Religious 

Education News

Reports - Religious Education

In 2025, all schools in Sydney Catholic Schools are in the process of rolling out and navigating a new Religious Education Curriculum in Kindergarten, Years 3, 4, 5 and 6. With Year 1 and 2 to be rolled out in 2026. This curriculum commenced with a trial in 2023 for Year 5 and has continued to be embedded and taught across these specific grades.

The Religious Education Curriculum contains five broad content strands, each containing content modules, for specific year groups. These are scoped out throughout the year to meet compliance requirements as well as aligning with the Liturgical calendar. Semester 1 reports in Kindergarten and Years 3-6 will grade according to the new curriculum and will consist of language that has been taught throughout the content of the unit. Year 1 and 2 Religious Education report grades and comments will differ as they continue to teach the former Religious Education curriculum.

The following units will be graded in your child’s Semester 1 report:

Superhero Day - Friday 30th May

St Francis Xavier will be having a Super Hero day on Friday 30th of May, to raise money for the Mother of Peace Primary School in Cambodia.

This mission is a project of the Ursuline sisters of the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia, Indonesia, Thailand and China, who are working together with the Catholic Prefecture of Battambang to build a new school - Mother of Peace Primary School in the village of Chrab Viel, Battambang, Cambodia.

With the support from our community, the Mother of Peace Primary School will offer the children of Chrab Viel a rich, engaging, and life-enhancing educational experience. Mother of Peace Primary School began with 35 Grade 1 children in October 2018 and will hopefully grow to be a two-stream school of 400- 450 children from Grade 1-6.

We look forward to working with our St Francis Xavier community to support this significant cause. Let us be heroes !

Mother of Peace Primary School

Mother’s Day 2025

When God Created Mothers

When the Good Lord was creating mothers, He was into His sixth day of "overtime" when the angel appeared and said. "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one."

And God said, "Have you read the specs on this order?" She has to be completely washable, but not plastic. Have 180 moveable parts...all replaceable. Run on black coffee and leftovers. Have a lap that disappears when she stands up. A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair. And six pairs of hands."

The angel shook her head slowly and said. "Six pairs of hands.... no way." It's not the hands that are causing me problems," God remarked, "it's the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have."

That's on the standard model?" asked the angel. God nodded.

One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, 'What are you kids doing in there?' when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and say. 'I understand and I love you' without so much as uttering a word."

God," said the angel touching his sleeve gently, "Get some rest tomorrow...."

I can't," said God, "I'm so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick...can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger...and can get a nine year old to stand under a shower."

The angel circled the model of a mother very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed. But tough!" said God excitedly. "You can imagine what this mother can do or endure. "Can it think? "Not only can it think, but it can reason and compromise," said the Creator. Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek.

There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told You that You were trying to put too much into this model." It's not a leak," said the Lord, "It's a tear." What's it for?" It's for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness, and pride."

You are a genius, " said the angel. The Lord was proud and rested.

May - Marian Month

The month of May is specifically dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus and can be traced back to the 17th century. At the foot of the Cross,  Jesus gave Mary the responsibility to care for all the followers of Jesus day in and day out without fail, interceding on our behalf for all our needs. Throughout May, special devotions are organised to recognise the role Mary played in the works of salvation with her Son, Jesus. The most common way of honouring Mary is through praying the Rosary, either at home or in parishes. It is also traditional to crown a statue of Mary (May Crowning) with flowers representing her beauty. Prayer corners can also be a focal point in your home, to gather and pray together.

During May, let us remember that Mary is not only Jesus’ mother but also everyone’s mother, reaching out to all of her children to protect them, comfort them and take care of them even during difficult times.

To honour Mary this month, we will be having before school Rosary sessions on Thursdays, which commenced this morning and will continue on: 

• 15th May 
• 22nd May 
• 29th May (and a whole school Rosary prayer service)

Ashfield Olympic Park - Paint and Praise