Key Dates

Tuesday 12
th
August
School Board Meeting

Wednesday 13
th

August
Golf Tournament

Thursday 14
th
August
Confirmation Parent
Meeting Year 3

Monday 18
th
August
Book Week
School Closure Day
OLSEL PD

Wednesday 20
th

August
Centenary Meeting

Thursday 21
st
August
Year 3 Assembly

Friday 22
nd
August
Book Week Parade

Tuesday 26
th
August
Year 3 & 4 Futsal
Tournament

Wednesday 27
th

August
Year 5 & 6 Futsal
Tournament

Thursday 28
th
August
VCOH Dentist Visit

Thursday 4
th
September
Year 2 Assembly
Year 3 Confirmation

Friday 5
th
September
Fathers Day
Celebration

Sunday 7
th

September
Fathers Day

Tuesday 9
th

September
School Board Meeting

In the Land of the Wadawurrung People

Dear Parents and Families,

School Bus Safety
Thank you to all the families that have returned the Bus Forms distributed last week. To ensure
your childs safety we are changing the way that we administer the Bus System at School. The
new way we account for Bus Travelers will begin this Tuesday 12
th
August.

New Bus Procedures for Parents
You need to notify the office if there is a change to
your default (i.e. what you filled out on the form)
Changes to the daily schedule would be
appreciated as early in the day as possible
before 12.00pm midday.
When the new bus lists commence on Tuesday
12
th
August, changes to the daily schedule will be
able to be conveyed to the office via telephone, by
a bus pass (attached to todays newsletter) which
will be available from the office or by downloading
and printing from our website.

In the near future changes will also be able to be notified via the Skoolbag App, or via a
generic office email. More information on these forms of communication will be sent
home shortly.

School Concert
Remember to place Thursday September 11
th
in your diary for our schools production of
CENTENARY SPECTACULAR! at Founders Theatre, Federation University, Ballarat. The
matinee performance will commence at 11.00am with the evening performance at 7.00pm.
Please watch this space for further concert information and details including ticket sales, pre-
ordering of concert DVDs, appeals for assistance and organisational matters involving
children for both dress-rehearsal day and performance day.

Centenary Celebration News
The Centenary Celebration Dinner on
Saturday 25
th
October has officially sold out.
We thank everyone for their interest. Don't
forget that there are lots of other ways to
celebrate the schools centenary, come along
to the open days and the mass, we look
forward to seeing you there. Please find
attached to the newsletter the new flyer for
the centenary weekend.



St Francis Xavier Primary School
Newsletter
Monday 11
th
August 2014
Term 3 Week 5
PO Box 2027
Ballarat East VIC 3354
Phone: 5331 6311
Fax: 5331 8337

Email: principal @sfxballarat.catholic.edu.au


Wednesday 10
th

September
School Concert
Dress Rehearsal

Thursday 11
th

September
School Concert

Friday 12
th

September
Division Athletics

Sunday 14
th

September
School Working Bee
Families I P

Monday 15
th

September
Year 4 Excursion
Polly Woodside

Wednesday 17
th

September
Year 5 & 6 Basketball
Tournament

Thursday 18
th

September
Year 1 Assembly

Friday 19
th

September
Last Day of Term 3

Monday 6
th
October
First Day of Term 4

Wednesday 8
th

October
OLSEL Parent
Information Meeting

Friday 10
th
October
Foundation Transition
Day 1

Thursday 16
th

October
Year 2 Camp
Life education Van
Foundation Assembly

Friday 17
th
October
Foundation Transition
Day 2

Thursday 22
nd

October
Year 4 Camp

Saturday 25
th

October
St. Francis Xavier -
Centenary
Celebrations

Book Week Connect to Reading
August 16
th
22
nd
2014
Each year since 1945, the Childrens Book
Council of Australia has hosted Children's
Book Week to honour and celebrate the
work of Australian authors and illustrators. In
2014, Book Week will be held 16-22
nd

August. At St Francis Xavier Primary School,
we will celebrate Book Week by offering
Story Reading daily in the Library at First
Break. Children are invited to come in and sit
and listen to the wonderful stories come
alive as they are read aloud by Mrs. Afford.
As a culmination to these celebrations, on
Friday 22
nd
August at 9:00am, children are
invited to participate in a Book Week
Parade showcasing their favourite
characters.

