2025 Term 1 Week 1 Newsletter
Prayer Focus
God of justice and peace,
You love each one of us, just as we are.
Inspire us, like you did Catherine McAuley,
to serve others with mercy, compassion and respect.
Give us the courage of St Francis Xavier to spread your message of love with everyone we meet in our words and our actions.
Help us to always try our best
so that we will grow in knowledge,
while caring for each other and all of creation.
Amen
From the Principal
Welcome Back to the New School Year!
We hope you had a fantastic break and are feeling refreshed and ready for another exciting year ahead! This year, we’re focusing on our school's value of love, so you can expect to hear a lot about this theme from your children. Whether you're returning or starting a new chapter, this year is full of opportunities to learn, grow, and achieve.
Pupil Free Days for 2025
Please take note of the Pupil Free Days for 2025.
Term 1: Friday 11 April
Term 2: Monday 28 April and Friday 4 July
Term 3: Monday 21 July
Term 4: Monday 13 October
All dates for the 2025 year can be viewed on the school calendar via Compass. Schools are busy places! Parents are encouraged to check the calendar regularly to keep up to date.
Sport Days
Students will wear their Sport Uniform on their Sport Day:
Wednesdays - Stage 2 and Kinder
Thursdays - Stage 3 and Stage 1
Bell Times
9.00am - First session
11.00am - Lunch
11.40am - Middle session
1.40pm - Recess
2.10pm - Third session
3.10pm - End of day
New Initiatives
We have several new initiatives to look forward to:
- Student Representatives for the Student Council: Over the next few weeks, each class from grades 1 to 6 will vote for a student class rep. These students will attend fortnightly meetings with the principal and school leaders to help make our school child-centered and an even better place.
- Walk to School Initiative: We encourage families to park in the sports field carpark and walk to school. Every Monday, I will walk with students and parents, offering an excellent opportunity for informal conversations. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to join us!
We ask parents to please pick up students in the safe zone outside classrooms as much as possible.
Traffic Tips
As children return to school, it's important to prioritise their safety on the journey to and from
school. Take time to discuss these key safety tips with your child:
- Getting In and Out of the Car:
○ Always use the door closest to the curb to prevent stepping into traffic.
○ Make sure your child waits until the car has completely stopped before exiting.
- Walking Safely:
○ Encourage distraction-free walking by asking your child to remove headphones
and put away devices while crossing streets.
○ Teach your child to stay alert, follow traffic signals, and use designated pedestrian
crossings.
- Using the Bus Safely:
○ Wait at the bus stop together, standing at least one step back from the edge of the
road.
○ Always meet your child at the bus stop on the same side of the road - never call
them across from the opposite side.
○ Wait for the bus to leave before crossing the street, ensuring it is safe to cross.
- Using Wheeled Transport:
○ Remind your child that helmets are mandatory when riding a bike in public - it’s
the law.
○ Encourage helmet use and protective gear for other wheeled activities, such as
scooters, skateboards, and rollerblades.
We’re excited for the year ahead and all the possibilities it holds. Let’s work together to make this year a memorable one!
Caroline Lewis
Principal
Faith & Mission
2025 Value Focus: LOVE
This year’s annual school Mission goal builds upon our ongoing journey to explore and express the unique charism of St. Francis Xavier – our distinct Catholic identity shaped by our Ignatian (St. Francis Xavier) and Mercy (founding Principal Sr. Margaret) roots. At the heart of our community are our five school values: Love, Peace, Knowledge, Service, and Respect. These values, inspired by the Ignatian and Mercy traditions, are essential to who we are. Beginning this year, we will focus on one value each year, deepening our understanding of how this can be enacted at school, in our families, and in our community. This year, we will focus on LOVE, and we look forward to sharing our journey with you.
Commencement Mass
Families and parishioners are warmly invited to attend our Commencement Mass on Wednesday 19 February. This is a wonderful opportunity to gather as a faith community to pray for God’s blessings during this 2025 school year. During Mass our Year 6 students will be presented with their Year 6 shirts, and House Leaders with their badges. Mass will be followed by morning tea for all visitors.
