Dear Parents,
This will be our final newsletter for 2020. It has been a very interesting year to say the least, but I
believe we have coped extremely well. Despite the restrictions on parent access and involvement this
year, I hope you have all still felt connected. I appreciate this year has been extremely difficult for
many of you, and I pray that things are improving and that 2021 will prove to be a better year for everyone.
Our stepping up day next Monday will provide our children with an opportunity to meet with their 2021 teachers and
classmates in their new rooms. It is always good to hold this special day as an ice-breaker for our students, to ease their
transition into their new class.
On Wednesday next week we will celebrate the graduation of our Year 6 children. As we say farewell to our current
school leaders, we will celebrate their achievements throughout their time at St Francis Xavier School and acknowledge
a number of children who will receive specific awards and scholarships. As we acknowledge the contributions of all of
these students, it would be remiss of us not to also acknowledge the contributions of their families, especially those who
will be leaving our school this year. I thank all of our Year 6 families for their support of our school and wish them
every blessing as they support their children through the next stage of their educational adventure.
Over the Christmas break and into the new year, we will be conducting substantial renovations to the Dean Redford
Wing. This is the current Year 5 and 6 building. The renovations which will not be concluded until well into February
will largely be made to the upstairs level. This will regrettably displace our Year 5 and 6 children for the start of next
year to the old hall and new hall respectively. Following completion of the renovations, the students will return to our
refurbished classrooms for the remainder of the year.
Miss Taylor Jarrett will be taking leave from her role as Indigenous Education Worker in 2021. I thank Taylor for her
work this year and wish her well for 2021. Taylor’s replacement will be announced early next year.
I thank you all for your patience this year and continued support
of our wonderful school. I look forward to a more collegial year
next year where we can again experience the rich community
spirit synonymous with our parish school. I pray that you will
all have a safe and enjoyable time with family, friends and
loved ones over the Christmas break. May the spirit of Christ
be with you as we celebrate the hope and promise gifted to us
in the birth of our Saviour.
Peace in Christ
Dan Gubby.
Principal
SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
Week 9 Term 4 Friday, 11th December 2020
ST FRANCIS XAVIER PRIMARY SCHOOL
38-50 Swift Street, Ballina NSW 2478
PO Box 1647, Ballina NSW 2478
Phone: 66 86 33 70
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.balplism.catholic.edu.au
Message from the Principal…...
Dear Parents,
Student Reports
Report cards will be available via the Parent Portal today, 11th December 2020. To access the Parent Portal,
please go to our school website. If you have any issues viewing your child’s report, please contact the school
office next week.
Merry Christmas
As our 2020 school year draws to a close I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of our students, staff
and families for helping to make 2020 such a special year. It has been a year like no other and everyone has
rallied together to ensure that our students were safe, supported and learning during the pandemic.
Our students have made us proud in so many ways both during the lockdown and here at school by adapting
maturely to the many changes we have endured. The staff have worked tirelessly this year and have managed
exceptionally through the online learning phase. They truly have earned this holiday! Finally, thank you to
you, the families of this special place. We have missed you and look forward to once again sharing school
events with our families in the future.
Thank you, Merry Christmas and peace and blessings for the
new year.
Regards and God Bless,
Matthew Ritchie
Assistant Principal
Parish Mass Times
SFX Ballina Parish
(max 92 people) Lennox Head Parish
(max 35 people)
6.00 pm Saturday Vigil Mass 5.00 pm Saturday Vigil Mass
9.00 am Sunday 7:30am Sunday
11.00 am Sunday
Assistant Principal News…...
Religious Education News
Christmas Mass Times
Christmas Eve Vigil Mass Christmas Day
5:30pm – St Francis Xavier Church, Ballina 7:30am – Holy Family Church, Lennox Head
6pm – Xavier Catholic College, Magis Centre
2 Redford Drive, Skennars Head
(with Children’s Liturgy)
9am – St Francis Xavier Church, Ballina
7:30pm - St Francis Xavier Church, Ballina 11am – St Francis Xavier Church, Ballina
8pm – Holy Family Church, Lennox Head
Registrations are now being taken – phone the Parish Administration Office on
66811 048 or email – [email protected] for your preferred Mass time.
Christmas Eve Family Mass 6:00 pm, Thursday 24 December 2020.
All Families are warmly welcomed to attend the Christmas Eve Family
Mass commencing at 6.00pm in the Magi’s Centre at Xavier Catholic
College, 2 Redford Drive, Skennars Head. With limitations at Mass still in
place, we kindly remind you that you MUST RING to book in your attendance.
We also recommend that you register as early as possible so as not to miss out.
To register, please call the Parish Office 66811048 or send an email to
[email protected] to book your attendance.
