In Parishes throughout the Diocese of Wollongong we celebrated The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Year C. Sunday’s Gospel reminds us of the unity shared by the members of the Trinity. We reflect on the mystery of the Holy Trinity — the central belief that God is one in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Trinity reminds us of the loving relationship at the heart of God and invites us to live in unity, love, and community with others. As a school, we aim to reflect this divine relationship through our words, actions, and care for one another. May the Holy Trinity guide and inspire us to be people of faith, love, and hope.

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we journey together in the Year of Jubilee, we are called to be Pilgrims of Hope — people who walk with compassion, justice, and faith. Outreach to those in need is a vital expression of our Catholic Social Teaching, which reminds us of the dignity of every person and our responsibility to care for the poor and vulnerable. At school, we encourage students to take action through kindness, service, and generosity, knowing that even small acts can bring great hope. In reaching out, we not only make a difference in others’ lives but also grow as a community of faith and love. On Friday, our students are called to live as Pilgrims of Hope by taking part in two meaningful initiatives: the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal and World Refugee Day. By donating a gold coin or warm clothing, blankets, and essential items, our school community is bringing comfort and dignity to those facing hardship in the cold winter months. In recognising World Refugee Day, we also stand in solidarity with displaced people across the globe, raising awareness and promoting compassion and justice. Through these actions, our students are not only living out Catholic Social Teaching but becoming beacons of hope in our world.

Mrs Kylie Stephens will be taking leave in Term 3 and Mr Bill Whittle will be acting Religious Education Coordinator for Term 3. I wish Ms Stephens all the very best as she travels throughout term 3 and welcome Mr Whittle to the school community.

Semester One Student Reports

Teachers have been finalising Semester One reports and these will be available on Compass from Friday, 27th June.  The Semester One Student Reports are an opportunity to celebrate the many achievements and growth students have made in the first Semester of the 2025 school year. I would like to express my gratitude to the teachers and Stage Leaders who have spent much of their time finalising the student reports. I encourage parents and carers to contact our teaching staff for a learning conversation in Week 10 June 30th till July 4th following the distribution of the Semester One student reports.

Tell Them From Me Parent and Carer Survey Information

The Tell Them From Me 'Partners in Learning' Parent Survey is based on a comprehensive questionnaire covering several aspects of parents' perceptions of their children's experiences at home and school. The survey also provides feedback about the extent to which parents feel the school supports learning and positive behaviour and promotes a safe and inclusive environment. There were 43 parents who completed the survey.

The Partners in Learning Parent survey includes seven separate measures, which were scored on a ten-point scale. The scores for the Likert-format questions (i.e., strongly agree to strongly disagree) have been converted to a 10-point scale, then averaged and reported by question and by topic. A score of 0 indicates strong disagreement; 10 indicates strong agreement; 5 is a neutral position (neither agree nor disagree). The image below illustrates the school mean in comparison to the region- Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) mean.

Below is an outline of the school mean and Region–CEDoW mean for each measure.

Measure and Snapshot of Measure	Overall School Mean	CEDow Mean
Parents Feel Welcome	7.8	7.2
Inclusive School	7.9	6.8
Safety at School	8.1	7.6
School Supports Positive Behaviour	8.1	7.5
School Supports Learning	7.8	7.2
Parents Support Learning at Home	7.5	7.1
Parents are Informed	7.2	6.5

A strength identified by parents and carers was Catholic Life and Identity of the school as seen by the images below.

Click the image for a full preview. For the best experience viewing graphs on a mobile phone, please switch to landscape mode.

There is certainly much to celebrate at St John’s and this is testament of the great connection with our parents and carers.

Whole School Community Events

I am very much looking forward to joining our school and parish community in celebrating Fr Francis’ 30th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood on Saturday, June 28th. This is a wonderful milestone and an opportunity to give thanks for Fr Francis’ dedication, wisdom, and spiritual leadership.We are truly blessed to have Fr. Francis as part of our faith community, and we honour the many ways he has guided, supported, and inspired our school and parish community. Congratulations and heartfelt thanks to Fr Francis on this very important and special occasion. A very happy birthday to Fr. Francis for Saturday, 21st June.

