Dear Parents and Carers,

On Monday we celebrated the Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop with a variety of activities, including lunch with buddies to commemorate this most significant day. On this day, we give thanks for the life of Mary MacKillop, her influence on our world, and her legacy as a woman of inspiration and deep faith. She was canonised a saint of the universal church on 17 October 2010, becoming Australia's first saint. 

Mary MacKillop founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and together they responded to the educational needs of poor and isolated children, establishing schools across Australia. In 1880, the Sisters arrived at St John’s and remained until 1996 before the first lay principal, Mrs Marie Debusch was appointed in 1997. 

Our school has a long and rich history. Every day and in every way we walk in the footsteps of those who have gone before us and must never forget the hard work and dedicated commitment of our forebearers, particularly the Sisters of St Joseph.

We are truly blessed to have Sr Narelle continuing the work of her sisters at St John’s and give thanks for her work in supporting the pastoral of our students and their families.

Hosting Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW) Representatives

Next Tuesday 16 August we will be hosting a visit from the CSNSW Leadership Team. Diocesan Director, Peter Hill, and Head of School Improvement, Noel Henry will also be in attendance and the visit will involve a presentation on our approach to learning and the significant growth in student achievement, a school tour, classroom visits as well as lunch with the leadership team.

Award System Update

In 2019, our student award system was reviewed and changes were made that remain current today. Merit Awards, Core Value Awards, Principal Awards and Medallions are how we acknowledge and affirm students at St John's. During the transition to the new system, we continued to accept previously awarded merit awards and principal awards. We have now reached the point where the transition from the old to the new must come to a natural conclusion. Therefore from Friday 23 September (end of Term 3), no further awards from the previous award system will be accepted. 

Before School Supervision

Morning supervision is from 8:00 am daily and children arriving before this time should wait at the Jerramatta St entrance under the school sign. It has come to my attention that children are being dropped off well before this time, entering via the Werowi St gate, which is open for PEAK before school care, and waiting in and around the school grounds unsupervised. 

Diocesan Basketball Gala Day

I was advised last week that the Basketball Gala Days planned for later this term have been cancelled. CEDoW has had to make the difficult decision in the light of very high staff and student absenteeism across the system of schools.

The Basketball Gala Days run over a total of 9 days, involving a large number of staff at the different venues and a significant number of secondary students, who act as our referees.

It is very unfortunate, as the gala days are so valued and enjoyed by all students. It is, however, most important to consider the widespread nature of current illness and absenteeism and the very real stress on schools to have staff able to cover existing classes.

Yours sincerely
Andrew Heffernan
Principal

Gratitude is the memory of the heart. - Mary MacKillop 1907

Feast of the Assumption of Mary

On 15 August we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This significant feast day recalls the spiritual and physical departure of the mother of Jesus Christ from the earth when both her body and soul were taken into the presence of God.

Mary was a person of faith and trust, who loved her son Jesus, even when he did things she didn’t understand.  The Assumption signals the end of Mary’s earthly life and marks her return to heaven to be reunited with Jesus. While the bodies of both Jesus and Mary are now in heaven, there is a difference between the Assumption and the Resurrection. Where Jesus arose from the tomb and ascended into heaven by his own power, Mary’s body was taken up to heaven by the power of her Son.

We pray that we walk in Mary’s shoes and learn to be people of faith and hope willing to trust in God. Parents and Carers are invited to join the students for Mass at 9:30 am on the 15 August.

Diary Dates 

• Year 6 Mass with the Bishop - Thurs 11 August 
• Kindergarten/Gunyah Mass 9:30 am - Fri 12 August 
• Reconciliation (Yr. 3) - Fri 12 August 
• K-6 Mass (Feast of the Assumption of Mary) Monday 15 August at 9:30 am
• Grandparents Day - Fri 19 August 
• Practice for First Holy Communion 4:00-5:00 pm - Wed 24 August 
• First Holy Communion Workshop Day - Thurs 25 August 
• Year 2 Mass 9:30 am - Fri 26 August 
  
  

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

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.

