In Parishes throughout the Diocese of Wollongong we celebrated the 5th Sunday of Easter Year C. In Sunday’s Gospel we hear Jesus telling the disciples that all will know that they are his disciples because of the love they show for one another. Christian love is the hallmark of Christianity. We see it lived in the witness of the martyrs. We see it in the example of the lives of the saints. We see it others who make small and large sacrifices for others and in our school motto "Love One Another."

Dear Parents and Carers,

As a Catholic community we celebrate the election of our new Pope, Leo XIV, the successor to Pope Francis. Greeting over 200,000 pilgrims, leaders from around the world, and representatives of Christian denominations, Pope Leo XIV marked the joyous start to his Petrine Ministry, officially inaugurating it with Mass in Saint Peter’s Square on Sunday, 18 May. Pope Leo XIV expressed his hope for a united Church, whereby “we are called to offer God’s love to everyone, in order to achieve that unity which does not cancel out differences but values the personal history of each person and the social and religious culture of every people.”

We pray that our new pope continues to lead with courage, integrity and compassion, so that all people might hear the voice of Jesus.

Fr Francis' 30th Anniversary of Ordination

This year we come together as a school and Parish community to celebrate Fr Francis' 30th Anniversary of Ordination. The 30th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood is a deeply significant milestone in a Fr Francis' life and ministry.

Date: 28 June 2025

Time: 11am Mass – Followed by Lunch

Location: St John the Evangelist - 24 Jerematta St Dapto, NSW, 2530

A luncheon will follow at under the COLA at St John’s School.

Come and give thanks with us for Fr. Francis’ 30 years of faithful service to God and His people.

For catering purposes, please RSVP by 6 June 2025 to dapto@dow.org.au or 4261 1315

We look forward to celebrating this joyous occasion with our school and Parish community.

Canberra Excursion — Year 6

It was fabulous to see our Year 6 students' smiling faces as they returned from their overnight excursion to Canberra. A huge thank you to Ms Olivia Boyd-Skinner, Mrs Rachel Mackie, Mrs Naomi Scales, Mrs Kate Wilkins, Mrs Ann Lackersteen, Mr Lino Madaschi, Ms Alana Stroligo and Mrs Fran Beringer for accompanying our students. The Year 6 school excursion was an opportunity for our Year 6 students to learn about the importance of leadership, collaboration and develop further leadership strategies to support their significant leadership roles at St John's. I would like to congratulate our Year 6 students for their excellent behaviour, companionship, collaboration and maturity they displayed throughout the overnight excursion.

National Sorry Day & Reconciliation Week

On Monday 26th May as a nation we celebrate National Sorry Day which acknowledges and raises awareness of the history and continued effect of the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from their families, communities and culture. National Sorry Day marks the start of Reconciliation Week. Reconciliation is a journey for all Australians – as individuals, families, communities, organisations and importantly as a nation. At the heart of this journey are relationships between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

As a nation we celebrate National Reconciliation Week and it is the eighth anniversary of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Uluru Statement from the Heart is an invitation given to all Australians from five First Nations peoples, to walk together in order to build a better future as one nation, to heal and to reconcile, to establish a First Nations voice in parliament and the Makarrata Commission for Treaty Making and Truth Telling. Reconciliation with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters is a key justice priority of the St John’s school community as we take part in the national movement towards reconciliation.

St John’s will celebrate National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week with Aunty Jo and Uncle Mark and students and staff will welcome Aunty Jo and Uncle Mark into their classrooms to talk about National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week. Aunty Jo and Uncle Mark will share stories and knowledge of these important commemorations and share stories of the Dharawal people. 

Yours in Faith and Learning,
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 

We continue to pray for the children in our parish who are currently preparing to make the Sacrament of Confirmation - an important step in their faith journey. This is a special time of learning, reflection and spiritual growth as the children come to understand more deeply the gifts of the Holy Spirit and their role as committed members of the Church. 

Those enrolled in the program, please note that today and next Wednesday we have our afternoon practises in the Church from 5pm til 5pm. All candidates need to attend. Parents do not need to stay for the practise.

Feast of Mary Help of Christians — Saturday 24th May

This Saturday, we celebrate the Feast of Mary Help of Christians, the patroness of Australia. This special day reminds us of Mary’s powerful role as a mother and protector who intercedes for us and leads us closer to Jesus. Australians have honoured Mary under this title since the early days of our Church, trusting in her care during times of hardship and hope. At our school, we look to Mary as a model of faith, courage and compassion. As we celebrate this feast, we ask Mary Help of Christians to watch over our families, our school and our nation, and to help us grow in love and trust in God.