A huge congratulations and heartfelt thanks to our amazing St John’s Fund-raising Team including Kristy Sequeira, Madison Sequeira, Renee Hawira, Kelly Giddings, Tara Nau, Jodie McLaughlin, and Jodie Maloney for their extraordinary effort in organising our upcoming Trivia Night on Friday, 28th June. Your energy, creativity, and dedication are truly appreciated by our entire school community. I am looking forward to being part of this fun-filled parent community event and can’t wait to see everyone come together in support of our school. 

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.

Sacrament of Confirmation — 5th June

On Thursday, 5th June, we celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation with 57 young people from our parish community. Surrounded by their families, teachers, catechists and parish community, the children were sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit, strengthening their faith and deepening their connection to God. As they continue their journey as young disciples, we pray that the gifts of the Holy Spirit—wisdom, understanding, right judgement, courage, knowledge, reverence and wonder and awe—will guide their choices, and that the fruits of the Spirit—such as love, kindness, patience, and self-control—will shine through their words and actions each day. Congratulations to our newly confirmed students!

Blessing of St Joseph Statue

On Thursday 5th June, our student leadership team proudly represented St John’s at a special parish celebration for the blessing of the new St Joseph statue. As a Josephite school, St Joseph holds a special place in our hearts as a model of faith, humility, and service—values that we strive to live each day. It was a meaningful moment for our students to take part in honouring him. Here is the prayer that our student leaders prayer with the parish community:

Saint Joseph,
Guardian of the Holy Family and faithful servant of God,
We entrust to your fatherly care our community of St John’s. 
Watch over us and protect us, as you protected Jesus and Mary.
Guide our families in love and unity,
Our children in faith and hope,
And our parish in service and peace.
Obtain for us the grace to work humbly and faithfully,
To trust in God’s plan, and to grow in holiness each day.
Saint Joseph,
Pray for us and lead us always to your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
Amen

Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus — 27 June

On Friday 27th June, we celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a special day in the Church that reminds us of Jesus’ deep and unconditional love for all people. The image of the Sacred Heart shows us a heart burning with love, full of compassion and always open to forgive. Here at St John’s we can reflect on how we can share this love with others through our acts of kindness, care and generosity—especially to those most in need. May the heart of Jesus inspire us to live with love and mercy every day.

Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary — 28 June

On Saturday 28th June, we will celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a special day that invites us to reflect on Mary’s loving and faithful heart. As the mother of Jesus and a model of trust and devotion, Mary shows us how to say "yes" to God with courage and love. As a school community, let us be inspired by her gentleness, prayerfulness and compassion. May we always follow her example by opening our hearts to others and living with kindness each day.

World Refugee Day — 20 June

On Friday 20th June, we join people around the world in observing World Refugee Day, a day established by the United Nations to honour the courage and resilience of refugees and to promote a spirit of welcome and solidarity. This year’s theme, Finding Freedom: Diversity in Community, encourages us to recognise the beauty and strength that come from embracing one another’s differences and building inclusive communities. As a Catholic school, we are inspired by the words of Pope Francis, who calls us to "welcome, promote, accompany, and integrate" those who knock on our doors. He invites us to pray with him that “states will strive to ensure humane conditions for refugees and to facilitate integration processes.” Let us reflect on how we can live out the Gospel values—showing kindness, understanding and compassion to all. Together, we hope to build a world where everyone, especially those seeking refuge, feels safe, supported and at home.

Fr Francis’ Birthday — 21 June

On Friday, 21st June, we celebrate the birthday of our parish priest, Fr Francis. We are truly grateful for his unwavering commitment to guiding us on our faith journey, his compassionate heart and his inspiring leadership within both our parish and school community. Fr Francis continually supports our children, families and staff through his prayers, encouragement and presence at our masses and special events. His kindness and dedication help us grow closer to God each day. As we mark this special occasion, we offer our heartfelt thanks and prayers for God’s blessings upon him. May Fr Francis be granted good health, happiness and peace throughout the coming year. We encourage all families to remember him in your prayers and to join us in celebrating this wonderful milestone. Happy Birthday, Fr Francis – thank you for being such a vital part of our St John’s family!

School Celebration for Fr. Francis' 30th Anniversary of his Ordination

We will be celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Fr. Francis' Ordination into Priesthood on Wednesday 25th June at 2:15pm in the Church. This will be an opprtunity for the school community to celebrate and recognise Fr. Francis and his important milestone. 

All welcome to join us!!

St Vincent de Paul — Winter Appeal

Our Mini Vinnies team visited each classroom last week to speak to students about the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. They shared how we can all help support those in our community who are doing it tough during the colder months.

