Term 4, Week 2, 24 October, 2024
Principal Message
Dear St John’s Community,
Welcome Back to Term 4! A warm welcome to everyone for the beginning of what is set to be another busy term. The students have settled well upon returning to school last week and we are looking forward to a productive and positive term ahead full of growth.
Dave began his Renewal Leave this week. We wish him safe travels and blessings on this sacred adventure and we hope he is soaking in every beautiful moment of his journey in Italy. He will be returning in Week 5. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to work within the St John’s community during this time. Please don’t hesitate to come and say hello if you see me around.
Throughout the week students at St John’s have been recognised and acknowledged for demonstrating the core HIKE behaviours, with a focus on Have Respect. Respect is the cornerstone of a harmonious and productive school environment. It fosters kindness, understanding, and cooperation, which are essential values for our students to carry forward into their futures. Demonstrating respect not only builds strong relationships but also creates a safe and positive atmosphere for everyone. We thank all those students who demonstrate respect daily in all their interactions and activities. You are true leaders at St Johns!
Over the next three weeks, we welcome our Kindergarten 2025 students and their parents to the community. The students will begin 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.
Our Stage 3 students are embarking on a Project Based Learning unit this term in Religious Education. Their driving question is: Who are people of hope, living out the mission of the church, in the St John’s community and how can we celebrate them? This unit focuses on exploring the history of people who have contributed to the Mission of the Church and community through their actions, courage and hope. Let’s commit to celebrating people of courage and hope and to actions that reflect our values of showing kindness to others, standing up for justice and supporting those in need. Our faith teaches us to be brave in the face of adversity, to act with compassion and to inspire hope through our deeds.
Have a fabulous weekend.
Kristie Coster
Teaching & Learning @ St John's
Term Four got off to a fast start with Stage Two and Three undertaking their intensive swimming lessons each afternoon in Week One. The students enjoyed their lessons, which were designed to help them develop essential water safety skills and build confidence in the pool. A massive thank you to Miss McEvoy for organising these lessons. Swimming lessons for K-2 will commence on Monday, 11th November.
A reminder to all parents and carers that Parent-Teacher conferences will be held next Tuesday and Wednesday, 29th and 30th October. This is a great opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher, discuss their progress, and set goals for the remainder of the school year. If you haven’t already done so, please book a time via Compass. We look forward to meaningful conversations that will support our students' learning and development.
This week, students in Years 2-6 undertook the PAT (Progressive Achievement Tests) in reading and maths. These assessments are designed to measure students' progress in key areas of learning and are used in all schools in the Lismore Diocese. These tests provide valuable insights into each student’s strengths and areas for growth, helping us tailor our teaching to support their continued development.
Regards,
Chris Hosie Acting Leader of Learning Acting Leader of Mission and Engagement 3-6
Junior Johnnies Kindergarten Transition Program Our kindergarten transition programme will commence in Week 3 of Term 4, and the first session will be on Friday, 1/11/24.
What is Junior Johnnies? Junior Johnnies is a free program that assists children commencing school the following year in making the transition into school life less daunting.
What do Junior Johnnies do? A qualified teacher supervises Junior Johnnie's children to participate in group and individual activities. These activities vary weekly and are designed to prepare children for school routines and learning.
How often will Junior Johnnies be held? We offer the Junior Johnnies Program on Fridays from 8.50 am to 10.50 am.
- Session 1: Friday 1/11/24
- Session 2: Friday 8/11/24
- Session 3: Friday 15/11/24
Spread the Word! If you know of any families looking to enrol their child in Kindergarten in 2025 please urge them to contact the school office for further information about our school, the enrolment process and the opportunity to join in our Jonior Johnnies Transition Programme. Word of mouth is one of the most powerful ways to promote our school.
WELLBEING @ St John's
Parenting in the Age of Distraction
St John’s Parent Event
The parent event held at school last Wednesday evening was extremely well attended with 25 parents coming along. Angela Lockwood’s session was well received by the parents and there was lots of discussion during the evening about the various topics covered.
Angela shaped the presentation in such a way that parents were prompted to think and ask themselves questions rather than just taking in a whole lot of information.
The three BIG themes for the evening were:
1.Connect; find time to connect with each child in an area that they love
2. Awareness: ask yourself the following questions…
- Check in- find out how your child is feeling?
- How do they spend their time?
- Do you notice any big changes?
- What are they doing when they’re using tech?
- Who do they connect with online?
