Newsletter-Term 2-Week 2-Friday 5th May 2023

Principal's News...

Dear Parents,

I welcome everyone back to school after our Easter break. Although last week was only short, it was nonetheless an eventful week with which to start the term. It was unfortunate that the local RSL sub-branch could not cater for all students to participate in the ANZAC Day March this year, however, I congratulate our school captains, Charlotte and Callan for representing our school so proudly in the march and wreath laying ceremony. Despite the limitation placed on our students, many of our school families were in attendance to show respect and support for the ANZACs in this service of commemoration. The community spirit was very strong and our SFX contribution was certainly noticed. Having had the opportunity to visit ANZAC Cove and the Lone Pine Memorial Cemetery in Canakkale in 2012, I understood more deeply the sacrifices made by the ANZACs, many of whom were very young soldiers. In addition to the horrific loss of lives at this site was the
devastation cast upon the families back home. Commemorating the courage of the ANZACs in their fight for peace, we also show respect for our military families today and acknowledgement of the sacrifices made by all family members of our veterans and current serving members of the ADF. Our school has a strong tradition of showing support for our service men and women, and I look forward to seeing this continued next year.

Over the holidays, our extremely talented Indigenous Education Worker, Ms Jada Williams and local artist Tywana Caldwell completed a welcome mural on the front of our old hall. The symbolism used in the mural which features elements of the local Bundjalung culture will be detailed shortly in a publication by the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Office.

Earlier this week, a number of our staff members engaged in a professional learning day to better understand the needs of our students who are learning English as an additional language. With 46 children in our school coming from families who have a language background other than English, and 17 children who specifically do not speak English as their primary language, it is important that we gain as much knowledge as possible to ensure we can support them as effectively as possible. It is wonderful that we have such a rich diversity of cultures represented within our school community.

In keeping with the theme of language and culture, it is quite apt that today we celebrate the Japanese Kodomo no hi ( こどもの日 ) or Children’s Day. During this celebration, families fly their koinobori (karp kites) to represent all members of the family. The respective kite sizes represent the different positions of family members. We have pencilled in Wednesday night, 2nd August for a Japanese Cultural Evening. Historically, these evenings have brought together school families to engage in a rich cultural emersion supported by both the Consulate of Japan, Sydney and Southern Cross University. More detail of the evening will be provided as we move closer to the date.

Peace in Christ,
Dan Gubby

School Calendar-Term 2

Pupil Free Day Term 2

Friday, 30th June 2023

Assistant Principal Mission News...

Congratulations to the following students on being awarded a Light of Jesus ticket last fortnight. 

• Indigo Ansell - Kinder
• Joshuah Jacobsen - Yr 2
• Chase Jesberg - Yr 2
• Jack Judge - Yr 2
• Benji Simpson - Yr 2

Congratulations to the following students on receiving 10 light of Jesus Tickets. They now receive a certificate and blue arm band.

• Indigo Ansell - Kinder
• Angus Currie - Kinder
• Jazz Smith - Kinder
• Matilda Watt - Yr 1
• Jack Geddes - Yr 2
• Ari Hilyard - Yr 2

Sacrament of Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Reconciliation will take place on Tuesday, 23rd May at 5pm in the Church. This Sacrament is for students in Years 4 and above who are Baptised and have completed the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Parents of students in Years 4, 5 and 6 were sent a preparation letter yesterday via Compass. Any questions regarding the Sacrament of Reconciliation, please contact Kasey (kasey.miles@lism.catholic.edu.au). 

The first family session for the Sacrament of Reconciliation will take place next Tuesday 9 May at 5:30pm in the Library. It will be at this meeting that parents will complete the enrolment form for Reconciliation and learn more about the program. 

The second family session will take place on Tuesday, 16th May at 5:30pm in the Library where we will continue with our learning around the Sacrament. 

Tell Them From Me Survey

In the coming week 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.

We would like to invite you to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning survey. As we value the role of parents and carers within our school community, we would greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and wellbeing at St Francis Xavier Primary School Ballina. The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. You are able to access the parent survey on your computer or mobile device by using the URL: www.tellthemfromme.com/qp7gw 

Parish News...

St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish of Ballina

• St Francis Xavier Church-47 Cherry Street, Ballina
• Holy Family Church-94 Ballina Street, Lennox Head 

Parish Mass Times

QUICK Journey Through The Bible

An eight session overview of Scripture from a Catholic perspective 4

Wednesdays 10-11:30 am OR 7-8:30 pm - beginning 10^th May

At Saint Teresa Room, Parish Admin, 57 Cherry St, Ballina.

