Term 4, Week 2, 19 October
Principal Message
Dear St John's Community,
We have had a great start to Term 4. All of the students and staff have come back refreshed and ready to engage in learning.
Last week our Stage 2 and 3 students visited Currumbin Sanctuary as part of an immersion into their respective units of work. Gone are the days where excursions are used as a 'fun' way to end a unit of work - we want the students to jump straight in the learning by practically immersing themselves into the content and referring back to that experience throughout the unit of work. This just makes the 'fun' last longer.
Earlier this week our Stage One students went on a research excursion to Heritage Park as an immersion into their unit of work. The children are investigating materials used to build playgrounds, where movement occurs and the forces that are involved. The kids loved testing out all the playground equipment.
Over the next three weeks we welcome our Kindy 2024 students and their parents to the community. The students will start the Junior Johnnies orientation program, whilst the parents will stay and learn about the St John's community. We are very much looking forward to welcoming these new community members.
SAVE THE DATE!
Upcoming Dates
Please find below a list of dates savers below.
- Friday 20th October - Junior Johnnies Begins (3 x weeks)
- Friday 27th October - World Teachers' Day
- Wednesday 1st November - Feast of All Saints
- Thursday 2nd November - All Souls Day
- Saturday 11th November - Remembrance Day
- Monday 13th November - Pupil Free Day
- Thursday December 7th - Carols on the Green @ St John's
- Friday 15th December - Last Day of Term 4
2024 Staffing update
Over the last couple of weeks we have been interviewing and appointing staff for the 2024 school year and we are in a position to announce the following:
Congratulations to Riley O'Leary and Felicity Guinea who have been appointed as teachers for the 2024 school year. Both Riley and Felicity were teachers at St John's during the 2023 school year and have contributed greatly to the community, so it will be great to have them both continuing with us. Congratulations Riley and Felicity!
Congratulations to Naomi O'Dwyer on her appointment as Leader of Learning for the 2024 school year. During Term 3 we were notified that at this stage we are not entitled to have an Assistant Principal at St John's. Schools are required to have a student population of 100 students or above to have a contracted Assistant Principal. As such we advertised internally for a Leader of Learning to fill the position of an Assistant Principal, with the role and responsibilities identical to an Assistant Principal for a school our size. In this position, Naomi will continue to deputise for the principal. Congratulations to Naomi on this appointment!
At the end of last term I was notified by Amanda Bottle that she has made the very difficult decision not to return to St John's in 2024. Amanda expressed that although she has had a very successful career teaching, that she feels like it is time for a change and is looking for other opportunities. We acknowledge the significant contributions that Amanda has made to St John's over the last 10 years as teacher and in the leadership team, as well her contributions to Catholic Education in NSW over a career spanning nearly 30 years. Farewells like this are never easy, but I'm sure that we will find a time later this term to properly farewell Amanda and thank her for her tremendous service to the St John's community.
During term 3 I was notified by Courtney Wells that she wishes to return to St John's in 2024. Courtney is a permanent teacher at St John's and has held various leadership positions, such as leader of learning and leader of evangelisation. Courtney wanted to gain more experience in larger primary schools, so accepted a 12 month contract at St Ambrose Primary in Pottsville for the 2023 school year. This has been invaluable experience for Courtney. We are very much looking forward to welcoming Courtney back to St John's in 2024!
I am hoping to have the full staffing list ready to share by the next newsletter.
Support for Gluyas Family
As you are aware, during the recent holidays one of our school parents, Jamie Gluyas (father of Evan, Yr 4 and Estelle, Yr 2) was involved in a serious accident at work and as a result of this unfortunate incident, he is still currently hospitalised and receiving treatment. It is clear that his recovery will be a challenging and lengthy process, with Jamie undergoing a number of procedures over the last couple of weeks and remaining in hospital for an estimated 8 weeks, with months of rehabilitation to follow.
In times like these, it is essential for us, as a close-knit community, to come together and offer our support to the Gluyas family. They are undoubtedly facing a challenging road ahead as Jamie recovers, and as a school community, there are many ways in which we can continue to support Evan and Estelle as they stay with relatives at this time. One of the ways is to provide some meals for the family.
We have set up a MEAL TRAIN where people can nominate to support the family with a meal or two. meals can be dropped off at the school office.