Book Week Parade Friday 22
nd
August after Morning Assembly 9.00am.
Come dressed on the day as your favourite book or book character. Here are a few ideas:
Spiderman, Batman, Princess, Fairy, The Little Mermaid, Spot, Garfield, Pokemon, Captain
Underpants, Where's Wally, Cat in the Hat, Old Tom, Harry Potter, Snow White, Nemo,
Spongebob, Fly Guy, Zac Powers, Go Girls, Hannah Montana, Soccer and Football players,
Arthur and many, many more.

The big question is what will the staff dress up as?

Cyber safety and Security
It is important that our family members understand the safe and secure use of internet and
mobile technologies. Visit the ThinkUKnow Australia website for practical information and
advice about keeping kids safe online.. www.thinkuknow.org.au Young people may not tell
their parents or teachers if something makes them feel uncomfortable online. The ThinkUKnow
site aims to increase your awareness of the full range of online safety and security issues
affecting young people and how to address them. While the internet provides many benefits,
there are people who seek to use the internet and mobile technologies for criminal purposes
and to harm others. Be informed about how to equip young people with on-line safety skills to
help them get the most out of the internet and to stay in control online. Find out about how to
protect your computer, including advice about firewalls, email safety, protecting your wireless
network and more

Hot Lunches
PARENTS PLEASE NOTE:
ALL LUNCH ORDERS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY THURSDAY AT 10.00AM
NO LATE ORDERS ON FRIDAY WILL BE TAKEN!

A reminder that hot lunches continue this Friday 15
th
August. All orders are to be written on a
brown paper bag with the childs name and class clearly visible along with the order.

Thursday 14
th
August:
Maree Dekoke, Kate Gale, Kate Carey, Romy
Leonard, Denise Boyd and Wendy Vorstenbosch
Friday 15
th
August:
Maree Dekoke, Kate Gale, Naomi Chiswell, Jenny
McEldrew, Marnie Geljon and Nikki Faulkner




Sunday 26
th
October
St. Francis Xavier -
Centenary
Celebrations

Thursday 30
th

October
Music Count Us In
2014
Year 6 Assembly

Friday 31
st
October
Foundation Excursion
to Melbourne Zoo

Monday 3
rd

November
Year 5 Camp

Friday 7
th
November
Ballarat Show Day
Holiday

Monday 10
th

November
The Great Race Week

Thursday 13
th

November
Year 5 Assembly

Friday 14
th
November
The Great Race Finale

Thursday 27
th

November
Year 4 Assembly

Thursday 27
th

November
Foundation 2015
Parent Information
Night

Monday 1
st

December
P & F Christmas
Carols

Tuesday 2
nd

December
SFX Orientation Day
Year 6 Transition Day

Sunday 7
th

December
School Working Bee
Families Q Z

Thursday 11
th

December
Year 3 Assembly
Year 6 Graduation
Mass

Tuesday 16
th

December
End of Year Mass
Menu for the Week 5:

Please note the price rise for
hot food
Menu:
Party Pies $1.20
Party Sausage Roll $1.20
Party Quiche $1.20
Vegetarian Roll $1.50
Choc Chip Muffin $1.00

Please have all hot lunch
orders in by 10.00am on the
Thursday please.


Regional Winter Sports - Football
Last Friday the Regional Winter Sports took place here in Ballarat. The Division 1 Football team
competed against schools from Warrnambool, Ararat and Horsham areas. The Football team
performed admirably, they won all of their preliminary games and progressed through to the
final, which they just lost by 5 points to a very strong St. Josephs team. Well done to all of the
boys who played on the day. Please see below and on our Facebook page some photos of the
day!

