Term 2, Week 6, 5th June 2025
Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We have had an amazing fortnight at St John's. Last week, I had the privilege of attending the GLOW retreat with our Year 6 students up at Mt St Pat's College.
GLOW replaced the Year 6 Incitare Retreat and this year gathered all Year 6 students within the Tweed region of schools for fun activities, live praise and worship and immersive prayer experiences. It was a fantastic day! The main aim of GLOW is to help students:
- Encounter Christ in a meaningful way
- Develop a friendship with Jesus
- Build community and make new friends
- Grow in faith and confidence
- Be inspired for the next chapter
This week, I attended the Term 2 Diocese of Lismore Principal's conference. The program began on Tuesday with a Principal's Association meeting, followed by a Welcome to Country, prayer, and a series of sessions covering sustainability, strategic directions, and school resourcing.
On Wednesday, the focus shifts to curriculum reform, led by experts from the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO), including Dylan Evans and Hannah Matthews. The day also includes two hands-on workshop sessions, where we were able to choose from: Universal Design for Learning (Dr Matt Capp from Capitalize Education), Threads to Tapestry: Building System-Wide Growth through Clear Targets (Led by Diocese of Lismore School Improvement team), or Focused Classrooms (Cate Whiting From AERO).
On Thursday, we reflected on Day 2 before exploring the role of AI in education with keynote speaker Leon Furze. The gathering wrapped up with a diocesan perspective on AI.
Please find some important dates below:
- Pupil Free Day: Please note that Friday 6th June is designated as a Pupil Free Day. There will be no classes held on this day.
- School Athletics Carnival (NEW DATE): Get ready for a day of camaraderie at our School Athletics Carnival on Tuesday, June 10th at the Cavanbah Centre. We encourage all students to participate and showcase their athletic talents.
King's Birthday Public Holiday: A reminder that Monday, June 9th, is a public holiday in honour of the King's Birthday. The school will be closed on this day.
Semester One Report Cards: Semester One Report Cards will be available to parents on Tuesday, July 1st. Please stay tuned for further instructions on accessing and reviewing your child's progress report.
- School Disco: Wednesday 2nd July TBC.
- Last Day of Term 2: Term 2 will conclude on Thursday, July 3rd. We look forward to celebrating the achievements and growth of our students throughout the term. We will have a celebration of Learning at 2pm on this day.
Pupil Free Day: Friday, July 4th, will be observed as another Pupil Free Day. There will be no classes held on this day.
Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community. Together, we can create enriching experiences for our students and foster a love for learning that lasts a lifetime.
Warm regards,
Dave
Tell Them From Me Survey
Thank you also to those parents who filled out the Tell The From Me Survey. It gives us some great areas to focus on moving forward.
There were a few areas that we scored lower than previous years, which surprised us, so we are seeking more descriptive feedback in the areas of 'Parents Feel Welcome', 'Parents Are Informed' & 'School Supports Learning'.
We would appreciate it if parents could provide further feedback and suggestions to us in these areas by adding them to the confidential ONLINE FORM.
Thank you!
LEARNING @ ST JOHN'S
It’s Rocket Science Visits Our School!
This week, our school was thrilled to welcome It’s Rocket Science for an exciting STEM incursion! Students from across the school had the chance to become young rocket scientists for the day, learning all about the science behind rockets and space travel.
The workshop was hands-on and highly engaging. Students explored key scientific concepts such as gravity, thrust, air resistance, and lift - all while building and launching their very own rockets! The excitement was sky-high as rockets zoomed through the air across the playground.
Through this experience, students deepened their understanding of how forces work in the real world. They saw first-hand how different design choices affect a rocket’s flight, and they used problem-solving and creativity to improve their designs.
Thank you to the It’s Rocket Science team for bringing such an inspiring and educational experience to our school
Rocket Science fun
WELLBEING
What is the Family Connect in Schools Program?
At St John’s we have a whole range of supports we can access for children when they need assistance. Family Connect specifically provides support for our parents and carers. We value the wonderful support Family Connect offers our parents. Recently we have had a new Family Connect worker, her name is Katie Sutton. Katie has written a small biography to introduce herself below.
Hi, I am Katie Sutton, and I’m excited to join the St Johns Primary community as Family connect and support worker. I bring with me a Bachelor of Social Science and years of experience working within the Domestic and Family Violence, child protection and mental health sector.
I am very passionate about creating safe, supportive environments for students and their families, and I believe in the power of connection and early intervention to make a lasting difference. Recently, relocated to the area, I’m looking forward to getting to know the local community and building strong relationships.
If you feel you would like to connect or need some advice or support, you can self-refer by texting or calling me on 0428 886 235 or speak to your Greg or Dave who can also link you in with the Family Connect in Schools program.
Mission
Beautiful Confirmation Celebration
What a wonderful Confirmation ceremony we had last night! Twelve candidates took this important step in their faith journey, including four of our own St John's students: Savannah G, Hendrix, Arlo and Gemma.
The children were beautifully reverent throughout the ceremony, and it was lovely to see their friends come along to support them. Bishop Greg shared his message of love with everyone, bringing our community together in celebration.
Afterwards, we enjoyed a great sausage sizzle and refreshments - the perfect way to celebrate this special milestone with families and friends.
Pentecost Sunday - This Sunday, June 8th
This Sunday, we celebrate Pentecost, which happens 50 days after Easter. It's when we remember the Holy Spirit coming to Jesus' followers like "tongues of fire," giving them the power to speak different languages and share God's love with people from all over the world.
Pentecost is sometimes called the birthday of the Church because it's when Jesus' followers were filled with the Holy Spirit and began spreading the message of love and hope. The same Spirit continues to guide and inspire us today in our diverse school community.
Wishing our St John's community a blessed Pentecost Sunday.
Many blessings,
Ellie Bailey
Leader of Mission
SCHOOL INFORMATION
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU"
Our Birthday person
Mrs Loane
COMMUNITY NOTICES
The Mullumbimby Pantry
The People’s Pantry is a new click-and-collect marketplace designed to make it easier for busy families to shop from their favourite local producers and small businesses.
By preordering online, customers can access fresh, local produce with one simple weekly pickup—while helping producers reduce food waste by only delivering what’s been ordered. The model keeps money circulating locally, supports small businesses, and raises funds for the not-for-profit host organisation each week.
Launched in partnership with Byron Community College - Mullumbimby, The Mullumbimby Pantry offers a practical, community-driven alternative to major supermarket shopping. As the Pantry is new, you might not find everything you need just yet—but we’re working to grow our offerings each week. Every bit of community support helps us do that. Even making one small local swap in your weekly shop supports the platform and the producers behind it.
The first shopping window opens on Monday 9 June, with collection on Friday 13 June at Byron Community College (1–4pm).
Ongoing, orders can be placed each Monday to Wednesday, with collection every Friday.
We hope to see you there 
