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- Principal's Message
- Religious Education
- Mission Month — Crazy Socks Day
- Merit Awards
- CEDoW Christmas Art Story Competition
- Medical Plan - Update
- Remote Learning iPads
- Payment of School Fees by Instalment
- Online Safety
- Parish Weekend Celebration of the Eucharist
- School Travel 2022 – Opal Card
- Happy Birthday
- CDF Sports Awards
- CatholicCare Online Parenting Programs
- Community Announcements
As students in Year 2 – 6 returned on Monday morning, there were lots of smiles as they walked through the gates, some for the first time in four months! It was truly a beautiful sight watching them greet their friends and teachers face-to-face after such a long period of remote learning. In visiting the classrooms to speak with the children, there was an obvious air of excitement about being back; there is just so much that they love about their school.
As mentioned in my previous newsletter, we are prioritising social and emotional learning and the overall student wellbeing during this time of transition. From Kindergarten to Year 6, varying levels of support for students to re-engage, learn and practise the essential skills for well-being, behaviour, learning as well as maintaining successful relationships at school is our primary focus.
It has been a very successful return to face-to-face learning and I would like to acknowledge the hard work of our teachers and your continued support as we work within the Level 3 Guidelines and the NSW Public Health Order. It is paramount that we continue to work together in positive and respectful ways to ensure that our school remains a safe environment for all students, staff and you, the parents/carers.
WORLD TEACHERS DAY
This Friday, 29 October, is World Teachers' Day and there has never been a more important time than the present to acknowledge and thank our teachers for their commitment and dedication in supporting the learning, and social and emotional needs of our children. Remote learning has seen unprecedented demands on teachers but at every step of the way, they have risen to the challenge of engaging their students in learning while learning from home.Every day teachers make a difference as they inspire and engage the children in their care to learn and succeed. On World Teachers’ Day, we recognise and give thanks to our teachers for the invaluable contribution they make in educating our children.
CLASS PLACEMENT 2022
The process for discerning class placement for students next year has commenced and while it may seem a relatively straightforward process, it is far from the reality. Rather, there are many factors that must be carefully considered when formulating classes to balance the varied needs of students in each year group across the classes.
In previous years, I have availed parents/carers the opportunity to write to me with any special considerations or concerns that the school should be made aware of and will once again provide this opportunity. However, I remind you that this is not about requesting teachers or friends for your child/ren. Therefore, any requests for special considerations MUST be in writing, marked confidential, and sent to me before Friday 27 November.
SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHS
The school photographer has been rescheduled for Wednesday 17 November. Of course, this will be subject to NSW Government guidelines for schools and NSW Health, but I remain hopeful that photographs will proceed as planned. Further information will be provided in the coming weeks.
SCHOOL BANKING
Disappointingly, I inform the school community that the school banking program will cease beyond 2021. I have been advised by the Commonwealth Bank that following a report from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the NSW Government, like other states and territories across Australia, has announced a ban on banks delivering such programs in schools.
Therefore, school banking will NOT be available in the remaining weeks of Term 4 and beyond. Further information will be provided closer to the end of the year regarding banking options for students outside of school.
I would like to extend my thanks to the parent/carer volunteers who have supported the school banking program at St John's for many, many years.
As always, thank you for your continued support.
Stay safe and go gently.
Yours sincerely
Andrew Heffernan
Principal
MONDAY 1ST NOVEMBER – ALL SAINTS DAY
Today we celebrate the memory of all the baptised who have gone before us and whose lives were virtuous. The saints of God are all those who have been baptised into Christ, who have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. We all know people whose lives were steeped in genuine holiness. The life of every one of us has been blessed by their goodness. This is a day for us to remember and to celebrate their holiness. We celebrate the lives of all those who have been marked with the sign of faith, those who have been canonised by the church, those whom we have known personally as well as those whose names we do not know.
Dianne Bergant CSA
TUESDAY 2ND NOVEMBER – ALL SOULS DAY
November 2 is the Commemoration of All of the Faithful Departed, or All Souls. On this day, we pray that all those who have died— our loved ones, and also those people around the world who we will never meet - through the mercy of God, will rest in peace.
Merciful Father,
On this day, we are called to remember those who have died,
Particularly those who have died in the past year,
And pray for their joyful reunion with you, their loving creator.
Names we will never know, voices we have never heard,
In lands we may never visit, yet brothers and sisters all.
And so we pray…
For victims of war, caught in the crossfires of conflicts we could not quell,
for soldiers and civilians, adults and children, we pray …
Grant eternal rest, O Lord.
For those migrants who have died seeking a haven where they hoped to find safety and opportunity for themselves and for their families, we pray …
Grant eternal rest, O Lord.
