In Parishes throughout the Diocese of Wollongong we celebrated the 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C. In last Sunday’s gospel we hear Jesus teaching His disciples how to pray and he encourages them to trust in God’s goodness. He gives them the Lord’s Prayer as a simple yet powerful way to speak with God, focusing on praise, daily needs, forgiveness, and guidance. Through the parable of the persistent friend and the image of a loving parent, Jesus reminds us that God listens to our prayers with care and generosity. We are called to pray with faith, persistence, and confidence, knowing that God always responds with what is best—especially the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to Term 3 and I hope you all had a chance to spend quality time with your family and friends.  Having spoken with quite a few parents and carers, grandparents and students over the past week, the holidays were a time to rest and relax. 

Term 3 has started with the celebration of two whole school community events. Whole school community events are an important factor in a school community and provide an opportunity to belong to a connected community. St John’s celebrated Naidoc Week with various engagement opportunities and activities and a wonderful celebration of the richness and diversity of Aboriginal culture and first nations peoples. Naidoc week provided an opportunity for our community to come together to recognise and celebrate the rich traditions and culture of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples past, present and those of the future and their contributions to our communities. I would like to acknowledge a number of people who planned and facilitated the Naidoc Week liturgy and activities, Mrs McEntee, Aunty Jo Ball and Uncle Mark Mongta.

St John’s celebrated Grandparents Day. This was an opportunity to express our gratitude to the grandparents of St John's for the many things they do for our community, the care, love and support they show our students. This day was in recognition of The Feast of Joachim and Anne which is celebrated on 26 July each year. During our Grandparent’s Day Liturgy of the Word and Blessing we recognised the importance of honouring our grandparents and thanking them for the blessings they have passed down to us in love. World day for Grandparents and the Elderly was inaugurated by Pope Francis in 2021 and is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of July. As grandparents to Jesus, St Anne and St Joachim taught the art of meeting and walking together and at St John’s we recognise that our grandparents are an integral part of our St John’s community. Thank you to Mr Bill Whittle and the staff at St John’s for their organisation and support on the day. A wonderful community celebration!!

NAPLAN Overview

We have recently received our 2025 Naplan results and I would like to congratulate our Year 3 and Year 5 students on their achievements. Parent and carer reports were distributed in Week 1 Term 3. We will continue to unpack the Naplan data to inform teaching and learning actions for the remainder of the school year and we will use the data to inform our ongoing school improvement goals.  Congratulations Year 3 and Year 5 students.

Continuous Catholic School Improvement Progress

This term the staff of St John’s have continued to focus on our annual improvement goal as part of our strategic intent for 2025. The annual improvement goal and progress are as follows:

Annual Improvement Goal: All students will achieve relevant learning growth in Mathematics.

Throughout Term 3, our teachers will continue to work together during dedicated Collaborative Planning sessions looking closely at student learning in Mathematics through a variety of data and work samples. The collaborative planning will enable staff to deepen their knowledge of where each student is in their learning and how best ot  support our students to move forward.

As part of this work, each grade will participate in a Collaborative Cycle of Inquiry. Teachers will regularly come together to plan, teach, check how students are progressing, and adjust their teaching to ensure every student is developing their mathematical skills as best they can. By using this cycle, teachers can respond to students’ needs and use proven strategies to help all learners succeed.

By working as a team, analysing student work and assessment information, and sharing effective teaching strategies, we aim to make sure every student is supported to grow and thrive in Mathematics.

Creating a Shared Vision for Learning at St John’s

Our school community has been working together to develop a clear and shared Vision for Learning that will guide teaching and learning at  St John’s for years to come. This important work began last term at our Staff Development Day and has continued through several dedicated staff meetings, supported by education consultant Jane Bezzina. Together, our staff are exploring what high quality learning looks like at St John’s and how to bring this to life in every classroom, every day.

Once finalised, our Vision for Learning will become a strong foundation that guides how staff plan, teach and assess, helping staff achieve the goals in our Annual Improvement Plan (AIP) and our School Strategic Improvement Plan (SSIP). Students will benefit from clear, consistent and purposeful teaching that supports success across all areas of learning.

Families will see this Vision for Learning in action through the engaging learning experiences, high expectations and supportive environments we create for every child. We look forward to sharing our Vision for Learning with you on its completion and working together to bring it to life for every student at St John’s. We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with you to support your child’s learning journey.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Yours in Faith and Learning,
Mrs Michelle Rodwell
Principal
 

Acknowledgement to Country

St John’s Dapto acknowledges and pays respect to the Dharawal people, past and present, the traditional custodians of the land on which our school is built.

