing choices that each of us make, actually make a huge difference to the health of our world. It was an opportunity for us to introduce our new drink container recycling bins and emphasise the importance of all of us using the correct bins – always. I had the pleasure of welcoming to the assembly, Lee Harrison from KESAB and Jane Francis from our Mt Barker parish, who assisted me in facilitating the assemblies. As a College we are in the process of creating a whole College approach to looking after the Earth, and all people, and are putting together a think-tank group of students, staff, parents, parishioners to begin the discussion about how we might do this. If you are interested in finding out more about this think-tank group or wish to be part of it, please contact me via email at ofarrugia@stfrancis.catholic.edu.au

Sacraments of Initiation

During the June long weekend, a number of our students received their Sacrament of Confirmation and First Holy Communion at beautiful ceremonies celebrated by Fr Philip Marshall. This is a very special milestone in the lives of these students, their sponsors, their families and friends. We congratulate them and as a College community we continue to support these students on their faith journey.

They are:  

• Jacob D
• Ethan D
• Brock D
• Caesi D
• Ava M
• Tabitha P
• Hudson R
• Ava A
• Xavier S
• Lorenzo S
• Theo S
• Charlie T

Vinnies Winter Appeal

As you are aware, 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 Homeroom 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 Thursdy 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. Participants must register using the link below, and begin to collect sponsors through this link > https://vinnies-sa.grassrootz.com/st-francis-de-sales-college-sleepout-2025?tab=leaderboard. The Vinnies Sleepout is open to students in Years 6-12 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

Catholic School Parents SA (CSPSA) presents Stronger Families: A Positive Parenting Conference.

This one-day event is tailored for parents and professionals involved with youth, offering a platform where prominent parenting experts from Australia come together to share invaluable insights on modern-day challenges affecting children and teenagers.

Featured speakers include Maggie Dent presenting Calming Teen Stress and Anxiety, Wayne Holdsworth presenting Start a Conversation Now, Greg Attwells presenting You Can't Out-Parent an Algorithm and Madhavi Nawana Parker presenting Self Regulation: How to stay connected, calm and influential in your child's life.

The details of the event are below:

Date: Saturday 16 August @ 9:30am to 3:00pm
Location: The Sanctuary Adelaide Zoo, 1 Plane Tree Drive, Adelaide
Cost: $25 + Booking Fee per person. Light lunch included
To book: www.events.humanitix.com/stronger-families-2025

Students across our R-6 community have enjoyed a productive and engaging term, filled with a wide range of rich learning experiences. Below are just a few highlights of the wonderful learning opportunities students experienced this term.

Year 5: Food Trucks

A highlight of the term was the Year 5 integrated unit on Food Trucks. As part of this project, students applied their mathematical knowledge in areas such as measurement, nets and shapes and budgeting. The unit also incorporated learning outcomes from Design and Technologies, with students constructing 3D models of their trucks, as well as Health, through researching and planning healthy food options to include on their menus.

The project was a wonderful opportunity for students to engage in creative, hands-on learning and they thoroughly enjoyed designing and presenting their unique Food Trucks.

Reception: People Who Help Us

This term, our Reception students have been learning about People Who Help Us at school and in the wider community. They’ve enjoyed discovering how different people care for, protect, and support others. A big thank you to the parents who generously visited our classes to share information about their job and how they help others - your involvement made the learning even more meaningful.

Year 3: Visual Arts

Hundreds of years ago, in the kingdom of Benin, there were leaders called Obas. Obas were said to have characteristics of four important characters which lived in the areas, the leopard, the python, the mudfish and the crocodile.

As part of their African Visual Arts investigation and studies, the Year 3 students enjoyed using clay to create a model of the leopard, python, mudfish or crocodile.

Creativity is like clay - when we shape it with our hands and our hearts, it becomes something truly magical. Hands were messy, but imaginations were running free and there was so much creativity and engagement in this learning activity. 

"We liked using the four techniques and making the create look 3D and as real as possible. It was fun talking with our friends while we did our artwork." Isla L and Ava V, 3G

"We liked the feel of the clay and moulding it into our animal. We added some patterns to our pythons so that they were more life-like and detailed." Thomas H and Archie Mc, 3B

"We really liked making the clay snakes and adding detail with the wooden sticks." Brodie V and Levi H, 3Y

Alice Taylor
R-6 Director of Learning

Adelaide Hills Student Pathways (AHSP) Interactive Industry Day

Last Friday 13 June, we hosted the AHSP Interactive Industry Day. This was a great chance for our Year 10 students to explore available Vocational Education and Training (VET) options available to them at our College and across the AHSP Alliance.

Thanks to the following Registered Training Organisations, who provided interactive displays on the day, including RST, TAFE SA, VETA Morphus, Active Training, AIOH, AIBT, PEER, Marden Senior College and Queensford College. Thanks also to our staff who assisted with set up and used alternative teaching areas on the day. A huge thank you to Sarah Bolt (AHSP Alliance Coordinator), who worked alongside me in organising this fantastic opportunity for our students.