Andrew Chinn Mass - Saturday 31st May 5pm - Stage 1

Each term, we warmly invite specific year groups to come together and celebrate with our parish community at the Saturday Vigil Mass. This term, we especially encourage our Year 1 and Year 2 families to join us for this special occasion. The Mass will be made even more joyful with the presence of Andrew Chinn, a well-known Christian singer and musician, who will lead us in music alongside the children. His presence always brings a wonderful energy and spirit to our celebration. We would love to see as many families as possible attend and be part of this meaningful community gathering.

Following the Mass, we invite you to stay and enjoy a sausage sizzle, providing a relaxed opportunity to connect with other families and parish members. We look forward to celebrating with you!

Feast of Visitation of Mary - Saturday 31st May

The Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a special celebration in our Church calendar that reminds us of Mary’s love, humility and faith. After learning she would become the mother of Jesus, Mary travelled to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was also expecting a child—John the Baptist. This beautiful encounter, filled with joy and the presence of the Holy Spirit, teaches us about the importance of reaching out to others with kindness and support. At our school, we are inspired by Mary's example to show compassion and care in our own community, especially to those in need. May this feast encourage us all to bring Christ’s love to others through simple acts of service and friendship.

Feast of the Ascension - Sunday 1st June

The Feast of the Ascension is a joyful moment in our Church where we remember Jesus' return to Heaven, forty days after His Resurrection. Before ascending, Jesus gathered His disciples and promised them the gift of the Holy Spirit, sending them out to share His love and message with the world. The Ascension reminds us that Jesus is always with us, guiding us from above and that we are called to continue His mission here on Earth. At our school, we reflect on how we can be witnesses of Jesus in our words and actions, bringing hope, kindness and faith into our daily lives.

Bishop Brian reading “The Parable of the Lost Sheep - REMINDER

The Council of Catholic Schools Parents (CCSP) warmly invites all families to join Bishop Brian Mascord in a very special online reading of the classic Bible story ‘The Parable of the Lost Sheep’.

This unique online event, organised as part of the Jubilee Year of Hope, will take place on Tuesday 27 May from 7.00 pm to 7.30 pm. 

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, please click here.

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

Join the global Catholic community in celebrating Laudato Si’ Week, marking the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’ which Pope Francis signed on the day of Pentecost, 24 May, 2015.

This special week commemorates Pope Francis' landmark encyclical on climate change and care for our common home—rooted in centuries of Church teaching on creation. With this year’s theme "Raising Hope", we come together in faith and action, continuing the legacy of Pope Francis and renewing our commitment to ecological justice and a sustainable future for all.

At St John's we will be celebrating Laudato Si' Week from 24 May — 31 May. Laudato Si’ invites us all to reflect on how we can better care for creation and each other. To honour this special anniversary, we will gather in our classes for a short liturgy and take part in a variety of activities throughout the week. Through craft, stories and videos students will explore ways they can care for God's Creation and gain a deeper understanding of important environmental issues and their impacts on people around the globe. Through our Laudato S’i celebrations, we commemorate the life and legacy of Pope Francis and honour his commitment to Creation, promoting peace and standing up for the most vulnerable. 

“Let us sing as we go.
May our struggles and our concern for this planet never take away the joy of our hope.”
Laudato Si’ n244

Dates for Term 2

• 27 May — Diocesan Cross Country Carnival
• 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

This term, students across the school will be participating in a variety of Athletics activities during their PE lessons and Friday Sport sessions. These lessons are designed to help students practise and develop key fundamental movement skills including sprinting, jumping, leaping, and throwing.

Students in Kindergarten and Year 1 will focus on building these foundational skills through age-appropriate activities. Students in Years 2 to 6 will have the opportunity to participate in either competitive or non-competitive Athletics events during their lessons.

Field events such as long jump, high jump, shot put, and discus will be held at school for all students in the Junior (8, 9, 10 years), 11 Years, and Senior (12, 13 years) categories during the term. Track events—80m, 100m, 200m, and 800m races—will take place at our Athletics Carnival at Beaton Park on Monday, 24 June.

Further details and a Compass permission will be sent home in the coming weeks. We warmly invite families to join us for this exciting event.

Event Details & Recognition:

Sprint races (for ages 5–12) will be run in age groups at Beaton Park. The top four finishers in each age group will receive ribbons for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place.

For field events, students in the Junior, 11 Years, and Senior categories will also receive ribbons for the top four places.

Age Champion Medallions will be awarded in each category (Junior, 11 Years, and Senior) based on overall performance across both track and field events.

We’re looking forward to a fun and active term of Athletics and celebrating all students’ efforts and achievements.