Year 6 Mass with the Bishop

Year 6 students from Catholic schools within the Wollongong Diocese participate in an annual Mass with Bishop Brian Mascord. This event is a significant occasion for the students to experience the Eucharist, connect with their peers, and understand their place within the broader Catholic community. The Mass also serves as a way to strengthen their Catholic faith as they prepare for secondary school. This significant event takes place on Tuesday the 5th of August at Sts Peter and Paul Kiama. 

Year 4 Religious Literacy Assessment 

The primary years Religious Literacy Assessment program evaluates how students use literacy skills to communicate their understanding of the religious tradition to themselves, peers, teachers, and members of the wider community.

The assessment involves all Year 4 students across the Diocese of Wollongong and consists of multiple choice and short answer questions. Questions are focused on students' knowledge and understanding of Religious Education concepts from Kindergarten to Year 4 and what they mean for the way we live.

Data gathered from the assessment are analysed to inform teaching in schools, and to recognise and celebrate learning in the domain of Religious Education in the Wollongong Diocese.

Year 4 participated in a practice assessment in Week One this Term and sit the RLA assessment on Monday the 4th of August Week 3.

Grandparents Day

Thank you to the parents, grandparents and special friends that helped make our Grandparents day celebrations such a significant event. Grandparents day coincides with the celebration of Saints Joachim and Anne the parents of the Virgin Mary and grandparents of Jesus. They are traditionally honored as the patrons of grandparents and are celebrated on July 26th. We hope you enjoyed our Grandparents' Day Liturgy, picnic lunch, and open classrooms.

Kindergarten & Gunyah Mass

Kindergarten and Gunyah One are running the Parish Mass on Friday the 1st of August at 9.30am. They are focusing on the story of The Good Shepherd. The Parable of the Good Shepherd, found in the Gospel of John, teaches about Jesus's love, protection, and sacrifice for his followers. Parents and the wider community are more than welcome to attend this mass service.

Feast of the Transfiguration

The Feast of the Transfiguration, celebrated on August 6th, commemorates the event in the Gospels where Jesus's divine nature was revealed to his disciples Peter, James, and John on a mountain. During this event, Jesus's face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Moses and Elijah also appeared, and a voice from a cloud identified Jesus as God's Son. The feast celebrates Jesus's divinity, foreshadows his resurrection, and encourages faith.

Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop

The Feast of St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop is celebrated on August 8th each year. It is the feast day of Mary MacKillop, Australia's first saint, who founded the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart (the Josephites). This day is a celebration of her life, her work in Catholic education, and her advocacy for the poor and marginalised. This is especially important as a Josephite school with strong connections to St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. It will be celebrated as a Whole Mass with the community on Friday Morning of this day at 9.30am.

Christmas Art

The Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) holds an annual Christmas Story Art Exhibition and Competition for Year 5 and 6 students from Catholic primary schools in the diocese. Students create artworks based on the Christmas story, with finalists displayed at the Wollongong City Art Gallery. The exhibition is usually held in October, with the opening coinciding with the announcement of major awards.

The competition at St John’s will be ran following this process:

• Offered to all students in Stage 3
  
  
• Students will indicate their wish to take part by filling out a Google Nomination form
  
  A maximum of 35 students will be selected based on the nomination form to participate in a workshop day in Week 3. On this Wednesday, students will explore the Christmas Scriptures and their context and by the end of the day have developed an idea for their art.
  
  
• A group of students will then be selected to work with Mrs Scales to create their artwork and written response over Weeks 4-7.
  
  
• Three Year 6 and and Three Year 5 artworks will be selected to be entered into the Dioscean competition.
  
  
• The Catholic Education Office will then select from all schools a range of art works to display at the Wollongong Art Gallery.

2025 Jubilee Year ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.

As we continue our sacred Jubilee journey, we do so with hearts full of hope and purpose. Inspired by Pope Francis’s call to be Pilgrims of Hope, we are reminded each day to walk together in faith, compassion, and unity. This Jubilee is a time to renew our commitment to building a world rooted in mercy, justice, and love. As a school community, we embrace this call by striving to bring encouragement, kindness, and joy to all those around us.

