Dear Parents and Carers,

As Term 2 draws to a close, I'd like to once again thank you for your continued support and involvement in the life of our school. While it has been a very successful term, the high levels of sickness among both students and staff has been a challenge. I'm hopeful that the holidays will be a time to rest, recover and reset for the new school term.

We were extremely fortunate to have been able to hold the athletics carnival today, as rain is forecast from tomorrow onwards! It was a gorgeous day at Beaton Park and so lovely to have so many parents, carers and grandparents in attendance. 

Thank you to the many, many helpers who volunteered to assist today, without your support, such school events would not be possible. While there is a competitive side to the athletics carnival, in essence, it is about the children participating and having a fun day!

Thank you to Mrs Atkins, Mrs Mitchell and the team of teachers and support staff who rallied and supported the planning and organisation of such an enjoyable and successful carnival. 

As announced at Beaton Park, ribbons, age champions and the winning house will all be announced Wk. 1 Term 3. 

Semester 1 Reports

Semester 1 Reports are now available for viewing on the Compass portal. As a reminder, Learning Conversations for students in Years 1-6 occurred in Term 1 as per our revised reporting and assessment schedule and will not be offered in Term 2. Please take the time to read carefully the information on reporting contained within the newsletter and look for opportunities to celebrate the successes and achievements of your children. There is much to celebrate!

In reading the reports, I would like to offer my congratulations to all students for their demonstrated commitment to achieving their personal learning goals, consistent hard work and effort in being respectful, responsible and safe each and every day.

Thank you also to our incredible staff for their enthusiasm and passion for 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.

Protected Industrial Action

I remind you that the Independent Education Union (IEU) has informed Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong that their members will engage in protected industrial action tomorrow,  Thursday 30 June 2022 for the entire school day.

What this will mean for you and your child on Thursday 30 June 2022.

• The school will be non-operational, with absolute minimum supervision.
• Canteen facilities will not be available (No lunch orders).
• Students who do attend will be supervised only.

Any absence from school on this day will not impact your child's attendance record.

The rights of employees to be members of the union and take protected industrial action is respected by Catholic school employers who continue in good faith to bargain with the union and reach an agreement. It is acknowledged that this event may present challenges for families and we are committed to doing all we can to minimise the disruption.

Sports Uniform Days - Term 3

There will be a change in sports uniform days for Year 1 and Year 2 children next term. Term 3 sport uniform days are as follows: 

Tuesday - Year 2, Year 3, and 1 Green
Wednesday - Year 6, Kindergarten, and 1 Blue
Thursday - Year 5, Year 4, and 1 Red
Friday - Whole School (K-6)

As a reminder, school resumes on Tuesday 19 July (K-6) as Monday 18 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

Whatever troubles may be before you, accept them bravely, remembering Whom you are trying to follow. Do not be afraid. Love one another, bear with one another, and let charity guide you all your life. God will reward you as only He can. - Mary MacKillop

Feast of Ss Peter & Paul

On June 29 the Church celebrates the feast day of Sts. Peter & Paul. Peter, who was named Simon, was a fisherman of Galilee and was introduced to the Lord Jesus by his brother Andrew, also a fisherman. Jesus gave him the name Cephas (Petrus in Latin), which means ‘Rock,’ because he was to become the rock upon which Christ would build His Church. Peter was a bold follower of the Lord. He was the first to recognise that Jesus was “the Messiah, the Son of the living God,” and eagerly pledged his fidelity until death. In his boldness, he also made many mistakes, however, such as losing faith when walking on water with Christ and betraying the Lord on the night of His passion. Yet despite his human weaknesses, Peter was chosen to shepherd God's flock. The Acts of the Apostles illustrates his role as head of the Church after the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ. Peter led the Apostles as the first Pope and ensured that the disciples kept true faith.

Vinnie's Winter Appeal Donations 

On Friday 1 July, we will be hosting a ‘Winter Woollies Mufti Day’. Students are encouraged to bring a financial donation to support the appeal and to wear their winter woolly clothes (along with enclosed shoes and a hat). St Vincent de Paul Society and the Mini Vinnie’s team appreciate your support of the Winter Appeal. This is also the last day to bring in items that are most needed at the present moment. These include:

• Beanies
• Gloves
• Scarves
• Toiletries -  toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, shampoo

Thank you for your generosity.

Congratulations Fr Francis

Friday 1 July is the anniversary of Fr Francis’ Ordination to the priesthood and last Tuesday night, the Rotary Club of Dapto, presented Fr Francis with a Vocational Service Award. 

