SFX Newsletter

Principal's Report

Saint Francis Xavier - Principal's Report

 

Term 1 - Week 1 

 

Dear Parents and Friends of St Francis Xavier,

 

Welcome to the 2025 school year and to the first edition of our school newsletter.

This newsletter is where you will find all you need to know about the wonderful things that are happening at St Francis Xavier Primary School. The newsletter will be issued fortnightly and will  issued on these dates in Term One:

  • Thursday 13th February

  • Thursday 27th February

  • Thursday 13th March

  • Thursday 27th March

Jubilee Year

In 2025, the Catholic Church will celebrate a Jubilee Year, a special time of grace, renewal, and pilgrimage that occurs every 25 years. Pope Francis has chosen the theme "Pilgrims of Hope," inviting Catholics worldwide to deepen their faith, seek reconciliation, and embrace acts of mercy. For our school community, this Jubilee is an opportunity to reflect on God’s love, strengthen our commitment to service, and foster a spirit of unity. Throughout the year, we will engage in prayer, learning, and special activities to help students and families experience the joy and hope at the heart of this sacred celebration.

 

Welcome to our New Staff Members

I would like to officially welcome our new staff members into the St Francis Xavier community. 

Ms Laura Jackson - Grade 1/2 Classroom Teacher

Ms Debbie Terry -    Grade 3/4 Classroom Teacher

Ms Sophie Hoyne - Speech Pathologist

 

We are extremely lucky to have such fantastic educators joining our team in 2025. 

 

Welcome to our New Students

We are also extremely fortunate to have so many new students beginning their school journey with us this year. This includes both students in our Prep class as well as two students in Grade 3. In no particular order, a big S.F.X welcome to;

 

The Prep class Heaven, Zade, Henry, Leo, Kai, Zachariah, Chase, Nella, Leo, Ravenna, Charlie, Luna, Pauleen, Nicholas, Nihara, Sonny, Santino, Lachy, Harley and Samuel. 

 

Ella and Jevin in Grade 3

 

Welcome Picnic 

On Friday, 28th February, we will be holding our annual Welcome Picnic at school. The event will run from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, and we hope as many families as possible can attend.

A jumping castle has been booked, along with an exciting new attraction that is sure to be a big hit—more details coming soon! It promises to be a fun night, and there will also be a sausage sizzle available. Families are encouraged to pack a picnic and take the opportunity to meet new members of our wonderful school community.

A notice with more details will be sent home in the coming weeks.

 

Assemblies in Term One

This term there will be 3 whole school assemblies. Assemblies will run from 2:30pm - 3:15pm on certain Thursday afternoons. 

 

The dates for Term One assemblies are;

-Thursday 20th February (Grade 5/6L will lead a short presentation)

-Thursday 6th March(Grade 3/4B will lead a short presentation)

-Thursday 3rd April (Grade 1/2T will lead a short presentation)

 

Drive Through Each Morning

It is essential that cars move smoothly through the drive-through each morning. With limited parking in the surrounding areas, this is how the majority of students arrive at school each day. When everyone follows the rules, the drive-through operates efficiently.

For families using the school drive-through to drop off students in the morning, please remember:

  • Parents must stay in the car at all times. Children need to exit the vehicle independently.
  • Students must exit the car on the passenger side only—never from the driver’s side. (If you have baby capsules on the passenger side that cannot be moved, you may not be able to use the drive-through.)
  • School bags should be inside the car with students, not in the boot. Children should not step onto the driveway to retrieve their bags.
  • Please drive as far forward as possible before stopping to let your child out.

When everyone follows these guidelines, the process will be smooth and safe for all involved.

 

Physical Education Classes

All Physical Education classes will take place on Wednesdays this year. Mr Brendan will be our PE teacher in 2025! The first PE lessons will be next week. Please send students to school in their PE uniform every Wednesday starting next week. 

