‘BE THE KINDNESS YOU WANT TO RECEIVE’

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Sunday 8 December, 2019

Gospel of Matthew 3: 1 - 12

‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand’.

It is with great sadness that I announce that I am leaving a school and community that I dearly love. After being a part of the St Francis Xavier community, firstly as a parent beginning in 1999 and then as a staff member beginning in 2009, I have a heavy heart.

I am moving to another school further out to pasture called St Paul the Apostle in Doreen. The school is very much like St Francis with roughly the same number of staff and students...just a little further out to drive.

I have worked at St Francis for 11 years in various roles from classroom teacher to leadership. I have loved every minute of my time at the school and have made significant friends.

I thank Phil Doherty, the man who lured me across from Montmorency South all those years ago. He is a generous and wonderful man and he taught me a great deal about leadership and has been my mentor ever since. I also thank Mark Workman for being a great Principal at St Francis who also allowed me to be the leader I am today.

To Nicholas Boyhan who has been my side kick this year that without his guidance and support I wouldn't be the person I am today. Nick is a magnificent man and I have missed him very much.

To the staff of St Francis Xavier, thank you. Here we have a terrific bunch of people who not only are your work colleagues but also become your family. They are giving and dynamic. Keep being you.

To the new kid in town, Philip Cachia whom I have known for only a short time but feel I have known him forever. Continue being you and continue to only make one change a day. You will take this school to places I am sure of that. You have been a terrific support mechanism and have a witty sense of humour. Thanks for being my principal and friend.

To Fr Terry and Fr Michael. Here I am lost for words as they are two unbelievably beautiful men who have been through thick and thin with me, yet taken me as I am…. a little crazy and loud at times, but they show unconditional love and support. I will miss you both like no other.

Finally to the St Francis Xavier students, parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles etc. It is you that help make this place what it is and will continue to do so. You put a smile on my face everyday at kiss and drop, hugs all round and the love you show is second to none. It is you that I will miss, especially the students. Lots of Love and sincere hugs

Adriana Bownds

GRADUATION

Our staff are busily preparing our Year Six students for their Graduation this year. The Graduation is on December 11 beginning at 5.30pm with dinner in the hall (Students and staff only) and Graduation Ceremony at 7pm. There is an after graduation event which will be held in the hall until 10pm. All parents of Year Six students are invited to attend. Please no siblings will be allowed to attend. Please make other arrangements for all siblings.

The Graduation Bears have arrived and will be distributed soon.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS EVENING

Our SFX Christmas Carols night will be held next Monday 9 December beginning at 5.30pm. This year we will hold the Carols evening on our school basketball court. The reason for this is that the oval can now no longer cater for certain chairs, such as deck chairs as they are not friendly to the surface of the oval. The surface can be either ripped or permanent dents are created from chairs. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

END OF YEAR WHOLE SCHOOL MASS

The End of Year Whole School Mass will be held in the Church on Thursday 12 December at 9.15am. All are welcome. At the Mass we will be announcing our School Captains for 2020.

END OF YEAR ASSEMBLY

All are welcome to the End of Year School Assembly on Thursday 12 December at 12.30pm in the Church. We will be farewelling our leaving staff, Year Six students and families leaving the school (Not Year Six families as they will be farewelled at the Graduation Ceremony). Please come along to our final assembly for 2019.

ST VINCENT de PAUL CHRISTMAS FOOD APPEAL

At this time of year stocks can become low for our friends at St Vinnies. Christmas becomes that little bit busier as families enjoy some quality time together and festivities a plentiful.

This will be our final collection for 2019 and lets make it a BONZA one to help through this very busy time of the year.

The Collection will be on Friday 13 December but we won't be having a casual clothes day. Let’s do this for the spirit of Christmas and giving.

Collection items as follows:

Year Five and Year Six

Tinned Vegetables or Soup

Pasta Sauce

Toilet Rolls.

Year Three and Year Four

Tinned Fish

Cereal

Tinned Fruit

Prep

Tea

Coffee

Peanut Butter

Year One and Year Two

Milo

Jam

Vegemite

Term Four

Monday 9 December - Whole School Christmas Carols night @5.30pm on the basketball courts

Wednesday 11 December - St Francis Xavier Graduation 7pm

Thursday 12 December - End of Year Whole School Mass 9.15pm

Thursday 12 December - End of Year Assembly 12.30pm in the Church

Friday 13 December - St Vinnies Christmas Food Appeal NO CASUAL CLOTHES

Monday 16 December - Mystery Tour for the Year Six students to Rome in Italy (happy flying)

Adriana Bownds

Religious Education Leader (REL)

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