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- Principal's Message
- Religious Education
- PB4L
- NAPLAN — Important Information for Parents/Carers
- Catholic School Week — Awards
- Merit Awards
- Sport News
- Premier's Reading Challenge
- Book Club LOOP
- Indigenous Art — 4 Blue
- Bullying No Way
- School Buses – Face Masks
- Position Vacant
- Technology Tip
- Community Announcements
Dear Parents and Carers,
The extreme weather event has certainly made its presence known, devasting the lives and livelihood of many thousands. I’m sure that we have friends and family who have had their lives upended as a result of the devasting floods, which now extends right across the east coast of Australia. In solidarity, we keep all who have been impacted at this time in our thoughts and prayers.
In response to the devastating floods, particularly in the Northern Rivers community of Lismore, Vinnies NSW has launched an emergency flood appeal. Donations to the Vinnies Flood Appeal can be made at via the following link: Vinnies Flood Appeal, by calling 13 18 12, or at any Vinnies shop.
For the most, the extreme has had minimal impact on our school. The grass areas are soddened and remain closed until they are dry enough to be accessed, with daily inspections being undertaken. Alternative arrangements are in place for morning tea and lunch breaks for the remainder of the week.
All students received a further two boxes of five Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs), yesterday. If your child was not in attendance, they will receive their kits upon returning to school. In a change, the use of this allocation of RATs is at your discretion, such as when your child is displaying COVID-19 symptoms. Please be aware that no further kits will be provided beyond this time and symptomatic students should continue to access PCR tests and/or store purchased RATs.
While the COVID-smart measure have eased for NSW schools, there will be little change in our day to day operation. For the remainder of Term 1, cohorting will continue, as it has proven to be a very successful strategy in limiting the spread of COVID-19. As communicated with you daily, we have students K-6 who continue to test positive, as well as those who are close contracts and isolating at home. I strongly encourage you make use of the RATs provided to you whenever COVID type symptoms are observed in your children. Please note the following;
- Morning drop off and afternoon pick-up arrangements remain unchanged with gates opening at 8:00 am and 2:30 pm.
- Visitors to the school site must continue to check in
- All workers and volunteers accessing the school site must meet doubled vaccination requirements
- Enhanced school cleaning will continue, focusing on high touch areas and other hard surfaces
Last week we celebrated Catholic Schools Week and while the weather did impact on our planned liturgy, the Annual Catholic Schools Week Awards were presented with merit awards on Friday. Congratulations to the following 2022 award recipients;
| Aiden B | Georgia D |
| Cruz B | Zahli T |
| Caleb E | Theodore K |
| Khloe C | Vincent L |
| Charlie M | Gabriella B |
| Shreya N | Eric H |
| Claudia S | Grady F |
| Lucas F | Emilia L |
| itchell W | Olivia K |
| Fletcher P | Daisy U |
| Lola H | Ikemsinachi U |
Thank you for your continued support for our work in providing the best possible Catholic education for your children.
School Open Day
A school 'Open Day' has been planned for Saturday 2nd April from 1:00 pm - 3:30pm, involving a guided tour of the learning spaces and school facilities.
The 'Open Day' is aimed at prospective enrolments, particularly Kindergarten 2023. It will provide an opportunity for families to learn more about our school, and to experience the difference, a Catholic education offers in the quality of partnerships between families and school, and the strong sense of inclusivity and community.
St John’s Catholic Parish Primary School
Open Day
Saturday 2nd April
1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Please register your attendance at: https://bit.ly/open-day-2022
Yours sincerely
Andrew Heffernan
Principal
Pray that God may direct and St Joseph’s humble spirit may guide.
Mary MacKillop 16.10.1898
PROJECT COMPASSION – For All Future Generations
The theme of Project Compassion for 2022 is ‘For All Future Generations’ and reminds us that the good that we do today will extend and impact the lives of generations to come. It invites us to make the world a better place by working together now and finding long-term solutions to global issues.
This year’s theme comes from the biblical story of Noah’s Ark. More specifically, when the flood waters subsided, a rainbow appeared in the sky and the dove returned with an olive branch indicating a new beginning. God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations’ (Genesis 9:12).
