Newsletter-Term 4-Week 6-Friday 22nd November 2024

Acting Principal News...

Dear Families of St Francis Xavier,

It has been an absolute pleasure to join the St Francis Xavier Primary School community as we enter the final weeks of the school year. Since starting last Monday, I have been warmly welcomed by the staff, students, and families. Your kindness and enthusiasm have already made my time here so enjoyable and rewarding.

I have been involved in School Leadership Teams since 1992 and a Principal since 2000. In that time, I have led the school communities of St Joseph’s Barraba, St Francis Xavier, Narrabri, Sacred Heart Primary School, Yarrawonga and currently I am the principal of St Brigid’s Primary School, Kyogle. This is a position I have held since 2016. I also had a 4 year stint as an Education Consultant for the Lismore Catholic Schools Office prior to my appointment to Kyogle.

The things that bring me great joy are my family, my grandchildren, travel and the St Kilda Football Club. Though following St Kilda has brought me more grief and sorrow than great joy!!!

As we approach the end of 2024 and look ahead to the joys of Christmas, I am looking forward to sharing in the many events and celebrations that make this time of year so special. These moments of joy and reflection are a wonderful way to finish the year, and I am eager to be a part of them.

Over the next four weeks, I am excited to meet as many members of our school community as possible. I encourage families to reach out if there is any way I can assist or support you during this busy time. My door is always open, and I am here to help.

Family Holiday Planning 2025

This is often the time of year when families are considering family holidays for the next year. It is important that holidays coincide with school holiday times. This ensures that students have the maximum opportunity to engage in their learning. Missing even one or two weeks of school has a significant impact on students’ learning and can lead to challenges when they return from the break, both academically and socially.

Thank you once again for your warm welcome. I look forward to a memorable and meaningful time together.

Take care,

Tony Hunter
Acting Principal

Students NOT Returning in 2025

As we have a number of perspective students on our wait list, parents of current students NOT intending to return to St Francis Xavier Primary School in 2025 are asked to notify the school in writing as soon as possible.

We are currently in the process of planning our 2025 classes and this information is essential.

School Calendar...

Term 4

Assistant Principal Mission News...

This week I had the pleasure of reading the Year 5 student nominations for School Captain / Vice Captain and Sports Captain. After a difficult shortlisting process - because the nominations were so amazing! Mr Hunter, Mrs Conte and I narrowed the list of students who will present their captains' speeches on Friday 29 November.  

The Captains and Vice Captains for 2025 will be announced to our school community at Carols on the Green on Tuesday 10 December. 

Sports Captain nominees will present their speeches to their Sports Houses on Friday 13 December. 

Whole School Swimming Carnival

It was great to see our school spirit in full swing at our whole school swimming carnival last week. 

Thank you to Mr Wilde for organising a great carnival and to the staff for their supervision and participation in the day. Thank you to the families who were able to join us and to the parents who assisted with time keeping. 

NCCD Parent Information

Please click on the link below for NCCD parent information. 

The Thirty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time - The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King

This coming weekend's reading is from  John 18:33b-37 - Jesus is questioned by Pilate about the charge brought against him that he is “King of the Jews.”

Understanding this weekend’s Gospel can be a challenge. Whilst most of us do not have direct experience with kings or royalty, we have a sense of who they are. To understand how Christ is King, we extend and magnify what we know to be true of the best of human royalty. Through his death on the cross, Jesus offered salvation to everyone. 

As you gather as a family, recall that this Sunday is the last Sunday in the Church year and on this Sunday we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. 

Next Sunday 1 December marks the beginning of Advent. A time where we prepare ourselves for the birth of Jesus. 

Source: https://www.loyolapress.com 

Parish Schools Celebration

Our Parish Schools celebration for the Feast of St Francis Xavier will take place on Tuesday 3 December. 

Our staff are preparing for an afternoon of fun and excitement as we finalise the organisation for the Mini Fair. 

We invite our families and Parish community to join us for our Mini Fair and to assist us in raising much needed funds for Catholic Missions. 

Below are the stalls which will be in operation and the approximate costs for each.