To support this important cause, we will be holding a Pyjama/Oodie/Onesie Mufti Day this Friday 20th June. Students are invited to wear their pj’s, oddies or onesies to school and bring a gold coin donation to support St Vincent de Paul.

In addition, we are kindly seeking donations of:

• Blankets
• Beanies
• Warm socks
• Gloves
• Scarves

Your generosity can make a real difference for those in need this winter.

Please see the attached note for more details.

Corpus Christi Event 2025 — REMINDER

If you're seeking a deeper understanding of the Eucharist, the origins of the Mass or want to deepen your faith, then this day is for you! You will never celebrate Mass again the same way!

When: Sunday 22 June (10am to 3:30pm)

Where: St. Joachim Hall at the Parish of Our Lady Help of Christians, Rosemeadow 

For more information see below.

2025 Jubilee Year ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.

As we continue on the sacred Jubilee journey, we do so with hearts full of both hope and remembrance following the recent passing of Pope Francis. His leadership and unwavering commitment to mercy, justice, and care for all people touched lives across the globe. The Jubilee theme he gave us, Pilgrims of Hope, now resonates more deeply than ever, calling us to walk forward in faith and unity, inspired by his example. As a school community, we honour his memory by living out this call—bringing hope, compassion, and love to those around us.

Father in heaven, 
May the faith you have given us in your Son, Jesus Christ, our brother, 
and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, 
renew our commitment to a life as joyful and humble pilgrims of hope. 

May the grace of the Jubilee strengthen in us the spirit of faith, 
so that our works may always be rooted in you. 

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.

Kylie Stephens
Religious Education Coordinator

The Positive Behaviours for Learning (PB4L) framework is implemented at St John’s to help create vibrant and positive learning environments in which all students are supported to reach their full potential.

PB4L is an evidenced-based, organisational framework for behaviour support to enhance respectful relationships and engagement of students in their learning. It encompasses a broad range of systemic and individualised strategies and agreed practices for achieving important social and academic outcomes for all students.

All staff at our school work together to explicitly teach, affirm and correct agreed behaviour expectations across school-wide, classroom and non-classroom settings based on our school rules that underpin who we are and what we do at St John’s.

Students at St John’s follow explicit behaviour expectations based on the following school rules:

• BE RESPECTFUL
• BE RESPONSIBLE
• BE SAFE
  
  

Week 4

Week 5

As you may be aware, the NSW Educational Standards Authority (NESA) undertook a comprehensive review of the NSW Curriculum, resulting in significant curriculum reform. The implementation of the reformed curriculum began in 2023 and continues to shape teaching and learning practices across NSW.

In response to these changes, Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong made important modifications to student semester reports for Primary schools, first introduced in 2024. These updates were designed to better reflect your child’s academic progress at key points throughout the year and provide parents and carers with a clearer understanding of their child’s strengths and areas for improvement across subject areas.

Now in its second year of use, the updated semester report format includes:

• A revised report layout delivered via Compass, aligned with the outcomes of the new K–10 English and Mathematics syllabuses. Each focus area includes a descriptor that reflects student achievement in relation to syllabus expectations.

• Kindergarten students now receive written reports in both Semester 1 and Semester 2, with achievement reported using a three-point performance scale:

  • Thorough
  • Sound
  • Basic

• Students in Years 1–6 continue to receive semester reports twice a year, using a five-point scale:

  • Extensive
  • Thorough
  • Sound
  • Basic
  • Elementary

In addition, report formats remain available for students working towards outcomes where a graded report may not accurately reflect their progress. In these cases, personalised comments are provided for each Key Learning Area, based on the student’s goals as outlined in their Personalised Plan. These alternative reports are used following consultation between the school and parents/carers.

To assist families in understanding the updated report format, a video developed by the Catholic Education Office Diocese of Wollongong continues to be available for viewing below.

We look forward to this positive shift in our reporting system and appreciate your continued support in your child's educational journey. 

IMPORTANT DATES

• Semester 1 Reports will be available on Compass for all students in Year K to Year 6 on Friday 27 June.

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

Parents and Carers are invited to provide feedback or suggestions via the google form below regarding the trial of the assembly format for Term 3. We will also seek feedback from our school community at the conclusion of Term 3.