Each classroom has a Project Compassion box for their prayer space, where the students are encouraged to make donations. These boxes will be collected each week. Your generosity allows Caritas Australia to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable communities, supporting them to flourish and create opportunities for future generations to live to their full potential and thrive.
This week we hear the story of Anaterica from Mozambique. Anatercia is 12 and she lives with her brother, mother and elderly grandparents in a small hut in southern Mozambique. Anatercia’s family joined a Caritas- supported program which provided initial support to the family through food baskets, seeds and school supplies. Caritas also helped them install a gravity irrigation system on their farm, as well as water taps for households in the village. With Caritas’ support, Anatercia’s health, education and quality of life have improved, along with the outlook of her community for all future generations.
EASTER RAFFLE
Please read the attached note in regards to our Easter Raffle, with all money raised going to Project Compassion. We welcome donations of Easter Eggs for the raffle. Students can bring them to school and raffle tickets will be sent home at the end of this week.
SUNDAY 13th March- SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT (YEAR C)
“Happy are the poor. Woe to the rich!” Lk 6:17. 20-26
FEAST OF ST JOSEPH
Joseph was a carpenter, a good and honest man, whom God called to care for Mary and her baby Jesus. Joseph was a faithful and trusting servant of God who wanted to do what was asked of him.
We can learn from Joseph to listen to what God asks of us and become faith-filled servants caring for those in need.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES
- Year 4 Grade Mass – 11th March 9:30am
- Feast of St Patrick – 17th March
- Year 5 Grade Mas – 18th March 9:30am
- Feast of St Joseph – 19th March
- Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord Whole School Mass – Fri 25 March 9:30am
- Confirmation Enrolment Weekend – 26-27th April (at Parish Masses)
- Reconciliation Workshop Day – 31st March
- Confirmation Enrolment Weekend – 2nd-3rdth April (at Parish Masses)
- Holy Week Liturgy – 7th April 11:30am
- Sacrament of First Penance (Reconciliation) – 7th April 6pm
RIVERS OF YOUR PEACE — A PEACE PRAYER
Andrew Chinn has released a new song featuring our very talented students Phoebe and Ella Nyers. This song was created in response to the war in Ukraine after Andrew reflected on the words of St Francis' Peace Prayer. I encourage you to listen to the song, but also watch the video 'Rivers Of Your Peace - The Making Of'. I found listening to this song comforting, whilst of course emotional. Ukraine need our prayers at the moment, as do those affected by the floods.
PRAYER INTENTIONS
We pray for all who are affected by the floods andall that are in need of our prayers.
St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, pray for us.
St John the Evangelist, pray for us.
Renee Maguire
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 – Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe.
PB4L Raffle Ticket Winners
Week 4
| Gunyah | Year K | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 6 |
|
Logan D |
Elias K |
Scarlett Z |
Immanuel P |
Julian J |
Sophia B |
Tara L |
Levi E |
Week 5
| Gunyah | Year K | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 6 |
|
Kayley C |
Hamish G |
Lucas K |
Annabelle F |
Khian H |
Lachlan W |
Destiny A |
Archie S |
Week 6
| Gunyah | Year K | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 6 |
|
Boston B |
Nate H |
Evie J |
Eli L |
Jai T |
Lachlan W |
Xavier N |
Sophie P |
Practice Test
Children in Years 3 & 5 throughout Australia will be doing the NAPLAN Practice Test from 21 March to 25 March. Parents who would like to know more about the NAPLAN assessment are encouraged to visit the website:
Wollongong Team Selection Trials
We wish these students all the best as they attend the Wollongong Team Selection Trials on Monday 14 March at Corrimal Pool. The top 2 swimmers and relay teams in each event will go through to the MacKillop Trials on 22 March at Homebush.
- Jye Prem
- Beau Ledwidge
- Tia McCrimmon
- Maddison Jaworski
- Mitchell Whalan
- Ben Street
Representative Sport
We wish these students all the best as they attend the up and coming Wollongong Team Selection Trials.
