Saint Francis Xavier - Principal's Report

Term 4 - Week 2

Dear Parents and Friends of St Francis Xavier,

I would like to thank all families for their support and understanding with our student-free day yesterday. It was an extremely productive day for our staff, who worked collaboratively to gather evidence, reflect on our current practices and prepare for our 2027 External School Review, scheduled for Term 3 next year. This important process provides us with an opportunity to celebrate our achievements, identify areas for further growth and ensure we continue to provide the very best learning and wellbeing opportunities for every student at St Francis Xavier.

Promoting Respectful Online Behaviours

As our children continue to navigate an increasingly digital world, it is important that we, as parents and educators, remain aware of how they are using online platforms and communicating with one another. Various messenger and chat groups, online gaming platforms such as Roblox, and social media platforms such as TikTok and Snapchat (which no SFX students are old enough to access) can all present challenges for young people as they learn to navigate the online world. We have recently become aware of some instances within our school where online interactions have not reflected the respectful and inclusive behaviours we expect from our students at St Francis Xavier. It is a timely reminder that the values we promote at school must extend beyond the classroom and into every aspect of our children's lives, including their online interactions.

It is essential that we continue to reinforce with our children the importance of treating others with kindness and respect, thinking carefully before posting or sending messages, and understanding that words and actions online can have a significant impact on others. Students also need to understand that their digital footprint can be permanent, with messages, images and comments potentially being saved or shared long after they have been sent. I encourage all families to maintain an active presence in this space by having regular conversations with their children about their online activities, knowing which platforms and groups they are participating in, and setting clear expectations around appropriate behaviour. Next month, Kids Helpline will visit our school to facilitate a session for our Grade 5/6 students, supporting them to make safe, responsible and respectful choices online. By working together, we can help ensure our children understand that kindness, empathy and respect are just as important online as they are face to face.

Grade 3-6 Water Safety Day at PARC

On Friday 6th November, the Grade 3-6 students will be walking to PARC for their annual Water Safety/Water Fun day. Please keep an eye our for the permission form and also the swimming ability survey, which will need to be completed before students can attend.

Grade 5/6 students - 10:30am - 12:30pm
Grade 3/4 students - 12:30pm - 2:30pm

Late Arrivals

A reminder to all families about the importance of ensuring children arrive at school on time each morning. On Monday this week, we had 24 students arrive after 8:45 am, which is approaching one-fifth of our entire school!

Arriving on time allows students to settle into the classroom, connect with their classmates and teacher, and participate in important morning learning routines without feeling rushed or missing key instructions. We understand that unexpected delays can occasionally occur, but we ask all families to make punctuality a priority and ensure children are at school ready to begin their day on time. Thank you for your ongoing support in helping every child get the best possible start to their learning day.

Fee statements

Final school fee statements have recently been sent home to families. We kindly ask that all outstanding school fees be settled by the end of November. We understand that families can sometimes experience financial difficulties, and if you are having trouble meeting this deadline, please don’t hesitate to contact the school office to discuss your circumstances. We are always happy to work with families to find a suitable way forward.

School Policies and Procedures

Moving forward, each school newsletter will include a separate page highlighting a different school policy or procedure that may be helpful for families to be aware of. This will provide an opportunity to increase awareness of our school practices and ensure families have access to important information. This week, we will share our School First Aid Policy. A reminder that all school policies are available to view on our school website.

Upcoming School Closure Day

Just a reminder that Monday 2nd November is a school closure day at S.F.X. The following day, Tuesday 3rd November, is the Melbourne Cup Public Holiday. Students will return to school on the Wednesday.

Keeping Pope Leo XIV in Our Prayers

As a Catholic community, we keep Pope Leo in our thoughts and prayers as he recovers from his recent lung surgery. We pray that he is surrounded by the care and support he needs during this time and that he finds strength, comfort and healing in the days ahead. May we continue to remember Pope Leo in our prayers as he guides the Church with faith, compassion and hope.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Steve Peart

School Principal

SFX Policies & Procedures