St Francis Xavier's School Manunda eNewsletter

From the Principal's Desk

It’s hard to believe we are already past the half way mark of Term 2. We had a great Senior Athletics Carnival at Barlow Park earlier this week. Thank you to all family members and friends who came along to support our students. Congratulations to all students for trying your best and supporting each other during the day.

Feedback Surveys

A reminder that the Feedback Surveys were sent to all families recently. Please take time to complete these as it gives us information for future planning in our school.

State of Origin Free Dress – June 18

On Wednesday June 18th, staff and students are invited to wear free dress for the next State of Origin game. A bit of fun rivalry is always welcome. We recognise that not all children will have QLD or NSW supporter clothing so students may also wear their favourite sporting team outfit. Go Queensland!!!

Junior Carnival Prep-Year 2: June 26 commencing at 8:45 (first sprint race at 9am) – at SFX oval. Save this in your calendar!

RAP Icon

We have installed a large RAP Icon on the wall outside our library. We are very proud of the design our students and staff developed for SFX. The explanation of the icon is as follows:

Reconciliation means learning about and acknowledging the First Peoples of this land. It means being respectful, welcoming, and working for equality. It is important that we reflect on our actions and come together to learn from the Traditional Owners and Elders. Our Reconciliation Icon connects us to the country where St Francis Xavier’s school is built - land which grows big trees that the cockatoos come to sit in, trees that hold the story of the Dreaming. There is also a tree from the Torres Strait Islands to remind us about the stories of the seas and skies from the north. We gather under the trees, learning together and building connections, so that when we go out, we are strong and can fly like the cockatoos.

Nulung-Kayn Kasi presentation

At assembly this week Aivah was presented with her special badge by Ms Harney and Miss Erica.

The badge is a symbol of growing together in leadership, individually and collectively as First Nations students within Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns. The logo is encased in a circle providing a safe and continuous journey for First Nations leaders – there is no beginning nor end. The inner logo is the crest of Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns. The colours of the logo are reflective of our geography and location. Nulung is a Gimuy Walubara Yindinji word for Leaders. Kayn Kasi is a Kalaw Kawaw Ya word for young shoot. The bringing together of these words highlights the journey of a young developing leader

Congratulations to Aivah!

P & F Movie Night – June 13

We look forward to seeing many families at the movie night hosted at Event Cinemas (Cairns Central) on Friday June 13. Please purchase tickets through trybooking. An email was sent to families today with booking details. Tickets go live from 4pm today. There is also a flyer on the front counter of the school office.

Best wishes for the week ahead,
Narelle Harney

Assistant Principal Administration

Hello SFX families. It’s hard to believe that we are past the halfway mark of Term 2 already. The last few weeks have seen our students keeping busy particularly with our Senior Athletics Carnival. Tuesday at Barlow Park saw the sun shining down on us as the children ran, leaped, and jumped as high as they could in a range of events. I would like to congratulate all children who attended and participated, whether that be in the novelty events, having a go at the track and field events, and those who placed in their respective areas. We now have a number of students who will be heading off to TCC to represent SFX. These days do not just happen so a big thank you goes to all the staff who donated their time to set up and pack up. It was definitely an early start and late finish for some, with extra time being put in in the lead up to the event to get everything organised. Our House

Leaders also worked hard coming up with themes and war cries for the day which adds to the atmosphere of the day. Stay tuned for photos over the next week.

This week also saw the fence where F block used to be come down. This has been a long-awaited project due to a number of delays but we are very excited for new green space to now be open. Of course, it was Murphy’s Law that it was drizzly this morning, so students had to wait until the lunch break to get out and test the new turf. This space is currently open for play however this will be a ball game free zone. Eventually we will create a new play area for students in space. In Health, our Year 4s have been working on plans for new play spaces. The leadership team are keen to see what they come up with and how we can incorporate student ideas into the new play area.

Our yearly Feedback Surveys have been sent out to families via email. These surveys are important as they:

Provide an opportunity for students, parents/carers and teachers to express their opinions and provide feedback on various aspects of education. This feedback is invaluable in understanding experiences, needs, and expectations, allowing schools to make informed decisions and improvements.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement within our schools. Schools are able to reflect on their practices, identify areas for growth, and implement changes based on feedback. This iterative process helps schools stay responsive to the evolving needs of students, families and staff and adapt strategies to ensure ongoing improvement.
Promote accountability and transparency within the education sector. Schools can demonstrate their commitment to quality education by actively seeking feedback and responding to it.

Surveys should be completed by Friday 13^th of June. Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete these.

