Catholic Mission Month

Our heartfelt thanks to everyone in our school community who has been able to support Catholic Mission’s work, particularly this year for the people of Mongolia. Through your generosity, our school has raised an amazing $8,251, which will go directly to help those in need. Your kindness and compassion makes a real difference.

A special congratulations to our top fundraising classes, KB and KR! To celebrate their fantastic efforts, they’ll be enjoying a well-deserved pizza party. 

Let us continue to hold Catholic Mission, and all those they support, in our prayers, especially the people of Mongolia, asking that they may find hope, strength, and peace.

Sacrament of the Eucharist (First Holy Communion) — Preparation Program 

Reminders for parents/carers of candidates:

• Workbook lessons need to be completed each week and brought to one of the weekend Masses
• Afternoon practises (candidates must attend both practises) - Wednesday 6th November and Wednesday 13 November - 4-5pm in the Church
• First Holy Communion will be on Friday 22nd November at 6pm

We continue to pray for the children in our parish who are preparing to make their First Holy Communion - may they deepen their understanding of this sacred gift in the coming weeks, let us keep them in our prayers.

Loving God,
We pray for these children as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
May their hearts be open to Your grace,
and may they grow in faith, love, and understanding of Your presence in their lives.
Guide them on this journey,
and bless their families, teachers and catechists who support them along the way.
Through Christ our Lord,
Amen.

Remembrance Day — 11th November

As we approach Remembrance Day, we pause to honour and remember those who served and sacrificed in times of war for the freedom and peace we cherish today. On November 11th, we reflect on the courage, dedication and selflessness of men and women who have given their lives in the line of duty. As a school community, let us understand the significance of this day and carry forward a message of peace in our own lives. We join in prayer, asking for strength and guidance to promote harmony in our world.

God of peace,
We thank You for the bravery and sacrifice of those who have served to protect us.
Help us to honour their legacy by living with compassion and respect for one another.
Guide us to be peacemakers in our community and the world.
May we never forget their sacrifice,
and may we work together for a future filled with hope and peace.
Amen.

2024 THE YEAR OF PRAYER — in preparation for the 2025 Jubilee Year ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.

As we continue through the Year of Prayer, our school community remains focused on deepening our relationship with God. This year invites us to pause, reflect, and pray—both individually and together. Let us keep supporting one another in prayer, trusting in its power to guide and strengthen us.

The Jubilee Prayer

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,
reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators 
of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos 
in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer 
throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever.
Amen

Christmas Concert — SAVE THE DATE

Tuesday 17th December — 1pm

We warmly invite all families and friends to join us for our annual Christmas Concert, which will be held on Tuesday, 17th December at 1pm. Come and enjoy an afternoon filled with festive cheer as our students present a wonderful selection of Christmas songs to celebrate this joyous season. It’s a special event for our school community and we look forward to sharing the spirit of Christmas with you all. Mark your calendars— we hope to see you there!

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

PB4L is an evidence-based framework that emphasises school-wide systems of support for all students and staff. These include proactive strategies for defining, teaching and supporting appropriate student behaviours. Positive behaviour supports are implemented for all students, across all school settings, by all staff, at all times. This continuum of support ensures students’ academic and social outcomes.

All student behaviour expectations are founded on our three school rules – Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe.

Week 3

As preparations for the P&F Food & Rides Night will be underway on Friday 8th November, the Awards Assembly will not take place. Instead, Merit Awards will be distributed in class.

Congratulations to all of the students in Years 3-6 who took part in ICAS earlier this year. These competitions are organised by the Educational Assessment Centre at the University of NSW and participation is optional. We have received the results and are pleased to announce the following awards received by some of our students for their significant achievements in ICAS. These certificates will be presented at our school assembly in Week 5.

