Dear Parents and Carers,

Thank you to the Kindergarten and Year 1 parents, carers and grandparents who have volunteered their time for parent reading each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. It is wonderful to see the many helpers sitting and listening to children read, supporting and developing a love of reading. Thank you to Mrs Garrett and Mrs Doherty for organising the parent helper information sessions that outlined the roles and responsibilities of parent reading helpers. A summary of this information can be found in the flyer below.
 
Enrolment interviews for Kindergarten 2024 have now been completed. Next week letters offering placement will be sent to families. It is always a privilege to meet with families and listen to their hopes and dreams as they embark on their journey at St John’s. A consistent message heard from families is that St John’s enjoys a positive reputation as a school of quality education, welcome, and inclusion within the wider community. This affirmation from families reflects the dedication and hard work of our staff, students, and parents in creating a nurturing environment for all.
 
Since the last newsletter, we have celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation with Bishop Brian Mascord, who conferred the Sacrament upon the children of our Parish community. For Catholics, Confirmation is a sacrament of empowerment. It is the strength to follow Jesus and to become involved in the mission which Jesus left to the Church. In the same way, it was for the Apostles at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) that the Holy Spirit came, giving them the strength and courage to practice their faith. I congratulate the newly confirmed children for their commitment to actively participate in the life of the Church, to share their gifts with others, and to be a witness to the love and teachings of Christ in the world.
 
As previously mentioned, Semester 1 Reports will be available on Compass from Wednesday 28 June. Learning Conversations for students in Years 1-6 occurred in Term 1 as per our reporting and assessment schedule. It is important that you carefully read the reporting information contained within this newsletter; this is especially important for Year 1 parents who will be receiving this reporting format for the first time. Kindergarten parents will have an opportunity to receive feedback on their child’s academic progress via parent/teacher learning conversations that commence this week.
 
Thank you to the P & F Executive for their time and effort towards organising and managing the Billy G’s Cookie Dough fundraiser. Cookie dough tubs must be collected this Friday between 2:30 pm and 6:00 pm. If you are available to assist the P & F, please notify the executive via the following form; Volunteers Needed - Billy G's Cookie Dough. There will be no whole school assembly this Friday because the hall will be used as the collection point for cookie dough tubs.

 
Mr Matt Downes
Acting Principal

God gives me strength for what is necessary.
Mary MacKillop 1877

Confirmation

Congratulations to all the students on their confirmation, a blessed and joyous occasion within the Catholic faith! This sacrament holds profound significance as it strengthens your bond with the Church and bestows upon you the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Through your commitment to the teachings of Christ and the guidance of your faith community, you have reached this important milestone. Your confirmation affirms your readiness to live a life of faith, filled with love, compassion, and service to others. It is a testament to your dedication, spiritual growth, and the grace of God working within you. As you embark on this next phase of your journey, may you always carry the values and principles of Catholicism in your heart. Seek to deepen your relationship with God, live out the Gospel values, and be a shining light in the world. May the Holy Spirit guide and inspire you to make a positive impact on the lives of those around you.

Congratulations once again, and may God's abundant blessings be upon you as you continue to walk in faith.

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Reflection - 16th June

This day of solemnity was added to the Catholic calendar of devotions in the 17th century so there is a long tradition of recognising in a special way the great love of Jesus for all humanity.

In 1907, St Mary MacKillop, our Australian Saint and founder of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, wrote a personal reflection called “An Appeal of the Sacred Heart to a Weary, Disappointed Soul”. She said that the tender, loving heart of Jesus brought her such peace and joy in his service. She concluded by saying: “The beauty, the pity and the generosity of the Sacred Heart could not be resisted. And in it, I have never known aught but true peace and contentment of heart … When storms rage, when persecutions or dangers threaten, I quietly creep into its abyss and, securely sheltered there, my soul rests in peace, though my body is tossed upon the stormy waves of a cold and selfish world.”

