St Francis Xavier's School Manunda eNewsletter

From the Principal's Desk

It’s been a wonderful start to the term as we head into the busyness of Term Two with learning and teaching, reporting, athletics, eisteddfod and some year level excursions.

Project Updates

Our new boundary fence for Atkinson St has been installed. This completes the project and it is wonderful to finally be able to ‘run on the grass’. We will begin a consultation process in the next few months for ideas for what this space might look like in the future.

Staffing Updates

We welcome two teachers to our staff this term. Joanie Stattman is teaching 3A for the remainder of this term, while Katrina Cazzulino is our Acting Leader of Diversity. We welcome back Deborah Le Poidevin as our 1A teacher from Tuesday to Friday for the remainder of the year.

Our recruitment process for a new finance officer was successful. We are excited that Melissa Stillman will be joining our school community. Melissa comes to us as an experienced finance officer in our Diocese and will commence in Week 6 on Monday, May 26th.

Morning Drop Off Concerns

It has been reported on a few occasions that parents are 'double parking' on the busy Alfred St to let children out to enter through the small gate. These cars are blocking the lane closest to the school in the morning traffic. This is a very dangerous act as it puts other drivers at risk as well as your own children. Alfred St is not a drop-off area. If there are no parks available where you can park and walk your children to the gate, then please drive a few hundred meters and turn into Sydney St where there is always space to drop off or park in the morning. Ongoing issues with double parking can be reported to the police, as we do not monitor public areas, and it is a public safety issue.

A reminder that our gates open at 8 am in the morning and this is when our staff supervision commences. Only students going to OSHC are to enter the gate near the OSHC building with their parents to sign in. The only exception to this is for Choir students on Tuesday morning and Dance Ensemble students on Thursday morning. I am concerned about the number of students left at the gate earlier than 8 am.

Next week

Next week, on Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd, I will be attending the Term 2 Senior Leaders Conference. Our Assistant Principals, Kristina Armstrong and Deb McGuinness, will be joining me at the conference. Our focus for this term’s conference is working towards developing our Strategic Directions for the Cairns Diocese. Our three middle leaders will be delegated the responsibility of the day-to-day running of the school. I will also be off-site on Wednesday 21^st at a Primary Principal Network Day.

Feedback Surveys

Feedback Surveys will be conducted during Weeks 6-8 of Term 2, May 26 – June 13 to enable the analysis of results to be incorporated into school annual planning processes.

All parents and staff will be invited by email from CES to complete the survey, as well as all students in Years 5, 6, 8 and 11. It is estimated that the survey will take up to 20 minutes to complete. All surveys are anonymised in the Survey Manager system, with email reminders sent weekly to non-respondents. Please don't share your survey link - families, staff and students will need to access the link in their email. We thank you in advance for your feedback in completing the survey in the coming weeks.

Best wishes to everyone for a wonderful week ahead!

Narelle Harney

Assistant Principal Administration

This week marks one year since I began my professional journey here at SFX. It has been a wonderful 12 months working with such a wonderful school community. I am very proud of our school and of the students who attend here. As a whole, we have a caring approach that is evidenced through the way our students interact with each other and the time and effort our staff put in. I have seen so many examples of students helping others when they are upset or need extra guidance. I have seen students offering to help others, especially staff and for our staff, the way we have come together to run our breakfast club with support from our P and F is fabulous. It is obvious that we are also welcoming, with a number of new students arriving this year.

Over the coming months, you will see SFX showcasing what we offer to families; however, there is nothing better than word of mouth. I would love for you to share what you and your family love about SFX. We will include Testimonial Tuesday on our Facebook page with all the great things you share. If you have something great to share, please email: secretary.manunda@cns.catholic.edu.au

All you need to include is a few sentences about what you love and if you give permission for this be shared on our social media pages.

We have a number of upcoming events this term, but our next one is our Athletics Carnival for Years 3 – 6. This will take place on Tuesday May 27^th at Barlow Park. Parent slips have been sent out regarding this. Please note that there will be no OSHC available before school for students in Years 3 – 6. The day will commence at 7:10 am with our 200m sprints. Students involved in this race will be notified via parent slips. A schedule will also be sent out closer to the date. Parents are welcome to come along and support the day. Our House Leaders are quietly working on themes and war cries for the day. They will be meeting with their Houses to share this information in the next few days.