Congratulations to the following students.

South Coast Athletics Carnival 

Congratulations to the students who represented St John’s at the South Coast Athletics Carnival yesterday at the Kerryn McCann Athletics Centre. It was a tough day weather wise at Beaton Park with intermittent rain all day and cool conditions making for a challenging event. Despite this, all students competed with a smile and sportsmanship, well done. Thank you to the family members who were there to support our students.

St John’s Dapto team came 6th in the overall point score, a great achievement. Congratulations to Gianni Oiteirinho who received 3rd place medallion as the Junior Boys Age Champion.

Congratulations to the following students who came in the top four for their field or track event and will now compete at the Diocesan Athletic Selection Trials next Tuesday 16 August at Beaton Park. We wish them all the very best.

• Ashton Byrne 800m 3rd
• Lillyannah Dellifiori Discus 4th
• Lucas Fernandez Long Jump 3rd
• Kaylee Marsh Shot Put 2nd
• Gianni Oiteirinho 800m 2nd, 100m 1st, High Jump 4th
• Ruby St Clair Long Jump 4th
• Olivia Stuart-Almeida Long Jump 4th
• Udeh Echezonachukwu 100m 3rd

Could I please ask that once team singlets have been washed, they returned to school with a note indicating their name, so it can be marked off. Students competing next Tuesday can return their shirts after the event. 

Michelle Atkins
Sports Coordinator

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

Life Education is Australia’s largest provider of preventive health and drug education to school children. Together with Healthy Harold the giraffe, Life Education has been empowering children and young people to make safer and healthy choices for more than 40 years.

The Life Education program provides valuable lessons exploring healthy eating, personal safety, physical activity, positive relationships, cyber safety and the impact of alcohol and other drugs. All modules are age and stage appropriate and aligned to the NSW PDHPE syllabus and the Australian school curriculum.

All classes have enjoyed the opportunity to visit the Life Education van as well as seeing Healthy Harold!

We look forward to seeing you.

Lisa Doherty, Maree Kissell and Tracey Scapin
Organising teachers

School photos will be held on Tuesday 13 September. Envelopes for orders have been distributed and must be returned to school on the day and handed to the photographer by the students. It is important that all envelopes are returned even if payment is made online. School photographs will be taken in winter uniform, as the official change over date is Wk. 1 Term 4.

For any families wishing to purchase a sibling photo, please ask your child to collect a sibling envelope from the school office. These envelopes must also be returned to school on 13 September and given to the photographer on the day.  

Please ensure that if purchasing both an individual photo and sibling photo and paying cash, the money is enclosed in each envelope and not combined in one envelope, as the envelopes are kept separately. Thank you.

As photos are scheduled to be taken from 8:30 am - 2:30 pm, it is imperative that children arrive at school on time and not be signed out early. The schedule can not be adjusted on the day to accommodate for children/families who arrive late or leave early.

We will be celebrating Grandparents Day on Friday 19 August from 9:30 am. All parents/carers and grandparents are warmly invited to join us in celebrating and giving thanks for the gift beautiful of grandparents. The morning will begin with a liturgy in the COLA, followed by a picnic morning in the school grounds and open classrooms. All visitors will be asked to sign in upon arrival and the wearing of face masks is optional. We are all very excited about the day and look forward to welcoming you.

Unfortunately, it was necessary to postpone the last meeting of the Parents and Friends Association. The meeting will now take place on Thursday 1 September at 7:00 pm in the library. All parents and carers are warmly invited.

Next week, flyers will be sent home promoting our first fundraising initiative, Billy G's Gourmet Cookie Dough. There are 10 different flavours to choose from and ordering is online and easy. Billy G's Cookies use only the finest ingredients to create a real home-style taste. Simply scoop and bake, it's a fun and enjoyable activity for the whole family.

Dates For Your Diary

• Term 3 P&F Meeting - Thurs 1 September
• Father's Day Stall - Friday 2 September
• Family Food & Ride Night - Friday 14 October