Newsletter-Term 2-Week 6-Friday 7th June 2024

Principal's News...

Dear Parents,

On Saturday night 22 of our children joined with children from Holy Family to celebrate their First Holy Communion. Being the final Initiation Sacrament for these children, First Holy Communion celebrates the first time these children receive the Eucharist.

Well done to our staff and students today on their excellent execution of our Evacuation Drill. Everyone managed to quickly and safely move to the evacuation area without drama. Throughout the year we are required to practise our lockdown and evacuation procedures to cater for various scenarios.

This week, I spend three days at a Principals’ conference in Port Macquarie. Amongst other administrative and mission-based content, we explored a number of changes to the structure of our Catholic Education system in the Diocese of Lismore. In recent years, we have moved from Parish-based schools to systemic schools, governed by the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Limited. Whilst there are many wonderful opportunities in this transition, there are also a number of challenges that we have been working through to not only continue to provide the best possible education for our children, but to look at how we can improve in every facet. Throughout all of this, we strive to maintain and strengthen our connection with our parish communities. Next term, we will be providing a wonderful opportunity for our parents to engage in a parish led faith journey that will guide participants through a personal reflection of their faith in light of the scripture. More information on this course will be provided in the coming weeks.

Last Wednesday, our staff participated in Proclaim Lismore 2024, a spiritual retreat that covered all four regions of our Diocese over four days. We gathered together in prayer, music, testimony, reflection and the celebration of the Eucharist to enliven our spirits to ensure we bring Christ to the lives of others in our community.

I will be out on and off over the coming weeks (including attending the Year 4 camp), but certainly look forward to a week at school with our community next week (albeit only a 4 day week).

Peace in Christ

Dan Gubby

School Calendar...

Term 2

Pupil Free Day & Staff Professional Learning Day 

Monday, 22nd July 2024

Assistant Principal

The Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

This coming weekend's reading is from Mark 3:20–35 - Whoever does the will of God is brother and sister and mother to me.

Families are places of beginnings. Our family is where we first learn what it’s like to be part of a community. We respect and share special events with our families. It’s how we learn to love and seek forgiveness - all these lessons we learn from our families, we can use in the outside world too. 

As you gather as a family, talk about what makes your family special. Share stories of love, kindness and forgiveness as you think about Mark’s Gospel - Jesus wants us to understand that being part of God’s great family, we are doing God’s will.

Source: https://www.loyolapress.com 

Sacrament of Holy Communion

We acknowledge the following students who last weekend completed their Sacrament of Initiation into the Catholic Church - Holy Communion: Dakota Bostock, Isabella Briggs, Josie Davy, Mac Downie, Mabel George, Amity Hodges, Honor Hodges, Grace Hosie, Aurelia Houghton, Lottie Lubrano, Albie Mather, Darcy McDermott, Joy Meaney, Kace Peachey, Ella Piercy, Georgia Rule, Gus Schirmer, Pip Schirmer, Oliver Seymour, Ruby Siviour, Sienna Suffolk, William Thomas

We look forward to seeing these students at our weekend Parish Masses. 

Sports House Patron’s Day - COLE

The first of our Sports House Patron Days will begin next week with COLE on Friday, 14th June. 

All students in COLE house may come dressed in blue on this day as they participate in activities about their Patron Sr June Cole. 

The activities will begin at 1pm and students will gain inspiration from sporting clips, stories and information about Sr Cole, sharing in team building exercises and a special treat at afternoon tea. 

We look forward to our Sports Captains sharing the experiences of Cole house with the school at our Assembly in Week 8 as well as the newsletter. 

Parent Workshop - Emotional Intelligence and Social Skills

We invite you to attend a workshop on Emotional Intelligence and Social Skills on Tuesday 18 June. The evening will begin with dinner at 5:30pm and the workshop at 6:00pm.

The evening will be led by Janita Thomson and Karen Evans from the Catholic Schools Office Lismore and will cover the following:

• - help our kids develop emotional literacy
• - promote positive social skills
• - connect with other parents
  

Please register your attendance via the link https://bit.ly/SFX2024 or the QR code on the attached flyer. We look forward to seeing you there!

Light of Jesus Awards

Congratulations to the students who were awarded a Light of Jesus ticket at our last Assembly. They now receive a canteen voucher. 

