Dear Parents and Carers,

This week marks the commencement of the Season of Advent, a sacred time of prayer and contemplation in which we prepare for the coming of Jesus at Christmas. During this time of waiting and expectation, we are challenged to look for opportunities and practical ways to honour the holiness of the season.

There are many traditions, signs and symbols that are commonly used during Advent. The empty crib in the manger, the colour purple together with Scripture readings that reflect the theme of hope. The Advent Calendar is used to count the days of Advent in anticipation of Christmas and the Advent wreath, which holds four candles, one for each Sunday of the season, is placed on the altar in our churches and prayer spaces.

‘O God, open our hearts to prepare the way for the coming of Christ. Guide us in your ways of compassion so that we may extend your love and mercy to all people’

Amen

Year 6 Graduation

Tomorrow evening we farewell Year 6 2019 with a special graduation Mass, followed by a presentation and a dinner at Kembla Grange. It is a wonderful time of thanksgiving and celebration, and a time to acknowledge the children and their families for all that they have contributed to our school. A significant part of the graduation ceremony is the annual presentation of the Mary MacKillop Awards as well as the Hon Stephen Jones MP (Active Citizenship Award) and the Hon Anna Watson MP (Community Spirit).

Congratulations to our graduating class of 2019. I wish you every blessing and success in the future.

Principal Awards 

On Friday 6 December, the Term 4 Principal Awards will be presented at the conclusion of our final Mass for 2019. All parents/carers are warmly invited to join with the school in giving thanks for another very successful school year.

Yours sincerely
Andrew Heffernan
Principal

THE SEASON OF ADVENT - beginning Sunday 1st December

The first Sunday of Advent sees the commencement of the new liturgical year. This new liturgical cycle is referred to as Year A.  Advent comes from the Latin word Adventus which literally means ‘coming’, so Advent is a time of preparation and anticipation of the coming of Christ into the world that is celebrated in the Nativity at Christmas.

The two great feasts of Christianity – the Nativity and Easter – are each preceded by a period of preparation: Advent and Lent. The emphasis of these seasons is on the mental and spiritual preparation to fully enter into one of the great mysteries of faith.

In the Nativity, we celebrate God become human; God present in the world in a physical way. Advent is a time to remember the many and varied ways that God continues to be present in the world.

Reflection by Greg Sunter

PRAYER FOR RAIN

Each morning after our school prayer, St John’s is saying a Hail Mary with the sole intention of praying for rain for our drought-stricken areas of our country.
You might like to pray the prayer (on the right) as a family:

PARISH CELEBRATION - Sunday 24 November

On Sunday 24th November, the Parish had its annual celebration day. It was a wonderful day of liturgy, community and multicultural food!

Thank you to the children in Years 4 and 5 who came and were part of the Gospel Procession.

SVDP Annual Christmas Appeal

Thank you to the families that have been able to bring in an item for the annual SVDP Christmas Appeal. This is a fantastic way of helping those who perhaps have much less than we do throughout the Christmas season. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. These items will be presented to St Vincent de Paul on Friday at our whole school Mass so if you wish to still bring in an item, please bring in tomorrow or on Friday.

VINNIES BINS

Last Tuesday we had our first “Earn and Return” day and it was a fantastic start to what hopefully will end up being a very successful fundraiser for St Vincent de Paul.

A reminder that the blue Vinnies bins will only be brought out each Tuesday morning before school. There will be bins at both campus gates that will be monitored by our Mini-Vinnies members. We are asking families to send in any containers (no glass) on this morning. Each container we return will earn 10c for SVDP.

Items that could be brought in:

• Cans (e.g. soft drinks)
• Cartons (e.g. small flavoured milk cartons)
• Juice boxes or poppers
• Recyclable water bottles

However, they must…

• Be in good condition (not be crushed or broken)
• Be empty
• Have the label and barcode attached
• Milk, juice and cordial containers that are 1L or more, can not be put in the Earn and Return bins.

GETHSEMANE CHRISTMAS CARD PROJECT

For a number of years now, our school has helped with the Christmas Card Project run by Sister Myree Harris and the Gethsemane Community. Sister Myree Harris OAM (Australia Day 2011), is a contemporary Josephite nun who has been a community leader at Gethsemane Community in Sydney since its beginning in 1991. The Community provides the security and stability of a home to people who have nowhere to belong and be accepted. Many of the people in these community houses have a mental illness and/or intellectual disability and Gethsemane provides support in boarding houses, group homes or independently with support. There are also some who are in aged care and have no family contact.