Thank you for your unwavering support, and let us continue to uphold the values of compassion and solidarity that define our school community.
The NSW Child Safe Standards
Last week I had the privilege of introducing the NSW Child Safe Standards to our teaching staff. The Child Safe StandardsExternal link provide a benchmark against which organisations can assess their child safe capacity and set performance targets and the Lismore Catholic Schools Office is working with each school in the diocese to embed these standards from the start of the 2024 school year.
The 10 Child Safe Standards are:
- Child safety is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture
- Children participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously
- Families and communities are informed and involved
- Equity is upheld and diverse needs are taken into account
- People working with children are suitable and supported
- Processes to respond to complaints of child abuse are child-focused
- Staff are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children safe through continual education and training
- Physical and online environments minimise the opportunity for abuse to occur
- Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is continuously reviewed and improved
- Policies and procedures document how the organisation is child safe.
The Standards provide tangible guidance for organisations to drive a child safe culture, adopt strategies and act to put the interests of children first, to keep them safe from harm.
The Office of the Children’s Guardian is an independent statutory body that promotes the interests, safety and rights of children and young people in NSW. The core functions of the Office of the Children’s Guardian include administering Working With Children Checks, Reportable Conduct Scheme and implementation of the Child Safe Standards.
Kind Regards,
Dave Bermingham
From the Assistant Principal
New 3-6 English Syllabus- Introducing a new Curriculum.
What is curriculum?
The curriculum is a plan for learning based on mandated and approved syllabus documents and current departmental policies and procedures.
The NSW curriculum refers to the suite of resources that are the syllabuses and the support resources to support teachers to implement the syllabuses. This includes, but is not limited to, resources including teaching and learning advice, assessment resources, and syllabus-specific materials including scope and sequences, units of work, standards materials and work samples.
Next year a new curriculum will be introduced for Years 3 -6 in English and Mathematics. Teachers are currently engaging with the new syllabus and will spend time this term investigating and learning about the new English syllabus. Staff will engage in professional learning in Week 6 to ensure they are fully equipped with the knowledge and understanding required to effectively deliver the new curriculum to your child.
Mission News
The month of October is world mission month and this Sunday the 22nd of October is World Mission Sunday. This year the theme chosen by Pope Francis for World Mission Sunday, the pinnacle of this time of celebration, is from Luke’s Gospel:
Hearts on fire, feet on the move (cf. Lk 24:13-35)
Pope Francis - Dear Brothers and Sisters!
For this year’s World Mission Sunday, I have chosen a theme inspired by the story of the disciples on the way to Emmaus, in the Gospel of Luke (cf. 24:13-35): “Hearts on fire, feet on the move”. Those two disciples were confused and dismayed, but their encounter with Christ in the word and in the breaking of the bread sparked in them the enthusiastic desire to set out again towards Jerusalem and proclaim that the Lord had truly risen. In the Gospel account, we perceive this change in the disciples through a few revealing images: their hearts burned within them as they heard the Scriptures explained by Jesus, their eyes were opened as they recognised him and, ultimately, their feet set out on the way. By meditating on these three images, which reflect the journey of all missionary disciples, we can renew our zeal for evangelisation in today’s world.
Our St John’s community will do a fundraiser for Catholic Mission on the 31st of October with a crazy sock day (more details to come). The money raised for Catholic Mission will go to assisting the needs of the Salesian Sisters and the community of Venilale, Timor-Leste.
SCHOOL INFORMATION
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU"
Our Birthday people:-
Cloudy, Colt, Seb, Rose, Alana & Karyn
Year 6 Graduation Fundraising
The Year 6 students will be fund raising over the coming weeks each Thursday at recess. Prices will be 50cents to $1.00 Students will be told about each weeks activities at the beginning of the week.
Today was a bake sale. next week Lollie Jar Guess, week 4 Handball comp, week 5 Disco, week 6 bike day week 7 bake sale, week 8 slip n slide and week 9 disco.
CORRECT INFORMATION
Please make sure that the school has your correct contact info. If you have moved house! updated your phone! or changed email addresses! Please advise the school office via Compass, email; sjpmull@lism.catholic.edu.au or phone; 0266842386.
Absentees If you know that your child will be away from school for any reason, please let the office know. Compass is having some issues with this, please phone or email the school with this info.