Dear Parents and Carers,

As Term 3 draws to a close, I would like to again thank you for the compassion and support that you have shown for all in our school community.  You have been a tremendous source of strength and comfort. As we continue to journey together, we do so in the knowledge that God’s loving embrace brings us hope and light in our time of need.

I know that the staff and students are looking forward to some time to rest and recharge, ready for Term 4. There has been so much achieved and we should all feel proud of the learning successes across the school, including our school NAPLAN data. Congratulations to both the students and staff for the hard work and commitment to improvement, which is so evident in all aspects of school life.

Christmas Story Art Competition

Congratulations to Zoey (6G), Maddison (6G) and Temperence (5R), whose artworks and reflective written responses have been shortlisted and entered into the Diocese of Wollongong Exhibition of the Christmas Story Art Competition.

This year the top 40 artworks were chosen from the artworks entered into the competition. Those chosen were works that were judged to best respond to the criteria and were exemplary of Stage 3 reflective writing and artistic skills.

Their artworks will now be part of the exhibition and will be on display at the Wollongong City Art Gallery from 5 - 28 October. 

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 a deeper appreciation for their talents and recognise the value of the arts in expressing understandings of the Catholic faith.

Thank you to Mrs Scales who has worked with and supported the students in the completion of their artworks and written responses. This is an outstanding achievement for our school.

Term 4

School resumes on Monday 10 October and all students return in their summer uniform. There is no pupil-free day on the first day of Term 4.

Sports Uniform Days

Next term the children will be required to wear their sports uniform on the following days:

I wish you an enjoyable, safe and relaxing holiday break.

Yours sincerely
Andrew Heffernan
Principal

Congratulations to the following students who will be presented with their respective awards at the conclusion of Mass on Friday 23 September. Parents and carers are warmly invited to attend.

Awards that were not presented at the end of Term 2 will also be presented. Students who are absent on Friday will have their awards presented at the first award assembly in Term 4 (Friday 21 October).

"Believe in the whisperings of God to your own heart" - Mary MacKillop 

Season of Creation (September 1 - October 4)

The Season of Creation is marked throughout the Christian world from 1 September to 4 October (Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi) and celebrates the joy of creation as well as encouraging awareness-raising initiatives to protect the natural environment.

Listen to the Voice of Creation

The theme for the Season of Creation 2022 is “Listen to the Voice of Creation”. “I have heard their cry…I know their sufferings…Come, now! I will send you…I will be with you” (Ex 3: 1-12). The burning bush is the Symbol for the Season of Creation 2022. Today, the prevalence of unnatural fires are a sign of the devastating effects that climate change has on the most vulnerable of our planet. Creation cries out as forests crackle, animals flee, and people are forced to migrate due to the fires of injustice. On the contrary, the fire that called to Moses as he tended the flock on Mt. Horeb did not consume or destroy the bush. This flame of the Spirit revealed God’s presence. This holy fire affirmed that God heard the cries of all who suffered and promised to be with us as we followed in faith to our deliverance from injustice.

In this Season of Creation, this symbol of God’s Spirit calls us to listen to the voice of creation, to the voices of those who suffer the impacts of climate change, to the voices of those who hold generational wisdom about how to live gratefully within the limits of the land. These are voices of the Earth. The global Christian family is called to awaken to the urgent need to heal our relationships with creation and with each other and to encourage our parish communities to do the same, “for we know that things can change!” (Laudato Si’, 13). 

(Australian Bishops Council)

For further information please go to the website https://seasonofcreation.org/

First Holy Communion

Congratulations to the 125 Candidates in the parish who received the sacrament of Holy Communion from 8-10 September. This brings to completion the Christian process of initiation. In this sacrament, we remember what Jesus did for us in his life, death and resurrection. We remember particularly the Last Supper, that final meal Jesus shared with his disciples. At that meal, Jesus gave us the Eucharist so that we could remember him in a special way. When we receive Communion, we believe that we receive the person of Jesus into our very beings. We become one with him, and we become one with each other. As a community, we become the body of Christ.

Congratulations to the candidates and thank you to the families for presenting their children for the sacrament.

Mini Vinnies

On Monday 12 September, the Vinnie’s Food Van visited the students in Year 5 and Mini Vinnie’s team members. The visit was an important aspect of the Year 5 Religious Education unit which has a significant social justice focus.