A special congratulations to the following students:

English
Joseph K (Yr 4) – Distinction
Riya A (Yr 6) – Credit

Mathematics
Clara G (Yr 3) – Credit
Logan B (Yr 3) – Merit
Raymond S (Yr 3) – Merit

Brody P (Yr 4) – Credit
Joseph K (Yr 4) – Merit

Jai S (Yr 5) – High Distinsction
Nixon B (Yr 5) – Merit
Matthew C (Yr 5) – Merit
Reece F (Yr 5) – Merit

Science
Joseph K (Yr 4) – High Distinction

Jai S (Yr 5) – High Distinction
Reece F (Yr 5) – Credit

Riya A (Yr 6) – Merit 

Writing

Clara G (Yr 3) – Distinction
Hazel O'C (Yr 3) - Merit

Riya A (Yr 6) – Credit

On Friday, 26 October, Year 5 student Celeste N and Year 6 student Emily Z participated in the 2024 Catholic Development Fund Public Speaking regional competition. They presented in front of a large audience comprising of students, parents, caregivers, and teachers while evaluated by a panel of two adjudicators. The event was hosted at St Therese Public School, West Wollongong. The competition was solid, as both students competed against 16 others from their respective year groups. Celeste faced the added challenge of being the first speaker of the day.  She delivered an inspiring speech about ‘The Definition of Courage’ and Emily’s speech was on ‘Face to Face Conversation: A Thing of the Past?’ Emily was awarded third place on the day and has now qualified for the CDF Public Speaking Grand Final! We wish Emily all of the best for the next round of the Public Speaking Competition on the 7th November.  Congratulations to both Celeste and Emily; we are very proud of you.

We are thrilled to announce that St John’s Catholic Primary School will be staging

as our 2025 school production! This beloved, family-friendly musical will provide a wonderful opportunity for students in Years 4 to 6 to explore their talents, build confidence, and work as a team to bring this magical story to life.

To kick off this exciting journey, we invite all parents to join us for a Parent Information Session on Tuesday, December 3rd, at 5 pm in the Joseph Room. This session will offer an overview of the production, including important dates, rehearsal schedules, and ways parents can support their child’s involvement in the show. We look forward to welcoming you and sharing in the excitement for this fantastic event!

Ms. Angela Boyd-Skinner & Mrs. Catherine Sutton
Shrek Jr CoDirectors 

Five talented girls from St John’s (8-girl team) — Harlow R (2B), Lois B (2B), Estelle B (2R), Hannah P (3G), and Amelia V (3G)—competed on 26 October in the annual BJP Teams Championship, representing Dapto Physie Club in the 7 & 8-year team. In a highly competitive event featuring 20 teams from across NSW, the girls’ dedication and hard work paid off with an impressive 2nd place finish. This is a tremendous achievement, and we are incredibly proud of their efforts and teamwork. Congratulations to these young athletes for their amazing success!

The visit from the Life Education Van provided students with both an enjoyable and enriching learning experience. Life Education, Australia’s largest provider of preventive health and drug education, empowers children to make safer and healthier life choices. With the help of the much-loved mascot, Healthy Harold the giraffe, students engaged in interactive lessons that were both fun and educational. The program covered a range of important topics, including healthy eating, personal safety, physical activity, positive relationships, cyber safety, and the effects of alcohol and drugs. Tailored to suit different ages and stages of development, the sessions aligned with the NSW PDHPE syllabus and the Australian curriculum, ensuring meaningful learning. Students thoroughly enjoyed their time in the Life Education van, with many expressing excitement at meeting Healthy Harold!

The CEDoW Spotlight 2024 conference on Artificial Intelligence brought together educators, innovators and vendors to explore the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence in education and beyond. Among the attendees were Mrs Fraser, Mr Soligo, and Mrs Emery, who listened to educators discuss integrating AI tools to enhance learning outcomes. The keynote address was delivered by Adam Spencer, a renowned mathematician, AI specialist, and comedian. His engaging presentation blended humour with deep insights, shedding light on the potential of AI to transform both the classroom and society. Adam's ability to connect technical concepts with real-world applications captivated the audience, inspiring educators to embrace AI-driven solutions.

