Principal's News

Dear Parents & Carers of St Francis Xavier

As we reach the end of another busy and rewarding term, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the many wonderful experiences our students have enjoyed over the past ten weeks.

From celebrating the sacrament of First Holy Communion and our beautiful Crowning of Our Lady, to embracing the excitement of the World Cup through classroom learning, this term has been filled with opportunities for our children to grow in faith, learning and community. Our Athletics Carnival, Cross Country representation, Da Vinci Decathalon, excursions and Mother’s Day celebrations have all provided lasting memories and valuable learning experiences beyond the classroom.   

None of these events would be possible without the dedication and generosity of so many people. I extend my sincere thanks to our outstanding leadership team and teachers, whose commitment ensures every experience is purposeful and enriching, and to our exceptional support staff, who work tirelessly behind the scenes and alongside our students each day. Their care, professionalism and willingness to go above and beyond are greatly appreciated.

I would also like to thank the many parents and family members who generously volunteered their time to assist at these events. Your support strengthens the partnership between home and school and helps make St Francis Xavier such a special community.  

In writing of dedicated staff, I would like to share the news that Mrs Anne Fitzgerald has made the decision to retire at the end of this term.  Anne has taught at St Francis Xavier since 1993 and enjoyed a variety of roles in that time.  Most recently Anne supported Diverse Learners in the infant grades.  Anne was also a mentor to many of the staff when the first commenced teaching at St Francis Xavier including Mr Criniti, Mrs Pack, Mr Buck and Miss Huang.Her professionalism, warmth and compassion will be greatly missed and we wish her well as she enters this well deserved time of rest and relaxation.  

On behalf of the entire school community thank you Anne for all you have done!

Tomorrow our staff will gather for a Staff Development Day focused on wellbeing and spirituality. The day will be led by Mr Nicholas Criniti and Sr Leone and will conclude with Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral. Investing in the professional, spiritual and personal growth of our staff ultimately benefits every child in our care.   

As always, I ensure our Staff Development Days align with our local Catholic secondary schools wherever possible, helping to make family arrangements a little easier for parents with children across both primary and secondary settings.

Mrs Radano, our wonderful Canteen Manager, has shared an updated Canteen price list with families, which will take effect from the beginning of next term. As many of you will appreciate, wholesale food and supply costs continue to rise, and these adjustments ensure we can continue providing a high-quality canteen service for our students. 

Today you will also receive our Term 3 Overview, outlining the many exciting learning opportunities and events planned for the term ahead. At the beginning of next term, Mrs Scullion will also send a Parent Memo containing important reminders and information to assist with a smooth start to the new term.

During the holiday break, our school email account will be monitored intermittently. Only  emergencies will be responded to in the break. School will resume for students on Tuesday 21 July. We look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for another exciting term.

A reminder that we will celebrate Grandparents’ Day on Friday 24 July, the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus. This is always one of the highlights of our school calendar, and we look forward to welcoming as many grandparents and special visitors as possible to share this special celebration with us. Please continue to send in photos of the grandparents with the children. 

On behalf of all the staff at St Francis Xavier, thank you for your ongoing support throughout the term. I hope the coming two weeks provide an opportunity to rest, recharge and, most importantly, enjoy some quality time together as a family.

In Serviam,

Brian Anderson