message from the principal…...dear parents, student reports report cards will be available via the...

Dear Parents,

This will be our final newsletter for 2020. It has been a very interesting year to say the least, but I

believe we have coped extremely well. Despite the restrictions on parent access and involvement this

year, I hope you have all still felt connected. I appreciate this year has been extremely difficult for

many of you, and I pray that things are improving and that 2021 will prove to be a better year for everyone.

Our stepping up day next Monday will provide our children with an opportunity to meet with their 2021 teachers and

classmates in their new rooms. It is always good to hold this special day as an ice-breaker for our students, to ease their

transition into their new class.

On Wednesday next week we will celebrate the graduation of our Year 6 children. As we say farewell to our current

school leaders, we will celebrate their achievements throughout their time at St Francis Xavier School and acknowledge

a number of children who will receive specific awards and scholarships. As we acknowledge the contributions of all of

these students, it would be remiss of us not to also acknowledge the contributions of their families, especially those who

will be leaving our school this year. I thank all of our Year 6 families for their support of our school and wish them

every blessing as they support their children through the next stage of their educational adventure.

Over the Christmas break and into the new year, we will be conducting substantial renovations to the Dean Redford

Wing. This is the current Year 5 and 6 building. The renovations which will not be concluded until well into February

will largely be made to the upstairs level. This will regrettably displace our Year 5 and 6 children for the start of next

year to the old hall and new hall respectively. Following completion of the renovations, the students will return to our

refurbished classrooms for the remainder of the year.

Miss Taylor Jarrett will be taking leave from her role as Indigenous Education Worker in 2021. I thank Taylor for her

work this year and wish her well for 2021. Taylor’s replacement will be announced early next year.

I thank you all for your patience this year and continued support

of our wonderful school. I look forward to a more collegial year

next year where we can again experience the rich community

spirit synonymous with our parish school. I pray that you will

all have a safe and enjoyable time with family, friends and

loved ones over the Christmas break. May the spirit of Christ

be with you as we celebrate the hope and promise gifted to us

in the birth of our Saviour.

Peace in Christ

Dan Gubby.

Principal

SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

Week 9 Term 4 Friday, 11th December 2020

ST FRANCIS XAVIER PRIMARY SCHOOL

38-50 Swift Street, Ballina NSW 2478

PO Box 1647, Ballina NSW 2478

Phone: 66 86 33 70

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.balplism.catholic.edu.au

Message from the Principal…...

Dear Parents,

Student Reports

Report cards will be available via the Parent Portal today, 11th December 2020. To access the Parent Portal,

please go to our school website. If you have any issues viewing your child’s report, please contact the school

office next week.

Merry Christmas

As our 2020 school year draws to a close I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of our students, staff

and families for helping to make 2020 such a special year. It has been a year like no other and everyone has

rallied together to ensure that our students were safe, supported and learning during the pandemic.

Our students have made us proud in so many ways both during the lockdown and here at school by adapting

maturely to the many changes we have endured. The staff have worked tirelessly this year and have managed

exceptionally through the online learning phase. They truly have earned this holiday! Finally, thank you to

you, the families of this special place. We have missed you and look forward to once again sharing school

events with our families in the future.

Thank you, Merry Christmas and peace and blessings for the

new year.

Regards and God Bless,

Matthew Ritchie

Assistant Principal

Parish Mass Times

SFX Ballina Parish

(max 92 people) Lennox Head Parish

(max 35 people)

6.00 pm Saturday Vigil Mass 5.00 pm Saturday Vigil Mass

9.00 am Sunday 7:30am Sunday

11.00 am Sunday

Assistant Principal News…...

Religious Education News

Christmas Mass Times

Christmas Eve Vigil Mass Christmas Day

5:30pm – St Francis Xavier Church, Ballina 7:30am – Holy Family Church, Lennox Head

6pm – Xavier Catholic College, Magis Centre

2 Redford Drive, Skennars Head

(with Children’s Liturgy)

9am – St Francis Xavier Church, Ballina

7:30pm - St Francis Xavier Church, Ballina 11am – St Francis Xavier Church, Ballina

8pm – Holy Family Church, Lennox Head

Registrations are now being taken – phone the Parish Administration Office on

66811 048 or email – [email protected] for your preferred Mass time.

Christmas Eve Family Mass 6:00 pm, Thursday 24 December 2020.

All Families are warmly welcomed to attend the Christmas Eve Family

Mass commencing at 6.00pm in the Magi’s Centre at Xavier Catholic

College, 2 Redford Drive, Skennars Head. With limitations at Mass still in

place, we kindly remind you that you MUST RING to book in your attendance.

