Newsletter-Term 2-Week 2-Friday 9th May 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 2 Calendar last term. 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 a happy and holy Easter. 

We have only been back 2 weeks but already the start of this term has been very busy and hectic. We had a wonderful Mother’s Day celebration this morning, our Year 4 students are finishing up their 3 day camp at Camp Goodenough and we have had students represent our school at the Zone Cross Country Carnival. All of this along with the learning and teaching that is happening in all of our classrooms.

REMEMBERING POPE FRANCIS: We join with Catholics around the world in mourning the death of Pope Francis, Servant of the Servants of God. A leader known for his humility, deep compassion, and unwavering commitment to the poor and marginalised, Pope Francis called the Church to be a place of mercy and inclusion.

His messages of hope, care for creation, and the dignity of all people resonated far beyond the Church. We give thanks for his witness to the Gospel and his tireless service to God’s people.

Following his passing, Pope Francis was laid to rest with a simple headstone bearing only his papal name “FRANCISCVS” — a sign of the humility and simplicity that marked his life and papacy. The stone stands as a silent witness to a shepherd who led with compassion, always pointing beyond himself to Christ.

At St Francis Xavier, we have remembered Pope Francis in our prayers and will continue to be inspired by the legacy he leaves behind.

WELCOME POPE LEO XIV: We pray that our new shepherd, Pope Leo XIV, be blessed with the wisdom and compassion needed to guide the Church. May he, in communion with his fellow bishops, serve his people with dedication and joy, deep compassion, and profound faith, hope, and charity so that the light of the Risen Christ will continue to dispel the darkness of this world.

ANZAC DAY MARCH: I want to thank all students and staff who were able to make it to the Ballina RSL sub–Branch ANZAC Day March and ceremony on the last day of the recent holidays. It was a terrific representation of our school despite the gloomy weather and highlights the importance of this day to so many. Thanks so much to our School Captains, Evie and Reef who laid a wreath on behalf of our school at the Ceremony. Also, I would like to thank our School Vice Captains, Lilla and Luke who represented our school and laid a wreath at the ANZAC Ceremony at Crowley Village on Thursday 24^th April. Your commitment and dedication to the role bestowed upon you all was excellent.

As a school we were able to hold our ANZAC Liturgy at school on Monday morning after the Easter Hat Parade. Once again, the students demonstrated their respect and honour of this important day. A huge thank you to Miss Miles for her work in preparing our ANZAC Day Ceremony and Liturgy.

PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENT PROCESS: Advertising has commenced for the position of Principal at St Francis Xavier Primary School from the beginning of the 2026 school year. Applications close on Monday 27^th May with interviews to take place in early June.

Mr Aaron Beach, the Regional Services Leader for the Richmond Region cordially invites all staff and families to have the opportunity to provide feedback to the selection panel regarding unique aspects of the school community and the personal attributes which you feel are important for the new Principal to possess. All feedback provided will be de-identified. Should you wish to provide feedback, please complete the Community Survey by Friday 23^rd of May.

KINDERGARTEN 2026 INTERVIEWS: Next week we will commence the interviews of our 2026 Kindergarten students and their families. If you are aware of a family who has a child ready to start school next year and they have not lodged an application, please give them a gentle reminder as places are limited.

SAFE ON SOCIAL PRESENTATION: These presentations  were set down for earlier this year but fortunately we have been able to reschedule. With the ever increasing exposure to Social Media, this is a presentation that no parent or carer can afford to miss. We are delighted to have Kirsty Robinson of Safe on Social come back to our school next Wednesday the 14^th of May to deliver a presentation that will be engaging, entertaining and quite confronting. Kirsty will deliver information that primary school parents need to know about - YouTube, Instagram, Musical.ly, Snapchat, Roblox, Minecraft, Clash of Clans / Clash Royale, Online Gaming, Fortnite and other games and apps your children may be using now or in the future. Other areas that Kirsty will cover are:-

• Using social media with awareness            
• Keeping personal information private
• Online grooming                                           
• Posting and sharing photos
• What is a digital footprint                          
• Strategies to build resilience                     
  

Kirsty will be presenting to the students in Years 2 to 6 during school time and then will give her presentation to parents in the Year 6 classroom commencing at 5:30pm and running for an hour.

