Filter Content
- Principal's Report
- Religious Education
- Parish Mass Times
- Core Value Awards
- Anzac Day
- Autism Awareness Day
- Cross Country Carnival
- 2020 Kindergarten Applications for Enrolment
- Winter Uniform Change Over
- NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge
- School Production - Disney's The Little Mermaid JR.
- NAPLAN — Important Information for Parents
- Reminder — School Resumes
- SPB4L
- Happy Birthday
- Canteen Newsletter and Roster
- Technology Tips — Screen Time
- Attachments
Dear Parents and carers,
As this is the last newsletter for Term 1, I would like to express my thanks for your continued support throughout what has been a busy term. One of the many pleasures of my role as principal is engaging with the children and sharing in their learning and achievements. Thank you also to our wonderfully professional and committed staff, who work tirelessly to support the learning needs of all children, through the provision of learning experiences that are purposeful and engaging.
In the first week of the school holidays, the church begins Holy Week, a very sacred time of the year when we commemorate and remember the last week of Jesus’ life on this earth. These days leading up to the great Easter Feast. The Lenten Season of sacrifice and self-denial is about to come to an end, with our focus shifting to the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the events that precede this time.
It begins with Palm Sunday, which marks Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. This is marked by the procession of palms prior to the commencement of Mass and is followed by the Gospel of the Passion.
Especially important for Catholics is the Easter Triduum. This refers to the three days before Easter, beginning with Holy Thursday. On Holy Thursday we re-enact the Lord’s Last Supper, which he shared with His apostles on the night before he was betrayed and arrested. On Good Friday, the day of the crucifixion and death of our Lord, we participate in the veneration of the Cross which is followed by the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, a time in which we keep watch for the expectant rising of our Saviour on Easter Sunday.
Easter Sunday is what we've all been waiting for! The 40 days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving during Lent was in preparation for this day when our hearts and souls can drink in deeply the culmination of the Pascal mystery: the Resurrection of Jesus.
Therefore, as Easter people and with Christ's example, we have the power to bring light and life into our own lives and from us, light and life to those whose lives touch ours.
Wishing all a happy, holy and safe Easter.
Andrew Heffernan
Principal
LENTEN ALMSGIVING - PROJECT COMPASSION (CARITAS) - GIVING 100% IN THE NAME OF HOPE
We continue during Lent with our almsgiving efforts. The money raised so far is over $400 for Project Compassion.
Thank you to the many families who have donated an Easter item so that we can make up prizes for our Easter raffle. We will have over 20 prizes! Each family would have received on Monday a book of 10 tickets to sell. Please return sold tickets and money to school as soon as possible. Tickets are 50c each. Our Student Council are also selling tickets at recess and lunch this week and next. The prizes will be drawn on the last day of term. All money raised from this raffle will go to Caritas to support their Project Compassion Appeal. If you haven’t been able to send in an Easter item but would still like to, please send in as soon possible.
Special thanks must go to our school captains, our vice captains and our student council members. Not only are they giving up some of their play time to sell raffle tickets around the school over the next 2 weeks, but they also gave up nearly a week of all their lunch times to stamp, count and staple over 450 books of tickets.
For more information regarding Project Compassion and examples of some of the people Caritas are helping through this campaign, please go to https://lent.caritas.org.au/#blank
Creator God,
You are our constant hope! In the season of Lent, you call us to prayer, fasting and love of those most marginalised.
As a community of faith and courage, let our gifts to Project Compassion be symbols of hope and solidarity with our one human family. Accompany us as we journey with Jesus to bring ‘good news’ to all creation and ready our hearts to work for the common good of all your people. We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Amen
PARISH SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM
We pray for the children who are preparing to make their First Reconciliation on Thursday 11 April at 6:30pm.
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.
