Newsletter-Term 2-Week 10-Friday 1st July 2022

Principal's News...

Dear Parents,

As we finish the first semester of 2022, we head into the holiday period with a greater sense of
normality than we have known for a long time.  It was nice this term to be able to support our
students to engage in their learning in a more structured routine.  I look forward next term to being able to invite all parents back as we reignite our Parent Forum meetings and hold special community nights for parents of children in Kinder and Years 1 and 2.

Our first Parent Forum meeting will be held on Tuesday night, 19 th July at 5.30pm in the school
library.  All parents are welcome to attend this meeting.  We will be discussing the role of the Parent Forum and providing opportunity for parents to raise any queries they might have that could be addressed at subsequent meetings.  As mentioned earlier in the term, we will host Parent
Community Nights for Kinder (August 16th ), Year 1 (August 23rd ) and Year 2 (July 26th ).  Each session will be run from 5.30pm to 7.00pm.  More details about these evenings will be provided early next term.

We have completed the bulk of our Kinder 2023 enrolment interviews and are well underway to
filling our quota for this cohort.  With limited spaces still available, please ensure that you have
applied for enrolment for any siblings, and feel free to encourage any friends or family to apply as
soon as possible if they have not already done so.

Thank you for your continued support of our wonderful school.  May you all enjoy a safe and restful
break.

Peace in Christ
Dan Gubby

School Calendar-Term 3

Assistant Principal Mission News...

Project Based Learning at St Francis Xavier

On Tuesday we had a special visitor all the way from America. Michael McDowell is a leading educational coach and researcher who, due to COVID, has been working with our school over the last two years online. It was wonderful to have Michael here in person to meet with our staff. He was very impressed with our school and how we have progressed with his Project Based Learning program. A big thank you to Mr Hosie, Mr Kliese, Mrs Niland and our Year 5 students for sharing their learning with Michael.

Feast of St Peter and St Paul

This week on Wednesday the 29th of June we celebrated the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter and Paul are both patron saints of Rome and considered cornerstones of the Church.

St. Peter was one of the 12 apostles, as well as the first pope and founder of the Roman Church. He was martyred sometime around AD 64 in the circus of Nero. Since he was not a Roman citizen his death was crucifixion.

When the Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity, he decided to build a church in the saint’s honour above his grave. We all know this church today as St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City.  

St. Paul was also an apostle, responsible for much of the New Testament. Although he never met Jesus, he is widely acclaimed as one of the most important apostles who spread the word of Jesus and the nascent Christianity. Thirteen out of the twenty-seven books of the Bible are attributed to St. Paul. During Nero’s persecution of the Christians, Paul was martyred as well. Since he was a Roman citizen his death was the more lenient beheading.

Retrieved on the 28/06/2022 from https://theromanguy.com/italy-travel-blog/vatican-city/st-peters-basilica/what-is-st-peter-and-pauls-day/

Matthew Ritchie

Assistant Principal Mission

Parish News...

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 not mandatory, but encouraged
• Density limits are not mandatory
• If unwell please stay home until you feel well again

Parish Mass Times

Learning & Teaching News...

Dear Parents and Families,

In last week’s newsletter we shared with you the "What’s in the Box?” writing prompt in Year 1. The students have been eagerly awaiting the opening of the box for two weeks now and asking everyday for it to be opened!

Yesterday the students were finally able to open the box and find out what was inside.

Year 1-"What's in the Box?"

Save the Date!

• Keeping Our Kids Safe on Social Media

Supporting our young children to navigate social media safely is a challenge faced by parents and families. The Catholic Schools Office Parent Assembly have organised a parent information evening with Kirra Pendergast to be held on Tuesday, August 9th at Holy Family Primary School, Skennars Head. All parents and caregivers are welcome to attend.

If you’re looking for strategies to help support your child/ren, you can click here to register or see the flyer at the end of the newsletter. Please note: This presentation is suitable for parents (only) of primary or secondary children.

• Book Week 2022 & Spelling Bee Finals

This year the St Francis Xavier Book Week will be held from Monday 15th Aug to Friday 19th Aug. There are many exciting events planned for this week including a Zanni Louise Author Talk, Spelling Bee Finals, Book Character Parade, Open Classrooms and the Writers’ Festival.

A timetable that includes further details will be shared with you closer to the event.

Have a happy and safe break!