As part of the Christmas Project, nearly 1000 people who are part of this community, will receive seven personalised Christmas cards each. These cards are the only personal mail these people receive all year. They are very much enjoyed and appreciated.

Thank you to the students in Years 4, 5 and 6 who have written Christmas cards for these people. You have helped to make some lonely, isolated people happy this Christmas.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT (with Andrew Chinn) - Friday 13th December

On Friday 13th December, Australian religious songwriter and singer, Andrew Chinn, will be visiting our school to lead our Advent/Christmas Concert. Andrew’s songs, such as “These Hands”, “Rainbow”, “An African Blessing” and “Rise Up!” are used in classrooms and liturgies around Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada. Families are warmly invited to be a part of the celebration of faith and fun. The concert will take place on the Evangelist Campus at 1pm. We look forward to seeing you there.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

• Thursday 5th December - Year 6 Graduation - Mass at 5:30pm
• Friday 6th December - Whole School Mass (St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal Presentation of Gifts, Principal Awards)
• Sunday 8th December - 2nd Sunday of Advent
• Monday 9th December - Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• Sunday 15th December - 3rd Sunday of Advent
• Sunday 15th December, 6pm - STAGE 1 (Years 1 and 2) - Stage Weekend Mass with Andrew Chinn
• Of course, all families are always very welcome to join Father Francis for the celebration of the Mass.

PARISH CELEBRATION OF THE EUCHARIST

A reminder of weekend Parish Mass times for St John the Evangelist, Dapto.
Fr Francis loves to see our families there.

• Saturday Vigil 5.00pm
• Sunday 7.30am
• Sunday 9.30am
• Sunday 6.00pm

PRAYER INTENTIONS

We pray for all families in our school community who are in need of our prayers.           
St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, pray for us.
St John the Evangelist, pray for us.

Kylie Crowe
Religious Education Coordinator

The school fees for 2020 have been approved by Bishop Brian Mascord and all fees will be billed at the end of January 2020:

• Tuition Fees — $1678 per family per annum
• Parish School Enhancement & Debt Servicing Obligation (SEDSO) — $1025 per family per annum

A total of $2703 per family.

• The Resource Fee for 2020 will be $165 for Kindergarten and $155 for Years 1 to 6 per student (includes $5 Life Education Visit).

The following are additional costs (per student) for 2020:

• Sport Levy - $15
• Kindergarten Excursion - $40
• Year 1 Excursion - $30
• Year 2 Excursion - $43
• Year 3 Excursion - $26
• Year 4 Excursion - $38
• Year 5 Camp - $295
• Year 6 Canberra - $185
• Year 6 TShirt Fee - $32
• Year 6 Leadership Program - $6
• Year 6 Excursion - $47

Below is a detailed letter with information from the Finance Team at the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong regarding School Fees for 2020 and New Arrangements for Payment by Instalment.

If you are paying by CDF Direct Debit or BPay please ensure that the amount you are currently paying will be sufficient to cover your commitment for 2020.

If you need to alter your Direct Debit please contact the school office.

Diocesan Request to Pay School Fees by Instalment Form

If you wish to pay your 2020 Fees by instalment please complete the Diocesan Request to Pay School Fees by Installment form (below) and email it to:  instalments@dow.catholic.edu.au for processing by the Finance Team at CEDoW.

Please note, if you do not elect to pay by instalments, your school fee account will be payable in full — 30 days after annual invoicing.

2020 Resource List

A copy of the 2020 Resource List will be distributed next week to all students and via the Compass App.

Should you have any questions or concerns regarding the billing or payment of your 2020 School Fees, please do not hesitate to contact the office to discuss the matter.

As the term draws to a close, the children become increasingly excited about the approaching Christmas season. At school, it is important that we keep firmly focused on learning and maintain our school routines throughout Term 4. When Christmas cards, candy canes arrive too early, the children tend to ‘switch off’ from their learning. While it is acknowledged that children love to share the spirit of Christmas with their friends, it can be quite disruptive and unsettling for the children, particularly when a child does not receive a card. It is for this reason, and in keeping with the season of Advent, Christmas cards are not to be brought to school until next Thursday 12 December. This will give the students five days in which to exchange cards and share this special time with the school friends. Thank you for your understanding and support.

SPB4L 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 that are:

Congratulations to the following students who were seen by staff following our school rules in the playground:

Week 6

Get the Compass mobile app

Access student information on the go with Compass mobile app for iPhone & Android phones.