We also recommend that you register as early as possible so as not to miss out.

To register, please call the Parish Office 66811048 or send an email to

[email protected] to book your attendance.

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary - 8th December

On the 8th of December we celebrate the solemnity of the The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin

Mary.

In 1854, Pope Pius IX's solemn declaration, "Ineffabilis Deus," clarified with finality the long-held belief of

the Church that Mary was conceived free from original sin.

Mary was granted this extraordinary privilege because of Her unique role in history as the Mother of God.

That is, She received the gift of salvation in Christ from the very moment of her conception.

All weekday Masses will be at 12.00 noon in SFX Church with a capacity of 92 people at each Mass,

including our weekend Masses. Registration is essential.

If you wish to attend a Mass, please contact the Parish Office on 66811 048 by 12 noon on

Fridays to register your name and contact details. You will be allocated a booking number,

please quote this upon arrival for Mass.

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

Even though Mary is unique in all humanity for being born

without sin, She is held up by the Church as a model for all

humanity in Her holiness and Her purity, in Her willingness to

accept the Plan of God for Her.

Every person is called to recognize and respond to God’s call,

to their own vocation, in order to carry out God’s plan for their

life and fulfill the mission prepared for them since before the

beginning of time.

Mary’s “Let it be done to me according to Thy Word,” in response of the Angel Gabriel’s greeting is the

response required of all Christians to God’s Plan.

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is a time to celebrate the great joy of God’s gift to humanity in

Mary, and to recognize with greater clarity, the truth that each and every human being has been created by

God to fulfill a particular mission that he and only he can fulfill.

Advent - The Third Candle

The third candle is pink and symbolizes joy. It is called the “Shepard’s

Candle,” and is pink because rose is a liturgical colour for joy. The third

Sunday of Advent is Gaudete Sunday and is meant to remind us of the joy

that the world experienced at the birth of Jesus, as well as the joy that the

faithful have reached the midpoint of Advent.

Kindergarten Liturgy - Love One Another

Last Friday Kindergarten celebrated a beautiful Liturgy based on ‘Love One Another’. At this Liturgy, Lottie

prayed a beautiful prayer of thanksgiving to thank God for the safe arrival of Mrs Darke’s new baby, Coco

Rose. It was a lovely way to introduce Coco to our class.

We wish you all a happy, safe and joy filled Christmas. May God’s blessings

be with you and your family.

God Bless,

Kerrily Jelfs

Leader of Catechesis

Kristie Coster

Leader of School Evangelisation

Canteen Roster – Term 4 – Week 10 Monday, 14th December to Wednesday, 16th December

Monday, 14th December HELP NEEDED

Tuesday, 15th December Melonia Llewellyn, HELP NEEDED

Wednesday, 16th December Natalie Hannah, HELP NEEDED

Canteen Roster – Term 1 – Week 2

2021 Monday, 1st February to Friday, 5th February

Monday, 1st February Aimee Mattinson, HELP NEEDED

Tuesday, 2nd February Nicole Graham, HELP NEEDED

Wednesday, 3rdDecember Louise Tyrell, HELP NEEDED

Thursday, 4th February Karen Kelly, Natalie Hannah

Friday, 5th February Sue Keough, HELP NEEDED

Tammy is looking for volunteers for the canteen, if you are able to

spare a couple of hours, between 9am and 11:30, once a month

please contact the school office on 66863370 or see Tammy in the

Canteen and just let her know what day suits you.

Canteen News

Qkr! App for

Canteen Lunch Orders

Please click on the link to view the

Qkr! “How to Guide”

Qkr! App Link

PLEASE NOTE Students are only able to order from the

Normal Menu - Monday to Friday.

There will be NO Friday Specials or

Sushi Days.

Orders to be made via the QKR App or orders to be

placed on a paper bag.

ALL orders to be placed by 8:55am.

Kinder to Year 2 Intensive Swimming

Infants Intensive Swimming started on Monday, 7th December and will

continue daily until Wednesday, 16th December (8 sessions).

Year 1 & Year 2: 9:30am - 10:30am

Kinder: 10:30am - 11:30am

Please ensure all belongings are clearly labelled with your child’s name. A reminder that if your child has a

season pass, they will be required to bring it to the pool for their swimming session.

St Francis Xavier Swimming Carnival

St Francis Xavier will be holding their annual Swimming Carnival at Ballina Memorial Pool on Monday 8th

February 2021. Nomination forms to enter in the competitive events were sent home this week. Competitive

Events include:

100m Freestyle, 50m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke, 50m Breaststroke & 50m Butterfly as well as the 200m

Individual Medley.