 

Beauty Park/Running Clubs

As you may have noticed, sections of the Beauty Park track were removed over the holidays. The entire track is currently being widened and will be replaced with a new exposed aggregate concrete path. This is fantastic for our school, as the old track had many cracks and was in poor condition.

However, with large sections of the track currently under construction, we are unable to start Running Club for 2025 just yet. I am hopeful that within 3–4 weeks, only smaller sections will remain closed, allowing us to run around them.

Our goal is to hold two Running Club sessions each week, which will take place on Wednesdays and Fridays.

 

Audiri/Operoo

It is essential that all parents and carers have both the Audiri and Operoo apps installed on their phones this year. These are the two apps that S.F.X currently uses to communicate important alerts and announcements, as well as to manage digital permission slips. Once you have logged into these apps, please ensure that notifications remain switched on.

Operoo is also used to provide the school with relevant medical information for your child. Please ensure that this information is kept up to date and make changes as needed. When updating details, you must scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Verify" to save your changes.

If you need assistance with downloading or logging into your accounts, please contact the office, and we will be happy to help.

 

Fees/ Health Care Cards

School Fee statements will be sent home to all families over the coming weeks. 

 

The preferred method of payment for school fees is to set up a direct debit. If you would like to organise direct debit payments, please contact Claire or Kellie in the office and they will be able to set it up for you. It is also important that if you have a current Health Care Card, please provide a copy to the office as you will be eligible for the Camp/Excursion rebate as well as a fee reduction. 

 

Lunch Orders

Subway lunch orders will be available from next week. These are delivered to school on Wednesday for students who use the service. We will send out the log in and ordering details to all families later this week. 

 

Icy Poles

Each Friday afternoon, the grade 6 leaders will be selling icy poles at the Green Gates. They cost 50c each. Please avoid sending students to school with large notes ($10, $20 etc...) as we find it difficult to give change. 

 

Student Progress Meetings

Student Progress Meetings will be offered to families in Term One and Term Three this year. They will be spread across two days in Term One.

-Monday 3rd March from 3:30pm - 7:00pm

-Wednesday 5th March from 3:30pm 7:00pm

We use School Interviews Online to make bookings for these meeting. Information on how to make a booking will be provided to families closer to the dates. 

If your child has a PSG meeting with Ms Erin and your child's classroom teacher, you do not attend a meeting on these days as well. 

 

School Closure Days - 2025

The first school closure day of the year will be Wednesday 19th February. 

Please mark this date in your calendars and organise alternative supervision for your child/ren. 

 

The following dates have also been set for school closure days and the beginning/end of terms.

 

TERM ONE

School Closure Days;

-Wednesday 19th February   (Staff Professional Learning)

-Monday 10th March              (Labour Day Public Holiday)

 

Last Day of Term One. Thursday 4th April . Students finish at 3:15pm on this day. 

 

TERM TWO

First Day of Term Two. Tuesday 22nd April

 

School Closure Days;

-Friday 25th April      (ANZAC Day Public Holiday) 

-Monday 12th May   (Staff Professional Learning)

-Monday 10th June   (King's Birthday Public Holiday)

-Tuesday 11th June 

 

Last Day of Term Two. Friday 4th July. Students finish at 3:15pm on this day. 

 

TERM THREE

First Day of Term Three. Tuesday 22nd July

 

School Closure Days;

-Monday 21st July        (Staff Professional Learning)

-Friday 29th August     (Staff Professional Learning)

 

Last Day of Term Three. Friday 19th September. Students finish at 3:15pm on this day. 

 

TERM FOUR

First Day of Term Four. Monday 6th October

 

School Closure Days;

-Monday 3rd November 

-Tuesday 4th November (Melbourne Cup Public Holiday)

 

Last Day of Term Four. Tuesday 16th December. Students finish at 3:15pm on this day. 

 

Have a great weekend everyone.     

 

Steve Peart

School Principal