In this video series you will discover the amazing story that is woven through scripture.

Phone the Parish office on 6681 1048 to register or phone Maxine on 0429 669 029 for more information.

Learning & Teaching News...

2024 KINDERGARTEN PARENT INFORMATION SESSION

Our staff were delighted to have such a wonderful turnout for our 2024 Parent Information Evening on Tuesday night. We were excited to showcase our school family to both existing and new families. Our Kindergarten students created a video about why they love St Francis Xavier and why our new students should join us.

  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FKaxdc3PgZqi56SZzc0dejvhWcUl5d9d/view?usp=share_link

If you missed the information evening please contact the school office to get an enrolment application and book an interview and tour with either our Principal, or Assistant Principals, over the next two weeks. 

KINDERGARTEN CLASS PICNIC

Wednesday afternoon it was wonderful for our 2023 students and their families to join together and have a shared picnic afternoon tea on the playground. It was wonderful for our students to introduce their new friends to their parents, and our parents the chance to meet each other. Our kindergarten friends loved having the entire playground to themselves!

KINDERGARTEN & YEAR ONE READING & MATHS SESSION

Dear Parents, Grandparents, and Carers,

On Tuesday, 9th May, we will be hosting a parent information session for Kindergarten and Year One about reading and mathematics. In 2023 we began implementing the new English and Mathematics Syllabus. Subsequently, our approach to teaching reading in the Early Years has changed. We want to keep you informed of these changes and also share some strategies and ideas to further support you and your child at home. We will be joined by our Catholic Schools Office Education Officer, Elissa Baker. Please join us from 9-10 am in the Library to observe some ‘home reading’ in action, and gain some new practical tips for practising reading skills and strategies at home. We 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, we look forward to you joining us.

TERM 2 PUBLIC SPEAKING 2023

Public speaking will take place in the classrooms this Term. The finals will be held in classrooms during weeks 7-8. The whole school finals will be conducted in the Hall in week 9 on Friday, 23rd June, 2023. Two people from each Stage will go onto the Diocesan finals to be held at Tweed Heads early in Term 3.

Time-line for Public Speaking Term 2 2023:

• Weeks 3 - 7: students prepare and rehearse speeches at home
• Week 5 - 6: students can rehearse their speeches in the Hall at lunchtime on Thursdays and Fridays and receive feedback and support. 
• Weeks 7 - 8: students present their speeches at a class level. 3 students from each year level (Eg 3 students from Year 3 overall, not per class) will progress to the whole school finals.
• Week 9: Whole School Finals in the Hall.  K - 2 from 9.15 am - 9.45 am; Years 3 - 6 from 9.45 - 11 am. Winners will be announced for each Stage Level, not year level:
• Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten) = 2 winners
• Stage 1 (Years 1 & 2) = 2 winners per Stage (not Year Level)
• Stage 2 (Years 3 & 4) = 2 winners per Stage (not Year Level)
• Stage 3 (Years 5 & 6) = 2 winners  per Stage (not Year Level)
• These 2 Stage winners will be selected to go to the next level at St Joseph's Primary School in Tweed Heads. 
• August Term 3 2023  (Date TBC)  -  2023 Catholic Coastal Schools Combined Public Speaking Awards finals. Parents will need to transport their students to this event and one staff member from our school will meet them there. More details will be provided to those students and their families once the finalists have been determined.

All participants in the finals at St Francis Xavier will receive a commendation certificate. The 2 winners from each Stage will receive a winners certificate and progress to the next level of the Diocesan Public Speaking Competition.

The following criteria will be used for judging:

Public Speaking Tips:

• Try and grab your audience’s attention in the first 30 seconds. To begin you could use either of these strategies:
• A quote
• An imagined scenario
• What if scenario
• A question
• A statistic
• A powerful statement
• Silence
• Write your speech down. 
• Put it on palm cards. Early Years could use picture cue cards.
• Memorise one part at a time.
• Nervous is normal, practice and prepare.
• Practice in front of the mirror.
• Practice in front of a friend.
• Practice on the stage with a teacher at lunchtime.
• Video yourself and watch it back. Give yourself feedback.
• Use your voice and hands effectively, by using expression, pauses and gestures when needed.
• Stand confidently tall and still.
• Smile.
• Be confident.

