Saint Francis Xavier - Principal's Report

Term 1 - Week 4

Dear Parents and Friends of St Francis Xavier,

Thank you all for following the COVIDSafe protocols that currently apply to our school. Your support and cooperation are greatly appreciated.

Today we received communication from Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools, indicating that the Victorian Government have announced today that existing COVIDsafe measures in schools will continue until the end of Term 1, including Rapid Antigen Testing.

Students should still have enough tests for next week at home. We anticipate being able to send another box home towards the end of next week. Please continue to test each Monday and Thursday before school, or whenever your child has symptoms.

We have also been informed that QR code check ins will no longer be required at school from the beginning of next week. Evidence of your vaccination status will still need to be provided when entering the school buildings however.

We are hopeful that early next term, operational advice may change which will allow us to start reinstating some of the things at school that we know build strong connections within our school community. We would love nothing more than to start welcoming back parents and families to things such as assemblies, classroom help and family nights at the school. Hopefully I have some positive news in regard to this to share in the very near future.

Running Club

One thing that I am pleased to announce is that Running Club will start up again on Wednesday 2nd March . It is a much loved S.F.X activity that engages a large number of students and their families every week, so we can't wait to have it back.

Running Club will take place every Wednesday morning on the Beauty Park walking track. For new families, this is the track which wraps around the park directly opposite the school. Running Club is completely optional to take part in and there is no expectation for students to take part.

Running Club is open to students, parents and siblings to take part in.
Running Club begins at 8:10am and concludes at 8:30am. At 8:30am, students use the school crossing to head back to school and wait for the bell. Staff will not be out before 8:10am, so please do not drop your child/ren at the park earlier than this time.
Students run/walk as many laps as they can for 20 minutes.
Miss Emma will count the laps that each child runs. These laps will be recorded by classroom teachers.
If families bring a dog, adults need to be walking around the track and holding the leash. Please do not let children run unaccompanied with their dog.
Prep families are strongly encouraged to walk the track with their child on the first day before leaving them, just so they have an opportunity to get used to the track and the expectations.
Running Club will be cancelled on any mornings that it is raining. We will endeavour to inform families via a SkoolBag message as early as possible.

It is important that families are aware that although there will always be two staff members supervising Running Club, we are not able to watch every child at every moment. There are definitely blind spots and places on the track where staff will not be able to see your child or what they are doing.

If you don't have confidence that your child is able to run/walk independently and may be a risk of running on the road or leaving the designated area, then you must stay with your child and run/walk with them and then walk them to the Green Gates at the end.

Grade 3/4 Camp

I am pleased to be able to confirm that Grade 3/4 camp will be able to proceed this year. After having to cancel so many camps over the past few years, it is a great relief that we are finally in a position to 'get camping' again.

The Grade 3/4 students will attend Camp Manyung for a one night camp from Tuesday 15th March - Wednesday 16th March. Information will be sent home with all Grade 3/4 students tomorrow.

School Term and Closure Dates in 2022

I can confirm the following Term dates and School Closure dates for St Francis Xavier Primary School in 2022.

Term Dates

Friday April 8th Last Day of Term 1 (Finish 3:15pm)

Tuesday April 26th First Day of Term 2

Friday June 24th Last Day of Term 2 (Finish 3:15pm)

Tuesday July 12th First Day of Term 3

Thursday September 15th Last Day of Term 3 (Finish 3:15pm)

Monday October 3rd First Day of Term 4

To Be Confirmed Last Day of Term 4

School Closure Days

Tuesday May 24th Staff Professional Learning

Monday June 11th Staff Professional Learning

Friday September 16th Staff Professional Learning

Tuesday November 1st Assessment and Reporting Day

School Advisory Group

The first meeting of our School Advisory Group (SAG) will be held on Thursday 10th March at 7:00 pm.

The following are some of the ways in which the School Advisory Group support the school and its leadership:

Promoting the school's Catholic ethos and culture
Articulating and enacting the school's vision and mission
Promoting Faith and development
Capital resource planning and maintenance
Implementing school policies
Supporting and communicating both school and parish matters
Giving advice on issues such as enrolments, school improvement plans and enrolment trends

Towards the end of this year, we will advertise in the newsletter when new positions become available to join the 2023 SAG .

Prep Enrolments 2023

We have had the first few enrolment forms for Prep in 2023 returned to school already.

If you know anyone who may be interested in enrolling at S.F.X, please encourage them to come for a tour or to phone the school office for more information.

If you have a child who will be ready to start at St Francis Xavier next year, please come and collect an enrolment form from the office if you have not done so already. We would love our siblings to be top of the list!

Have a brilliant weekend everyone.

Steve Peart

School Principal

Mothers Who Pray For Their Children