• Face Painting - TBA
• Super Ball Scooping - 50c per turn
• Guessing Competition - 20c
• It’s a Knockout - TBA
• Choco Cards - 50c for 2 card pick
• Pass the Ball - 3 passes for $1
• Chocolate Wheel - 50c per spin
• Hair Colouring - $2
• Jelly Eating Competition - $1 entry
• Cake Stall - 50c - $1 per cake
• Biscuit Decorating - 50c per biscuit
• Shoot the Target - 3 turns for $1  
• Nail Painting - $2
• Putt Putt Golf - 3 putts for $1
• Tattoos - From 50c to $2
• Water Pistol Art - 50c

We welcome our families in joining us for our Parish Schools celebration. 

Please note: the gates on Crane and Martin Streets will remain locked for the afternoon. Entry to the school will be via the front school gate. All visitors are required to sign in via the Office or using the QR codes at the front of the school. 

Attendance Information 

Get to know your child's friends and their families. Strong connections help your child feel a sense of belonging and safety.

Building strong connections with your child's friends and their families can be highly beneficial for your child's social and emotional development. Here are some reasons why getting to know your child's friends and their families is important:

• Sense of Belonging. Knowing your child's friends and their families helps create a sense of belonging for your child. Feeling connected to a social group provides emotional support and fosters a positive sense of identity.

• Enhanced Social Skills. Interacting with a diverse group of peers allows your child to develop and enhance their social skills. Building relationships with friends and their families contributes to improved communication, empathy, and cooperation.

• Safety and Comfort. When your child knows their friends and their families well, they are likely to feel safer and more comfortable in social situations. Familiarity with the people around them can reduce anxiety and build a sense of security.
• Shared Values and Expectations. Getting to know your child's friends' families allows you to understand shared values and expectations. Consistency in parenting styles and values contributes to a more cohesive and supportive social environment for the children.

Be open and honest if your child is reluctant to attend school. Contact the school if your child is regularly seeking to stay home. Working together is the best way to resolve school avoidance.

It is essential to address the issue promptly to understand the underlying reasons and provide necessary support. 

Start by having an open and non-judgmental conversation with your child. Ask them about their feelings, concerns, or any challenges they may be facing related to school. Ask open-ended questions in a space where they feel comfortable. 

Examples of conversation openers include:

• Tell me about how you’ve been feeling lately.
• What are some things you don’t like about being at school?
• You’ve said you feel _______. Can you tell me what that feels like?
• Tell me when you feel happy at school? What do you like to do?
• If you could change two things about school what would they be? 

Actively listen to your child's concerns and feelings. It's important to understand their perspective and validate their emotions. Avoid being dismissive or judgmental, and let them know you are there to support them. Move to more specific questions like 

• Is there a specific incident that has made you feel this way with someone at school?
• Is school-work upsetting you?

Make a plan with your child to talk to the school. You can seek advice free from NSW ParentLine 1300 1300 52.

Light of Jesus Awards

Congratulations to the following student on receiving 10 or 25 Light of Jesus Tickets. They now receive a certificate and a blue or green armband. 

• Nova Woods - Kindergarten

Kasey Miles-Assistant  Principal Mission

Parish News...

St Francis Xavier Church-47 Cherry Street, Ballina

Holy Family Church-94 Ballina Street, Lennox Head 

Parish Mass Times

St Francis Xavier Church Ballina

Saturday Vigil Mass-5:30pm

Sunday Mass-9am & 11am

Weekday Masses-12 Noon (Tuesday to Friday)

Holy Family Church Lennox Head

Sunday Mass-7:30am

Learning & Teaching...

YEAR ONE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

This week I was invited to Year One as a special messenger, reading a specially decorated scroll I announced that Year One have been chosen to do something special for the school community. They needed to enact the special acts of kindness hidden in the beautiful wrapped silver box. This requires Year One students to do something of service for others. After I had gone, the students spoke about the experience. How did they feel when the unexpected visitor arrived?  What did they think the message might say? How did they feel when they heard the message? Why was Year One chosen for the special task? How might they respond to the message? This experience was likened to how Mary would have felt when the special messenger appeared to her in the Annunciation.