Automatically Update apps

It is important that your mobile device has the most current version of the app. Make sure that the apps are set to automatically update.

iPhone

Go into Settings and scroll until you see iTunes and App Store. Tap on iTunes & App Store. Then scroll down the bottom until you see AUTOMATIC DOWNLOADS. To turn on automatic app updates, tap in the white oval next to App Updates.

Android

Open the Google Play Store app. Tap Menu Settings. Tap Auto-update apps. Select an option: Over any network to update apps using either Wi-Fi or mobile data. Over Wi-Fi only to update apps only when connected to Wi-Fi.

Get Notifications

An app notification is a message or alert sent by Compass to the user. Notifications sent this way do not require the Compass app to be open and messages are displayed on the screen of the mobile even when the device is locked.

iPhone

Go to Settings > Notifications, select the app, and make sure that Allow Notifications is on. If you have notifications turned on for an app but you're not receiving alerts, you might not have Banners selected. Go to Settings > Notifications, select the app, then select Banners.

Android

Open your phone's Settings app. Tap Apps & notifications Notifications. Under "Lock screen," tap Notifications on lock screen or On lock screen. Choose Show alerting and silent notifications. On some phones, choose Show all notification content.

Student learning progress is formally reported to parents and carers on Wednesday 11 December (Week 9), via the Parent Portal in Compass. Please ensure that you have the app downloaded and up to date on your device.

The Kindergarten to Yr. 6 Semester 2 reports, are standards-referenced, which in NSW means reporting based on the Common Grade Scale. Standards-referenced reporting requires teachers to consider the performance of each student according to the standard detailed at each level (A-E) of the Common Grade Scale for each Key Learning Area (KLA). Students are then awarded a grade based on the evidence teachers have of their learning in that particular KLA and the standard it reflects. According to the Common Grade Scale a ‘C’ grade is considered sound. That is, if awarded a C in a particular KLA the student has demonstrated that they have gained the knowledge, skills and understanding expected of them at that point in time.

The Common Grade Scale

The Common Grade Scale describes performance at each of the five grade levels.

OTHER REPORT FEATURES INCLUDE:

Overall grades

Each KLA has an overall grade that is determined by the teacher following consideration of the evidence of each student’s learning and the standard on the Common Grade Scale that it reflects. Overall grades are not determined by averaging student performance in strands within a KLA. It is not unusual for a student’s overall grade to change from one reporting period to the next, as the knowledge, skills and understanding they encounter in each KLA will vary from one reporting period to the next. The Common Grade Scale is a feature on your child's report.

Commitment to Learning

Commitment to Learning captures the student’s attitude to the particular KLA and their skills in managing their work, persisting when challenged and working to their potential. A scale explaining the three standards used in Commitment to Learning is also included with their report.

IMPORTANT DATES

• Semester 2 Reports will be available on Compass to all students in Year K to Year 6 on Wednesday 11 December.
• Parent/Teacher meetings are optional and available upon request between Thursday 12 December and Wednesday 18 December 2019.

Over the holiday break all students, Kindergarten to Year 5, are invited to take part in the Holiday Reading Challenge. Reading is a very important and necessary skill that we use every day.  It is a skill that we use when reading books and magazines, watching TV, shopping and playing games. When children stop reading for extended periods of time they often take a few steps backwards. This school initiative is intended to help maintain student reading abilities and continue to foster their love of reading over the Christmas holidays.

By participating in the Reading Challenge your child will be practising the skill of reading on a regular basis, reinforcing good reading habits. Parents and carers are encouraged to help their children find fun and interesting books, fiction and non-fiction.  It is important for your child to read aloud to someone and just as important for them to listen and enjoy stories being read to them. 

Today, children in Kindergarten to Year 5, were provided with a Holiday Reading Log. Children are encouraged to record the time they spend reading during the holidays into the Holiday Reading Log. Early in 2020, Diamond, Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards will be presented based on the number of hours spent reading. 

We all know that reading is one of the most important fundamental skills children must master to succeed, almost everything we do involves reading of some form. Hopefully, this challenge will help motivate your child to continue reading on a regular basis during the holiday break.

Mrs Thomas (Acting Assistant Principal)

SPLICED PUBLICATION LAUNCH

On Thursday 14 November, the SPLICED website and publication launch of “The Good, the Beautiful and the True” was held at the Fraternity Club. This was to showcase the published work of selected students from across the diocese who participated in the SPLICED program this year. We congratulate Prisha Angadi, Year 6, and Julian Smith, Year 5 who both had their projects presented at the event.