When considering nominating for the above events students and parents need to be aware that:

If students place 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the Jnr, 11 years or Snr Age Groups, they are expected to represent

St Francis Xavier at the Richmond Zone Swimming Carnival.

Those who nominate to swim must race in the events entered (i.e. no withdrawals or late entries on

the day).

Students in the 8 years, 9 years and 10 years category will

compete as a Junior (E.g. 50m Breastroke 8-year-olds

will compete against the 9 and 10-year-olds). The 50m

Freestyle is the only age event i.e. they compete against

students of the same age.

All events are timed finals, therefore, even if a child

places in their heat - there may be other children in other

heats with faster times.

Selections for the Zone relay teams are chosen from the fastest four times. Relays only have 2 age

divisions: JNR (8-10 years) and SNR (11-13 years).

Paddy Wilde

Sports Coordinator

Sports News

11th December to 4th February

Conrad Short Makaira Pignat

Yali Amit Saoirse Lockwood

Lottie Lubrano Ben Wallace

Quinn Campbell Jayden King

Rex Ruston Billy Flick

Lennox Hannah Kenzie Nararya

Ruby Balcombe Ethan Campbell

Taya Coates Alana McCarthy

Millar McElroy Tameika Wooldridge

Max Fisher Paris Kelly

Max Buchanan Mason Gibbs

Angus Schirmer Koa Barber

Samantha Turnbull Luca Maddalena

Yasmine Blyth James Morton

Honor Hodges Amahli Scott

Sienna Rohn Andee Blackler

Ruby Siviour Jack Kelly

Indiana Hughes Xavier Ritchie

Esther Currie Helena Druzynski

Zachery Hankin Teila Hanslow

Bella-Jaye Soelkner Charlie Short

Eli Yates Sofia Fahey

Alicia Ross Grace Fear

Liahn Chan-Gale Emmie Nesbitt

Matilda McDermott Mabel Hudson

Phoebe James Koah Matheson

Mica Pham Tate Creighton

Harrison Kelly Emma Patterson

Happy Birthday

TERM 4 - 2020

Week 10 Monday, 14th December Intensive Swimming – (K-2)

Tuesday, 15th December Intensive Swimming – (K-2)

Wednesday, 16th December Year 6 Graduation – 9am

Intensive Swimming – (K-2)

LAST DAY OF TERM 4

TERM 1 2021

Week 1 Wednesday, 27th January Staff Development Day

MAI Assessments - Years 1 to 6

Best Start Assessments - Kinder

Thursday, 28th January MAI Assessments Years - 1 to 6


Friday, 29th January MAI Assessments - Years 1 to 6


Week 2 Monday, 1st February Years 1 to 6 First Day Back


Tuesday, 2nd February Best Start Assessments - Kinder

Wednesday, 3rd February Kinder First Day Back

Dates to Remember

Year 6 Graduation Wednesday, 16th December – 9am

(All Year 6 Parents Welcome)

Last Day Term 4

Wednesday, 16th December

(Staff & Students)

NOTIFICATION OF EXTENDED LEAVE

Travel outside of the school vacation period is counted as an absence for statistical purposes. Please ensure

that you complete a Form A4 Notification Extended Leave Travel (available at the School Office). An

absence in this case will be recorded using the Code ‘A’ (Unjustified Leave).

In exceptional circumstances parents may complete a Form A1 Application for Extended Leave-Travel for

consideration, explaining why an absence for extended leave is in the best educational interest of the student.

The Principal may accept or decline this application.

Please note relevant travel documentation such as an e ticket or itinerary (in the case of non-flight bound

travel within Australia only) must be attached to these applications.

Students Leaving

As we have a number of prospective students on our wait list, parents of current students NOT intending to

return to St Francis Xavier Catholic School in 2021 are asked to notify the School in writing as soon as

possible.

We are currently in the process of planning our 2021classes and this information is essential.

SCHOOL FEES - 2020

Please note a credit has been applied to all School Fee accounts in relation to our

Extra Curricula Levy – the credit relates to Shows and the Combined Schools Day that

did not occur due to COVID19 this year.

__________________________________________________________________________

TERM 1 2021 IMPORTANT DATES

Wednesday, 27th January 2021 – Staff Development Day

Wednesday, 27th January to Friday, 29th January 2021 – Years 1 to 6 - MAI Testing

Wednesday, 27th January to Tuesday, 2nd February 2021 - Kinder Best Start Assessments

Monday, 1st February 2021 – Years 1 to 6 First Day Back

Wednesday, 3rd February 2021 – Kinder First Day Back

(Please notify the school office immediately if your child/children are not returning in 2021)

Parent Notices

Classroom Supplies Lists for 2021

Kinder Requirements for 2021

Below is a list of items we would appreciate you sending to school with your child on the first day.

