Dear Parents and Carers,

The consistent message being received is that the practice of good hygiene is an important way to reduce the risk of acquiring and spreading respiratory infections. At school, the following practices are being implemented and reinforced and we ask that parents and carers encourage the same good hygiene habits at home.

1. Children are instructed to wash their hands regularly using the soap provided, particularly after using the toilet and before and after eating. 
2. When coughing/sneezing children must use the practice of lifting an arm and coughing/sneezing into their elbow.
3. Hand sanitiser is being provided for each classroom and supervised use will take place during the day.

Posters showing the steps to effectively wash hands have been developed and are displayed in all classrooms. Teachers have discussed this practice with their class and have been asked to revisit and remind their class daily.

Cleaning contractors have been instructed and are now sanitising desks, chairs, benches and high touch areas such as door handles, in an attempt to mitigate the spread of germs and viruses.

If children are unwell, coughing and sneezing they should not be sent to school, rather remain at home until symptoms are resolved and advice sort from a Medical Practitioner. Children who present as being unwell at school, following the advice provided by the NSW Ministry of Health, will be sent home and asked to remain there until such time that they are well again.

In keeping with the directives from authorities the following planned events and activities have been either cancelled/postponed;

• Whole School Award Assemblies (Friday afternoons)
• School Masses
• Diocesan Sporting Trials and Events
• Reconciliation Workshop - Wednesday 18 March (class-based activities only)
• Year 5 and 6 Parent iPad Workshop – Wednesday 18 March
• Cricket Training (selected students) – Wednesday 18 March
• Mark Taylor Shield Round 1 (selected students) – Friday 20 March
• Kindergarten Best Start Parent Feedback Meetings. These will be transferred to phone interviews.
• Sacrament of Reconciliation Practice – Wednesday 25 March
• World Autism Awareness Day Activities – Thursday 2 April
• Rugby League Gala Day – Thursday 2 April
• School Cross Country Carnival – Friday 3 April

The list of events above will be constantly updated in the days and weeks ahead. In addition, our school practices for morning assembly, eating time at lunch and afternoon dismissal are also being reviewed.

At this stage, there has been no direction from government or CSNSW to close any schools, except in the case of a positive COVID-19 diagnosis in a student or staff member. Planning is underway should this situation change. All CEDoW schools continue to operate as normal, subject to the directives outlined on the new CEDoW COVID-19 Information Centre webpage.

CEDoW has launched a central COVID-19 Information Centre webpage on the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong website. The page will be updated regularly and is the best place for staff, parents and carers, and others in our school communities looking for the latest information about our systemic response.

Please take a moment to review the page and familiarise yourself with the latest information and directives in place across CEDoW schools. Information through social media, news outlets, and hearsay are unreliable and not credible.

Following the Prime Minister's announcement on Sunday 15 March 2020, all travellers returning from overseas to Australia must now self-isolate for 14 days. This has been widely publicised and is not negotiable. Please contact the school office if you have any questions in this regard.

Attached is a copy of the ‘Hand Washing Poster’ being used at school as well as the letter shared via Compass yesterday. 

Importantly, we must all try to keep a sense of calm and perspective. I understand and appreciate the heightened level of concern for the safety of your children at school, but be assured we are working hard to mitigate any risk. At such times, more than ever, we need to work together, remembering that there is strength in unity. 

Thank you for your continued support and understanding. 

Andrew Heffernan
Principal

18 March 2020

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 Sukan from India.

Thirty-two-year-old Sakun lives in a village in central-east India. She developed polio as a child and has difficulty walking. Until now Sakun, an indigenous Gond woman, has been isolated in her community, unable to earn a livelihood and without knowledge of government schemes that could help her. Sakun lives with her sister in a rural area of Chhattisgarh, India’s poorest state. Home to 26 million people, with 10 million living in poverty.

In 2018, Sakun joined a Caritas Australia-funded program which is implemented by Caritas India and its local partner, Samarthan. Through their strategic guidance and support, Sakun learned new skills and gained important mobility. Sakun now earns her own income and makes a small profit which goes towards her family’s basic needs.
With your help, Caritas Australia can help uplift vulnerable communities and support the right of indigenous peoples around the world. A brighter future for women, men and their families can start today. Let’s Go Further, Together.

https://lent.caritas.org.au/page/week-4
 

SVDP FUNDRAISER - for those affected by the recent bushfires

On Friday 6th March, we had our fundraiser for the St Vincent de Paul’s bushfire appeal, with our theme being HOPE. Students came to school dressed in their brightest colours, emphasising the hope of our future. We made words of hope and gratitude using our loose change, raising $1212.60 for SVDP’s Bushfire Appeal. We then celebrated with a whole school dance, celebrating the love that is shown in times of trouble. A tremendous effort from all children!

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. Further information regarding the sacrament will be provided. The practice for next Wednesday has been cancelled, children will be practising in school time.

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

Dates for Confirmation and First Holy Communion have now been set and a note sent home. Children in Years 4, 5 who have made their First Reconciliation and would like to make their First Holy Communion this year, please see Mrs Crowe.