Our Year 10 students were joined by students from other six other Hills schools, and they all participated in a range of interactive activities in the following areas:

VET options are an important part of many students senior secondary educational programs. Students at St Francis de Sales can do VET courses as part of the SACE and these pathways are increasingly popular with our Year 10-12 students, as they match these educational pursuits to their strengths, interests and future pathways. VET programs complement the skills, knowledge and dispositions developed through other SACE subjects, as well as providing industry-specific knowledge and skills and pathways to work or further education.

It is terrific to see an increasing number of our students taking up the opportunity to support their completion of the SACE Certificate by undertaking VET courses. In Semester 2 we have 53 Year 10-12 students who are taking the opportunity to access a range of 22 different VET courses.

Katie Oliver
VET and Careers Coordinator

Open Boys Knockout Football

In Week 5 our Open Football team travelled to Murray Bridge for the first round of football playing two great games and two awesome wins. The boys played with energy, showed real heart and represented our College with pride on the field. A huge congratulations to everyone involved who gave it their all and showed our Heart Values in action - going hard for the ball, backing each other up and stepping up when it counted.

Game 1
St Francis 7.8 (50) def Remark High School 0.2 (2)
Goals: Goodrich, Lovelock (2), Massie, Murphy, James
Best Players: Ness, Clayfield, Duffield, James, Matthews

Game 2
St Francis 11.8 (74) def Murray Bridge High School 1.0 (6)
Goals: Forbes (4), James, Clayfield (2), Lovelock, Duffield, Goodrich
Best Players: Goodrich, Forbes, Ekberg, Dodson, Pfeiffer

Well done to all the players - you made us proud. Let’s keep the momentum going for Round 2 against Victor Harbor High School next week.

Year 9/10 Boys Knockout Football

We again headed to Murray Bridge to play against Unity College and Eastern Fleurieu School (EFS).

We had a debut player from France representing our College in his first Australian Rules Football experience. Virgile was certainly a highlight for the boys, with the goal in mind to provide him with a possession at all costs.

We were competitive in the first match against EFS, but a few quick goals in the first quarter by EFS had us playing catch-up for the rest of the game. Unity was certainly a force; they moved the ball very quickly and used every possession well, leaving us scoreless until the final quarter. Thomas S secured two quick goals in the final quarter and Riley H also sneaked one in. This certainly lifted the boys spirits for the journey home.

Unfortunately, we came away losing both games. Unity beating both EFS and us convincingly.

Game 1
Eastern Fleurieu (47) def St Francis (22)
Goals: Thomas S, Charlie F, Dylan P

Game 2
Unity College (98) def St Francis (18)
Goals: Thomas S (3), Riley H

Best players for the day: Andrew M, Thomas S, Dylan P, Alex H, Austin M

Special mentions: Virgile (debut game), Sean M (saved us in the backlines), Mattix P (all-rounder in the field, was difficult to beat), Austin M (used every possession positively) and Charlie F (played both backlines and forward and was very reliable for both games)

Year 5/6 Boys Knockout Football

Thursday of Week 7 saw our boys take the long windy road to Belair Primary School for the first round of 5/6 Knockout Football. There was a lot of nervous energy from what is usually a rather self assured bunch of footballers. The nervousness came from the fact that we were taking on last years champions, St Peter’s Woodlands in our first game. After watching Belair and St Peter’s face off as we arrived, there was little done to settle the nerves of the boys who watched St Peter’s go down to Belair in the final stages of their game. 

Our boys took to the field and played incredibly fast and incredibly hard right from the first ball up. There were some fantastic individual efforts, but the boys gelled together and played a fantastic, supportive team game. Some of the individual efforts were Angas W, Angus J and Archer F in the midfield and Jett B and Hudson C combining for 17 of our 29 goals. 

Final score in our first game was:

St Francis - 29.15.189 def St Peter’s - 4.0.24

Game 2 was a much tighter match and the boys were fatigued from their first game. They played a great team game and displayed true grit to get through to the end of an incredibly tight match. Hudson C and Angas W were incredibly stable down back and settled the boys providing some great run. Ben H and Angus J provided plenty of contested footy on the wings and through the middle whilst the boys went to work and converted on the scoreboard. 

A last quarter landslide saw our boys run out victorious 

St Francis 11.15.81 def Belair 6.10.46

State Cross Country

On Thursday of Week 7, a dedicated group of students headed to Oakbank Racecourse to take part in the State Cross Country Carnival. It was a challenging course, but everyone gave it their all and represented our College with pride.

There were some fantastic efforts across the board, with standout performances from senior student Holly H, who placed 5th in the Open Girls category, and Paxton N, competing under Barker District, who came 4th in the 11 Year Old Boys.

Well done to all who competed - you should be incredibly proud of your achievements and the determination you showed on the day.

