2021 Term 2 Week 9 Newsletter

Prayer Focus

From the Principal

Kindergarten 2022

It has been my great pleasure to interview some of our future Kindergarten students this week and their families. We will continue to conduct interviews in the next two weeks for applications received up to this date. In the past two years, it has been our experience that some families leave applications until later than our enrolment and interview period. If you have a child you wish to enrol for 2022 or know of someone else who is in this position, please encourage them to complete an application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Once the interview period is completed, offers will be sent out to families and any later applications will only be considered if there is still room in classes.

NAIDOC Week

St Francis Xavier recognises the historical injustices that impacted the lives of many Indigenous people in Australia’s history. We endeavor as a school to be a people of welcome and reconciliation to all members of our local and national communities. 

A quick reminder that NAIDOC Week is celebrated during this school holiday period and the theme this year is ‘Heal Country’. This aligns with Pope Francis’ writings around care of our common home and St Francis Xavier School will be learning and celebrating this theme next week with cultural activities, exploring local language and a whole school Mass. 

Please join us in recognising the integral part our indigenous people play in our school community. 

All Things Learning & Teaching

Learning Investigations in Kindergarten

Following on from Mr Baker's interview in Kindergarten last week, we thought we would unpack Learning Investigations that are taking place in the Kindergarten space.

Kindergarten students are currently undertaking investigations four days a week. Investigations take place in the following areas:  Construction Zone, Writing Centre, The Office, Maths Centre, Nature and Science Zone, Dramatic Play, Tinkering Area, Reading Corner, All About Me, Music and a Special Interest Table.

Our investigations are aligned with Syllabus outcomes and provide a wonderful connection to the learning, as well as providing support with oral and written language skills and development. 

Take a look at some of the amazing investigation reponses.

Science and Technology  - A Learning Lens

The learning this Term in Science and Technology has had students across the school focusing on materials, change, impact and design-thinking. 

Early Stage 1 - Materials, Materials, Everywhere - introduced students to the Material sciences and design and production. 

Stage 1 - Changes In the Sky - focused on the observable changes in the sky and on the land and the Earth’s resources that are affected by these changes. Students investigated how the changes in the sky affected living things on the land.

Stage 2 - The Earth’s Surfaces Changes Over Time - focused on the effect of erosion of the earth’s surface, and the impact of natural forces and human activity. 

Stage 3 - Survival of the Fittest - students  focused on the fact that living things have structural features and adaptations that help them to survive in their environment. 

Some amazing learning that has created lots of discussion and such creative designs. The students have really enjoyed the learning, experiments and design processes. 

Awesome work everyone!

Faith & Mission

Sacrament of Confirmation: Important Dates

Parent Information Evening: Wednesday, 14 July at 6.00pm

Attendance at this evening is compulsory and is a wonderful opportunity for parents to receive some formation around this important sacrament, how you can support your child during preparation and also to share organisational information. Students are not required to attend. Parents who are unable to attend on this night will need to contact the Parish Office to arrange a meeting with Fr Joy. 

Sacrament of Confirmation: Thursday, 12 August at 5.30pm

This will take place at St Augustines Church in Coffs Harbour.

Mini Vinnies Winter Appeal

The Mini Vinnies Team will be holding a Pyjama Day in Week 2 of next Term. Students are encouraged to wear their PJ's and bring along a gold coin donation. In addition to this, we will be having a Jumper Drive next week. Please send in any warm jumpers and jackets (in good condition). These will be donated to Vinnies as part of their winter appeal. 

NAIDOC Week - Whole School Mass

Parents and carers are invited to our whole school Mass to celebrate NAIDOC Week on Wednesday, 23 June.  Please sign in on arrival either at the school office or by using the school QR Code.

Parent Forum - Barn Dance

Volunteers needed!

The Parent Forum are looking for a small team to work together to organise a school barn dance which will be our major community event for Term 3. This will include organising entertainment, decorations, advertising and setting up on the night. We would love your involvement whether it be just on the night or in the lead up to the event. If you are interested in learning more about this event, I will be at the school hall from 3.15pm until 4.00pm Monday, 12 July (first day of Term 3) or you can email me at  yarrowsail@hotmail.com .

Warm regards,
Yarrow Wade
Parent Forum President

Road Safety & Traffic Management

Please find below a link to our Road Safety and Traffic Management Guidelines.  Please read these to ensure you are familiar with these procedures.

Digital Technologies Usage Agreement

Further to the information sent to families in Term 1, to allow children in the school to use our computers and network it is necessary for every child to understand the conditions of use and then agree to those conditions. 

Attached is our Digital Technologies Student Procedure that we ask all parents/guardians to please read through with your child/ren.

Once your child/ren understand the content we then ask for you to complete the online Agreement (link below). The school will automatically receive this on completion.

Please complete one online Agreement for each child.

As we still have many outstanding and incomplete Agreements, we do ask that these be completed by Friday, 25 June 2021.

If you are uncertain whether you have completed an Agreement or not this year, please contact the school office.

Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)

PBS Wellbeing Day is just around the corner! 

Our PBS Wellbeing Day is a whole school event that will replace our former ‘Rewards Day.’ All students are invited to attend this day to celebrate our individual and shared successes this Term. The day will involve team building activities in Stages and also whole school events students can nominate to attend. Some activities include a beach outing, bucket drumming, cooking, yoga and meditation. The Year Group who wins the token competition will also enjoy their reward at this time.

Our PBS Wellbeing Day will be on the last day of Term, Friday, 25 June. Students are invited to wear mufti dress (closed in shoes, a hat, no singlets). We’ll be sure to share some photos of the fun with you!

Sporting Roundup

Zone Athletics

Zone Athletics is Tuesday, 13 July which is Week 1, Term 3. Notes for the Zone Carnival will be sent home on Monday and will need to be returned by Thursday.

Running Club

There are a number of students who have reached the 10km milestone at Running Club. These certificates will be presented at the first Assembly next Term.

Get into Rugby

This week the Stage 2 and 3 students had their second session of the Get Into Rugby Program.  The Program will conclude next week.  Thank you to Rugby Australia for providing a fun and informative program for our whole school this Term.

Tokyo Paralympics

Alumni Student qualifies

Congratulations to alumni St Francis Xavier student Madeleine McTernan who is going to the Tokyo Paralympics in July to represent Australia in swimming!  Good luck Maddie, we are so proud of you and your efforts!

Gold Token winners

Certificate of Recognition recipients

Running Club Certificates