3. Design: parents need to create/design a tech use agreement with their children for their home using the following questions to get started-
- What are they adults expectations?
- What are the adults comfortable and uncomfortable with?
- Where do you as adults have control?
- Am I willing to uphold the expectations?
- Am I modelling the expected behaviours?
Follow this link for more help on tech agreements at home.
Whilst technology was mentioned many times during the evening it was not the main topic…
In many ways Angela’s session was designed to affirm many things parents are already doing and prompt them to think about what they could more or or less of depending on their situation at home i.e the age and stage their children were at.
A huge thank you to all those parents that came along. I look forward to organising future parent events. Please let me know if you have ideas or topics that you would like to learn more about.
Best regards, Greg
Mission
A Heartfelt Thank You to Our St John’s Community! We would like to extend our deepest thanks to everyone in the St John’s community for your generous donations throughout this year. Your kindness and support have made a real difference, and we'd like to highlight the wonderful causes we've contributed to across the year.
Term 1 and Term 2 – Project Compassion (Caritas Australia)
In the lead-up to Lent, our focus turns to Project Compassion, an initiative by Caritas Australia. Project Compassion works to support long-term development projects both in Australia and overseas, providing food, education, healthcare, and access to clean water for some of the most vulnerable communities around the world. Events like Pancake Tuesday and St Patrick’s Day were a fun way to raise awareness and funds for this important cause, reminding us of our shared responsibility to care for others, especially during the Lenten season.
Term 3 – Saint Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal
During Term 3, we turned our attention to the Saint Vincent de Paul Society's Winter Appeal, we raised funds by students being able to purchase a Milo and marshmallow drink. The Winter Appeal helps provide food, clothing, and emergency support to Australians experiencing poverty, homelessness, or disadvantage. Our Wear Team Colours Day allowed the community to show their support while raising vital funds to help keep vulnerable people warm and safe during the cold months.
Term 4 – Christmas Appeal
As we head into the final term, we are preparing for our Christmas Appeal. This is a time to bring joy and hope to those who may struggle during the festive season. We will be collecting donations and holding a special Dress-Up in Christmas Attire event (date to be confirmed). The funds raised will go to families in need, helping them celebrate Christmas with the dignity and happiness that everyone deserves.
October – Catholic Mission Month
In October, we focus on Catholic Mission, the official mission aid agency of the Catholic Church. Catholic Mission works with communities across Asia, Africa, and the Pacific, providing essential services such as healthcare, education, and pastoral support. This year, your contributions will support vital projects that bring hope and opportunity to children and families in disadvantaged parts of the world. We will be organising a Crazy Sock Day (date to be confirmed).
Once again, thank you for your ongoing generosity and for living out the Gospel message through your support of these wonderful charities. Your contributions are truly making a difference!
Celebrating All Saints Day at St John’s On Friday, November 1st, we will come together as a school community to celebrate All Saints Day, a special day in the Church calendar on which we honour all the saints—known and unknown—who lived their lives in faith and holiness. These saints inspire us all, showing us how to live with kindness, love, and trust in God.
We invite all families to join us for a whole-school liturgy at 9:00 a.m., led by our wonderful Kindergarten students. This will be a beautiful time of reflection and prayer as we celebrate the lives of the saints and consider how we, too, can follow their example in our daily lives.
We look forward to seeing you there!
God bless,
Ellie Bailey Leader of Mission and Leader of Engagement
“Jesus is made present through people” - Bishop Greg.
I had the privilege of representing St. John’s at the Faith Leadership Conference in Coffs Harbour on Thursday and Friday last week. Across the two days, Mission leaders heard from a range of speakers on a variety of topics. It was an inspiring experience, and I’m excited to be able to share this learning with the St. John’s community.
The theme of this year’s conference was “Life to the Full”, and throughout the sessions, we explored ways to strengthen our faith communities and help our students, staff, and community deepen their faith. One particular focus I would like to highlight is the emphasis placed on building and strengthening the family-school partnership. Bishop Greg reminded us that our role is to “Bring love, lived Gospel love, to where you are.”
As we look ahead, I’m eager to bring the insights from this conference back to our school. Our goal is to continue fostering an environment where faith and love are at the heart of everything we do.
Thank you for your continued support as we work together to lead with purpose and create a thriving, faith-filled community.
Regards,
Chris Hosie Acting Leader of Mission and Engagement 3-6
SCHOOL INFORMATION
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU"
Our Birthday people:-
Rose, Blake, Alana, Angus & Karyn
COMMUNITY NOTICES
