Term 1, Week 6, March 2024
Principal Message
Dear St John's Community,
It was fantastic to see the parents and students coming to meet with the teachers last week and work in partnership to set student learning goals. For a long time, this partnership between parent-student-teacher has been a foundation for student success at school. This week I attended a principal's conference, where we were provided with a final copy of a document titled "Educational Ministry in the Diocese of Lismore - Co-Responsibility in the Service of the Mission". This document has been in draft form for a number of years, but outlines the importance of having parents involved in processes such as this. In the section of this publication titled 'Parents and the School' it says the following:
In the history of Catholic education in the Diocese, parents have played a major role in calling for, organising, and funding Catholic schools. It was their way of continuing their role as the first and natural educators of their children. Vatican II (1962-1965) made their obligation clear: ‘Since parents have conferred life on their children, they have a most solemn obligation to educate their offspring. Hence, parents must be acknowledged as the first and foremost educators of their children. Their role as educators is so decisive that scarcely anything can compensate for their failure in it’.⁴⁴
Thus, Catholic education is a partnership of home, parish and school. And while there may exist in society a tendency to delegate the role of education solely to schools, church teaching has emphasised that collaboration with the family is ‘indispensable’. Schools have been urged to ‘foster initiatives which encourage commitment, but which provide at the same time the right sort of concrete support which the family needs and which involve it in the Catholic school’s educational project.’⁴⁵
All leaders and educators involved in Catholic schooling play a crucial role in supporting their vocation by engaging parents in their children’s learning. Family-school partnerships strengthen outcomes for students, as do indeed the high aspirations that parents have for their children’s educational achievements. Bringing family-school partnerships into closer focus, and in order ‘to facilitate meetings and dialogue with parents and families’, a parents’ association in one form or another contributes ‘to the vitality and animation of schools .... [and] to solidarity between parents and between Catholic schools ...’.⁴⁶
The Catholic school community is called to recognise the singular privilege given to them to educate the children of families who choose a Catholic school. In return, the extended school community will do all in its power to engage parents in the active life of the parish community.
- 44 - Congregation for Catholic Education, The Catholic School on the Threshold of the Third Millennium, no. 20.
- 45 - See Assembly of the Bishops’ Conference of France, Statute of Catholic Education in France, Article 298, p. 42.
- 46 - Congregation for Catholic Education, Educating Together in Catholic Schools: A Shared Mission between Consecrated Persons and the Lay Faithful (Rome: 8 September, 2007) no. 48; also, The Religious Dimension of Education in a Catholic School (Rome: 7 April 1988) nos 42 and 43.
Upcoming Dates
Please view the upcoming dates in this newsletter's left-hand column or via the calendar HERE on the school website, which is also synchronised with the Parent Compass Calendar.
Premiers Reading Challenge
This year we are involved in the Premiers Reading Challenge. The Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students and to enable them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely. The Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC) is open to all NSW students in Kindergarten to Year 10, in government, independent, Catholic and home schools.
Please see separate Communications coming out through Compass for more information.
2024 Challenge dates
Monday 26 February 2024: Challenge opens
Friday 23 August 2024: Challenge closes for student entries
International Women's Day
On this International Women's Day, I extend my deepest appreciation and gratitude towards the extraordinary women in our community.
Their contributions, both visible and behind the scenes, are a foundation upon which our school thrives.
From educators to administrators, from students to parents, each woman brings a unique strength, wisdom, and compassion that enriches our educational environment.
In the spirit of the Catholic tradition, we recognise the dignity and respect that each woman deserves. We are inspired by their commitment to nurturing and leading with purpose - to educate, to inspire faith, and to empower future generations.
Today, let us recommit to supporting and uplifting the women in our Catholic school community, acknowledging their invaluable role not only in education but in the betterment of the world.
We are blessed to have such strong, compassionate, and dedicated women among us. Their legacy is one of faith, love, resilience, and excellence.
On behalf of the St John's community, I extend my heartfelt thanks to all the women who make our mission possible. Your light shines brightly, illuminating the path for all.
Happy International Women's Day.
St John's School Socks
We have been experiencing issues with the consistency of uniforms when it comes to school socks. Currently, the school socks that students wear vary in shades of navy and are of various lengths, with some students also wearing socks with logos sometimes.
The introduction of St John's socks will improve our uniformity and equity across the school. These socks are to be worn with both formal and sports uniforms. There will be a transition time until the end of the 2024 school year, so from 2025 onwards, these socks will be the only socks students will wear to school.
Keeping our families in mind, we have ensured that the price of these socks is cheaper than the current socks and they are available from the uniform shop now.
Class Parent Representatives
We are URGENTLY seeking Class Parent Representatives for Stage 1 and Stage 2.
Please view the last newsletter for more information.
You can nominate to become a Class Rep by providing your name, contact email, and class to the school email sjpmull@lism.catholic.edu.au.
It would be great to have these little positions filled ASAP.