Prayer
Father in heaven,
Fill us with the faith you have given us in your Son, Jesus Christ, our brother.
May the flame of charity, kindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
renew our desire to live as joyful, humble pilgrims of hope.
Grant that the grace of this Jubilee Year strengthens our spirit,
so that all our actions may be rooted in your love.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer Intentions

We pray for all families in our school community who are in need of our prayers.
We pray for the needs of our country and our world. 

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, pray for us.
St John the Evangelist, pray for us.

Bill Whittle
Acting Religious Education Coordinator

Dates for Term 3

• 12 August — South Coast Athletics Carnival
• 19 August — Diocesan Athletics Selection Trials
• 29 August — South Coast Soccer Gala Day (Years 3-6) (B/U 5/9/25)
• 18 September — Basketball Junior Boys & Girls (Years 3&4)
• 19 September — Basketball Senior Girls & Boys (Years 5&6)
• 24 September — Mackillop Athletics
  
  

Dates for Term 4

• 16 October — Cricket Gala Day (Years 5&6) (B/U 23/10/25)
• 11 November — Catholic Dragon Tag Gala Day (Years 3-6)
• 14 November — Annual CDF Sports Awards
  
  

St John’s Athletics Carnival

Last term St John’s held their athletics carnival at the Kerryn McCann Athletics Track, Beaton Park. It started out a little wet but the sun shone through about mid morning and the day was filled with fun and positive school spirit. Thank you to the parent helpers who assisted on the day. Our sporting carnivals need our parents’ generous support and it is much appreciated. 

Congratulations to our Age Division Champions and our winning house. 

Age Division Champions

2024 House Point score

• 1st Place – McCabe
• 2nd Place – Mackillop
• 3rd Place – Ward
• 4th Place – Joseph

Congratulations to these students who will represent St John’s at the South Coast Athletics carnival at Beaton Park on 12th of August. Please note a Compass event has been published for parents to complete.

Michelle Atkins
Sports Coordinator

Students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 participated in the National Assessment Program — Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) during Term 1. A NAPLAN individual student report will be provided for your child early in Term 3. The same report format is used for every student in Australia. 

NAPLAN results are reported against proficiency standards. There is a standard for each assessment area at each year level. Proficiency standards provide clear information on student achievement. Student achievement is shown against 4 levels of proficiency:

• Exceeding: the student’s result exceeds expectations at the time of testing.
• Strong: the student’s result meets challenging but reasonable expectations at the time of testing.
• Developing: the student’s result indicates that they are working towards expectations at the time of testing.
• Needs additional support: the student’s result indicates that they are not achieving the learning outcomes that are expected at the time of testing. They are likely to need additional support to progress satisfactorily.
  
  

If your child participated in 2025 and has not received their report, contact the school office.

NAIDOC Week marks a powerful milestone: 50 years of honoring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience. The 2025 theme, "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy," celebrates not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities, and the legacy of our ancestors. 

On Monday 28th July as a school community we celebrated NAIDOC week. We began with a whole school liturgy where we came together to honour the rich Aboriginal culture in our school and wider community and shared a special lunch for our Aboriginal families and students.

It was a pleasure to see our Aboriginal students share their dances so proudly. Thank you to all our parents, carers, community Elders and visitors who were able to join us. We are also so fortunate to have the support of our wonderful Aboriginal Education Assistants Uncle Mark and Aunty Jo who we thank so much for all their work and support.

All students participated in Black, Red and Yellow mufti day and a variety of activities in class throughout the week.

A special thank you to the parents who were able to make our Yarning circle morning tea last term. We will continue to build connections and engage with our Aboriginal parents and community throughout the year.

Save the date — Thursday, 21 August!                               

This year the theme for Book Week is “BOOK AN ADVENTURE”.

We will be celebrating Book Week at St. John’s on Thursday, 21st August. There will be a Book Week Parade under the COLA from 8.45am – 9.30am. Parents, carers and grandparents are welcome to join the celebration!

The theme for the 2025 Children's Book Week is "Book an Adventure” and students are encouraged to get creative with items you already have at home and take inspiration from your favourite characters to dress up.

We are very excited to welcome Nathaniel Eckstrom, our visiting author and illustrator, who will come and speak, illustrate and read to the children throughout the day.

