Newsletter-Term 3-Week 1-Friday 22nd July 2022

Principal's News...

Dear Parents,

Despite unpleasant weather dominating the week, it has been wonderful to see our children starting back with revitalised energy and consequently great enthusiasm for the new term. Similarly, our staff commenced the term very enthusiastically on Monday as we engaged in the thought-provoking investigation of Christ’s message in the Gospels through deep analysis of the historical context in which the Gospels were recorded. The presentation by Dr Dan White left us all with greater knowledge and skills to unpack the Gospels with our students with greater insight.

PARENT NIGHTS

We are starting the term with a series of Parent Community nights for Years 2 (Tuesday, 26^th July 5:30-7pm), Kinder (Tuesday, 16^th August 5:30-7pm), and Year 1 (Tuesday, 23^rd August 5:30-7pm). These nights have been prepared in response to the concern that many of our parents in these class groups, particularly our new parents, have not had the opportunity to come together as a community due to the restrictions of the last two years. I hope you are able to attend your respective sessions and enjoy the opportunity to make some new connections to strengthen the relationships within our Catholic school community. Please click on the link provided to register Registration Link

NAIDOC WEEK

With NAIDOC Week falling on the school holidays each year, we nominate a week close by to enable us to engage more meaningfully with our students to share in the celebration as a school community. We will be celebrating NAIDOC Week next week through a series of class-based and whole school activities. This year’s NAIDOC Week theme of Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! is reflected in these activities and in a whole school Poster-book preparatory activity that will be presented at the Liturgy.

HAIRCUTS

A number of children have returned this week with haircuts inconsistent with our school uniform policy. Our school’s expectations around student presentation are not new and not optional. As our policy states,

The following haircut styles are inappropriate for students at St Francis Xavier School:

• Mullet • Mohawk • Rat’s Tail • Lines/Tracks • Undercut

Please ensure you address this matter by Monday if your child has any variant of any of these styles.

I thank all those who consistently support our school policies.

NEW SIGNS

Over the holiday break, we had two new signs installed, displaying our new school crest. The large crest and motto overlooks the school oval and the crest and name sits above the school office.  I thank LJ Signs for completing such a professional job on the install.

Peace in Christ

Dan Gubby

School Calendar-Term 3

Assistant Principal Mission...

Staff Professional Learning Day

On Monday all of our staff came together with St Anthony’s Kingscliff and St Finbarr’s Byron Bay for a professional learning day with Dr Dan White. It was lovely to have the opportunity to learn together with other schools again after the long COVID-19 separation.

Dr Dan White’s specialty is in combining brain-based pedagogy with the teaching of Religious Education. He is the author and co-author of eight educational resource books on Religious Education and brain-based learning including Into The Deep, Desert Wisdom, Into The Desert and Ancient Words. Dr White has recently retired as the Executive Director of Sydney Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Sydney and has since presented to many of the schools in our Lismore Diocese. 

Term 3 Sacramental Program

The Sacrament of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion will be celebrated this term. All students from Years 4 and above who have undertaken the Sacrament of Confirmation are welcome to take part in these sacred celebrations. If you would like your child to be part of the sacramental program and they have not received any of the other sacraments, please contact the Parish Office. 

There will be three family session evenings as well as weekend masses to attend. Sacramental students are required to attend the family sessions and all of the Year 4 students will learn about the sacraments as part of their Religious Education curriculum. 

The important dates are below and a Google Form for registration will be available soon. 

Sacramental Dates

• Reconciliation Family Session 1- Tuesday, 23rd August at 5:00 pm (Week 6) 
• Sacrament of Reconciliation-Tuesday, 30th August at 5:00 pm (Week 7)
• First Holy Communion Family Session 1- Tuesday, 6th September at 5:00 pm(Week 8)
• First Holy Communion Family Session 2- Tuesday, 13th September at 5:00 pm  (Week 9)
• Student Reflection Day- Thursday, 15th September (Week 9)
• Sacrament of First Holy Communion- Sunday, 18th September at 12:30 pm (End of Week 9)

Light of Jesus Awards

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,

Welcome back to another term full of faith and learning at St Francis Xavier! There are a number of exciting events this term including: NAIDOC Celebrations, Book Week, and the Spelling Bee. Further information regarding Book Week and the Spelling Bee will be shared in next week’s newsletter.

NAIDOC Celebrations

Our NAIDOC celebrations will be held next week to recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This is an opportunity for our students to learn more about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.

Project Based Learning - Year 4

On Wednesday this week, Year 4 welcomed Scott from Fire and Rescue NSW into the Year 4 classroom. Firefighter Scott spoke to them about his role as a member of Fire and Rescue NSW.

Scott went on to tell them about what he and his colleagues did before, during and after the recent flood events in Ballina and the Northern Rivers.