Victorian Child Oral Health Survey (VCOHS)
The Victorian Child Oral Health Survey (VCOHS) is coming to St Francis Xavier.
For those families that have been selected to participate in the Survey, a reminder to return
your consent form and questionnaire as soon as possible.
Your participation will help contribute to the collection of important and useful oral health data
used to improve dental services across Victoria.
For more information about the Victorian Child Oral Health Survey contact a member of the
VCOHS research team on (03) 9341 1785 or email vcohs@dhsv.org.au.

Have a great week!

Yours sincerely,

Paul Bissinella
Principal

Catherine McAuley
How quietly the great God does all His mighty works! Darkness is spread over us, and light
breaks in again, and there is no noise of drawing curtains or closing shutters.
Limerick Manuscript, in Sullivan, Catherine McAuley and the Tradition of Mercy, p. 174
Students of the Week
Week 4 : Respect

Foundation M: Noah Eales, Lauren Walker
Foundation A: Eliza Dodd, Ethan Matherson
Foundation B: Cooper Beseler, Maddi Cheeseman
1C Sadie Goldsmith and William Parry
1R Clover Marsh, Kaleb McKelvie, Layne Frawley
2C Amelia Murphy, Charlie McClure, Riley McCaw
2E Will Newton, James Rieniets, Imogen Melder,
3H Max Byvoet, Amy Schreenan and Elliott Tuohey
3CM Oscar Jones, Maddie Lewis, Ella Gleeson
4H 4H - Outstanding trip to Melbourne Museum


Last Day of Term 4

Wednesday 17
th

December
Testing Day

Thursday 18
th

December
Testing Day

Friday 19
th
December
Last day for Teachers

Newly added dates
appear in RED
4V 4V - Outstanding trip to Melbourne Museum
5N Holly Barker, Liam Warmington
5G Darcy Stubbs and Sophie Stephenson
6P Elizabeth Fraser and Austin Wade
6S Jaida Trigg Angus Schreenan



Environmental Education - July Updates

Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop

The Paddock Project Team are hosting 'An Afternoon of Fruit Tree Pruning with
David Elms'. Do you want to learn pruning techniques for your fruit trees? Learn
how to prune your fruit trees to get the most from your orchard, no matter how big
or small. Then this workshop is for you.

David, who has recently taken over the role of Garden/Maintenance at St Francis
Xavier Primary School, is a qualified horticulturalist who has kindly offered to share
his vast expertise and gardening knowledge with us in an afternoon workshop.

Title: 'An Afternoon of Fruit Tree Pruning with David Elms'
Date: Thursday 14
th
August 2014
Time: 2:15pm to 3:15pm
Venue: The Villa Apple Orchard, near the Foundation classrooms
RSVP: spage@sfxballarat.catholic.edu.au if you would like to attend
Please bring along your own gloves, pruning gear and raincoat.

New Arrivals!
This Tuesday we welcomed the safe arrival of three new, adorable
baby guinea pigs to our growing menagerie. Young mother
Sammy gave birth to three healthy and strong babies, all of whom
are running around and eating solid food already! During our
Environmental Education sessions the students this week were
able to observe the mother and her babies interacting. We
discussed many observable qualities and features of these babies
which we hadnt expected, such as their size, the amount of hair
they already have, how alert and active they are and their ability
to eat solids at such a young age.

In addition to our new babies, we also have recently received
another male guinea pig, Chocolate, and two very large, fluffy and
cute male rabbits, Tulip and Fairy Floss, which were donated by Clover, in Year One, and her family. Are guinea pigs
and rabbits have a settled into their new homes well, and are thoroughly enjoying the love, cuddles and affection
that is being lavished on them!

Our Petting Zoo introduces students to biology first hand. Keeping pets can foster appreciation and respect for
animals, wildlife, nature, ecosystems, and conservation. It can also foster a sense of responsibility for living things.


Keeping animals in the classroom is an excellent way for students to learn about general biology and more specific
topics, such as habitat conservation, animals survival needs, and animals adaptations to their environments.
Keeping pets also assists with students social and emotional development.

