Newsletter 14 February 2025

Welcome back to the 2025 school year!  Welcome to those families with children beginning school for the first time, those new to our school and those who are returning. We hope you all enjoy your time here at Xavier.  Despite the HOT weather, everyone has settled into the new year exceptionally well.

Welcome back to our wonderful staff, and to our newest member of staff; Ms Chantelle Johnson (Year 4 Educational Assistant).  A warm welcome back to Mr Jacob Papp (Year 4 Gold) and Mr Gerard Rosman (Year 2 Gold).

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the way in which the school community has come together in the wake of the sad loss of Ms Claire Goldie.  It is difficult to put into words how devastated we all are.  I ask you to please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers as they mourn her passing.  Please also keep in your prayers the entire Xavier staff, as well as the students in Year 1 and 3 during this difficult time.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.  May their soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.

Last Friday, the school held its opening Mass in which it commissioned the Year 6 students.  Before receiving their leadership badges, they had them blessed by Fr. Mark.  Thank you to the Year 6 teachers and Mrs Konle for preparing the Mass in such a short amount of time.

The first MJR Award for 2025 will be held as part of the Year 4 Gold Assembly on Friday 21 February.

Please read below a letter from some parents telling us a wonderful story about MJR in action. A real SOJ moment (Spirit of Jesus). We’re all super proud of you, Gabriel!

Good morning, Mr Bienkowski and Miss Deuter,

We would like to take the time to commend you and your work with the MJR program at Xavier.

This evening, at the Armadale shops,  when we were parking our car we saw an old man looking lost and confused. Although he was walking in the opposite direction to where we needed to go, Gabriel upon noticing him was adamant that we help, saying “we need to make Jesus real”.

We walked around for about 20 minutes, after which Gabriel had even recruited two other people to help look for his car. Although we didn’t find the car, Gabriel refused to leave him until we knew he was safe (one of the ‘recruits’ said they would drive him home).

Once again, we would like to reiterate our appreciation for the values that Xavier has instilled in him, from Miss Guagliardo in Year 1, Miss Lai and Miss Aquino in Year 2, and Miss Deuter now in Year 3.

Kind regards,
Zac and Liz Gomes

Classroom teachers in Years PP-6 will hold a Parent/Carer Information Evening on Wednesday 19 February commencing at 5.30pm. Parents are asked to gather in the Undercover Area to listen to the Leadership Team discuss important information relating the school year.  Following this, parents will be invited to move to their child’s respective classrooms.  There will be 2 repeat classroom sessions from 6.00pm-6.30pm & then 6.35pm-7.05pm.   At this meeting, you will receive information about the procedures and routines relevant to that class. I strongly encourage all families to attend this particularly important meeting.

A creche facility will be available in the school Library from 5.30-7.05pm for those families who are unable to make alternative arrangements for their child/ren.

 Only children aged 4 or older will be allowed to attend the creche.  Alternative arrangements will need to be made for children who are younger than 4.

NO food is allowed at the creche.

There will be several important notes and permission forms distributed at the meeting (medical, use of images/ICT use/excursion permission & family details).  Could families please complete, sign, and return these important notes to their class teacher on the evening or to the front office asap.

Those students who will be receiving one of the three Sacraments this year, will need to attend either the 6.00pm Mass on Saturday 22 February, or the 9.30am or 6.00pm Mass on Sunday 23 February to enrol for the program.  Please remember to bring your enrolment form and payment to Mass to hand to Father.

The P&F will be hosting a free Outdoor Movie Night at school on Friday 21 February commencing at 7:00pm.  This event is FREE to the school community.  There will be an ice-cream truck available from 6.00-7.30pm to purchase items.  Families are invited to BYO their own dinner, and something comfortable to sit on (e.g., blankets, beanbags, low lying chairs etc.).  Gates will open at 6:00pm.  More details to follow.

Thank you to the familiar and new parents/carers who attended the first P&F meeting this week, your presence was appreciated.  During the meeting, the 2025 executive team was finalised.  Congratulations to the following parents:

Chairperson: Rechelle Moulton

Vice-Chairperson:  Harmony Elliott

Secretary: Louise George

Treasurer: Melissa Daly

During Week 4, the school has arranged for all kindergarten students to receive speech screening.  The results will allow teachers to implement early intervention strategies to assist all our students in having the best start to their schooling as possible.

To Rhys Saxton (Xavier OSHClub WA Co-ordinator) who won the individual Educator of the Year Award for the South Metro region at the recent OSHC awards ceremony.  Rhys, along with his team, do a wonderful job in ensuring the students who attend the OSHC service here at Xavier enjoy their experience.  The entire Xavier OSHClub WA service came second in its award category.

The school understands that due to unexpected circumstances, there will be times for families when student pick up and/or drop off arrangements change.  If possible, please inform the school asap if a message needs to be sent to a child regarding a change in circumstances.  If the school receives consistent messages of late pick up or early drop off, an alternative arrangement such as OSHClub will need to be sought by parents.

A reminder that children cannot be dropped to school before 8.15am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Breakfast Club on Tuesdays and Thursdays commences at 7.45am and children will be supervised from this time on those two days.

Please do not drop your child/ren at the back of the school before official drop off times, as they are not supervised by an adult.

The next P&F meeting will be on Tuesday 11 March at 6pm. There will be the possibility of attending in person in the school staffroom, as well as attending online from home.