Newsletter-Term 4-Week 10-Thursday 14th December 2023

Principal's News...

Dear Parents,

Our Carols on the Green was a great success last week - it was lovely to see all of our school families together as we celebrated the Birth of Christ our Saviour in traditional school fashion. I had the great privilege of announcing our 2024 school captains. I thank all of the 24 children who nominated for the leadership roles and congratulate Damien Hernage and Ella Rule (Captains), and Jacob Richardson and Isabel Hudson (Vice Captains) on their appointments to their respective roles. These children will be formally inducted early next year.

On Tuesday this week, many of our Year 5 children presented themselves as House Colour Captain nominees. I congratulate the following children on their successful applications to the respective House Captain positions: Willow Gordon and Chase Thompson (Cole), Edee Muldoon and Beau Bruncke (Doyle), Esther Currie and Luke Bell (Power) and Indiana Buchan and Archie Conomos (Murphy).

Yesterday morning we held a beautiful Graduation ceremony for our Year 6 children. I wish them all the very best of success as they venture on to high school next year. May you take with you loving memories of our school and an understanding that you will always be members of our parish school community. 

I welcome to our staff next year Amber Ekwegh (Student Wellbeing Officer), Mr Mark Leary (Year 6 (Thursday, Friday) Sem 1) and Kristie Pettit (Canteen).

As this is our last newsletter for the year, I will take the opportunity to acknowledge quite a few people for their respective contributions to our amazing school this year.

We say farewell to Mrs Tammy Moran, Mrs Kaylene Pullman and Miss Jada Williams as they venture into new roles for 2024. I thank them for their dedication to our school community over recent years and wish them all the best for the adventures that lie ahead. I also thank Mr John Nulley and Ms Sarah Lawrence for their work this term.

Special thanks and best wishes to Chikako Sensei who has supported our children in Japanese as a volunteer this year. We hope you leave with fond memories of your time at St Francis Xavier School.

Thirty Six of our Year 6 families will be leaving our school this year. I thank all of these families for their respective contributions over the years. I also thank a number of other families throughout the grades who will be relocating for 2024. I wish all those who are leaving us God’s blessing for the adventures ahead. I hope you take with you loving memories of your time at St Francis Xavier School.

Throughout the year we have been blessed by the contributions of numerous parent volunteers. We really value your involvement in our community and thank you for making this commitment to support our school as you do.

I thank our wonderful staff for their tireless efforts to provide our children with rich and engaging learning experiences. Much of their commitment to their roles is unseen, but certainly appreciated.

And I thank Fr Peter and Fr Anselm for their spiritual guidance and continued support for our parish school.

May God bless every member of our school family over this Christmas break. I pray that you keep safe and enjoy the spirit of Christ in spending time with family and friends.

Merry Christmas,

Dan Gubby.    

School Calendar...

Term 1-2024

Assistant Principal Mission News...

Third Sunday of Advent

This coming weekend's reading is from John 1:6-8,19-28 - John gives testimony that he is preaching and baptising in order to prepare for the coming of another.

In family life, we learn to trust other people for protection and care. This experience of trust within the family enables children to believe us when we testify about our faith in Jesus. In our life, we hope and pray that we lead one another to recognize Jesus’ presence in our world.

As you gather as a family, recall that during the season of Advent, we are called to remember the signs of Jesus’ presence in our lives and in our world. 

Source: https://www.loyolapress.com 

A big thank you…

A big thank you to all our families for their amazing support of our Catholic Charities this year. As a school community, we have raised much needed funds to support not only our own community of Ballina, but also those overseas through Catholic Missions Australia. 

We look forward to working together again in 2024 to support our local community and those in our neighbouring countries. 

Light of Jesus Awards

Congratulations to the students who were awarded a Light of Jesus ticket at our Assembly. They will receive their Canteen voucher in the new year. 

Congratulations to the following students on receiving 10 or 25 Light of Jesus Tickets. They now receive a certificate and a blue or green armband plus a free drink voucher from Zarraffa's Coffee Ballina. 

• Leeuwin Brown - Kindergarten
• Maebh Flynn - Kindergarten (green band)
• Isla Muldoon - Year 1
• Enzo Conomos - Year 2
• Anders Fletcher - Year 2 (green band)
• Olivia O’Brien - Year 2 (green band)
• Kace Peachey - Year 3
• Marley Harrison - Year 4
• London McGregor - Year 4
• Isla Parker - Year 4
• Nash Whitton - Year 4
• Evie Whitty - Year 4
  

Kasey Miles-Assistant Principal Mission

Act of Kindness 

Year 5 students, Willow and Esther with help from Willow Hilyard held a Christmas craft and baked goods stall out the front of their house. They raised $300 which they then used to purchase gifts to go under the Kmart Giving Tree. A number of families from the school and some neighbours visited to purchase some great handmade gifts.

Abbie Beecher-Yr 5 Teacher

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

Learning & Teaching News...

Maths Assessment Interveiw (MAI) & Kindergarten Best Start Interveiw Bookings

Please refer to your email regarding booking a 30 minute Maths Assessment Interview (MAI) with your child’s teacher for all students from Years 1 to 6 from Wednesday 31st January to Friday 2nd February. All Kindergarten students will have a one hour combined Best Start and MAI booking from Wednesday 31st January to Monday 5th Febraury 2024.

Year 6 Buddies

On Monday the Kindergarten students visited their Year Six buddies for the last time prior to their graduation. The Year Six students had written each of their Kindergarten buddies an original Christmas story. It was a great celebration when they presented the books to them and the students loved being read to. We have many budding authors in Year Six. I can’t wait to read what they produce in the coming years! 

YEAR 6 BUDDIES

Library Books & Home Readers

Just a friendly reminder to return all library books and home readers this week. Your support with this is greatly appreciated as we need to finalise our annual stock take in readiness for 2024. We do our utmost to provide the most up to date and engaging books for our students but they are very expensive and we need them returned as soon as possible to ensure access for all readers. Please don’t be embarrassed if your child has accrued a small pile of books. We love that they love reading! We just need them back.

Wishing everyone a holy Christmas and a happy new year! May you enjoy some down time with your family and friends.

Lisa Conte-Leader of Pedagogy

Canteen News...

We Need Volunteers for our School Canteen

We are looking for volunteers for the canteen. If you are able to spare a couple of hours, between 9am and 11:30am - Monday to Thursday, once a month please contact the school office on 66863370  and let us know what day suits you.  

Canteen Roster-Term 1

Week 2

Monday, 5th February - Friday, 9th February

Student Awards...

Congratulations to all of our students who received an award.

Welcome Award

MiniLit Awards

Happy Birthday...

Wishing all of our students a wonderful birthday!!

Friday 15th December to Thursday, 8th February 2024

Parent Reminders...

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. 

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

All absences must be received in writing. If your child/ren are absent for 3 days or more due to a medical illness, you are asked to supply a medical certificate. This can be uploaded onto Compass or emailed to our school office. 

Student Partial Absences

Parents are reminded not to enter a partial attendance note in Compass 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. 

2024 Important Dates & Information

Community News...