Dear Families
It is hard to believe we are in the last week of the school year. It has been another busy year with the children.
CLASS PLACEMENTS
A class placement letter was emailed to all families on Tuesday, 3rd December and I thank you for supporting the judgment of our teachers and where they think your child is best placed.
COMMUNITY PORTAL
The Community Portal allows families to check contact details, pay fees, access Student Academic Reports and check school fee balances in real-time. In line with our school's ongoing sustainability focus School Fee Statements and Academic Reports will be delivered via the Portal going forward. Please save this link to your device for easy access https://cesa-portal-auth.civicaed.com.au/. If you need your invitation to the portal resent, or you have forgotten your login details, please contact the school as soon as possible at accounts@sfx.catholic.edu.au.
SCHOOL BOARD
As Mikal Howard- Board Chair mentioned last week at the Christmas concert, we are seeking new Board Members next year. I will send out information on how to nominate for these positions early in the new school year.
I would like to thank two members who are stepping down from SFX School Board at the end of this year. Ben Glover and Adele Whiting have served on the School Board for a number of years and have provided great service to our school. I would like to thank them and wish them all the best for their future endeavours.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT
I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to all members of our school community who joined us for this year’s magical Christmas Concert. Despite the unpredictable weather, which had us all on edge, we were determined to make it happen – and what a beautiful evening it turned out to be! The event was filled with joy, music, and the true spirit of Christmas as our students brought the story of the Nativity to life. It was a heartwarming experience, and I am so proud of every child who took part.
A special thank you goes to our wonderful Performing Arts teacher, Chilli, whose dedication and expertise were the driving force behind this beautiful production. Chilli worked tirelessly to ensure that every detail came together perfectly, and the result was amazing.
I would also like to acknowledge the support of our amazing teaching staff. The teachers worked closely with Chilli to help students prepare for their performances. Your efforts are truly appreciated.
Finally, I want to thank our school community once again for your ongoing support. Your presence at the concert and your encouragement throughout the year make all the difference, and we are incredibly fortunate to have such a strong, supportive group of families and friends.
Wishing you all a joyful Christmas season, filled with peace and happiness.
STAFF FAREWELLS
As always, staff move on to different schools or retire when the time is right. This year we have 6 staff departing SFX and we thank them for their service.
Gail Macnamara has been at SFX since its inception in 1983. Gail was one of the original teachers. After 41 years Gail is retiring and looking forward to spending time with her family and particularly her grandchildren. I would like to thank Gail for her service and dedication to our school over the 41 years. Gail you will be missed as you have been such a big part of SFX for the past 41 years.
Lisa Karanicolou has worked at SFX for 27 years and has moved to Catholic Education SA to be a System Coach. Lisa was instrumental in setting up our Quality Performance team and analyzing data to better inform student outcomes. We wish Lisa all the best in her role at CESA
Chris Whalan has been at SFX for 25 years and has ensured our ICT is up to speed and is always there when a staff member needs him to set something up or fix something. Nothing is ever too much for Chris and we wish him well in his retirement and quality time with his family.
Meaghan McCarthy departs after 2 years at SFX. Meaghan has been teaching in the Year 4 unit and will be teaching at St Joseph's, Tranmere in 2025. All the best Meaghan.
Jasmine and Leila Magnus are moving onto new roles, and they have both been here for 1 and 2 years respectively. Leila is moving onto Gleeson College in a marketing role and Jasmine is spending more time on her tertiary studies. All the best Leila and Jasmine.
NEW STAFF
We have new staff commencing in 2025 and I will introduce the new teachers, as we are still finalising Administration and Educators.
Our new teachers for 2025 are:
Reception: Melissah Kowal and Emma Pertini
Year 1: Kylie Hook
Year 5: Mark Roberts
Leader for Well Being and Inclusion: Leah Anno
KEY DATES FOR 2025
Please see below for the 2025 key dates. This is to help you plan and take time to attend events. The dates are subject to change, and we will inform you if anything does change. As always, keep referring to the school calendar on our webiste, for updated information and dates.
PUPIL FREE DAYS
Tuesday, 28th January
Friday, 7th March
Friday, 6th June
Monday, 21st July
Friday, 5th September
KEY EVENTS
TERM 1
29th January, 2025- school year commences
11th February 6:00pm: Wine and Cheese Night hosted by the SFX Parents and Friends committee (new committee)
5th March: Ash Wednesday
12th- 21st March: NAPLAN
4th April: Sports Day
11th April: Last day of Term 1, 3:05pm dismissal
TERM 2
28th April: Term 2 commences
16th May: Walk to School Day
5th June: School Disco R-2 5:00pm Years 3 - 6 - 6:15pm
24th June: Young Performers Concert
27th June: Pyjacke Day
1st - 2nd July: Year 6 Production
4th July : Last day of Term 2, 3:05pm dismissal
TERM 3
22nd July: Term 3 commences
22nd August: Book Week Parade 9:00am
12th September: Grandparents Day 9:00am-11:00am
16th September: Music Cabaret
26th September: Last day of Term 3, 3:05pm dismissal
TERM 4
13th October: Term 4 commences
24th October: St Francis Feast Day celebrations
25th November: School Christmas Concert
4th December: End of Year Mass
9th December: Graduation Mass
10th December: Last day of Term 4– 3:05pm dismissal
WRIGHT VOLUNTEER AWARD 2024
Mr Ray Gardner
On Wednesday,4th December the Wright Volunteer Award was proudly presented by Mr Blair Boyer MP- Member for Wright.
