Newsletter-Term 3-Week 2-Friday 29nd July 2022
Principal's News...
Dear Parents
The Acting Director of Catholic Schools has advised that the COVID-19 Vaccination Policy has been temporarily suspended. I am pleased to advise that this enables us to welcome back all staff, contractors and volunteers without differentiation.
This week we welcomed Ms Jada Williams to our SFX team as our new Indigenous Education Worker. Jada brings experience to the role with strong connections to both the Bundjalung Nation and the Lismore Diocese, as a former student of St John’s College, Woodlawn. Jada’s commencement in the role has coincided with our school’s celebration of NAIDOC Week. The children have engaged in various activities throughout the week including the creation of Deadly Doors and a Hard-cover Poster Book of Inspirational Indigenous men and women. We will proudly display the children’s art works and publication in the library over the coming weeks.
Our Year 2 Community Night was a great success, providing a lovely opportunity for our parents to establish some new friendships through participation in shared dinner and dessert, and a number of fun interactive activities. I thank those parents who were able to attend, Mrs Leanne Robbins, our Parent Assembly Cluster Coordinator, and the Year 2 teachers for making the night such a memorable occasion. I look forward to sharing a similar experience with our Kinder and Year 1 parent communities in the coming weeks.
Yesterday I was privileged to attend the Zone Athletics Carnival at St John’s College. Our students competed with passion and enthusiasm, as they always do and represented our whole school with pride. I congratulate those who have made it through to the Diocesan Carnival, and to all of the boys and girls who competed for our school. Thank you for your efforts and exceptional conduct throughout the day.
Next week we welcome our new Groundskeeper, Mr David Christie. David comes to us with great experience and a passion for the role. I would like to acknowledge the wonderful efforts of Mr Andrew Brisbane who has been working in this role for the last 12 months. We have made concerted efforts to create a schoolyard that provides new and interesting opportunities for our students that is safe, clean and tidy. As a key behaviour expectation, Respect the Environment, reminds us to have pride in our school environment and respect that areas of play and learning are there for all of us to use.
Peace in Christ
Dan Gubby
School Calendar-Term 3
| Week 4 | Wednesday, 10th August | Diocesan Athletics Carnival-Coffs Harbour |
| Week 5 | Monday, 15th August | Book Week |
| Tuesday, 16th August | Book Week Character Parade 9-930am- Parents Welcome. | |
| Parent Connection Session-Kinder Parents (5:30pm to 7pm) | ||
| Wednesday, 17th August | Book Fair Open Day, Spelling Bee Finals & Open Classrooms- Parents Welcome. Please see Book Week News below for times and more information. | |
| Thursday, 18th August | Book Week Writers' Festival | |
| Friday, 19th August | School Assembly - 2.30pm | |
| Week 6 | Tuesday, 23rd August | Parent Connection Session-Year 1 Parents |
| Reconciliation Family Session-5pm | ||
| Week 7 | Tuesday, 30th August | Sacrament of Reconciliation-5pm |
| Week 8 | Tuesday, 6th September | First Holy Communion Family Session 1-5pm |
| Week 9 | Tuesday, 13th September | First Holy Communion Family Session 2-5pm |
| Thursday, 15th September | First Holy Communion-Student Reflection Day | |
| Sunday, 18th September | Sacrament of First Holy Communion-12:30pm |
Assistant Principal Mission...
Tell Them From Me School Survey
In the coming weeks we will be inviting students, teachers and parents to provide feedback on their experience of our school using an online survey. The surveys are an important part of our whole school evaluation and planning process. For the parent survey, a URL link will be sent to all school families via Compass in early August. The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal
St Vincent de Paul Society is seeking winter clothing donations to go into their stores for local families in need. The specific clothing items being sought are- men’s and women’s jackets, jumpers, coats, winter boots or shoes, and women's winter knitwear.
If you have any of these items of clothing to spare, please drop them into your local St Vincent de Paul Centre.
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 and weekend masses to attend. Sacramental students are required to participate in the family sessions and all of the Year 4 students will learn about the sacraments as part of their Religious Education curriculum.
Matthew Ritchie
Assistant Principal Mission
Sacramental Dates
Reconciliation Family Session 1- Tues 23rd Aug at 5:00 pm (Week 6)
Sacrament of Reconciliation- Tues 30th Aug at 5:00 pm (Week 7)
First Holy Communion Family Session 1- Tues 6th Sep at 5:00 pm(Week 8)
First Holy Communion Family Session 2- Tues 13th Sep at 5:00 pm (Week 9)
Student Reflection Day- Thursday 15th Sep (Week 9)
Sacrament of First Holy Communion- Sunday 18th September at 12:30 pm (End of Week 9)
Term 3 School Masses
All families are welcome to attend our whole school masses during Term 3.