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary - 8th December
On the 8th of December we celebrate the solemnity of the The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin
Mary.
In 1854, Pope Pius IX's solemn declaration, "Ineffabilis Deus," clarified with finality the long-held belief of
the Church that Mary was conceived free from original sin.
Mary was granted this extraordinary privilege because of Her unique role in history as the Mother of God.
That is, She received the gift of salvation in Christ from the very moment of her conception.
All weekday Masses will be at 12.00 noon in SFX Church with a capacity of 92 people at each Mass,
including our weekend Masses. Registration is essential.
If you wish to attend a Mass, please contact the Parish Office on 66811 048 by 12 noon on
Fridays to register your name and contact details. You will be allocated a booking number,
please quote this upon arrival for Mass.
Even though Mary is unique in all humanity for being born
without sin, She is held up by the Church as a model for all
humanity in Her holiness and Her purity, in Her willingness to
accept the Plan of God for Her.
Every person is called to recognize and respond to God’s call,
to their own vocation, in order to carry out God’s plan for their
life and fulfill the mission prepared for them since before the
beginning of time.
Mary’s “Let it be done to me according to Thy Word,” in response of the Angel Gabriel’s greeting is the
response required of all Christians to God’s Plan.
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is a time to celebrate the great joy of God’s gift to humanity in
Mary, and to recognize with greater clarity, the truth that each and every human being has been created by
God to fulfill a particular mission that he and only he can fulfill.
Advent - The Third Candle
The third candle is pink and symbolizes joy. It is called the “Shepard’s
Candle,” and is pink because rose is a liturgical colour for joy. The third
Sunday of Advent is Gaudete Sunday and is meant to remind us of the joy
that the world experienced at the birth of Jesus, as well as the joy that the
faithful have reached the midpoint of Advent.
Kindergarten Liturgy - Love One Another
Last Friday Kindergarten celebrated a beautiful Liturgy based on ‘Love One Another’. At this Liturgy, Lottie
prayed a beautiful prayer of thanksgiving to thank God for the safe arrival of Mrs Darke’s new baby, Coco
Rose. It was a lovely way to introduce Coco to our class.
We wish you all a happy, safe and joy filled Christmas. May God’s blessings
be with you and your family.
God Bless,
Kerrily Jelfs
Leader of Catechesis
Kristie Coster
Leader of School Evangelisation
Canteen Roster – Term 4 – Week 10 Monday, 14th December to Wednesday, 16th December
Monday, 14th December HELP NEEDED
Tuesday, 15th December Melonia Llewellyn, HELP NEEDED
Wednesday, 16th December Natalie Hannah, HELP NEEDED
Canteen Roster – Term 1 – Week 2
2021 Monday, 1st February to Friday, 5th February
Monday, 1st February Aimee Mattinson, HELP NEEDED
Tuesday, 2nd February Nicole Graham, HELP NEEDED
Wednesday, 3rdDecember Louise Tyrell, HELP NEEDED
Thursday, 4th February Karen Kelly, Natalie Hannah
Friday, 5th February Sue Keough, HELP NEEDED
Tammy is looking for volunteers for the canteen, if you are able to
spare a couple of hours, between 9am and 11:30, once a month
please contact the school office on 66863370 or see Tammy in the
Canteen and just let her know what day suits you.
Canteen News
Qkr! App for
Canteen Lunch Orders
Please click on the link to view the
Qkr! “How to Guide”
Qkr! App Link
PLEASE NOTE Students are only able to order from the
Normal Menu - Monday to Friday.
There will be NO Friday Specials or
Sushi Days.
Orders to be made via the QKR App or orders to be
placed on a paper bag.
ALL orders to be placed by 8:55am.
Kinder to Year 2 Intensive Swimming
Infants Intensive Swimming started on Monday, 7th December and will
continue daily until Wednesday, 16th December (8 sessions).
Year 1 & Year 2: 9:30am - 10:30am
Kinder: 10:30am - 11:30am
Please ensure all belongings are clearly labelled with your child’s name. A reminder that if your child has a
season pass, they will be required to bring it to the pool for their swimming session.
St Francis Xavier Swimming Carnival
St Francis Xavier will be holding their annual Swimming Carnival at Ballina Memorial Pool on Monday 8th
February 2021. Nomination forms to enter in the competitive events were sent home this week. Competitive
Events include:
100m Freestyle, 50m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke, 50m Breaststroke & 50m Butterfly as well as the 200m
Individual Medley.
When considering nominating for the above events students and parents need to be aware that:
If students place 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the Jnr, 11 years or Snr Age Groups, they are expected to represent
St Francis Xavier at the Richmond Zone Swimming Carnival.
Those who nominate to swim must race in the events entered (i.e. no withdrawals or late entries on
the day).