Nathaniel Eckstrom
Artist | Illustrator

The ability to visualise gentle realms of fun and adventure has made Nathaniel Eckstrom one of Australia’s leading children’s illustrators, capable of taking concepts and turning them into something imaginative, quirky and eye-catching. A number of Nathaniel’s books have been both notable and shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year. Nathaniel has illustrated over twenty titles. His books include Meg McKinlay’s – DUCK, The Dress-Up Box written by Patrick Guest and The Hole Idea written by Beth and Paul MacDonald, Ten Little Figs and The Happiest Boy on Earth.

Signed copies of Nathanial Eckstrom Books

Should you wish to purchase books from the visiting author, Nathanial Eckstrom, which he will sign on the day, please place your order using the QR code below.

Orders must be placed no later than 6 August 2025.

We warmly invite all fathers and father figures to join us for a special Father’s Day celebration on Friday, 5th September! The day will begin with a heartfelt Father’s Day Liturgy, honouring the important role you play in your children's lives. After the liturgy, enjoy a picnic lunch in the playground—a great opportunity to relax, connect, and make memories with your child. The celebration will continue with Open Classrooms, where you’ll be able to step into your child’s learning world and see all the wonderful things they’ve been working on. We look forward to celebrating this special day with you—it’s sure to be a fantastic day!

Father's Day Stall — Help Needed

Exciting News! The P&F have organised a fantastic Father's Day Stall on Friday, 5 September! With gifts ranging from just $1 to $5, it's the perfect chance for your children to pick up something special. Don't forget to pack a reusable bag for their treasures!

We need volunteers to help set up on Thursday 4 September, starting at 2:30 pm, and on Friday 5 September, from 8:30 am until after recess.

If you can lend a hand, please fill out the form below.

Plus, don't miss out on our Father's Day raffle! Raffle tickets will be sent home, and the lucky winners will be drawn on 5 September. Good luck!

Our talented students have been working incredibly hard in preparation for their upcoming performance of Shrek the Musical Jr.! From singing and dancing to perfecting their lines and stage presence, their dedication and enthusiasm are shining through every rehearsal. We can’t wait to bring this magical production to life from 16 October to 19 October. Stay tuned — we’ll let parents and carers know as soon as tickets become available!

This term is an exciting term for our school Environment Team! Last term, as part of our School Environment Management Plan III (SEMP III) we have established a student leadership team who will help implement a wide range of environment initiatives at St John’s!

Congratulations to the following students who are helping to relaunch our Environment Team this year – Annabelle F, Izak R, Macey B, Hudson C, Marni L, Ruby K, Sebastian P, Ryan A.

This year we are introducing the St John’s Environmental Stewardship Award to recognise the initiative, pride and care students demonstrate in caring for our school and local environment. One award per grade will be given to students at a liturgy marking the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, celebrated on September 1 each year. We will mark this day with a liturgy led by our new Student Environment Team and present the awards.

Our focus for this year is using our correct bins to help reduce our school impact on the local environment. The bins we have at St John’s are:

• Recycling (paper, cardboard, hard plastics 1,2,5)
• Landfill Rubbish
• FOGO
• Return and Earn (collected by the Parish)
• Stationery recycling through Officeworks

Each year, the Department of Education and Training conducts the Non-Government Schools Census to determine a school’s entitlement to recurrent funding and to fulfil national student reporting requirements. Recurrent funding is calculated on a per-student basis, so it is essential that schools submit accurate and complete Census data to remain eligible for funding for the current calendar year.

The upcoming Census will be held on Friday 1 August 2025. This Census is a critical requirement for the release of Government Per Capita Recurrent funding, which is distributed via Catholic Schools NSW. 

The Census process includes the collection and use of certain information about your school, its staff and the student body for reporting to the Australian Government.

Any personal information collected in the Census and NCCD is protected by law under the Privacy Act 1988 (CTH) (Privacy Act), and any use or disclosure of that personal information must be in accordance with the Privacy Act, the Act and Regulations, and any other applicable laws.

Please refer to the linked Privacy Collection Notice for your reference.

It is critically important that all students arrive at school, ready to learn on time each and every day. The school day begins at 8:30 am and increasingly there are a significant number of students arriving after this time. Consistently arriving late to school impacts student learning and just 10 mins a day over the course of year potentially equates to 6 school days.

It is the same for early pick-up. Increasingly, the office is inundated with parents and carers from 2:00 pm requesting early departure from school. Our school day concludes at 2:40 pm and as such, without a legitimate reason for leaving early, all children should remain at school until the end of the school day.