• Leeuwin Brown - Year 1
• Maliah Cotes - Year 1
• Maebh Flynn - Year 1
• Mishka Patel - Year 1
• Lea Luturgie - Year 2

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

• Tao Stewart - Year 1 x 25 tickets (green band)
• Jaylene Chenhamo - Year 2
• Ethan Kealy - Year 2
• Maxon Andrews - Year 3 x 25 tickets (green band)
• Cannon Hamilton - Year 5

Kasey Miles-Assistant Principal Mission

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...

Year 6 English

In Year 6 English the students have been exploring concepts of ‘imagery, symbol, connotation and genre’ using the mentor text Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief by Katrina Nannestad. The students have discovered that literature does not always follow the form and function of a single genre, and that symbols are used within both the text and illustrations. The students explored the images of war that children their age would have faced. Mrs Niland creatively took the images and created a dark and sombre art gallery for the students to explore images and videos with prompting questions to reflect upon. The questions and responses that this activity evoked were outstanding.

Year 6 English Photos

St Francis Xavier Public Speaking Competition

Parent Information

Dear Parents and Carers,

As part of our English Syllabus, each child from Kinder to Year 6 is encouraged to speak in front of his or her peers. This is to give the children a purpose and an audience for speaking and listening, as well as to further develop their confidence and self-esteem.

Students are asked to prepare a speech at home using the tips provided below and the marking criteria. The speeches in each Stage are required to go for the following amount of time:

• Kindy: 1-1½ minutes
• Stage 1: 1-1½ minutes
• Stage 2: 2-2½ minutes
• Stage 3: 3-3½ minutes

Time-line for Public Speaking Term 2 2024

• Weeks 5 - 8: students prepare and rehearse speeches at home.
• Week 6 - 9: students can rehearse their speeches in the Hall at lunchtime on Thursdays and receive feedback and support from Mrs Conte.
• Week 9 (Monday, 24th June - Friday, 28th June). Class heats occur and five students across each Year level will be chosen to go in the finals.
• Monday 1st July 2024 - School Finals held in the Hall from 9-9.30am (K-2) & 9.30-11am (Years 3-6). Two students from each Stage will go on to the Diocesan Coastal Public Speaking Finals in Tweed Heads on the 8th of August 2024 in Week 3 of Term 3. Eg: 2 Kindergarten finalists; 2 finalists from Stage 1 in either Years 1 or 2; 2 finalists from Stage 2 in either Years 3 or 4; 2 finalists in Stage 3 in either Years 5 or 6. Parents will need to transport their students to this event and I will meet them there.

Please guide your child to choose a topic that they feel confident talking about.

Speeches should begin with the appropriate introduction – either with a simple introduction (a thought-provoking statement or humour) and then acknowledging the Chairperson and audience OR begin with Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls. We encourage students to know their speech by heart, but palm cards may be used.

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you require any further information.

Judging Score Sheet and Criteria                                     

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.
  • Humour.
• 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 on Thursdays.
• 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.

Home Readers

In response to parent feedback students in Years K-2 now have access to both online and physical decodable home readers that are being sent home each week. Please ensure that these readers are returned to school on time to ensure the students receive the right book at the right time. For eg if the students have learned the digraph ph they are reading the books that contain that digraph. The classes are sharing these books so they must be returned on their allocated day for redistribution. Please ensure these readers are transported in the plastic sleeves provided to ensure their longevity. We appreciate your support with this important investment in learning to read.

NCCD Information

Please click on the link below to access information regarding NCCD.

https://www.nccd.edu.au/wider-support-materials/what-nccd

Lisa Conte

Leader of Pedagogy

School Photo Day-Thursday 13th June

• Your child would have come home with a photo order envelope. If you require another envelope, please come into the school office to collect.
• Orders can be placed online at https://www.theschoolphotographer.com.au/ or by cash (no EFTPOS) at the school office. If paying by cash, please make sure that you have correct money in the sealed envelope. All cash orders need to be into the office by Wednesday, 12th June 2024 at 9am.
• SIBLING PHOTO ENVELOPE-All sibling photographs are to be paid either using the sibling envelopes provided (please collect from the school office) with cash or online. Online payments for sibling photos will temporarily close one working day before Photo Day.
  

Year 4 Camp

A friendly reminder - Payment and consent for Year 4 camp is due via Compass by Friday, 14th June

Sports News..

NSW CPS Cross Country

On Wednesday 5th June Luke Dogan made the trip down south to compete in the NSW Catholic Primary School Cross Country Championships at the Sydney Equestrian Centre. Luke ran extremely well on the day and finished in first place.

