Principal's Report

Saint Francis Xavier - Principal's Report

Term 4 - Week 1

Dear Parents and Friends of St Francis Xavier,

Welcome to the first newsletter of the new term. It’s difficult and a little scary to believe that we have arrived at the final term of the school year. After the most beautiful weather on Monday, we have certainly had a reality check with cold, wet days since. Hopefully we see an improvement over the weekend and the sun has a more pronunced presence in Frankston during Week 2!

My Camino Experience

Thank you to everybody who has come and chatted with me this week about my experience late last term walking the last section of the Camino. It was quite simply an amazing experience that I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to complete.

Our group of 12 school Principals as well as our spiritual guide, Mr Ange, spent a night in Madrid before hopping onto the train and travelling to Sarria, the starting point of our walk. Over the next week, we walked the 115km journey from Sarria to Santiago De Compostela, which was both a profound and transformative experience.

The journey was not just a physical one, but a spiritual experience that left me with a deep sense of gratitude. The long hours of walking provided ample time for prayerful reflection. What made this pilgrimage truly extraordinary however was the opportunity to converse not just with colleagues, but especially strangers from around the world. These conversations, often spontaneous and rich with diversity, opened my heart to the stories, dreams, and struggles of people I would never have met otherwise. It was a reminder of the shared human experience and the beauty of our differences, all united by a common path and purpose. In those moments, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the connections forged, the lessons learned, and the newfound perspective gained on this remarkable journey.

At the end of the final leg, walking around the corner and catching sight of the throng of pilgrims gathered before the magnificent Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela is a huge buzz. The sight of fellow walkers, many of them very emotional, creates an overwhelming sense of unity and camaraderie. I would certainly recommend this walk to any of you who may be looking for a challenging yet extremely rewarding pilgrimage.

I can confirm that I finished each stage 'blister free', which was a big relief!

I would like to offer my sincere gratitude to Miss Marion for taking on the role of Acting Principal in my absence and also to the entire S.F.X staff for continuing to keep things ticking along during those last few weeks of Term Three.

Photos of our day in Madrid

Photos of various places and sites from the pilgrimage

Monash Sustainability Fair

Between 9:15am - 10:45am on Tuesday next week, 60 future teachers who are currently studying at Monash University are coming to our school to share their Sustainability Projects with our Grade Prep-4 students. We are very excited to welcome these students into our school. Students will spend time in the morning visiting various sustainability stalls and will have plenty of opportunities to ask questions and build on their understanding in this vitally important space.

Parents are welcome to attend if you would like to see some of the work that the Monash students have been working on.

Gaga Pit/Sandpit/Creative Play area

Although I was hoping it would be ready for the first day of this term, our new play space in the back corner of the school should be completed within the next week.

This year we have noticed that areas such as the basketball court and dodgeball court have been extremely popular play spaces. I am extremely hopeful that the new Gaga Pit will contribute towards easing the congestion in these busy spaces.

The sand pit will be modified and the surrounding area will be reconfigured. Feel free to come in and have a look during morning drop-off or afternoon pick-up.