For victims of hunger, denied their share in the bounty you have placed before us, we pray …
Grant eternal rest, O Lord.
For victims of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases,
who died before adequate care could reach them, we pray …
Grant eternal rest, O Lord.
Lord, you raised your son from the dead that all may share in his joyful resurrection.
In Jesus' name, we pray … Amen
crs.org
OCTOBER – MONTH OF THE ROSARY
We are coming to the end of October, the month of the Rosary. Families might like to simply pray a Hail Mary together each night, asking Mary our Mother, to look after us and all those that we love.
October marks World Mission Month, a celebration of the global work of the Church and the dedication of missionaries, both religious and lay, as they reach out and support children and communities in need around the world. On World Mission Sunday, which falls on 24 October 2021, people all around the world will pray for and raise funds to support the work of thousands of crucial church-run programs. The following Wednesday, 27 October, is Children’s Mission Day.
Classes will be involved in learning activities, fundraising and a prayer liturgy for World Mission Month.
“SOCKTOBER” is an initiative of Catholic Mission and one way in which our school can fundraise and engage in advocacy and formation activities for Catholic Mission during World Mission Month. The ‘sock it to something’ concept is an Australian expression that means to strike out at. Through our fundraising efforts, we want to strike out at social issues, such as poverty, child labour, child trafficking, homelessness and lack of education.
As part of “SOCKTOBER”, we encourage all students to wear CRAZY SOCKS on Friday 29th October. Last year we had our inaugural Soccer Shootout in which we raised $10 000 for Catholic Mission. We understand the pressures on our families at this point in time, so our fundraising this year will be kept to a request for a small donation for the privilege of wearing mufti socks. Next year the Shootout may return! If each of our families donated just $1, we would be well on our way to this year’s goal of $1 000. Remember, every dollar counts and can help someone in need.
To avoid the need for money coming in to school, St John’s has an official donation site with Catholic Mission. This is also a wonderful way for our students to see our fundraising efforts growing. You may donate at any time from today and we would ask that all donations are received by Monday 1st November 2021. You can donate by clicking on the link below:
Congratulations to all the students that received Merit Awards for Week 2 and 3.
Each year Years 5 and 6 students from Catholic schools across the Diocese of Wollongong are invited to take part in the Christmas Story Art Competition and Exhibition.
The Christmas Story Art Competition and Exhibition is an initiative of the Catholic Education Offices in Wollongong and Sydney, designed to celebrate and explore children’s creative and artistic ability in illustrating the Christmas story.
This exhibition and competition provides the opportunity for Years 5 and 6 students to share with the wider community a greater awareness of the role of the arts in Religious Education. Children can develop deeper appreciation for their talents and recognise the value of the arts in expressing understandings of the Catholic faith.
This year, twenty of our Stage 3 students took part in creating a submission. The students did an amazing job of committing to undertaking the process remotely.
We congratulate the following students who have been selected to be our school finalists. Their artworks will now be entered into the next stage of the competition:
| Year 5 | Year 6 |
| Declan Tuckey Zoey Van Moolenbroek Evana Najendran |
Dhyllen Scales Amali Kumar Jessica Doan |
Thank you to all the students that submitted artwork, please check out their submissions in our virtual art gallery by clicking on the white dot next to each photo.
Due to remote learning, a number of Action Plans have lapsed.
If your child has an Asthma, Allergy or Anaphylaxis Action Plan please make sure that the school has an updated copy of their plan. Copies can be emailed through to the school at info@sjddow.catholic.edu.au.
Thank you to the parents/carers that have returned borrowed Remote Learning iPads.
Please ensure that all outstanding iPads and chargers are returned by the end of this week as they are needed in the classroom.
EXISTING FAMILIES IN OUR SCHOOL WITH INSTALMENTS
If you are currently paying by instalments there is no need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment as your request carries over from year to year unless you wish to amend the frequency of your payments eg Weekly to Fortnightly, etc.
EXISTING FAMILIES IN OUR SCHOOL WITHOUT INSTALMENTS
If you would like to pay school fees by instalments in 2022 and have previously not taken up this option for payment, please complete a Request to Pay by Instalment Form which is available below or from the school’s administration office. On completion of the request either email it to instalments@dow.catholic.edu.au or submit at the school office. Following receipt of the request, instalments will be generated on your school fee account during the process of invoicing 2022 school fees. Your school fee statement will provide a list of scheduled payments and their due date depending on the frequency you have chosen eg Fortnightly, Monthly, etc.
IMPORTANT: Please note that if you currently have a child or children at another school in the Diocese and you are paying by instalments at this location, you will not need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment. The instalment request carries over from school to school with the same frequency of payment eg Weekly, fortnightly, etc.