YEAR SIX LEADERS - REMEMBRANCE DAY

Congratulations to Isabel and Jacob for representing our school family so admirably at the remembrance day celebrations at Crowley Catholic Aged Care facility on the 11th November 2024.

DIBELS TESTING

As we approach the end of another busy school year, one important task teachers are working on is the Australasian DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) testing. This is a widely used tool that helps educators assess and understand your child’s literacy development in key areas such as phonemic awareness, fluency, and reading comprehension. While this testing may seem like just another assessment, it plays a crucial role in guiding how we support your child's learning moving forward.

What Is the Australasian DIBELS?

DIBELS is a series of brief, one-on-one assessments that focus on foundational literacy skills. In primary schools, these assessments typically focus on:

• Phoneme Segmentation Fluency (PSF): Recognizing and manipulating sounds in words.
• Nonsense Word Fluency (NWF): Decoding unfamiliar words by sounding them out.
• Oral Reading Fluency (ORF): Reading passages aloud with accuracy and speed.
• Reading Comprehension: Understanding what is read and answering related questions.

The tests are designed to be quick, usually taking 5-10 minutes per student, and are conducted in a way that feels supportive rather than stressful for your child.

How Is the Data Used?

The data gathered from DIBELS testing provides a snapshot of where each child is in their literacy development. It helps teachers identify strengths as well as areas where additional support might be needed. This information is used to track and monitor their progress throughout the year, setting goals and personalised instruction.

How Can You Support Your Child?

As a parent, you can help your child get the most out of these assessments by:

• Encouraging Daily Reading: The more children read, the more fluent they become. Even just 10-15 minutes of reading each day can make a significant difference.
• Focusing on Phonics and Word Play: Engaging in activities like rhyming games or breaking down words into individual sounds helps reinforce literacy skills.
• Staying Positive About Testing: Remind your child that these tests are just one part of their learning journey and that everyone’s skills grow at different rates.

WHOLE SCHOOL WRITING ASSESSMENT

As we near the end of the school year, one key assessment that teachers are using to measure your child’s growth in writing is the Cold Write task. This assessment, conducted in the final weeks of the year, plays a vital role in understanding how much progress your child has made as a writer, from the beginning of the year, and where they may need further support as they move into the next phase of their learning.

What is a Cold Write?

A Cold Write is a writing assessment where students are asked to produce a piece of writing without any prior preparation, planning, or specific teaching on the topic using a picture stimulus. The goal is to capture a “snapshot” of their independent writing abilities at that point in time.

This task is designed to reflect how students approach writing on their own, allowing teachers to see what skills and strategies they have developed throughout the year. Students may be asked to write about a topic that they have not previously studied, and the focus is on their ability to express ideas, organise their thoughts, and apply the writing skills they have learned.

How Does the Cold Write Relate to the Creating Text Progressions?

The Cold Write assessment is directly aligned with the Creating Text Progressions in Writing. These progressions outline the expected writing skills for students at different stages of their learning journey, from Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten/Year 1) to Stage 3 (Years 5/6).

Teachers use the progressions as a framework to assess key areas of writing, including:

• Text Structure and Organisation: How well students structure their writing (e.g., using paragraphs, organising ideas logically).
• Vocabulary and Language Use: The richness and appropriateness of the vocabulary they use, including their ability to choose words for impact.
• Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling: How well students apply rules of grammar, use punctuation correctly, and spell words.
• Coherence and Cohesion: How well their ideas flow and connect within the text, making it clear and easy to follow.
• Creativity and Expression: The ability to communicate ideas effectively, showcasing originality and depth in their writing.

By comparing each student’s Cold Write to these progressions, teachers can clearly identify where students are excelling and where there may be gaps that require attention.

Why is the Cold Write Important?

The Cold Write provides teachers with valuable insights into:

1. Individual Growth: By reviewing writing samples from the beginning and end of the year, teachers can measure how much progress your child has made in their writing skills. This helps identify areas where they’ve improved, as well as areas where they may still need additional practice or support.
2. Personalised Feedback: The Cold Write allows teachers to provide specific, targeted feedback to each student. The feedback will be tailored to their current stage of writing development.
3. Goal Setting: Teachers use Cold Write results to set writing goals. This ensures that each student continues to be challenged and supported in their writing development, with a focus on furthering their strengths and addressing any weaknesses.
4. Celebrating Achievements: The Cold Write gives us an opportunity to celebrate how far your child has come in their writing. Writing is a skill that develops gradually, and this assessment highlights the progress made over the school year.