- Hockey – Grady Farrugia
- Netball – Ruby Wilton, Addison Biknell, Lilah Bicknell, Lily Whittle
- Rugby League – Quade Stewart, Mitchell Whalan, Jordan Merola
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 to enable students 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, classroom teachers will provide families new to St John’s with their own PRC account which can be used to add books to your child’s online reading log. For students in Years 1 – 6 their PRC details remain the same as last year. If you are having difficult locating your child’s login details please contact Mr Downes (downesm01@dow.catholic.edu.au). If you would like more information on the approved PRC books and the challenge rules go to the 2022 Challenge Rules Page. You have until Friday 19 August to complete the online Student Reading Record. Each child is required to read a certain number of books to successfully complete the challenge. The PRC student site is a user friendly and engaging way for students to enter their reading records. As they enter their books, students will be rewarded with new avatars and challenging titles! Students and parents can visit the support article to view a video which demonstrates the use of the student site.
Dear Parents/Carers,
The best gift any parent can give a child is the love of books and the joy and benefits of independent reading for fun. Children who read at home, or are read to, have a head start on reading success in school.
Our school is participating in Scholastic Book Club this year. Up to twice a term, during the school year, we will send home a Club catalogue with a different selection of books offered for all ages.
You’ll find award-winning books and bestsellers, as well as old and new favourites. We recommend them because the books span a wide range of children’s reading levels and interests and because they are inexpensive (some books cost as little as $2).
It is easy to order. The Book Club LOOP platform for parents allows you to pay by credit card. Your child’s order is submitted directly to school safe and sound and the books will be delivered to class. You can place your child’s order at scholastic.com.au/LOOP or using the LOOP app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.
Owning your own books is something special! we hope that you will encourage your child to order books this year. Each order helps earn free books and teaching materials for our school, however, there is never any obligation to order. We know of no better way to encourage reading than to allow children to choose the books they want to read.
Sincerely,
Mrs Maree Kissell
Library Manager
Join us on Friday 18 March 2022 for the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA). Australia’s key bullying prevention initiative celebrates 12 years of action, connecting schools and communities to find workable solutions to prevent bullying.
The theme for 2022 is Kindness Culture. By building Kindness Culture together, we can promote inclusion, respect and community belonging for all students in schools across Australia.
Just a friendly reminder to all school students and staff that masks are still mandatory on all public transport buses including school buses.
We understand that even though in recent times mask wearing mandates and restrictions have been easing, we wish to remind you that it is still mandatory on buses, at bus stops and interchanges such as train stations for students 12 and over.
Students under 12 are still encouraged to wear face masks but it is not mandatory.
These restrictions are still in place under the public health act and we ask for the school communities support and assistance in maintaining this practice during this time.
Premier Illawarra remains committed to the ongoing safety of the students and school community relying on our buses daily and we hope we can rely on your assistance in maintaining a safe environment while travelling on our buses.
Details relating to what is required can be found at the following links:
https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families
https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/stay-safe/rules/face-mask-rules
If you have any questions or enquiries please don’t hesitate to contact us.
We thank you for your support in this matter.
Kind Regards,
Blake Hayward | OSMBSC10 | Compliance 10 | CTP Claims | Premier Illawarra | CTM
A: 13-23 Investigator Drive UNANDERRA NSW 2530 | P: 02 4271 1322 F: 02 4272 1608
E: compliance10@premierillawarra.com.au | W: www.premierillawarra.com.au
Part-time employment opportunity
Parish Secretary
Shellharbour parish
Shellharbour parish is seeking the services of a part-time secretary for 2.5 days – 13 hours per week Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The position requires skills in administration and maintaining a database. The parish secretary needs to be a committed and practising Catholic, embracing the teachings and ethos of the Catholic Church in their daily life.
If interested, please make contact via email to request an application pack for this position to frances.vanleerdam@dow.org.au
Applications close 5 pm Monday 21st March 2022.
St Joseph's Catholic High School
It is with regret that considering the extreme weather conditions and the wellbeing and safety of current students, staff and those families who were planning to attend our school tours and information session tomorrow afternoon/evening (9 March), we have needed to postpone the school tours and information session until next Tuesday 15 March.
Tours will run on Tuesday 15 March from 4:30 pm to 7 pm. Information session from 7 pm to 7:45 pm.
Our second evening will be held on Tuesday 29 March from 5:30 pm to 7 pm. Information session from 7 pm to 7:45 pm.
