Filter Content
Dear Parents and Carers,
As a Josephite school we often reflect on the work of Mary MacKillop and the many extraordinary things she accomplished throughout her life. Her legacy of compassion inspires us to be better people and to help those less fortunate. Her quote “Never see a need without doing something about it” calls us to action and challenges us to give generously to those in need.
The support and generosity displayed towards the recent St Vincent de Paul Flood Appeal was evidence of kindness in action. The school community raised $1490.80. While I believe Mary would always be challenging us to do more, I am sure she would be quietly proud of our achievements.
Next week we begin our Learning Conversations for students in Years 1 to 6. Both parents and teachers play an essential role in educating a child. When teachers partner their ability to inspire thought and creativity with the foundational support parents provide, students are more likely to succeed and have a positive school experience.
Children in Years 3 to 6 are strongly encouraged to attend the Learning Conversations and be active participants in sharing their learning goals and achievements. If you haven’t already made a booking with your child’s teacher, I encourage you to do so before Friday 25 March via the Conference tab in Compass. If you are unavailable at the times provided, please contact your child’s teacher.
This week we celebrate Harmony Week, a time in which we acknowledge and celebrate Australian multiculturalism. Australia is one of the most successful multicultural countries in the world, from the oldest continuous culture of our first Australians to the cultures of our newest arrivals from around the world. Our cultural diversity is one of our greatest strengths and is at the heart of who we are. All people who migrate to Australia bring with them some of their own cultural and religious traditions, as well as taking on many new traditions. Collectively, these traditions have enriched our nation. In celebrating, we strengthen our resolve to foster a nation founded on inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values.
HARMONY DAY PRAYER
Dear God,
You created all people in your image.
We thank you for the variety of races and cultures in
our community and Australia.
Enrich our lives by ever-widening circles of friendship,
and show us your presence in those who differ most from us.
Grant that we may always promote the justice and
acceptance that ensures lasting peace and racial harmony.
Grant that we may always show equal respect to
all persons of different cultures,
And help us to remember and appreciate that we
are one country, with many stories.
Amen.
Kind regards,
Matthew Downes
(Acting Principal)
We must teach more by example than word.
Mary MacKillop 1867
FLOOD APPEAL MUFTI FUNDRAISER
On Friday St John’s held a Flood Appeal Fundraiser. WE thank you for your generous financial donations. As a school community, we raised $1490.80.
PROJECT COMPASSION -For All Future Generations
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. Thank you to all who are able to support our classroom Project Compassion boxes. So far this Lent we have raised $370.25. Special mention to the following classes who have raised very significant amounts: 3R, KG & 4G.
This week we hear the story of Janice. Janice is a proud Wagilak woman who lives on Jawoyn Country in Arnhem Land. She is a traditional dancer who tells her family’s stories through movements handed down over generations. Djilpin Arts Aboriginal Corporation is playing a big part in helping keep Janice’s community and culture strong. With Caritas Australia’s support, Djilpin Arts provides training and employment for young people who work in the art museum and shop. Janice has been at Djilpin Artsworker since 2015. Together with her community, she is taking care of her culture, for all future generations.
EASTER RAFFLE
Thank you for your support with the Easter Raffle, all money raised going to Project Compassion. We welcome donations of Easter Eggs for the raffle. Raffle tickets are due back by Wednesday the 6th of April and the raffle will be drawn on Friday the 8th of April. Mini Vinnies members will also be selling these at recess and lunch in weeks 10 and 11.
SUNDAY 27th March – FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT (YEAR C)
“A Person Speaks From What Is In His Heart” Lk 6:39-45
CONFIRMATION ENROLMENT WEEKEND - YEAR 6 STUDENTS
The dates for the enrolment weekends are Saturday/Sunday 26th/27th March and 2nd/3rd April. After the 5pm Mass on Saturday night or at any of the Sunday Masses, on any of the weekends indicated, parents will collect an Enrolment Form and record their child’s name on the sheets at the back of the church. This form needs to be brought to the Parent Night on the 28th of April.
Dates for your diary:
- Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord Whole School Mass (Outdoors) - 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
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.
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 7
Gunyah |
Kindergarten |
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
| Izaac G | Paige G | Archer B Leela V |
Taylor P Elisha K |
Year 3 |
Year 4 |
Year 5 |
Year 6 |
| Mitchell B | Georgia L Sophie E |
Anna L Xander I |
Archie SMia T |
Week 8
Gunyah |
Kindergarten |
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
| Joseph V Joseph G |
Callum R Harry T Harry D |
Emily V Aiden B |
Liam N Izak R |
Year 3 |
Year 4 |
Year 5 |
Year 6 |
| Justin R Jai S |
Layla L Ella W |
Bowen L Norah H |
Brent H Elise B |
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
Congratulations to Grady Farrugia who has been selected in the Wollongong Diocese Hockey Team for the MacKillop Trials. We wish him all best and good luck.
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
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
Road Rules Awareness Week is an initiative from Transport NSW aimed at raising awareness of NSW road rules. The week will run from Monday 21 March to Sunday 27 March 2022.
The campaign explores and will feature a host of road rules including:
• Vulnerable Road Users
• Heavy Vehicles
• Speed
• Bicycle Riders
• Giving Way at T-Intersections, roundabouts
• Drink Driving (Blood Alcohol Concentration – BAC)
• Mobile Phones
• Child restraints
• Line markings
• Tailgating/Stopping Distances
• Horses in traffic
• Road User Handbook
A toolkit of resources (see link below) has been developed to promote this important area that includes social media assets, web tiles, road safety animations, and a variety of quizzes.
Road Rules Awareness Week aims to keep people in our communities safe in and around traffic environments.
