Newsletter-Term 2-Week 2-Friday 6th May 2022

Principal's News...

Dear Parents,

It was great to see everyone back last week after the Easter break. We certainly hit the ground running with our Easter Hat Parade and School Cross Country Carnival last week and our Year 4 Camp, Kinder 2023 Information Night and Mother's Day breakfast and liturgy this week. As always, these events are only made possible through the tireless efforts of staff and parents behind the scenes, so I extend a very sincere thanks to all involved.

Although I had been on leave (at home in Lismore) since November, I kept informed of the progress of the school and the devastating flooding within our region. Considering that many in our community have friends and family in the wider Northern Rivers region, it was wonderful to see how our school community banded together to support those who were personally affected by the floods. I pray for those who are still dealing with the effects of the floods, especially those who have been personally displaced and those who have lost their homes and/or businesses. If you feel that our community can be of any further support, please do not hesitate to contact me via the school office.

I would like to acknowledge the efforts of our whole school staff in ensuring our children were well supported throughout the challenges of Term 1 during my absence, particularly Mrs Coster for assuming the role of Acting Principal.

Over the last two days, Mrs Coster and I were involved in Professional Learning around whole school improvement. Along with leadership teams from schools across the Lismore Diocese, we explored the National School Improvement Tool which provides a guide to support school improvement across 9 domains. Whilst we are constantly working towards improving in all domains, the tool provides deeper insight into specific focus areas such as how best to support school partnerships with parents and the wider community. Although our next formal school review won’t take place until 2024, we will start to use this tool to ensure we have well-established protocols in place as a matter of on-going practice.

I would like to thank our mums and grandmothers for attending our breakfast and liturgy this morning. I pray that you and all those who were unable to attend this year have a wonderful Mother's Day on Sunday. May you be deservedly spoilt.

Peace in Christ

Dan Gubby.

School Calendar-Term 2...

Assistant Principal Mission News...

Term 2 Whole School Masses

With the restrictions now lifted, this term we will be conducting two whole school Masses on Thursday, 19th May and Thursday, 2nd June. The masses will begin at 2.30 pm and Father Peter would like to warmly invite any families who wish to attend to join us in the church. 

2022 Sacramental Program

We would like to warmly invite your child to take part in the Sacrament of Confirmation.  The preparation for each sacrament has recently changed to a Parish based program facilitated through the schools. 

The following information is for parents who would like their child/children to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in 2022.  Confirmation is available for baptised students who are in Year 3 and above. Due to interruptions as a result of COVID-19, the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Eucharist will occur in Term 3 and Term 4 respectively.  

Students who are already baptised and wish to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on June 9th, 2022 are to complete the Online Registration Form by 10th May 2022.   Students who are yet to be baptised Catholic, but would like to join the Sacramental Program will need to complete the registration form and make contact with your school to organise your child’s Baptism prior to the Confirmation Ceremony. A separate Parish preparation program for Baptism will need to be engaged in.

The first Confirmation family session begins this Tuesday evening at 5.30 pm in the library.

Important Confirmation Dates

Confirmation Family Session One  

• Tuesday, 10th May 5:30 - 6:30pm at Holy Family Hall or 
• Tuesday, 10th May 5:30 - 6:30pm at St Francis Xavier Library

Weekend Masses During the Weeks of Preparation

14th and 15th May, 21st and 22nd May, 28th and 29th May, 4th and 5th June 

The Mass times are: 

• St Francis Xavier Church Ballina - Sat 6:00pm / Sun 9:00am and 11am
• Holy Family Church Lennox Head - Sat  5:00pm / Sun 7:30am

Confirmation Family Session Two 

• Tuesday, 24th May 5:30 - 6:30pm at Holy Family Hall or 
• Tuesday, 24th May 5:30 - 6:30 at St Francis Xavier Library

Sacrament of Confirmation Reflection Day

• Thursday, 9th June 9:00 - 2:30pm  

Sacrament of Confirmation

• Thursday, 9th June 5:30pm 

Matthew Ritchie

Assistant Principal Mission

Parish News...

Parish Mass Times

Parish Information

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 may be maintained if practical
• Density limits are not mandatory
• If unwell please stay home until you feel well again

Learning News...