Don’t let someone tell you how good this evening was, witness it for yourself!!

SCHOOL COMMUNITY GROUP MEETING: All parents are warmly invited to the School Community Group Meeting which will take place next Tuesday 13^th May in the School Library commencing at 5:30pm. Please refer to agenda attached. Drinks and nibbles will be available during the meeting. Looking forward to seeing as many of our parents as possible.

WALK SAFELY TO SCHOOL DAY: We are taking part in the  National Walk Safely to School Day on Friday 16 May, also supporting National Road Safety Week. We invite all of our students and families at St Francis Xavier to take part. This annual campaign encourages all primary school children, their parents and carers to walk safely and regularly to school.

Our school's participation in this national activity is to raise awareness of the benefits of regular walking. Here is the timetable for next Friday

• 7:50am: Meet at the Ballina Skate Park for playtime and socialising before the walk.
• 8am - Walk Safely to School: Join us in walking safely to school together.

This event is open to all! Let's promote a healthy lifestyle while having a great time as a school community. See you there!

Have a wonderful week ahead!

Tony

School Calendar...

Term 2 Calendar

Assistant Principal Mission News...

Year C

This coming weekend's reading is from

Source: https://www.loyolapress.com 

Easter Hat Parade

Thank you to our students and parents in Kindergarten, Year One and Year Two for a fabulous Easter Hat Parade last week. The judges had a difficult time choosing the winners. 

Congratulations to the following students who were awarded the prizes for the most creative hats.

• Kindergarten - River Frankl and Quincy Pickford
• Year One - Sebastian Jung and Flora Caliari-West
• Year Two - Max Jacobs and Olivia Rosewarn-Reed
  

The BIG Water Walk

Thank you to all who contributed to the Project Compassion appeal this year. Together, we raised $597 to go towards helping those in our neighbouring Asian countries to secure clean, fresh and locally sourced water. 

Sacrament of Holy Communion

This term our students who completed their Sacrament of Reconciliation will prepare to complete their initiation into the Catholic Church through the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

Please note the change in dates for the Family Sessions for the Sacrament of Holy Communion. The new dates are as follows:

• Family Session 1 - Tuesday 27 May 5:30 - 6:30pm in the Library
• Family Session 2 - Tuesday 10 June 5:30 - 6:30pm in the Year 4 Classroom
• Sacrament of Holy Communion Reflection Day - Friday 20 June at Holy Family Primary School Skennars Head
• Sacrament of Holy Communion - Saturday 21 June 5:30pm in the St Francis Xavier Church

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. 

• Edie Ringe - Kindergarten
• Frankie Steward - Kindergarten
• Eden Oke - Year 1
• Oscar McElroy - Year 3
• Audrey Moane - Year 3
• Oscar Donald - 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. 

• Frankie Adams - Kindergarten
• Ocea Cotes - Kindergarten
• Huey Linder - Kindergarten
• Zoe Patterson - Kindergarten
• Arlo Quinn - Kindergarten
• George Hanrahan - Year 1
• Ted Melville - Year 1
• Tyler Eggleton - Year 3 
• Ethan Kealy - Year 3 x 25 (green band) 
• Bryson Martin - Year 3 
• Oscar McElroy - Year 3 x 25 tickets (green band)
• Oscar Donald - Year 6 x 25 tickets (green band)
• Shubham Singh - Year 6 x 50 tickets (yellow band)
• Nash Whitton - Year 6 x 50 tickets (yellow band)

Tell Them From Me Survey

The Tell Them From Me survey will be conducted again this year. This is an opportunity for our staff, students (in Years 4, 5 and 6) and parents to provide us with feedback. Your feedback is vital in supporting us with our learning and wellbeing goals here at school.