Until next fornight

Kristina Armstrong

Assistant Principal Religious Education

This Sunday within the Church Liturgical Calendar, we acknowledge the Ascension of the Lord. “The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord commemorates the fortieth day (falls on a Thursday) after the Resurrection when Jesus ascended body and soul into Heaven and took His seat at the right hand of His Father”. This church teaching is part of the Apostle and Nicene Creed recited as part of our Christian faith.

The following Sunday, 8th June, is Pentecost Sunday, and marks the end of Eastertide, and the start of Ordinary time once again for the Catholic Church.

Our Year 5 and Year 6 students have Pentecost Mass on Friday 6th June at 1:50pm with Father Biju leading the Mass in the Church. All families are welcome to attend.

I take this opportunity to wish our Readers Cup Team: Billy Reynolds, Kiera Clarke, Evie Cerros and April Mooney; the best of luck at the regional competition at Edge Hill State School on Thursday 12th June. I have been involved with the organising committee for this event for the past 10 years, and each year I feel so blessed to see the students’ excitement as they come together knowing 200 other students have read the same books. I feel privileged to be able to support remote school participation within this event - this year two remote schools: St Joseph’s Weipa and School of Distance Education will join in online, along with 42 other schools within the greater Cairns Region.

Upcoming dates:

8th June: 1:50pm Year 5 and Year 6 Pentecost Mass

18th June: 2pm Year 2 Liturgy

19th June: 9am Year 3 and Year 4 Corpus Christi Liturgy

19th June: 2pm Prey Liturgy

There is still so much happening this term. Make sure you check email notifications, and our socials to keep up to date with all the information.

Blessings always

Debbie McGuinness.

Fr Biju Kuriakose Parish Priest

Dear SFX School Family,

As we mark World Children’s Day, we give thanks to God for the gift of our children—the heart and joy of our parish and school. This day reminds us of the great responsibility we have to love, guide, and nurture them as they grow in faith, wisdom, and character. Every child is a reflection of God’s goodness, and it is our duty to ensure they feel valued, heard, and supported. May we continue to walk with them, encouraging their dreams and helping them grow into kind, courageous, and faith-filled young people.

It was truly uplifting to witness the enthusiasm and determination of our students at the SFX Athletics Carnival held at Barlow Park. Their participation, competitive spirit, and sportsmanship were a joy to see. Events like these help our children develop not only physical skills, but also important values—teamwork, perseverance, resilience, and self-belief. I encourage all our children to keep embracing challenges, celebrate their efforts, and grow with joy and confidence into the wonderful individuals God created them to be.

God bless you all

Mackillop Centre

Dear Families,

Thank you to the families who placed orders for Scholastic Book Club. The system has now closed and the orders have been placed. Scholastic will post the books to us shortly. When the delivery arrives, we will take the orders to each classroom.

This week we acknowledged National Sorry Day on the 26th May, and Reconciliation Week from 27th May to 3rd June. With the assistance of Miss Erica (our ILO) we held activities in the library during each lunch break. Students coloured in flowers, wrote what sorry means to them and created a handprint painting.

Performing Arts

Innisfail Eisteddfod

The 2025 Dance Competition Season is well underway, and our talented students from St Francis Xavier’s School proudly represented the school at the 42nd Annual Dancing Competition, hosted by the Innisfail and District Ballet and Dance Society. Held from 1–9 May, the competition brought together young dancers from across the region in a celebration of skill, creativity, and dedication.

We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm and passion shown by our students: Mackenzie Armstrong, Maddison Armstrong, Marlise Armstrong, Adeline Hunter, Brooklyn Lacco, Rosalie Reynolds, Kaylee Richardson, Kailee Vogel, Madeleine Warner and Elyse Webb. These students devoted countless hours to rehearsals in preparation for the competition, showcasing their commitment to excellence in dance. Throughout the event, our dancers took to the stage in a range of categories, presenting solos, duos, and troupe performances. Their routines spanned a variety of styles, including ballet, tap, contemporary, lyrical, and jazz, demonstrating both their versatility and technical skill.

Congratulations to all our SFX dancers on their outstanding achievements.