Students in the 8 years, 9 years and 10 years category will
compete as a Junior (E.g. 50m Breastroke 8-year-olds
will compete against the 9 and 10-year-olds). The 50m
Freestyle is the only age event i.e. they compete against
students of the same age.
All events are timed finals, therefore, even if a child
places in their heat - there may be other children in other
heats with faster times.
Selections for the Zone relay teams are chosen from the fastest four times. Relays only have 2 age
divisions: JNR (8-10 years) and SNR (11-13 years).
Paddy Wilde
Sports Coordinator
Sports News
11th December to 4th February
Conrad Short Makaira Pignat
Yali Amit Saoirse Lockwood
Lottie Lubrano Ben Wallace
Quinn Campbell Jayden King
Rex Ruston Billy Flick
Lennox Hannah Kenzie Nararya
Ruby Balcombe Ethan Campbell
Taya Coates Alana McCarthy
Millar McElroy Tameika Wooldridge
Max Fisher Paris Kelly
Max Buchanan Mason Gibbs
Angus Schirmer Koa Barber
Samantha Turnbull Luca Maddalena
Yasmine Blyth James Morton
Honor Hodges Amahli Scott
Sienna Rohn Andee Blackler
Ruby Siviour Jack Kelly
Indiana Hughes Xavier Ritchie
Esther Currie Helena Druzynski
Zachery Hankin Teila Hanslow
Bella-Jaye Soelkner Charlie Short
Eli Yates Sofia Fahey
Alicia Ross Grace Fear
Liahn Chan-Gale Emmie Nesbitt
Matilda McDermott Mabel Hudson
Phoebe James Koah Matheson
Mica Pham Tate Creighton
Harrison Kelly Emma Patterson
Happy Birthday
TERM 4 - 2020
Week 10 Monday, 14th December Intensive Swimming – (K-2)
Tuesday, 15th December Intensive Swimming – (K-2)
Wednesday, 16th December Year 6 Graduation – 9am
Intensive Swimming – (K-2)
LAST DAY OF TERM 4
TERM 1 2021
Week 1 Wednesday, 27th January Staff Development Day
MAI Assessments - Years 1 to 6
Best Start Assessments - Kinder
Thursday, 28th January MAI Assessments Years - 1 to 6
Best Start Assessments - Kinder
Friday, 29th January MAI Assessments - Years 1 to 6
Best Start Assessments - Kinder
Week 2 Monday, 1st February Years 1 to 6 First Day Back
Best Start Assessments - Kinder
Tuesday, 2nd February Best Start Assessments - Kinder
Wednesday, 3rd February Kinder First Day Back
Dates to Remember
Year 6 Graduation Wednesday, 16th December – 9am
(All Year 6 Parents Welcome)
Last Day Term 4
Wednesday, 16th December
(Staff & Students)
NOTIFICATION OF EXTENDED LEAVE
Travel outside of the school vacation period is counted as an absence for statistical purposes. Please ensure
that you complete a Form A4 Notification Extended Leave Travel (available at the School Office). An
absence in this case will be recorded using the Code ‘A’ (Unjustified Leave).
In exceptional circumstances parents may complete a Form A1 Application for Extended Leave-Travel for
consideration, explaining why an absence for extended leave is in the best educational interest of the student.
The Principal may accept or decline this application.
Please note relevant travel documentation such as an e ticket or itinerary (in the case of non-flight bound
travel within Australia only) must be attached to these applications.
Students Leaving
As we have a number of prospective students on our wait list, parents of current students NOT intending to
return to St Francis Xavier Catholic School in 2021 are asked to notify the School in writing as soon as
possible.
We are currently in the process of planning our 2021classes and this information is essential.
SCHOOL FEES - 2020
Please note a credit has been applied to all School Fee accounts in relation to our
Extra Curricula Levy – the credit relates to Shows and the Combined Schools Day that
did not occur due to COVID19 this year.
__________________________________________________________________________
TERM 1 2021 IMPORTANT DATES
Wednesday, 27th January 2021 – Staff Development Day
Wednesday, 27th January to Friday, 29th January 2021 – Years 1 to 6 - MAI Testing
Wednesday, 27th January to Tuesday, 2nd February 2021 - Kinder Best Start Assessments
Monday, 1st February 2021 – Years 1 to 6 First Day Back
Wednesday, 3rd February 2021 – Kinder First Day Back
(Please notify the school office immediately if your child/children are not returning in 2021)
Parent Notices
Classroom Supplies Lists for 2021
Kinder Requirements for 2021
Below is a list of items we would appreciate you sending to school with your child on the first day.
A school bag with a sturdy zip. Big enough to fit a lunchbox, drink bottle, home reading folder, library
books, etc.