Sacraments
Preparation for the Sacraments will continue to take place here at school in 2025. The sacraments are available to Baptised children and must be completed in the following order:
Confirmation - students in Year 3 or above
Reconciliation and First Eucharist (First Communion) - students in Year 4 or above who have completed the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Preparation for and reception of the Reconciliation will take place later this term. Further information regarding enrolment for sacramental preparation will be sent out in the coming weeks. If you have any questions regarding the sacraments, or are interested in Baptism for your child/ren, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Mass Times
As always, families are invited to participate in all Parish activities. There have been some changes to Mass times. Please refer to the updated times listed below. Mass at St Francis Xavier Church is every Saturday at 8.30am, with the Saturday PRECEDING the first Sunday of the month (during school terms) being a Family Mass. During this Mass children can participate in Children’s Liturgy and special ministries. A highlight of Family Mass is always the morning tea and chat following Mass!
Katrina Ryan
Assistant Principal Mission
Learning & Teaching
Congratulations
Congratulations to Laura George who has been awarded Proficient Teacher Accreditation at the end of 2024. Accreditation is a developmental process where beginning teachers are supported by mentors who provide guidance, encouragement and feedback as teachers develop their skills to meet the Australian Professional Teaching Standards. We are very proud of Laura and wish her all the best as she continues her journey in her chosen vocation as a teacher here at St Francis Xavier.
Parent Information Night
On Wednesday 19 February we have our Parent Information Night where parents will meet teachers aand staff and other parents and families.
Child minding will be available please RSVP by clicking on the link below:
Digital Technology Student User Agreement
At St Francis Xavier Primary School, we prioritise responsible and safe digital citizenship. To foster this, we use a variety of digital technologies to support and enhance engagement and creativity within learning.
To ensure a shared understanding of our expectations, all students and their parents must sign a Digital Technology Student User Agreement each year. This agreement outlines the expectations for using digital technologies within our school and informs parents how digital technologies are managed and supported within our school and across the Diocese.
Please take the time to read through and sign the attached Digital Technologies User Agreement for 2025 with your child by Friday, 14th February.
Please note: A new form is to be submitted for every year for each child at our school. We ask that you use your child’s name as per Compass - first and last name only.
To further support this teachers will be exploring each of the dot points over the first term with students in class.
We appreciate your continued support in guiding your child towards responsible digital citizenship.
The agreement is available here:
Michaela O’Shea-Miller
Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching
Wellbeing
We would like to introduce the Wellbeing Team for 2025.
Alessandra (Alee) Isgro will be returning as School Counsellor (Monday-Wednesday) and Hayley Evans is our newly appointed Wellbeing Officer (Wednesday-Thursday).
We are so excited for another year at St Francis Xavier supporting students and families all things wellbeing. We are looking forward to facilitating a number of groups for students including Seasons for Growth and Stop Think Do.
Hayley will also be involved with Playgroup which will begin again this term for our school families and families in the wider community.
Please see the flyer below for further information regarding Playgroup.
More information about these groups will be sent out to families in the coming weeks.
If you would like your child to access one-on-one counselling please speak to your class teacher for the appropriate referral. Additionally, if you would like to discuss any concerns you may have regarding your child’s wellbeing we can arrange a time to meet and discuss the next steps best suited to your child and family.
Our office is located in the Emmaus Room which is directly opposite the school office.
Alee Isgro
School Counsellor
Hayley Evans
Wellbeing Officer
Canteen News
The school Canteen will be open on Wednesdays and Fridays again this year. Lunch orders need to be placed online by 8.30am or at the Canteen by 9.00am.
Lunch is 11.00am - 11.40am
Recess is 1.40pm - 2.10pm
Please find below the instructions for setting up Flexischools for online ordering. (We also use Flexischools for ticketing for special events and purchase of items for Parent Forum fundraising throughout the year.)
Parents will need to update their child's class in Flexischools before ordering.
Please also find below the 2025 Canteen Menu.
School Photos
School Photos will be held Monday 17 February, families can now order school photos via Compass.
A friendly reminder to ensure all students wear correct full school uniform for school photos including:
- all black school shoes
- boys - grey socks
- girls - white socks
- long hair (shoulder-length and longer) tied back neatly
- red, white and/or blue hair accessories only
- jewellery:
- earrings - small sleepers or studs only
- allowed - cultural jewellery, chain with small cross
- no other jewellery is permitted
Thank you for your cooperation.
Music Tuition
Scholastic Book Club
Issue 1 of Scholastic Book Club is out now. There is no obligation to buy.
Please order online or return cash orders to the school office by Monday 17 February.
Gold Tokens
Well done to all token recipients this week and congratulations to our Gold Token recipients! Keep up the great work everyone!
