Dear Parents and Carers,

It's Catholic Schools Week (CSW). A time in which we focus on strengthening relationships between all those who are involved in our schools, students, staff, families, priests, parishioners, and members of the wider community, by showcasing our wonderful school and the learning that takes place in our classrooms every day.

In celebrating with Catholic Schools across NSW and the ACT, I would like to extend a warm invitation to all families to help us celebrate on Friday 6 March.

(All students are asked to wear bright coloured mufti clothing on Friday)

The Annual St John’s Catholic Schools Week Awards will be presented during Mass. One student in each class will be acknowledged and presented with a certificate by Fr Francis. The award recipients are those students who consistently display our school core values of Faith, Respect, Learning, Love and Community.

We all look forward to celebrating Catholic Schools Week with you.

Andrew Heffernan
Principal

Dear students, families and school communities,

Thank you for your school's participation in Catholic Schools Week from 1-7 March. It's a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and showcase many of the fantastic things happening in your school every day, and in all our Catholic schools across the Diocese of Wollongong.

We thank you for working together in partnership with us to help make your school community such a vibrant, nurturing place of learning, faith, belonging and hope.

If you or a family member or friend would like to enrol your child in one of our schools, please download an enrolment package here.

Have a look at our Catholic Schools Week video below, celebrating what our students across the diocese love about their Catholic school. Can you spot the students from your school?

CARITAS LAUNCH

St John's Captains and Vice Captains attended the Caritas Launch at St Benedicts Catholic College, Oran Park.

Project Compassion is Caritas Australia's annual Lenten fundraising and awareness-raising appeal. Millions of Australians come together in solidarity with the world's poor to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity. Each school with the Diocese was invited to join in this commitment by receiving a Project Compassion mission box and candle to take back to their school.

PROJECT COMPASSION - GO FURTHER TOGETHER

During Lent, Caritas puts out stories each week of people who are helped by Project Compassion.

This week we hear the story of Phany from Cambodia.

Phany is 27 and lives in a village in western Cambodia. Over 70% of Cambodia's population live in rural communities – and many farming families live in poverty without enough food to eat. Phany was struggling to earn a living as a rice farmer, so she and her husband were forced to leave their 2-year-old daughter behind in the village and take up construction work in the city. Phany worked long, hard days in unsafe and unfair conditions away from her daughter. It was the only way for the family to survive.Then in 2016, an opportunity came up for Phany that would turn her family’s life around. She joined a Caritas supported program to learn more productive farming and irrigation techniques. Phany’s whole community took part in training in health, nutrition, hygiene and disaster preparedness.  The program particularly focused on improving access to water during the country’s severe droughts. With her new skills, Phany is now able to provide for her family through their farming work. She no longer must be away from her daughter to work in a dangerous city construction site. This was all possible thanks all those people who generously support Project Compassion. Supporting Project Compassion is a way we can proclaim the faith that is in our hearts and help our brothers and sisters in need.

https://lent.caritas.org.au/page/parishes#pop_Phany

Year 3 have been looking at the story of Phany. Here are a few of their responses to the question - Why is it important that we care for the people like Phany in our world?

…because Cambodia it is one of the least developed countries in our world. Also, because it is in Lent we donate money to Project Compassion. (Grady)

…so that Phany can provide food for her family and so that we can get closer to God. (Thomas)

…because we want to be like God and Jesus and be kind. Never see a need without doing something about it is what Phany did. (Anna)

…if Phany does not eat food or drink water she could die because of starvation. Since it is Lent you need to fast, give to the poor and pray. (Isabel)

SVDP FUNDRAISER - for those affected by the recent bushfires

This Friday we are having a fundraiser for the St Vincent de Paul’s bushfire appeal, with our theme being HOPE. All students will be encouraged to come to school in their brightest colours, emphasising the hope of our future. We ask that students bring in “loose change” (preferably gold coloured!) on the day. Each class will use their loose change to make a message of hope for either the people who have been affected by the recent bushfires or for the firefighters and emergency personnel who are working tirelessly to protect lives and property. We will then be participating in a dance celebrating the love that has been shown in the recent fires. 

PARISH SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM

The Reconciliation Sacramental Program has commenced. Please pray for the 63 children of our parish that are preparing for this important sacrament. Families please remember to take your booklets with you each week of the program when you attend Mass.

We are still awaiting our Confirmation dates for this year from the Bishop’s Office. As soon, as we receive this information, a note will go home to Year 6 families and then dates of First Holy Communion will also be able to be set.

Loving God,
Pour out your blessing upon our children that, during this time of Sacramental preparation,
they may grow closer to you and come to know your special love for them.
May this time of preparation for the sacrament of Reconciliation be a time of blessing for our families
and our community. Unite us all in your great love. Amen

VINNIES BINS

A reminder that the blue Vinnies bins will only be brought out each Tuesday morning before school. There will be bins on both campuses that will be monitored by our Mini-Vinnies members. We are asking families to send in any containers that are appropriate (no glass) on this morning. Each container we return earns 10c. This term St Vincent de Paul will not be collecting the bins so we will be donating our containers to Father Francis, who is collecting them for the parish.

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. 

