SFX

Issue 2 | 20 March, 2018 

IN THIS  EDITION

• From the Principal

• We Have a New Website!!!

• Being the Best We Can Be

• Senior Students Profiled for

International Women's Day

• Notes on Student

Wellbeing

• Parent Teacher

Interviews: Change of Date

• Chief Minister's Reading

Challenge + New Signage in

Resource Centre

• Harmony Week Activities +

You're Invited to Go to NASA

• Sport Report

• Social Media

This week at St Francis Xavier College we launched our new website, which is still at the same address: www.sfx.act.edu.au.

The new website will be home to all of the information you should need as a teacher, student or parent of our college community.

We have also slightly modified the newsletter format, so that it will be a bit easier for you to get the information that you need.

Our new calendar will allow you to find out what is happening in the community, and our latest news will be updated on a daily basis.

We would love to receive any feedback from you, and we are still tweaking things to make sure it has everything you need, but we would love any ideas and suggestions you have.

Please send any feedback to Beth Doherty, our Communications Officer on communications@sfx.act.edu.au.

We Have a New Website!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

By Acting Principal Colleen Rowe

Our Opening Mass last Wednesday was celebrated by our Chaplain Father Loi and assisted by

Father Gerard and Father Kimi from Kippax. The Mass was a wonderful way to mark the start of the

school year: a prayerful and reverent celebration. In his homily Fr Loi reflected on the First Reading

from the Book of Kings in which Elijah finds God in the silence, connecting this story of Elijah with our

2018 Religious Theme Be Still and Know That I am God. Fr Loi challenged us, gently, to think about

the need for times of stillness and for finding time for God in our busy lives.

This theme Be Still and Know That I am God reminds us that God can be found in silence, as it is in

silence that God speaks to us and wants us to grow and do wonderful things. The act of being still and

getting quiet is quite a challenge in our hectic world. The world asks us to be busy. God asks us to be

still so that we can receive love, peace and guidance. We hope to give students more time for quiet

reflection in RE classes this year.

Representatives from the other Catholic Colleges and their Senior Leadership Team were invited to

our Opening Mass. It was lovely to see the connections our Senior Leaders have made with other

students as they welcomed leaders from Catholic colleges across Canberra. The Leadership Day they

attended with Bridie McNeill at Marist College certainly seemed to achieve the goal of fostering

relationships across our schools.

COLLEEN ROWE

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

To read more, visit

https://sfx.act.edu.au/from-the-principal/

Be The Best We Can Be

By Anne Armstrong

The diverse topics studied this semester by our students in Religious Education from Years 9 to

12 can be synthesised into four areas of faith and human development: developing an ethic of

virtue (Year 12); understanding and contributing to providing for human needs (Year 11);

understanding the mission of the Church (Year 10); and recognising that the Eucharist is the

source and summit of Christian life (Year 9).

Each of those overarching understandings can also be linked to our Lenten practice of prayer,

reflection, and developing compassion and sacrifice. Each understanding invites us to consider

those behaviours that we should aspire to to develop a closer relationship with God and

participate more fully in our communities. Some of these behaviours include:

• Becoming aware of and stopping cruelty and exploitation

• Encouraging others to do good

• Trying to be a human being who promotes the dignity of others

• Doing work that one considers worthwhile (developing an awareness of our vocation or

calling)

• Taking on responsibilities

• Seeking truth

• Loving selflessly

• Being just

• Meditating on the wonder of creation

• Going to Mass more regularly and not just on Sundays

• Developing virtue

To read the rest of this article, visit https://sfx.act.edu.au/being-the-best-we-can-be/

Be The Best We Can Be

By Kerie Hull and Beth Doherty

Claire Mackenzie and Mateja Kostrica are two exceptional young women who are in Year 12 at St Francis Xavier College.

Last week, the Catholic Education Office interviewed both young women about their goals and hopes for the future, and in particular focused on their aspirations as young female leaders.

The videos can be watched at the following link on the CEO website: https://cg.catholic.edu.au/lat-news/celebrating-international-womens-day/

Mateja is heavily involved within the school and wider community, assisting younger students with getting in touch with their spirituality, creating friendships and volunteering time to the elderly.

Seventeen-year-old Claire Mackenzie is passionate about the power of language, wants to use words for good and is an advocate for equality.

“I know that I need to fight to get where I want to be in life and I’m willing to do that,” she said.

Claire describes being a woman as a challenge – but a good one, appreciates how far we have come as a society and embraces the unknown when it comes to her future.

“I’m really proud to be a part of the Catholic community, which has always been a big part of my identity.”

To read about the girls and to see their videos, read more : https://sfx.act.edu.au/senior- students-claire-and-mateja-profiled-for-international-womens-day/

Senior Students Claire and Mateja Profiled for International Women’s Day

Be The Best We Can Be

By Kerie Hull and Beth Doherty

Claire Mackenzie and Mateja Kostrica are two exceptional young women who are in Year 12 at St Francis Xavier College.

Last week, the Catholic Education Office interviewed both young women about their goals and hopes for the future, and in particular focused on their aspirations as young female leaders.

The videos can be watched at the following link on the CEO website: https://cg.catholic.edu.au/lat-news/celebrating-international-womens-day/

Mateja is heavily involved within the school and wider community, assisting younger students with getting in touch with their spirituality, creating friendships and volunteering time to the elderly.

Seventeen-year-old Claire Mackenzie is passionate about the power of language, wants to use words for good and is an advocate for equality.

“I know that I need to fight to get where I want to be in life and I’m willing to do that,” she said.