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

• Thursday 9th March - Feast of St Joseph
• Saturday 21st March - Harmony Day
• Sunday 22nd March - 4th Sunday of Lent Year A
• Wednesday 25th March - Feast of the Annunciation
• Saturday 28th March - Earth Hour
• Sunday 29th March - 5th Sunday of Lent Year A

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

Beginning on Monday 23 March, students from Year 3 and Year 5 will be participating in an online practice test. The purpose of the practice is to test the system capabilities and give the students and staff some experience of online testing. Student results will not be recorded and teachers will not receive any feedback on student performance. If you have any questions about the online practice tests please contact your child’s classroom teacher or Mr Matthew Downes downesm01@dow.catholic.edu.au. 

15 – 21 March

Harmony Week celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity. It’s about inclusiveness, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone. This year we celebrate the 21st anniversary of Harmony Week.

Our cultural diversity

Australia is a vibrant and multicultural country — from the oldest continuous culture of our first Australians to the cultures of our newest arrivals from around the world.

Our cultural diversity is one of our greatest strengths and is at the heart of who we are. It makes Australia a great place to live.

An integrated multicultural Australia is an integral part of our national identity. All people who migrate to Australia bring with them some of their own cultural and religious traditions, as well as taking on many new traditions. Collectively, these traditions have enriched our nation.

Facts and figures

There are some fascinating statistics about Australia’s diversity:

• 49 per cent of Australians were born overseas or have at least one parent who was born overseas,
• we identify with over 300 ancestries,
• since 1945, more than 7.5 million people have migrated to Australia,
• 85 per cent of Australians agree multiculturalism has been good for Australia,
• apart from English, the most common languages spoken in Australia are Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Italian, Greek, Tagalog/Filipino, Hindi, Spanish and Punjabi,
• more than 70 Indigenous languages are spoken in Australia.

South Coast Swimming Carnival

St John’s swimming team of 24 students participated on Thursday, 5 March at the South Coast Swimming Carnival at Corrimal Pool. Students showed great sportsmanship, team spirit and all had fun despite the continuous rain. Thank you to Amy Billet, Jo Edgar, Glori Cachia, Jason Foye, Natalie Rachlewrcz, David Hale, Therese Ly and Kristy Whittle who volunteered as our parent officials for the day. 

Congratulations to Alexia F who came 2nd overall senior girl champion and Jye P who came 3rd overall junior boy champion. Both students then competed at the Diocesan Swimming Selection Trials on Monday 11 March.

Congratulations to Alexia F was selected to represent the Wollongong Diocese Team for the Mackillop Swimming Championships which unfortunately has now cancelled. A fantastic achievement.

Representative Sport

On Friday 6th March, Emily H, Noah P and Bailey T attended the Wollongong Dioscean Football Trials (soccer). Congratulations to these students for representing St John's. 

Bailey and Emily were successful in being selected in the Wollongong team to attend the Mackillop trials, unfortunately the trials have been cancelled.

Well done and wish them good luck!

Mrs Michelle Atkins
Sports Coordinator

Catholic Schools Week

4R

5B

2R RE in the classroom

We read the Bible...Jeremiah 18:1-6, and it was telling us that one of the images of God presented in the Bible is that of a potter. Using clay, we moulded small bowls. We then asked ourselves... 

• how we could be like the clay
• how God could be like a potter

Once again the students of St John’s have been registered in the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC). The challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students and to enable them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely. This week your child will be provided with their own PRC account which can be used to add books to your child’s online reading log. If you would like more information on the approved PRC books and the challenge rules go to: https://online.det.nsw.edu.au/prc/studentExperience.html#/. 

You have until Friday 28 August to complete the online Student Reading Record. Each child is required to read a certain number of books to successfully complete the challenge. 

Kindergarten to Year 2 students can read books on their own, with someone or someone can read them to them. Year 3 to Year 6 students must read their books on their own. 

The Allen Adventure

The Allen Adventure free app is a fun interactive story about Allen, a young visitor from another planet, who is new to school and learning how to get on with his Earthling classmates.

Watch The Allen Adventure video.

Ask an adult to download The Allen Adventure free app for you so you can make Allen move and help him work out what to do.

You can also ask an adult to download and print the colouring in pages, the booklets and postcards for you.

These and more resources for The Allen Adventure can be downloaded from the Resources section.

Parents and early childhood educators can read more about the story of ​The Allen Adventure.

It is suitable for children from 3 to 8 years of age.

For Apple iOS devices: The Allen Adventure requires a minimum of iPad2 and iOS 9, and to download the app you will need a wireless connection on your iPad or iTunes on your computer.

For Android devices: you will need Android 4.0 or later and a device with ARMv7 capabilities.

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.

Notice from CommBank — School Banking

The health, safety and wellbeing of our communities and our people is our first priority. Due to the rapidly developing situation with coronavirus, School Banking has been temporarily paused from 20 March until the start of Term 2. Please don't bring your deposit book with your weekly banking into school and we will notify you when banking will recommence.

GROUP 3:  16th – 20th March

GROUP 4: 23rd – 27th March

GROUP 1:  30th March – 3rd April

GROUP 2:  6th – 10th April