Dear Parents & Friends of St Francis Xavier

As we approach the conclusion of another successful term for the children in our care

and reflect on the meaning of the Easter Triduum, I am reminded of my profound experience in the Holy Land. Some of you may recall that I was fortunate to participate in a pilgrimage through Palestine, Israel, Jordan, and Italy in April 2023.

This journey provided me with many faith-defining moments, particularly as we walked the Via Dolorosa—the Way of the Cross—tracing the very route our Lord took on the path to Calvary. It was a deeply moving experience that strengthened my faith and commitment as a believer in Jesus Christ and His Catholic Church. Sharing this pilgrimage with my principal colleagues and His Grace Archbishop Anthony was truly rewarding. Today at assembly, I was able to share with the children my experience and hopefully help them understand the history of our faith a little more.

Earlier today, the children participated in a commemoration of the events of Holy Week. It is my hope and prayer that, through today, they take to heart the understanding that God loves them unconditionally and will always be with them through life's challenges.

The end of Term 1 is a time for reflection, gratitude, and celebration. I give thanks for this wonderful community that God has called me to lead. Together, we have achieved much for the children this term. Our new Kindergarten and recently enrolled students have settled in seamlessly, becoming integral members of our school. Likewise, our new teachers have quickly become valuable contributors, complementing our already sector-leading teaching team. A heartfelt thank you to the entire St Francis Xavier team for their unwavering dedication to this community.

A warm welcome to our new school counsellor, Lara Hobieche, who joined us this term.

Lara has already made significant contributions to our school, and we are delighted to have her on the team.

We have also celebrated success in our additional sporting programs, with notable achievements at SCS representative sports, our Senior and Junior Cross Country events, and most recently, gymnastics. Additionally, our Robotics lessons for students from Kindergarten to Year 6 have been a standout highlight this term. Hearing the children eagerly share their ideas on improving their creations fills me with immense pride. As I often say to families, my goal is to ensure every child leaves our school confident in their abilities and secure in their place at St Francis Xavier.

I would like to thank you all our families who donated and bought tickets for the Easter Raffle. We have raised a total of $2267.00. This will go towards continued playground upgrades

Lastly, we cannot conclude Term 1 without remembering the joy and celebration of our 95th Anniversary Mass in February. It was a beautiful occasion to thank God for the Ursuline Charism and its indelible mark the sisters have left on the Catholic education at Ashbury, under the motto 'Soli Deo Gloria' - All for the Glory of God.

As we enter Holy Week, on behalf of the entire team, we wish you a blessed Easter and pray that the whole St Francis Xavier community experiences the joy of our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ.

Brian

Term 1 2025 Dates

Friday 11 April	Staff Development Day

Term 2

Monday 28 April	Staff Development Day
Tuesday 29 April	Students First Day of Term 2
Tuesday 6 May	Cross Country Championships
Friday 9 May	Mothers day Breakfast, Prayer Service and Stall
Wednesday 14th May	Sports Carnival at Campbell Oval
Thursday 3rd June	Last day Term 2 for students
Friday 4 July	Staff Development Day

School Calendar