Saint Francis Xavier - Principal's Report

Term 1 - Week 8

Dear Parents and Friends of St Francis Xavier,

Last night’s Welcome Picnic was a wonderful way to bring our school community together - thank you to all of our families who came along and made it such a special occasion. While the weather was a little chilly with plenty of cloud cover, we were fortunate to avoid wind, searing sun, and rain, making it a comfortable evening for everyone to enjoy. The atmosphere was fantastic, with a genuine sense of connection and community felt throughout the grounds.

A special thank you goes to our dedicated team of parent volunteers who coordinated and ran the Bake Stall - it was a great success and very much appreciated by all. We also extend our thanks to Bernie from Mama Melisse’ for her popular Hot Sauce stand, which added a unique and flavorful touch to the evening. The jumping castle, as always, was a big hit with our students, providing plenty of fun and laughter. Miss Erin and Miss Renee also went through a huge stack of tattoos - many of which were applied to our parents! Our school staff were, as always, incredible - stepping in wherever needed and ensuring the event ran smoothly from start to finish.

The biggest thank you, however, goes to the Sikh volunteers. Their generosity and spirit of service were truly inspiring, as they prepared 400 meals for our families and shared in the experience of special turban wrappings with many of our students and their families. The cross-cultural connection and sense of inclusion this created was incredibly meaningful and a highlight of the evening. If you get a chance, please visit their website to truly get an idea of the amazing community service they provide in our local area every single day.

https://sikhvolunteersaustralia.org/

Finally, for those already asking—yes, the dunking machine will be back next year! We know many of you will be looking forward to another opportunity to dunk your teachers once again.

Showcase of S.F.X Mathematics

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our Mathematics Leader, Miss Terri, for her outstanding work in representing our school at a regional gathering of mathematics leaders yesterday. Terri was invited to present to almost 100 colleagues, sharing insights into the introduction of Learning Walks in Mathematics classrooms at S.F.X, along with the successes and positive impact this initiative has had across our school.

Over the past year, Terri has worked closely with Mathematics advisors from MACS to implement Learning Walks and feedback sessions in our Grade 1–4 classrooms. This important work has supported ongoing professional growth among our teachers and strengthened the quality of mathematics teaching and learning for our students.

It is a testament to the dedication and collaborative efforts of both Terri and our classroom teachers that our school was asked to share this journey with others. We are incredibly proud of Terri for this achievement, and we also acknowledge the commitment of our teaching staff, who continue to work so diligently to create effective, engaging, and high-quality mathematical learning environments at SFX.

Medication forms for camp

As we look ahead to our upcoming school camps in Term 2, we would like to emphasise the importance of ensuring all Camp Medication Authority Forms are fully completed prior to students attending camp. These forms must be signed by a doctor in order for any medication to be administered during camp.

All camps are scheduled for Term 2 this year, and we are providing plenty of notice so families have time to organise the necessary paperwork. Our camp dates are as follows:

Grade 5/6 to Camp Rumbug: May 6th–8th
Grade 3/4 to Camp Manyung: June 25th–26th

For the Grade 5/6 Camp, all medication and completed forms must be handed into the school on either May 5th or May 6th (prior to departure).For the Grade 3/4 Camp, medication and forms must be submitted to the office on June 23rd or June 24th.

Please note that we are no longer able to accept medication on the morning of departure. This timeline is essential to allow staff adequate time to check and complete all medication administration records before leaving for camp. Managing this process on the morning of camp has proven too difficult and increases the risk of errors.

We strongly encourage families to book GP appointments well in advance to ensure all documentation is completed correctly and on time. Your support in this process helps us provide a safe and well-organised camp experience for all students.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Steve Peart

School Principal

John Paul College