Learning News From Week 1

It was wonderful to commence our first day back undertaking Professional Learning around Innovative Learning Environments (ILE’s). Staff began developing shared understandings, beliefs, and agreed practices on what we want innovative learning environments to look like and sound like at St Francis Xavier. We look forward to sharing our findings with our wider parent community soon.

At the end of last term, we were blessed to have Mr Paul Hamilton from the Catholic Schools Office work with our teachers and students, modeling a range of digital technologies and pedagogical strategies in our classrooms on the second last day. On the final day of Term, 1 staff undertook further Professional Learning around the array of digital technologies available, as well as the pedagogical strategies.

Our next steps were to create a draft whole school scope and sequence around what skills we want our students to exit each year level with. We look forward to finalising the scope and sequence this year.

Lisa Conte

Leader of Pedagogy

Canteen News...

Canteen Roster Term 2 -Week 3

Pie & Sausage Roll Day

Wednesday, 11th May 2022

We will be having a Pie & Sausage Roll Day on Wednesday, 11th May 2022. Please order via the QKR app no later than Tuesday, 10th May 2022 at 8:30am. NO LATE ORDERS ACCEPTED.

Please note Canteen will not be open for any other food on Wednesday, 11th May 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.

Sushi Day Special-Term 2

$3.90 each

Chicken, Tuna, Avocado or Vegetarian

Sports News...

St Francis Xavier Cross Country

Last Thursday, 28th April, St Francis Xavier held their annual Cross Country Trials at Kingsford Smith Park, Ballina. It was fantastic to see the sun out and no sign of rain. Well done to all boys and girls who, despite the humidity, gave 100% and persevered on the course.Thank you to the Sports Captains who did an amazing job warming up and stretching with the younger students prior to their run. Well done to Power who finished on top of the SFX Cross Country points table:

Congratulations to the following students who placed in the top five runners and were selected to compete at the Richmond Zone Cross Country yesterday at Geoff Watt Oval, Alstonville, date to be advised.

The top 8 runners at this event progress to the Diocesan Cross Country in Grafton on Tuesday, 24th May.

Polding Winter Sports Trials

Last Friday, 29th April, St Francis Xavier had two students venture down south to the Polding Winter Sports Trials in Bathurst. Jye Miller (Hockey) and Zali Raudonikis (Netball) were both outstanding ambassadors for the school and are to be commended for reaching this level on the representative pathway. Unfortunately Jye was not selected in the Polding Boys Hockey Team however, needs to be congratulated for reaching this high level on the Catholic School Sport representative pathway.

Congratulations to Zali Raudonikis who was selected in the Polding Team to compete at the NSWPSSA State Netball Carnival at Sydney Olympic Park on Tuesday, 26th July.

Zali is also competing at the NSWPSSA Touch Football Carnival Tuggerah on Monday, 16th May through to Friday, 20th May. What an amazing achievement to make the Polding Team in both the Winter and Summer Sports Trials. Congratulations!!

Sporting Schools Grant

Last Term St Francis Xavier was successful in obtaining a Sporting Schools Grant for the delivery of a Term 2 Program. The $3000.00 will allow Development Officers to come into the school and teach the students fun games and skills associated with their respective sport. At this stage Rugby League looks to be the program the school will access.

K-6 Term 2 Sport

This Term all classes will be participating in an IAAF Kids Athletics Australia Program that teaches the skill components of running, throwing and jumping. This is in preparation for our school Athletics Carnival. The activities and games have been mapped to the Australian Curriculum and are aligned to the Movement and Physical Activity strand of the Health and Physical Education Learning Area.

Paddy Wilde

Sports Coordinator

Student Awards...

Term 2 - Week 1

Congratulations to all our students who were this week's award recipients. 

Happy Birthday News...

Friday, 6th May to Thursday, 12th May

Wishing everyone a wonderful birthday!

Kinder 2023 Enrolments...

Enrolment packs are available from the school office or on the school website. If you need more information, please contact us on: 66863370 or visit www.balplism.catholic.edu.au 

Parent Reminders...

School Photo Day 

Tuesday, 17th May 2022

All photo envelopes need to be returned to the school office no later than Friday, 13th May 2022.  Sibling photo envelopes are available at the school office, upon request.

Community News...