Dear Parents and Carers,

As Term 2 concludes on Friday, I'd like to extend my thanks for your continued support in all aspects of school life. Learning conversations, in recent weeks, have been very well attended, offering parents/carers an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of their children for the first semester of the school year. Congratulations to all students for their demonstrated commitment to the achievement of their personal learning goals and efforts in being respectful, responsible and safe each and every day.

Thank you also to our incredible staff for their enthusiasm and passion in providing a safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment. They continue to work extremely hard in differentiating learning as well as supporting the pastoral and well-being needs of all students.

Media reports regarding a new COVID cluster and changing restrictions have had many parents/carers contacting the school, particularly in regards to Learning Conversations. As has been our consistent practice, updates from NSW Health regarding restrictions in schools will be communicated as soon as practically possible, via Compass. Please note, occasionally there are differences between what is announced at media conferences and the explicit rules that are imposed (especially when it comes to schools). 

Today the Premier has announced a range of new restrictions for Greater Sydney, including Wollongong and Shellharbour, which will be in place from 4:00 pm today until 12.01 am Thursday 1 July 2021. However, these are NOT yet considered official school directives and there may be some modifications for schools. We are currently waiting for official school directives from Catholic Schools NSW.

In relation to the Athletics Carnival tomorrow. Parents and Carers attending will be required to wear a mask and maintain physical distancing.

In addition, I ask all parents/carers entering the school grounds at afternoon pick-up to ensure they practice physical distancing within the designated area and adhere to the entry and exit points.

Principal Awards

At this stage, our planned end of term Mass and presentation of the Principal Awards will take place under the COLA on Friday 25 June at 9:30 am. Parents and carers are warmly invited however, attendance will be dependent on the weather and further changes in restrictions. Parents and carers attending will be required to wear a mask, practice physical distancing, sign in upon arrival and follow the directions of staff. Any furthers changes will be communicated via Compass.

Congratulations to the following recipients who will be presented with a Principal Award and/or Medallion on Friday. Previously, such awards were reliant on the children sending in their merit/core value awards as evidence that they were eligible for a Principal Award or medallion. For students in K-2 we are now able to generate a report in Compass, which tracks awards. However, for students in Years, 3-6 Principal Awards received pre 2019, will still need to be sent to the school office. Therefore, we are very excited to have the largest ever, number of awards being presented. For your planning, please see below the list of recipients and we hope that you might be able to attend the Mass and presentation on Friday.

School Grounds

There will be a number of further improvements to the school grounds during the student vacation and in the first weeks of Term 3. These will only further enhance our school as we continue to our commitment to ensuring that St John's has the best possible facilities for all students. The scope of work includes: 

• New signage 
• Multi-Purpose (AstroTurf) playing area
• Installation of permanent basketball rings 

A reminder, school resumes on Tuesday 13 July (K-6) as Monday 12 July is a Teacher Professional Planning Day (PUPIL FREE DAY).

I truly hope that the upcoming holiday period provides your family with some time together and a restful break from the routine of school. 

Have a relaxing and safe holiday break.

Yours sincerely
Andrew Heffernan (Principal)

Year 6 ACTIVATE FIRE Spiritual Immersion Day – CHANGE OF DATE – Friday 30^th July 2021

Please note the change of date for our Year 6 ACTIVATE Fire day.

ACTIVATE Fire is a primary school Youth Ministry initiative providing catechesis and an opportunity for an encounter with Christ for Year 6 students. The day is a full day Immersive Spiritual Experience based on the Year 6 unit Confirmation: Celebrating the Gift of the Holy Spirit. The day is facilitated by The Catholic Youth Ministry Team with the support of NET (National Evangelism Team) and the Youth Ministry Leaders (Year 10/11 students from the partnering secondary schools). ACTIVATE fire is inclusive of all students regardless of whether they have received or intend to receive the sacrament of Confirmation. Schools are grouped in clusters centred on the systemic secondary school to which the students of those primary schools will predominantly attend. St John’s will be hosting this year’s ACTIVATE fire day. Year 6 students from St Patrick’s Port Kembla and St Francis of Assisi Warrawong will be attending. Further information will be sent out to Year 6 students in week 1 of next term.

CELEBRATION OF THE EUCHARIST

All parishioners, families and friends need to sign in on arrival, sanitise and maintain social distancing when attending Mass in our Parish Church. Don't forget that you can also participate in one or more of the many online Masses livestreamed throughout our diocese. Check out our diocesan website for all the links.  

This Friday, 25^th June, all classes will be attending Mass at 9:30am under the COLA. We will be celebrating the end of term and thanking God for all of our blessings. Principal awards will also be presented. All are very welcome to join us.

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.

Kylie Crowe
Religious Education Coordinator

Mr DeBattista's contract with CEDoW School Improvement Services - Specialist Support (SI-SS) has been extended until Friday 30 July. Therefore, Mr DeBattista will return to St John’s on Monday 2 August. All staffing arrangements will remain as they presently are for the duration of this time.

Students from Year 5 and Year 6 have formed the Environmental Warrior Team to establish recycling within our school. We have discovered that many items can be recycled. During Eating Time the Environment Warrior Team has visited each classroom throughout the term to discuss and model which items can be recycled. Our school is now recycling a considerable amount, reducing the amount of waste we send to landfills and incinerators. The establishment of St John’s recycling program has helped to reduce community energy usage, the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce air pollution and water pollution throughout our world.

Next term Stage 3 have a special guest speaker, Louise Hickman from Wollongong Council, visiting St John’s to explain how to establish FOGO in our school. The Environmental Warrior Team will visit classrooms to help establish FOGO in our school and support each grade in continuing to recycle correctly.

A BIG thank you to all the members in the Environmental Warrior Team.

• Year 5 members include Shayla, Claire, Ruby, Ethan Lily, Maddison, Noah, Quade,Levi
• Year 6 members include Reaghan, Jasper, Stevo, Cadence, Matthew, Lucia, Cosmo, Libby, Isabella.

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

Thank you to all those families who have finalised their fees for Term 2 and 2021.

Strengthening Relationships

Know someone who could use some support to achieve positive change in their life right now?

They may find what they are looking for in our group sessions. These face to face group sessions are available to adults who would like to strengthen relationships, support children's development and build resilience within a supportive environment, alongside others who share similar life experiences.

Click below to view our Term 3, 2021 courses.

Term 3 Courses

COVID-19 SAFE COURSES

All of our Term 3 Courses adhere to Covid Safe Protocols.

Come and join in the Drama Fun each Tuesday afternoon!

Yr 1-3  Drama: 2.50 – 3.50pm

Yr 4-6 Drama: 3.50 – 4.50pm

Resources for Parents and Carers

For young children, flu can be life-threatening, and the flu shot is their best protection against severe flu. Flu shots are free for children from 6 months to under 5 years of age, as well as pregnant women, all Aboriginal people from 6 months of age, people aged 65 years and over, and people with medical conditions such as severe asthma, diabetes, and cancer.