The final thing from me this week is just a reminder that we are heading into cold and flu season and that we need to take care when feeling unwell. Health advice from CEDC states the following:

“Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) can spread quickly in schools where large numbers of students learn and play in close contact. ARI prevention is a joint effort. Parents, caregivers, and staff need to work together and take the necessary precautions to prevent ARIs from spreading.

Stay protected by getting your free vaccinations (see your GP or pharmacy) for influenza, COVID-19 and RSV if eligible.

Stay at home when sick (including keeping sick children home)

Clean your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub.

If you need to leave the house when unwell, maintain physical distance from other and consider wearing a mask when you cannot physically distance

Practice good respiratory hygiene by:

coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the inside of your elbow

discarding used tissues immediately in a bin; and

cleaning your hands thoroughly.

We all know that school attendance is important, so by working together, we can limit the spread of ARIs, and keep our children healthy and well at school.”

All the best for the week ahead

Kristina Armstrong

Assistant Principal Religious Education

What a way to start Week 3 with the Andrew Chinn concert in the church Tuesday afternoon. Thank you to the parents that came along to support this event. Andrew Chinn has an energy that gets everyone singing along. He was excited to see our engagement with some of our favourites. Thank you to our choir students that worked with Andrew Chinn before lunch to help lead our school in the selected songs for the concert.

Thank you to the new parents that volunteered on our Mother’s Day Stall this year. We had to manage with some time slots not filled on the day. A big thank you to the P&F for organising the gifts that we had on offer this year. I hope you enjoyed the sentiment behind the gift selection. Thank you also to Kirsty Jennings for coordinating the background elements and creating a video so the students knew what was available to purchase on the day.

Please mark in your diarys our Junior Athletics Day Carnival for Prep - to Yr 2 on Thursday 26th June on the school oval. More details will follow soon.

Blessings

Debbie McGuiness

Fr Biju Kuriakose Parish Priest

Dear Children of St. Francis Xavier School,

Happy new month! As we begin the month of May, it’s a wonderful time to grow not only in learning but also in the virtues that make our hearts shine—kindness, patience, honesty, and love. These virtues help us become more like Jesus and bring peace and joy to our families, friends, and school. Just like Mary, the mother of Jesus, who is honored especially in May, we can choose to say “yes” to God by living with love and goodness every day.

Always remember that true happiness comes from living a good and loving life. It’s not just about getting what we want, but about giving, sharing, and being kind to others. When you choose to smile, to help a friend, or to say a kind word, you are spreading happiness that lasts. Let this month be a time to grow in joy, knowing that God loves you and walks with you every step of the way!

Mackillop Centre

We hope that all of the important women in your child’s life had a lovely Mother’s Day last Sunday. We saw many happy and excited faces as students carefully selected their gifts at the stall for the special women in their lives. The library also joined in the festivities by displaying books about mothers for students to borrow.

We are thrilled to share some exciting news from our library! Over the past few weeks, Mrs. Havill and Mrs. Reilly have been incredibly busy creating vibrant and engaging displays in preparation for National Simultaneous Storytime. Their hard work and creativity are transforming our library into a magical space that celebrates the joy of reading and storytelling. National Simultaneous Storytime is a special event that brings together children and families across the country to enjoy a shared reading experience. The book will be revealed on Wednesday 21st May. Thank you, Mrs. Havill and Mrs. Reilly, for your dedication and hard work. We can't wait to see the smiles on the faces of our young readers as they discover the magic of National Simultaneous Storytime.

We are thrilled to announce that the latest Scholastic BookClub catalogues have been sent home with your children! This is a wonderful opportunity for students to explore a wide range of books and discover new favorites.

Important Update: Please note that there has been a change to the order deadline. The new end date for placing orders is now Friday May 23rd. We encourage everyone to take advantage of this extended time to browse through the catalogues and make your selections. Orders can be placed online following the instructions on the order form.

FInally, I would like to remind all parents that Social Media apps are not permitted to be loaded onto BYOD devices used at school. In fact, in 2024 the Australian Government passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 which bans children under the age of 16 from using social media. We also require students to turn off Facetime and Messages while in the school grounds. We thank you for your support in this matter.

Happy reading,

Mrs Ross, Mrs Havill, Mrs Reilly.

Performing Arts

Chinese Association Performances

Last term, Madeleine and Mackenzie Warner participated as part of the Chinese Association in various celebrations for Chinese New Year. They performed in both the traditional lion dance and the Moli Hua (Jasmine Flower) routine, showcasing their dedication and talent in cultural expression.

