Teacher Only Day - Tuesday 27 October

We have set our final Teacher only day of the year, this will be Tuesday 27 October (the day after Labour day) School will be closed. 

Principal's Message

Welcome to Spring!

As the cooler winter months fade away, we are thrilled to welcome the returning warmth of the sun and watch our school grounds burst back to life with vibrant greenery. It has been a absolute joy seeing our students head outdoors, soaking up the fresh air, and filling the schoolyard with laughter during morning play and lunch breaks.

With everyone spending much more time playing together outside, this season provides a wonderful opportunity to remind our students about what makes play at our school so special.

• Generosity & Inclusion: We are actively encouraging all children to be generous with their time and equipment. True inclusion means keeping an eye out for others—inviting someone who is sitting on the sidelines to join in, sharing sports gear, and making sure no one feels left out. A simple gesture of kindness on the playground can make a classmate’s entire day.

• Mindful & Safe Play: With so much energetic activity happening at once, we are reinforcing the importance of "safe play." Staying aware of our surroundings, respecting each other’s personal space, and keeping games fair ensures our outdoor time remains safe, happy, and injury-free for everyone.

• Positive Sportsmanship: As friendly matches of soccer, handball, and tag heat up, we are reminding students that playing together is about connection, not just competition. Whether we win or lose, the real joy comes from teamwork, effort, and enjoying the game together in the fresh air.

Thank you for continuing to support and reinforce these core values at home. Together, we can ensure this spring is a bright, inclusive, and joyful season for every single child on our playground!

Spring Refresh Working Bee: Many Hands Make Light Work!

Join us for a school community Working Bee on Sunday, 27th September from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM as we give our grounds and facilities a well-deserved spring makeover.

Whether you have a specific trade skill or just an extra pair of hands, there is a task for everyone:

• High-Powered Clean: Water blasting our paths, grounds, and main school buildings.

• Garden Restoration: Tying up and refreshing our garden areas particularly around the corner near the Church.

• Facility Maintenance: Minor building repairs and a quick touch-up of painted playing areas.

• Playground Refresh: Scrubbing down and cleaning the slide to get it ready for spring fun.

• Kids' Crew: Children are warmly encouraged to come along! They can take charge of wiping down classroom furniture and helping with light outdoor tidy-ups.

Fueling the Team

To say thank you for your hard work, we will fire up the grill and host a free community BBQ lunch for all volunteers.

What to Bring:

Gardening gloves, sturdy footwear, and a water bottle.

If you own a water blaster, or basic gardening tools, please bring them along labeled with your name!

Please RSVP via the school office or app so we can cater accurately for the BBQ. We look forward to seeing you there!

Ngā mihi nui,

Nikolai Solia

Principal

Futsal Tournament 

What a fantastic day we had at the futsal tournament on Tuesday! We were so excited to take 52 tamariki along for the day, and they did an incredible job representing St Francis de Sales.

It was wonderful to see the teamwork, encouragement and support shown throughout the day. Our tamariki not only supported their own teammates but also cheered on and encouraged students from other teams. Their positive attitudes, sportsmanship and willingness to give everything a go made us incredibly proud.

A huge thank you to Shannon, Nick, Ameha, Sarah T, Sarah B and Candice for giving up their time to come along and support our teams. Your help and encouragement made such a difference and was very much appreciated.

Well done to all 52 students who represented our school so well. You should all be very proud of yourselves!

Garden to table 

Spring Growth & Green Goodness in the Garden!

Spring has officially sprung, and our school garden is bursting with life, color, and new growth! Here is a look at what our hands-on Garden to Table crew has been up to this week:

Fresh Harvest & Kitchen Delights

Our young chefs whipped up a batch of vibrant green Herby Dip! Made with freshly picked herbs straight from our garden beds, a splash of lemon, and crunchy sunflower seeds, it was a delicious, nutrient-packed hit. Yum!

In the Garden Beds

Planting for the Future: We planted Capri tomato seeds and tucked bright sunflower seeds into the warm soil, excited for the tall blooms and sweet summer harvests to come.

Garden Maintenance: Students got their hands dirty weeding beds, turning over the soil to let it breathe, and giving all our plants a generous watering.

School-Wide Composting: Big news! We officially delivered new classroom compost bins across the school so every single class now has its own dedicated bin to help us reduce waste.

Soil Care: We mixed fresh, nutrient-rich compost into our soil to keep our plants growing strong.

Keep an eye out for all the bright spring flowers popping up around the school grounds. 

Dates to Add to Your Diary

Our  SFDS Events Calendar is the best way to stay up to date with everything happening at school — including PE days, special events, and other important dates. You can find the calendar by clicking on the link above or either on our school website or through Hero. 

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