Please find attached a link to an interesting article on the benefits of pet ownership on childhood development.
http://www.sheknows.com/pets-and-animals/articles/2212/kids-and-pets

Many thanks
Sarah Page & The Petting Zoo Team


Parent and Friends Information

Uniform Shop

The uniform shop will be open again this term during the following days/hours:
Monday 8.40 am 9.10 am
Wednesday 8.40 am 9.10 am
Friday 3.00 pm 3.30 pm

2
nd
Hand Uniform Donations of any uniform that you no longer require would be gratefully accepted by the
uniform shop as stocks are running low on most items!
Track suit pants We are awaiting a shipment of track pants in all sizes within the next week or so and will advertise
in the newsletter as soon as these arrive.
Uniform Shop Closure The Uniform shop will not be open for the last week of term 3 (15
th
to 19
th
September). We
have all sizes of Polo Shirts, Sports Shorts and Hats in stock ready for next term.
Thanks Sam and Cheryl.
We are always looking for volunteers to help out in the shop.
Please text Cheryl (0407 050 371) or Sam (0400 136 252) if you are able to help staff the shop during the above
times.

Uniform Shop Roster

Week 5
Monday 11
th
August Wednesday 13
th
August Friday 15
th
August
Cheryl Jones & Sam Murphy Cheryl Jones & Janine Powell Sam Murphy & Amber Byvoet
Week 6
Monday 18
th
August Wednesday 20
th
August Friday 22
nd
August
School Closure Day Cheryl Jones & Sam Murphy Sam Murphy & Linda Kinnersly
Week 7
Monday 25
th
August Wednesday 27
th
August Friday 29
th
August
Cheryl Jones & Sam Murphy Cheryl Jones & Nerida Meddings Sam Murphy & Claire Walsh
Week 8
Monday 1
st
September Wednesday 3
rd
September Friday 5
th
September
Cheryl Jones & Sam Murphy Cheryl Jones & Lou Jeffrey Sam Murphy & Amber Byvoet











Parents and Friends - Hot Chocolate
The P&F will be selling Hot Chocolate on Mondays during Term 3
Hot Chocolate will be on sale at the beginning of first break from
10.55am.
The cost of a cup of Hot Chocolate will be $1.50 and the children
will receive a marshmellow as well!
HELPERS ARE NEEDED: If you can help out at all please call or text
Ali on 0413011125





Community Announcements
Please keep in your prayers:

Please keep in your thoughts and prayers Estelle Sayasane and her family whose Grandfather passed away on
Sunday.

Altar Server Training 2014
If you have just celebrated your First Eucharist or would like to become more involved in the Parish, altar server
training is for you!
There will be 4 sessions running this year, with the recommendation to attend two sessions.
Thursdays in August 3.45-4.45pm
7
th
and 14
th
@ St Alipius, Ballarat East
21
st
and 28
th
@ Ss Peter and Paul Buninyong
Please contact
Rachel - rachelalllan17@gmail.com - for any queries and to confirm your attendance.
*Please note altar servers are required to have celebrated all three Sacraments of Initiation.

St. Alipius Children's Liturgy Program Term 3 2014
St. Alipius Children's Liturgy Program recommenced last weekend at our 6.00pm Vigil Mass.

The program operates throughout school terms. Children's Liturgy times are available on the notice board in the
foyer of the church. Any parent/s willing to assist with this valuable program can contact Kristen Murray Ph.
53400286. Our program aims to cater for pre-school and primary aged children. All welcome.

Children's Liturgy Times
Saturday Date Mass time
Sat 16
th
August 6.00pm Vigil Mass
Sat 23
rd
August 6.00pm Vigil Mass
Sat 30
th
August 6.00pm Vigil Mass
Sat 6
th
September 6.00pm Vigil Mass
Sat 13
th
September 6.00pm Vigil Mass
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Year 1 at Donnigans Farm








Go to our St. Francis Xavier Facebook page for more photos:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Francis-Xavier-Primary-School/273229632859103?ref=hl