With that in mind, Scott also set them a learning and design challenge:

“How can you, as designers and engineers, use materials to create a solution to a problem experienced during the recent flood events in the Ballina region?”

Scott has asked the students to report back to him with their design solutions before the end of Term 3!

You could feel, see and hear the level of student engagement and connection to the learning and design challenge that continued long after Firefighter Scott left the classroom.

We can’t wait to follow this learning journey throughout the term!

Chris Hosie, Kelly Ons, Georgie Morley

Sports News...

NSW PSSA Cross Country

Today Luke and Alexandra Dogan competed at the NSW All Schools Cross Country Championships at Sydney Motorsport Park. This event sees both Catholic Primary Schools, Combined Independent Schools and State schools compete against each other. We look forward to hearing how they both ran next week.

SFX Athletics Carnival

This week the students completed shot put during PE lessons, lunch time and recess. As a result, the overall points score was able to be determined as well as Age Champions and Runner-ups. Congratulations to Power who finished on top of the points table. 

House who finished on top of the points table.

1st Power - 583 points

2nd Murphy - 543 points

3rd Cole - 519 points

4th Doyle - 433 points

Age Champions 

Congratulations to the following students who were Age champions in their respective age groups:

• Junior Boys Age Champion: Luke Dogan
• Junior Boys Runner-Up: Lincoln Lockwood
• Junior Girls Age Champion: Isla Parker
• Junior Girls Runner-Up: Isabel Hudson
• 11 Yrs Boys Age Champion: Jack Keough
• 11 Yrs Boys Runner-Up: Noah Clarson
• 11 Yrs Girls Age Champion: Alexandra Dogan
• 11 Yrs Girls Runner-up: Saoirse Lockwood
• Senior Boys Age Champion: Kaden Clark
• Senior Boys Runner-Up: Wil Kennedy
• Senior Girls Age Champion: Erika Wisemantel
• Senior Girls Runner-up: Taya Coates

Note: Junior Age Champion is the 8, 9 & 10 Years Age Groups

 Richmond Zone 1500m Races

The Richmond Zone 1500m Races will be held next Monday, 25th July at Hepburn Park, Goonellabah commencing at 4:00pm. Students will be given a St Francis Xavier Ballina competitors singlet prior to the event.

A reminder that students are to travel to and from the venue via private transport.

Students competing at this event finished in the top two places in their Age Group (Junior, 11 Yrs, Senior) in the SFX Athletics Carnival 1500m races at the end of last Term.

Richmond Zone Athletics Carnival

The Richmond Zone Athletics Carnival will be held next Thursday, 28th July at St John’s College Woodlawn. Students who were selected to compete at this event received a Compass Event notification via e-mail. Please complete the online payment and consent by Wednesday, 27th July.

Those students who place in the top 3 in track and field events, as well as the top 2 relay teams, will gain selection in the Lismore Diocesan Athletics Team to compete at the Polding Athletics Carnival in Newcastle on Friday 9th September, 2022.

A reminder that due to insufficient parking at St John’s College Woodlawn, staff, parents and spectators are NOT PERMITTED to park at Woodlawn. A shuttle bus has been arranged for all family members who wish to  attend. The bus will depart from bus bay 1 and 2 at the bus interchange at Trinity Catholic College Lismore (Leycester Street).

Discus & High Jump Nominations

Students wishing to nominate in Discus or High Jump are to request a Nomination Form from Mr Wilde. (Nominations for Discus/High Jump need to be signed by an accredited athletics coach and handed back to school sports coordinators).

Paddy Wilde

Sports Coordinator

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 2

Monday, 25th July to Friday, 29th July

Pie & Sausage Roll Day

Wednesday, 3rd August 2022.

Please order no later than Tuesday, 2nd August 2022 at 8:30am.

NO LATE ORDERS ACCEPTED.

Please note Canteen will not be open for any other food on Wednesday, 3rd August 2022. Please note, the paper version of our specials will no longer be sent home with students. Our preferred method of ordering and payment is through our Qkr App, however cash is still accepted at the Canteen.

Sushi Special Day

All Sushi Orders need to be placed via the QKR App by 8:30am Monday morning prior to Sushi Day

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

Student Awards-Term 3-Week 1

Congratulations to all of our award recipients this week.

Happy Birthday News...

Wishing all our sudents a wonderful birthday!

Friday, 22nd July to Thursday, 28th July

Class News...

Year 6

In Mathematics, Year Six students have been working on their understanding of volume and capacity this week. Small groups of two were provided with the task of making a three dimensional shape that is exactly 288cm cubed. The shape had to have more than one layer. 

Some children were able to make several different 3 D shapes that are exactly 288 cm cubed. 

 Here are some of the results.

The Year 6 Team

Japanese News...