Term 1, Week 10, 7 April 2022
Principal Message
Dear Parents,
There have certainly been some great highlights for me in my first term at St John's, as well as some challenges, as you can imagine. I really appreciate your ongoing support and very much look forward to continuing to work closely with the parent community for the best outcomes possible at St John's.
Our final week of Term 1 was certainly a busy one. Due to school closures during week 9 because of the weather, we found ourselves condensing the remainder of term 1 events into this week.
Throughout the week, the students have been participating in Lent and Holy Week activities leading into Easter. When we return after the holidays, each class will participate in an Easter liturgy to celebrate this most important season.
On Monday we had our Stage 3 students represent the school at The Mullumbimby Library as part of Seniors’ Week. The Stage 3 students completed artworks which will be exhibited at the Library during Seniors’ week and the people featured in the portraits were in the library to talk about their roles in the community. We had an article in the Echo about this too, which was great.
Yesterday our Year 6 students attended Mt St Patrick’s College, Murwillumbah for a taster day. Due to the floods, Mt St Pat’s could not run an open day in term 1, but on this day the year 6 students were introduced to the college and completed in a range of fun activities. It is fantastic for us to have such a great relationship with surrounding education centres.
Today, Staff and students wore purple for Lent and Stage 2 sold cakes out of the canteen to raise money for Project Compassion. It was also a wellbeing day for staff and students, so students participated in activities that promote wellbeing, such as bubble blowing, drumming and a range of classroom activities.
Tomorrow is a pupil free day and staff will participate in a Retreat Day down at Brunswick Heads. Our staff will guided through reflections and activities by Mr Flint and myself, which promote wellbeing and faith development. This will be such a good way to end what has been a massive term for our staff.
Parish School Forum
Thank you to the Parents who were able to attend the Parish School Forum last night. It was great to work through the AGM, as well as discuss great areas of focus for the Parish School Forum this year.
I am sure you will join me in congratulating the elected Parish School Forum Executive for 2022:
- President - Nicole Harrington
- Vice President/Secretary - Maxine Shea
- Treasurer - Dorothee Schammelt
Minutes from this meeting will be sent to all parents in the coming days.
The date for the next Parish School Forum meeting is Tuesday 3rd May @ 5:30pm.
Key Dates for Term 2
Please find below key dates for the Term 2 at this stage. Any additional dates will be communicated as they arise next term. We welcome parents to attend any highlighted/relevant events!!
- Monday 25th April: ANZAC Day
- Tuesday 26th April: Pupil Free Day
- Wednesday 27th April: First Day of Term 2
- Thursday 28th April: Cross Country Carnival (Mr Flint/Miss McEvoy will send info out)
- Monday 2nd May - Friday 6th May: Catholic Schools Week
- Monday 2nd May: Catholic Schools Week Whole School Liturgy 9:15am-10:15am.
- Tuesday 3rd May: St John's Open Day
- Tuesday 3rd May: Parish School Forum 5:30pm-6:30pm
- Wednesday 4th May: Confirmation Twilight 3:30pm-4:30pm
- Friday 6th May: Mother's Day Morning Tea 7:30am-9am
- Monday 9th May-Friday 13th May: NAPLAN Testing
- Monday 16th May: School Photo Day
- Thursday 26th May: National Sorry Day - Start of Reconciliation Week
- Monday 13th June: Queens Birthday Public Holiday
Ongoing items to be conscious of during the term:
- School Assembly is taking place every Monday at 2:15pm. Parents Welcome
- The School newsletter will go out on Thursday in Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10.
- Family Connect Worker Lisa Wood is in every Monday.
- School Tuckshop will be open every Friday.
ANZAC Day 2022
As per usual, students will meet at the Railway Park at 10:30am in their full school uniform and hat for the ANZAC Day march.
Communication Update - Compass
Please ensure that you have access to Compass by the start of next term.
From Term 2 all of our communication will be streamlined through Compass. SeeSaw will still be used at St John’s for classroom based sharing of student work.
