Term 4, Week 4, 28 October 2021

Principal's Message

This week the children have been undertaking some summative assessments that help us to measure their growth. Some of these tests pose some challenging questions. I was sitting with a young man yesterday who came across a couple of questions that really rattled him. But what happened next was a real test of character and that was he showed perseverance and resilience and continued on completing all the questions. I know he wanted to give up at times but he dug deep and never gave in! It is these moments that I really love about education. What I know going forward is he has the skills to tackle challenges when they arise. Too often we jump in to help and rescue children out of tricky or challenging situations but this is not setting them up for the future.

As we navigate through life we will have times where we have ups, downs and unexpected events pop up for which we are not prepared. It is valuable to upskill our children to draw strength and manage when things are challenging or upsetting or unexpected. To have had everything sorted for you or fixed by someone else would only be depriving a child of learning how to navigate through rough seas. It is ok to feel frustrated or angry or sad but we need to know how to respond when we have those feelings. Please take time to acknowledge their feelings and then ask how do you think we might fix that or what could you do if that happens again? 

Covid Update

We are still under level 3 restrictions which means we are still unable to have parents on site. We hope that these restrictions will ease by 1st December. In the meantime, all staff are required to meet the current Public Health Order for Education which requires all staff to be double vaccinated by November 8th.

We look forward to announcing some changes in sporting restrictions soon which will hopefully mean the kids might be able to cool down at swimming lessons.

Book Week & Book Fair

Attached is flyer for Book Week. The theme this year is  "Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds". Due to blended learning last term when we had book week scheduled we chose to postpone it because it is always a very fun and popular event in the school calendar. Along with many scheduled activities we have Book Fair in the library. This means there will be lots of books on sale and some stationery items like pencils and rubbers. Your child will visit the library and bring a wishlist home. You can choose as to whether or not you would like to purchase these items for them. Money the school gets from the sales goes to purchasing new books for the library.

Next Friday, we will have our Book Character Parade and this year we ask for a gold coin donation to raise funds for the cancer council. As Felcity on of our Teacher Assistants is shaving off her beautifl long locks for this very worthy fundraiser. She is very brave and we wish her well for her funraising for the Cancer Council.

Regards,  

Renay Condon

Assistant Principal Message

Celebrating Our Teachers @ St John's

On the eve of World Teachers Day 2021 I’d like to congratulate all of the staff here at St John’s (Tundra included) and say a huge thank you to them on behalf of the community for the dedication they show to the learning and wellbeing of each and every child here at St John’s. Below is a transcript of a speech given by our State education minister Sarah Mitchell. I think she sums why it is important from time to time to stop and celebrate the incredible work that teachers do. At St John’s the children have been making cards for their teachers and some of our wonderful student leaders have been making short video tributes to the teachers that will be shared on seesaw.

I encourage families to reach out to your child’s teacher somehow (not so easy in the current circumstances) tomorrow and send them a celebratory note to mark the day.

Kind regards, Greg 

Hi everybody, my name is Sarah Mitchell and I’m the Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning in NSW. This year more than ever before, I’m looking forward to celebrating World Teachers’ Day later this month on Friday the 29th of October. Here in NSW, we have over 160,000 early childhood, primary and secondary teachers, and each and every one of them deserves to be recognised on this special day. Our teachers have continued, in the face of a global pandemic, to educate and to inspire our children. They’ve led by example in accepting and adapting to change and shown resilience and true grit. Their dedication, their kindness and their support is felt well beyond schools and across all of our communities. Personally, I’d like to thank my daughters’ wonderful teachers and I call on all of NSW to get ready to celebrate a teacher they know on the 29th of October. Visit the NESA website to download and send an e-card to your teacher, find out how to add a badge to your social media profile and lots more. So let’s all use the hashtag #WTD2021 on the 29th of October so our celebration can reach far and wide. 

TEACHING AND LEARNING

WRITE ON!

In our last Newsletter I wrote about staff engaging in professional learning about current practices to improve writing outcomes for students. It has been wonderful to see this learning transfer to classrooms. Walking from room to room it is clear what the students are learning and the growth they are making. 

In Stage 3, students are using “Bump It Up Walls'' and teacher feedback to see how to improve their writing. Students can see what success looks like and have identified what makes the writing effective.  

Stage 2 is investigating how good authors, like Mo Willems, persuade their readers by using a variety of sentences, punctuation and visual tools. They are working on writing their own pigeon books using the ‘tricks’ that real authors use.

Unfortunately, trouble has erupted in S1 because their chairs have quit! The children are highly engaged in using persuasive language to convince the chairs to come back. Students are learning to choose strong vocabulary, structure their sentences effectively and remember the need for punctuation. 

