Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to the 2026 school year, and a very warm welcome to the new families joining us across our school community.

It has been heartening to see our Kindergarten children settle in so beautifully. The combination of our outstanding Kindergarten team, supportive families, dedicated Year 6 buddies, and our School Readiness Program has ensured that our newest learners have begun their school journey with confidence and joy. Our Year 1 – 6 students have also returned with great enthusiasm, and as I visit classrooms, I am delighted to see happy children engaged and eager to learn.

Staffing Updates

I would like to inform the community that Mrs Deb Gooch has made the decision to retire. Deb has served St Francis Xavier since 1998 in a variety of roles, and her commitment, warmth, and professionalism have made a lasting contribution to our school. She will be greatly missed, and we wish her every happiness in a very well-deserved retirement.

Mrs Rose Cantarella will continue to work with us in a casual teaching capacity as she enjoys time with her six beautiful granddaughters. We look forward to seeing Rose’s smiling face throughout the year.

Our new staff Miss Deeb, Mr Sukkar, Ms Economu, Mr Martin, Mrs Breen and Miss Ishak have settled into the team extremely well and are already living out our school mission.

We also warmly welcome Ms Jacinta Ibrahim, our new School Counsellor. Jacinta will be working at St Francis Xavier each Tuesday and Wednesday. If you would like to discuss school counselling support for your child, please contact me directly and I will be happy to speak with you.

Uniform

It has been wonderful to see students proudly wearing the latest additions to our school uniform. The new sports uniform reflects the high standards and pride of St Francis Xavier. I must admit I did not expect to see the new V-neck jumpers and sports jackets quite so soon but then again, who can predict Sydney weather!

Parent Partnerships

I have enclosed a copy of the Sydney Catholic Schools Parent Charter for your reference. While we enjoy overwhelmingly positive and respectful partnerships between home and school, I wish to remind families of the importance of maintaining respectful communication at all times.

As I explain at enrolment, St Francis Xavier is expertly led and managed, and you can trust that every child is known, supported, and taught well. We ask that all interactions with staff reflect our shared values of Respect, Compassion, Service, Stewardship, and Excellence, and that families are mindful we are unable to discuss another child with other families family.

A Community to Be Proud Of

We currently have 389 students enrolled, the highest enrolment in our school’s history, a testament to the excellent reputation of St Francis Xavier. Since January 2024, enrolments have increased by 10% in a highly competitive educational landscape. This growth is due entirely to the dedication and professionalism of our teaching and support staff.

As we prepare for census, we also noted that 46 of our 290 families work in the education sector, a powerful affirmation of the trust and confidence placed in our school.

Cubby House Grand Opening

Our new cubby house will have its grand opening at Monday’s Assembly. Thank you to the parents and families who supported fundraising efforts to make this wonderful addition possible .

School Disco & BBQ

Our much-loved Welcome Disco is fast approaching, and excitement is already building! I recently met with our Fundraising Committee, and it is full steam ahead. However, the disco can only go ahead with the generous support of our parent volunteers.

We are seeking assistance with:

Set-up and pack-up
BBQ duties
Soft drink and ice-cream stalls

This year, the disco will be held on the Primary Playground and will be free entry for all students. We would love to see you there on Friday 13 December, from 5:00pm –7:00pm.

If you are able to help in any capacity, please contact the school office for further details. We look forward to a great night for the children.

Magis 2033

Lastly at our Staff Development Day on Tuesday 27 January, our team joined colleagues from across Sydney Catholic Schools via video link to hear our Executive Director Danielle Cronin officially launch the new Sydney Catholic Schools strategy, Magis 2033.

This ambitious and hope-filled strategy has been shaped through extensive consultation with staff, students, clergy, and parents, reflecting a shared commitment to excellence, faith, and the flourishing of every child.

Throughout the day, many staff made strong and affirming connections between Magis 2033 and our own renewed St Francis Xavier mission, vision, values, and credo. The language of Magis calling us to “the more” resonates deeply with our shared purpose and the direction we are intentionally shaping together as a school community.

Please see the link below to learn more about Magis 2033 and the exciting journey ahead.

Magis 2033: A bold new direction for Catholic education in Sydney

In Serviam

Brian Anderson

Principal

Local News

Domremy