Newsletter-Term 4-Week 2-Friday 24th October 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.

All families were sent home a copy of our Term 4 Calendar today. Please place the calendar on the fridge so as you are able to refer and add to it during the course of this term.

From Our Principal

A very warm welcome back to all our students and families. We hope you had a restful and refreshing break and took the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful weather during the holidays. 

We have only been back 2 weeks but already the start of this term has been very busy and hectic. Our Dance Programme has commenced, we acknowledged Multicultural Day and Loud Shirt Day for the hearing impaired in Week 1.

We welcome Mrs Conte back following her Long Service Leave break and thank Mr Chris Hosie for stepping into the Acting Leader of Pedagogy role for the final 4 weeks of Term 3.

Over the holidays, a great deal of work has been happening across our school grounds. Our bathroom renovations are now well underway, with our builders working diligently throughout the break. Once complete, by around Week 5, we’ll be unveiling bright, open, new facilities with updated toilets and wash basins. In the meantime, our temporary toilets are in place, and our students have been meeting expectations for their use. These are not the typical units you might see at a music festival; they’re high-quality, well-equipped facilities provided by Splashdown, a company that specialises in this kind of work.

We’re also pleased to share that the shade sail damaged in the storms earlier this year has been replaced with a brand-new one on the decking area, offering a welcome spot of shade for our Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 students during lunch.

This week also saw the continuation of our 2026 Kindergarten Transition where students have the opportunity of spending time in the classroom and experiencing lunch time at our school. It was also very exciting as they were introduced to their Year 5 “buddies”.  These sessions are a wonderful introduction to school life, and we look forward to getting to know our newest students as they commence their learning journey with us.

We are looking forward to another excellent term of fun, learning and faith as we finish the year together.

WELCOME: We extend a warm welcome to the following students who commenced at St Francis Xavier this term:-

• Rosie Hart (Year 4 Green)
• Leo Neill (Year 4 Blue)
• Angus Smith (Year 2 Green)

We very much look forward to having these students and their families as a part of our school community.

2026 SCHOOL FEES: The Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Limited have announced to us the school fees for the 2026 academic year. Fee levels have been set to sustain high-quality Catholic education, taking into account rising operational costs and shifts in government funding.

We recognise the financial pressures that families may face and strive to offer flexible payment options to accommodate different circumstances. More information is available on the Enrolment and Fees page of the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools website.

I appreciate your understanding and continued support as we work together to provide an exceptional educational environment for your children and young people.

Please refer to fee structure for 2026 in the table below:-

SCHOOL COMMUNITY GROUP MEETING: All parents are warmly invited to the School Community Group Meeting which will take place next Tuesday 28^th October in the School Library. Come along from 5:15pm for some nibbles and a chat before we kick off the meeting at 5:30pm (finishes 6:30pm sharp).

This year we’ve focused on:

- Building strong connections between families and the school

- Helping to improve the school’s facilities

We’ll celebrate what’s been achieved so far and be listening out for what our community wants in 2026. If you haven’t made it to a meeting yet, this is the one to be at. We want to hear from you! Everyone’s welcome — your ideas really do make a difference.

If you have an agenda item you’d like to bring to the meeting, please email a short summary to mareemelville@gmail.com by COB Friday 24th October.

UNIFORM AND GROOMING REMINDER: A reminder, as we commence Term 4, of the uniform expectations are provided below. 

School shoes should be all black, soft, polishable leather – not suede, canvas or skate shoes. Shoelaces will be done up correctly at all times. Jewellery is not allowed; however, students who have pierced ears may wear sleepers or studs. Students with multiple ear piercings must have clear studs worn in these holes. A reminder that “dangly” earrings are not to be worn. Children will be asked to remove all ‘excess’ jewellery and place this in their School bag. Please also note that ribbons, scrunchies, etc, worn in the girls' hair should be in School colours: white, green, and navy blue. Students are asked not to wear coloured nail polish. Dyed hair is not permitted, and shoulder-length hair should be tied back for health reasons. Hair that is shoulder-length must be tied up. No hair should cover the eyes.

We thank parents for their support in ensuring their children are wearing the full school uniform. This helps ensure we are well represented in our school and in the community. 

Have a wonderful week ahead!

Tony

School Calendar...

Term 4 Calendar

Assistant Principal Mission News...

The Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C

This coming weekend's reading is from Luke 18:9-14 - Jesus tells the parable of the proud Pharisee who prayed from his self-importance and the tax collector who prayed humbly.

There is often a level of competition between siblings for parental attention and acknowledgement. It seems that children internalise the attention given to one member of the family as diminishing the attention given to another. In this way, children can often sound like the Pharisee in Jesus' parable.

As a family, discuss what it means to compare oneself with others. Discuss whether it is helpful to compare oneself to another. When might this be unhelpful? Pray together the Lord’s Prayer as you ask God to keep watch over your family for the week ahead. 

