In Parishes throughout the Diocese of Wollongong we celebrate the Feast of Ss Peter and Paul Apostles. In last Sunday’s Gospel we hear Jesus asking His disciples, “Who do you say I am?” It is Peter who responds with great faith, declaring, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” This powerful moment reminds us of the importance of recognising Jesus in our lives and having the courage to profess our faith. Jesus then entrusts Peter with the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, highlighting the role of leadership, trust, and responsibility. As a school community, we are all called to nurture faith in our students, encouraging them to grow in faith and belief in God’s presence in their lives so that they can be the face of Jesus for others.

Dear Parents and Carers,

It was a joy and a privilege to join the parish and school community in celebrating Fr Francis’ 30th Anniversary of Ordination into priesthood at our school celebration on Wednesday 25th June and the parish celebration on Saturday 28th June. The school and parish celebration's were a beautiful tribute to Fr. Francis' deep faith, humble service, and unwavering commitment to the people of God. Thirty years ago, Father Francis answered a profound calling — not just to serve the Church, but to dedicate his life to God and to His people. Over the past three decades, Father Francis has lived out his vocation with faith, humility, compassion, and unwavering dedication. Through his words, his witness and his warm presence, Fr Francis has helped us grow in love for God and others. His presence has touched generations — baptising our students, preparing our students for the sacraments, celebrating marriages, and comforting families during times of loss. Through his words and actions, he has reminded us of the power of prayer, the importance of community, and the enduring hope we find in our faith. I would like to thank Ms Kylie Stephens for organising our school celebration and also thank the following students Celeste.N,Zara.B, Clara.M, Annabelle.F, Eliza.S,Elisha K, Marie.H and Joseph.W for leading the Gospel procession. 

We give thanks to Fr. Francis for his spiritual leadership at St John's Catholic Parish School.

School Celebration — Fr Francis’ 30th Anniversary of Ordination

Parish Celebration — Fr Francis’ 30th Anniversary of Ordination

Thank you to children who volunteered for the procession: Celeste N, Zara B, Clara M, Annabelle F, Eliza S, Elisha K, Marie H, Joseph W and Audrey S (was sick on the day).

I would like to congratulate and thank the incredible Parents and Friends Executive and also the Parents and Friends fund raising committee for their energy, creativity, and tireless organisation in bringing together a wonderful school community event — The SJD Trivia Night!! They did a brilliant job bringing the event together and I thank the team including Kristy Sequeira, Madison Sequeira, Jeremy Tillman, Renee Hawira, Kelly Giddings, Tara Nau, Jodie McLaughlin, Jodie Maloney, Renee Whiteside and Jamie Calder. We raised over $18,000 that will go towards the payment of new playground equipment. I would like to thank the supportive and enthusiastic parents and carers who came to the evening. We had a great night of friendly competition and a lot of laughs! I thank you for supporting the fund raising for our new playground equipment. 

Semester One Student Reports and Additional Teacher and Parent/Carer Learning Conversations

Both the Semester One Student Reports and the additional Teacher and Parent/Carer Learning Conversations 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 that were shared with parents and carers last Friday.  I am very proud of our students and the growth they have made in their learning, faith and well being during Semester One.

I would like to acknowledge and thank those parents and carers who have engaged in additional learning conversations as this has enabled teachers and parents and carers to provide each other feedback and collaborate so that our students can continue to experience growth in their faith, learning and well being. I would like to thank the St John's teachers for the care and support they show all students at St John’s and for their professionalism and dedication to ensure that our students faith, learning and well being growth and development is communicated clearly to parents and carers.  Another great example of the collaboration between our staff and parents and carers that we value at St John’s.

Tell Them From Me Student Survey Information

The Tell Them From Me Student Survey Data outlines measures that are based on the most recent research on school and classroom effectiveness. The information gleaned in the student survey provides results based on data from 174 students from grades 4 to 6 in this school who completed the survey. Results from our students are compared with TTFM Norms, which are based on the results from all students who participated in the TTFM survey at the year levels found in this school. Please see the table below that outlines the school mean and the TTFM norms for measurements surveyed.

As you can see by the information portrayed above there is much to celebrate at St John’s and areas for further conversation. We will continue to work with the information in the coming two terms as we plan for our 2026 Annual Improvement Plan Goals.

Measurement Name	School Mean	TTFM Norm
Student participation in school sports Percentage of students with a high rate of participation in sports with an instructor at school, other than in a physical education class.	62%	72%
Student participation in extracurricular activities Percentage of students with a high rate of participation in art, drama, or music groups; extracurricular school activities; or a school committee.	44%	51%
Students with a positive sense of belonging Students feel accepted and valued by their peers and by others at their school.	77%	71%
Students with positive relationships Students have friends at school they can trust and who encourage them to make positive choices.	90%	85%
Students that value schooling outcomes Students believe that schooling is useful in their everyday life and will have a strong bearing on their future.	88%	89%
Students with positive homework behaviours Students do homework for their classes with a positive attitude and in a timely manner.	42%	43%
Students with positive behaviour at school Students that do not get in trouble at school for disruptive or inappropriate behaviour.	94%	88%
Students who are interested and motivated Students are interested and motivated in their learning.	61%	64%
Effort Students try hard to succeed in their learning.	86%	86%
Students with moderate or high levels of anxiety Students have intense feelings of fear, intense anxiety, or worry about particular events or social situations.	25%	30%
Students who are victims of bullying Students who are subjected to moderate to severe physical, social, or verbal bullying, or are bullied over the Internet.	14%	30%
Feel safe attending this school Students feel safe at school as well as going to and from school.	73%	61%

Whole School Community Events

Over the past two weeks there have been quite a number of extra curricula, whole school events that our students have participated in. Many students remember these events as a highlight of the school year. I would like to thank the staff who plan and facilitate these activities and events and I recognise that these activities take time out of their busy teaching schedule to plan and lead.  

