2022 Term 3 Week 3 Newsletter
Prayer Focus
From the Principal
School Review
This week I had the privilege of being a member of a school review team that worked with a school in our diocese. This experience confirmed my belief that there are some clear actions needed to move a school from good to great! St Francis Xavier is a good school. However, for our school to become even better at serving every learner there needs to be a framework that focuses on strengths, what needs to continue happening and how to address any gaps. The starting point is to collect data to reflect and review the current state of the school. There also needs to be opportunities for students, families, staff and the wider community to have a say.
To this end, I would strongly encourage families to participate in the, Tell Them From Me Survey. At a school level St Francis Xavier will be undertaking a comprehensive review this term using the Australian Council for Educational Research framework known as the National School Improvement Tool (NSIT). Further information about NSIT will be shared in future school newsletters.
School Fees
By now all families should have received an email communication containing their School Fee Statement for the remainder of 2022. Families have two options for the payment of school fees moving forward:
- BPAY - online payment set up through your bank account. This is the PREFERRED option and allows families to set up regular payments on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis.
- Payment through the CompassPay - online payment via the Compass Parent Portal or Compass App. Families can opt to pay in a lump sum or instalments. There is no option to set up regular automated payments through CompassPay.
With both options, families are responsible for initiating how they will pay their fees and deciding on instalment amounts to ensure payments are completed by the end of the 2022 school year.
Yours in Faith
Warren Niethe
Principal
All Things Learning & Teaching
Year 1 Phonics Participation
Over the next few weeks our students in Year 1 will participate in a the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check. This is a quick and easy assessment that tells teachers how your child is progressing in phonics.
Phonics is important for students who are learning to read. This screening check observes how your child can read words with different letter combinations. The main purpose of the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check is to provide your child's teacher with information which will allow them to plan for your child’s learning.
Each child is individually assessed by a teacher and all Year 1 students will be assessed.
This screen takes place in over 1600 NSW schools in Term 3 each year. Attached is an information sheet for further details
Spotlight on Stage 1
Amazing narratives taking shape in Stage 1. This term the Stage 1 students are using rich texts to explore narrative structure. Take a look at the wonderful start they have made.
Book Week Save the Date
Book Week combined with celebrating grandparents has been an event that our students and grandparents have enjoyed over time, so we are overjoyed that this is back on our calendar for 2022.
Our grandparents are very important people and we look forward to welcoming these VIP’s soon.
Sharon de Dassel
Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching
Faith & Mission
Tell Them From Me Survey
The Tell Them From Me survey is open during the month of August for parents/guardians to provide feedback annually on their experience of their child's school. The surveys are an important part of our whole school evaluation and planning process and take approximately 20 minutes to complete. This survey tool is administered by a third-party provider, The Learning Bar on behalf of the Catholic Schools Office. Confidentiality of all information received by all stakeholders is a priority. The Learning Bar provides each school and the Catholic Schools Office reports from the surveys that report trends in key areas such as wellbeing and learning and teaching. The reports are de-identified to ensure anonymity of all respondents. Parental and guardian engagement with the survey tool is highly valued and encouraged.
Students in Years 4-6 will complete the survey in Week 5. If you do not wish for your child in Years 4-6 to participate in the student survey, please opt out via the Google Form link below.
Parents will have a two week window, during Weeks 5 and 6, to complete the survey. A link to the survey will be provided to parents at the commencement of Week 5. Please refer to the Compass/email communication sent out last week for more information or contact Katrina Ryan at school.
First Sunday Family Mass
Mini Vinnies Winter Appeal
Katrina Ryan
Assistant Principal Mission
A Focus on Inclusion
NCCD - Nationally Consistent Collection of Data
Today is the final day for schools across Australia to submit their data to describe how we are supporting students with disability. This process is referred to as the NCCD.
The NCCD collects data about School Students with Disability who are receiving adjustments across Australia in a consistent, reliable and systematic way. It enables schools, education authorities and governments to better understand the needs of students with disability and how they can be best supported at school.
From 2018, the student with disability loading provided by the Australian Government is based on the NCCD; schools will continue to manage their total resources to meet the learning needs of their students.
For more information about the NCCD process please click on the link below:
Dr Nicola Holmes Parent Evening
Dr Nicola Holmes is a local GP with 10 years experience working at Headspace will be coming to St Francis Xavier School on Tuesday 16th August from 6pm to 7:30pm. She will be giving an interactive and informative session on managing anxiety in children, and how to develop resilience and confidence in children.
The Parent Assembly will be providing pizza from 5:30pm. Childminding will be available.
Please RSVP by clicking on the link below:
Fiona Jupp
Leader of Inclusion
Sporting Roundup
Zone Athletics
On Thursday 28th of July, 25 students from St Francis Xavier represented our school at the Clarence Zone Athletics Carnival held at CEX International Stadium at Coffs Harbour. I was most proud of the great behaviour and good sportsmanship shown by our school Zone Team and there were a number of students who will be progressing to the Diocesan Athletics Carnival which will also be held at the CEX International Stadium at Coffs Harbour on the 10th of August 2022. Well done to all competitors.
Barney Barselaar Cup Trials
On Wednesday 3rd of August, students in Stage 3 trialled for the Barney Barselaar Cup. We were very fortunate for Mr Rob Barselaar to assist with the selections. Students will receive successful or unsuccessful notes today. It was so great to see so many students trialling. Well done to all students who participated in the trials.
Rebel Sport Community Givebacks Program
Recent purchases from the credits redeemed from the Rebel Sport Community Givebacks Program are shown in the photo below including netballs, rugby balls and prizes for the Barney Barselaar Cup teams. Please keep attributing your expenditure to our school so we can keep purchasing these great items for the playground.
Important Dates to note:
- Wednesday, 10th August- Diocesan Athletics Carnival, Coffs Harbour
- Thursday, 25th August- Barney Barselaar Cup, Woolgoolga
Tiffany Wishart
Leader of Sport
Parent Forum Meeting
Gold Tokens
Well done to all Token recipents this week and congratulations to the Gold Token winners! Keep up the great work everyone.