The Van volunteers discussed why the van is needed in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven. That it operates five nights per week, providing friendship, compassion and dignity to those experiencing homelessness and social isolation. The Vinnies Van provides more than 16,500 meals and a range of essential items to support those in need throughout the year.

The donations that were made earlier this term made a significant difference to those in need in our area. The Vinnies Van service is made possible through the generous support of the Wollongong Catholic Education Office, school fundraising and other donations.

Dates for your Diary

Fri 25th September - Whole School Mass + Principal Awards
October - Mission Month and Month of The Rosary
Monday 10 October - Mission Month Launch Liturgy
Friday 14 October - Mass (9:30 am) - Kinder & Year 6 Buddies
Friday 21 October - Mass (9:30 am) - Year 1

Sun 23rd October - Stage 2 (Year 3&4) Family Mass - Andrew Chinn 6:00 pm

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.

Catholic Legends Gala Day

On Thursday 15 September Stage 2 boys and Stage 3 girls and boys attended the Catholic Legends Gala Day hosted by NRL. We were able to enter 13 teams thanks to the generous parent helpers who assisted in managing teams. Students had a great day participating with sportsmanship and fun.

Athletics

Our best wishes are with Ashton Byrne, Kaylee Marsh and Gianni Oiteirinho who are competing at Mackillop Athletics Trials in Homebush today. What a great achievement!

Mrs Michelle Atkins

Starting school is an important milestone in any child and family’s life. Research suggests that children who have a positive start to school are more likely to engage well in their learning and school life. Here at St John’s, we are hoping to nurture this positive start by offering a transition to school program that will include informal playgroup sessions as well as formal orientation opportunities.

Playgroup will take place from 9:00 - 10:00 am in the school hall (McCabe Hall) and COLA on the following dates.

Families are encouraged to have their child attend as many playgroup dates as possible to help them prepare for school. While the children play, parents/carers will have opportunities to gather information, ask questions and meet staff.

Information has been sent to all families with registration details.

The process for student class placement will commence early Term 4. If there are any special considerations or concerns that parents/carers feel the school should take into consideration, please put them in writing and send them to school no later than Friday 28 October. Letters should be addressed ‘Attention: Andrew Heffernan’ and marked ‘Confidential’.

Please note, that this is not the opportunity to request friendship groupings or specific teachers for your child. While all requests will be noted and discussed, final decisions on placements will be made following careful consultation with teachers. Requests received after Friday 28 October will not be considered.

Kindergarten (Symbio)

Kindergarten visited Symbio Wildlife Park, Helensburgh on Monday 18 September, as part of their Term 3 learning experiences during Discovery Time, which looks at the needs of living things and how to care for them.

The students were exceptional representatives of St. John's school, displaying respectful behaviour at all times and the teachers could not have been more proud of them. Many students were very brave and went out of their comfort zone - patting a snake or alligator for the first time! They saw many farmyard animals, reptiles and mingled with the kangaroos in the gorgeous surroundings of the wildlife park. The weather was perfect and students had an awesome day.

We had many snoozing students on the bus ride home, a reminder of how big a day out this was for Kindergarten! Some parents have communicated to us that their child said it was their best day EVER! We are all so grateful that our excursion was able to go ahead and was such a success.

Kindergarten Teachers

Year 2 (Sydney)

On Thursday 15 September Year 2 went on an excursion to Sea Life Sydney Aquarium and the Wildlife Zoo. It was a fantastic day of learning and fun looking at creatures such as dugongs, penguins, stingrays, sharks, wombats, Tasmanian devils, wallabies, cassowaries and many more. All the children deserve to be congratulated on their behaviour and manners displayed during the day.

Year 2 Teachers

As you would be aware, our Term 3 Student Wellbeing Afternoons took place during Week 8. The students had a great time participating in a range of fun and engaging activities and once again, enjoyed a sausage sizzle for lunch. The positive comments from both students and staff members highlight the importance of such events and activities that encourage and promote wellbeing at St John’s. We plan to have Student Wellbeing Afternoons again during Term 4.

Mr Debattista
(Student Wellbeing and Diverse Learning Leader)