2024 Term 4 Week 9

Prayer Focus

From the Principal

"Meet Your New Teacher" afternoon

On Monday, we will hold a "Meet Your New Teacher" afternoon, giving students the exciting opportunity to connect with their new teachers and prepare for the year ahead. If your child is absent, please contact the school office to confirm your child’s 2025 classroom placement.

Beginner Band

We still have some spots available in our 2025 Beginner Band Instrumental Program so we are now offering the opportunity to our Year 5 students. These students will have the chance to learn a band instrument from the following list from Term 1 2025 and participate in a beginner band starting in Semester 2 2025.

• flute
• clarinet
• trumpet
• trombone
• saxophone
• violin

Group lessons for the instrumental band program will be held every Friday with Mrs Crismale. The cost is $160 for the semester. Fees must be paid in advance at the beginning of each semester. Instruments will be available for hire at $200 per year or you can bring your own.

If you're interested in your child learning an instrument, please click on the link below and complete the google form by Wednesday, 18 December: 

Thank you!

As we conclude another fantastic school year, I would like to thank our dedicated staff, supportive parents, and hardworking students for their efforts and contributions. It has been a wonderful year, and we wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season!

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you in 2024 for another exciting and successful year!

Caroline Lewis
Principal

Faith & Mission

Reminder - Mini Vinnies Christmas Appeal

The St Vincent de Paul Conference in Woolgoolga has again requested our support for their Christmas Appeal.

Like last year, they would like to give festive hampers to needy families in the Woolgoolga community.  The hampers will be filled with non-perishable Christmas treats to brighten peoples’ Christmas.  In addition to this the St Vincent de Paul Conference will provide Woolworths gift cards. 

We would greatly appreciate your donations for the Christmas treats. Each classroom has a basket ready for the donations!

The Mini Vinnies Team

Paul Kelly’s song "How to Make Gravy" captures the beauty of family coming together during Christmas, with the narrator expressing a deep longing to be with loved ones and the sense of warmth and connection that Christmas brings. It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of family and a meal this time of year. Yet, while we often focus on these familiar gatherings, there’s a deeper invitation in the Christmas story that calls us to unite our story with the story of Christ - to connect not just with our earthly families, but also with the divine family in the birth of our Saviour.

Christmas is a time of celebration, but it’s also a time of reflection on how Jesus came into the world in the most humble circumstances. As Kelly’s song reflects on the family’s role in bringing joy, we as Catholics are called to reflect on how Jesus, born in a stable to a poor couple, invites us into a deeper understanding of family that spans beyond bloodlines to the community of believers. In the song, Kelly sings about making gravy, a family tradition, and even in his absence, he longs for the peace and joy that simplicity in preparing a meal with family brings. Similarly, Christ’s birth reminds us that we are never truly apart from our heavenly family - the Church - even in our moments of longing or separation.

The message of Christmas is that Jesus came to unite all of humanity, not just those we call family, but all people. As we gather in our communities, let us remember that the peace and joy we experience in family is to be reflected outwards to all those we meet this Christmas. 

So, this Christmas, while we enjoy the familiar traditions of opening presents, let's think of opening our homes. When we make the family lunch, let's think of inviting a neighbour. When we watch the carols maybe plan to venture out to a local park. Bringing Peace, Joy and Hope to all you encounter this season. 

Merry Christmas to all, as we celebrate both the joy of our earthly families and the gift of being part of God's eternal family.

• The Soul (Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools newsletter)

Katrina Ryan
Assistant Principal Mission

Learning & Teaching

Stationery items required for 2025

Back to school shoe guide 2025

Michaela O'Shea Miller
Assistant Principal Learning & Teaching

Sporting Roundup

Staff vs Year 6 Basketball match

As is tradition at St Francis Xavier, on the last day of Term 4, the Year 6 students will play against the staff and Year 6 parents. All families are welcome to come along and cheer on the students, staff and parents.

Acknowledgement

What a busy and wonderful year we have had in the way of Sports. Students have worked hard to develop and improve their skills across many different sports and activities from running, athletics, hockey, surfing and more. We acknowledge the vast sporting achievements of all and look forward to another year of sport in 2025.

Hannah Haworth
Leader of Sport

Leadership Handover Assembly

Today's final Friday Assembly saw our 2024 Year 6 students handover the mantle of leadership to our incoming 2025 Year 6 students. We prayed for the outgoing Year 6 students and thanked them for their contribution as leaders of our school, and commissioned the 2025 elected leaders and ministry teams. In addition to this, we acknowledged Miss Baker who had her last day today, and presented our final awards for 2024.