The Carly Ryan Foundation is a certified online safety program provider under the Office of the eSafety Commissioner and delivers online safety and support in the areas of internet safety and crime, cyberbullying, connection to resources and counselling and contributing to law and policy reform.
Please take the time to read through the fact sheets on apps, some of the apps you will be familiar with, however there may be some that you as a parent/carer are unaware of.
New directives have now come out, following the easing of restrictions regarding the celebration of Mass. As of Saturday 30th October, attendance at Mass can resume. COVID guidelines regarding signing in and physical distancing will be in place.
Fr Francis is looking forward to seeing our families returning to Mass.
Parish Mass times for St John the Evangelist, Dapto are as follows:
- Saturday Vigil 5.00pm
- Sunday 7.30am
- Sunday 9.30am
- Sunday 6.00pm
Applications for student travel in 2022 opened on Tuesday 12 October 2021.
Students who need a School Opal card or travel pass for 2022 can apply now. A new application will need to be submitted if they are applying for a school travel pass for the first time, or if they are requesting an additional travel entitlement as a result of a new shared parental responsibility situation (e.g. joint custody).
Students who change address, school, campus location, or who have repeated a year or received an expiry notification from Transport for NSW for their school travel entitlement should renew or update their details before the end of term 4. This will ensure that schools can endorse applications and current entitlements are updated and remain valid. School Opal card holders will have the changes applied to their existing card.
If a student’s distance eligibility has changed based on their grade the system will automatically update their entitlement if they meet the new criteria. If they do not meet the new eligibility criteria, they will receive an expiry notification via email.
Students who have an entitlement approved under a medical condition that is due to expire will receive a notification advising them to re-apply.
Term Bus Pass holders will receive a notification to re-apply.
Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their Student Opal card at their nominated postal address. Cards will be mailed out from January 2022.
Students living in rural and regional (R&R) areas should receive their travel pass at the start of the new school year from their nominated transport operator. It may come via the school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some R&R operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.
Travel from Term 1 2022
We ask that parents plan ahead and make sure their child knows which service/s to use and has a valid ticket to travel; either a School Opal card or Child/Youth Opal card (within Greater Sydney) or a School Travel Pass (outside Greater Sydney), from the start of the school year.
Applications for the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) open at the start of Term 4 2021 for travel in 2022, so parents/students can apply or update details early and be ready for the start of the new school year.
Most students using the Opal network will not need a new Opal card and can continue travelling on their existing card each year.
The start of the year is a difficult period for local bus operators, and students travelling without a valid ticket make service planning and operations increasingly difficult.
Bus operators are flexible and understanding, particularly at the start of the school year, and will ensure students can travel safely to and from school. But to best support our operators we encourage all students to have a valid ticket, as early as possible, from the start of the school year.
Please also remember that students using Opal cards must tap on and tap off in line with the Student code of conduct and Opal terms of use.
To the following students who are celebrating their birthday in November — 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 |
| Luke | Alyssa | Isabella | Ash | Claudia | Anthony | Ayden |
| Hannah | Christian | Jai | Aiden | Evelyn | Brent | Dhyllen |
| Madison | Lachlan | Katherine | Bella | Mia | Daimen | Ella |
| Byron | Eliza | Marni | Caitlyn | Oscar | Jye | Joel |
| Kendrix | Hudson | Matthias | Henry | Thomas | Zoey | Oliver |
| Charlotte | Macey | Jackson | Sebastian | Olivia | Roman | |
| Katie-Lea | Matilda | Nina | Riley | |||
| Aaliyah | Thea | Kyah |
Please join us on Friday, 12 November 2021 for the 24th Annual CDF Sports Awards to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of our student athletes. This will be an engaging presentation with action videos and also feature guest appearances from past students who were in action at the Tokyo Olympics. Over 150 students and 9 school teams will receive awards and showcase the incredible talent we have in our Wollongong Diocesan schools.
Tuning into Kids — https://form.jotform.com/212438637206859
Tuning into Teens (in partnership with The Northern Centre) — https://www.jotform.com/212510637554856
Keeping Kids in Mind and Circle of Security — Ph: 1800 324 924 or info@catholiccaredbb.org.au
Lowes
We held our 20% off sale recently and had an overwhelming response online and in-store. Our next sale will be late November when more stock is available. While we took remedial action to minimise the impact, and consequently have a reasonably good overall stock position, we will unfortunately experience out of stock in some items.
Items that will be available later this term:
- Girls Uniform Size 10 (Estimated Delivery 10/12/21)
- Girls Uniform Size 6 (Estimated Delivery 30/10/21
- Girls Uniform Size 5 (Estimated Delivery 10/12/21)