2023 Term 1 Week 1 Newsletter

Prayer Focus

Date Saver for Term 1

Disclaimer: Please be sure to check the school calendar regularly for the most up to date information and for new additions. The school calendar can be accessed via the website, the newsletter and on the Compass App.

From the Principal

Thank you

I have greatly enjoyed my first week at St Francis Xavier and I have learnt a great deal about the staff and the workings of the school. I have worked in education for many years in both primary and secondary schools. My career began as a Year 3 teacher in the United Kingdom. After working within the Diocese of Northampton and Portsmouth in England, I moved to Brisbane with my family, working in the State sector. Prior to taking up my position of principal at Francis Xavier Catholic School, I was a member of the Leadership Team at three different Catholic schools in Brisbane. Over the upcoming weeks, I am looking forward to getting to know this community.  In 2023 I am keen to move the learning forward and work in partnership with our families.  I wish to thank the staff, parents and Leadership Team for making me feel so welcome in this beautiful school.

Student Pick Up and Drop Off

 As we continue to live in this COVID-19 world, we would like to invite parents back into our school and would like you to feel welcome to pick up your children from any of the grassy areas around the school. We respectfully request that parents avoid sitting outside classrooms and waiting on the verandahs as these areas become very congested at home time with students moving around the school. Teachers will continue to take students to the designated pick up zones at Queen Street (Access) and Maldon Place. 

Teacher supervision commences at 8.30am each day.  Therefore, no students are to be on site until that time.  If you require outside of school hours care for your child (OOSH) before or after school please click on the link below.

Caroline Lewis
Principal

A Blessing for the new school year

Registering for the SACRAMENTS at St Francis Xavier in 2023

Reconciliation & First Communion
Families who would like their child/ren to participate in the Reconciliation and First Communion Sacramental Program this year are invited to complete the Google form (please click on the link below) by Friday, February 17.

To receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion students must be:

• baptised 
• have received the Sacrament of Confirmation and
• be in Year 4 or above

Students preparing will receive both sacraments (Reconciliation and First Communion) this year. Preparation for the Sacraments takes place at school during Religious Education lessons. 

Parents are required to attend an Information Evening to be held at school on Tuesday, February 28 at 6pm.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation will take place towards the end of Term 1 (date to be advised).

The Sacrament of First Communion will take place in Term 3 (August, date to be advised).

Confirmation
Baptised students who are in Year 3 or above will be eligible to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this year. Preparation for Confirmation will take place at school during Term 2, with the sacrament taking place at St Augustine's Church in Coffs Harbour in Term 3, Week 1 (date to be advised). Enrolment information will be sent out at a later date.

If you have any questions about the Sacraments, please don’t hesitate to contact Katrina Ryan at school.

Family Mass

Commencement Mass

Katrina Ryan
Assistant Principal Mission

All Things Learning & Teaching

MAI’s Completed

Thank you everyone for yet another year of successful MAI’s. The opportunity to transition back commencing with one on one to support our students is so valuable. Students loved coming onsite and discovering which room they are in, who is with them and time to familiarise themselves with their teacher and what the new space looks and feels like. A great way to set up a successful start to the new school year. 

Sharon de Dassel
Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching

Communicating Diversity

We are very proud of our diverse and vibrant community at St Francis Xavier and we welcome all of our new families and staff members to the new school year. Celebrating our differences and sharing our cultures with each other brings us closer together as a school community. Last year we had a memorable Diwali celebration thanks to the generosity of our passionate parent support network. We invite all families to share their knowledge and passion with us. If you have a skill, idea or connection that will contribute to our cultural diversity at school, please get in touch with us. We look forward to another great year of learning, teaching, sharing and growth. 

Laura Cooke
Leader of EAL / D

A Focus on Inclusion

Helping Your Child Enjoy School and Succeed at School

1. Get involved in the school community. Contact your child’s teacher with questions or concerns. 
2. Read with your child each night - take it in turns with reading and talk about what you have read.
3. Send your child to school ready to learn. A good night’s sleep and a nutritious breakfast make a big difference.
4. Encourage your child to become independent in getting ready for school. Make a list of things your child needs to do each day to get ready for school.
5. Teach your children to be responsible for their actions and their schoolwork. 
6. Take attendance seriously - if your child is sick, they should stay home. Otherwise, it's important that kids arrive at school on time every day.
7. Make time to talk about school with your child so they know that what goes on at school is important to you. Start by asking, “What was your favourite part of the day at school today?” Follow up by asking, “What did you find tricky at school today?” Speak positively about your child’s education so that they know you value what they are doing. This will also encourage your child to speak positively about their experiences at school.

Fiona Jupp
Leader of Inclusion

School Counsellor's Corner

Programs and Groups for Term 1

During Term 1 we will have two wellbeing programs on offer available to Stages 2 and 3.  Please read about these programs below and contact the school for a permission note if you are interested in your child participating in one of these programs. Permission notes will need to be returned to school by Friday, 10 February.

Tree of Life: For Stage 3 ONLY
Number of sessions: 10
Facilitated by: Alessandra Isgro
The Tree of Life is a support tool based on narrative practices facilitated in a group setting. The intervention uses different parts of a tree as metaphors to represent the different aspects of our lives. It involves students drawing their own “tree of life” and unpacking their roots (where they come from), their skills and strengths, hopes and dreams and the special people in their life. The students then join all their trees to create the “forest of life”, and in groups discuss some “storms” or challenges they have faced or are currently facing and use their tree’s to explore different strategies to help them through these storms. The intervention helps students strengthen their relationships with their own history, culture and significant people in their lives in a positive way to build confidence, self esteem and emotional resilience. 

Seasons for Growth: For Stage 2 ONLY
Number of Sessions: 8 (not inclusive of celebratory session)
Facilitated by: “Companions” Alessandra Isgro and Helen Hunt
Seasons for Growth offers children and young people an opportunity to come together and share their experiences of grief and loss. This could include a death in the family, changes in family arrangements including parental separation/ divorce, moving house, the arrival of new siblings or adjusting to other changes that may have impacted their lives.  The Seasons for Growth Program uses the seasons of the year as a metaphor that change and loss is a part of life and individuals experience the “seasons” in different ways. 

Note:  Under the framework of Seasons for Growth through Good Grief, if a referral to the program is in relation to a major change, that a minimum of 6 months has passed before your child is able to participate in the program. 

Alessandra Isgro
School Counsellor

Tuition (School) Fees information

With the start of a new school year, if you need help in calculating your payment plan for tuition fees, please email your query to the Catholic Schools Office on woolp-fees@lism.catholic.edu.au and they will reply with full details as soon as possible.

Just a reminder that tuition fees will be invoiced per term this year.  You can continue paying over the school holidays, this will help keep your payments down and save you having to stop and start payments each term.

Please refer to the school website for a copy of the 2023 Tuition Fees. 

Invoices for Term 1 2023 will be emailed to families next week. The Invoice/Statement will also show your correct BPay reference details for payments. 

School Photos