Principal's News

Dear Parents & Carers,

I'm thrilled to share some updates and express my sincere gratitude for your continued partnership. Your feedback is invaluable in shaping our school community.

Parent Survey Success!

A heartfelt thank you to the 68 families who participated in our recent parent survey. This outstanding level of engagement is truly appreciated and reflects our strong community spirit. A clear trend emerged from your responses: a strong desire for new playground equipment. We're taking this feedback and will explore fundraising opportunities to make this a reality.

Moving forward, these surveys will become a regular part of our school calendar, ensuring every family has a voice. While we strive to address your suggestions, please understand that with over 377 students, we may not be able to accommodate every individual request. These surveys are designed to identify broader trends and guide our ongoing efforts to improve and enhance our school. We will discuss survey insights further at our Term 2 Parents & Friends meeting.  

Kindergarten 2026 - Growing Demand

We are currently navigating a significant number of enrolment interviews, with over 95

 applications for Kindergarten 2026. Notably, we've seen a surge in sibling enrolment and applications from over 55 new families.

As a strong believer in parent choice within Catholic education, I am exploring introducing a third Kindergarten class for 2026 only. This decision aims to ensure fairness and equity for all families, including those residing outside our parish boundary, who have demonstrated a strong desire to join our school community.  Many  current families do not live within the parish boundary but managed to secure a place for their child as there was always additional places.  The overwhelming interest in St Francis Xavier is a testament to the dedication and excellence of our staff.

For sibling families who have yet to apply, please submit your application via Compass by Wednesday, April 1st.

Insights from Kindergarten Interviews

During our Kindergarten family interviews, we've gained valuable insights into why families choose St Francis Xavier. Common themes include our trusted leadership, shared community values, strong NAPLAN performance, and the welcoming "vibe" experienced during school visits, particularly through our staff and Year 6 tour guides. Parent recommendations also play a significant role in our growing popularity.

Feedback from existing families highlights our improved communication, with the weekly memo being particularly well-received. Regarding an additional area, I want to clarify our stance on "kiss and drop." While other schools may offer this service, St Francis Xavier does not. Our priority is the safety and well-being of our students, and our current drop-off procedures are the most effective.  If you choose a school based on the availability of kiss and drop, St Francis Xavier is not the school for you!  

On another note, remind your parents about NSW parking and road rules.  Many grandparents are parking illegally in the cul-de-sac and blocking the sisters' driveways.  Some have tried to park on the grass verge.  The police and parking rangers will visit the school at 3.00pm in the next two weeks.  Also, please ensure you do not park across any neighbour's driveways at our Holy Week Liturgy next week. 

Exciting Extracurricular Opportunities

We are thrilled to announce the launch of Robotics and Minecraft lunchtime clubs in Term 2 ! These new initiatives will build upon the skills students develop in their weekly robotics lessons, providing engaging and enriching opportunities.

St Francis Xavier offers a diverse range of recess and lunchtime extracurricular clubs. For before and after school care, please contact SCS OOSH. Due to our increasing student population, we seek to expand after-school care places. Please note that we will not facilitate before or after-school clubs as my staff have their own family commitments in looking after their children, grandchildren, and, increasingly, their elderly parents. My teachers also plan, prepare, and mark lessons and exercises after hours and that is where I want them to spend their time..  However, we are always open to suggestions for further enriching our lunchtime and recess activities.

Holy Week and Easter

Our Easter Egg raffle will be held on Thursday, April 10th, during the morning assembly.

 We welcome any additional raffle prize donations. Kindergarten mums who can assist with wrapping prizes next Tuesday morning, please contact the school office.

We invite you to join us for our Holy Week commemoration in the church at 1 pm on the same day. Following this, the school will be closed for the Easter fortnight.

Our staff will participate in a Spirituality Day at St Joseph's Kincumber on Friday, April 11th, led by our former principal, Sr. Patty Verosa. This day will deepen their understanding of our Ursuline  Charsim and allow all staff to further develop their Catholic faith.

Staff will return on Monday, April 28th, for a staff development day focused on the new syllabi. Students will return on Tuesday, April 29th, and can wear either summer or winter uniforms. A final date for the uniform changeover will be announced later.

Thank you for your ongoing support. We look forward to a fantastic Term 2.

Brian