A highlight of the conference was the series of presentations led by teachers from the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW). These sessions showcased innovative ways in which AI tools were already being used to foster creativity, personalise learning, and support student engagement. Teachers shared practical case studies and lesson plans, demonstrating how AI can be integrated into subjects such as English, mathematics, science, and the arts. The presentations emphasised the importance of responsible AI usage and teacher-student collaboration in adopting new technologies.

Over the past few weeks we welcomed many of our new kindergarten students who will be starting kindergarten in 2025! Many of our new kindergarten students have visited with their families every Monday and Friday morning for the past few weeks and for the next few weeks.

Our new kindergarten 2025 students have loved playing together and meeting new friends. Ms Idstein, Mrs Barker and Mr Soligo taught our new kindergarten students  about the 5 Ls and how we pack up and help each other at St John's Catholic Parish Primary School Dapto.

We’re very excited to welcome our new students.

Please refer to our updated Roadmap Safety Management Plan, which includes important information regarding car lines

Place value is a foundational concept in mathematics that helps students understand the structure and value of numbers. It refers to the value of a digit based on its position in a number. There are several reasons why place value is important for students to understand:

• Understanding Large and Small Numbers: Place value allows students to understand how the same digit can represent vastly different values depending on its position. This is essential for working with large and small numbers and makes calculations easier and more logical.

• Efficient Calculation: Understanding place value helps in performing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division efficiently. 

• Foundation for Algebra: Place value prepares students for algebra by helping them understand the concept of variables. 

• Decimal System and Fractions: Place value extends to decimals and fractions, allowing for the accurate representation and manipulation of non-whole numbers.

• Critical Thinking and Number Sense: Mastery of place value fosters number sense, enabling students to estimate, round, and make sense of numerical information. They develop the ability to understand quantities, reason through number relationships, and build mental mathematical skills.

Please find some activities below that parents and carers can use at home with your child that reinforce the learning in classrooms on place value.

Dear Parents and Carers

The St John's schoolbag* was introduced by our former Principal, Mr Heffernan, to be phased in and becoming compulsory for Kindergarten 2024 and onwards. We are seeking your feedback on the school bag. 

* Note: The schoolbag has a lifetime warranty.

Thank you to all those families that have finalised their fees for 2024.

• Please ensure all school fees are paid in full before the end of the 2024 school year. If you are having genuine financial stress please make contact with the Principal as a matter of urgency to discuss your school fee situation or alternatively email Mr Rodwell at rodwellm01@dow.catholic.edu.au
  
  
• Families that currently pay school fees by instalment do not need to complete another 'Request to Pay by Instalment' form, as your current form carries over from year to year unless you wish to amend the frequency of your payments, e.g. Weekly to fortnightly.  
  
  
• If your child is commencing Year 7 at one of our Diocesan Catholic Colleges, your secondary school fees frequency for payment will be the same as the primary school unless you complete the 'Request to pay by Instalment' form to alter this.
  
  
• Families that do not currently pay school fees by instalment or are new to the school and would like to take up the option to pay their school fees by instalment, please ensure that you complete a 'Request to pay by Instalment' form and either return this to the school office or submit it directly to instalments@dow.catholic.edu.au before the conclusion of the 2024 school year.  

Further information is available at: https://www.sjddow.catholic.edu.au/parents-and-carers/school-fees-information/

If you know that your child will not be returning to St John’s in 2025 (not applicable to Year 6), would you please notify the school, in writing, as we require this information to assist with our planning for the new school year. 

Transport for NSW — 2025 school travel applications are now open

Students who need a new or replacement School Opal card or travel pass for 2025 can apply now. A new application will need to be submitted if they are applying for the first time, or if they are requesting an additional travel entitlement because of a new shared parental arrangement (e.g. joint custody).

Students who change address, school, campus location, have repeated a year or received an expiry notification for their school travel entitlement should renew or update their details before the end of term 4. This will ensure that schools can endorse applications and travel passes remain valid for the start of the 2025 school year. School Opal card holders will have the changes applied to their existing card.

If a student’s distance eligibility has changed based on their grade (i.e. grade two to grade three), the system will automatically update their entitlement if they meet the new criteria. If they do not meet the new eligibility criteria, we will send an expiry notification via email.

