Term 2, Week 8, 19th June 2025
Principal's Message
Dear Parents, Carers, and Members of our School Community,
As we reach Week 8 of Term 2, it's wonderful to reflect on the incredible energy and dedication shown by our students and staff. The term is certainly flying by, and with just a few weeks left, there's still so much happening within our school!
I have the pleasure of visiting all the classrooms regularly and have been impressed by the enthusiasm for learning I've witnessed. Our teachers are working diligently to provide engaging and challenging lessons, and it's clear that our students are thriving.
A special mention goes to all our students who recently participated in our School Athletics Carnival. Their sportsmanship, effort, and determination were outstanding, truly embodying the spirit of our school. A huge thank you must go to Miss McEvoy for her outstanding organisation and dedication in making the carnival such a success for everyone. Well done to all involved!
The success of our school is deeply rooted in the strong partnership between home and school. I want to sincerely thank all the parents who volunteered for various events this term. Your support is invaluable and greatly appreciated.
Please find some important dates below:
High Potential Learner - STEM Day: Monday 23rd June Year 5 students will be attending at St Finbarr's Primary School.
- FUN Friday Free Dress Day: Friday 27th June. We will also have a disco and some games at break times.
Semester One Report Cards: Semester One Report Cards will be available to parents on Tuesday, July 1st. Please see below instructions on accessing and reviewing your child's progress report. Please take the time to discuss these with your child and celebrate their achievements.
- THE FORCE AWAKENS - Drama Performance: Wednesday 2nd July @ 1:30pm
- School Disco: Wednesday 2nd July 5pm-9pm
- 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
Further Feedback Requested
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!
Exciting New Leadership Program for Year 6 Students
We are thrilled to announce an exciting new initiative designed to further develop the leadership skills and community engagement of our Year 6 students.
We have established a wonderful relationship with Koolbeanz in Mullumbimby, a renowned local centre, and we are excited to offer our Year 6 students the opportunity to participate in a fortnightly leadership program there.
Beginning Monday, July 21st, 2025, our Year 6 students will attend Koolbeanz every second Monday afternoon. This program is specifically designed to:
Enhance Leadership Skills: Provide practical opportunities for students to take on leadership roles, work collaboratively, and develop their decision-making abilities.
Foster Community Engagement: Allow students to interact with different age groups and contribute positively to the broader Mullumbimby community.
Build Confidence and Responsibility: Encourage students to step outside their comfort zones and take on new challenges in a supportive environment.
We believe this partnership with Koolbeanz will provide an invaluable experience for our students, helping them grow into confident and compassionate young leaders and we look forward to seeing the positive impact this program will have on our Year 6 cohort.
Year 5's Getting Ready to Explore and Innovate.
Next week, all our Year 5 students will participate in an exciting and challenging STEM Day, designed to ignite their curiosity and develop their critical thinking skills. This day will be a fantastic opportunity for our students to dive deep into the world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
The day will kick off with a warm welcome, setting clear expectations for technology use and co-constructing learning intentions and success criteria for the challenges ahead. Our students will then immediately jump into STEM Challenge Level 1, where they will put their problem-solving abilities to the test.
Session 2 will provide an incredible "Explore" session, allowing students to experiment with a diverse range of cutting-edge digital technologies devices. This hands-on experience will foster creativity and help them understand the practical applications of technology.
The afternoon will see the students tackle another demanding STEM Challenge – Design and Build, requiring them to work collaboratively, innovate, and bring their ideas to life. Session 4 will be the thrilling "Test your Design!" phase, where students will proudly showcase their creations and evaluate their effectiveness.
We are incredibly excited to witness the engagement, resilience, and ingenuity that will be displayed by all participants throughout the day. This STEM Day will not only challenge our students but also encourage them to think creatively and collaborate effectively – essential skills for future innovators.
A huge thank you in advance to Miss O'Leary and Miss McEvoy for making this day happen.
LEARNING @ ST JOHN'S
Student Reports
Throughout the year, we provide several formal opportunities for you to gain information about your child’s learning journey. In Term 1, we held three-way conferences where you met with teachers and set learning goals alongside your child. At the end of Term 2, you will receive a student report for your child. A Student Report is a formal statement of a student’s achievement, engagement in learning, and learner profile at the time of reporting. It is provided to parents/carers twice a year. Semester One Reports will be published and available for viewing on Compass in Week 10 on Tuesday,. 1/7/25
Please also view the video link HERE for parents titled ‘Understanding the K-6 Student Report’. This will give you further information about the report structure. On the second page of the report, you will see information for parents regarding achievement keys, grading scales, engagement in learning, the learning profile and other general information.
Any questions regarding your child’s learning can be discussed with their classroom teacher. If you are unsure how to view your child's report, please see the PDF instructions at the end of the Newsletter to assist you.
WELLBEING
Pastoral Care in Action at St John’s
What is meant by the phrase Pastoral Care? Pastoral care founded in Jesus Christ and the Gospel is imperative in that every student we serve in Catholic schools be enabled to achieve the fullness of life (John 10:10). Pastoral care is at the heart of how we relate to one another in a Catholic school …
What does Pastoral Care look like? Pastoral care is brought to life in a Catholic School through the actions, attitudes and interactions taken by its leaders and community members. It applies across all dimensions of Catholic education and is centred on relationships and recognition, involving the key elements of caring for, respecting, and valuing each person’s inherent human dignity.
Ghina’s Story
In 2024 Ghina Bloudani moved with her family to Australia and joined our St John’s community. She lives with her Mum and Dad (Walla and Ousama) and her sister, Senna in Brunswick Heads. Ghina can speak, read and write Arabic fluently and is making excellent progress with her English learning. Ghina is now an active member of our school community, leading assemblies and teaching Arabic to her peers among other things. She has been warmly welcomed in so many ways by the staff and students at St John’s: Pastoral Care in action!
While Ghina has settled well into her new life in Australia, transitioning to a new country, new culture and new language is at times very challenging. Ghina’s story below captures beautifully the experience of migration and living life as a refugee, in exile from your own country!
Hi my name is Ghina.
I traveled from Syria (my home country) to Lebanon when I was two days old because of the war in Syria, so I had to travel when I was very young!
Yes, it's a harsh life.
I grew up and learned in Lebanon. One day I was celebrating my 9th birthday and my gift was some news that had been big on my little mind, “we are going to Australia in two years,” my father shouted! I didn't know whether to cry or be happy, and indeed day after day we were preparing to travel. I went to my friends in Lebanon and we celebrated and said goodbye. I woke up on that final morning (or I can say that we didn't sleep) we got ready and we went to the airport. After three long, long days of traveling from country to country, we arrived in Australia! We were received by people I didn't even know - who were affectionate to me, I didn't speak the same language, but they supported me until I was here in this school.
I thought Australia was full of big snakes that would eat me, but I found wonderful birds everywhere. I thought everyone wouldn't love me because I'm from a different country, but they surprised me, enjoying my stories and my Arabic language. Making me feel welcome!
Ghina (centre) & friends
SCHOOL INFORMATION
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU"
Our Birthday people
Rosemarie & Ms Chartres
COMMUNITY NOTICES
