2025 Term 1 Week 7 Newsletter

Prayer Focus

From the Principal

St John Paul College Presentation

Our Catholic school is dedicated to providing the local community with high-quality faith-based education. The journey through Catholic schooling begins with our primary schools and continues at St John Paul College (SJPC), where students are offered exceptional opportunities and achieve remarkable results. We are excited to announce that SJPC will visit us on Friday, March 28, at 9.45am for an information session for Stages 2 and 3 parents. This presentation will follow the Year 5 assembly, offering a great opportunity for parents to learn more about the excellent opportunities SJPC provides.

Attendance Matters

Faith & Mission

Basque, Jesuit & Mercy - where do our class names come from?

Two important figures in our school charism story are St Francis Xavier and Catherine McAuley. Given that St Francis Xavier is our patron saint, and the name of our school, you will all be familiar with him. Francis Xavier was a missionary who was born in the Basque region in the 1500s. He belonged to the Jesuit order of priests and was instrumental in bringing Christianity to Asia and India. Catherine McAuley is perhaps less known to the school community. She was an Irish woman who dedicated her life to care for the poor and marginalised, in particular women and children. She is the founder of the Sisters of Mercy. She is important to our school community as her legacy lives on through the Mercy values instilled in our school by our first principal, Sr Margaret (Sister of Mercy).

While Jesus is at the centre of everything we do here at St Francis Xavier, special people like Francis Xavier and Catherine McAuley provide a lens through which we can better know and understand the way Jesus wants us to live lives of love and service. 

The naming of our classes: Basque, Jesuit and Mercy serve as a daily reminder of important people who have shaped our school charism.

Parish Mass - Wednesday 26 March

Celebrating LENT, HOLY WEEK & EASTER

During Lent we are raising money for Project Compassion, who support the poor and vulnerable through community building projects around the world. We kicked off our fundraising on Shrove Tuesday and raised just over $200 - thank you for your generosity. Our fundraising continues this term with the annual Easter Raffle. Families are encouraged to donate items for the hampers, with tickets on sale at the front desk (for parents) or at lunch and recess (for students). The raffle will be drawn on the last day of term (April 10).

Families are invited to join us for two special events on Thursday 10 April.

Holy Week and Easter Liturgy at 9.15am - all students will be involved in this liturgy, with each stage leading an event from Holy Week. 

Easter Hat Parade and Raffle 2.15pm - students are encouraged to make an Easter Hat at home for the parade, remembering that the focus of this event is fun and celebration, not the creation of elaborate Easter hats! 

Workplace, Church and School Bulletin Notices leading to Easter Sunday

While we often associate chocolate with sweetness, the reality for some involved in its production is far from it.  A significant portion of cocoa, around 80%, comes from West Africa, where it's estimated that nearly 2 million children are engaged in child labor.  These children may miss out on education and the simple joy of tasting the chocolate they help create.  Organisations like Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance are working diligently with companies to improve conditions and strive towards a future free from child labor in the cocoa industry.

Prayer & Reflection during Lent

During the year of Jubilee, we are challenged to make an extra effort to engage in something that enhances our journey as 'Pilgrims of Hope'. The annual Lenten Taize night, which will be held at St Augustines Church on Wednesday 9 April at 7pm is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate with other Pilgrims of Hope. Participants are invited to come along and experience prayer through song, Eucharistic Adoration and Reconciliation. For those who are not Catholic or who have not attended an event such as this, participation is entirely at your comfort level - there are no expectations. 

If you enjoy singing with others or listening to beautiful music, then this is an evening not to be missed. Taize is a meditative style of sung prayer that involves simple, repeated mantras. Everyone is welcome to be involved in the Choir - no musical experience or score reading skills are required. 

I am encouraging parents and students who enjoy singing to come along and be part of the Choir, led by myself and Mrs Woods from St Augustines school. Videos and sheet music are available for those who would like to listen ahead of time (though not essential). There will be a run through of the songs/chants prior to the Taize evening, from 6:10pm. This rehearsal is to mainly go over the harmony parts, but everyone is welcome to attend. If you are interested, and would like access to the music ahead of time, please email or call me at school. 

I am very much looking forward to this year’s Tazie event and would love to see you there. Please feel free to share this with anyone you think may be interested in attending or participating. 

Learning & Teaching

Parent Teacher Interviews

Parent Teacher Interviews are now available to book on Compass.
Interviews will run on Wednesday 2nd April and Wednesday 9th April, to make a booking please do so via Compass in the conferences tab.
If you require any assistance please contact the school either by phone or email.

