Dear Parents and Carers

This being the last newsletter for Term 1, I would like to extend my sincere thanks for your continued support throughout what has been, a very busy term. Thank you also to our incredibly committed staff who work tirelessly in providing a safe, inclusive and supportive learning environment. 

It was perfect weather for the Cross Country Carnival yesterday and for the most, the children were very excited about the day. As always, it was a hugely successful school event and it was wonderful to finally have parents/carers and grandparents in attendance. Special thanks to Mrs Atkins and the team of staff who assisted in the planning, organisation and running of the carnival. Thank you to the parent helpers for without your generous gift of time, such school events are simply not possible. Finally, congratulations to each and every competitor, while cross country is not for everyone, participating and having fun is just as important.

Last Sunday the church celebrated Palm Sunday, which marks Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem and the commencement of Holy Week. Holy Week is the holiest of weeks in the church's calendar, for it is that time when we will commemorate and remember the last week of Jesus’ life on earth. These are the days leading up to the great Easter Feast. The Lenten season of sacrifice and denial is about to come to an end and our focus turns to the Passion (suffering) and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the events that precede this time.

We are Easter people and with each celebration of the Resurrection, we are drawn deeper into the mystery, that is the foundation of our faith. Jesus was born, died and rose again bringing eternal life for each of us.

Easter Prayer

We praise you for the light of new life
made possible through Jesus.
We praise you for the light of new life
that shone on the first witnesses of the resurrection.
We praise you for the light of new life
that continues to shine in our hearts today.

We pray that the Easter light of life, hope and joy,
will live in us each day;
and that we will be bearers of that light
into the lives of others.

Amen.

Term 2 - Important Information

• Please note that Term 2 commences on Tuesday 20 April as Monday 19 April is a Teacher Professional Planning Day (PUPIL FREE DAY).
  
  
  
• All children should return to school in Term 2 wearing their summer uniform. The official change over to the winter uniform is Monday, 17 May (Wk 5 Term 2). However, the winter uniform may be worn from the commencement of Term 2, if the weather necessitates the need to.

• I will be taking long service leave from Monday 19 April – Wednesday 28. During this time, Mr Downes will be Acting Principal.

I wish you Easter blessings as well as a restful and enjoyable holiday break.

Yours sincerely
Andrew Heffernan
Principal

HOLY WEEK

The week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, Holy Week, is the most sacred time of year for Catholic Christians. During this special time, we enter into the passion of Christ — his crucifixion, death, and resurrection — through liturgical celebration and personal conversion. While the season of Lent is a very important time in the Church, it is helpful to remember that our Lenten practices (prayer, fasting, and almsgiving) are meant as preparation for the three days of the Triduum. The Second Vatican Council returned emphasis to the Triduum — Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil/Easter Sunday — as the centre of our faith.

Christ redeemed us all and gave perfect glory to God principally through his paschal mystery: dying he destroyed our death and rising he restored our life. Therefore the Easter Triduum of the passion and resurrection of Christ is the culmination of the entire liturgical year. — General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, No. 18

The three days of the Triduum are counted as the Hebrews counted their days, from dusk to dusk. Lent officially ends and the Triduum begins at dusk on Holy Thursday and continues through dusk on Easter Sunday. Because we cannot separate Jesus’ death from his resurrection, the Church teaches that the Triduum is really one celebration that lasts for three days. We do not spend all of the three days in church, of course, but at various times during these days we are called to gather together at church to celebrate and remember the saving action of Christ.

simplycatholic.com

LENTEN ALMSGIVING – PROJECT COMPASSION

Thank you to all who are able to support our classroom Project Compassion boxes. So far this Lent we have raised $611.40. Special mention to the following classes who have raised very significant amounts:

Gunyah 1         $88.05
KG                    $52.55
3B                    $48.65

Thank you also to all families who have bought tickets in our Easter Raffle. It has been very well supported. Next term, I will update you on the money raised from the raffle that will also go to Project Compassion. Please ensure any outstanding money and raffle tickets are returned first thing Thursday morning. Prizes will be drawn before lunch on Thursday.

