2024 Term 4 Week 1 Newsletter

Prayer Focus

From the Principal

Exciting News: New Music Rooms Opening!

We are thrilled to announce the official opening of our new music rooms at our upcoming Music Night on Tuesday, November 12. Join us for an evening of performances from our talented instrumental teachers and students and learn more about our Year 3 band program.

In 2025, we will continue to offer private lessons in piano, drums, and guitar, but we are excited to introduce our Year 3 instrumental program, which will be heavily subsidised by the school. All Year 3 students will have the opportunity to learn a band instrument, flute, clarinet, or saxophone, from the start of 2025 and participate in a beginner band starting in Semester 2.

Group lessons will be held on Fridays with Mrs Crismale. The cost is just $160 for the semester. Fees must be paid in advance at the beginning of each semester. Instruments will be available for hire at $200 per year.

If you're interested in your child learning an instrument, we invite you to our music night to discover more! Not sure which instrument? Students are welcome to come along and try out one of the new instruments on the night. We can't wait to see you there!

Class Placements for 2025

It's that time of year when we are finalising student placements for the upcoming year. Placing students into classes is a complex task, and our dedicated teachers invest a lot of time in creating class lists to ensure the best possible fit for all students. If you have any information regarding your child's placement that you would like us to consider (including if this information has been provided in previous years and is still relevant), please don't hesitate to contact the school by Friday, 25 October.  Requests made after this date cannot be considered as classes need to be finalised in time for students to meet their new teacher on Monday, 16 December. Your cooperation and input are greatly appreciated.

Attendance Matters

Get to know your child's friends and their families. Strong connections help your child feel a sense of belonging and safety.

Building strong connections with your child's friends and their families can be highly beneficial for your child's social and emotional development. Here are some reasons why getting to know your child's friends and their families is important:

• Sense of Belonging. Knowing your child's friends and their families helps create a sense of belonging for your child. Feeling connected to a social group provides emotional support and fosters a positive sense of identity.

• Enhanced Social Skills. Interacting with a diverse group of peers allows your child to develop and enhance their social skills. Building relationships with friends and their families contributes to improved communication, empathy, and cooperation.

• Safety and Comfort. When your child knows their friends and their families well, they are likely to feel safer and more comfortable in social situations. Familiarity with the people around them can reduce anxiety and build a sense of security.

• Shared Values and Expectations. Getting to know your child's friends' families allows you to understand shared values and expectations. Consistency in parenting styles and values contributes to a more cohesive and supportive social environment for the children.

Caroline Lewis
Principal

Faith & Mission

An introduction to our school CHARISM

On Monday, staff gathered for a day of learning around our school charism. The focus of the day was to look at how the life and example of St Francis Xavier and Catherine McAuley (foundress of the Mercy Order) inspire and inform our own school charism, how this is reflected in our vision, mission and values, and ultimately, in all that we do here at school. This has been the work of our 2024 Mission Goal for the School Annual Improvement Plan. 

Charism, from the Greek charisma meaning ‘gift’, is the grace of God given to all believers, by virtue of their baptism, which is to be shared with others.

Every religious congregation has a spirituality that reflects the spirituality of its founder, and this is known as its charism.

Our school charism is inspired by two traditions.

You may have noticed some familiar terms that are in use in our school community. The naming of our classes and Sport Houses are linked to our charism and school story.

We will continue sharing our work around charism throughout the rest of the year.

Socktober - Friday, 25 October

Our annual support of Catholic Mission’s Socktober fundraising will take place on Friday, 25 October. Students are encouraged to wear crazy socks and bring along a gold coin donation. Following assembly, there will be a Soccer Shoot Out. Families are more than welcome to join in the fun. We are in need of ‘guest goalies’ so if you are keen, be sure to wear sensible shoes (and crazy socks of course 🤪🧦)

This year’s focus project for Socktober is the Don Bosco Caring Centre, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Established in 2003, the Don Bosco Caring Centre (DBCC) was created to provide vulnerable children with a loving and safe environment where they can access education and ongoing support. Most children come to the DBCC from challenging situations including being orphaned or abandoned, and family violence. The Centre seeks to provide a safe and loving environment for the children to access education and find themselves in society as they grow up. Fundraising for Socktober will provide the Don Bosco Caring Centre with resources such as meals, electricity, heating, uniforms, school supplies and a school bus.

St Vincent de Paul - support needed

In Week 3, the Year 5 students will be involved in activities related to Christian Service. One of the activities will be to support the St Vincent de Paul Society by making up toiletry packs for the homeless and disadvantaged in our community.

We ask if you could donate any small toiletry items such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash or soap that you might have from motels and resorts. We also need toothbrushes, toothpaste and face washers or wipes.

These will be used by the students to make up the toiletry packs to be distributed by the local St Vincent de Paul Conference members.

Please send any donations to the school office.

Thank you for your generosity.