ANZAC School Initiatives

Koori Kids are delighted to announce the “2025 ANZAC School Initiatives”.

The initiatives are open to all primary school students (K-6). The winning students will be awarded some fantastic prizes (see entry form for details).

The judging of entries will be adjudicated by a panel including; delegates from Koori Kids, community Elders and some council delegates. Some entries will be displayed during ANZAC Day events.

Entry forms are available at the school office.

Please return completed entries to the school office by Friday, 4 April.

ANZAC Day March

Spotlight on Learning

Stage 1

During the first few weeks of school, our Stage 1 students engaged in a special unit called A Time to Learn. This initial period was all about setting up classroom routines, expectations, and building a strong foundation for the year ahead. They have been working on creating an environment where everyone feels safe, respected, and ready to learn.

To guide the students through this journey, the heartwarming and colorful story—Kindness Rocks by Kasey Rainbow, was used. This book, set in the whimsical world of Kutopia, follows Leo the Leopard, a curious and kind-hearted character who longs to try new things and make new friends, but struggles with the negative voice in his head. The story explores the themes of companionship, understanding, and kindness in all its forms. Leo’s journey teaches us how we can overcome doubts, be kind to others, and find strength in friendship.

In Kindness Rocks, Leo is surrounded by the caring critters of Kutopia, who show him that kindness is the key to connecting with others. Through this book, Stage 1 students have been learning how to embrace these qualities in their own lives, both inside and outside the classroom. It has sparked wonderful discussions about empathy, self-confidence, and supporting one another as they build their classroom community.

As an extra fun fact, we’re excited to share that Kasey Rainbow, the author of Kindness Rocks, is actually the aunty of one of our own students, Henry Anderson! It’s a wonderful connection that makes the story even more special.

Communicating Diversity

St Francis Xavier will be celebrating Harmony Week this month! 

Harmony Week celebrates diversity, inclusion, and belonging, promoting cultural respect and unity across Australia. We have celebrated Harmony Day today. Our student Diversity Team  lead some fun initiatives and lots of  students accessorised in orange. They also enjoyed special Harmony Day treats at the canteen. 

Harmony Day Competition Invitation!

The annual Harmony Day Competition celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity and social cohesion at a time when it is being challenged. Students can enter the poster, songwriting or short film categories of the competition. 

One way that you can continue the good work of Harmony Week is to encourage your child’s participation in the annual Harmony Day Competition. In 2025, the format of the competition will be Poster, Songwriting and Short Film. Some classes might work on a poster at school. 

The theme for the 2025 competition is: Harmony – We All Have a Role to Play. 

Entries close on Friday, April 12.

Click on the following links to enter one of the different competition formats

A Focus on Inclusion

Celebrating Neurodiversity: Celebrating Every Mind!

This week, we celebrate Neurodiversity Celebration Week. The week aims to raise awareness about neurodiversity, promoting understanding and acceptance while challenging stereotypes and misconceptions. Neurodivergence is an umbrella term for a number of conditions, such as autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Many Australians (15%-20%) are neurodivergent, yet it is often misunderstood, particularly in women. Neurodivergence is considered a hidden disability, and those with neurodivergent conditions can feel isolated socially and in the workplace.

Famous Neurodivergent Australians to Inspire You

Did you know that some of Australia’s most successful and creative people are neurodivergent? Here are just a few who have made an impact: 

• Em Rusciano is an Australian comedian, writer, singer and media presenter. Em was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 42. In 2022, Em addressed the National Press Club of Australia, (see the video below) sharing her ADHD diagnosis journey and how she felt following the late diagnosis. During her address, Em had an important message to share, “the message should not be that the neurodivergent community are lacking or less than, but that we are different and equally worthy.” 
• Chris Morgan is an Australian rower. He has competed at three Olympic Games, and in 2012, he took home a bronze medal from the London Games. At 28, Chris was diagnosed with autism, which helped him understand himself and also helped his teammates to understand him.
• Chloe Hayden is an actor best known for her role as Quinni, an autistic character in the recent reboot of the TV series ‘Heartbreak High’. Chloe is also a disability activist, motivational speaker, influencer and author. She recently wrote her first book, 'Different, Not Less', which is a guide to celebrating and supporting neurodivergence. Chloe was diagnosed with autism at 13, and ADHD at 22.

Information sourced from:

How Can We Celebrate?