Dates for Term 2

• 24 June — Athletics Carnival (K-6)
  
  

Dates for Term 3 

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

Term 2 Athletics Carnival — 24 June

Our annual Athletics Carnival will be held next Tuesday, 24 June, at Beaton Park, Kerryn McCann Athletics Track, Gwynneville. All students from Kindergarten to Year 6 will be attending.

We’re looking forward to a fantastic day of fun, participation and sportsmanship, and we welcome our families to come along to the event.

Thank you to the parents who have already nominated to assist with the sprint races via Compass. If you are now available to help but didn’t nominate, please see Mrs Atkins on the morning of the carnival or email her at  atkinsm01@dow.catholic.edu.au.

Soccer Gala Day

The gala day is designed for student enjoyment of the sport, for the promotion of exercise and a positive sporting experience. 

The soccer gala day is not a formal competition and there will be no scores kept, no finals and no winners awarded. All adults are encouraged to support this philosophy by encouraging students, respecting referees and enjoying the non-competitive nature of the day. 

Please note: Soccer Gala day nominations close Thursday 19 June.

Representative Sport

Congratulations to Harper B who was selected into the MacKillop touch team in Wagga on Friday 13 June.

Michelle Atkins
Sports Coordinator

Year 4 students had a fabulous time on our excursion to Hyde Park Barracks and The Rocks, bringing our History learning to life!

At Hyde Park Barracks, we explored convict life by investigating artifacts from when convicts were first transported there. We saw and tried on convict clothing, examined the tools and jobs they used and even built a solitary confinement cell using replica bricks. We were fascinated with everything that we saw. 

At The Rocks, we walked through the Argyle Cut to Foundation Park, where we explored the remains of eight terrace houses built between 1874 and 1880. We were fascinated by the replica furniture and the small living spaces. We also visited the First Impressions Sculpture, which depicts convicts, soldiers and free settlers.

Another highlight of the day was The Rocks Discovery Museum, where we engaged with interactive displays, walked through rooms representing Aboriginal life through to the present day, and watched videos showing how the area has changed over time. We were particularly amazed by a mummified rat and other surprising finds from the early days of the colony.

Our walk through the historic streets of Sydney ended at Sydney Cove, where we admired the stunning Sydney Harbour and passed by Cadman’s Cottage. It was an unforgettable day that connected with everything we’ve been learning in History this term.

Our Tour guides commented on how respectful and knowledgeable our students were, and our teachers were incredibly proud of how we represented our school throughout the day.

This term, K-6 classes have immersed themselves in a rich and varied music program that supported the development of their performance, composition, and listening skills. Through exposure to a range of musical genres, students explored how music communicates ideas and emotions across cultures and styles.

A strong focus was placed on understanding and applying key musical concepts. Students actively engaged with beat, tempo, dynamics, timbre, pitch, and different time signatures through body percussion activities and guided listening tasks. They demonstrated creativity and teamwork as they collaboratively composed musical bars as a class in 4/4 time, incorporating crotchets, quavers, quarter-note rests, and minims to structure rhythmic patterns with increasing accuracy.

In addition to their compositional work, students developed instrumental skills on the ukulele. They learned to play common chords and experimented with a range of strumming patterns. Throughout the term, students performed a variety of songs, building confidence in their ability to maintain rhythm, play in time, and work as part of an ensemble. Their progress in both musical understanding and practical skills has been impressive, and their enthusiasm for making music has filled the music space with energy and creativity.

Across Terms 1 and 2, eleven enthusiastic Year 3 and 4 students participated in a poetry enrichment program with Mrs Aquilina. They explored a range of poetry techniques and literary devices, showing great creativity, thoughtful expression, and a growing love for language.

To celebrate their hard work, each student submitted an original poem to the prestigious Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards, proudly representing our school.

Please enjoy their beautifully crafted poems—our students should be very proud of their dedication and achievements!

Click on the images below to read the poetry.

This week, our students took part in a series of engaging and uplifting wellbeing sessions designed to support their social, emotional, and physical health. Across the school, children participated in a variety of fun activities including sports, creative arts, cooking, STEM challenges, and games. These sessions provided wonderful opportunities for students to connect with different teachers and classmates, fostering a strong sense of community and belonging. The day was made even more special with a delicious sausage sizzle, bringing everyone together to share a meal and enjoy each other’s company. It was a joyful celebration of wellbeing, friendship, and the vibrant spirit of our Catholic school community.

