From the Principal…..

Whilst it was regrettable to have to postpone the Athletics Carnival, it was clearly a necessary decision. The

prospects of holding the carnival on Monday as our back-up date aren’t looking too promising at this stage. I

will send an email out to all parents on Sunday evening to advise if the carnival will not go ahead. As we will

need to prepare a team for the Zone Athletics Carnival on Wednesday of week one next term, in the event that

we cannot hold the carnival on Monday, we will run our most competitive and / or interested children off for

all races at the first available opportunity. If the weather doesn’t allow for this, we will need to compile our

teams based on previous results.

It was lovely to see so many of our Kindergarten parents at the Teddy Bears’ Picnic on Wednesday afternoon.

Such events create wonderful memories for our children and create in them a real sense of connection with

our school community. Understandably it is not always possible for parents to attend such events, but where

possible, I encourage you to come along. At our most recent Diocesan Staff Spiritual Formation day, Proclaim

Staff 2019, we were introduced to a song that has become somewhat of a theme song for what we stand for as

a Catholic Education community, All Are Welcome. I happily subscribe to this belief and encourage all of our

school families to engage wherever possible in the life of our school. We are not a system – we are a

community and all the stronger for your involvement.

Speaking of which, this Saturday night we will be celebrating our Family Mass for the term. Although there

is a particular focus on celebrating with our Stage 1 families, “All are welcome!” Please come along to share

in the celebration of the Eucharist with us and join us for dinner at Cherry Street Bowls Club afterwards.

Last week I asked for expressions of interest to explore how we could best celebrate our multiculturalism as

a school community. Thank you to those who have already replied with interest in supporting this. If you

would like to be involved in a celebration to share your cultural background, I would love to hear from you.

As we now come to our final week for the semester, I hope you take some time to celebrate with your children

their growth and wonderful successes so far this year.

Have a great week,

Dan Gubby

PRINCIPAL

St Francis Xavier Primary School

38-50 Swift Street, Ballina NSW 2478

Phone: (02) 6686 3370

Email: balp@lism.catholic.edu.au

Website: http://moodle.balplism.catholic.edu.au/

SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

Week 9 Term 2 Friday, 28th June 2019

From the Assistant Principal……

This week I would like to acknowledge the wonderful work of our additional needs staff at St Francis Xavier

Primary. We have a team of very experienced teachers and teacher aides who are achieving exceptional results

with our students that require a little extra support with their literacy and numeracy. Well done ladies, you

are doing a fantastic job!

Our school has a variety of programs running across different year levels but today I would like to showcase

our STAR Reading Program. STAR is an intensive small group

reading program run with our Year 1 students. The first intake

of students are finishing up the program this week and all of these

students have achieved outstanding growth with their reading

this semester. On average our STAR Reading students recorded

growth of at least ten reading levels or over one year of learning

in just five months. Our super STARs are pictured.

Finally, if you have not already done so, a reminder to please

book a parent-teacher interview this weekend for the interviews

next week via the Parent Portal. Interviews will be on Monday,

Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and, due to events occurring

in the new hall, the interviews are now going to be held in the

old hall for Kinder to Year 2 and in the library for Years 3 to 6.

Regards and God Bless,

Matthew Ritchie

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

DATES TO REMEMBER

Please note – Newly added events or date changes will be highlighted in blue.

TERM 2 - 2019

Week 10 Monday, 1st July CANTEEN CLOSED

SFX Athletics Carnival

Parent Teacher Interviews - 3:30 to 6:30pm

K to 2 in the Old Hall

Year 3 to 6 in the Library

Tuesday, 2nd July Parent Teacher Interviews - 3:30 to 6:30pm

K to 2 in the Old Hall

Year 3 to 6 in the Library

Whole School Japanese Festival

Wednesday, 3rd July Parent Teacher Interviews - 3:30 to 6:30pm

K to 2 in the Old Hall

Year 3 to 6 in the Library

Ben Kennedy Challenge-Year 3 to 6

Friday, 5th July Last Day of Term

NO ASSEMBLY

TERM 3 - 2019

Week 1 Monday, 22nd July CANTEEN CLOSED

First Day Term 3

Tuesday, 23rd July Proclaim Lismore ACCENDERE-Year 4

Wednesday, 24th July Richmond Zone Athletics

Week 2 Monday, 29th July CANTEEN CLOSED

Wednesday, 31st July Reconciliation Parent Meeting – 6pm

Thursday, 1st August Crowley Visit – 3H

Friday, 2nd August NAIDOC Liturgy - 9am

Week 3 Monday, 5th August CANTEEN CLOSED

Thursday, 8th August Year 4E Class Reconciliation

Friday, 9th August Whole School Mass – 12 noon

Week 4 Monday, 12th August CANTEEN CLOSED

Tuesday, 13th August Brainstorms Show- The Human Race – Kinder to Year 6

Thursday, 15th August Crowley Visit - KB

Week 5 Monday, 19th August CANTEEN CLOSED

Thursday, 22nd August Year 4F Class Reconciliation

Friday, 23rd August Diocesan Athletics Carnival

Whole School Mass – 12 noon

Week 6 Monday, 26th August CANTEEN CLOSED

Tuesday, 27th August Choir Eisteddfod, Lismore

Wednesday, 28th August Sacrament of Reconciliation - St Francis Xavier Church,

Ballina – 6pm

Wednesday, 28th August Reconciliation Reflection Morning – 9 to 11am

Thursday, 29th August Crowley Visit 4F

Friday, 30th August Kinder and Year 3 Eisteddfod, Lismore

Saturday, 31st August Family Mass Stage 3 – 6pm

Weekend Mass Times

Feast of The Sacred Heart of Jesus- Friday 28th June

Happy Feast Day to Sr Kathryn Sweeney rsj!