Thank you to Mrs Michelle Atkins who organised and led the school Athletics Carnival on Tuesday 24th June. The day was a great success due to the support of parents and carers and staff and the support they provided Mrs Atkins throughout the carnival. I witnessed the way in which the staff and parents and carers all participated with such professionalism and dedication and I would like to recognise this commitment, well done everyone and thank you!!! Our students had a wonderful time despite the rain, many smiles and laughs to be seen and heard.

I would like to thank the students for their hard work and commitment to their learning this term. It has been a very busy term and our students certainly deserve a holiday. I would like to thank all parents and carers for your ongoing partnership as together we create a vibrant Catholic school community. I would like to thank the St John's Parents and Friends Association for their great work and the support they have provided throughout the term.

I wish you all a very relaxing pupil vacation period and hope you have an opportunity to spend time with your family and friends and look forward to seeing you all in Term 3. Please see the messages below from our St John's School Captain Zac and Vice Captain Charlie.

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.

St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal 

To support the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal, our St John’s Mini Vinnies team organised a Pyjama/Oodie/Onesie Mufti Day on Friday 20th June. It was wonderful to see so many students dressed in their cosy outfits and showing such great spirit.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our families, we raised $901.60!!

We have also received lots and lots of warm donations, including blankets, beanies, socks, gloves and scarves. All of these items have now been given to the Dapto St Vincent de Paul Society, where they will help bring comfort to people in need this winter.

A big thank you to our Mini Vinnies team for all the wonderful work they do throughout the year to promote the various appeals that support St Vincent de Paul. Your kindness truly makes a difference. Thank you for your support.

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.

Kylie Stephens
Religious Education Coordinator

At St John’s, we continue to promote a safe, respectful, and responsible learning environment through our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) framework. As we begin Term 3, we’d like to share some key updates and reminders about how PB4L is being implemented across the school.

Clear and Consistent Behaviour Expectations

During our most recent staff meeting, teachers reviewed the PB4L correction sequence to ensure our responses to student behaviour are consistent and fair. This sequence helps students understand expectations, encourages responsibility, and allows them the opportunity to reflect and improve. We believe consistency supports students in feeling secure and respected in their learning environment.

Restorative Justice Room

At St John’s, we use a Restorative Justice Room for students who need extra time and support after displaying high level behaviours. This space gives students the opportunity to calm down, reflect on their choices, and engage in meaningful conversations aimed at repairing relationships and returning to class with a positive mindset. It’s part of our commitment to helping every child grow socially and emotionally.

Celebrating Positive Behaviour

We continue to recognise students who demonstrate our three school rules: Be Safe, Be Respectful, and Be Responsible. Raffle tickets are awarded when students consistently show these behaviours, whether in the classroom, playground, or other school settings. These small acknowledgements help build a positive school culture and encourage students to lead by example.

Thank you for your ongoing support in reinforcing these values at home. When school and families work together, we can provide our children with the best chance to thrive in a safe and nurturing environment.

Week 6

Week 7

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

A huge thank you to the staff, volunteers, P&F and supportive families who made the day such a success. We can't do events like this without your valuable help.

We warmly invite parents and carers to join us this Thursday, 3rd July at 1:45pm in the school hall for our Athletics Ribbon and Age Champion Medallion Presentation.

Michelle Atkins
Sports Coordinator

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.

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.

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!

Road Safety — Fines and Offences

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

To the following students who will celebrate their birthday in July — 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.

Dear Parents and Carers,

On behalf of Jodie Maloney the St John’s Parents and Friend’s Association President all parents and carers are warmly invited to attend the Term Three Parents and Friend’s Association Meeting. Please see below the details for the meeting:

Date: 29th July 2025

Time: 7pm

Venue: St Joseph’s Room- Mini Hall 

We look forward to seeing parents and carers on the 29th July at 7pm.

Jodie Maloney- President of the St John’s Parents and Friend’s Association

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.

Parish News

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!

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

School Holidays Sorted

Looking for a fun, active, and engaging way to keep your child entertained these school holidays? AFL School Holiday Programs are the perfect solution!

Illawarra North Holiday Programs running Tuesdays July 8^th and July 15^th 9:00am - 3:00pm at North Dalton Park

• Fun and Active -  Off screens and running free - fresh air, muddy knees and big smiles are part of the package
• Inclusive for All - AFL Play Welcomes every kid to have fun and play their way - at their own pace, in their own style
• Build Friendships - Play, laugh, and make lifelong friends - that's what footy is all about
• Flexible -  No pressure, just simple, un-serious fun to get kids active and outside, and playing their way
• Out of the Way -  Keep them entertained these school holidays while you stay on top of your schedule!
• Hone Your Skills -  Refine their skills to support their footy journey
• Off Screens into the Outdoors -  Less screen time more playtime

Click here to register for Auskick (4-7 Year olds)

Click here to register for Superkick (8-12 Year olds)

Follow us:

Facebook	Instagram	Youtube	Web