Jubilee Year 2025 – Pilgrims of Hope

Prayer for Pope Francis

O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful,

look favorably on your servant Francis,

whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd;

grant, we pray, that by word and example

he may be of service to those over whom he presides

so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care,

he may come to everlasting life.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Building Community – The SJA Fete

Being a member of a Faith filled community makes us aware that we are a part of something far greater than ourselves. It allows us the opportunity to connect with others to form new, and strengthen existing, friendships. Last weekend, we displayed our community spirit through the SJA Fete!

Our Awesome Fete offered awesome prizes in our raffle, delicious foods, festive drinks and outstanding foods, a huge cake stall, books galore, toys and treasures, chocolate wheel, plants, paintings, chocolate trailer, throw the sponge or shoot a hoop! We enjoyed performances from our Choir, and every grade ‘busted a move’ in sync. It was fabulous to see so many smiling faces. The SJA Fete provided something for everyone young and old.

Fairy floss sticky fingers and paint covered faces couldn’t hinder the enjoyment of the screams and laughter coming from the cha cha, tea-cups, pirate ship, huge slippery dip, chocolate trailer, patting a snake and crocodile, lolly pops, ice creams, pop corn and so much more.

A community is, at its core, a group of individuals defined by common attitudes and characteristics, and at St John the Apostle we are fortunate to be surrounded by altruistic and generous people driven by the goal of continuously development for our school. This event could not be possible without the tireless efforts of our Fete Committee led by Bek Brown, Community Council, all the SJA Staff, students and our very generous Sponsors.

Engaging in events such as the SJA Fete not only allows your child to run freely with their friends but also has pro-social benefits. Ultimately, parental presence is key in increasing resilience, life satisfaction, and communication skills in children. Children with involved parental figures are regularly more adept at behavioural and emotional regulation, allowing for a natural ease in collaboration and cooperation. Going to activities with your child such as the Fete increases parental presence, brings the community together, and grows our SJA spirit and pride in our school!

Missed this one? Don’t worry! We have plenty more events before the end of the Semester such as our Harmony Day this coming Friday, Athletics Carnival, Year 6 Camp, Regional Swimming and an end of term sausage sizzle for the students to say thanks for an awesome Term 1! Keep an eye out in the newsletter for our upcoming events.

Yours in Faith

Jo Reed

Principal

A big thank you to our sponsors for our 2025 School Fete!

Gold Sponsors

Dice 4 Diversity

Dice 4 Diversity specialise in working with neurodiverse people – Autism Spectrum, ADD, ADHD, Trauma – but aren’t limited to people with diagnoses. They also work on social anxiety, self-confidence, resilience, teamwork, and much more. Ages 7 and up. Dice 4 Diversity are NDIS friendly.

Ichi Cafe

Kippax Fair, 29 Hardwick Crescent Holt, Canberra, ACT, Australia, 2615

Why not take a look at the extensive menu of Ichi Cafe and treat the kids to take away food tonight, it's got to be better than slaving over a hot stove, then you can bribe them to do the washing up. What we recommend? Try Bacon and Eggs Roll or Cappucino. 

Grindstones Reflections

"Grindstones Reflections is the premier polished concrete company for architects, builders, and clients seeking to build and establish long term relationships. Mainly focusing our strengths on high end residential and now forging a path into commercial and government projects. Our small yet highly efficient team believes that building long-term relationships, open communication and setting expectations from the start is the key to an exceptional and seamless experience. We are passionate and committed to exceeding your expectations on every project." 

Silver Sponsors

Leading Edge Fire Doors

Canberra-based fire door installation company.

Showtime Consulting

Pioneers of 'Shielded Cloud Solutions’— leaders in the integration of ultra-secure, intelligent technology in the most challenging environments.  

showtimeconsulting.au

Test and Tag Canberra

Website: TestandTagCanberra.com.au

Email: sales@testandtagcanberra.com.au

Phone: +61 469 903 653

Bronze Sponsors

Zambrero Manuka

Zambrero is Feel Good Mex! A fresh, healthy quick-service Mexican restaurant franchise and a humanitarian enterprise committed to helping stop world hunger by donating a Plate 4 Plate with every burrito, bowl or grab & go retail item purchased.

We are located in MANUKA – Shop 10, 18 Flinders Way. We can’t wait to see you!

N2Eletrical

N2 Electrical is a family owned and operated electrical company services Canberra and the surrounding regions. With a combined 16 years of hands- on experience, we bring a wealth of knowledge and skill to every project we undertake. We are deeply passionate about our craft, viewing each electrical job as an opportunity to make a difference.

We're dedicated to open communication and exceptional service. Whether you have questions or need assistance, we're here for you. Reach out via phone or email, we're always happy to discuss your electrical needs and provide tailored solutions.

RIXE GROUP

The Rixe Group specialises in leadership, leadership emergence, talent management and communication.