Congratulations also to the following students for their hard work and dedication to their projects in SPLICED throughout the year:

• Sienna W
• Evie G
• Elijah B
• Eva F

MATHS OLYMPIAD

Maths Olympiad is an Australasian competition designed to extend students in their mathematical thinking and problem-solving skills. Since May this year, a number of students from our school have been competing in this competition and committing to lunchtime practice sessions to develop their skills in this area. Congratulations to all of the following students who participated in Maths Olympiad this year:

Special mention to the following students:

• Matthew U – Highest Individual Score (St John’s team) and in the top 25% of all students who participated
• Aiden M and Jake S — Top 40% of all students who participated
• Riley W — Top 50% of all students who participated

Ruby 5G
Last Week on Wednesday 20 to Friday 22 November, Year 5 students went to Berry Sport and Recreation Centre. A big ‘thank you’ to Peak Sports and Learning for providing the buses for us. Year 5 had been waiting for this moment for a very long time! We had an amazing time and have lots of great memories! 

Zac 5G
My favourite activity was the 350-metre zip line. We had to harness up and walk to an old building that was about 5 storeys high. I jumped off and fell backwards, zooming back to the ground.  Ben went on it as well. After we finished, we went into the cabins for a bit and then had dinner.

Zali 5G
Kayaking was my absolute favourite activity because we got to go swimming in the lake after we kayaked up the river. Gemma and I had to work really hard to paddle the kayak. I thought camp was exciting because I got to hang out with all my friends.

Gemma 5G
Kayaking taught us to communicate with one another and to work as a team. I was with Zali and we paddled up the river with our class. I did not have a lot of arm strength, so I found it very challenging. We giggled lots and we ended up being last back. I thought camp was epic because I got to try things that I had never done before.

Kevin 5G
The first activity we did was Rock climbing. Our instructor Nick, was really funny and said that Rock Climbing teaches us to trust each other and help out with others. We did every kind of rock climbing there was, except for the crates. I really wanted to do the crates but instead we did a race with all the other groups. Our group won! It was pretty hard, but good fun.

Lauren 5G
We stayed at Berry in rooms of 4 or 6 people for 3 days and 2 nights. We did kayaking, rock climbing, cable gliding and paintballing, which we did as a whole grade. I thought camp was so enjoyable because we got to do some many activities with our friends.

James 5G
The activities at night were fun, but I think the teachers enjoyed them the most, especially the game Cockroaches. I thought lunch each day was the best because we got to choose and there was lots of watermelon and fruit. Overall I thought camp was fabulous because I got to spend lots of time with my friends.

Year 3 had a great day of fun and learning about change and continuity over time in our local community, visiting the Illawarra Museum, St Francis Xavier's Cathedral and the Blue Mile in Wollongong.

The children enjoyed learning about what life was like in a hands-on way at the Museum. They experienced what a typical home was like, how people prepared and cooked food, what classrooms and schools were like as well as how shops were different in the past. 

The Blue Mile stretches from Stuart Park in the north to Wollongong Golf Club in the south. Prior to the excursion, children worked in groups researching specific landmarks between Smith's Hill Fort to Flagstaff Hill, of this much-loved section of our coastline. Each group presented along the way, acting as tour guides on what they had learned about the fascinating past of this area.

Finally, the students visited St Francis Xavier's Cathedral, learning many interesting things about the history of our Diocese. They saw photos and the grave of Bishop McCabe, the first Bishop of Wollongong, after whom our school's Red House is named.

Last day of school banking is Tuesday 10th December. Thank you to all students for banking at school.We wish them all the Merry Christmas and see them in the New Year.

Thank you
Toni
School Commonwealth Banking  

To the following students who are celebrating their birthday in December — we wish you a very happy birthday and hope you have a great day.

Christmas time may become a season for financial stress for many families in our parish/school community.  Financial stress can come out in the form of electricity, gas and water bills.  Even basic food items may become a burden.  At Christmas time we also help with toys for children and Christmas hampers.  If you need confidential help or know of someone who would appreciate assistance, please do not hesitate to contact any St Vincent De Paul member after mass. Father will be happy to point us out and we are usually manning the piety shop. You can also contact through the Dapto Vinnies helpline (Mon – Fri, 9.30am – 11.30am). We can often give direct help and/or direct you to agencies that will help and/or direct you to agencies that will help

Saint Vincent De Paul Conference
Phone: 0412 912 641