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM

Many of our St John’s students are involved In the preparation program for the Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation). Let us pray for these children who are taking this important step in their faith journey.

A reminder for all Reconciliation candidates to bring their workbooks to school each Monday.

A Prayer for our Reconciliation Candidates

Loving God,

Help us to teach our children that you love us totally and unconditionally.

Help us to encourage our children to grow in love and to learn how to say sorry, knowing that you always forgive. Give us the courage to pray with our children and to share our faith with them as we journey together.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

CELEBRATION OF THE EUCHARIST

Masses have resumed at normal times in our Parish. Parishioners still need to sign in on arrival, sanitise and maintain social distancing. Don't forget that you can also participate in one or more of the many online Masses live-streamed throughout our diocese. Check out our diocesan website for all the links.   

ADULT SPIRITUALITY

“Ripples: Inspired Voices, Treasured Stillness” – Adult Spiritual Formation

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. 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.

https://ripples.dow.catholic.edu.au/p/introduction-1588201803/ 

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.

Matthew Tonini, a past student of St John’s primary school (1991-1995), will be ordained a priest on Saturday 17 April 2021 at Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Middle Park in Melbourne. Matthew, along with his brothers and sisters were part of the St John’s Parish and school community. During his time at St John’s, Matthew was involved as an altar server at the church and he was also a student at the music school run by Sr Mary and Sr Jean, who lived in the local Josephite convent, now the school offices. He continued his involvement in the parish and school community after graduating as a student in 1995, volunteering at the Spring Fair, school working bees as well as reading and playing music for weekend masses. Following high school education at St Joseph’s, Albion Park, Matthew studied science and education at the University of Wollongong and worked as a primary school teacher at St Joseph’s in Hillston, NSW. Since 2012, Matthew has been working in pastoral ministry in parish and education settings, and training to minister as a priest, most recently located in Brisbane QLD. He continues to be inspired by the motto of St John’s from the words of Jesus: "Love one another."

Matthew's ordination will be live streamed (from Victoria) on Saturday April 17 at 6pm and can be accessed via the web address: https://youtu.be/ntXEdkLkHIM

Kylie Crowe
Religious Education Coordinator

PB4L 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:

Not too late to Enrol!

Kindergarten 2022 enrolment forms are due by 1 April. Interview letters were posted on Tuesday 30 March.

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. 

The fourteenth annual World Autism Awareness Day is April 2, 2021.

At St John's we acknowledge and celebrate Autism Awareness Day, and this week students from our Specialist Setting — Gunyah have participated in a variety of Autism-friendly educational activities.

On Monday 29th March, a small group of Stage 3 students competed in the da Vinci Decathlon Academic Gala Day at the Illawarra Christian School. This was a very unique and exciting opportunity for our school. The da Vinci Decathlon is an inter-school gala day that is conducted in the spirit of an Olympic Decathlon with each team competing in ten academic disciplines.  Each of our teams was made up of 8 students and they competed against 40 other teams from across the region.

On the day the students engaged with enthusiasm and a true sense of team spirit and cooperation. They showed a range of higher-order thinking skills, cooperation & commitment to their tasks. Each of the students represented St John’s with the utmost pride.

Angela Boyd-Skinner
Middle Leader

A very big congratulations to the following students:

“It was really excellent as we got to challenge ourselves and represent our school.  I hope I can make it to the team again next year and make St. John’s proud” – Maddison

"I had so much fun working with my team and trying new things" – Charlotte

"It was an amazing experience that I will remember forever” – Mikayla

"It was a great day filled with fun, hard-working challenges and most importantly, we represented our school with pride and joy!" – Will 

“It was a fantastic experience to work together as a team and help each other out. We learnt a lot of new things today as we solved problems as we went” - Jacob 

Congratulations to McCabe house for winning the Cross Country House Championship Trophy, and to all placegetters. Well done to all students for their participation.

Congratulations to these students who will be representing St John's at the Diocesan Cross Country Championships at "Willandra" Nowra on the Tuesday April 27, 2021. We wish them well.

More photos on Facebook and Instagram.

Kindergarten acting out the story of 'The Washing of the Feet'

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

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