2023 Term 1 Week 3 Newsletter
Prayer Focus
Date Saver for Term 1
From the Principal
Settling In
I have greatly enjoyed my first few weeks at St Francis Xavier School. I have spent the time visiting classrooms and trying to learn student names and something about each student. I have also been having meetings with each staff member to get to know them further.
Getting to Know You
I am looking forward to meeting parents at our Parent Information Night next week. The purpose of this is for parents to meet the teacher, find out how the classroom operates and the overall learning that is going to take place this year. The details are as follows.
It is a parent only event but we are offering babysitting in the library for those of you who are unable to find a babysitter. If so, please RSVP to the office on woolp@lism.catholic.edu.au by 9.ooam on Tuesday, 21 February so we can get an idea of numbers.
Kindergarten 2024 Enrolments Open Now
Caroline Lewis
Principal
Faith & Mission
Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of the Church’s season of Lent. The marking of the ashes on this day is a public expression of our faith and humility. It is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving (caring for the poor, needy and marginalised).
Families are invited to join Stage 1, 2 and 3 students for our Ash Wednesday Liturgy at 10.30am. On Wednesday, each family will receive a Project Compassion box. Contributions to this worthy cause provides physical resources, practical assistance, education and training to those in marginalised communities both here in Australia and abroad. Boxes can be returned at the end of the term.
Pancake Day
Year 6 students will be cooking pancakes for all students on Shrove Tuesday next week. This is the launch for our annual Project Compassion fundraising campaign and students are asked to bring along a gold coin donation to kick start the fundraising.
Gluten free and gluten & dairy free pancakes will be available for students with special dietary requirements. Please email Katrina Ryan (katrina.ryan@lism.catholic.edu.au) with details if your child requires one of these special options. Alternatively, parents of students with dietary requirements may prefer to provide their own alternative.
Katrina Ryan
Assistant Principal Mission
All Things Learning & Teaching
Learning Across the School
Already the classroom environments are humming with amazing learning. It is wonderful to see how settled and focused the students are as many have entered new spaces for the first time.
The start of the year is always an exciting time, talk with your child/children about their day.
Positive questions you may wish to ask at the end of the day to create a window into the day could include:
‘What was the highlight of your day?’
‘What is one thing you learnt today?’ ‘Can you show me?’
Students sharing aspects of their day create strong connections.
InitiaLit
The new K-2 English Syllabus for NSW recommends a Systematic Synthetic Phonics (SSP) approach for reading and spelling. In addition to the decodable readers used in previous years, our school has selected to implement ‘InitiaLit’, an evidence based SSP approach, that is supported by the Diocese, to assist Kindergarten and Stage 1 teachers with the teaching of reading and spelling as they implement the new K-2 English syllabus.
InitiaLit is an evidence-based whole class literacy program providing all children with the essential core knowledge and strong foundations to become successful reader and writers.
NAPLAN
In preparation for NAPLAN 2023, our school will undertake activities to help students to become familiar with the format and functionality of the online tests.
Students and parents can access the Public Demonstration Site to familiarise themselves with NAPLAN and the types of questions and tools available. Excessive preparation for NAPLAN is not required nor recommended.
NAPLAN 2023 Information for parents and carers is attached. If you have any further questions about NAPLAN, please contact your child’s teacher.
Resources include:
Sharon de Dassel
Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching
Communicating Diversity
History programs across the school celebrate and investigate the importance of Indigenous culture in our local and broader communities. Stage 2 began the year by investigating Mulga Man and discussing why it was so important to return him to his country and the traditional owners of the land. Students also learned what ‘country’ means to the traditional owners of this land, and how deeply connected they are. We explored our own connections to the land, and even learned from one of our students, Willow, who shared a dreaming story with us. It’s inspiring to see this passion for culture and a wonderful example of how we are all learners and all teachers at St Francis Xavier School.
Laura Cooke
Leader of EAL / D
A Focus on Inclusion
Michael Eames is a Kindergarten student at St Francis Xavier School. He has Autism Spectrum Disorder. Please watch this video with your children and chat with them about the ways they can be a good friend for Michael in the playground. We are proud of the way children at St Francis Xavier School support other students who have a disability.
Fiona Jupp
Leader of Inclusion
Canteen News
New Menu Items
Mrs Burbridge has been busy in the school canteen researching and testing out new recipes, with the aim of introducing more home cooked, healthy, tasty options to to the menu. Today students enjoyed homemade Beef Nachos and staff sampled Mrs Burbridge’s Cheese and Bacon Scrolls, made from scratch - including the dough! They were both delicious!
As always, we welcome anyone who is available to assist in the canteen.
Online Canteen Ordering
We are encouraging parents to use the online canteen ordering system 'Flexischools'. Once set up Flexischools is very easy to use. Online orders through Flexischools need to be placed by 8.30am. Please click on the link below for instructions on how to set up your Felxischools account.
Tuckerbox
At St Francis Xavier School we have a ’Tuckerbox’ to support families dealing with illness or extra family demands and need a helping hand. We regularly send out 2-3 meals each week.
Over the years we have been blessed to have support from the St Francis Xavier Church, Pastoral Care Team who have made many meals for us.
You can be part of this initiative by cooking and freezing a meal ready for a family in need. We are more than happy to provide containers. There are some recipe ideas below.
With the busyness of family life some families may prefer to buy a ‘ready-made meal’ and donate it to the Tuckerbox.
This is an important pastoral care initiative within our school and parish. Please support us if you can.
If you can help by cooking or donating a meal please contact Helen Hunt helen.hunt@lism.catholic.edu.au or or leave a message at the school office.
Gold Token winners
Well done to all token recipients this week and congratulations to the Gold Token winners! Keep up the great work!