COMING EVENTS
- Wednesday 3 April, 4–5pm — Practise in the Church for RECONCILIATION candidates
- Wednesday 10 April, 11am — HOLY WEEK LITURGY in Church – Year 1 preparing
- Thursday 11 April, 6:30pm — SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
- Friday 12 April, 9:30am — PARISH MASS (Principal awards given out and induction of our Mini-Vinnies Team) — Years K-6 attending
STAGE WEEKEND MASSES (WITH ANDREW CHINN)
A reminder of our stage Masses with Andrew Chinn, a well-known singer and musician:
- Term 2 – Saturday May 18, 5pm — STAGE 3 (but all families warmly invited)
- Term 3 – Saturday 7 September, 5pm — STAGE 2 (but all families warmly invited)
- Term 4 – to be advised
CELEBRATION OF GRANDPARENTS
This year are Grandparents Day will be held on Thursday 25th July. Further details to come, but save the date!
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 9.30am
- Sunday 7.30am
- 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
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
- Every Friday during lent at 6pm in the church. Everyone is invited to attend.
2nd RITE OF RECONCILIATION
- Dapto Wednesday 10 April at 7pm
MASS TIMES OVER EASTER
- Holy Thursday – 18 April, 7pm
- Good Friday – 19 April, 10am (Stations of the Cross) & 3pm (Passion of the Lord)
- Holy Saturday – 20 April, 7pm (Vigil mass)
- Easter Sunday – 21 April, 7.30am and 9.30am
The Dapto-Port Kembla Branch RSL Sub Branch has again extended an invitation to St John’s to take part in the ANZAC Sunday, March and Remembrance Service on Sunday 14 April, commencing at 3:00 pm (This is the first weekend of the upcoming school holidays). Last week, invitations were sent home to all students in Years 4-6 with an attendance RSVP due back at school before Friday 12 April. All children will be required to wear their full summer uniform, including the school hat.
I am hopeful that our school will be well represented at this important community day of remembrance.
SCHOOL ANZAC LITURGY
Our school ANZAC Day Liturgy will take place on Wednesday 1 May. It will begin at 11.15am on the Evangelist Campus. The staff and students of Year 3 will lead us during this important liturgy, where we remember all those who have served our country during conflicts and pray for peace. Parents, carers, family members and friends are welcome to join us.
It would be greatly appreciated if you could please inform Mr DeBattista of any family members or relatives who currently serve in the Australian Defence Forces who may possibly attend our Anzac Day Liturgy on 1 May. We would value their presence with us to celebrate such an important and significant national day.
On this day, the theme 'Go Blue in April' aims to help increase understanding and acceptance for people of all ages living with ASD and their families. Students in our Gunyah classes celebrated with blue cupcakes and a range of special activities.
Autism spectrum disorder, commonly known as ASD, affects how people communicate and interact with others. It affects how they make sense of the world.
Autism is a developmental condition with people experiencing difficulties with communication, social interaction and restricted/repetitive interests and behaviours. These are often accompanied by sensory issues, such an oversensitivity or under-sensitivity to sounds, smells or touch.
While there are some shared characteristics, it’s important to remember and respect that autism presents differently in different people.
Autism is not a physical disability so people on the spectrum look no different to their peers. This can make it difficult for some people to understand why an autistic person might be behaving or reacting in a particular way.
Many people on the autism spectrum are able to live completely independently, others need support in almost all aspects of their daily life
DID YOU KNOW
- Currently is Australia 1 in 100 Australia’s have an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Autism is reported to occur in all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups across the world.
On Friday 5 April, we will be holding our school Cross Country Carnival at the Kembla Joggers facility located at Integral Park, West Dapto.
Please note that Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 will compete as a grade running 1km.
Primary and nominated Year 2 students (turning 8 this year) wishing to trial for the school cross country team will be running 2km in their age groups – 8/9 Years, 10 Years, 11 Years and 12/13 Years.
The age group is determined by the age that the student is turning in 2019.
• Buses depart school at 8:45 am
• Buses return to school by 1:30 pm
• Sports uniform is to be worn, including the school hat
• Packed recess and lunch and plenty of water. NO CANTEEN FACILITIES
• Sunscreen and something to sit on in case of dew.