Source: https://www.loyolapress.com 

Year of Jubilee - Pilgrimage

Today, the students shared in activities and a Pilgrimage in recognition of the Year of Jubilee. The Year of Jubilee is a special time of forgiveness and celebration and occurs every 50 years. The Jubilee Year of 2025, called "Pilgrims of Hope," is a special Holy Year that began in December 2024 and will conclude in October 2025. 

Staff and students participated in activities at school as well as a ‘pilgrimage’ to Fawcett Park where they reflected and meditated whilst overlooking the Richmond River. 

A special thank you to all students and staff for their participation in today's activities. A special mention to Mrs Niland, Ms Ninness, Mrs Gubby, Mrs Fitz-Bugden and Mr Warren for leading the activities for the staff and students at school today. 

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Socktober - Crazy Sock Day

Crazy Sock Day will take place on Friday 31 October. This is a day where we wear our crazy socks to raise money and awareness for Catholic Mission. Students will wear their full school uniform, with the exception of their socks - as these can be crazy socks for the day. 

We are seeking a gold coin donation for wearing crazy socks, all monies raised will go to Catholic Mission and supporting communities in Zambia, to help ensure children have access to food and education, giving them the chance to build a brighter future.

Year 2 Class Retreat

This Term, each class will participate in a retreat based on Scripture from their Religious Education units of work. 

On Wednesday this week, Year 2 shared in a retreat based on the Parable of the Good Samaritan. 

The students participated in activities which focused on the theme ‘We show love for God by loving and helping everyone, even people we don't know or who are different from us. A 'neighbour' is anyone we meet who needs our help’. The Year 2 students received a small gift to remind them that they are "Super Samaritans" and that they should always stop and help others who are hurting, just like the man in the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

Our next class retreat will take place Tuesday 28 October with our Year 6 students. The theme for this retreat is ‘hope’ based on scripture from Genesis, focusing on the story of Abraham & Sarah.  

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Whole School Masses

Our whole school Mass for Term 4 will be on Friday 21 November. This Mass coincides with the Feast of Nano Nagle and the Presentation Sisters. We warmly welcome families to join us for this celebration. 

The End of Year Liturgy and Awards Ceremony for Year 6 will take place on Monday 15 December beginning at 9:30 am in the Church. More information regarding this ceremony will be provided in the coming weeks. 

Parish Schools Day - Save the date

Parish Schools Day Mini Fair will be held Wednesday 3 December. More information regarding stalls and start times will be provided in the coming weeks. 

Bakers Delight Initiative

Bakers Delight at Ballina Fair are offering each family a free loaf of Hi-Fibre Lo-GI bread as part of an initiative to promote healthy eating habits. Along with the free loaf of bread, families will also receive a VIP card which entitles them to receive two loaves of Hi-Fibre Lo-GI bread - no strings attached. 

This initiative will take place during term 4 with each year level receiving a loaf of bread at a scheduled time throughout the term. 

• Monday 27 October - Kindergarten students
• Tuesday 28 October - Year 1 students
• Wednesday 29 October - Year 2 students
• Monday 3 November - Year 3 students
• Tuesday 4 November - Year 4 students
• Wednesday 5 November - Year 6 students
• Monday 10 November - Year 5 students

Nuts at school

Whilst we are not a nut free school, this is a friendly reminder that we do have students with allergies to a range of different nuts. 

We encourage you to please speak with your children to remind them of the importance of not sharing food at lunch and afternoon tea. 

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. 

• Eden Oke - Year 1
• Ravjot Bhangu - Year 3
• Van Hogden - Year 3
• Braxton Whitton - Year 5

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. 

• Freddy Pitt - Year 1
• Lilla Morley - Year 6 x 25 tickets (green band)

Parish News...

Learning & Teaching News...

Groove On! Students Shine in ZING ACTIV Dance Program

Our students have jumped straight into the Term 4 Dance Program, and after just two engaging lessons with the instructors, Cassandra and Mr P,  from ZING ACTIV, they are already demonstrating impressive moves!

While our classroom teachers expertly covered the Dance program during Term 3, we've brought in the highly recommended dance experts from ZING ACTIV to teach the Term 4 units. This comprehensive program is designed to be engaging, exciting, and fun for all students, including routines that cover hip hop, cultural styles, and various other genres. The positive energy and student participation so far have been fantastic!

Crucially, the lessons are created by the ZING ACTIV dance team to be fully aligned with the learning outcomes in both the Creative Arts NSW Syllabus and the PDHPE NSW Syllabus.

We are thrilled to offer our students this opportunity to be taught by specialists in the field.

Year 6 Religious Education: Celebrating 'People of Hope'

As part of their Religious Education unit, People of Hope, our Year 6 students recently held a special Prayer Service to honour Mr Michael Shay, a devoted member of our parish and a true 'Person of Hope'.

