Po Box 27

Clifton 4361

Ph: (07) 46973366

Fax: (07) 46973067

Email: clifton@twb.catholic.edu.au

Web: www.clifton.catholic.edu.au

8 June , 2011

TO HAVE SUCCEEDED

To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of intelligent people

and the affection of children;

To earn the appreciation of honest critics

and endure the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate beauty;

To find the best in others;

To leave the world a bit better, whether by

a healthy child, a garden patch

or a redeemed social condition;

To know even one life has breathed

easier because you have lived;

This is to have succeeded.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Dear Parents,

The school has been a hive of activity with the end of term looming and report-

ing due in the next couple of days. We have also had a busy couple of weeks

with sport activities eating up a great deal of teaching time.

At the P&F meeting last night we came to an agreement that next term we will

support the Gala Days on 16 and 23 of July but will not enter teams in the

Broncos Days later in the term.

A reminder to please “DATE CLAIM” the 3rd of September for the Bush

Dance. Family and friends are welcome.

BUSH DANCE DATE CLAIMER

On Saturday night September 3, the school will be

holding a Bush Dance. This will be our celebration

for Father’s Day this year. The students will be

taught various dances during term 3 and will be per-

forming some items as well as teaching parents some

toe tapping numbers.

There will be a camp oven meal provided at a mini-

mal cost. BYO will apply. The evening will com-

mence at 6pm approx.

Prior to the start of the evening, the children’s class-

rooms will be open to showcase some of the activities

that they have undertaken during the year to date. The

classrooms will be open from 5.30pm.

Please keep this date free in your diary as we are an-

ticipating a lovely social evening together for the

whole school community. More details will follow

early in Term 3.

Jacqui Drysdale

WORKING BEE - THANK YOU!

Thank you to Shane Meara, Greg Burton, Glen

Kratzman( and Luke) and Keith Joppich who helped

around the school on Sunday morning. We managed

to get a great deal done in a short time. Your help was

greatly appreciated !

INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARDS

As from today, every classroom in the school has

been fitted with a whiteboard. These teaching tools

will be of a great benefit to all the students in the

school and are a wonderful asset for the teachers.

They will be especially handy when the new ACARA

Curriculum is rolled out next year with many units

of work having great resources to use on the white-

boards. I have observed some great Mathematics les-

sons being taught recently with the boards in the

school.

Father Rod’s Welcome Mass - Sunday 19th

June 2011

The Parish is holding a welcome Mass for Fr Rod on Sun-

day, 19th June at 11.00am. There will be a bring and share

Picnic lunch afterwards at the school. Please support the

parish in welcoming our new pastoral leader.

SOUTHERN DOWNS ATHLETICS

Our school is made up of amazing children.

Their behaviour and athletic skills are second

to none and we had a most successful day at

the recent Southern Downs Athletics carnival.

Nine of our students were selected to represent

the Southern Downs Team at the Darling

Downs Championships on the 21 June. I would

like to congratulate all the athletes who partici-

pated on the day and wish the following stu-

dents all the best at the next stage of the com-

petitions:

Brianna Meacle; Tara Wilkinson; Ashley Jop-

pich; Alyssa Free; Bridie Joppich; Darby Pear-

don; Aaron Stace; Ben Gibson and Tyler

Gillam.

Special Congratulations to Aaron Stace who

was the 9 year old Boy Runner -up Age Cham-

pion and Ben Gibson who was the 11 Year old

Boy Age Champion.

SCHOOL FEES School Fees are now overdue. Please endeavor

to pay outstanding amounts as soon as possible.

Please remember that these fees help with the

smooth running of the school and are vital to

pay for most of our everyday expenses.

It would be appreciated if any families having

difficulty meeting this commitment could con-

tact me as soon as possible.

Head Lice A few cases of head lice have been reported in

the school. Unfortunately this happens from

time to time in schools. The only way to limit

head lice infestations is for all parents to regu-

larly check their child’s/children’s hair and

provide treatment if any lice or eggs are found.

If any are found, it would be appreciated if you

could contact the school so that we can give

another reminder to all parents to check hair. It

is recommended that children be excluded

from school until after treatment.

NAIDOC DAY ORDERS FOR TUCK-

SHOP MUST BE IN BY TOMORROW,

9 JUNE 2011!!!!!

Instrumental Music Lessons Term 2 2011 is coming to a close and perhaps you have thought of arranging music lessons for your child. The beginning of third term, when your child is settled into school, is a great time to begin music tuition. Children will need to be in years 4 -7 for wind instruments and years 2-7 for piano. Fees are $12 per lesson and you will be invoiced per term.