Katrina Ryan
Assistant Principal Mission

Communicating Diversity

Celebrating Diwali Exhibition

There’s still time to check out the ‘Celebrating Diwali Exhibition’ at Woolgoolga Art Gallery. This exhibition features local artists as well as some of our own budding artists at school. We are excited to be part of this inclusive event, highlighting our local culture. We look forward to unveiling the artwork we purchased for the office. Watch this space!

Diwali Celebrations at school

Laura Cooke
Leader of EAL/D

Sporting Roundup

Tim attended the West Ham United National Football Camp on the Gold Coast in September and was invited to participate in the UK Development Tour in November (with his two older brothers William and Oliver). Tim will stay at the stadium hotels in London and Manchester, play games and have coaching sessions at several different clubs with Academy Coaches. Tim will also be attending top class games (West Ham v Arsenal, Bolton v Mansfield, Manchester City v Nottingham Forest and West Ham v Wolves). Tim loves his soccer and is very grateful for this amazing opportunity to develop his football skills and spend some quality time with his big brothers and dad.  Congratulations Tim!

Elective Sport

The final session of Elective Sport for Stages 2 & 3 will take place on Friday, 25 October.

Intensive Swimming - Years K-2

We will be running a Swimming Intensive for Years K-2 during Week 6 of Term 4.  More information will go out to  families in the coming weeks.

Whole School Swimming Carnival

Date Saver - On Friday, 22 November we will have our whole school Swimming Carnival at Woolgoolga Pool.

Hannah Haworth
Leader of Sport

Parent Forum

Parent Forum AGM

Krispy Kreme Doughnut Fundraiser

Thank you to everyone who ordered Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.  A reminder that orders will be available for collection on Friday, 25th October from 3.00pm - 4.00pm in the Accessway.

All proceeds from this fundraiser will go toward purchasing new learning resources, enhancing school environments, and supporting school events.

Tea Towel & Tote Bag Fundraiser

As part of celebrating our 30 year anniversary, the Parent Forum and school staff have been working together on a project to create something for families to remember such a special year. 

In Term 2, each child had the opportunity to draw and sign a self portrait which has been turned into a design to print onto tea towels and tote bags. These items are now available to purchase via Flexischools until Sunday 3 November. Items will be available for collection on Monday 9th December and are an excellent idea for Christmas gifts for your child, family members and friends. Your child/ren will not only be able to see their own artwork in print, but also their friends, siblings and teachers!  A wonderful, useful keepsake for years to come. 

The company we have chosen to work with is Australian owned and eco-friendly, using high quality, long lasting GOTS certified organic cotton as well as 100% enviro certified printing inks.

With Christmas fast approaching this fundraiser not only helps to support your volunteer Parent Forum raise much needed funds for school and student-led projects, but also provides an opportunity to get some gift ideas ticked off your shopping list.

Once again we thank you for your ongoing support to help make our childrens' school so wonderful.

Yarrow Wade
Parent Forum President

Playgroup

Welcome back to Playgroup! 

Term 4 is always a very busy but joyful term at school. If you have a child starting Kindergarten in 2025, bringing them to Playgroup can help with the settling-in process for the new year.

The 2025 Kindergarten teachers will be making guest appearances as ‘Storytellers’ this term. 

See below a reminder of the Playgroup program:

 Playgroup Program

9:00am-10:00am

• Storytime
• Craft/ Music -in the Library (Casey Learning Centre) 

During this time we also encourage you to help your child choose a book to borrow from our Preschool bookcase located at the library desk inside.

10:00am-11:00am 

• BYO Fruit/snack
• Adventure Playground (outside Kinder rooms) and the Nature Playground is open for use again this term.

Parents and carers may take their child/children out to the grass area for fruit or a snack (please bring your own) and the children can play on the playground equipment outside Kindergarten. You are welcome to stay until 11:00am which is the school lunch break. 

Toilets- Parents/carers and children are required to use the toilets at the Hall. There is also a baby change table there.

Donation Box- Please feel free to make a donation to support the resourcing of our Playgroup.

Playgroup is not just for our children but also for the mums, dads, grandparents and carers to get to know each other. Our aim is to build community so please know that everyone is very welcome at St Francis Xavier School.

Helen Hunt
Playgroup Coordinator

Gold Token winners

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

Certificate Recipients

Congratulations to all recipients of Sporting Awards, Pen Licences and Certificates of Recognition presented at the Assembly in Week 10 of Term 3.  Keep up the great work everyone!

Free Webinars

Supporting healthy tech use as your child transitions into high school

This webinar explores the social pressures, peer influences, and technological challenges young people face as they transition into high school. It also offers practical strategies for navigating online friendships and connections to help minimise negative experiences.

It is suitable for parents and carers of children in upper primary school (ages 11 to 12) and Year 7.

Tuesday, 29 October, 12.30 pm
Thursday, 28 November, 12.30 pm

eSafety 101: how eSafety can help you

An overview of the eSafety Commissioner and supporting programs and resources for parents and carers, children, and young people.

It is suitable for parents and carers of children and young people in primary and secondary school.

Thursday, 24 October, 12.30pm
Wednesday, 4 December, 12.30pm