The Season of Lent

As we journey through the season of Lent, we are reminded of our baptismal promises and our call to proclaim our faith in both word and action. Over the past few years we have ensured that our community has many opportunities to deepen their understanding of faith and ultimately strengthen their personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Lent invites us to pause, reflect and renew our commitment to living the Gospel. It is a time for prayer, reflection and renewed focus on our relationship with God and with one another.

Last Sunday I had the privilege of attending a special Mass and reception to launch the International Eucharistic Congress Year of Prayer, celebrated by His Grace Archbishop Anthony Fisher at St Mary’s Cathedral. Sitting in the cathedral during that Mass, I felt a deep sense of the presence of Our Lord a moment that strengthened my own faith.

As many of you know, the Archdiocese of Sydney will host the International Eucharistic Congress in September 2028, a moment of great significance for the Catholic Church in Australia. For our students this may seem distant, however we will continue speaking with the children about this important event. The Congress is also expected to coincide with the first visit of Pope Leo to Australia, which will be a historic moment for our Catholic community.

Over the coming years Mr Criniti and I will share more information with the school community. Further information is also available through the parish.

Parents & Friends Meeting

On Monday evening I had the pleasure of meeting with more than 40 parents at our Parents and Friends meeting, the largest gathering since my return to St Francis Xavier.

During the meeting I shared future directions for the school, particularly around fundraising priorities and our ongoing commitment to extending every child in their learning.

I also explained how we are beginning to utilise artificial intelligence to assist teachers with analysing assessment data, supporting more effective teaching and learning across English and Mathematics.

Importantly, students themselves are not using AI, and as a school we continue to limit the use of devices for homework. If it were not for the requirements of NAPLAN in Year 3, our Year 2 and Year 3 students would not be using devices at all at SFX.

A question was raised about sharing assessment data with parents. Teachers assess more than 40 outcomes across each stage and across all Key Learning Areas, and it is not practical to share detailed assessment information for every outcome. However, as always, parents are encouraged to speak directly with their child’s teacher to discuss their child’s progress at any time.

Another question related to class sizes and the fact that some grades appear smaller than others. Quite simply, the demand for enrolments for Kindergarten 2023 was not there. Since 2020 K-4 classes have been at or close to capacity, and this has not impacted student achievement or the broader life of the school.

Recently several parents shared feedback from entrance examinations for a local Catholic high school. They noted that our students walked confidently into the exam and, more importantly, left with smiles on their faces. This reflects the strong partnership between school and families and the high expectations we hold for our students through our school Credo.

As previously stated our Inquiry and Review will be upon us soon. Six members of SCS staff visit the school for two days speaking to the entire community, Father Richard, staff, children and parents. If you would like to meet with the panel on Thursday 26 March 2026 please inform me via info@stfxashbury.catholic.edu.au. There will also be Term 1 parent surveys being released on Tuesday afternoon for parents to complete.

Catholic Schools Week

Our Catholic Schools Week celebrations have continued wonderfully, with over 130 prospective families attending our open days.

Yesterday our Year 6 students led the school in a beautiful prayer assembly. Congratulations to Mr Criniti and the students for organising such a thoughtful and reverent celebration.

During the assembly we also announced the Student Representative Council representatives for 2026, and we look forward to seeing the leadership these students will demonstrate throughout the year.

International Women’s Day

Today we enjoyed welcoming families as we celebrated International Women’s Day with a special prayer assembly, followed by merit awards and open classrooms. It was a superb way to celebrate the women and girls of our community. As always as a Catholic school every event is linked tour Catholic ethos. Congratulations to Miss Loupis and the teaching staff who contributed to the prayer service.

Thank you for your continued support of St Francis Xavier.

Have a wonderful weekend ahead.

Brian

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