The service recognised Michael's tireless work in our community. Students learnt how his leadership on the Ballina Parish Finance Council helped establish key institutions, including Xavier Catholic College, Holy Family Primary, and St Anne’s Long Day Care, and provided ongoing support for crucial facilities such as St Francis Xavier School, Crowley Aged Care, and the Sheraton House men's shelter. His vital service with St Vincent de Paul was also highlighted. The service also acknowledged the Papal Honour bestowed upon Michael by Pope Francis: Knight of the Order of St Gregory the Great.

Michael’s presence and incredible witness offered our students a powerful, real-life example of what faith in action truly looks like. We thank Michael for his dedication and inspiration.

The Year 6 students will now begin to plan a prayer service to celebrate their own chosen person of hope from our parish community.

Year 5 Explores Storytelling Through Cultural Symbols

This week, Year 5 students engaged in an insightful and creative English lesson focused on analysing how authors and illustrators create meaning in cultural narratives through the use of illustrations and figurative language. The learning objective was brought to life through the lens of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and storytelling traditions.

Lesson Highlights

The lesson began with a reading from Isaiah Firebrace’s Come Together, which introduced students to the concept of cultural symbolism and figurative language. This set the stage for an in-depth look at how symbols carry cultural connotations and are used to create Songlines—paths of meaning and narrative.

• Symbolic Story Creation: Students watched a short video on using symbols to tell family stories before moving into a creative task. They were challenged to create their own symbol-based story about a group or place they belong to (like a family or sports team).
• Figurative Writing: After drawing, students applied their literacy skills by writing a descriptive paragraph to explain the figurative meaning of their artwork. They focused on using figurative language (e.g., metaphors and similes) to enhance the story's effect and explain the deeper meaning of their symbols.
• Collaborative Critique: The lesson culminated in a valuable peer feedback session where students shared their work and used a simple rubric to evaluate the use of meaningful symbols, figurative language, and respectful cultural representation in their classmates' stories.

This activity successfully combined cultural understanding, creative expression, and analytical writing, allowing students to demonstrate an understanding of symbolic storytelling and its impact on meaning.

Celebrate World Teachers' Day Next Friday! 🍎

We're excited to announce that our school will be celebrating World Teachers' Day on Friday, October 31st!

This is a wonderful opportunity for us as a community to acknowledge and thank our dedicated staff for their passion, commitment, and hard work in educating and nurturing our students every day.

Please join us in recognising the vital role our teachers play. While there will be some simple acknowledgements at school, we invite parents and students to show their appreciation in their own way—a small note, card, or kind word can go a long way in making their day special!

Thank you for your continued support as we celebrate the incredible efforts of our teaching team.

Sports News...

Soccer Stars

In Week 10 of last term, Benjamin Clements and Kai Oke were asked to attend the Barcelona Soccer Academy on the Gold Coast, which is a huge achievement. After the clinic, they were contacted and congratulated regarding their performance and behaviour. Kai and Benjamin were offered a place to attend another clinic at the very prestigious Barça Academy in Barcelona, Spain. Only a handful of children from the Australian and New Zealand clinics are given this opportunity. Congratulations, Benjamin and Kai, on your amazing achievement! We wish you all the best when you go to Spain!

Matt King Cup

Our Stage Three rugby league and girls league tag teams proudly represented our school at the Matt King Cup in Casino. Our students displayed outstanding sportsmanship, teamwork, and determination throughout the day. It was fantastic to see them supporting one another on and off the field, while also showcasing their skills in every game. The teams looked smart and united in their brand-new school jerseys, which added to their pride in representing our school. A special thank you goes to our wonderful parents for their support and help throughout the day—your encouragement and assistance made the event even more enjoyable and successful for our students.

Cricket Success

Albie Mather has recently been selected in the Richmond Zone Cricket team to trial at the Diocesan Summer Sport trials in November, in Lismore. Congratulations Albie and good luck in November!

Canteen News...

Canteen Roster-Term 4

Week 3

Monday 27th October to Friday, 31st October

Canteen Roster-Term 4

Week 4

Monday, 3rd November to Friday, 7th November

Student Awards...

Learning Awards

Congratulations on your well-deserved success! You've worked incredibly hard for this achievement.

WELCOME

We would like to welcome our new students and their families to our school community.

Angus Smith

Rosie Hart

Leo Neill

Happy Birthday....

Wishing all of our students a wonderful birthday!!

Friday, 24th October to Thursday, 6th November

Community News...

School student travel information for parents and students

School Travel Passes

Applications are now open for 2026 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 2026.

Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply for a new card or update their existing card as soon as possible. Students who receive a notification that their School Opal card is expiring need to re-submit their details. 

If a student has lost their School Opal card, they will need to apply for a replacement card. Note: a new card will not be issued if an existing School Opal card is updated online – you must submit a replacement application if a School Opal card is lost.

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.

Come celebrate at the Cherry Street Sports Club on Wednesday 3/12/25 from 9.30am - 1.30pm! 

This event is all about recognizing and appreciating the achievements and contributions of people with disabilities. Register for free here for fun activities, entertainment, and a supportive community. Let's come together to promote inclusivity and raise awareness. Don't miss out on this special event!