How Can You Support Your Child’s Writing Growth?

There are several ways you can support your child’s growth as a writer:

• Encourage Regular Writing Practice: Whether it’s through journaling, creating stories, or writing letters, regular writing practice helps improve fluency and confidence.
• Discuss Ideas Before Writing: Before your child begins writing, talk through the ideas together. This helps organise their thoughts and strengthens their ability to plan and structure their writing.
• Read Together: Reading regularly helps children expand their vocabulary, understand different writing styles, and learn how texts are structured. Discussing what you read together can also inspire your child’s writing.
• Provide Positive Feedback: Celebrate your child’s effort and growth. Positive reinforcement encourages them to continue writing and expressing themselves creatively.

Using the picture stimulus below, our Year 6 students produced some high quality writing. Check out a couple of their stories:

Just Imagine

If you can Dream it you can do it

-Walt Disney

Ben sits in his room. Eyes closed, listening to the wind, thinking of where he could go next. Ben’s mind- a portal of wonder, races through endless worlds. Worlds of castles and towns, of dragons and elves, of monsters and wizards, of fairies or gnomes, Ben’s mind can take him anywhere. As long as he can imagine it.

‘Ben! Dinner’s ready!’ calls mum from downstairs.

Ben slides down the bannister, like a knight saving a princess, and stumbles into the kitchen. Grandma and Lila, Ben’s older sister, are sitting at the dining table, playing scrabble for the millionth time this week. Ben scowls as mum scoops a ginormous glob of spaghetti into a bowl, and passes it to him.

Not spaghetti again. Ben thinks to himself, grimacing at the bowl in front of him.

‘Ben! Finally, you've been in your room for hours!’ Mum exclaims, ‘You need to stop this imaginary stuff. It’s so not appropriate for your age, grow up.’

Ben gives his mum a filthy look.

“Oh stop it Claire!” Grandma chimes in, “You did that when you were his age. I’ll tell you what Ben, you can do anything! Build a staircase to the moon, and I'll be right there beside you.’

Ben thinks about this for a second, before declaring,

‘Maybe I will do that someday. I’ve always wanted to go to the moon.’

As Ben starts to fall asleep, gazing at the stars from his bedroom window, he thinks about what Grandma said, and stares up at the moon.

‘Maybe I will go there someday.’ Ben mutters.

He then falls asleep.

‘Bang!’

The explosion shakes the room like it's a ragdoll. Splinters of wood scatter everywhere, and plumes of smoke billows out on the verandah. Ben violently awakes, his heart pounding out of his chest.

‘Where am I?’ He groans.

Warm beams of sunlight floods the room, revealing three ominous shadows, dancing across the ancient brick wall. But before Ben has time to react, a giant sack swallows him whole, preventing him from escaping.

‘Help!’ Ben screams, adrenaline surges through him.

He kicks and scratches at the sack, desperate to evade his terrible fate. But all attempts end in vain.

‘Lower him.’ Coots a voice from outside.

Ben feels the sack drop to the floor. Hard.

“Not like that you imbeciles!’ the voice bellows.

Ben wonders as the bag opens, would this be the end?

The throbbing hits him like a hypodermic needle to the throat. The pain is unbearable, none like he has ever felt before. Ben wants to cry out in agony, but he can’t. He just simply can’t.

The shadows loom over him, their faces just out of view.

‘What are you doing here?’ One of them asks.

Ben lays there, eyes bulging, too scared to speak.

‘Well…’ the voice continues.

Ben doesn’t utter a word.

‘Ben!’ calls a familiar voice.

Ben looks over, the shadows above him back away.

Lila stumbles through the hole and sprints towards Ben, screaming at the figures behind him.

‘Ben, come on,’ she says, pulling him towards the door, ‘We have to go.’