Claire describes being a woman as a challenge – but a good one, appreciates how far we have come as a society and embraces the unknown when it comes to her future.

“I’m really proud to be a part of the Catholic community, which has always been a big part of my identity.”

To read about the girls and to see their videos, read more : https://sfx.act.edu.au/senior- students-claire-and-mateja-profiled-for-international-womens-day/

Senior Students Claire and Mateja Profiled for International Women’s Day

FROM DEARNE BASSETT , ASSISTANT

PRINCIPAL STUDENT WELLBEING

NOTES ON STUDENT WELLBEING

Bus Update: This is to advise that School Routes 421, 575, 580, 630, 802, 804, 808 will see diversions in place

from Monday 5 March 2018. Effective Saturday 3 March 2018, Platform 1 Hibberson Street will

close to allow for continued works within the Gungahlin Place precinct.

As a result of Hibberson Street closing, Platform 1 will relocate to Gozzard Street (opposite the

Raiders Club). Platform 2 will remain temporarily on Gozzard Street. On the completion of works

the Gungahlin Bus Station will move to its permanent location at Gungahlin Place.

Commencing: Monday 5 March 2018 (for school services) until further notice.

Bike Riders: Unfortunately, SFX has experienced some bikes taken from the school over the last 12 months.

We are looking at relocating the bike racks away from near the trees. We are asking that students

park their bike up in front of the staff carpark (opposite the building). Make sure you have a

secure lock and you take your helmet with you and place in your locker.

ThinkUKnow Presentation: 3rd April 2018: 6.00pm

ThinkUKnow Australia is a cyber safety education program that educates parents, carers and

teachers how people are using technology, the challenges they may face online, and how to help

them overcome these in a safe and ethical way. ThinkUKnow Australia is a partnership between

the Australian Federal Police, Microsoft Australia, Datacom and the Commonwealth Bank. The

program is delivered in collaboration with policing partners New South Wales Police Force,

Northern Territory Police, Queensland Police, South Australia Police, Tasmania Police and

Western Australia Police, as well as Neighbourhood Watch Australasia.

The presentation will be delivered by a local law enforcement member and an industry volunteer.

The presentation covers issues relating to children and young people's privacy and security

online, their relationships with other users and their online reputation. It provides insight into the

devices young people are using, as well as the popular websites, apps and social networking

sites they’re accessing.

This is a fantastic opportunity for you to learn more about young people and the online

environment, and how you can help them to be safe and responsible users of technology.

For more information about any of these things, please be in touch with Dearne Bassett: dearne.bassett@sfx.act.edu.au.

Dear parents, students and teachers:

The following notification is about a

change of dates for Parent/Teacher interviews.

They will now take place in Term 2

and more information about time and locations

will be provided in the coming weeks.

The dates are: Thursday 3rd May (Week 1)

Tuesday 8th May (Week 2)

Reports will be emailed home Term 1, Friday, Week 10.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Change of Date

New Signage in the Resource Centre

Chief Minister's Reading Challenge

In 2017 the fiction collection was reorganised into genres to aid in

the easier selection of reading material for students.

This was a welcome change for most students; however some found

it difficult to locate their favourite genre.

Fortunately, the very talented Mariana Rollgejser was on hand to

whip up some amazing looking signs.

We think they’re fabulous. What do you think?

Our Year 7 and 8 students have been challenged to read

15 books of their own choice before 7 September 2018.

Students record the books they read on a Student

Reading Record supplied by the Resource Centre.

Prizes are allocated based on rates of participation.

Please see more information at

https://www.education.act.gov.au/teaching_and_learning/

chief_ministers_reading_challenge

Any Year 7 and 8 students who would like to participate,

check in with the Resource Centre staff!

We have some wonderful activities from the 19th to 23rd March to celebrate Harmony Week at SFX.

Monday: Pastoral Map of the world to find out where people come from in the world.

Monday and Tuesday recess: Orange ribbons on sale in the hub. Gold coin donation. Money to go to

Project Compassion.

Tuesday: Pastoral Quiz

Wednesday: Everyone is encouraged to wear orange accessories!! There will be a special Harmony

Day Assembly in Period 3.

Thursday: Making clickity clack or peace cranes in the hub at lunch.

Friday: International Food Stall Pop-up in the Year 10 Locker Bay with options including Sushi,

Rice Paper Rolls, Japanese Pancakes.

Get involved and help promote peace and harmony in our school and society!!

St Francis Xavier College students have the

opportunity to attend CASE Space School, an

international study program in conjunction with NASA,

specifically tailored to develop leaders of the next

generation.

CASE Senior Space School is for students in Years 10,

11 and 12 and takes place 9th – 2nd December 2018.

An Information Evening for parents will be held on

Tuesday 20th March, 6.30 – 7.30pm.

To RSVP for the Information Evening, visit

www.actura.com.au/sfx

You're Invited to go to NASA!

Harmony Week Activities!

By Brendan Duffy, Sports Coordinator

We have had lots of sporting success over the last month at SFX across a number of different competitions and sports including AFL, Softball, Rugby League, Oztag, Athletics and Baseball.

Brendan Duffy, our Sports Coordinator, has written about all of these successes on our

website: http://sfx.act.edu.au/sport-report-for- february-and-march-2018/.

Sports Report

On twitter and instagram

www.sfx.act.edu.au

@sfxflorey@SFXFlorey is active on social media, with accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Make sure to follow us so you can hear all

of our news as it happens! Email us with any information at communications@sfx.act.edu.au.