Michelle Atkins
Sports 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 2

Week 3

Our St John’s Mini Vinnies team continues to make a meaningful impact in our school community through their leadership, compassion and service. Earlier in the year, the team had the privilege of a special visit from the local Vinnies Van, where they learned how the St Vincent de Paul Society reaches out into the community to support vulnerable people through practical assistance and companionship. They have also helped lead several of our liturgies this year and played an important role in organising our Easter raffle, which raised an amazing $3,596.95 for Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion appeal. In addition, class mission boxes collected $700.20 throughout Lent, also supporting Caritas’ vital work. We are so proud of the Mini Vinnies team and their dedication to raising awareness and supporting those in need. Inspired by what they’ve learned and achieved so far, the team is now turning their focus to planning how St John’s can contribute to the upcoming St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. Thank you to our Mini Vinnies team for living out our call to love and serve others.

Event Recap – Wednesday 14 May

Students from St John’s took part in the NRMA Science & Road Safety Day, a fun and informative event designed to teach important safety skills. Through hands-on demonstrations, students discovered how science—particularly friction and force—plays a crucial role in road safety and everyday travel.

They also learned how to properly select and fit bicycle and skateboard helmets, understanding the differences between them to ensure the best protection. Sessions highlighted the importance of using booster seats in cars, the safest way to exit a vehicle, and how to stay safe as pedestrians.

The dynamic presentations kept students engaged while reinforcing essential safety messages. The event strongly supported the learning outcomes of the NSW Curriculum’s Road Safety Mandatory Course, helping students build responsible behaviours and safety awareness in practical contexts.

We encourage you to talk with your children about what they learned during the sessions.

Important messages from the day

By law, all children under the age of 7 must use a booster seat. A booster seat allows children to sit taller in the seat so that the adult seatbelt doesn’t rest across their neck which is very dangerous in a crash.

Did you know that for maximum protection, your child’s seatbelt must sit on their collarbone and across their hip bones? If your child is constantly slipping their seatbelt under their arm so that it rests against their ribs, then they may still need a booster seat. We need to keep the seatbelt away from the rib cage as it is not strong enough to withstand the forces generated in a crash.

The front seats of cars are potentially dangerous places for children. Airbags deploy at 300km/hr and they are designed to hit an adult at chest height. For any child under the height of 150cm it will hit around head height. Australia growth charts show that less than half of children reach 150cm by the age of 12, so delay your child’s move into the front seat for as long as possible.

For a bike helmet to do its job, it must stay on your child’s head in a crash and the best way to do this is to adjust the straps to ensure there is no more than a two finger space above the eyebrows and between the chin and strap. Remember to remove their hats and for girls avoid wearing high pony tails to ensure the helmet stays in place.

Never slash or cut the inside foam of a bike helmet as this is the part that absorbs all the force that would be transferred to the head in a crash. If your child has a crash and their helmet hits the ground, you will need to replace the helmet even if it still looks okay. This is because the all-important inner foam has been compressed and it is now too hard to absorb the force of another crash.

Make sure your child’s bike is the right size bike so they can always be in control – are the balls of the feet able to reach the ground when they are seated on the bike? If not, you will need to lower the seat. Make sure that the brakes, gears and bell are in easy reach when riding.

Fines and Offences

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

Students from Year 1 to Year 6 recently completed the Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) in Mathematics and Reading. PAT is a nationally recognised assessment tool developed by ACER (Australian Council for Educational Research). It measures students’ knowledge, skills, and understanding in key learning areas and helps track growth over time.

Staff are currently analysing the data from these assessments to identify student strengths and areas for development. This data serves as a valuable formative assessment resource, guiding teachers to tailor their instruction to meet the needs of all learners.

By embedding PAT data into teaching and learning, we ensure our classroom strategies are both evidence-based and responsive to student needs. This directly supports our Annual Improvment Plan (AIP) goal: "All students will achieve relevant growth in Mathematics”.

This week Year 6 enjoyed a two day educational excursion to Canberra, packed with memorable and enriching experiences.

Day 1 saw students visiting some of Australia’s most significant institutions. The day began at the Australian War Memorial, where students paid their respects and deepened their understanding of Australia’s military history. They then explored the National Gallery of Australia, viewing a wide range of artworks that inspired discussion and appreciation for visual arts. At the Royal Australian Mint, students discovered how Australian coins are made and learned about the history of currency. The group also visited the National Portrait Gallery, where they explored how identity and achievement are celebrated through portraiture. The day ended with hands-on science fun and discovery at Questacon, which was a highlight for many students.

Day 2 was focused on civics and government. Students visited Parliament House, where they learned about Australia's democratic processes and even had the chance to role play parliamentary debates. The visit to the National Electoral Education Centre further built their understanding of voting and elections, encouraging them to become informed and active future citizens.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the staff for their support and commitment. These valuable learning experiences would not be possible without their dedication and care.

The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government contributed funding of $30 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs. The rebate will be paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion and compliance paperwork.

The $30 Australian Government funding has already been factored into the total cost of the Canberra Excursion fees.

Throughout this year, we will celebrate and acknowledge many events within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education, including National Sorry Day, Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week. As a school, we come together with families and elders to respect and share our culture. 