Innisfail Eisteddfod Results

Mackenzie Armstrong

Solos

First 12 Years Modern Trio

Highly Commended 11 Years Modern Solo

Highly Commended 12 Years Modern Duo

Troupes

First 10 Years Classical Troupe

First 10 Years Lyrical Troupe

First 13 Years Contemporary Troupe

Second 10 Years Song and Dance Troupe

Second 10 Years Tap Troupe

Second 13 Years Lyrical Troupe

Second 13 Years Classical Troupe

Second 13 Years Tap Troupe

Second 13 Years Jazz Troupe

Third 13 Years Song and Dance Troupe

Maddison Armstrong

Solos

Highly Commended 9 Years Modern Solo

Highly Commended 9 Years Classical Solo

Troupes

First 10 Years Classical Troupe

First 10 Years Lyrical Troupe

Second 10 Years Song and Dance Troupe

Second 10 Years Tap Troupe

Third 8 Years Classical Troupe

Marlise Armstrong

Solos

Highly Commended 6 Years Modern Solo

Troupes

Third 8 Years Classical Troupe

Adeline Hunter

Solos

Third 5 Years and Under Classical Solo

Troupes

Second 8 Years and Under Jazz Troupe

Very Highly Commended 8 Years and Under Classical Troupe

Brooklyn Lacco

Solos

Third 9 Years Demi Character Solo

Highly Commended 9 Years Jazz Solo

Troupes

First 13 Years and Under Tap Troupe

First 13 Years and Under Demi Character Troupe

Second 13 Years and Under Song and Dance Troupe

Third 12 Years and Under Lyrical Troupe

Rosalie Reynolds

Solos

Second 7 Years Tap Solo

Third 7 Years Jazz Solo

Highly Commended 7 Years Classical Solo

Highly Commended 7 Years Lyrical Solo

Troupes

First Under 9 Years Song & Dance Troupe

First Under 9 Years Classical Troupe

First Under 9 Years Modern Troupe

First Under 10 Years Tap Troupe

Third Under 10 Years Jazz Troupe

Kaylee Richardson

Solos

Third 7 Years Jazz Solo

Highly Commended 7 Years Demi Character Solo

Troupes

Second 8 Years and Under Classical Troupe

Third 8 Years and Under Jazz Troupe

Madeleine Warner

Troupes

First 10 Years and Under Song and Dance Troupe

Second 10 Years and Under Jazz Troupe

Elyse Webb

Solos

Second 10 Years Lyrical Solo

Third 10 Years Classical Solo

Very Highly Commended 10 Years Demi Character Solo

Highly Commended 10 Years Jazz Solo

Troupes
First Under 10 Years Jazz Troupe

Second Under 10 Years Lyrical Troupe

Second Under 13 Years Demi Character Troupe

Third Under 13 Years Tap Troupe

Very Highly Commended Under 13 Years Song & Dance Troupe

Very Highly Commended Under 13 Years Musical Theatre Troupe

Kailee Vogel

Troupes

First 10 Years and Under Song and Dance Troupe

Second 10 Years and Under Jazz Troupe

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

Parent Portal and MYCE App

This year, all CEDC schools are transitioning to a new online reporting platform called The Learning Dashboard (TLD). In order to access TLD later this term, you first need to be able to access the SFX School Portal or the MyCE app. You are strongly encouraged to use the next few weeks to check that you can locate and login to the Parent Portal and/or MyCE app. If you need assistance, please come into the office with your phone or ipad and we can help you. Information regarding how to access your children’s reports on The Learning Dashboard will be provided later in the term.

Accessing the MYCE App

Parent and Caregivers can download the latest version by clicking the following links:

Accessing the Parent Portal

https://sway.cloud.microsoft/jjlLuzLFbAEbPGfC

MyCE_A3_Poster_SFX.pdf

Mary Amongst Us Awards - Week 5 & 6

Prep	Lexi, Alfie, Tyson, Heath
Year 1	Jensen, Indie, Delilah, Rihan
Year 2	Saleem, Sophia
Year 3	Charles, Jewel, Caitlin, Ramil, Vince, Zara
Year 4	Aiden, Sky, Viraaj
Year 5	Whole Class, Maliya, Alexander, Minou
Year 6	Mia, Deanne, Aivah, Del., Madeleine , Elyse

PE News

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

Stop Drop and Go - Police Presence

We wish to inform our school community that local police have been actively patrolling the vicinity of our school over the past few weeks. During this time, they have observed ongoing instances of vehicles stopping in the "Stop, Drop, and Go" zones on Atkinson Street and obstructing the bike lane transitioning from Alfred Street into Sydney Street.

As a result, the police have contacted the school to advise that they will continue to monitor the area and will be issuing on-the-spot infringement notices for any violations.

To ensure the safety and efficiency of our school zone, we kindly ask all parents and caregivers to adhere strictly to the designated "Stop, Drop, and Go" areas and to avoid parking and leaving vehicles in restricted zones. Please be aware that fines and demerit points apply for parking offences in school zones.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school environment safe for all.

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.