2024 Newsletter Term 3 Week 3

Prayer Focus

From the Principal

Naplan

We have recently received the NAPLAN student data, and the reports sent home to parents reflect a positive trend for St Francis Xavier. The data highlights significant progress in both reading and writing, showcasing the effectiveness of our continuous improvement efforts. The successful implementation of educational strategies and strong support systems is evident, confirming that St Francis Xavier is on a promising path. Our dedication to enhancing student learning outcomes and fostering academic growth is clearly making a difference.

Year 3

St Francis Xavier students have shown growth in Year 3 Reading. Despite some variability in previous years, the 2024 mean score of 445 marks a significant improvement from 2022 and 2023. This positive trajectory highlights St Francis Xavier’s effective approach to enhancing reading skills. The Year 3 Writing results for St Francis Xavier have demonstrated commendable progress. The 2024 mean of 441 reflects a substantial improvement from previous years. This upward trend is a testament to the school’s dedicated efforts to enhance students' writing abilities and supports a strong foundation for future success. St Francis Xavier has shown impressive recovery and growth in Year 3 Maths. The mean score of 427 in 2024 represents a positive bounce back and indicates that students are benefiting from targeted support and effective teaching strategies. This is an encouraging sign of improving mathematical proficiency.

Year 5 

St Francis Xavier has achieved notable improvement in Year 5 Reading, with a mean score of 501 in 2024. This reflects the school’s consistent dedication to developing strong reading skills and ensuring students are well prepared for higher academic challenges. The Year 5 Writing results at St Francis Xavier remains our current focus.

Free eSafety Webinar

The Council of Catholic Schools Parents is hosting a FREE webinar in collaboration with the eSafety Commissioner on Tuesday, 20 August at 7.30pm.

Attendance Matters

Absences add up 

5 days absent per term means that your child misses 10% of their learning.

The impact of school absences, even seemingly small ones, can accumulate and affect a child's learning significantly. 

The cumulative effect of absences over time can lead to gaps in knowledge and understanding. 

Consistent attendance is vital for academic success, as each day in school provides valuable learning opportunities.

If your child is expressing reluctance to go to school regularly, it's essential to address the issue promptly. 

Caroline Lewis
Principal

Sacrament of Confirmation

Congratulations to the students who received the Sacrament of Confirmation at St Augustines Church last night. This sacred sacrament marks a significant step in their journey as they reaffirmed their baptismal promises and opened themselves to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Bishop Greg spoke of the importance of using these gifts to make good choices and live good and loving lives. We are incredibly proud of each of the students for their dedication and readiness to live out their faith in their everyday lives. May the Holy Spirit always inspire and strengthen them. 

Whole School Mass at St Francis Xavier Church

Bullying No Way - National Week of Action: August 12 - 16

Wear a ‘pop of purple’ on Friday 16 August

 Bullying No Way Week is a commitment being made by thousands of schools and supporters across the country. It provides an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to bullying prevention. The theme for this year's campaign is Everyone belongs. This theme highlights the importance of creating a sense of belonging and inclusion for students. We recognise bullying often thrives in environments where individuals feel marginalised or excluded, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that every student feels valued and respected.

“Positive school climates that value diversity and inclusion can foster a sense of belonging and provide a protective factor against negative peer relationships and reduce bullying.” (Australian Education Research Organisation 2023).

During the week we will be engaging students in meaningful discussions and activities aimed at promoting empathy, understanding, and respect for diversity. We encourage parents and carers to take this opportunity to have open and honest conversations with their children about the impact of bullying and what they can do if they need support. You can visit the Bullying No Way website for tips around how to have this discussion.

The new hero colour for the campaign is purple - symbolising peace, strength and empowerment to take a stand against bullying behaviour. On Friday 16 August students are encouraged to wear a ‘pop of purple’ with their school uniform. 

Father's Day

Father’s Day is fast approaching with preparations in full swing for a Father’s Day Stall, breakfast and liturgy to celebrate our wonderful Dads. 

Stall: Wednesday, August 28. All gifts $5 - pre-purchase via Flexischools (preferred) or cash on the day. Unfortunately we are unable to offer IOU's. 

Breakfast: Families must purchase tickets via Flexischools by Tuesday, August 27. Adults and children attending the breakfast will need a ticket. Ticketing allows us to be adequately prepared and ensures no-one misses out! Thank you for your support with this. 

Flexischools ticketing for the brekkie and stall will be available from Monday 12 August.

Liturgy: All families are invited to stay for the Liturgy at 9.15am which will be led by Kindergarten. 

Students and families are encouraged to wear their favourite sporting jersey or team colours in support of Jersey Day, promoting organ donation. 

Katrina Ryan
Assistant Principal Mission

NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge: Final Countdown!

Attention all students and parents! The NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) is drawing to a close, with just three weeks left until the deadline. We hope students have enjoyed exploring new and exciting books throughout the year, broadening their horizons and fostering a love for reading.

As the challenge wraps up, it's crucial to ensure all student reading records are up-to-date. To be eligible for a PRC certificate, students must complete their reading records by 11:59pm on Friday, 23 August 2024. This deadline is essential to allow time for the validation process.

Don’t miss out on the chance to be recognised for your reading achievements! Make sure your reading records are completed and validated to receive your well-deserved PRC certificate. For more information on how to log your books, please see this guide.

Congratulations to Our Premier’s Reading Challenge Stars!

We are thrilled to announce that five of our outstanding students have successfully completed the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge! Join us in congratulating Evelyn Taylor (Year 1), Frankie Spyve (Year 2), Rachel Taylor (Year 3), Chloe Henwood (Year 4), and Sanford Bullock (Year 6) for their dedication and hard work.

Suzie Coster
Leader of Learning

Communicating Diversity

Laura Cooke
Leader of EAL/D

Sporting Roundup

Diocesan Athletics

Well done to the school team who participated at Zone Athletics last week. Congratulations to the 19 students who will represent the Clarence Zone at the Diocesan Athletics Carnival in Coffs Harbour next week. 

Upcoming sports in Term 3

Mitchell Stunt, Zach Fluechter and Noah Waters play for Valley Braves basketball team and theywon the BNSW Spalding Waratah NJL/EJL Under 12 Division 2 Grand Final last weekend in Port Macquarie. Their team spirit and sportsmanship was exceptional. 

Noah and Chloe de Campos competed in the Pan Kids in Florida last weekend. They both had very challenging fights. Chloe didn't make it to the finals, but Noah came in second. It's a fantastic achievement considering he is now the second-best in the world for his division! It has been a great experience for the whole family. 

Hannah Haworth
Leader of Sport

Parent Forum

The next Parent Forum meeting will be held on Monday, 12 August at 6.30pm in the school library.  There is a Zoom link below for those who are unable to attend in person.

Upcoming Parent Forum events:

• Pie Drive (further information to come)
• Trivia Night (see flyer below)

Yarrow Wade
Parent Forum President

Awards

Well done to all students who received a Certificate of Recognition or a Pen Licence at our most recent Assembly.  Keep up the great work!

Gold Tokens

Well done to all token recipients this week and congratulations to the Gold Token winners!

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