Learn and Listen – Take time to understand and appreciate the experiences of neurodivergent friends and colleagues. Visit this website to learn more about Neurodivergence.

• Embrace Different Thinking – Everyone has strengths. Some people might be great at problem-solving, others at art, music, or remembering facts.
• Be Kind and Inclusive – Small actions, like giving someone extra time to respond or using clear communication, make a big difference.

Neurodiversity makes our school a more exciting and creative place. Let’s celebrate and support each other, because every brain is amazing in its own way.

Happy Neurodiversity Celebration Week!

Sporting Roundup

Donations

St Francis Xavier Primary School and Woolgoolga United Football Club have partnered to donate a significant amount of good quality secondhand sporting equipment, soccer shirts and stationery items to disadvantaged children in a remote Fijian village.  Thank you to Di Benefield for collecting the items and to the amazing Phil and Julie Pearce for transporting and distributing the items.

As you can see from the photos all items were greatly appreciated!

Cross Country Carnival

The school Cross Country Carnival will take place on Friday 4 April.  Keep an eye out for further information coming home regarding volunteering on the day and the Parent Handbook. There will be an Assembly on the same day at 2.15pm to present the Age Champion medallions, the Runner-up certificates and the team who will represent the school at Zone early next term.

Wellbeing Corner

Community Tuckerbox

Term 2 Wellbeing Groups

Please see below the groups we will be running in Term 2. If you have already completed a permission slip for a group this term, due to high demand, these groups will now commence at the beginning of Term 2. If you would like your child to participate in any of these groups or have questions regarding your child's suitability for groups  please contact me on alessandra.isgro@lism.catholic.edu.au. 

School Community Forum

Community Fete - Saturday, 25th October

We’re excited to invite you to our upcoming Community Fete on Saturday, 25th October! This fun-filled day will bring our community together as well as raising funds for much-needed drainage improvements on our oval. Currently, after it rains, the field holds water, making it impossible for the students to play outside for days. With your support, we hope to raise enough money to purchase a drainage system, ensuring the children can enjoy the outdoor space even after it rains.

We are also seeking sponsorship for the fete. If you have any friends, family members, or colleagues who own a business or work at at business, we would greatly appreciate their support! We need large and small prizes for our main raffle and the cent auction, and any contribution will make a big difference. Please, we need your help – without your generosity, we won’t be able to raise the necessary funds to make this essential improvement. Thank you for your continued support!

Easter Raffle volunteers

The School Community Forum are looking for volunteers to sell raffle tickets at Bunnings on Sunday 13 April. All proceeds will go towards school oval drainage. Please click on the link below if you can help out on the day.

Next Meeting

The next School Community Forum meeting will be held on Monday, 24 March at 6.30pm in the school library.  There is a Zoom link below for those who are unable to attend in person.

Salina McIvor
President

Awards

Congratulations to the Certificate of Recognition award recipients at last week's Assembly.  Keep up the great work!

Assembly

Playgroup

Open Day

Kindergarten Enrolments Open

Umbrellas for sale

ADHD Parent Information Evening

ADHD – A Different Focus

St Augustine's Parent Forum and St Augustine's School are delighted to invite you to an upcoming Parent Information Evening:

Tuesday 1 April 2025
 6:30pm-7:45pm
 St Augustine’s School (with a live webinar from Sydney)

We are excited to welcome Dr. Ben Balzer, who will join us via a live webinar to help parents and carers gain a deeper understanding of ADHD. His talk will cover a range of important topics, including:

 ADHD in boys vs. girls – how experiences can differ
 Understanding age differences – from younger children to tweens
 Debunking common myths – separating fact from fiction
 Overlapping conditions – symptoms that may be confused with ADHD
 Treatment options & strategies – practical ways to support your child
 Helping children thrive – at home, at school, and beyond
 Resources & support – where to find additional help

There will also be an opportunity for questions and discussion via the Zoom onsite at St Augustine’s.

We encourage all parents and carers to attend this insightful session. Please RSVP your attendance (either in person at St Augustine's or via Zoom link) on this form. 

Please see the flyer attached for further details. We look forward to seeing you there!

School Zone Safety

A message from City of Coffs Harbour.

Below is a Quick Guide to School Zones as a road safety reminder to share with our school community. You can find more about School Zones on the City of Coffs Harbour website or on Transport for NSW School Safety page.

Transport for NSW

School student travel information for parents and students

School Travel Passes

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

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.