A school bag with a sturdy zip. Big enough to fit a lunchbox, drink bottle, home reading folder, library

books, etc.

An art smock or old shirt (labelled with your child’s name)

A library bag (labelled with your child’s name) - the bag we sent home at the end of Transition is

suitable.

2 x boxes of tissues

Please note- we supply all stationery and books that are needed in the classroom.

Warm regards,

Kinder Teachers 2021

__________________________________________________________________________

Year 1 Requirements for 2021

For 2021, your child will need:

Labelled library bag

1 x Set of labelled headphones (for use with Chromebooks)

1 x Box of tissues

2 x Black whiteboard markers

4 x 35g Blu Glue sticks

Labelled lunchboxes, separate labelled fruit containers and a labelled water bottle.

.

* Please note that pencil cases and other stationary items are not required in Year 1.

Regards,

Mrs Sciascia, Mrs Niland & Mrs Loadsman

__________________________________________________________________________


Dear Parents/Guardians,

The following equipment is required for everyday classroom experiences. To ensure that we are organised

and ready to commence the year, we would appreciate it if the children bring these with them on their return

to school.

Please LABEL all items with names.

Books will be sent home in the first few weeks of Term 1 to be covered.

Requirements

● Library bag

● Medium sized pencil case containing:

- 4 x HB lead pencils

- Eraser

- Barrel sharpener

- Glue stick

- A pair of scissors

- Ruler

- Coloured pencils

- Highlighters

- Textas (optional)

(Please note that some of the above items may need to be replenished each term)

● A set of headphones or ear plugs for a laptop

● A box of tissues

● A water bottle

We are looking forward to working with you and your children in 2021. We wish all families a safe,

relaxing and holy Christmas season.

Kind regards,

Louise Ninness, Margaret Fitz-Bugden and Martin Fitzpatrick

Year 2 Teaching Team

_______________________________________________________________________________________





to school. LABEL all items with names please.

Books will be sent home in the first few weeks of Term 1 to be covered in clear contact.

Requirements:

Library bag

3 x Glue sticks

Barrel sharpener

Scissors

4 x HB lead Pencil

Coloured pencils

Textas

30cm (with mm) Wooden Ruler

3 x Highlighters

Pencil case just large enough to hold supplies

2 x Easers

2 x Boxes of tissues

Kind regards,

Rob Cook and Sonya Lovett

_______________________________________________________________________________________



In Year 4 the children will need to supply the following items at the start of the year to ensure that we are

ready for learning:

Library bag

Box of tissues

2 x twin pack of Blu Sticks (glue)

4 x black white board marker

A pair of scissors

A 30cm ruler

Coloured pencils

6 x lead pencils

Workable eraser

Sharpener

1 pack of playing cards

Headphones or earplugs for the computers

1 black fine artline marker

Warm regards,

Laurel Newton, Bronte Doolan & Kristie Coster __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________





to school. Please LABEL all items with names.

Books will be sent home in the first few weeks of Term 1 to be covered.

Requirements

● Library bag

● Blue pens

● Black pens

● 4 x Glue sticks (1 per term)

● Barrel sharpener

● Scissors

● 8 x HB lead pencil (2 per term)

● Coloured pencils

● Ruler

● Highlighters

● 1 x medium pencil case

● Erasers

● 4 x Whiteboard markers

● 2 x Boxes of tissues

● Post-it notes

● Textas (optional)

● clear contact (doesn’t need to come to school, books will be sent home to be covered)

● Geometry set

We are looking forward to working with you and your children in 2021. We wish all families a safe,

relaxing and holy Christmas season.

Kind regards,

Chantelle Cotes, Georgia Morley and Abbie Beecher

_______________________________________________________________________________________


To ensure that we are organised and ready to commence the year, we would appreciate it if the children

bring these with them on their return to school. Please LABEL all items with names.

Pens – blue and red

Lead pencils

Coloured pencils

Box of tissues

Headphones

Mouse (optional)

Kind regards,

Chris Hosie & Katrina Miles

This year it has been wonderful to observe many students extending their reading by borrowing books of

various genres. The library collection is continually expanding with a variety of quality books.

There is no student borrowing of books over this long holiday break. Students can still

read eBooks via the school website. The Ballina library also has an extensive range of

children's books.

Happy holiday reading and bookshop browsing.

Denise Miller

Library News

Year 6 2020

message from the principal…...dear parents, student reports report cards will be available via the...

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