Engagement @ St John's
Thank you to our Leaders of Mission and Engagement, Ellie Bailey (K-2) and Courtney Wells (3-6) for putting together another student engagement video update.
Kind Regards,
Dave Bermingham
Week 6 Awards
Teaching & Learning @ St John's
What's happening in English?
The English block usually occurs in the morning session each day. The session is broken into two parts, Part A and Part B.
In Part A, the focus is on building the skills to be an effective reader, writer or speaker. In Part B we share quality literature and use it as our springboard for responding to various texts orally. We develop tools for comprehendion and explicitly teach structures and writing techniques to help students respond creatively through writing, drama or drawing. (depending on the student’s age)
This week I visited all the classes and enjoyed seeing the level of student engagement in the Part B component of English. I helped Kindergarten rescue a duck called Alexander as we acted out “Alexander’s Outing”. I watched students discuss and write about the harmful effects of pollution in S1 after reading, “What A Mess”. Stage 2 were discussing aspects of “Fantastic Mr Fox” and began planning their tension moments for writing. When I visited Stage 3 a book called “The Wild Robot” was being used to create a springboard for their science fiction narrative. Needless to say, I was very impressed with the learning in all classrooms.
To follow up, I interviewed a few Stage 2 and Stage 3 students to hear what they had to say about their reading or writing. Watch the videos to hear their insights.
Mission @ St John's
Mission News
Inictare
Incitāre means to stir up, incite, urge, spur - when the Holy Spirit comes into our lives we are invited to spread the good news to all we encounter.
On Tuesday we had three Year 6 students attend a one-day retreat in Murwillumbah along with other Year 6 Students from the Tweed Cluster. The students participated in various group processes and student discussion led by the CSYMA student leaders from local secondary schools.
The Students experienced faith nurturing activities and skilling to be faith leaders in our school.
Project Compassion
The theme for Project Compassion this year is ‘For all Future Generation’. We will be raising much needed donations for Caritas Australia through our support of Project Compassion this year. A Project Compassion box is on each class prayer space during Lent for any families who wish to make donations over the coming weeks.
St Patrick’s Day Fundraiser To continue our fundraising efforts for Project Compassion Stage 1 will be facilitating a St Patrick’s Day bake sale on Friday the 15th of March. Please stay tuned for more details.
St Joseph’s Feast Day On Tuesday the 19th of March we will be celebrating the Feast of St Joseph in the Assembly Room at 9:15 am. This Liturgy will be led by Mrs Loane and Stage 1. All families and friends are welcome to join!
Parish School Mass
On Sunday the 24th of March we will have a Parish School Mass at 8 am. All students K-6 and their families are encouraged to join us. Celebrating mass is an important aspect of faith formation for the students, teachers and families of our school community. After Mass, we will have some students who will make their First Reconciliation. We look forward to seeing you all there.
Resources for Parents
Parent Talk newsletter aims to provide parents and carers with relevant and timely information about parenting, education, wellbeing, upcoming CCSP events and webinars for parents, and significant Catholic news and events.
The Council of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT represents all parents and carers of students in our Catholic schools. We value and promote the critical role that parents play in the education of their children, and provide leadership, advocacy and support for parents and carers of children in almost 600 Catholic schools.
Parents and carers are invited to subscribe to CCSP’s Parent Talk newsletter to receive future editions and keep up to date with how our Council supports Catholic school parents to support their children’s wellbeing, faith journey and academic outcomes.
Wellbeing
Free eSafety Parent Webinars
If you would like to know more about how you can support your child to safely navigate the digital world then the following free webinars are highly recommended. To participate in any of the webinars just simply register on the link below or if you prefer you can watch the webinars with other parents at St John's School ( on March 14th, 20th and 26th)
https://www.esafety.gov.au/
Wednesday 13th March 4pm - 4.45pm Understanding how to support your child with online gaming
This webinar provides an overview of selecting quality games, understanding how to reduce the risks of gaming and how to create better gaming habits.
Thursday 14th March 12.30pm -1pm Topic: Understanding Parental Controls to safeguard your child .
This webinar provides an overview of different types of parental controls and how to set them on smart devices and computers, in apps and on gaming platforms for your child’s safety.
It's suitable for parents and carers of children and young people in primary school.Wednesday
20th March 12.30pm-1pm Topic: How eSafety can help
This webinar provides an overview of the eSafety Commissioner, and supporting programs and resources for parents and carers, children and young people.
It's suitable for parents and carers of children and young people in primary and secondary school.
Monday 26th March at 12.30pm- 1.00pm Online safety and social media: TikTok, YouTube and Instagram This webinar provides an overview of managing different functions of social media, including chat and privacy settings, as well as positive conversations about social media use, managing content and reporting negative online experiences.
It's suitable for parents and carers of children and young people in primary and early secondary school.
SCHOOL INFORMATION
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU"
Our Birthday people:-
Lluvia, Ella & Savannah B
St John's Meet and Greet
COMMUNITY NOTICES
