Newsletter-Term 2-Week 5-Friday 27th May 2022

Principal's News...

Dear Parents

Next week we will commence our Kinder 2023 enrolment interviews. It is always nice to meet our new children and to showcase our wonderful school. We appreciate the support of our existing school families in promoting our school with your friends and colleagues. If you know of any prospective new families it would be appreciated if you could encourage them to contact our school office for more information.

Our Confirmation candidates engaged in their second information session on Tuesday evening this week. Again it was great to see so many families in attendance, supporting their children through this program as they learn more about the Holy Spirit and how the Spirit works through them to bring the mission of Christ into our every day. With the reflection day and reception of the Blessed Sacrament on Thursday night June 9^th, I ask for your continued prayers for our candidates. 

Parents are also reminded if you are coming onto the school grounds for any reason you MUST sign in to the school via the QR Codes at each entry point to the school. Please note that this is NOT the Service NSW QR Code, you must use your smart phone QR Code scanner. 

Peace in Christ

Dan Dubby

Principal

School Calendar-Term 2

Assistant Principal Mission News...

Thursday the 26th of May was National Sorry Day. We remember and acknowledge the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities, which we now know as ‘The Stolen Generations. National Sorry Day is a day to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generations Survivors and reflect on how we can all share in the healing process.

The inaugural National Sorry Day was held on 26 May 1998.

Prayer for Sorry Day : Lord You Are Our Hope

Almighty and loving God,

You gave your only Son, Jesus, who died and rose again so that sin is forgiven. We place before you the pain and anguish of dispossession of land, language, lore, culture and family kinship that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have experienced.

We live in faith that all people will rise from the depths of despair and hopelessness and in particular Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families who have endured the pain and loss of loved ones, through the separation of children and their families.

In your mercy and compassion walk with us as we continue our journey of healing to create a future that is just and equitable.

Lord you are our hope.

Amen

Second Confirmation Family Night

Tuesday night was our second Confirmation Family Night. The night was enjoyed by all of our candidates and their parents as they learnt about the Gifts and the Fruits of the Spirit through fun quizzes, short videos and games.

We pray for all of our candidates who are undertaking the Sacrament of Confirmation on Thursday the 9th of June.

Matthew Ritchie

Assistant Principal Mission

Parish News...

Parish Information

Revised NSW Government Restrictions for Places of Worship

• Hand sanitiser is provided at entrances to our Churches
• Masks are not mandatory, personal choice can be made if you prefer to wear a mask
• Receival of Holy Communion in the hand only
• Singing is allowed
• Social distancing may be maintained if practical
• Density limits are not mandatory
• If unwell please stay home until you feel well again

Parish Mass Times

Learning & Teaching News...

Dear Parents, Grandparents, and Carers,

On Thursday, 2nd June, I will be hosting a parent information session for Kindergarten about supporting beginning readers and mathematicians at home. Please join me from 9-10 am in the Library to observe some ‘home reading’ in action, gain some great practical tips for practicing reading skills and strategies at home, and have lots of wonderful discussions about further developing your child’s love of reading. I will also demonstrate lots of fun and practical Maths activities that you can do at home to further support your child. As partners in your child’s learning journey, I look forward to you joining me.

Kind regards,

Lisa Conte

Leader of Pedagogy & Kindergarten Teacher

Learning Walks and Talks

At St Francis Xavier, we are intentionally developing students’ skills in setting goals and giving and receiving feedback in order to improve Literacy outcomes, particularly in writing.

When students develop these skills they:

• Understand their learning path and are confident enough to take on the challenge,
• Can select tools and resources to guide their learning, 
• Seek feedback and recognise that mistakes are opportunities to learn, 
• Monitor their own progress, 
• Recognise what they’re learning. 

This week we have been visiting classrooms to ask our students 5 questions for learning:

1. What are you learning?
2. How are you doing?
3. How do you know?
4. How can you improve?
5. Where do you go for help?

These visits are called Learning Walks and Talks and gather evidence of teachers’ intentional development of students’ skills in identifying where they’re at in their learning and how to improve, through feedback practices.