Early Stage 1 are making great use of word walls, helping Mrs Bailey during interactive writing and love writing books. The children are using photographs to spark their imagination for writing. Mrs Bailey is modelling  how to  structure sentences and include punctuation. 

Next Monday the staff will continue their professional development so we can continue to provide quality instruction for every student. 

RE NEWS

Socktober Shootout 

On Friday the 29th of October, during Mission Week, students are invited to bring a gold coin donation to participate in the St John’s Socktober shootout. At lunchtime, there will be a soccer shootout where students will compete against each other to see who can kick the most goals. Students will also be able to participate in some art and craft sock themed activities. 

Socktober for Mission Month encourages us to engage with mission for children by using our heads to enquire about the reality of the world around us, using our hearts to feel empathy for those in situations of great need, and using our hands to take action for them in whatever way we are able.

Every Day is an MJR Day

Making Jesus Real is not just something that we ‘do’ or learn about in our classrooms or school, it is a way of living life that continues at home with our families and in community groups such as sporting teams, dance groups or Girl Guides and Scouts.  Every thoughtful word or deed is living our faith as Jesus would want us to.  St Paul tells us in the Gospels that we are all born in the image and likeness of Christ.  We have His Spirit which strengthens our own.  So make every day and MJR day!

This week, teachers have been engaging with Making Jesus Real professional development. We have been collaborating with each other to plan and prepare how we can embed MJR pedagogy and practices into our units of work. Teachers have created some engaging lessons that will assist students in developing social and emotional skills as we progress into the rest of Term 4. 

AROUND THE STAGES

Stage 2 Writing 

This Term, in writing, Stage Two have been learning about how authors engage their audience. We have been reading the “Pigeon Series” by Mo Willems to spark our curiosity and imagination. We have been paying close attention to stories that teach a lesson and how authors of these texts use language and structural features such as punctuation to engage their readers. 

Don’t let the pigeon drive the truck

“All I can think about is the TRUCK !” yelled the pigeon.

“Please pretty please I can drive I've done it before”I will be careful I'm the best driver ever said the pigeon no said the truck driver please said in a cute voice fine but dont tell anyone yessss said the pigeon and drive away and the pigeon crash and it went boom nooo I'm going to be fired said the truck driver oopsie daisey . 

By Hudson Lyons 

“ALL I CAN  THINK IS THE TRUCK PLEASE JUST LET ME DRIVE IT”!!! Yelled the pigeon. I only have to go shopping to get eggs, butter, milk, flower so can I drive the bus? Sorry, Mr pigeon I can not let you drive the bus because you’ll crash the bus and I’ll have to fix it.

Marley Daniels 

THE TRUCK !!!!!!!

“Who wants to drive a bus!”  yelled the  pigeon. The pidgeon got the amazing, shiny truck key, he decided to go over the moon with thick jim in the back. When they got over the moon they came down and crashed and DIED! But 10 mins later Mr pug saved them in a flite soot and bran them down, then the pidgeon said thanks Mr pug.

Sebastian Ryan 

Don’t let the pigeon drive the truck                                                                                                                            “Hi,” said the truck driver. “Can you do me a favour while I'm gone? “Don’t let the pigeon drive the truck!” “Byyyye” “Hi, i’m the pigeon!” Shouts the pigeon. “Can I drive the truck?” “Pleeeeease” “Whhhy?”                                                                                                                                                      “I'm back!” said the truck driver. “Thanks for not letting the pigeon drive the truck!” “Bye!” 

“Noooooo!” “oooooo, a plane”

Xavier Kane

SCHOOL NEWS

CANTEEN

The canteen and sushi menus are available through the Compass app for those who are interested.   Sushi orders for Friday's canteen day, please place order by 2pm on Thursday. You can do this by ringing, emailing or bringing your order into school.  

The canteen will be open on a Monday 8th November for a vegetarian nacho's lunch.                              Please pre order by 3pm Thursday 4th November either via the office or the Compass app.                    There will also be other items for sale at recess, i.e. baked goods, chips etc..  

SCHOOL FEES

Term 4 School Fees ae now due! Please arrange to finalise your account before the end of Term.        If you have any concerns or queries please contact the school. 

PUPIL FREE DAY

Monday 1st November will be a Pupil Free Day.                                  Staff will be participating in a Teaching and Learning day. 

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU"

Our birthday people

Omar, Nina, Pascalle, Seb & Lola

GRANDPARENTS DAY

On Sunday 31st October we celebrate the role grandparents and older people play in our society, both the things they have done and the things they keep doing. We celebrate them for their contributions.

Grandparents day is dedicated to spending time with an older loved one with the aim to connect across generations.