An art smock or old shirt (labelled with your child’s name)
A library bag (labelled with your child’s name) - the bag we sent home at the end of Transition is
suitable.
2 x boxes of tissues
Please note- we supply all stationery and books that are needed in the classroom.
Warm regards,
Kinder Teachers 2021
__________________________________________________________________________
Year 1 Requirements for 2021
For 2021, your child will need:
Labelled library bag
1 x Set of labelled headphones (for use with Chromebooks)
1 x Box of tissues
2 x Black whiteboard markers
4 x 35g Blu Glue sticks
Labelled lunchboxes, separate labelled fruit containers and a labelled water bottle.
.
* Please note that pencil cases and other stationary items are not required in Year 1.
Regards,
Mrs Sciascia, Mrs Niland & Mrs Loadsman
__________________________________________________________________________
Year 2 Requirements for 2021
Dear Parents/Guardians,
The following equipment is required for everyday classroom experiences. To ensure that we are organised
and ready to commence the year, we would appreciate it if the children bring these with them on their return
to school.
Please LABEL all items with names.
Books will be sent home in the first few weeks of Term 1 to be covered.
Requirements
● Library bag
● Medium sized pencil case containing:
- 4 x HB lead pencils
- Eraser
- Barrel sharpener
- Glue stick
- A pair of scissors
- Ruler
- Coloured pencils
- Highlighters
- Textas (optional)
(Please note that some of the above items may need to be replenished each term)
● A set of headphones or ear plugs for a laptop
● A box of tissues
● A water bottle
We are looking forward to working with you and your children in 2021. We wish all families a safe,
relaxing and holy Christmas season.
Kind regards,
Louise Ninness, Margaret Fitz-Bugden and Martin Fitzpatrick
Year 2 Teaching Team
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Year 3 Requirements for 2021
Dear Parents/Guardians,
The following equipment is required for everyday classroom experiences. To ensure that we are organised
and ready to commence the year, we would appreciate it if the children bring these with them on their return
to school. LABEL all items with names please.
Books will be sent home in the first few weeks of Term 1 to be covered in clear contact.
Requirements:
Library bag
3 x Glue sticks
Barrel sharpener
Scissors
4 x HB lead Pencil
Coloured pencils
Textas
30cm (with mm) Wooden Ruler
3 x Highlighters
Pencil case just large enough to hold supplies
2 x Easers
2 x Boxes of tissues
Kind regards,
Rob Cook and Sonya Lovett
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Year 4 Requirements for 2021
Dear Parents/Guardians,
In Year 4 the children will need to supply the following items at the start of the year to ensure that we are
ready for learning:
Library bag
Box of tissues
2 x twin pack of Blu Sticks (glue)
4 x black white board marker
A pair of scissors
A 30cm ruler
Coloured pencils
6 x lead pencils
Workable eraser
Sharpener
1 pack of playing cards
Headphones or earplugs for the computers
1 black fine artline marker
Warm regards,
Laurel Newton, Bronte Doolan & Kristie Coster __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Year 5 Requirements for 2021
Dear Parents/Guardians,
The following equipment is required for everyday classroom experiences. To ensure that we are organised
and ready to commence the year, we would appreciate it if the children bring these with them on their return
to school. Please LABEL all items with names.
Books will be sent home in the first few weeks of Term 1 to be covered.
Requirements
● Library bag
● Blue pens
● Black pens
● 4 x Glue sticks (1 per term)
● Barrel sharpener
● Scissors
● 8 x HB lead pencil (2 per term)
● Coloured pencils
● Ruler
● Highlighters
● 1 x medium pencil case
● Erasers
● 4 x Whiteboard markers
● 2 x Boxes of tissues
● Post-it notes
● Textas (optional)
● clear contact (doesn’t need to come to school, books will be sent home to be covered)
● Geometry set
We are looking forward to working with you and your children in 2021. We wish all families a safe,
relaxing and holy Christmas season.
Kind regards,
Chantelle Cotes, Georgia Morley and Abbie Beecher
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Year 6 Requirements for 2021
To ensure that we are organised and ready to commence the year, we would appreciate it if the children
bring these with them on their return to school. Please LABEL all items with names.
Pens – blue and red
Lead pencils
Coloured pencils
Box of tissues
Headphones
Mouse (optional)
Kind regards,
Chris Hosie & Katrina Miles
This year it has been wonderful to observe many students extending their reading by borrowing books of
various genres. The library collection is continually expanding with a variety of quality books.
There is no student borrowing of books over this long holiday break. Students can still
read eBooks via the school website. The Ballina library also has an extensive range of
children's books.
Happy holiday reading and bookshop browsing.
Denise Miller
Library News
Year 6 2020
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