LEGO MASTERS

Last week we commenced our Lego Masters 10 minute challenges. The students were given the theme of, ‘something that flies’. The students worked in teams of two or three to create their Lego creations. There was so much creativity in the room. Students collaborating, negotiating and working under pressure with a 10 minute time limit. Please meet me in the Library each Monday from 11.20 am - 11.40 am to unravel our next challenge!

Kind regards,

Lisa Conte

Leader of Pedagogy 

Sports News...

Richmond Zone Cross Country Trials

The Richmond Zone Cross Country Trials were held this week on Wednesday, 3rd May at Hepburn Park, Goonellabah. St Francis Xavier Ballina took a contingent of 50 competitors to the trials. The students ran extremely well on the day and achieved some fantastic results. Thank you to Mrs Katrina Miles and Mrs Suffolk for supervising the students on the day.

Congratulations to the following students who placed in the top 8 in their respective age groups and will progress to the Diocesan Cross Country Carnival in Grafton on Tuesday, 23rd May (Back up date: Tuesday, 30th May). Good luck boys and girls!

9 Years Boys

• 2nd Braxton Whitton

9 Years Girls

• 7th Isabella Briggs

10 Years Boys

• 1st Luke Dogan
• 2nd Oscar Donald
• 5th Mason McMahon

10 Years Girls

• 2nd London McGregor
• 6th Jessica Aslin
• 7th Isla Parker
• 8th Indi Williams

11 Years Boys

• 4th Thomas Briggs
• 7th Gali Amit

11 Years Girls

• 4th Isabel Hudson

12 Years Boys

• 4th Jack Keough
• 8th Lachlan Colegate

12 Years Girls

• 1st Alexandra Dogan

Paddy Wilde

Sports Coordinator

Library News...

Book Club Orders

Scholastic book club orders are due Friday, 12th May at 9am. 

Canteen News...

We Need Volunteers for our School Canteen

Tammy & Kaylene are looking for volunteers for the canteen. If you are able to spare a couple of hours, between 9am and 11:30am, once a month please contact the school office on 66863370 or contact Tammy or Kaylene in the canteen and let them know what day suits you.  

Sushi Specials Term 2

$3.90 each Chicken, Tuna, Avocado or Vegetarian-Sauce 20c each.

Week 3	Tuesday, 9th May
Week 5	Tuesday, 23rd May
Week 7	Tuesday, 6th June
Week 9	Tuesday, 20th June

Mother's Day Stall 

Our Mother's Day Stall will be held on:

Date - Monday, 8th May and any remaining stock will be sold on Tuesday, 9th May. 
Time - 8:30 am to 9 am 
Where - In front of the Canteen

Gifts range from $2.00 to $7.00

Please note there will be limited stock. Get in quick to avoid disappointment. We also ask for student's to bring along small notes and coins to purchase the gifts. 

Mother's Day BBQ & Liturgy

St Francis Xavier Primary School will be holding a Mother's Day Breakfast on Monday, 15th May from 7:30 am – 8.30 am.  All mums, mother figures and grandmothers are welcome to come along with your family and enjoy a bacon and egg roll and a cuppa. This will be followed by our Mother's Day Liturgy in the school hall. 

• All mums, mother figures and grandmothers will receive 1 free bacon and egg roll each.  All other family members are requested to pay $4.00 per bacon and egg roll.
• If you wish to order, please order (free & pre paid) via the QKR App no later than Wednesday, 11th May at 8:45 am for catering purposes. No late orders will be accepted. 
• Please note that bacon & egg rolls CAN NOT be purchased on the day and no other food items are available from the Canteen at the breakfast. 

Student Awards...

Congratulations to all of our students who received an award this week.

We welcome the following students and their families to our school community.

Happy Birthday...

Wishing all our students a wonderful birthday!!

Friday, 5th May  to Thursday, 18th May

Parent Information..

School Fees

Please note that Term 2 School Fees have been added to your account and can be viewed via the Compass App. Payments can be made via Bpay, Compass App or over the counter at the school office. 

Newsletter 

We publish our School Newsletter on a fortnightly basis. The newsletter will be published in Week Two, Four, Six, Eight and Ten of each Term. All important notices and events will be communicated via Compass on a regular basis. Our school Facebook page will be updated regulary with exciting events that have happened at school.

School Assembly

School Assemblies are on a fortnightly basis, in line with our Newsletter. 