Congratulations Luke on another outstanding performance. Luke will now continue his journey on the representative pathway and compete at the NSW PSSA Cross Country Championships on Tuesday 23rd July which sees the best Primary School runners (Catholic, State & Independent Schools) in the State compete against one another.

Good luck Luke!!

St Francis Xavier Athletics Carnival

St Francis Xavier’s Athletics Carnival was, unfortunately postponed due to the wet condition of Chickiba Park. Our new Athletics Carnival date is now Thursday, 4th July. A number of changes were made to the timetable and these will be published closer to the day.

Our competitive races rely on parental assistance for timing. This week only one parent had volunteered to Timekeep on the day. Please consider helping out on the new Week 10 date. Your assistance on the day will be greatly appreciated.

Musical Showcase...

You are invited to attend a musical concert in Week 10 to showcase our School Choir and the musical talents of the students in our school who learn an instrument.

• Date: Wednesday 3rd, July (Week 10)
• Time: 2:15pm
• Where: School Hall

If your child is learning a musical instrument, please encourage them to consider performing for the school.

If your child would like to perform, they should talk to their teacher, Mrs Loadsman, Mr Hosie or Mrs Ons.

Please direct any questions to Mrs Halyey Loadsman

hayley.loadsman@lism.catholic.edu.au

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, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday, once a month please contact the school office or Kristie on 66863370  and let us know what day suits you.  Volunteers MUST sign into the school via the school office.

Canteen Roster-Term 2

Week 7

Monday, 10th June to Friday, 14th June

Canteen Roster-Term 2

Week 8

Monday, 17th June- Friday, 21st June

Canteen Special Day-Thursday

Thursdays will now have normal menu available as well as special. 

Sushi Day-Thursday

All special orders need to be placed by Tuesday at 8:45 am. 

 REMINDER

Canteen is  CLOSED on Wednesday's

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Student Awards...

Congratulations to all of our students who received a

Learning or Class Award!

Happy Birthday...

Wishing all of our students a wonderful birthday!!

Friday, 7th June to Thursday, 20th June 2024

Parent FAQ's

• Q-When should a parent/visitor sign into the school?
• A-All parents/visitors when entering the school grounds, for what ever the reason, MUST sign into the school via the Ipad in the front office or via the QR codes at our gates. There are no exceptions. This is to ensure we are keeping our students safe whilst at school.

• Q-Where do I find my School Fee Account details?
• A-Parents are emailed a statement from Catholic Schools Office at the end of each month with all account details. Or alternatively you can access your Compass account to check your fees. 

• Q- What do I do if my child is absent? 
• A- 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 (preferred method)
• Add an attendance note via Compass; 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. 

• Q-When is the School Assembly?
• A-School Assemblies are on a fortnightly basis, in line with our Newsletter. They are advertised on the School Website and in the Newsletter. Assemblies start at 2:30 pm. Please arrive from 2:20 pm so you don't miss out on the beginning of the assembly.

• Q-When does the School Newsletter come out?
• A-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.

• Q- Where do I find out information about Events that are happening at the school?
• A- If it is an excursion or an event that takes your child off school grounds you will receive an Event notification via Compass. You are able to access this on your app via the dashboard or the more button on the home screen. If it is an event happening within the school grounds, it will be on our school calendar on our school website. There is also a calendar in the school newsletter each fortinght. Compass notification may also be sent to parents. 
  

• Q-What are the School Bell Times?

Please note- Supervision of students begins at 8:30am and finishes at 3:30pm.  Please do not drop your child earlier than this and remember that after school care arrangements need to be made if your child cannot be picked up before 3:30pm.

• Q-How do I get a message to my child during the day?
• A-If you need to give your child 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 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 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.

• Q-What do I need to do if my child is late to school?
• A-Parents MUST come into the school office to drop their child off. This gives the parent the opportunity to provide the reason for the late arrival at that time.  Your child needs to collect a late slip from the office. Parents are reminded not to enter a late note in Compass for their child. To be compliant with the attendance SOP, we need to ensure that child safety is maintained as far as possible. 

• Q- What if I need to collect my child early from school? 
• A-Parents must come straight to the office upon arrival, please do not head to the classroom or playground to collect your child. Your child will need to be signed out at the office with a valid reason. If your child needs to be collected in the lunch or recess break, please let the office know prior to collection. 

Student Travel...

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.

Community News...