It was evident from the responses that many students were able to articulate how they were going with their learning and how they could improve, setting some very specific goals for their learning. The evidence captured will also now be used to support teachers in developing their next actions to support this goal in the classroom.

Kristie Coster

Assistant Principal Learning & Teaching

Canteen News...

We Need Volunteers for our School Canteen

Tammy is looking for volunteers for the canteen. If you are able to spare a couple of hours, between 9am and 11:30, once a month please contact the school office on 66863370 or contact Tammy in the canteen and let her know what day suits you.  Please note: to volunteer in the canteen, you will need to be double vaccinated and upon signing into the school, the office staff will need to sight your COVID vaccination certificate.

Canteen Roster-Week 6

Monday, 30th May to Friday, 3rd June

Pasta Day-$5.00

We will be having a Pasta Day on Wednesday, 1st June.  Homemade Pasta Bolognaise.  Please order via the QKR App no later than Tuesday, 31st May at 8:30am. 

Please note that no other items are available for lunch and late orders will not be accepted. 

Sushi Day Special-Term 2

$3.90 each - Chicken, Tuna, Avocado or Vegetarian

Please note that all sushi orders need to be placed via the QKR App by 8:30am Monday morning prior to Sushi Day. 

Week 7	Tuesday, 7th June
Week 9	Tuesday, 21st June

Sports News...

Diocesan Cross Country

On Tuesday, 24th May this week St Francis Xavier Ballina had fifteen runners qualify for the Diocesan Cross Country Carnival in Grafton at the Grafton Racecourse. Fortunately a lot of the rain we received around Ballina region over the weekend did not impact Grafton and surrounds.

Congratulations to the following runners who finished in the top 8 and qualified for the Polding Cross Country at Eastern Creek on Tuesday 7th June.

9 Years Boys

• 1st - Luke Dogan 

11 Years Girls

• 1st - Alexandra Dogan

12 Years Girls

• 4th - Erika Wisemantel

NSW PSSA State Touch Football Carnival

Last week Zali Raudonikis travelled to Tuggerah for the NSW PSSA Girls State Touch Football Carnival. The Polding Team competed against 12 other Sporting Regions/Associations across the state, playing 14 matches over three grueling days of competition. Zali was playing some great football when, unfortunately, she tore her calf muscle. Polding however, were undefeated in their pool games which automatically qualified them for the Finals. Polding defeated Hunter in the Semi-Final and MacKillop (2 - Nil) in the Final in an all Catholic Schools affair. Well done to Zali and her Polding team mates on an amazing achievement, winning the NSW PSSA Girls Touch Football State Championships!

Rugby League Sporting Schools Grant

Last Thursday, 19th May, Rugby League Development Officer, Kel Menchin and ex-NRL player Matthew Keating (Paramatta Eels 2008-2013) came to St Francis Xavier Ballina to run some skills sessions with the classes. Although the grass area was a little wet, the students still managed to have some fun and with the older students, perhaps even learn some new skills. This week Kel came in on Wednesday and Thursday to run sessions with the students during PE sessions.

Paddy Wilde

Sports Coordinator

Happy Birthday...

Wishing all our students a wonderful birthday!

27th May to 2nd June 2022

Compass Parent Information...

Partial Absences

Can we please remind parents NOT to add an attendence note for any partial absences.

It's very important we have the most accurate information and are compliant for child safety. 

If you are going to be collecting/dropping your child/ren to school, you MUST present to the school office. Our office staff will sign your child/ren in or out of the school. 

COMPASS APP

Compass is a web-based system that is accessible on any modern web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari) or by using the Compass iOS or Android apps. Search for ‘Compass School Manager’ in the store. Every family receives a separate login to Compass which has been provided to you by our school. 

Down load the Compass App NOW. The App will assist you in staying up to date with all the School Notifications, School Newsletters, School Reports & Parent Teacher Interviews. School Fees are also available for viewing & payment on the Compass App. 

Kinder 2023 Enrolments...

Wellbeing News...

Community News...

Active Kids News...