Monday 15th August at 2.30 pm (Holy day of obligation for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
Tuesday 6th September at 2.30 pm (Celebration of the beginning of the Season of Creation)
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
| SFX Parish | Lennox Head Parish |
| 6pm Saturday Vigil Mass | 5pm Saturday Vigil Mass |
| 9am Sunday | 7:30am Sunday |
| 11am Sunday |
Learning & Teaching News...
PE
To celebrate NAIDOC Week in PE Mr Wilde introduced the students to some indigenous games. They played Koolchee, Weme, Koolchee Koolchee and Goori. The students were having so much fun when learning about the indigenous background and playing the games.
Koolchee
Background
This ball-throwing and hitting game was played by the Diyari people from near Lake Eyre in South Australia. The balls were called koolchee. The balls used were as round as possible and were usually about 8–10 centimetres in diameter. Gypsum, sandstone, mud, or almost any material that was easy to work was used to make the balls. The game was played for hours and usually, until the balls left were too few to cause any excitement.
Short description
The aim of the game is for players to roll a koolchee (ball) to hit a ball rolled by a player from a team at the other end of the playing area. Players stay out of the playing area in this game.
Gameplay and basic rules
- Players are in teams at each end of the playing area. Each team rolls their koolchees underarm (roll along the ground) towards the opposing team. The game is a continuous activity. The idea of the game is to hit a koolchee rolled by a player from the other team. Each player has a number of koolchees and each team has a large central supply in a bin/basket. Players may only use one koolchee at a time. Hits made within 3 metres of the line marked at each end of the playing area does not count.
- When there are no koolchees left, the game is temporarily halted for players to collect koolchees so that the game can continue. No set scoring is used. There is to be no interference with balls on the playing area. Players cannot go into the playing area unless the game is stopped.
Koolchee Koolchee
Background
This ball-throwing and hitting game was played by the Diyari people from near Lake Eyre in South Australia. The balls were called koolchee.
Language
This version of koolchee is designed for younger players. It has been named to reflect the fact that younger children often like to repeat names.
Short description
The aim of the activity is to roll a ball to hit a skittle.
Gameplay and basic rules
- The first player of one team steps up to the starting line and rolls a koolchee (ball) at the skittle. After their turn players go to the end of the line. The players roll the koolchee in turn. If the club/skittle is knocked down the player is congratulated and the game continues.
- The player rolling the ball should be 1 metre or more in front of his or her group to avoid contact with other players. A player may be positioned behind the skittle to return the koolchee after each turn or players retrieve the ball after their turn and hand it to the next player.
Weme
Background
The Walbiri people of central Australia played a stone-bowling game. One player rolled a stone, which was used as a target by the second player. In the traditional game players alternated turns, with each one aiming at the other’s stone.
Language
The game is named weme after a word from the Eastern Arrernte language of central Australia, which refers to ‘throwing something at something else and hitting it’..
Short description
This is a bowling game in which balls are rolled underarm along the ground to knock a ball out of a hoop. This version is designed for younger players.
Gameplay and basic rules
- Place a bocce ball in the circle/hoop with the players 3–5 metres each side of the hoop. Players take turns to roll a ball and attempt to knock the ball out of the hoop — one to three turns each. Retrieve the balls after each player’s turn.
- Play with no scoring in the game. Play for the fun of the activity.
Goori
Background
Bowling-ball or disc games were played by Aboriginal boys and men in all parts of Australia. A piece of rounded bark (disc) was rolled by one of the players for the other boys to use as a target for their short spears.
A version of this activity is still played in the Kimberley area and Northern Territory (and perhaps elsewhere) using flattened tin lids as targets and stones or other missiles.
Language
Gorri was a disc-bowling game played in central Australia.
Short description
This is a game involving the throwing of a ball (for a spear) at a moving target.
Gameplay and basic rules
- The player who will roll the target ball stands 5–10 metres to one side of the playing area, away from the throwing marker, and about 10 metres or more in front of the other players. The players who are to throw at the target stand behind a line along one side of the playing area and parallel to the direction that the ball is to be thrown. These players call out for the ball to be rolled when they are ready.
- The thrower calls out ‘gool-gool’ and starts the ball rolling towards the other end of the area.
- As the target ball rolls between the markers in the playing area the players either throw or roll their tennis balls at the target in an attempt to hit it. Players stop throwing when the rolled ball goes past the marker at the other end of the area.
- After their turn players wait until told and then collect the balls they have thrown. (A whistle is useful here.)
- Vary the speed, distance and angle of the rolls and the number of balls rolled. For younger players, some stationary targets might be used.
- Note: When a player makes a hit he or she is greeted with applause. Successful players are expected to be modest about their achievements.