Student Absences

Parents are reminded that if your child/ren are absent from school you must follow the following steps:

• Reply to the text message that is sent via Compass before 3pm, or
• Email the school office on balp@lism.catholic.edu.au

All absences must be received in writing. 

Student Partial Absences

Parents are reminded not to enter a partial attendance note for their child/ren. To be compliant with the attendance SOP, we need to ensure that child safety is maintained as far as possible. Parents are to come to the school office to drop/collect the student. This gives the parent the opportunity to provide the reason for the early departure/late arrival at that time. 

Notification of Extended Leave

All notification of extended leave MUST be submitted prior to the leave commencing. 

Travel outside of the school holiday period is counted as an absence for statistical purposes.  If your child/ren are absent for 10 to 100 days, please ensure that you complete a Form A4 Notification Extended Leave Travel (available at the School Office or click on the link Extended Leave Form).  An absence in this case will be recorded using the Code ‘A’ (Unjustified Leave).

In exceptional circumstances parents may complete a Form A1 Application for Extended Leave-Travel for consideration, explaining why an absence for extended leave is in the best educational interest of the student.  The Principal may accept or decline this application. 

Please note relevant travel documentation such as an e ticket or itinerary (in the case of non-flight bound travel within Australia only) must be attached to these applications.

Please note, a return text message notification will NOT be accepted for Extended Leave. 

Compass Events-School Excursions/Events

The Compass Event Module is where you receive all the information about an excursion or an event. It will also be where you are required to give consent and make payment. 

The Event Module has replaced the hard copy note that would normally be sent home.  If you receive an event notification or email, this means your child/ren are required to participate in the event. Please do not disregard the notification or email. If you have any questions about an event, please contact the class teacher or the school office.

Parents are required to action the Excursion Event in Compass prior to the due date that is stated in the event, unfortunately if you miss the due date your child/ren may miss out on attending. Event notifications will come via email and Compass notification on your Compass App. 

Student Messages…

If you need to contact the school to give your child/children a message regarding a change to arrangements for after school transport, please ensure you phone the school office prior to 1:45pm to ensure the message can be delivered in time. Unless it is an absolute emergency, we are unable to ensure messages can be delivered at such short notice and PLEASE NO EMAILS to notify your child/children of any changes, as we cannot guarantee that the message will be delivered in time to your child.

All after school care arrangements should be relayed to your child/children prior to arriving at school and in the case of infant’s children, the teacher should also be notified of any change to arrangements, particularly in relation to bus travel, by a written note/email.

As you can appreciate the school is a very busy place at home time, so your assistance and consideration in this regard would be greatly appreciated.

Parent Sign In

All parents are reminded that if they are entering the school grounds, for what ever the reason, you MUST sign into the school via the Ipad in the front office or via the QR codes at our gates. There are no exceptions. 

Student Travel to and from School

Students are supervised at school from 8:30am. If your child/ren are walking, riding or being dropped off, they should not arrive before 8:30am. When they do arrive at school they are to sit under the Shelter Shed until instructed by the teacher on duty. 

When leaving school, students depart in one of four ways:

Bus - Children are to sit in bus lines and wait for teachers’ instructions to board their bus.  Bus pass forms are available online.

Bike - Students are to move quickly to their bikes or scooters and walk these to the gate at the front of the school.  They must not ride these on school premises and they should take the shortest and safest route home.

Walking - These children should leave through the front school gate without delay.  Any child needing to cross Swift Street should wait at the crossing and be directed by the Crossing Supervisor.

Pick up - Children being picked up should wait in the School Hall with the supervising teacher until collected and then leave with their parent or guardian. Students should be collected no later than 3:20pm. 

Parents are reminded not to ask their child/ren to wait outside the school fence or in an unsupervised area. This is for the safety of the child/ren. All students MUST be collected from the School Hall or Martin Street Gate.  

Road Safety Around the School

In order to keep our students safe, please adhere to the road safety rules around St. Francis Xavier when dropping off or collecting your child.

All roads surrounding and adjoining our school are signed and subject to School Zone Road Restrictions from 8am to 9:30am in the morning and 2:30pm to 4pm in the afternoon on all school days. Ballina Shire Council enforces these road rules and does issue penalties, particularly for double-parking.

There are two private residences, one on the corner of Swift St and Martin St, and one on the corner of Martin St and Crane St. Please ensure you are not parking in these driveways. These driveways need to be kept clear at all times for resident access. 

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