Students who have an entitlement approved under a medical condition that is due to expire will receive a notification advising them to re-apply.

Term Bus Pass holders will receive a notification to re-apply.

Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their Student Opal card at their nominated postal address. Cards will be mailed out from January 2025.

Students living in rural and regional (R&R) areas should receive their travel pass at the start of the new school year from their nominated transport operator. It may come via the school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some R&R operators do not issue travel passes.

Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.

Travel from Term 1 2025

We ask that parents plan ahead and make sure their child knows which service/s to use and has a valid ticket to travel; either a School Opal card or Child/Youth Opal card (within Greater Sydney) or a School Travel Pass (outside Greater Sydney), from the start of the school year.

Applications for 2025 School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) travel open at the start of Term 4 2024, so parents/students can apply or update details early and be ready for the start of the new school year.

Most students using the Opal network will not need a new Opal card and can continue travelling on their existing card each year.

The start of the year is a busy period for local transport operators, and students travelling without a valid ticket make service planning and operations difficult.

We recognise that for some families, last minute changes to school enrolments mean they may not have a School Opal card or Travel Pass for the start of term. In the Opal network, we strongly encourage these families to have their children travel with a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card.

Bus operators are flexible and understanding, particularly at the start of the school year, and will ensure students can travel safely to and from school. But to best support our operators we encourage all students to have a valid ticket, as early as possible, from the start of the school year.

Students using School Opal cards are also reminded that they must tap on and tap off in line with the Student code of conduct and Opal terms of use.

Parent representatives and executive officers on the Council of Catholic Schools Parents NSW/ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee talk about what Sorry Business means to them, and how schools can help families who are impacted by Sorry Business.

Parish News

The opening of the Montessori Academy was held on Saturday 26th October. Fr Francis blessed the building, the staff and students of the centre. What a wonderful morning learning about the message and curriculum of the Montessori Academy. Congratulations to the Montessori Academy on the opening of their first daycare centre in Wollongong.

On the 24th November the St John’s Parish Celebrations are taking place in the Church and school grounds. The celebrations will begin at 10am with a Mass and then lunch and games on the school grounds. Fr Francis and the Parish Pastoral Council warmly invite all staff and their families to the celebrations.

Fr Francis and the St John the Evangelist Parish Pastoral Council warmly invites all families to join in the celebration of the Eucharist. See below the times for Mass.

Saturday Vigil — 5pm

Sunday — 7:30am, 9:30am and 6pm.

Please see the Parish Bulletin below.

Parish_Bulletin_November.pdf

Parish_Bulletin_November _pdf 699.85 KB

Supporting healthy technology use as your child transitions into high school. 

This webinar explores the social pressures, peer influences, and technological challenges young people face as they transition into high school. It also offers practical strategies for navigating online friendships and connections to help minimise negative experiences.

It's suitable for parents and carers of children in upper primary school (ages 11 to 12) and Year 7.

• Thursday 28 November, 12.30 pm AEDT 

Register here.

eSafety 101: How eSafety can help 

• Wednesday 4 December, 12.30 pm AEDT 

Register here.

UOW Year 6 Parent and Carer Webinar - Maximising Success When Transitioning to High School

Join UOW for this exciting webinar opportunity to learn from parent & education experts about enhancing and supporting your child's transition to high school ahead. Whether you're a parent or carer of a child in Year 6, or generally just interested in children's transition to high school and UOW opportunities on the horizon, this is not to be missed!

How? Online via Zoom
When? Monday, 11 November, 2024, 7pm -8 pm
Register: UOW Year 6 Parent & Carer Webinar Registration

Topics explored will include;

• Adapting to change and new routines & environments
• Making new friends and maintaining old friendships
• Coping with peer pressure, risk taking
• Managing time and demands of new study and increase in expectations of high school
• Taking ‘good risks’ in learning
• UOW high school programs on the horizon
• Understanding university opportunities into the future

Register via the link provided here: UOW Year 6 Parent & Carer Webinar Registration

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2024 HB Studio Flyer

2024 HB Studio Flyer 7.43 MB

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