Thank you to the staff for organising engaging activities for the students and to the Parents & Friends Association for covering the cost of the sausage sizzle.

As we enter 2025, 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. 

NAIDOC is celebrated during the end of Term 2 school holidays.

At St John’s we will celebrate NAIDOC in Term 3 on Monday, 28th July. We will be having a whole school liturgy at 12:00pm in the school hall which all are most welcome to attend. This day will also be a mufti day for all students and so we are asking students to wear black, red and yellow to signify the colours on the Aboriginal flag.

You’re Invited to Grandparents Day at St John’s!

We are thrilled to invite all grandparents, parents, and carers to join us for Grandparents Day on Friday 25 July — a special celebration to honour and thank the incredible grandparents of our St John’s community. This joyful day is our way of expressing deep gratitude for the love, care, and unwavering support you give to our students. Held in recognition of the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne (celebrated on July 26), it’s a beautiful opportunity to celebrate the important role grandparents play in the lives of their grandchildren.

Schedule:
12:30pm – Liturgy of the Word
1:00pm – Picnic Lunch
1:45pm – Open Classrooms

To make the day even more special, we warmly invite you to join our staff for a coffee and muffin in the hall.

If you are attending the day, please complete the form provided below. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

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. More information will be shared early next term however we encourage families to start planning their costumes for our parade.

Children’s Book Week is The CBCA’s key highlight national event of the year. The feature artist for this year, Jess McGeachin, has brilliantly captured this adventurous spirit in his artwork, which features a whimsical map filled with imaginary characters. Jess’ illustration invites young readers to embark on fantastical journeys, inspiring them to travel through the worlds that books open up. As an award-winning Australian picture book illustrator, Jess’ work encourages children to imagine, explore, and create their own adventures.

2025 is also a milestone year for CBCA as they celebrate 80 years of Children’s Book Week! For 8 decades, CBCA has been dedicated to inspiring young minds to journey through the countless worlds that books offer.

As a school community we value school events that celebrate faith, learning and wellbeing and there are a number of events planned for Term Two. 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.

Thank you for your continued support of the school uniform policy. As a general reminder, it is expected that all students are in the correct school uniform daily. The policy explicitly outlines the school uniform required for both boys and girls enrolled at St John's. On the rare occasion, that your child cannot wear the correct uniform, a written explanation should be provided to their teacher.

The policy also includes expectations on the wearing of jewellery, nail polish, make-up and haircuts. All long hair MUST be tired back, regardless of gender. The emphasis is on neat and tidy hairstyles and extreme haircuts, as well as coloured hair, is not permitted.

School uniforms are expensive and the school is always ready to provide financial assistance to families in this regard, ensuring no family is disadvantaged. Please contact the school office on 4261 4611 for further assistance.

Support Our School Through the Athlete’s Foot School Rewards Program!

We’re excited to share that every time a member of our school community — including parents, students, staff, and friends — purchases a pair of shoes from The Athlete’s Foot at Dapto, our school receives a $5 donation!

To ensure your purchase supports St John’s, simply let the staff know at the time of purchase that you’d like your donation linked to our school.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our wonderful families and broader school community for supporting this initiative. Thanks to your involvement, The Athlete’s Foot Dapto has generously donated $380 to St John’s this year!

While there is absolutely no obligation to purchase school shoes from The Athlete’s Foot, we truly appreciate your support of this program whenever possible.

Dear Parents and Carers,

Get ready for a delicious adventure! The Parish is thrilled to announce their exciting Pie Drive Fundraiser, featuring scrumptious cakes and pies.

Additionally, a form is attached to the compass alert. Payments can be made in cash or via online transfer—just check the order form for all the details. Don't miss out—orders close on Friday, 4th July. Mark your calendars for the big pickup day on Friday, 15th August, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Parish.

Please ensure your order form (and cash in an envelope or ziplock bag if not paying online) is returned to the school office by Friday, 4th July (last week of Term 2).

For any questions, feel free to contact the school office or Jenny in the Parish Office at 4261 1315.

Let's make this Pie Drive a smashing success!

Parish News

YOU'RE INVITED!

Parents and carers of tweenagers and teenagers, these two webinars are for you! Please join Council of Catholic School Parents (CCSP'S) FREE Webinars.

