Principal's Report
Saint Francis Xavier - Principal's Report
Term 3 - Week 2
Dear Parents and Friends of St Francis Xavier,
Welcome to Term Three. It was wonderful to welcome all our students back to school last Tuesday. They have returned to school and have already demonstrated how quickly they readjust to routine and all that is familiar about school and learning. It appears that they have all benefitted from their holiday after an extremely long Term Two.
Farewell to Father Chinua
Over the weekend, I received a phone call from Father Chinua, who shared the news that he will be moving to a new parish in sunny Queensland to take on the role of Parish Priest, beginning in September.
This was, of course, a very sad call to receive. Father Chinua has been a much-loved and integral part of both our parish and school communities for many years. His warm presence, deep faith, and unwavering support for our school have made a lasting impact. We have been truly fortunate to work alongside such an engaging, proactive, and pastoral leader—someone who genuinely values and nurtures the connection between parish and school life. In the coming weeks, we will ensure that Father Chinua is given a heartfelt and fitting farewell from our school community.
On a positive note, we are delighted to announce that Father Jude will be taking on the role of Parish Priest at St Francis Xavier from September. We look forward to officially welcoming him and celebrating his appointment with our school community in the weeks ahead.
Running Club
This morning we were thrilled to see the return of Running Club for the first time in 2025! After a long wait for the completion of the new walking track around Beauty Park, it was wonderful to finally hit the path again.
Despite the chilly start, the sun was shining and the atmosphere was full of energy and enthusiasm. A huge number of students, parents, younger siblings and staff turned up to join in, making it a fantastic community event to kick off the day.
A reminder that Running Club takes place every Thursday morning from 8:10am to 8:30am. All are welcome—come along and start your morning with a healthy burst of fun and fitness!
Year 5/6 Camp
On Wednesday last week, our Year 5/6 students and their super group of teachers boarded the bus, waved goodbye to parents and headed off down the highway to Sovereign Hill.
The campers had a brilliant trip where kindness, encouragement, bravery and teamwork were the order of the days away from school. I’ll let you look at the photos to see what a great time our students had and how many of them stepped out of their comfort zones to be there.
Spending two days in the costumed school at Sovereign Hill is a truly unforgettable and enriching experience for students. Immersed in the life of a child from the 1850s, our students stepped back in time to gain a deeper understanding of Australia’s gold rush era, by living and learning just as children did more than 170 years ago. Dressed in period clothing and following historical routines, they experienced firsthand the social expectations, school discipline, and daily life of the past. This unique form of experiential learning helps bring history to life in a way that textbooks never could—fostering curiosity, empathy, and a genuine connection to Australia’s heritage.
I would like to acknowledge what a huge responsibility it is to care for other people's children night and day for two nights and three days. I’d like to acknowledge and thank Lisa Johnson, Will Smith, Kim Ryan and Renee Verkerk for their care and support of our students. If you happen to catch one of these amazing people, please acknowledge and thank them for leaving their homes and families so that our senior students could enjoy this wonderful experience.
New Basketball Court and Ring
It took a week longer than expected and some extreme patience from our students, but the resurfacing of our basketball court and installation of our new height-adjustable basketball ring has been completed. It is wonderful to now have a basketball ring that we can lower to 8ft for our younger students, similar to what they use in domestic basketball competitions outside of school.
Assemblies for Term 3
There will be 3 school assemblies this term. As always, parents are most welcome to attend. Assembly commences at 2:30pm in the Red Centre.
Tuesday 12th August - 1/2L to present their learning
Tuesday 26th August - 5/6W to present their learning
Tuesday 16th September - Preps to present their learning
School Advisory Council Meeting tonight
I am extremely grateful for the members of our School Advisory Council, who represent the wider parent body and to support the leaders of St Francis Xavier to make wise and just decisions about the effective running of our school.
This group will meet tonight at 7.00pm in the staffroom.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Steve Peart
School Principal