‘Drop the boy!’ yells the dwarves in unison.

The dwarves rush at Ben and Lila, bolting down the endless spiral staircase, to the courtyard. Ben pushes past some townsfolk, Lila stumbles over a hay bale, the dwarves in close pursuit. People are scattering, oxen are bellowing, and hoards of ducks are frantically taking flight, as the children barge through.

The sun is high in the sky watching as Ben and Lila sprint out of the village, towards ginormous fields of golden crop, spreading endlessly towards the horizon. In front of them though, is a…….

By Cooper

The Moon and The STARS

WHOOSH!

A glistening, glimmering, glamorous ray of snow white comes sprinting down from the heavens like a racing car. The light is so incredibly blinding it is a flashbang. The majesticity of this unidentified entity is the most magnificent sighting possibly any human has ever laid their eyes on! ‘Mother! Look at that thing!’ I exclaim, calling for my insolent, incandescent, intelligent mother.  She usually treats me like I am nothing but a worthless slave, always being concerningly neglectful to my health. But today, she is treating me like I am a king. ‘What is it?’ she gently questions, keeping aware of her tone. I ponder for a few seconds, making assumptions of what this god-like ray is and what absolute power it could contain within itself. ‘It’s a… thing! Like y’know? Uhh… yeah,’  I pause. What even is it? Its thorough going glory and its heavenly aura leave me starstruck. I finally find the correct terminology to use to describe whatever it is and inform her, ‘It’s a… ladder?’ She fixes her glance onto me, clearly bewildered by what I’m trying to manifest. I’m confused as well. A ladder? All that build up for a ladder?

‘I want to go look at it, can I?’  I ask her politely. She glances over at the now, threateningly tall, ladder. ‘Harold, my precious baby, if you think you are climbing whatever that… thing is, and you find it safe, you are SO incredibly oblivious to how DANGEROUS that object is!’ she aggressively snaps back. It might not be a cakewalk to climb that monstrosity, and it might not be the same for convincing my mother to let me outside, but I know it’s possible. ‘But mother, I only said look, not-’

 ‘HAROLD IKMUNCHA, YOU ARE NOT GOING OUT THERE. END. OF. CONVERSATION,’ she angrily bellows. She is clearly aggravated and stirred up by my retaliation. I don’t say anything and nor does she. Silence runs around and fills the room like water flowing. The next few minutes feel like millennials have gone by. ‘Just how arrogant you are. Listen, I will give you ONE chance, you can go. Honestly I don’t even care anymore,’ she angrily groans.

 I dart over to the front door, comparable to the speed of light. Except I am the speed of light. I am speed. I abruptly barge through the senior, ligneous, towering doors, almost breaking them off the hinges. Soon enough, I find myself facing the biggest ladder known to mankind. The splendid, sublime, stimulating ambience soon turns into an ominous, mysterious, menacing tone, radiating concerning vibes. I take a glimpse of where this comically large ladder leads to, and it terrifies me. The ladder goes into the abyss, the dead of night, the void, the end. I am reconsidering going on such a treacherous, life-threatening, minacious trip. “Well… if I don’t make it, then that’s going to at least make an awesome news headline. I can already picture it,’ I let out an audible sigh, and proceed to traverse the frightening ladder. The ladder is undeniably shaky and unsteady, and the treacherous height I am at isn’t reassuring either. The consistent wobbling every step I make causes me to have a shiver run down my spine, I inhale and exhale in an attempt to calm myself down, all of which are kind of failed attempts.

