Dear Parents and Carers,

It's hard to believe that the end of Term 2 is rapidly approaching. It has been a term like no other and I would like to once again, thank you for your continued support. Last week, the NSW Premier announced a further easing of COVID restrictions in NSW however from a school perspective, there will be no changes to our present procedures and practices. We remain in Phase 3 of our Return to School Plan and such, will continue to implement strategies that ensure we keep students, staff and parents safe.

Enrolment interviews for Kindergarten 2021 have, for the most, been completed and next week letters offering placement will be sent to families. It is always a privilege to meet with families and listen to their hopes and dreams, as they embark on their journey at St John’s. A consistent message that heard from families is that St John’s is well regarded in the wider community, enjoying a positive reputation as a school of welcome and inclusion.

It has come to our attention that a number of families with siblings already enrolled may not have yet submitted an application for Kindergarten. If this is the case, please attend to this as a matter of priority, as we do have limited places available.

Our building project is moving quickly into the final stages, with a new completion date being the end of August 2020. The school facilities once complete will be second to none. If you have family friends or relatives seeking an outstanding education for their children, you might like to recommend that they contact the school to discuss enrolment at St John's.

Yours sincerely

Andrew Heffernan
Principal

Father Francis’ Birthday – Sunday 21st June

On Sunday 21st June, we celebrate Father Francis’ birthday. We wish him a wonderful day and many blessings.

FEAST OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS – Friday 19th June

The heart has always been seen as the "centre" or essence a person ("the heart of the matter," "you are my heart," "take it to heart," etc) and the wellspring of our emotional lives and love ("you break my heart," "my heart sings," etc). Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is devotion to Jesus Christ Himself, but in the particular ways of meditating on his interior life and on His threefold love - His divine love, His burning love that fed His human will, and His sensible love that affects His interior life. The Friday that follows the Second Sunday in Time After Pentecost is the Feast of the Sacred Heart which brings to mind all the attributes of Jesus’ Divine Heart.

♥ Prayer of Thanksgiving and Praise to the Sacred Heart

Lord, you deserve all honour and praise, because your love is perfect and your heart sublime. My heart is filled to overflowing with gratitude for the many blessings and graces You have bestowed upon me and those whom I love. Forever undeserving, may I always be attentive and never take for granted the gifts of mercy and love that flow so freely and generously from Your Sacred Heart. Heart of Jesus, I adore you. Heart of Jesus, I praise you. Heart of Jesus, I thank you. Heart of Jesus, I love you forever and always. Amen.

REFUGEE WEEK

This Sunday 14th June marks the beginning of Refugee Week.

Refugee Week is Australia’s peak annual activity to raise awareness about the issues affecting refugees and celebrate the positive contributions made by refugees to Australian society. 

Originally celebrated in 1986, Refugee Week coincides with World Refugee Day (20 June).

Refugee Week is a unique opportunity for us all to experience and celebrate the rich diversity of refugee communities through theatre, music, dance, film and other events which take place all over Australia and highlight the aims of the Week which are:

• to educate the Australian public about who refugees are and why they have come to Australia;
• to help people understand the many challenges refugees face coming to Australia;
• to celebrate the contribution refugees make to our community;
• to focus on how the community can provide a safe and welcoming environment for refugees;
• for community groups and individuals to do something positive for refugees, asylum seekers and displaced people, within Australia but also around the world; and
• for service providers to reflect on whether they are providing the best possible services to refugees.

“Prayer for a Just Future” by Common Grace’s Justice for People Seeking Asylum Team
Creator God, you are the giver of life.

Saviour Jesus, you have shown us what it is to love.

Guiding Spirit, you awaken us to justice.

Show us how to build a just future, where all people have equal opportunity to belong and to flourish in your vitality and love.

We ask for mercy for people in limbo on temporary visas, for safety for those seeking permanent protection, for reunion for families who are separated by borders, and for relief for those losing hope within our detention systems.

We pray for First Nations Peoples fighting for justice on their own Lands, for survivors of domestic violence and for creation groaning under climate disruption.

Help us to live out your inclusive love. Help us to live into your Kingdom where all people have equal opportunity to belong and flourish. Work through us, towards a just future.

