Newsletter-Term 2-Week 8-Friday 20th June 2025

Principal's News...

OUR SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

We want to keep everyone in the loop! Our fortnightly newsletter is here to update you on school activities and important information. By reading it each fortnight, you can better support your child and help them stay prepared for events like excursions or special dress days. The newsletter is sent out every fortnight on a Friday during term time and can be referred to anytime, as past newsletters are archived on our website and available through your Compass notifications.

FROM OUR PRINCIPAL

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone for the wonderful emails, texts, and personal messages of congratulations and support following the announcement of my appointment as Principal of St Francis Xavier for the next five years. Your kind words and warm wishes have truly meant a great deal to me.

It is an honour and a privilege to be entrusted with this leadership role in a school so deeply rooted in the Presentation tradition. I personally thank Fr Peter Padsunguy and the Catholic Schools Office for giving me this opportunity. I am genuinely looking forward to continuing our shared journey together, working alongside such a vibrant and faith-filled school community.

The past six months have provided me with the opportunity to witness firsthand the remarkable people who make St Francis Xavier such a special place—our dedicated staff, enthusiastic students, and supportive families. I am excited to continue building on these relationships and look forward to meeting more of you at the many upcoming school events.

Please know that my door is always open. Should you have any concerns, questions, or ideas you’d like to discuss, I warmly invite you to reach out. I am here to listen and to work in partnership with you for the benefit of our children.

CONDOLENCES TO MRS RAUDONIKIS AND FAMILY: It is with deep sadness that we share with our school community the news of the sudden passing of Bruce, the beloved father of Mrs Karen Raudonikis.

On behalf of the entire St Francis Xavier school community, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Mrs Raudonikis and her family during this time of sorrow. We ask that you please keep Karen and her loved ones in your thoughts and prayers as they grieve the loss of someone so dear.

May Bruce rest in eternal peace, and may his family find comfort in the love and support that surrounds them.

SEMESTER ONE REPORTS: Our teachers are currently in the process of preparing Semester 1 reports, which provide a snapshot of the learning your child has been engaged in throughout the first half of the year. These reports are based on a wide range of assessment strategies and classroom observations, ensuring we develop a clear understanding of what each student knows, understands, and can do. We thank our teaching staff for the time, care, and professional judgement they bring to this important process. Semester 1 reports will be released on Friday, 27th of June.

RESPECTING OUR SCHOOL FACILITIES – A Shared Responsibility: This week, I have taken the opportunity to speak with all students about the importance of showing respect for our school facilities—particularly our toilets. I reminded our students that the toilets are not a play area, and that this space must be used responsibly and appropriately.

We have asked students to:

• Use the toilets for their intended purpose
• Avoid wasting paper or soap
• Wash their hands and return promptly to the playground

Our school toilets are an essential facility and, at this stage, they are the only ones available to us. We are currently working with the Catholic Schools Office to explore opportunities to reinvigorate and improve this area of the school. In the meantime, it’s vital that we take care of what we have and ensure the space is safe, clean, and respectful for everyone.

I kindly ask that families reinforce this message at home, encouraging your children to take pride in and responsibility for our shared school environment. By working together, we can continue to foster a culture of respect and care in every part of our school. Many thanks for your anticipated support with this request.

GRANDPARENTS DAY: Please mark the date of Friday the 25th of July as we will be celebrating Grandparents Day here at St Francis Xavier. We would love to see as many grandparents as possible. If grandparents are unable to join us they may like to send a video message of no longer than 10 seconds to their grandchildren here which will be shown at our special Grandparents Liturgy. Please forward videos to Mrs Loadsman at hayley.loadsman@lism.catholic.edu.au Please watch upcoming newsletters for further information.

2026 SCHOOL DATES: We’re pleased to share that the key school dates for 2026 have now been released. Sharing these well in advance allows families to plan ahead for holidays, appointments, and other commitments. We kindly ask that family holidays be scheduled during the designated school holiday periods. With a highly structured curriculum and carefully sequenced teaching, even a week or two of absence can have a significant impact on student learning and progress.