School Holiday Showcase

On the school holidays, Year 6 student, Elyse Webb performed in the Smithfield Centre Dance Showcase with her dance school, FNQ Dance Academy. The interactive performance titled FNQ Adventure, captivated the audience with entertaining songs and dances, delighting our local community.

Queensland Ballet - Coppelia
Elyse Webb auditioned and performed in Coppelia with the Queensland Ballet at the Cairns Performing Arts Centre. She earned not one but two roles in this production, starring as Young Coppélia, where she opened the show setting the stage for the unfolding of Coppélia’s passing. Later, she returned as Little Sister, capturing the audience’s attention with a notable moment—being wheeled off stage after a dramatic knockout. A memorable experience for all involved.

Breast Cancer Awareness

Last term Mackenzie from 6B performed in a breast cancer awareness event at CPAC where here dance school, Julia Macalpine Dance Studio, performend a tap routine entitled ' Paris holds the key'

We love to celebrate the accomplishments of our students here at St Francis Xavier’s School, therefore please email me at rrichardso1@cns.catholic.edu.au to keep me informed with any achievements in the Performing Arts. I look forward to sharing these with our school community.

Musically Yours,

Rianne Richardson

Mary Amongst Us Awards - Week 3 & 4

Prep	Sammy, Gabriella, Taya
Year 1	Tyrell, Jedidiah, Henley, Etoile
Year 2	Georgie, Mark, Adaleen
Year 3	Kathleen, Azariah, Madhu Shree
Year 4	Saxon, Yvanah, Lou Lou
Year 5	Arise, Billy, Peter, Cindy, Hunter, Yo
Year 6	Sabria, Hope, Richard, Year 6B, Elyse

PE News

TCC and Peninsula Student Achievements

Congratulations to the following students who competed in the TCC event against other schools and have now been selected to trial for the Peninsula team in May:

Leah
Kaigo
Imogen
Kyaw
Kaden
Saxon

A special congratulations to Maiama, who has been selected to represent Peninsula in Hockey at the Toowoomba competition in June!

Well done to the following students for making the TCC soccer team for SFX:

Kaigo & Myles
Ivy & Leah

Trinity Coast Central School Sport (TCC)

Students born in 2015, 2014, and 2013 have the opportunity to participate in Trinity Coast Central Sport Trials, which provide a pathway to Regional Championships at the Peninsula sporting level in their chosen sport.

Process for Interested Students and Parents/Carers:

Refer to the attached list of trial dates.
Download the Peninsula Student Booklet (attached to the Parent Slip or below).
Parents/Carers must complete the booklet in full, print it, and return it to the school for signing. Ensure all sections are completed and relevant areas are circled, or it cannot be signed.
Once signed, the Peninsula Student Booklet will be returned to the student, who must bring it to the trial.

Important: No signed Peninsula Student Booklet = No Trial.

For any questions, please contact Secretary.manunda@catholic.edu.au.

Term_2_TCC_Calender_2025.pdf

2025_Peninsula_student_permission_details_booklet_fillable.pdf

Important Dates to Bookmark

2025 Term Dates

Prep Enrolments for 2026

Children who were born between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021 are eligible to attend Prep in 2026.

Enrolment applications for the 2026 Prep year are currently being accepted! Interviews for placement in the 2026 Prep classes are underway, with offers now being made to families.

A friendly reminder to existing families: please ensure that enrolment applications are completed, and interviews are scheduled for younger children transitioning to Prep. It's important to note that having a sibling at SFX does not automatically guarantee the enrolment process.

For those with family or friends seeking a high-quality education for their children, we kindly urge our school community to share your experiences with St Francis Xavier’s School and the positive impact of a Catholic education. Encourage them to reach out to the school at 4037 9900, explore our website, or visit us in person so that we can engage in a discussion about enrolling their child.

Tuckshop News

Mr Walsh runs our tuckshop to keep our little tummys happy. Tuckshop is open Wednesdays and Fridays each week. Menu is below

Place all your school orders online quickly and easily with Flexischools. Flexischools is a well-established organisation allowing you to place all your canteen orders online at any time.

Download the Flexischools app from the App Store or Google Play for details on how to set up your account. https://www.flexischools.com.au.

Volunteering

Parents, grandparents, and carers are always welcome to come and assist with the preparations in the tuckshop. Please contact the front office on 07 4037 9900 if you are able to assist.