Parenting Tweens: What Kids Need Now, Before the Teenage Years

Recommended audience: Parents of primary school kids 8+
Presented by Michelle Mitchell

Tuesday 24 June
7pm – 8pm

Recommended audience: Parents of primary school kids 8+

At this parent event, Michelle Mitchell uses the results from her recent survey of more than 2000 parents and tweens, as well as 20 years’ experience working with families, to help trusted adults capitalise on the years between 9 and 12. Using insight and messages from tweens themselves, this presentation will motivate parents to invest today, knowing it can change the trajectory of adolescence and beyond. Together we will explore:

• New, groundbreaking research about tweens' development
• Proven, research based ways to ensure your communication is effective
• Ways you can forge an unbreakable connection during the tween years
• Insights into the development of self-esteem and body confidence
• A non-judgemental, up-front discussion about technology

Parenting Teens: Staying Connected Through the Teen Years

Recommended audience: Parents of high school kids 12+
Presented by Michelle Mitchell

Wednesday 25 June
7pm - 8pm

As a parent, navigating a healthy relationship with your teenager can be challenging if you don’t have the proper tools to communicate.  This presentation will offer parenting insights into the developing brain which will guide a discussion about effective communication, setting healthy boundaries, managing emotionally charged moments and championing strengths. Together we will explore:

• The stages of development that all teenagers experience
• The role of the peer group and how to set realistic expectations
• Ways to maintain connection with teen who isn’t communicating
• Establishing fair, healthy boundaries and tips for saying no
• Managing mood swings and overwhelming emotions
• The role of purpose, passions, and opportunity
• What to do when they mess up
• Mental health, and when to access support

We have recently received an update from Wollongong Council regarding the planned temporary closure of West Dapto Road as shown in the attached map. This is planned to occur from 29 July 2025 until construction upgrades are completed circa mid-2026.

Council have asked us to communicate this to our community and ask that you consider an alternative route should you be impacted by this temporary road closure.

 For those that utilise public buses for travelling to and from school, Wollongong Council have advised that Transport for New South Wales and Premier Bus Services have reviewed impacted bus services within the area and have developed alternative routes. Transport for New South Wales will be providing information on this to their customers closer to the temporary closure period.

Should you have any queries we recommend you contact Wollongong Council directly.

As part of the Winter Health campaign, NSW Health has asked that the following information be shared with our school community.

Call Healthdirect Campaign

The Call healthdirect campaign encourages people to call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for free, instant health advice, anytime, anywhere across NSW.

It builds on previous campaigns promoting the healthdirect number as the first step to access health advice, care and treatment for non-life threatening conditions.

When you call healthdirect, you’ll speak to a registered nurse who will help you get the care you need. They can find you a nearby doctor, pharmacist, urgent care service, or even connect you to specialist virtual care.

We’re encouraging people to save this number, 1800 022 222, for free, easy access to health advice and care whenever you need it.

Key links:

• For more information about health direct: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Hospitals/Pages/healthdirect.aspx
• Campaign launch Ministerial media release: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/20250521_01.aspx

Vaccination Education Campaign

This campaign aims to raise awareness, support and encourage proactive information-seeking so individuals can make informed decisions about immunisation. These materials are evergreen and can be used throughout winter and beyond.

Key links:

• For more information about vaccinations: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/vaccinationinfo
• Translated information about vaccinations: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/vaccinationinfo#translations

2025 Influenza Vaccination Campaign

This campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of flu vaccination during winter, to help increase uptake of the flu vaccine among the population in NSW, particularly at-risk audiences. The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and over and offers the best protection from getting really sick.

Key links:

• Book a flu vaccine: www.healthdirect.gov.au/nswfluvaccine
• For more information about influenza: www.health.nsw.gov.au/flu
• For more information about respiratory illness: www.health.nsw.gov.au/respiratory

2025 Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) campaign

This campaign, which runs until the end of winter, includes budget-friendly and accessible ways for families to:

• Eat healthily – tips to eat healthily and drink water, including free, low-cost winter recipes and lunchbox ideas
• Get active – ideas and tips to help you stay active during winter such as at-home exercises or connecting with nature
• Support – free programs to help you and your family keep up healthy habits. 

Key link:

• NSW Healthy Eating Active Living website. 

St Johns VAC Program - July 2025

St Johns VAC Program - July 2025 1.11 MB

Dapto Little Athletics Flyer 2025_26 Season

Dapto Little Athletics Flyer 2025_26 Season 4.11 MB

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