Small group lessons of 1-2 students are available for: Saxophone

Flute

Clarinet Piano

With the exception of piano, instruments are available for rent at very reasonable rates which avoids large outlays for parents. For piano tuition you will need to purchase a piano or a keyboard with full size keys (same size as a piano) and ‘touch control’ which means the harder you press the key the louder the sound. (toy keyboards are not suitable)

Please email me with any questions you may have. If you would like to go ahead with lessons, forms are available from the school for you to fill out and send back to school.

Chris Buckley. yougotbuckleys4@bigpond.com

Budding musician, Shakira Mellow per-

formed her piece to the school at assembly

on Monday. Shakira will be taking part in

the “String out” competition later this week

in Toowoomba. Best of luck Shakira.

NOMINATION FEES FOR SPORTING EVENTS:

The school pays an affiliation fee to the Central Downs Schools Association of about $750 per

year for our students to take part in sporting events in our area. Each child is then expected to pay

a nomination fee every time they “try - out” for a CD Team/SD Team or DD Team.

In the past, the school has covered this fee as the numbers of children attending these events have

been minimal. Having spoken to the School auditor and CEO finance officer, they have explained

that it should be a “user” pays policy as others in the school do not get the same benefit from the

school funds. St Francis de Sales is the only school in the Diocese which still pays these nomina-

tion fees and we have had more than 50 children try out for various sports thus far this year.

After consultation with the school P&F last night, we came to an agreement that for the rest of the

year the school will continue to pay the nomination fees for the children unless a parent volunteers

to pay for their own child. From January 2012, all nomination fees will placed onto the child’s

school account which is sent home at the beginning of each term.

Please note that NO CHILD should miss out on trying out because of this decision. If a family

finds they have difficulty paying the nomination fee, they are to please see the principal and an

arrangement will be made to support the child in their endeavours.

This Week’s Liturgy Roster

04/06/11

Welcoming: Liturgy Co-ordinator: Kerry Cranitch

POF/OHP: K & S Flynn

Altar: Readers: K Flynn & H Gillam

Offertory: J Nash & Family

Eucharistic Ministers: D Lyons &

P.Tickner

Counters: M & M Bowe

Cleaning: M Byrne, J Keleher, J Meara,

C Horton

Club Hotel Raffle Roster

June 3rd

T Gillam & P McKenzie

June 10th

J Fogarty & D Peardon

Dates To Remember

JUNE 2011

13th - Queen’s Birthday Holiday

14th - Joy Craig 2pm - Talk to Yr 7 Stu-

dents - Parents welcome.

17th - Naidoc Celebration Day - 400 stu-

dents to join the Festivities at St Francis de

Sales.

19th - Parish Mass 11.00a.m. followed by a

bring and share Picnic Lunch at the school.

21ST - DD Athletics

23rd - End of Term (Thursday)

24th- Pupil Free Day - ACARA In-Service

26th - Sunday Mass 5pm

JULY 2011

3rd Sunday Mass 5.00pm

11th - Pupil Free. Staff Curriculum In-

service

12th -School Opens for Term 3 . ( Staff

Curriculum In-service - 4 Relief Teach-

ers )

25th - 29th Catholic Education Week

29th - Bishop’s Inservice Day ( School

Closed)

AUGUST 2011

2nd - P& F Meeting

5th - Census Day

8th - School Liturgy - Mary McKillop Cele-

bration

8th - Parish Council Meeting

12th - Mrs Skillington’s Last Day for 2011

18th - Ski Trip Departs at 4.30 p.m.

24th - Ski Trip Returns at 7.30 a.m.

SEPTEMBER 2011

3rd - Father’s Day Bush Dance

(DATE CLAIM!!) 5th - Parish Council Meeting

Quote of the Week

God Bless,

Brett Pollard

Principal

I cannot make my days longer so I strive to

make them better."

- Henry David Thoreau -

FESTIVAL OF FOOTBALL

Two teams from St Francis de Sales participated

in the Festival of Football held at the Toowoom-

ba Grammar School last week. Both teams were

placed second in their division and were later

knocked out of the semi-final round. We wit-

nessed some outstanding football from all teams.

Despite the cold we had a wonderful day. Thank

you to the parents who transported the children

and Mrs Jeffcoat-Altena for coaching the

Year4/5 team.

congratulations

Southern Downs 9 Year Boys Age Champion

Runner Up : Aaron Stace

Southern Downs 11 Year Boys Age Champion :

Ben Gibson