St Francis Xavier’s Primary School, Narrabri

Activities and Events

SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING DISCOVERY DAY

Last Wednesday our Year 6 students had a fantastic day at the North West Region Science and Engineering Discovery Day hosted by The University of Newcastle in conjunction with The Rotary Club of Narrabri. 

 

Once they arrived at The Crossing Theatre, the students were divided into groups and tasked with completing two of eight different activities. While the overall outcome for each activity was the same, each group was given different parameters to follow.

Some scenarios the students had to complete were;

  • Power A City - using cables to connect lights on a power board and make at least 25 lights turn on. The cables each had a different dollar value so the aim was to power the lights for the lowest cost.
  • Fly A Plane - beginning with the design phase followed by construction, they had to make an aeroplane out of wood and then place it in a launcher to make it fly. They had to adjust the height and angle of the launcher to make the plane hit three different targets. 
  • Fish Trap - to place obstacles on a board that would allow for smaller marbles to pass through however trap the bigger ones. 
  • Build A Bridge - to build a bridge using cardboard, paddle pop sticks, straws and tape to connect a road together. The bridge had to withstand a trolley running over it while carrying increased amounts of weight. 
  • Spy Code - using a secret code of colours to pass on a message to the other team.  
  • Earthquake - to build a tower out of eight straws that needed to be 35cm high. To test the tower’s durability, it was placed in an earthquake machine to determine if it could stay together as different weights were added. 
  • Windmill- using cardboard and skewers, they had to design a windmill. The windmill was then placed in front of a fan to see which windmill could spin the fastest. 

Well done to all the students for their hard work and ingenious ideas! They placed third overall at the end of the day. 

 

Thank you Mrs Rhonda McInnes, Mr Kerr and Miss Hamilton for accompanying the students.

 

 

Staff Development Day

Earlier this term our Leadership Team attended a CLARITY Planning Workshop centered around the work of Dr Lyn Sharratt, author of CLARITY: What Matters MOST in Learning, Teaching and Leading. This book illustrates how system and school leaders must come together to boost student achievement. 

 

 

Yesterday our staff participated in a professional development day building on Dr Sharratt’s CLARITY framework and focusing on our ability to know our students and how to effectively teach them. 

 

Utilising Dr Sharratt's online learning portal, the CLARITY Learning Suite, throughout 2024 we will be focusing on what Dr Sharratt calls 'The Assessment Waterfall'. This includes refining peer and self assessment practices, setting clear learning intentions and success criteria as well as providing effective feedback.

 

At St Francis Xavier’s we are dedicated to enhancing teaching and learning through the implementation of Dr Sharratt's CLARITY framework. 

 

National Reconciliation Week

 

Our students took time last week to recognise National Reconciliation Week. This is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. The theme for National Reconciliation Week in 2024 is Now More Than Ever. This theme reminds us that now more than ever we need to understand our history and have respect for each other. Now more than ever, we need reconciliation.

 

We would like to thank our Aboriginal Education Assistants, Miss Maddy and Mr Hynch for organising last week’s National Reconciliation Week lessons. 

 

 

Narrabri Arts Eisteddfod - Week 2

 

We participated in the Group Speech section of the Eisteddfod for the Infants, Junior Primary and Senior Primary categories. 

 

Our Year 2 students recited two poems - I Opened A Book by Julia Donaldson and The Crocodile by Gareth Lancaster. The adjudicators commented on their delightful tone and excellent harmony to bring these pieces to life, awarding the students first place. 

 

Stage 2 received third place for their performance of the whimsical poem The Triantiwontigongolope by C J Dennis as well as The ABC by Spike Mulligan. They spoke in unison pausing for suspense as they told the story of Triantiwontigongolope and the shenanigans of the alphabet. 

 

A remarkable performance by Stage 3 reciting Don Bradman by Dulcie Meddows and Sister Stephanie and the Gang by Doug McLeod. Their hard work and preparation  resulted in them being awarded first place. 

 

Two students from each year group from Year 3 to 6 were selected to participate in the Bible Reading section. They practiced with Mrs Capp in the lead up to the Eisteddfod. Well done to everyone for their performance. The students in Year 3 received first and third place, both Year 4 students were awarded Highly Commended, the Year 5 students received first and second place and finally the Year 6 students received second and third place. 

 

A huge congratulations to everyone who participated at the Narrabri Arts Eisteddfod either as part of the school or an individual entry. We love to see our students getting involved in community events. 

 

Diocesan Yuga-li Yulu-gi Western Cluster Dance Group

 

Last week, the seven Stage 3 students who are members of the Diocesan Yuga-li Yulu-gi Western Cluster Dance Group, attended their second dance rehearsal. The students travelled to Walgett to meet with the other group members from Diocesan schools in Moree, Walgett and Wee Waa. The dancers are preparing to perform at the Catholic Schools NSW Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Education Conference in Tamworth in October. 

 

 

Catholic Schools Week Mass

 

Catholic Schools Week was celebrated across the Diocese last week. Each year we take the opportunity to reflect on everything great that a catholic education has to offer. The theme for this year was 'Pray with Hope'. Pray with Hope focuses on giving our students a hope-filled future. 

 

To celebrate Catholic Schools Week our School Captains, Vice Captains and Prefects attended the Deanery Mass held at St Philomena's. Mr Frend and Mrs Rhonda McInnes accompanied Isabela Campbell, Angus Irwin, Ebony Lehmann, Zoe Walters and Harrison Tout to Moree.