YEAR ONE
In Year One the students are studying Farming in Science & Technology and writing Information Reports in English. To support their learning the students are researching the lifecycle of a chicken and its needs. On Tuesday they received eggs that will hatch into chickens. The chickens have already commenced hatching and there is a lot of excitement! They have explored what they know and what they need to know. Today they recorded their observations of what they have noticed so far:
- The chickens are different colours
- They hatch from eggs
- Chickens have little feathers
- They are born in different sizes
- They are hatching on different days
- The feathers are fluffy
- They like to keep warm under the light
- The chickens drink water and eat chicken food.
- The incubator keeps the eggs warm, dries the chickens when they hatch and keeps the newborn chickens warm.
I can’t wait to share their discoveries in future newsletters.
Lisa Conte
Leader of Pedagogy
NAIDOC Week Celebrations...
NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life.
This year’s NAIDOC theme, Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!, celebrates the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have driven and led change in their communities over generations—they have been the heroes and champions of change, of equal rights and even basic human rights.
Our St Francis Xavier NAIDOC celebrations occurred this week and involved all students from K-6. Our students in Kindergarten to Year 6 played Indigenous games with Mr Wilde (see Learning and Teaching News).
On Friday morning, our Indigenous students engaged in a dance workshop with Miss Jada Williams (Indigenous Education Worker). In this workshop, students explored Indigenous dance and movement.
All students explored Indigenous story, music, language or art with their classroom teachers. Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 students were introduced to First Nations artists and musicians. They practised pronouncing the lyrics to the chorus of the King Stingray song Milkumana which is sung in Yolŋu Matha language.
Students in Years 3 and 4 listened to the text Silly Birds by Gregg Dreise, who is a gifted artist, storyteller and musician. Then students drew a scene from the story or wrote their own animal story from a First Nations perspective.
Our Years 5 and 6 students explored the language of the local Ballina Clan: ‘The Ngangbul People’. They listened to stories about Boulder Beach and Lennox Point and then created posters of words and phrases for other classes to display in their rooms.
Sports News...
Stay tuned next week for Mr Wilde's Zone Athletics Carnival update.
Zone Athletics Carnival
Book Week News...
Our Book Week celebrations will be held in Term 3, Week 5 (Mon 15th Aug - Fri 19th Aug). During this time we celebrate being readers and authors and engage with texts through activities and experiences. We’re incredibly excited that this year, we’re able to invite our family community to join us for some of the events! Please see the information below for further details about our Book Week celebrations. All parents, families and friends are invited to join us for the activities in red below.
Monday, 15th August | Book Mystery Scavenger Hunt |
Tuesday, 16th August | Book Character Parade 9am Students dress up as a book character and join in a parade in the school hall. Author Talks with Zanni Louise Author Zanni Louise will share her passion for writing with our students. |
Wednesday, 17th August | Book Fair Open Day 8:30am-11:45am You’re invited to visit the Book Fair in the Library with your child. Spelling Bee Finals K-2 9:15-10am, 3-6 10am-10:45am Our Spelling Bee finalists from each of the year levels will participate in the K-2 or 3-6 finals in the school hall. Open Classrooms K-2 10am-11am, 3-6 9-10am You’re warmly invited and welcome to come along and visit your child’s classroom. |
Thursday, 17th August | St Francis Xavier Writers’ Festival A number of ‘inspiration stations’ will be created around the school for classes to visit throughout the day and engage in writing. We have a graffiti wall and wishing tree, an enchanted forest and rooms of wonder, just to name a few! |
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.
Canteen Roster-Term 3-Week 3
Monday, 1st August to Friday, 5th August
| Monday, 1st August | Amiee Mattinson, HELP NEEDED |
| Tuesday, 2nd August | Hayley Piercy, HELP NEEDED |
| Wednesday, 3rd August | Ashleigh Oke, HELP NEEDED |
| Thursday, 4th August | Christiana Whitty, HELP NEEDED |
| Friday, 5th August | Kirra Gordon, HELP NEEDED |
Wednesday Specials Term 3
All Wednesday Specials orders to be placed via the QKR App by 8:30am Tuesday morning prior to the Wednesday Special Day
| Week 3 | Wednesday, 3rd August | Pie & Sausage Roll Day |
| Week 4 | Wednesday, 10th August | Hotdog Day |
| Week 5 | Wednesday, 17th August | Pizza Day |
| Week 6 | Wednesday, 24th August | Pasta Day |
| Week 7 | Wednesday, 31st August | Sliders Day |
| Week 8 | Wednesday, 7th September | Pie & Sausage Roll Day |
| Week 9 | Wednesday, 14th September | Stir Fry Chicken Noodles |
| Week 10 | Wednesday. 21st September | Sausage Sizzle Day |
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, a paper version of our specials will be sent home with students as a reminder. 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 |
Happy Birthday News...
Wishing all our sudents a wonderful birthday!
Friday, 29th July to Thursday, 4th August
| Coco Atkinson | William Thomas |
| Joy Meany | Billy McOmish |
| Layla Ross | Dekyra Layton |
Kaden Clark | |
Japanese News...