Order of the races: Year 2, Year 1, Kinder, 8/9 Years, 10 Years, 11 Years, 12/13 Years
In case of wet weather, a message will be placed on St John’s Skoolbag App
Parents are reminded that children leaving the Cross Country MUST have their name marked off with their teacher. NO CHILD WILL BE PERMITTED TO LEAVE WITH ANOTHER ADULT OR FAMILY MEMBER UNLESS LISTED ON THE SIGNED PARENTAL/CARER PERMISSION NOTE.
We look forward to many parents, carers and family members joining us for the day.
Mrs Michelle Atkins and Mrs Lauren Mitchell
Sports Coordinators.
A reminder that applications for enrolment for Kindergarten 2020 officially close at the end of Term 1. They are available from the school office or they can be downloaded from our school website: www.sjddow.catholic.edu.au
Children are eligible for enrolment if they turn 5 before 30 June 2020.
All children should return to school in Term 2 wearing their summer uniform. The official date for the children to change over to the winter uniform is Monday 20 May (Term 2 Week 4). The winter uniform may be worn prior to this date if the weather becomes cooler. Children must not wear a combination of both; rather it is either one or the other (summer or winter).
A reminder that it is an expectation that all children wear the correct uniform daily, it is not optional. From Term 2, children wearing the incorrect uniform, after a reminder will be given an 'Out of Uniform' notice to signed and returned to their Stage Leader.
Please refer to the Uniform Policy if you require clarification about the school uniform. You are encouraged not to leave the ordering of any new uniform items to the last minute!
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. Mrs Kissell has identified the approved PRC books in the school library so all children can easily access them during weekly borrowing. 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 30 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. If you child is yet to receive their username and password please contact the class teacher or Mr Downes (downesm01@dow.catholic.edu.au)
Children in Years 3 & 5 throughout Australia will be sitting for the NAPLAN Assessment from 14 May to 24 May. Parents who would like to know more about the NAPLAN assessment are encouraged to visit the website:
School will resume on Tuesday 30 April. Monday 29 April is a planned Teacher Professional Planning Day (TPPD) – Pupil Free Day.
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:
Our SPB4L focus for weeks 10 and 11:
- Dismissal routines at the end of the school day
- Waiting for parents expectations
- Bus line/bus expectations
- Pickup Zone expectations
- PEAK lining up expectations
- Bike/scooter rider expectations
- Saying please and thank you (manners)
Congratulations to the following students who were seen by staff following our school rules in the playground:
Week 9
Kindergarten |
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
Evangelist Campus |
| Emma (KR) | Mila (1B) | Sophie (2R) | Mason (3B) | Ella (5B) |
| Khian (KB) | Gianni (1R) | Lino (2B) | Mia (3G) | Patrick (5B) |
| Elijah (4R) | ||||
| Vrishab (4B) |
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.
| Kinder | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 6 |
| Annabel W | Nikki L | Georgia K | Lani L | Julius F | Mitchell D | Holley M |
| Ethan W | Lucas F | Liam W | Emily H | Lily S | Lucas H | |
| Justin R | Tyler S | Ruby W | Stevo B | Ellie B | Gabriel N | |
| Dimitri L | Annabel E | Phoenix R | Tiana S | Jessica K | Tom R | |
| Andre G | Lilli G-M | Aleeya V | Abbey B | Giaan J | Rihana B | |
| Divine O | Archie S | Claudia A | Evie G | Lexie H | ||
| Lorenzo G | Charlotte B | Declan T | Noah D | Tiahna J | ||
| Daniella S | Rithika S | Alana S | ||||
| Jacob F | Lauren S |
As the end of term approaches, stock in the canteen will be limited. If your child orders an item that is unavailable, it will be replaced with another item or money refunded.
Please note: Flavoured milk is unavailable the last week of the term.
Thank you for your commitment of time and support in providing canteen facilities for our children.
Dana Norris (Canteen Manager)