Ray Gardner joined the St Francis Xavier’s Catholic School community in 2022, and his journey began with a simple question from our Principal Jason Mittiga: “Are you a gardener?” Little did we know then that this question would lead to a transformative partnership between Ray and our students.
Since that day, Ray has worked tirelessly with small groups of children, particularly those in years 4 to 6, fostering their connection with nature and teaching them invaluable lessons about gardening and sustainability. Through his guidance, our students have not only learned about the importance of gardening, but they’ve also developed a deeper understanding of where our food comes from.
One of Ray’s notable achievements has been his work in establishing our composting system. He has empowered students to see the value in waste and how we can turn it into something beneficial for our garden. This hands-on experience has been instrumental in nurturing their sense of responsibility towards the environment.
Additionally, Ray has led efforts to plant a variety of fruit trees, transforming our garden into a vibrant space of growth and learning. Each tree represents not just food, but the hard work and dedication Ray has invested in teaching our children about patience, nurturing, and the rewards of cultivating our own food.
Thank you Ray for your wonderful contribution to the SFX community
Celebrating St. Francis Xavier’s Feast Day
On Friday, 29th November, our school came together to celebrate a special Liturgy in honour of St. Francis Xavier, whose feast day is on 3rd December. St. Francis Xavier was a Jesuit priest known for his missionary work, traveling across the world to spread God’s love and help those in need.
During the Liturgy, we reflected on St. Francis’ life of service, compassion, and respect—values that are at the heart of our school community. His dedication to helping others and sharing kindness inspires us to live out these core values every day. Through prayers, songs, and readings, we remembered how St. Francis showed us the importance of serving others, respecting all people, and being compassionate towards everyone we meet.
It was a wonderful way to come together as a school, and a reminder of how we can live out our own values of service, compassion, and respect in our daily lives. Thank you to the RE leaders, the Liturgical Choir, teacher and student readers and the families who helped make this celebration so special.
Season of Advent: First Sunday of Advent – 1st December, 2024
As we enter the season of Advent, we are invited to slow down, reflect, and prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus. Advent provides a special opportunity for both students and staff to embrace the virtues of waiting, patience, anticipation, and hope. It is a time for us to reflect on how we can more fully receive the gift of Emmanuel – God with us – and how we can live out our school values of service, compassion, and respect.
In the Catholic tradition, the Advent Wreath is a central symbol of this season. Its circle of evergreen branches represents eternal life, while the four candles symbolize the light of Christ entering the world. Each candle holds particular significance:
- Candle 1: Purple – Hope
The first candle, known as the Hope Candle or the Prophet’s Candle, reminds us of the prophets, particularly Isaiah, who called the people to live in hope as they awaited the coming of the Messiah. The purple color represents the season of penance and preparation, inviting us to reflect on how we are living in hope as we approach the celebration of Christ’s birth.
As we light this first candle, we are reminded of the importance of hope not only in our personal faith but in our interactions with others. In this season of Advent, let us practice service by reaching out to those in need, showing compassion to those who are struggling, and extending respect to all people as we wait with anticipation for the arrival of Christ.
This candle calls us to reflect on how we are waiting for Christ—not just during this season, but in our daily lives, through our actions, prayers, and relationships. Let us embrace the spirit of hope by living out our values of service, compassion, and respect, knowing that Christ’s light will guide us toward peace, joy, and love. May this Advent season deepen our faith and bring us closer to the true meaning of Christmas, as we grow in our commitment to one another and to our community.
Christmas Family Advent Calendar
The annual Christmas Family Advent Calendar is now available. Catholic School Parents SA are so proud to be able to share this with you all.
We invite you to share this beautiful resource with your community. It is our hope that families will embrace the joy of the Christmas season and the spirit of giving through this meaningful Family Christmas Advent Calendar.
End of Year Mass: A Time to Reflect, Celebrate, and Say Goodbye
At the end of each school year, our school comes together for the End of Year Mass Celebration, a special time to reflect on the year, celebrate our achievements, and an opportunity to say farewell to those students and staff moving on to new adventures.
This year’s Mass was a moment to celebrate both the highs and lows of 2024. We recognized the growth and challenges of the year and reflected on how we’ve supported each other through it all. A special part of the Mass was the farewell to our Year 6 students, who are moving on to high school. They passed the school candle to the Year 5 students, symbolizing the transfer of leadership for 2025.
The Year 5 students were acknowledged as the new leaders of the school, ready to take on the responsibility with service, compassion and respect.
We would like to thank Father Kym for guiding us through the ceremony with thoughtful prayers and reflections. A big thank you also goes to our liturgical choir for their beautiful music, and to the Year 6 readers for leading us in the prayers and readings during the Mass.
It was a time to celebrate our community, give thanks for the year, and look forward to the future with hope and excitement. To our Year 6 students, we wish you all the best in high school. And to the Year 5 students, we’re excited for you to step into your leadership roles in 2025.
Thank you to all for making this year special. Wishing everyone a joyful and restful holiday season!
Merry Christmas to Our Wonderful School Community
As we approach the close of another wonderful year, I want to take a moment to express my deepest thanks to each of you for your unwavering support. Your generosity in raising funds for various charitable causes has made a significant impact, and your consistent presence at Masses, liturgies, and Community Prayers has been a powerful reflection of our shared commitment to one another and to our Core Christian values that unite us as a school community.
I am so very grateful for your continued support for our dedicated teachers and staff as we work together to nurture and educate the children entrusted to us to become thriving people, capable learners, leaders for the world God desires.
As we enter this festive season, I wish you all a Christmas filled with peace, love, and joy. May your holidays be rich with precious moments spent with loved ones, and may the New Year bring abundant blessings to you and your family.
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