Compass offers many additional features and benefits, including a smartphone application (app) and comprises of the following features and functionalities, which make it a one-stop-shop for parents:
- Enter in explanations for absences.
- Update your family contact details.
- Download and view your child's semester reports.
- View news feeds of school announcements, alerts and updates.
- View the school calendar.
- Provide consent for events, and pay for excursions and school fees
- Order and pay for canteen
If you do need help with your Compass, please get in touch with me.
After School Care and Vacation Care
The After School Care (OSHC) program that has been running at St John's in the old Art Room will continue until the end of week 2 term 2 at this stage. I am meeting with the council in week 1 of term 2 to discuss the future of this service at St John's, so we will have a stronger timeline after this weeking. I think you will agree with me that it has been a great addition to our community.
Please be advised that the St John's Vacation Care program is available for viewing and bookings are open for the upcoming School Holidays.
Further information and bookings are available through the Byron Shire Council Website here: Vacation Care - Byron Shire Council (nsw.gov.au)
If you have not already done so, we do recommend applying for the Service NSW Outside School Hours Care Voucher to assist in covering the costs of care.
APPLY HERE: Apply for a before and after school care voucher | Service NSW
For bookings, please contact vacationcare@byron.nsw.gov.au
Music Program at St John's
We are looking at eliciting a company that can offer additional Instrumental music lessons to students at St John's. Piano lessons are already offered, but we are looking at widening the options.
If you would be interested in your child learning an instrument, can you please fill out the survey below. Instruments will be supplied for the lessons.
SURVEY LINK: https://forms.gle/
I hope that you all have a lovely Easter and enjoy this special time with your loved ones. Please stay safe and take care.
Kind Regards,
Dave Bermingham
Assistant Principal
St John’s Students Celebrate Seniors through Art.
In recent times our school community has banded together to support one another through the aftermath of the devastating floods. Our community also reached out to and supported the wider Mullumbimby community and the community in turn supported us.
It is really special to be part of a dynamic, creative and connected community such as Mullumbimby. The Seniors Portrait Project below outlines another community project our school is currently undertaking. In this project we have collaborated with Social Futures, the Mullum Library and the Echo to create stronger links with our community whilst celebrating Senior members of our community.
I want to congratulate our Stage Three children for their impressive portraits and Mrs Russel for teaching and leading them through the portrait making process. Please make some time to head off to the Mullum library in the holidays to see the Stage Three portrait exhibition.
I wish everyone a safe, restful and happy Easter holiday break. Thanks for your ongoing support of our school during a challenging term. See you all in term two.
Best regards, Greg
The article below was in the Echo this week, just in case you missed it.
The students at St John’s primary in Mullumbimby are appreciating older people in a new way – through the eyes of an artist.
The not-for-profit organisation Social Futures, which promotes best practice in the aged care sector, invited St John’s to be part of the portrait painting exercise.
Social Futures Project Coordinator Heather Tannock said the Stage 3 students (aged 10 to 12 years) are painting a portrait of an older person in their life, such as a grandparent or neighbour.
“While painting the portrait, the students have been asked to inquire about their subject’s history and their life today,” Ms Tannock said.
“Through this exercise, we want the students to learn about the role of seniors in our communities – not just their past employment or service, but also what they do today, which will no doubt encompass sport, volunteering, travel and maybe even some babysitting.
“Senior Australians have rich and interesting lives and it’s important that we encourage young people to value them and also to form meaningful connections with the seniors they know.”
Ms Tannock said the project is also helping to break down ageism (negative stereotypes of older people) which sadly can lead to elder abuse.
“By painting a portrait and talking to a senior in their life, the children will develop a new awareness of this person. It’s an exercise that creates understanding and promotes a positive image of senior people and constructive discussion with a younger generation.”
Lisa Russell the art teacher at St John’s explained that…
St John’s Primary School became involved in this project as we saw it as a wonderful opportunity to recognise the value of having elderly relatives in our lives; and to celebrate the contribution our elders make within the community. The Stage 3 students were asked to reflect on the qualities they saw in their elderly relatives and think about how they are inspired by these people. It was heart-warming to hear the students speak of the kindness and love they receive from their grandparents. The students were also impressed by the skills their grandparents developed during their working lives and how they use these skills today. Many of the students reflected on how their grandparents knew how to do “things” such as read and write very well, tell stories, volunteer to help the community, make timber objects, do sewing and knitting, use computers, send photos and comments to the family via social media; and talk about lots of different topics.