 The sky is a deadly pitch black, darker than a room with no lights. There’s a reason I didn’t call this journey a cakewalk. Within the blink of an eye, the harbinger of danger strikes, making a tumultuous crack and lights up the void like a lantern. Monstrous grey      clouds soon manifest themselves from the abyss. It’s a thunderstorm.  ‘God dammit. This can’t be happening! Of course this crap happens when I climb this piece of junk!’ I complain. Thunderstorms only happen once in a blue moon! If only my stupidity didn’t have such powerful influences over me. I want to curl up into a ball like a hedgehog and cry. I want to go back home and be with my mum?1 Why isn’t life fair? Why can’t it be simple! Why do I have to suffer for other people’s sake?! It’s always following a pain coded into its system! Well,  my father wouldn’t approve of this, would he? He told me before he died from Alzheimer's, “If you have a goal, don’t quit, stick to it and persevere. Quitting is for rookies and losers.” I can’t stop now… I can’t. I continue on my perilous journey. At this point, millions of years have passed. The neverending persistent sound of the CREAK, and the lightning mercilessly beating the sky, are the only things I can hear. Fear and terror are my biggest opponents. The fear gets a hold of a firm grasp on my neck, limiting my  breath and causing me to panic. It’s a roller coaster of emotions. I wouldn’t want to say I’m on top of the world but I’m literally on top of the world. The glistening lights are like ants from where I'm at. Is this heaven or is this hell? The creaking of the ladder and the agonising breathing of the sky become to consistent that it sounds like they’re being cloned and played every nanosecond on a soundboard. This can’t go on forever though, can it?

SNAP! CREAK! BANG!

“Huh?! What was that?!’ I scream, panicking. From quick observations, the ladder seems to have broken and now I’m falling to my imminent demise. So, this is the end. This is where my story ends, isn’t it? These seconds feel like forever and the air is practically ripping my skin off. I catch a glimpse of the ladder and where it snapped off. How high did this monster go? Oh well, I see the ground. I wish I could go back so this all couldn’t have happened. This can’t be happening. If only I wasn’t so oblivious to my mothers words then this wouldn’t have happened.

 SPLASH!

My life flashes before my very own eyes. ‘Eurghh… am I alive?’ I groan. I feel a weird, liquid-like feeling that is floating me around slowly but surely. It seems a bit rough. I hear a few gasps and some screaming around me. I hear an ear-piercing whistle blow and the water gets increasingly shaky. It comes to my consciousness that I am actually… alive! I’m alive! I feel a warm grasp onto my legs and arms. I can’t comprehend what is going on, I’m overwhelmed. Thank GOD I’m alive.

By Max

  Lisa Conte

Leader of Pedagogy

Sports News...

St Francis Xavier Swimming Carnival

On Friday 15th November, St Francis Xavier held their annual Swimming Carnival. This year the whole school was able to attend with the middle-sized pool kindly made available by Francis Quinn. Thank you Francis. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

The students thoroughly enjoyed participating in the novelty events in the middle sized pool and the Year 6 students did a wonderful job supervising and assisting the students in the water.

Overcast conditions greeted our swimmers upon arrival however, as the day progressed and the non-competitive swimmers arrived, the weather remained fine and the rain stayed away.

A big thank you to the parents who volunteered to timekeep on the day. It is a big effort as there are no breaks in events. Your assistance was greatly appreciated.

Once again, there were many tightly contested events with a number of races coming down to hundredths of a second.

Students who placed in the top three in their events will progress to the Richmond Zone Swimming Carnival which will be in early Term 1 2025. A Compass Event will be sent out in the new year.

Well done to Doyle House who won the House War Cry Competition with Murphy coming a close second. Mrs Niland had a difficult decision selecting a victorious house but Doyle just had that extra edge when all houses chanted their war cries simultaneously.

Congratulations to Doyle who were comprehensive winners on the day, beating last years winners Power by 149 points. Well done Doyle!!

• 1st-Doyle 434
• 2nd-Power 285
• 3rd-Murphy 280
• 4th-Cole 208

Congratulations to the following Age Champions & Runner-Up Age Champions:

• Junior Girl Champion - Knox Thomas
• Junior Girl Runner-Up - Victoria Reddan
• Junior Boy Champion - Koah Matheson
• Junior Boy Runner-Up - Eli Bogetti
  

• 11 Yrs Girl Champion - Mila Bernardes Skelton
• 11 Yrs Girl Runner-Up - Isabella Briggs
• 11 Yrs Boy Champion - Archie Tozer
• 11 Yrs Boy Runner-Up - Koah Williams-Mannix

• Senior Girl Champion - London McGregor
• Senior Girl Runner-Up - Frankie George
• Senior Boy Champion - Fletcher Bernardes Skelton
• Senior Boy Runner-Up - Reef Molyneux

Richmond Zone Swimming Carnival 2025

The Richmond Zone Swimming Carnival date and venue is yet to be confirmed. It is generally in the second week back in Term One. 