The survey window is open from Monday 12 May - Friday 30 May. We appreciate your time in completing the survey for us. 

Whole School Masses

We will have two whole school Masses this term. These Masses will be on Thursday 19 June at 12pm in the St Francis Xavier Church and Thursday 3 July at 12pm in the St Francis Xavier Church. We welcome our families in joining us for our whole school Masses this term. 

Kasey Miles

Assistant Principal Mission

Parish News...

Learning & Teaching News...

Helping Young Writers Shine: Using the Bump It Up Wall in Year 6

At St Francis Xavier, we are always looking for ways to support our students in becoming confident, capable, and assessment-capable learners. This term, our classrooms have been buzzing with excitement as Year 6 students engage with our Bump It Up Wall—a fantastic tool that helps young learners improve their writing and take ownership of their progress.

A Bump It Up Wall is a visual display that shows examples of writing at different levels. Each sample is carefully crafted to highlight what good writing looks like, from simple sentences to more complex and detailed pieces. Students use the wall to compare their own work, identify their current level, and set goals to “bump up” their writing to the next stage.

This process is helping our students become assessment-capable. That means they can clearly understand what success looks like, recognise where their work sits in relation to those expectations, and identify their next steps. They are learning to ask questions such as:

• “How am I going?” Am I meeting the success criteria?
• “How do I know?” Feedback for self, peers and teachers
• “How can I improve this piece of writing?” Setting goals

By referring to the wall and engaging in regular self-assessment, students are becoming more reflective, independent, and motivated. Teachers support this journey with feedback and guidance, but it’s the students who are beginning to lead their learning.

As one Year 6 student proudly shared, “I looked at the next example on the wall and added more detail to my narrative so I could make it better!”

We are so proud of our students for developing the skills to assess their own learning and strive for improvement. With tools like the Bump It Up Wall, every student has a clear path forward—and the confidence to take the next step.

Budding Author

At St Francis Xavier, we love seeing students inspired by the books they read—and that’s exactly what happened for one of our talented Year 3 students, Leah, who is passionate about writing her own stories.

After reading Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger, Leah was so captivated by the magical world and adventurous characters that she decided to write a narrative of her own. What started as a few pages in her writing journal quickly turned into a story, complete with plot twists, imaginative settings, and strong characters.

Leah said, “I love how exciting the story is and couldn’t wait to write my own.” With a notebook in hand, she began creating her own version.

With encouragement from her family, staff and classmates, Leah is exploring opportunities to share her work more widely. She hopes that other young writers will also feel inspired to pick up a pen and bring their ideas to life.

We are incredibly proud of Leah’s enthusiasm and courage in pursuing her writing dreams. She is a shining example of how reading can spark creativity and lead to exciting new adventures—not just on the page, but in real life too.

Keep writing, Leah! We can’t wait to see where your imagination takes you next.

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 3

Monday 12th May to Friday, 16th May

Canteen Roster-Term 2

Week 4

Monday, 19th May to Friday, 23rd May

Canteen Online Ordering App

Please click on the link below to view the QKR app instructions.

Student Awards...

Congratulations to all of our students who received a Learning or Class Award!

Lakey Ford	Hendrix White	Ocea Cotes
Lilly-May Budnick	Lulu Lawrence	Knox Davidson
Kenzie Rozairo	Theo Samaradellis	Phoebe Black
Arabella Batson	Jazz Smith	Albie Seymour
Yindiana Pitt	Owen Williams	Sienna Pearson
Oliver O'Donnell	Lily Lindquist	Nathan Hoang
Cannon Hamilton	Hugo Leturgie	Maddie Sommerfeld
George Boyle	Xavier Andrews	Tyler Smith
Ollie Mulder	Bryson Martin	Alexis Simpson
Archie Tozer	Mia Simpson	Lottie Lubrano
Phoenix Andrews	Leo Wilson	Benji Simpson
Annabel Goldsmith

We would like to welcome our new student and her family to our school community.

Nevaeh Presbury Manhire

Natalie Presbury Manhire

Lenox Loadsman

Logan Horley

Happy Birthday News...