Staff Development Days for 2026 will be planned and shared later in the year, once confirmed. Thank you for your ongoing support in prioritising your child’s learning.

Term 1 - Wednesday, 28 January to Thursday, 2 April
2026 Easter break - Good Friday, 3 April to Easter Monday, 6 April
Term 1 School holidays - Tuesday, 7 April to Friday, 17 April 2026

Term 2 - Monday, 20 April to Friday, 3 July
Term 2 School holidays - Monday, 6 July to Friday, 17 July 2026

Term 3 - Monday, 20 July to Friday, 25 September
Term 3 School holidays - Monday, 28 September to Friday, 9 October 2026

Term 4 - Monday, 12 October to Thursday, 17 December
Christmas Holidays - Friday, 18 December 2026 to Wednesday, 27 January 2027

Have a wonderful week ahead!

Tony

School Calendar...

Assistant Principal Mission News...

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ - Year C

This coming weekend's reading is from Luke 9:11b-17 - They all ate and were satisfied.

How often do you eat a meal together as a family? In an age of fast food and families being on the go, having time to eat together as a family is often a challenge. 

In the Bible, meals are seen as a way to satisfy a physical need. It is no coincidence that meals are often the setting of Jesus’ teaching and miracles in the Gospels. In this weekend's reading, we hear of Jesus feeding the 5000.  

When sharing a meal together this weekend, give thanks to not only those who prepared the meal, but also to Jesus, who we celebrate on this Sunday's feast of the Body and Blood of Jesus.

Source: https://www.loyolapress.com 

Sacrament of Holy Communion

We congratulate the following students who will complete their initiation into the Catholic Church this Saturday evening by receiving the body of Christ for the first time. 

Ambria, Aria, Benjamin, Billy, Emerson, Jack, Joshuah, Koah, Mabel, Madison, Marlee, Mila, Nate, Nox, Ryan, Savannah and Winnie 

Sacrament of Confirmation

We will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation in Term 3, on Thursday 14 August. Registration for the Sacrament of Confirmation will be shared with families of students in Years 3 - 6 before the end of Term 2. 

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. 

• Harper King - Kindergarten
• Zac Frawley - Year 1
• Isla Parker - Year 6
• Samantha Turnbull - Year 6
• Evie Whitty - Year 6

Congratulations to the following students on receiving 10, 25 or 50 Light of Jesus Tickets. They now receive a certificate and a blue, green or yellow armband. 

• Arlo Aubusson - Year 1
• Odhi Darnell - Year 1 x 25 tickets (green band)
• Hudson McGregor - Year 1 x 25 tickets (green band)
• Hazel Moane - Year 1
• Otto Schmidt - year 1
• Nixon Stewart - Year 1
• Olivia Rosewarn - Reed - Year 2 x 50 tickets (yellow band)
• Jinda Chuangprateep - Year 3
• Soli Edwards - Year 3 x 25 tickets (green band)

Parish News...

Assistant Principal Learning & Teaching News...

SEMESTER ONE REPORTS– FRIDAY 27th JUNE

Semester One reports will be sent home with students on Friday, 27th June 2025. These reports provide an overview of your child’s progress, achievement, and growth across key learning areas during the first half of the school year.

The reports are an important part of our ongoing communication between school and home. They reflect the learning goals set earlier in the year, highlight areas of strength, and identify opportunities for further development.

We encourage you to take the time to read through the report with your child and celebrate their efforts and achievements. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your child’s progress further, please don’t hesitate to contact their classroom teacher to arrange a meeting. Alternatively, parent-teacher meetings will be offered early in Term 3.

We thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s learning journey.

ICAS (INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS AND ASSESSMENTS FOR SCHOOLS)

We’re pleased to let you know that our school will be offering the ICAS Assessments in 2025 for students in Years 2 to 6.

ICAS (International Competitions and Assessments for Schools) is a series of online assessments designed to challenge students and extend their thinking in a range of subject areas. These optional assessments are a great opportunity for students to apply their skills and knowledge in a formal but supportive setting.