The Mullumbimby Library will exhibit the students’ paintings during Seniors’ week and people featured in the portraits will be in the library to talk to about their roles in the community. There will also be resources (including pamphlets) available to support seniors.
Art Show
Well-being Day
This term has certainly been one that has thrown our families, students and staff a few curve balls, to say the least. As a school it is important to acknowledge this and support our students to understand that we can bounce back. Rather than dwelling on the negative it is important to look forward. Research has identified that schools can play a major role in building resilience and coping skills to equip children to ‘bounce back’.
Our well being day today was planned in order to allow our students and teachers to relax, have fun and experience joy in simple things such as bubble blowing. We wanted to allow our students to experience and engage in some positive ways we can manage emotions, build positive relationships, focus our mind on the present, laugh together and celebrate the friendship and wonderful community connections that are still very present in their lives.
Students have really enjoyed the bubble blowing and we thank Mrs Jan Seymour for her secret recipe for bubble mixture. They have worked as team to drum and some even got to laugh at Mrs O’s dancing!! We thank Mr O for being our drum leader and St Francis Xavier Ballina for lending us the drums. All morning we have heard the joyful sounds of rhythmic drumming coming from the hall.
Of course any celebration would not be complete without delicious food. The canteen is jampack with delicious donations of treats for our CARITAS bake sale. The food is definitely going to delight and we thank our families for their generous donations. Thanks to Nicole, our talented canteen coordinator. The barbeque is cranking and we are excited about our scrumptious sausage sizzle. It smells amazing!
Today is also a celebration of the learning that has continued to thrive despite the interruptions. Students have worked hard in all stages and it has been wonderful watching the excitement and pride they have taken in sharing their achievements with you during our learning conferences. We also want to acknowledge and thank our students for a term of mostly harmonious play. When there were issues, negotiations occurred and we moved on. It has been great to see students playing across stages in games of tip, hide and seek, basketball and even shuttle cock.
Thanks to the staff who planned and facilitated such a fantastic end to our term. The joy and laughter have been just what we needed.
Drumming
More Drumming
Bubble fun
Underlibrary of Official Histories
On Friday we had a visit from a person from the future, named Zelda. Before Zelda came, a lady dressed like a scientist came and asked us some questions about if we’d seen anything suspicious. We told her about the black box in the classroom and the picture at the canteen. These had mysteriously turned up in the morning. We also told her about the postcards that had been sent to us. Then she wrote it on a clipboard. Zelda who was wearing a space suit rushed in the room and said she was looking for her brother named Albus. We told her haven't seen him but we've got cards from him that were supposed to be sent to her. By Eva Harrington
When Zelda came she puts on a performance about her brother Albus.At a library called Histories End.Then Zelda came and the first puzzle was put the actives in year order.It said go to the library when we got there,there was a post card Zelda read it.There was a box,we got a into groups,group 1 and group 2.I was in group 1 we had to go back to the class room and decode a letter.we got 3D glasses and looked at some posters,there was a painting in invisible ink.When the other group got there with the LED lights we could read what the painting said get all the moth cocoons before they hatch so we got them all.The cocoons had paper stuck to them but that was not important.Then we went back to the class room and put your older post cards on a sheet and they had some symbols that we had never seen before.Then we put sting on then it was the bluetooth symbol!There was a bluetooth speaker in a tube.it said hi it’s me Albus look outside the window and you will see me.we looked out side the window.It said something again look out side the window and you will see me just kidding I’m dead you half to travel back into time By Alariah Weber
Norpa Visit
High School info Year 7, 2023
Info regarding Trinity, Xavier and Woodlawn enrolment process to be advised.
Mullum High transition visits will be in Term 2. More info to come
COMMUNITY NEWS