We are truly blessed to have Fr Francis lead our wonderful parish. His hard work, dedication and support is valued and truly appreciated. A humble man, his commitment to serving others and building a faith community of welcome is at the heart of all that he does. Congratulations and thank you Fr Francis.

First Holy Communion dates and Information

Children's Liturgy - Term 3

Children's Liturgy is being offered at St John’s Parish Church on Saturday at 5:00 pm Mass and Sunday at 9:30 am. It will be held on 30/31 July and 6/7 August next school term. Children's Liturgy is a time, within the main church service when the children get to learn about the Gospel at their level. It is enriched with discussion, song, activities and prayer.  All children are welcome.

Dates for your diary

Fri 01/07 - 09:30 Whole School Liturgy + Principal Awards  - All welcome!

Fri 01/07 - Winter Woollies Mufti Day 

Fri 22/07 - 09:30 Grandparents Day Liturgy, Picnic Morning Tea & Open Classroom

Sat/Sun 23/07 - 24/07 First Holy Communion Enrolment Weekends at Mass

Sat/Sun 30/07 - 31/07 First Holy Communion Enrolment Weekends at Mass

Catholic Care (Online) Term 3 Program

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 Joseph, pray for us.
St John the Evangelist, pray for us.

Renee Maguire
Religious Education Coordinator

NAIDOC Week 2022 will be held nationally from Sunday 3 July to Sunday 11 July. During NAIDOC, we remember the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of our country and celebrate their rich cultures and inspiring contributions to Australia.

This year's NAIDOC 2022 theme is Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! A theme that calls for all of us to support and secure institutional, structural, collaborative, and cooperative reforms that ensure the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians is based on justice, equity, and the proper recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights.

The St John’s school community will celebrate NAIDOC Week with a Liturgy at 12:00 pm on Tuesday 26 July (Week 2, Term 3). All parents, carers and grandparents are most welcome to join us for this special event in the school hall. We are currently seeking guest speakers for the celebration, if any of our parents or grandparents would be willing to talk about their Aboriginal heritage and what NAIDOC means to them please contact Mr Downes or email downesm01@dow.catholic.edu.au 

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.

The Common Grade Scale

The Common Grade Scale describes performance at each of the five grade levels.

Reports (Years 1 – 6) are standards-referenced, which in NSW means reporting based on the Common Grade Scale. Standards-referenced reporting requires teachers to consider the performance of each student according to the standard detailed at each level (A–E) of the Common Grade Scale for each Key Learning Area (KLA). Students are then awarded a grade based on the evidence teachers have of their learning in that particular KLA and the standard it reflects. According to the Common Grade Scale a ‘C’ grade is considered sound. That is, if awarded a C in a particular KLA the student has demonstrated that they have gained the knowledge, skills and understanding expected of them at that point in time.

The Common Grade Scale describes performance at each of the five grade levels.

Other report features include:

Overall grades

Each Key Learning Area (KLA) has an overall grade that is determined by the teacher after considering the evidence of each student’s learning and the standard on the Common Grade Scale it reflects. Overall grades are not determined by averaging performance on strands within a KLA. In many cases more time has been dedicated to learning in one strand over others and this contributes significantly to the balanced judgement a teacher is required to make, in order to award an overall grade. It is not unusual for a student’s overall grade to change from one reporting period to the next as the knowledge, skills and understanding they encounter in each KLA will vary from one reporting period to the next. 

Commitment to Learning

Commitment to Learning captures the student’s attitude to the particular KLA and their skills in managing their work, persisting when challenged and working to their potential. A scale explaining the three standards used in Commitment to Learning is included on the front of the report.

Strands

The term ‘strands’ refers to the breakdown of learning within each KLA with the options Extensive, Thorough, Sound, Limited, and Basic for teachers to indicate the performance of the student within each strand. Over a reporting period, some strands will have a greater focus than others, which will impact the overall grade for the KLA. In some KLAs not every strand will be covered in each reporting period; those that are not covered will not appear on the report.

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.

What a spectacular day - thank you!

A recent addition to our playground activities has been the purchase 105 Big Blue Blocks. Designed to inspire children to design their own inventions, games and activities by encouraging self-expression through play. They contain a wide variety of loose parts, including cubes, bricks, cogs, curves, and cylinders as well as holes and shapes that fit together in ways that allow for building, stacking, channeling, and connecting.

The children are loving the big blue blocks, working together to make imaginative creations and having lots of fun in the process.

Thank you to all those families who have finalised their fees for Term 2 and 2022.