We proudly start each morning with Yulunga as a way of acknowledging the Dharawal people, who are the traditional custodians of the land we gather on at St John’s. 

With the support of Mark Mongta and Jo Ball, our students will once again participate in the Careways Koonawarra Community Reconciliation Walk at Lakeside Reserve on Thursday, 22 May from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm.

This is a community event, everyone is welcome to participate.

Mrs McEntee
Middle Leader

National Sorry Day 2025 

26 May 2025 marks the 28th anniversary of the tabling of the Bringing them home report in the Australian Parliament in 1997 and commemorates Stolen Generations survivors.  

The Bringing them home inquiry was a landmark truth-telling process, bringing to light the extent of Australia’s Stolen Generations history, and sharing this with the nation.  In 1997 the report made a series of recommendations to go some way in righting these past wrongs.

We will be acknowledging this event as a school through a class prayer service and Monday morning assembly.

National Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

Reconciliation Week occurs from 27 May to 3 June and commemorates two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey— the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively. The theme for this year’s National Reconciliation Week, Bridging Now to Next, reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future.

Bridging Now to Next calls on all Australians to step forward together, to look ahead and continue the push forward as past lessons guide us. Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Our pathway towards reconciliation begins with Sorry Day on 26 May. It is an important moment to remember the past policies of forced child removal. We reflect on the sad and painful history of the Stolen Generations and recognise moments of resilience, healing and the power of saying Sorry. National Sorry Day is held on 26 May each year to acknowledge and recognise members of the Stolen Generations.

We will be acknowledging these significant moments at St John’s with a whole school liturgy on Monday 2nd June in the school hall at 1:45 to which we welcome our families to attend.

Our Aboriginal students from St John’s as well as our school captains and vice captains will also be attending the Reconciliation Walk at Koonawarra Dapto on Thursday 22nd May. All are welcome to attend this event beginning at 10:30. Our students will be leading the walk holding the Reconciliation Week banner created by our students with the support of our Aboriginal Education Assistants, Aunty Jo and Uncle Mark.

A reminder for our Aboriginal students to bring their black clothes to get changed for as they will also be dancing on this day and please sign the consent form posted in compass.

Mrs McEntee
Middle Leader

It’s time to get our wonderful students' creativity buzzing as Koori Kids are delighted to announce this year’s exciting initiative, the “2025 NAIDOC Week School Initiatives”.

The judging of entries will be adjudicated by a panel including delegates from Koori Kids, community Elders and some council delegates. Please ensure that all entries are handed into your class teacher by Friday, 20 June.

Some entries will be displayed during NAIDOC Week in some council chambers, libraries and a selection of winning entries will be displayed at Parliament House.

Throughout the year, teachers have access to a variety of quality professional development opportunities. Casual teachers are employed to cover classes with the teacher ensuring the teaching program and routines are followed. Please see below for upcoming teacher professional learning.

“Those who dare to teach, never cease to learn”
John Cotton-Dana

Saturday, 28 June at 6:00 pm
Dapto Leagues Club Auditorium

BOOK NOW (Early Bird Tickets): https://events.humanitix.com/st-john-s-dapto-trivia-night

Get ready for a night of fun and fundraising at the St John’s Catholic Parish Primary School Dapto P&F Trivia Night, our major 2025 fundraising event in support of new play equipment for the Father Ward Playground!

Join us on Saturday, 28 June from 6pm at Dapto Leagues Club Auditorium for an adults-only evening packed with trivia, laughs, music, drinks, nibbles and more.

There’ll be games, raffles, and silent auctions running throughout the night, so bring your cash and coins – EFTPOS facilities will also be available. Please give generously as every contribution will make a real difference for our kids.

Tabatinga’s Drop and Dine will be available for children aged 3–12, so book the kids in early while spaces last BOOK NOW: https://www.trybooking.com/events/817358/sessions/5524602/sections/1465513/tickets

Early bird tickets: $20 per person or $200 per table of 10 – available until 1 June Book your tickets HERE: https://events.humanitix.com/st-john-s-dapto-trivia-night

Questions? Email us at pandf@sjddow.catholicedu.au

Let’s come together and create a safe, fun and engaging outdoor space for the students of St John’s. Book your table now and join us for a night to remember!

The Council of Catholic Schools Parents (CCSP) warmly invites all families to join Bishop Brian Mascord in a very special online reading of the classic Bible story ‘The Parable of the Lost Sheep’.

This unique online event, organised as part of the Jubilee Year of Hope, will take place on Tuesday, 27 May from 7.00 pm to 7.30 pm.

Action: Schools are asked to promote the event with parents and carers via your usual channels.

The first 100 registrations for the reading will be posted a free copy of the book to read along with Bishop Brian!

A link to Bishop Brian’s statement on the passing of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, is also available here.

Parish News

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.

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