In 2025, students in Years 2 to 6 will have the opportunity to participate in the following ICAS assessments:

• Digital Technologies – Monday 4 August
  
  
• Writing – Monday 11 August
  
  
• English – Monday 18 August
  
  
• Science – Monday 25 August
  
  
• Mathematics – Monday 1 September
  
  

Participation is completely optional, and more information about how to register will be shared with families at the end of Term Two.

ICAS is a wonderful way to celebrate academic learning and encourage students to strive for their personal best.

YEAR FIVE EXTENSION ENGLISH APPLICATION

TITLE: THE DARK KNIGHT- BY MAX

It was Aaron Arthur Thomas’s 12th birthday, and he had been wanting to cross the dark bridge for years, but his parents thought he was too young and that they didn’t know who had crossed it before.But today was different; they finally decided he was mature enough to cross the blackened, splintered and charred bridge.So, after dinner, he was going to walk across the bridge, have a quiet dessert picnic by himself, and then walk back. But the night did not go as planned, he pranced along the bridge, not a care in the world, had his picnic (containing Vienetta - a rich tasting ice cream that you could die for - fresh, succulent mango, and cream), then started to walk back. Little did he know that he was about to die -  and there was nothing he could do about it.

It was a dark, misty night, and Aaron was taking a calming night stroll over the bridge, completely oblivious to what was lurking ahead in the shadows - when suddenly, it happened. In the blink of an eye and a flash of searing red light, all you could hear was the grinding scream of death and the manic, echoing laughter of triumph, as Aaron’s dead corpse fell to the ground with a soft thud, taking his shuddering last breath.

 The culprit vanished as abruptly as he had appeared, leaving Aaron alone - only the restless splashing of the waves remained, clashing against the cold surface of the rocks. The story of Aaron's mysterious death spread widely over the next few days, even reaching other countries. It left news reporters and scientists befuddled as to how he could have died like that, leaving everyone wondering: Who was going to be next?

Lisa Conte

Assistant Principal Learning & Teaching

Leader of Pedagogy..

STEM Learning in Year 4

STEM learning is Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics learning. This week, Year 4 had the opportunity to experience STEM learning through activities using Edison Robots. The students learnt that the Edison robot is programmed to respond to stimuli or perform tasks according to cause-and-effect relationships. For the Edison robot, this is by using its light and sound sensors. The students explored how robots move by applying concepts of forces and motion. Please see the photos of Year 4 below enjoying their first Edison robot lesson.

Year 4 STEM

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Annual Musical Showcase

Coming up next Friday the 27th of June, at 12pm in the Hall.

Please join us for our school ‘Musical Showcase’ to celebrate the musical talents of those students in our school family who are learning an instrument. This year we will have performances from the School Choir, the School Band, and from about 16 talented musicians across the school. Please see the photos below of our performers from 2024.

Poetry and Public Speaking Competition

Poetry and Public Speaking Competition 

Students are invited to participate in their class/grade heats early next term. Class teachers will communicate specific details in the coming weeks about each grade's expectations and procedures for their grade heats.

Selected students will then progress to the School Stage Finals on Thursday, 21st of August. 

Two winners from each section will then progress to the final Zone Competition on Thursday, 18th of September, at St Finbarr’s, Byron Bay. 

Early Stage 1 & Stage 1 (Kinder, Year 1, Year 2) - Poetry Recital Only

Kindergarten - Kindergarten students will recite a poem of choice, this poem could be a published poem or a poem they have made up. 

Stage 1 – Years 1 and 2 students will recite a poem of choice. The poem can be original or published.  

Stage 2 and Stage 3 – (Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6) Poetry Recital or Speech

Stage 2 – Years 3 and 4 students will speak on a topic of their choice (public speaking), or recite a poem of choice. The poem can be original or published. Creative ways of orally presenting information is expected. 

Stage 3 – Years 5 and 6 students will speak on a topic of their choice (public speaking), or recite a poem of choice. The poem can be original or published. Creative ways of orally presenting information is expected.