Open Girls Knockout Basketball

Our Open Girls Basketball team headed down to St Aloysius in Week 7. The girls had a fantastic day and despite being short handed, did a fantastic job, results were:

St Francis def Nazareth 59 - 45

St Francis def Saint Aloysius College 52 - 41

There were great contributions from all players with Penzy H being the standout in both games. Sienna B and Isla M also were strong contributors. The girls move on as the top seed in the group and will play Scotch College and Sports College SA.

7/8 Girls Knockout Netball

Our Year 7/8 Netball team recently competed in a spirited game series against Tatachilla, St Peters and Heathfield, showing great teamwork and determination. The girls secured a well-earned win in one of their three matches, with two closely contested losses.

A special highlight of the day was reuniting with Year 7/8 teacher and one of last year’s beloved coaches, Teagan Rickman, who returned for a visit while on maternity leave. The team was thrilled to catch up and meet her beautiful new baby boy - a heartwarming moment that added to the day’s excitement.

5/6 Girls Knockout Netball

On Thursday of Week 7, we hosted three schools in the first round of the Knockout 5/6 Girls Netball.

They started the carnival in style with a dominant win over St Columba, setting the tone with sharp passing, strong defence and great communication throughout the court. It was a great display of the hard work the team has been putting in at training.

The next two games were tightly contested, with our girls narrowly going down to Stirling East, who went on to win the carnival, and Pedare in another close match. Despite the losses, the team never gave up and played with heart and determination right to the final whistle in both games.

5/6 Boys Knockout Soccer

Again, on the Thursday of Week 7 (it was a busy day for competitions) we hosted three schools in our first round of the SAPSASA 5/6 Boys Soccer Knockout Competition. Results were as follows:

Game 1
St Francis def Stirling East 2-1
Goals: Oscar A (2)

Game 2
St Francis def East Adelaide 4-2
Goals: Oliver M (2), Oscar A (1), Taylor B (1)

Game 3
Magill def St Francis 4-1
Goals: Oscar A (1)

Our team was a mixture of experienced talent soccer players and footy players having a crack. They played exceptionally well against solid opposition and should be proud of their efforts.

Unfortunately, only one school moves onto the next round and so this is the end of the line for us.

Open Boys Knockout Basketball

Our Open Boys Basketball team faced a challenging first round, taking on tough opponents in Pembroke and Modbury High School. With a number of key players unavailable, the boys were undermanned but still showed up with great spirit and determination.

Both games proved to be tough matchups, with the team going down by around 30 points in each. Despite the scoreboard, there were plenty of positives to take away from the day. Playing in a competitive and high-energy environment against the home side of Modbury, our students maintained their composure, stayed focused and supported one another from start to finish.

The way they conducted themselves under pressure was a true credit to their character and sportsmanship. While the results didn’t go our way, the boys can hold their heads high. They showed perseverance, teamwork and a commitment to representing our College with pride.

Well done to all involved for giving it your best and demonstrating the values we stand for, even in tough moments.

Open Girls Knockout Netball

Last Thursday saw the Open Girls Netball team travel to Heathfield High School to compete in the first round of the Knockout Competition. We were lucky enough to have a cracking day weather wise and the girls started off strong with two exceptional wins against Murray Bridge High School and Heathfield High School. Our goalies worked brilliantly together and the defence were very strong. All girls contributed to the wins.

The final game was always going to be tough with Unity fielding a tall and well-drilled side. We dropped a few goals and then were unable to peg the lead back. We ended up losing by 6.

A huge thanks to Amanda and Ebony for coaching and to Phoebe for scoring. The girls represented our College in an outstanding manner and should be very proud of their efforts.

Open Girls Knockout Football – Round 2

The Open Girls Football team travelled to Keith yesterday to take on Mount Gambier High School in their Round 2 Knockout match. Despite the long journey, the team was switched on from the first bounce, delivering an impressive four quarters of football.

Their hard work paid off with a dominant 13.4 (82) to 3.4 (22) victory, the result of a strong all-round team performance. Lexi D, Caitlyn V and Sienna B led the scoreboard with three goals each, while every player played a vital role in the win, demonstrating outstanding teamwork and determination throughout.

With this win, the girls now progress to Round 3 – congratulations and good luck.

SAPSASA Football Boys – (SAPSASA Boys)

A huge shoutout to our 9 students who proudly represented Barker at the SAPSASA State Football Carnival. Despite some tough weather conditions early on, the boys showed incredible determination and teamwork – finishing equal first in Division 3 with an impressive 7 wins and just 2 losses.

Well done, boys – we’re so proud of your efforts on and off the field.

Outstanding Sporting Achievements

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

Barker District SAPSASA Representatives

Netball – Karlie J and Molly M

School Sport SA State Representatives

Basketball – Emmerson B
Cross Country – Paxton N

State Representation

U16 Country Basketball – Thomas S, Elle M and Penny D

A special mention also goes to our own R-6 PE Teacher, Amanda Fairley, who will be off to Italy next week to coach Australia at the World Baseball Softball Confederation U/15 Women’s World Cup.

Congratulations to all students (and teacher) 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 Cassie Menzel cmenzel@stfrancis.catholic.edu.au.

Cassie Menzel
Sports and Event Management Assistant