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

PARISH WEEKEND 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

SPECIAL EVENT

Ashes to Easter by Peter Kearney,

Saturday 7th March at 7pm – St John’s Parish Dapto

Acclaimed singer/songwriter Peter Kearney will be at St John’s Dapto  as part of the Lenten Program for this year.

Peter has a concert/reflection involving a prayerful sequence of hymns, songs, reflections  and stories to assist us in our Lenten journey.  Peter’s concert is most suitable for adults though older children might enjoy it.  The duration of the concert will be about 1 hour.

5pm – Saturday Vigil mass as usual

6pm – Barbecue and social get together in the inspiration garden in front of the church. 

7pm – Peter Kearney concert in the church (Gold coin donation per person, for admission)

A Ticket for food, drink and admission will be $5.  A family ticket will cost $10.  Those only coming for the concert can make a gold coin donation at the door.

“A beautiful Lenten reflection … prayerful and spiritual ... a worthwhile part of our Lenten journey”.  

Congratulations to the St John's Swimming Carnival Age Champions

House winners

1st = MacKillop
2nd = Ward
3rd = Joseph
4th = McCabe

Age Champions

Welcome to Gunyah

This term we welcomed our new friends Hudson, Noah and Roark to Gunyah. We have been so busy making new friends, creating our own prayer spaces and learning new things. Our teachers are so proud of how well we have settled into life at St John's. We are experts on our school rules and love playing lego together.

2R - Exploring History at St John's

2R were engaged in learning about the history at St John's Dapto. They loved exploring the school grounds and the church for historical plaques and statues.

Stay tuned for a regular segment "In Our Classrooms" in further newsletters.

A great achievement by Joe receiving the Rider for the Year 2019 Award for the Riding for the Disabled Assoc (RDA).

Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong change of policy requires all students with Medical Plans to renew their plan annually by the end of Term 1.

St John's requires your child's Medical Plan (dated 2020) by Friday 3 April 2020, if you have not already provided the Medical Plan please do so as soon as possible.

Applications for enrolment for Kindergarten 2021 are now available from the school office. Alternatively, they can be downloaded from our school website.

Click here for further information

Children are eligible for enrolment if they turn 5 before 30 June 2021.

Children in Years 3 & 5 throughout Australia will be sitting for the NAPLAN Assessment from 12 May to 22 May. Parents who would like to know more about the NAPLAN assessment are encouraged to visit the website:

https://www.nap.edu.au/

School fees have been invoiced to families and they are available to view in the Compass Parent Portal. For your information payment requirements are as follows:

• For families who pay annually, payment in full was due on 28 February 2020.
• For families that have submitted a Request to Pay by Instalment or who previously had a School Fee Agreement in place, a schedule of the required payments and the due date was issued with school fee statements.  The first instalment payment was due on 28 February, 2020.  Parents may commence payments earlier if they wish, however, it is important that any existing regular payment is equal to the instalment amount provided on the schedule and that payment is made on or before the due dates on the schedule.  Reference should be made to the Request to Pay by Instalments on the school’s website for conditions relating to payment in this manner. 
• For families who have a Fee Concession in place, you will be contacted prior to your review date to complete annual documentation and arrange an interview with the Principal.  If you have a current payment plan in place, and you are unable to increase your payments to meet your 2020 school fees, you may continue to make these payments until your next review date.
• Parents should be aware that our new accounting system will send automatic reminders for overdue payments.

The following documents are available on the school’s website for the information of families:

• Diocesan School Fee Management Policy
• Diocesan Frequently Asked Questions
• Diocesan Request to Pay by Instalments
• Information regarding school Fees at our school

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the Parents and Friends Association was held last Tuesday night. Thank you to the parents who attended the meeting. At the meeting, all positions were declared vacant and a new executive committee elected.

Congratulations to the P&F Executive Committee for 2020:

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

The eSafety Commissioner (eSafety) is Australia’s national independent regulator for online safety.

This is a wonderful free resource, please take the time to have a look.

https://www.facebook.com/dapto.stjohns

http://www.instagram.com/stjohns.dapto

The CEDoW social media policy promotes positive interactions online, and the standards/expectations that the CEDoW and St John's will be upholding for all members of the school community, who access St John's social media.

The photo consent form that parent/carers signed this year includes online publications (such as the website and social media) and St John's will be following what each child's photo consent form stipulates in regards to posting on the official school Facebook/Instagram page unless parents/carers wish to contact the office to advise otherwise. 

GROUP 1:  2nd – 6th March

GROUP 2:  9th – 13th March

GROUP 3:  16th – 20th March

GROUP 4: 23rd – 28th March

School Banking is on every Tuesday morning, please drop banking books off at the front school office.

• Trauma
• Life Changes
• Health and Wellbeing concerns
• Depression and Anxiety
• Family and Relationship Challenges

We offer face to face counselling services from our Wollongong, Nowra and Campbelltown offices, as well as flexible phone-based sessions and online video services (ZOOM), to meet your needs.

We are not a crisis service - all clients require a phone intake session prior to booking an appointment with one of our counsellors.

To find out more about our counselling services visit our website, to book an appointment or make a referral please call 4254 9395 or email intakeservice@catholiccare.dow.org.au