Kristie Coster

Assistant Principal Learning & Teaching

LEARNING -Kindergarten

In Kindergarten the students have been learning about the zones of regulation. The zones of regulation are a tool to give the students the language to describe their feelings and the strategies they can use to manage their self-regulation and emotional control.

The students learned it is ok to be in any of these zones at different times throughout the day. Some strategies they have been taught to support their self-regulation include:

• Take some deep breaths or use 5 finger breathing techniques
• Take a movement break
• Exercise
• Have a drink of water
• Do something that helps you to feel calm - listen to music, mindfulness colouring in.
• Talk to an adult or friend
• Take a sensory break

Consistency in language at both school and home will further support our students as they navigate and understand their emotions and behaviours. Checking in with them and asking, at different times throughout the day, “What zone are you in?” acknowledging that feeling is ok and supporting them to move back into the green zone where they feel calm and happy.

Lisa Conte

Leader of Pedagogy

Sports News...

St Francis Xavier Athletics Carnival

On Thursday, 16th June, St Francis Xavier held their annual Athletics Carnival at Xavier Catholic College Skennars Head. Thank you once again to XCC Staff and students who helped contribute to the days success by completing track marking and volunteering their assistance.

Clear skies and warm weather greeted the students upon their arrival and it set the scene for an enjoyable day.

Congratulations to Wil Kennedy and Erika Wisemantel who won the Alex Wunch Memorial 100m boys and girls race.

Age Champions will not be announced until the shot put is completed in Week 1 of Term 3.

The following students qualified for the Richmond Zone Athletics Carnival next Term on Thursday, 28th July (Week 2): 

The top 3 students in the 8, 9, 10 11, 12/13 years 100m

The top 3 students in the Junior (8, 9, 10 yrs), 11 years and Senior (12/13 years) 200m

The top 2 students in the Long Jump, Shot Put, 800m & 1500m in Junior (8, 9, 10. Years), 11 years and Senior (12/13 years) 

A Compass Event will be created and sent to parents over the holiday break. At this stage the Carnival will be held at St John’s Woodlawn as the previous venue, Geoff Watt Oval in Alstonville, only had a six lane track which will not cater for the Richmond Zones Carnival. The regular venue which has been used for nearly the last two decades, Riverview Park in Lismore, was impacted heavily by the floods.

St John’s Woodlawn will not be allowing parents to park at the college. A shuttle bus, free of charge, will be transporting parents from the Trinity Bus Exchange to the College Grounds.

Please Note:

A full list of events students qualified for will be sent home on the first day back at school next Term

Term 3 Sporting Schools Grant

St Francis Xavier was successful in obtaining a Sporting Schools Grant in Term 3. The students will be participating in the Lawn Bowls “Rookie Rollers” Program. Rookie Rollers was created by Bowls Australia to enable children to participate in an engaging and fun, games based format of lawn bowls. This can be conducted on a range of surfaces (greens, carpet, concrete, wooden floors). There is a growing number of children with an interest in bowls and the Rookie Rollers format eliminates the need for a bowling green and allows children of all abilities to the emerging sport of bowls.

Enrichment PE

Last Tuesday the Stage Two students had the opportunity to play doubles tennis on a full size court. Thank you once again to Graham and Ballina Tennis Club for allowing the students to utilise their facilities.

Paddy Wilde

Sports Coordinator

Japanese News...

This term our Year 5 students have been learning about the traditional technique for preparing a Japanese lunch called an Obento. Embellishing this technique through the use of modern day themes, our students created some amazing works of food art. Hopefully the enthusiasm with which the students prepared their obentos will be taken home to inspire them to take a more active role in preparing their own school lunches. Please see some of their awesome creations below. 

Year 5 Bento Boxes

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-Term 3-Week 1

Monday, 27th June to Friday, 1st July

Sushi Special Day

Week 3	Tuesday, 2nd August
Week 5	Tuesday, 16th August
Week 7	Tuesday, 30th August
Week 9	Tuesday, 13th September

Student Awards...

Congratulations to this week's award recipients!

Happy Birthday-1st July to 21st July

Wishing all our students a wonderful birthday!

K2023 Enrolment Information...

A quick reminder for all existing families, if you have a little one starting Kinder next year and you are yet to complete an enrolment application please complete one NOW! Our Kinder classes for 2023 are filling up fast and first round of acceptances have been emailed out to families. 

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 before they miss out. 

Instrumental Tuition News...