Timing

Please use the link below to access the ‘Judging Criteria’ that will be used at our school competition and the Zone competition. 

Judging Criteria Link

STEM Learning Day

(Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)

This extra curricular learning day is taking place next Monday, 23rd of June at St Finbarr’s Primary School in Byron Bay. There will be around 60 students from nine local schools attending for a day of learning and discovery.

The program will consist of engaging STEM sessions with a focus on progressive learning throughout the day. Each school was invited to nominate seven Year 5 students who demonstrate a strong aptitude and interest in STEM. The participating students from our school are: Ella Piercy, Tyler Bell, Aurelia Houghton, Lilly-May Budnick, Ruby Hernage, Isabella Briggs and Joy Meany. We congratulate these students on their selection and wish them a stimulating and productive learning experience. 

Hayley Loadsman

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 - 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 2

Week 9

Monday 23rd June to Friday, 27th June

Canteen Roster-Term 2

Week 10

Monday, 30th June to Friday, 4th July

Sports News...

Cross Country

Congratulations to Luke Dogan and London McGregor who took part in the Polding Cross Country trials in Sydney last week representing Lismore Diocese. Thank you for being wonderful ambassadors for St Francis Xavier and for the Diocese. 

A special Congratulations to Luke who won the 12/13 Boys race and will now form part of the Polding team to attend the PSSA Cross Country on the 23rd July. Good luck and safe travels, Luke!

Rugby Union

Last week Vincent Benfield, Mav Thomas and Millar McElroy attended Lismore Diocesan Rugby Union trials. There were 60 boys in attendance and all boys displayed a high level of skills making the selectors job very difficult. Thank you to the three boys for being wonderful ambassadors for St Francis Xavier.

A special Congratulations to Vincent for being selected in the Lismore Diocesan team to attend Polding selections at Forbes later this month. Safe travels and play well, Vinnie!

Rugby Union 10s Gala Day

On Wednesday, the Year 5/ 6 Rugby Union team travelled to Coffs Harbour to compete in a Diocesan Rugby Union Gala Day. They were one of 10 teams participating. The team played incredibly well, going undefeated in their pool and progressing to the grand final, where they had a narrow loss. The team demonstrated incredible talent and perseverance throughout the day. 

A special thank you to Joel McMahon and Adam Thomas for coaching the team, and to the parents who helped with the day. 

Rugby League

This week Reef Molyneux participated in the NSWCPS 12yr Rugby League competition, as a member of the Polding Rugby League team.

Polding came an impressive 4th in this highly competitive competition.

Reef has now been selected in the U12’s thirty-four man NSW development squad. He has the opportunity to attend a week long training camp to develop his skills and gain coaching from NRL players and coaches. The development squad will then be reduced to 17 after the week. 

Congratulations on your achievements, Reef! Good luck with further selections. Your school community is very proud of you!

Katrina Miles & Abbie Beecher

Sports Coordinators

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, 20th June 2025  to Thursday, 3rd July 2025

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.

NCCD Information...

• 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.

Community News...

Ocean Heroes Ballina, Flat Rock 

21st June 2025 - Free 

Ocean Heroes is coming back to Ballina/Lennox! Ocean Heroes aims to improve the wellbeing of  all children who have a neuro diversion condition (does not have to be specifically autism) where they will teach the children how to surf. They have taken over 9000 people on the autism spectrum surfing across Australia.

What does the day look like

Participants will arrive at the beach, check in, be paired with an experienced surfer and then at the participants pace, enter the ocean. 

• Venue: Flat Rock Beach, Ballina
• Time: Your child will be allocated an 45 minute time slot after registering.
• What to bring: Bathers, towels, change of warm clothes

* Please be advised it is compulsory for each attendee to wear a life jacket in the water*

Surfboards, wetsuits, lifejackets, surf instructors and good vibes are all supplied!

There will be Ocean Heroes merchandise for sale at the event.

For more information or to get tickets go to

https://events.humanitix.com/ocean-heroes-ballina-21st-june-2025?hxchl=hex-pfl