As part of the Diocese’s support of Remote Learning in Religious Education a weekly show called PRAY SCHOOL has been developed. PRAY SCHOOL is an engaging program, appealing to the spirituality of the child through storytelling, music, singing, listening and responding to Scripture. This program is aimed at children in Kinder through to Year 2 and many teachers are sharing this in their weekly activities. For those parents and carers who have also been sharing with pre-schoolers at home, here is the link to Season 2. Season 2 explores symbols, spaces, roles and seasons through the four parts of the Mass.

Episode 1 - https://youtu.be/t61nIKn8z9U

CELEBRATION OF THE EUCHARIST

A reminder that each Sunday, the Bishop is broadcasting Mass at 9am, we will be continuing to broadcast Sunday Mass online with Bishop Brian and other clergy from Lumen Christi Catholic Parishes Wollongong:

https://www.dow.org.au/covid-19/sunday-mass-online-with-bishop-brian/

ADULT SPIRITUALITY

“Ripples: Inspired Voices, Treasured Stillness”

In response to the current Covid-19 situation, a significant initiative has been developed by the Catholic Education Office CLEM (Catholic Life, Education and Mission) team for staff and parents to support our ongoing personal spiritual formation. It is a new podcast series entitled ‘Ripples: Inspired Voices, Treasured Stillness’. Ripples seeks to offer a space where people can draw on the wisdom of a series of guest speakers and can experience some treasured stillness through meditation. On Tuesday of each week a new Episode and Meditation will be offered. Practices like these create a ripple effect. They have the potential to impact the way we respond to family, friends, colleagues, to others in our world, to creation and to our loving God.

PRAYER INTENTIONS

We pray for all families in our school community who are in need of our prayers, as well as our country and world.

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, pray for us.
St John the Evangelist, pray for us.

Kylie Crowe
Religious Education Coordinator

On Friday 19 June, Interim Student Reports will be available on Compass Portal for students in Yr. 1-6. During these unprecedented times, the delivery of learning and teaching, as in previous years, has been reshaped to meet the challenge of remote learning. The Interim Report reflects student engagement in learning during both classroom and remote learning over the course of Term 1 through until the middle of Term 2, 2020. The Key Learning Areas (KLAs) of Religious Education, English and Mathematics have been the key focus for classroom and remote learning experiences during this time. 

Previously, schools have reported to parents/carers twice per year, reporting on student progress and achievement levels (A-E) of the Common Grade Scale for each Key Learning Area (KLA). Due to the need for schools to teach remotely, valid assessment of student learning has been challenging. Therefore, in Semester One, teachers will report to parents/carers on each child's 'effort' level and 'engagement' for Religious Education, English and Mathematics only and include five comments for each KLA. Please note, there will be no general comment or record of student attendance on the report.

As you review your child’s report, remember that your reactions to their report can affect the way your child will see themselves as a learner. Are your expectations in line with your child’s ability? It is important that you don’t make comparisons with siblings, peers or even yourself at the same age. All children learn at different rates, so look for individual progress. The following may be helpful when you read your child’s report.

• Sit down with your children and review their Interim Report together.
• Check with them first. What do you think your report will say about your learning so far, this year?
• Look for strengths, taking into account their effort and engagement in learning.
• Discuss with your child what they need to do to improve. It is their report and they need to take ownership of their progress.
• Praise them for what they can control, that is the amount of effort they put into their learning.

As you already know, Learning Conversations will commence next Monday 22 June for all students Kindergarten to Year 6.  This will involve a ten-minute meeting phone conversation with your child's classroom teacher and in preparation, you are encouraged to discuss with your child the following;

• What do they like about school?
• How they are going with their learning?
• What would they like some help with?

If you haven't booked a time it's not too late. Please see below instructions on how to book a time or if you need assistance, contact the school office.

Please note, Kindergarten does not receive a written report for the first semester of school, only an end of year (Semester 2) report. This is an agreed practice in Catholic schools within the Wollongong Diocese.

IMPORTANT DATES

• Interim Semester 1 Reports available on the Compass Portal for students in Year 1 to Year 6 on Friday 19 June.
• Parent/student/Teacher Conversations will take place between Monday 22 June (Week 9) to Thursday 2 July (Week 10).

Thank you to all those families who have finalised their fees for Term 2 and 2020.

Note:

• Canteen is only providing lunch orders. 
• Permanently closed every Wednesday.

GROUP 3:  15th – 19th June

GROUP 4:  22nd – 26th June

GROUP 1: 29th June – 3rd July

GROUP 4:  20th – 24th July

GROUP 1: 27th – 31st July

GROUP 2:  3rd – 7th August