Wishing all of our students a wonderful birthday!!

Friday, 9th May 2025  to Thursday, 22nd May 2025

Hendrix White	Millie North	Yasmin Dogan
Lakey Ford	Kenzie Rozairo	Huey Martin
Albie Seymour	Morgan Pham	Harrison Donovan
Oliver Gregory	Kace Peachey	Mila Bomba

Student Medical Plans...

Please note that Student Medical Health Plans, such as an Asthma Plan, Allergy Plan, Epilepsy Plan or an Anaphylaxis Plan, are now due to be reviewed by your GP and updated at the school office. If you have any questions, please come and see our staff in the school office for more information. 

Medication Administered Forms 2025- We have a new electronic form for any student who requires to have medication administered during school hours. Please click on the link below or follow the directions below to complete the form. Please note this form MUST be completed for all Medical Plans for 2025. 

Instructions on where to find the form on Compass:

1. Open your Compass App
2. Click on the more button on the bottom right hand corner of the screen
3. Click on School Documents
4. Click on Parent Resources
5. Click on School Forms
6. Click on Medication Form and complete
7. This form will then be sent directly to our school email account

NCCD Information

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD)

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD).  

The NCCD is crucial for schools because it directly informs the allocation of Australian Government funding to support students with disability. Here's a breakdown of the key reasons why this funding is necessary:

• Targeted Funding Based on Need: The NCCD collects data on the number of students with disability and the level of educational adjustments they receive. This data is then used to calculate the funding provided by the Commonwealth. This means schools receive funding that is more closely aligned with the actual levels of support they are providing to students with diverse needs.
  
  
• Ensuring Equitable Access and Participation: The fundamental purpose of NCCD funding is to enable students with disability to access and participate in education "on the same basis" as their peers without disability, as mandated by the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005. This funding helps schools implement necessary adjustments and provide the support required to achieve this.

Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:

•         year of schooling
•         category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
•         level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.

This information assists schools to:

•         formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools
•         consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools
•         develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with additional needs.

The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information. 

To find out more about these matters, please refer to the Australian Government’s Privacy Policy (https://www.education.gov.au/privacy-policy).

Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal (https://www.nccd.edu.au).

If you have any questions about the NCCD, please contact Laurel Newton, Inclusion Teacher.

Kinder 2026 Enrolment Information...

HPE News-Mr Wilde...

Free 4 Week All Girls After School Cricket Clinic

I am reaching out regarding an exciting initiative we would like to launch this Term — FREE All Girls 4-Week After school Cricket blast at St Francis Xavier Primary School funded through the Cricket NSW Play Our Way Grant. Through this funding, the goal is to drive female cricket and looking to engage girls particularly new players to try cricket and gauge interest.

This is a fantastic opportunity for girls to further develop their catching, throwing and striking skills which are important Fundamental Movement Skills. These skills form the foundation for developing more complex physical skills, enhancing overall health, promoting lifelong physical activity, and fostering a positive attitude towards movement. Mastering these skills can also boost self-esteem and confidence, leading to greater participation in sports and recreational activities.

Here’s how it works:
After the school is finished, CNSW’s casual and full-time staff will run a 45-minute session focused on engaging all girls aged 5-12 in a cricket activity through modified games.

Cricket NSW will deliver the sessions with all the necessary equipment free of charge for all the girls. We plan to offer in total 4 sessions – once a /week over 4 weeks. The program commences in Week 4 on Monday 19th of May.

Registration is easy. Scan the QR Code below and complete the necessary information.

Paddy Wilde

HPE Teacher

Cultural News...

Our Indigenous students were invited to attend a Ground Breaking Ceremony in the first week of the school holidays, to prepare for the new Bullinah Aboriginal health hub in Ballina. Our students were asked to paint a shovel that would be used in the ceremony. The ceremony began with a smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country, the students then began breaking the ground with their shovels while the community had a say in the development ideas.

Library News...

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 Reminders...

• 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...