While it is understood that there is often little choice in times available for important appointments on either side of the school day, this reminder is for the habitual late arrivals and early leavers. It is not okay to frequently request early departure from school for convenience reasons.

The Education Act (1990), states that school attendance is compulsory for all students over the age of 6 years. Current research confirms that student absenteeism has a significant impact on learning achievements and success, not to mention confidence. It is more often than not the case, that students who are challenged by their learning are those who are consistently arriving late, leaving early, or have high levels of absenteeism.

In today's digital age, children are increasingly using various apps and technologies, especially chat applications, to connect with peers and explore the online world. While these platforms offer opportunities for learning and socialisation, they also present potential risks. It's crucial for parents to engage in open dialogues with their children about online safety to ensure they navigate the digital landscape securely.

Initiating conversations about the appropriate use of chat apps can be challenging but is essential. Discussing topics such as privacy settings, recognising inappropriate content, and understanding the implications of sharing personal information can empower children to make safer choices online. The eSafety Commissioner provides valuable resources to assist parents in these discussions, including advice sheets and conversation starters available in multiple languages. 

Implementing parental controls is another effective strategy to help manage and monitor your child's online interactions. These tools can restrict access to certain apps, limit screen time, and filter inappropriate content, providing an added layer of protection. Guidance on setting up these controls is available through the eSafety Commissioner's website, offering step-by-step instructions tailored to various devices and platforms. 

For comprehensive information and additional resources, parents are encouraged to visit the eSafety Commissioner's official website.

By staying informed and maintaining open communication, parents can play a pivotal role in safeguarding their children's online experiences.

Register for e-Safety Commissioner free 45-minute parent webinar, exploring the online experiences and to understand the impact of social media, gaming, and influencers on attitudes, behaviours and sense of identity.

Read our blog about how eSafety is shining a light on the dark forces manipulating our teenagers.
 
Read eSafety's young men online research series which explores young men's experiences and how they can be supported to develop healthy and positive masculinities. 
 
For the young person in your life: explore our resources for young people. 

The cooler weather brings with it increasing numbers of children presenting at school with symptoms of cold and flu. When children are in close proximity with others, the spread of common colds can be passed on through touching hands or objects (e.g. tissues and toys) or by breathing in droplets from sneezes or coughs.

A flu shot once a year is your best protection - it’s safe and does not give you the flu.

The flu is more serious than a cold and spreads easily.

Free flu shots are available for pregnant women, children 6 mths to 5 yrs, Aboriginal people from 6 mths of age, people with serious health conditions, people over 65. Please note: some providers may charge an administration or consultation fee. Ask your doctor, pharmacist or Aboriginal Medical Service if this applies to you.

Speak to your GP and get a flu shot.

Based on recent feedback from parents, carers, students, and staff, we’re making some changes to our weekly assemblies for Term 3. Concerns were raised around limited space in the hall—making it difficult for families to attend when their child receives an award—as well as the impact of weekly assemblies on learning time, and student engagement during longer assemblies.

In response, we will be trialling a new assembly format that includes a mix of whole school gatherings, stage-based assemblies, and two weeks without assemblies to allow for major school events.

Please note: the same number of merit awards will continue to be presented, in line with our school’s merit award system.

Term Three Assembly Format Trial Overview

Road Safety — Fines and Offences

https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/demerits-penalties-and-offences/offences/search-offences-and-penalties

Helmet STAR — Safety Testing and Assessment Ratings

In NSW, bicycle riders must wear an approved helmet that is correctly fitted and fastened. Helmet STAR can help you choose the safest helmet.

All bicycle helmets sold in Australia must comply with an approved Australian or overseas standard for bicycle helmets. Helmet STAR awards a star rating from 1 to 5 based on how well they protect a rider's head in a crash.

The Helmet STAR program has now tested and published safety results for a total of 115 helmet models. Please visit the Helmet STAR program for more information on helmet safety.

To the following students who will celebrate their birthday in August — we wish you a very happy birthday and hope you have a great day.

As a school community we value school events that celebrate faith, learning and wellbeing and there are a number of events planned for Term Three. Please find below an overview of some key events for the school community. Please note that this overview will be updated regularly and will be shared with parents and carers via the fortnightly newsletter and via the Compass online platform.

Parish News

Make sure you check out our Father’s Day Raffle!! Tickets are available in the foyer, they are one ticket for $2 or three tickets for $5. The raffle will be drawn on the 31st of August and winners notified from there. We thank you for your support!!

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