Stage 1 Family Mass- Saturday, 29th June 6pm

Thank you to those families who have responded to our invitation

to Family Mass this Saturday night at 6 pm. You are welcome to

come upstairs to help the choir sing or sit downstairs with your family during the Mass. We will meet after

Mass at Cherry St. Sports Club for dinner, the restaurant area has been booked for our group.

NAIDOC Liturgy

An invitation will be sent home with students during the first week back at

school to invite families to attend our NAIDOC Liturgy that will be held on

Friday, 2nd August at 9am in the hall. This year’s theme is Peace to This House

and All Who Dwell Within.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation Parent Meeting

First Reconciliation Program

Parent meeting: Wednesday, 31st July at 6pm in the Upper Room, Parish Administration Centre

This meeting must be attended by parents wishing to enrol their child in the program. Children are eligible to

enrol in the Reconciliation Program if they have received the Sacrament of Confirmation. It is anticipated

that groups will stay the same as for Confirmation. If your child is new to the school, please contact Mrs

Kerrily Jelfs for an information letter or contact the Parish Administration Office on 66811048 for an

enrolment form. Home Group Meetings begin on Sunday, 4th August

The Sacrament of First Reconciliation (2nd Rite) - Wednesday, 28th August at 6pm. St Francis Xavier

Church, Ballina

Candidates from St Francis Xavier School will be involved in a Reconciliation Reflection morning on

Wednesday, 28th August in the hall, a letter will come home with further details next term.

Saturday Ballina 6:00pm Vigil (No Children’s Liturgy)

Sunday Ballina 9:00am (With Children’s Liturgy)

Sunday Lennox Head 7:30am (With Children’s Liturgy)

RE News…

01.07.19 to 05.07.19

Monday: CANTEEN CLOSED

Tuesday: L. McMahon, HELP NEEDED

Wednesday: N. Hannah, HELP NEEDED

Thursday: K. Kelly & C. Whitty, HELP NEEDED

Friday: C. Wales, HELP NEEDED

Tammy is looking for any volunteers for canteen on Wednesdays, Thursdays and

Fridays. If you are able to spare a couple of hours, please contact the school office on

66863370 or see Tammy in the Canteen. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

$3.90 each - Sauce 20c each

Chicken, Tuna, Avocado or Vegetarian

Please note that any chicken or tuna sushi that are ordered will NOT have avocado in them.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Crackers and Cheese

$1.00

Brown Rice Salad

(Homemade)

$3.50

Yoghurt & Muesli

Cups $2.00

Frozen Grapes.

50c

Week 10 Thursday 4th July

Canteen News…

Quiche Bites

(Homemade)

3 for $2.00

Falafel Salad Wrap

with Hummus

$5.50

Fresh Muffins

Various Flavours

Daily

$1.50

Apple Slinky

$1.00

Athletics Carnival

Just a reminder to parents that the Athletics Carnival has been rescheduled for next Monday, 1st July and we

would love to see you all there in attendance to support your child. If you would like your son or daughter to

be nominated for Zone in either High Jump or Discus, you’ll need written evidence from a qualified person

or Little Athletics secretary, of having been trained in this technique. We ask this as we do not run these

activities at school or on the day due to the high risk nature and risk assessment policies.

This year the Zone has only just added the 1500m to the Program. Due to time constraints at School Carnivals

the Richmond Zone has asked for nominations for the 1500m with 2 students from each division Jnr, 11yrs,

Snr. This is to be held on Thursday of Week 2 during Term 3 at a venue in Lismore. It will be the

responsibility of the parents to transport their child to the event. At this stage it is looking to be run after

school but there will be more information to follow in the next couple of weeks. If your child finished in the

top 2 at the School Cross Country or is a strong 1500m runner, please see Mr Cook for a form.

Information regarding the 800m to be held at the School Carnival will see the event run from a curved start

and competitors may change lanes immediately. A curved start gives each competitor an equal distance to

run around the first bend and allows more than 6 competitors to compete in the same race. This race will be

run in the following age divisions with the top 2 students going through to Zone: (U8/9/10’s), 11 Years,

12+Years. The 200m will also be run in these age divisions with the top 3 going through to Zone. For the

100m race it’ll be the top 3 times from each age group. The Long Jump and Shot Put completed at school

already, will be the top 2 students from each of the following age groups - (U8/9/10’s), 11 Years, 12+Years.

I look forward to seeing parents at the Athletics Carnival next week and hope to create an environment that

encourages participation and community through sportsmanship, house spirit and physical activity.

Mr Cook

Sports Coordinator

Sports News…

28th June to 4th July 2019

Kinder 2020 Enrolments

Please contact the school office on 6686 3370 to make an

appointment, including all existing families wishing to enrol

siblings. The following documents are required at the time of the

interview:

1. Enrolment Form duly completed in full and signed by both

parents and/or guardians

2. Original Birth Certificate

3. Baptism Certificate

4. Medicare Immunisation Statement

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Dustin Kennedy Amity Sweeney Indiana Buchan

Happy Birthday…

School News…

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On Tuesday, 2nd July (week 10) we will be holding a whole school Japanese Festival. Students will be able to

dress up in Japan-inspired costumes. We will commence the day with a parade and prizes will be awarded to

most authentic Japanese designs. The children will then participate in a range of Japanese activities throughout

the day.

Japanese News…