Diocesan Cricket Trials

Congratulations to Vincent Benfield in Year 5 who was selected to attend the Polding Cricket Trials in Lismore on Wednesday 4th December. Vincent is to be commended on his perseverance, batting and bowling with an injured finger. Good luck Vincent!!

Diocesan Summer Sports Trials-Tennis, Basketball & Touch Football

St Francis Xavier has 11 students competing at the various Diocesan Summer Sports Trials around Lismore next week.

• Vincent Benfield (Basketball),
• Teo Amit and Ruby Hernage (Tennis) and
• Fletcher Bernardes Skelton, Cannon Hamilton, Braxton Whitton, Nash Whitton, Jessica Aslin, Indi Williams and Molly Gerada (Touch Football) will all be vying for selection to attend the Polding Summer Sports Trials. Good luck boys and girls!

Croquet Visit from Ballina Cherry Street Croquet Club

On Wednesday of this week St Francis Xavier Stage 2 students had the opportunity to participate in the sport of croquet. Unfortunately due to the weather, members of the Ballina Cherry Street Croquet Club were unable to visit. Hopefully another day can be organised when the weather is fine and the sun is shining.

Paddy Wilde-Sports Coordinator

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 - on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or 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 4

Week 7

Monday, 25th November  to Friday, 29th November

Canteen Roster-Term 4

Week 8

Monday, 2nd December to Friday, 6th December

REMINDER

Canteen is  CLOSED on Wednesday's

Sushi Day-Thursday

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

Chicken, Tuna, Avocado or Vegetarian-$3.90

Week 7	Thursday, 28th November
Week 9	Thursday, 12th December

Student Awards...

Happy Birthday...

Wishing all of our students a wonderful birthday!!

Friday, 22nd November to Thursday, 5th December 2024

Knox Davidson	Tarah Winkler	Jaxon Smith
Jack Geddes	Kai Kanyaro	Mila Laranjeira Miranda

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.

Parent Information...

• 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-When does the School Newsletter come out?
• A-We publish our School Newsletter on a fortnightly basis.  The newsletter is 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 regularly with exciting events that have happened at school.

• 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-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. 

Community News...

School student travel information for parents and students-2025

School Travel Passes

Applications are now open for 2025 School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) travel. 

Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their School Opal card at their nominated postal address from mid-January 2025.

Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply or update their details as soon as possible.

In the Opal network, students should travel with a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card. If outside Greater Sydney, parents should contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs.

Students living in rural and regional areas will receive their travel pass from their nominated transport operator. It may be issued via their school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some rural and regional operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.

Terms of Use

Students using School Opal cards must tap on and tap off in line with the Opal terms of use.

This includes travel within the approved times between 6.30am and 7.00pm from Monday to Friday on school days only. Students must use their Child/Youth Opal card for any travel outside these times.

All students are required to comply with the Student code of conduct. The code of conduct aims to ensure the safety and well-being of school children and other passengers. It is important that parents ensure their child is aware of this, as failure to comply with the code of conduct can result in a suspension from travel.

Xavier Catholic College-Year 7 2025

Requirements List for Year 7 2025

Please note the cut off for free delivery is 6/12/24. I have attached the instructions/requirements list.

Simply visit wincschools.com.au and follow these four steps. 

1. Search for your school, Xavier Catholic College, Skennars Head, NSW and enter your school access key 7RQ3W if required. 

2. Complete the student’s details and select Year 7 2025. Simply select all relevant subjects. 

3. Review your requirements list and make changes if required. Please note: some list items have been denoted by your school as a prerequisite for the subject or year. 

4. Proceed to checkout. Please note: For home deliveries only, if you have more than one student at the same school, please repeat the above steps.   

Delivery Fees: Free Delivery: for orders placed on or before 6th December 2024 $16.95 delivery for orders placed after 6th December 2024. Please note: Orders under the value of $60 will incur a delivery fee.