Activities and Events
TEACHER'S AIDE APPRECIATION WEEK
The week commencing Monday 2nd September was Teacher's Aid Appreciation Week. We celebrated our incredible Education Assistants (EAs) and acknowledged the amazing work they do at our school with a special morning tea in the staffroom. Their dedication and endless support every day helps create a nurturing and engaging learning environment for our students.
We were also lucky to be joined for the morning by Regina Menz (Director) and Kate Kenny (Head of Employee Services) from the Armidale Catholic Schools Office. Regina and Kate have been travelling around our diocese with students from Notre Dame University promoting our wonderful schools.
ELISSA SIMMONDS - STAGE 3 PRESENTATION
Miss Elissa Simmonds visited Stage 3 last fortnight to share her inspirational journey of overcoming Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), a rare autoimmune disease that affects the nerves. Through her story, Miss Simmonds emphasised the importance of resilience, hope and perseverance when overcoming any obstacle. She encouraged the students to stay positive, that no goal is out of reach and that with the right mindset, they can achieve anything.
Students then spent the afternoon creating artwork with Miss Simmonds, Miss Maddy and Mr Hynch.
2024 DANCE EXTRAVAGANZA REHEARSAL
Rehearsals for our 2024 Dance Extravaganza are well underway and the students have been very enthusiastic learning their dances. This year’s theme is ‘Movie Night’ with the song selections coming straight from all our favourite movies.
This year St Francis Xavier’s have welcomed back past student and former staff member, Miss Lauren Grant as our dance choreographer.
Owner of local dance studio In Motion Dance, Miss Grant has 16 years of dancing experience. She is enjoying sharing her passion for dance with the students.
INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT)
Technology has become an essential tool in modern education and at St Francis Xavier’s, we have embraced this progression. Up-to-date technology such as Chromebooks, iPads, Smartboards, and educational software like Fluency Tutor and Literacy Planet, offer flexibility that enables our students to learn at their own pace.
Each child from Years 3 to 6 is assigned an individual Chromebook to enhance their learning within the 21st century classroom. These devices have a typical four year life cycle, meaning students in Year 3 are often provided with a brand new device. This is a huge privilege for our students and we take pride in being able to offer this service.
Infants students are also given the opportunity to use Chromebooks and iPads in class to reinforce their learning. Each class participates in rotations for Reading Groups during their Literacy learning block. They use these devices to access Reading Eggs and undertake a variety of fun educational activities.
Chromebooks and iPads empower students and teachers to engage with technology in a way that supplements learning outcomes. Teachers have been trained in the use of Google classroom and other aspects of the Google suite. The students use the Google suite to create slideshow and video presentations, graphs and surveys via Google Forms. On completion of an assigned task through Google classroom, students are prompted to complete an ‘exit ticket’ and provide feedback regarding that task. Teachers are then able to tailor classroom tasks based on the feedback received.
Introducing students to different technologies also helps prepare them for the future by equipping them with digital skills essential for High School and beyond.
YUGA-LI YULU-GI (DANCE TO CELEBRATE) DANCE GROUP REHEARSAL
The countdown is almost over for the seven Stage 3 students who will be performing at the Catholic Schools NSW Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Education Conference in Tamworth in October. The dancers had their final full dress rehearsal last week in Moree as a group, together with students from Diocesan schools in Moree, Walgett and Wee Waa. We wish the group best of luck for their performance.
Thank you to Miss Maddy, Mr Hynch and Mrs Quirk who accompanied the students to Moree.
GARDEN CLUB NEWS - SEED POTATOES
This term, Mrs Foster made the Garden Club’s first purchase using funds raised in our Term 1 Bulb Drive Fundraiser.
The certified seed potatoes were chitted (placed in egg cartons and left to grow new sprouts) and have now been transferred to ‘grow bags’. You may have noticed the grey ‘grow bags’ outside some of our classrooms? Each class has taken responsibility for watering and hilling (placing more soil on top so the potatoes are not exposed) their own bag.
This entire process takes approximately 3 - 4 months. The potatoes will be ready for harvest early next term.
KINDERGARTEN TRANSITION UPDATE
Our 2025 Kindergarten children have had their first full day of transition today! With the whole school at The Crossing Theatre for Dance Extravaganza practice, the children were given full access to the Kindergarten seats to eat their morning tea and lunch as well as play on the equipment and Multipurpose Court with smiles on their faces.
They completed some fun hands-on learning experiences in the Library including counting sea creatures in their workbook and colouring in their very own jellyfish to take home.
The day was filled with laughter, creativity, and discovery for our incoming Kindergarten students. Next week's transition day will be the last one for this term with three sessions taking place from Week 2 next term.