We focus on practical application and learning transfer when designing programs, utilising the most rigorous and recent academic research to design and deliver face-to-face and virtual programs that ensure employees, as well as the organisations they belong to, maximise their outcomes.

Barrett Bros Smash Repairs

Barrett Bros Smash Repairs specialise in accident repairs. If you have been involved in an accident, call our friendly team and they will help you with the process.

We aim to provide our clients with the highest level of customer service and quality accident repairs.

We work with all major insurance companies and will support your choice of repairer.

Higgins Dental

"Higgins Dental is a family-friendly practice offering high quality care for all ages. Led by principal dentists Dr. Chris Phillips and Dr. Erin Currier, we provide gentle, personalised treatments using the latest technology. From check-ups to advanced care, we’re here to help you smile with confidence."

Donations from:

• IGA Holt
• Wee Jasper Distillery
• Raiders Club Holt
• Brudine Vet
• The Picnic Train
• Kippax Vet
• Higgins Dental
• Oliver Street Photography
• Belconnen Bunnings
• Power Kert Raceway
• Flip Out Majura
• Canberra Colour
• Canturf
• Urban Brow Studio

It was a joy to attend the Sacrament of Penance this week. It was lovely to see how prepared the students were and a big thank you to Marion, Sharron and Steph for all their support. 

Congratulations to all especially our beautiful students.

What Students are Learning About

Year 6

Year 6 participated in the Journey with Jesus retreat on Thursday. They were led by an enthusiastic group of youth workers from the Archdiocese.

Some students will elect to become part of our youth ministry team and run short retreat sessions for the younger students. I am looking forward to working with the children who feel called to share their faith.

Year 3

Year 3 have been hard at work preparing for their first Reconcilation.  Please keep them in your prayers. FAther Chung came for a visit to talk to the children about the importance of forgiveness.

Year 2

Year 2 have been talking about the importance of kindness and compassion for Harmony Day.  Keldon in 2M drew a beautiful representation of the people in the school who are kind to him.  He was so proud to show his work and so happy to share the love he feels.  Thank you, Keldon, you made my day!

Catholic Life and Reflection

This week is Harmony Week when we as a country celebrate that “Everyone Belongs”. 

Paul’s Letter to the Colossians 3:12-15 says…

12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord[a] has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.

Isn’t that a beautiful image to be “clothed with compassion and kindness”.  Who are the people in your life you wrap in kindness?  Who are the people in your life who are on the heart of god for you?

Maybe let them know. ?

 

God bless,

Stephanie Stewart

Religious Education Coordinator

Happy Birthday to Davina Borscz, Samuel Hilhorst, Mackenzie Knight, Alexander Stephensen, Spencer Cantwell, Arjun Pardeshi, Zakary Sutherland, Hayley Greenhalgh, Joseph Cook, Anita Shekarkhandeh, Henry Bradbury, Valentina Saldias Gomez, Campbell Green, Patrick Glenn-Downey, Katie Neiberding, Madison Stanton, William Le, Beau Carr, Casper Nolan, Reedhee Pandey, Joshua Ho, Rishaan Banerji Dash, Logan Campbell and Ruby Muller who all celebrate a Birthday in March.

Could we please request that all students with hair that can be tied back, be tied back.

We have many cases of Head Lice in the school and we need your help to try to get on top of this.

Please check your child's hair regularly and treat thoroughly.

Parking in these spaces is reserved for people who have priority parking cards.

If you do not have a disability parking sticker please do not use these spots

Thank you for your support in this matter.

Opening Hours

    ST FRANCIS XAVIER COLLEGE

2026 Enrolment Information Evening

What: Visit SFX and find out about our amazing College. The evening includes guided tours of the school and an information session.

When: Tuesday 25 March 2025. The evening will commence with guided tours from 5pm and an information session from 6:30- 7:15pm.

Who: Everyone is invited to come along and experience SFX. No bookings required.

Try-A-Day

What: Year 6 students have the opportunity to Try out SFX for a day.

When: Friday 2 May 2025 – 10:00am – 2:00pm

Who: Year 6 students from Belconnen Catholic Primary Schools are invited to experience High School for a day at SFX.  Students will be advised by their primary school and travel to and from with their class group.

Year 6 students from Primary Schools other than Belconnen Catholic Primary Schools are also invited but must register to attend.  A registration link will be available on this site from Tuesday 1 April 2025.

Open Day

When: Friday 9 2025 May 9:00am – 2:30pm

What: Open Day is also an opportunity for prospective families to visit and take a guided tour of the College. This is a wonderful opportunity to see what happens on a normal school day. There is no need to register to take a tour of the College. Please feel free to come along between 9am – 2.00pm on the day.

More Information

For more information regarding enrolments, please contact our

Enrolment Officer, Jennifer Madgwick

enrolments@sfx.act.edu.au

or telephone 6258 1055

A friendly reminder that St Johns is a nut free school. Thank you.