Sometimes in our lives, it seems that we have nowhere to go to get away from the troubles and pain that can overshadow everything. We can long for a bit of peace and quiet, some understanding and the feeling of being safe and comforted.

Shallow love can be an escape place but in the end, we all need deep love that doesn’t give up on us, accepts us unconditionally and gives us hope for a better tomorrow. This is the love that Jesus offers. This is the love that Mary MacKillop experienced. It takes courage, patience and faith to stay with God. One thing for sure though is that God always stays with us.

National Refugee Week - Finding Freedom 18-24th June

Refugee Week is an important opportunity to celebrate the contributions made by refugees and asylum seekers to Australian culture and society. The week is also an opportunity for all Australians to educate themselves about the issues that affect refugees. This involves expanding our understanding of the experiences of asylum seekers and refugees by engaging with a wide range of resources. During this week, we are encouraged to listen to the stories and amplify the perspectives of those people who are seeking asylum across the globe. Each year, Refugee Week is scheduled during the week that includes 20th June (recognised internationally as World Refugee Day) running from Sunday to Saturday. Refugee Week is a global movement raising awareness for refugee rights and issues faced by refugees and asylum seekers internationally. Whilst Australia celebrates Refugee Week in June, other countries celebrate at different times of the year.

What does it mean to be free?

To live without the fear of war, to have your basic human rights upheld, and to live in equality and without the fear of persecution are just some of the examples of what freedom can entail. Every day millions of people across the world embark on dangerous journeys for the sole purpose of finding safety and freedom. From Australia to nations across the globe, settling into a new environment after experiencing the perils of a refugee’s journey can also provide the opportunity to live, love and dream.

In 2023, we encourage organisations and individuals to utilise our website for Refugee Week resources and events that will showcase the journey of finding freedom, whether it be through a new home, a new career, finding love or friendships. Let us show compassion and celebrate the resilience that makes up parts of our wider community. Freedom should not be an ask; it should be a way of life.

For more information visit https://www.refugeeweek.org.au/

Dates for your diary

Prayer Intentions

We pray for the peoples of all the world, that the Lord may graciously preserve harmony among them,

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.

Semester 1 Reports will be available via Compass on Wednesday 28 June for students in Years 1 – 6.  Kindergarten only receive an end-of-year report (Semester 2). 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

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.

IMPORTANT DATES

• Semester 1 Reports will be available on Compass for all students in Year 1 to Year 6 on Wednesday 28 June.
• Kindergarten Learning Conversations will continue untill Friday 23 June (Week 9). 
  
  

St John’s Athletics Carnival

Every year in July, Australians come together to commemorate and appreciate the past, traditions, and accomplishments of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This nationwide celebration, known as National NAIDOC Week, offers a chance for all Australians to engage in festivities that honour the enduring cultures of the world's oldest continuous civilizations.

We are celebrating NAIDOC on Tuesday 25 July at 12pm in the school hall. All families and friends are welcome to attend.

Congratulations to Joseph K who recently competed in the BlueScope WIN Wollongong Eisteddfod in the following categories:

• Bible Reading Solo (First Place)
• Prepared Reading Solo (HC)
• Australian Poems (Third Place)
• Restricted Verse Speaking Solo

Our Student Wellbeing Afternoons took place last week, and on all accounts, the students had an enjoyable time participating in a range of fun activities and 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. Thank you to the staff for organising engaging activities for the students and to the Parents & Friends Association for covering the cost of the sausage sizzle. It’s amazing the joy that a simple sausage sandwich can bring. The next series of Student Wellbeing Afternoons will take place in Term 3.

Early Stage 1

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Year 4 students had the opportunity to extend their knowledge and exploration during an exhilarating excursion to Hyde Park Barracks and The Rocks.

Year 5 is actively reaching out to request donations of balls of wool to support their year group project.

Dear Parents/Carers

Would you be more inclined to join the P&F Meeting on 25 July (7:00 pm), if there was the option to attend via Zoom?

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