Term 3, Week 2, 31st July 2025
Principal's Message
Dear Parents, Carers, and Members of our School Community,
A warm welcome back to everyone as we embark on Term 3! I hope you all had a restful and rejuvenating break, filled with opportunities to relax, recharge, and enjoy time with loved ones. It was wonderful to see so many refreshed faces returning to school this week, ready to dive back into learning.
Term 3 is always a busy and exciting time in our school calendar, packed with a range of academic pursuits, extracurricular activities, and community events.
Throughout the term, students across all year levels will be engaging in new and challenging learning experiences. We look forward to seeing the continued growth and development of each individual, both inside and outside the classroom. We also have several key events planned - please see the list below. Please also keep an eye on our school calendar and future newsletter editions for more details on these and other upcoming activities.
As always, the partnership between home and school is vital to the success of our students. We encourage you to continue to be actively involved in your child's education, whether it's by discussing their learning, attending school events, or communicating with their teachers. If you have any questions or concerns throughout the term, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher or the school office.
Let's work together to make Term 3 a productive, engaging, and rewarding experience for everyone.
Warm regards,
Dave
Term 3 Events
All of the following events are in the SCHOOL GOOGLE CALENDAR
- Friday 1st August: Zone Athletics
- Monday 4th - Friday 8th August: NAIDOC Week Celebrations
- Thursday 7th of August: NAIDOC Mufti Day (colours of the Australian Indigenous flag or the Torres Strait Islander flag)
- Monday 4th August: Year 6 Visiting Koolbeanz @ 1:30pm
- Wednesday 6th August: Stage 3 @ Byron Writers Festival
- Wednesday 6th August: School Community Forum Meeting @ 3pm
- Friday 8th August: St Mary of the Cross MacKillop Feast Day with Mass @ 11:30am
- Friday 8th - Sunday 17th August: National Science Week Activities
- Monday 11th August: NORPA Dinner Party at the End of the World” Project @ 8:50am (Stage 3)
- Tuesday 12th - Wednesday 13th August: Lismore Catholic Schools Office Comms and Marketing Team on site
- Wednesday 13th August: Stage 3 Netball Cup
- Thursday 14th August: Diocesan Athletics - Coffs Harbour
- Friday 15th August: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary with Mass @ 11:30am
- Monday 18th - Friday 22nd August: Book Week and Book Fair
- Monday 18th August: Year 6 Visiting Koolbeanz @ 1:30pm
- Wednesday 20th August: NORPA Dinner Party at the End of the World” Project @ 8:50am (Stage 3)
- Wednesday 27th August: NORPA Dinner Party at the End of the World” Project @ 8:50am (Stage 3)
- Monday 1st September: Year 6 Visiting Koolbeanz @ 1:30pm
- Wednesday 3rd - Friday 5th September: Stage 2 & 3 Camp in Brisbane
- Tuesday 9th - Wednesday 10th September: 3 Way (Parent, Student, Teacher) Conferences
- Tuesday 9th September: Stage 3 - Prime to High Program @ 12:20pm
- Friday 12th September: National First Aid Day
- Monday 15th September: Year 6 Visiting Koolbeanz @ 1:30pm
- Friday 19th September: Stage 3 Gala Sport Day
- Tuesday 21st September: Stage 3 - Prime to High Program @ 12:20pm
- Friday 26th September: Celebration of Learning @ 2pm
- Friday 26th September: Last Day of Term 3
- Saturday 27th September - Sunday 12th October: Spring School Holidays
- Monday 13th October: First Day of Term 4
All Parents are invited to:
School Community Forum Meeting
3pm Wednesday 6th August
NORPA Dinner Party at the End of the World” Project
Exciting Opportunity: NORPA & DLCS Creative Responses Workshop Series
We are thrilled to announce that our Stage 3 students have been selected to participate in the NORPA and Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools (DLCS) "Creative Responses Workshop Series" in Term 3, 2025! Myself, Naomi O'Dwyer and Laura McEvoy recently participated in a very positive Zoom meeting with Lismore Catholic Schools Office staff and NORPA organisers, and the program looks fantastic.
This unique opportunity will connect our students directly with professional artists in Drama, Dance, Music, and Visual & Video Arts. They will engage in a 4-day, in-school workshop series over four weeks, exploring themes of disaster, resilience, and renewal, and creating original performance works. This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to develop skills in storytelling, creativity, and collaboration, while connecting with regional themes of climate, resilience, and recovery. Teachers will also benefit from alignment with the NSW Creative Arts Syllabus and optional professional development.
LEARNING @ ST JOHN'S
Get Ready to Build! Mullumbimby Show 2025 Theme Announced: "Our Tradies and their Tools"
We're thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for our students to showcase their creativity and practical skills at the Mullumbimby Show on November 7th, 8th, and 9th, 2025! Local schools are invited to enter this year’s Youth Pavilion Exhibition with the theme, “Our Local Tradies and their Tools”
We all have tradespeople we call on in our daily lives to help in a wide range of situations. Our unique little pocket of the Far North Coast has been very fortunate to attract people who bring a variety of trades to our area. Traditional tradies such as plumbers, mechanics, builders, electricians, painters, brick-layers, chefs and potentially some other not-so-traditional trades all use and require tools and equipment.
This year's school exhibit theme, " Our Tradies and their Tools," promises to be a hands-on, engaging experience for everyone involved. Our students will be diving into the world of trades by designing and creating fantastic games for our playground and other school events. Imagine giant Jenga, cornhole, tic-tac-toe, and even a "Pipe Ball Game" – all crafted using materials commonly found on a tradie's worksite! Think wood, PVC pipes, wire, paint, and other trade materials that will transform into hours of fun for our students long after the show.
How You Can Help: We Need Your "Tradie Materials" Donations!
To make this project a huge success, we're calling on our wonderful parent community for support. Do you have any spare "tradie materials" lying around your shed or workshop that you'd be willing to donate? Every piece, big or small, will help our students bring their innovative game ideas to life.
Calling All Tradies! Lend Us Your Expertise!
Are you a tradie yourself? We'd love to hear from you! Your expertise and perhaps even a little hands-on guidance would be invaluable to our students as they embark on this exciting building adventure. If you're able to offer some time or advice, please contact Mrs O.
This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn practical skills, understand the importance of trades, and contribute to our school community in a fun and lasting way. We can't wait to see the incredible games they create! We hope to start on our playground, ‘tradie-inspired’ creations towards the end of the term.
Please email naomi.odwyer@lism.catholic.edu.au if you can donate materials or get involved in another way. Let's get building!
Games for the playground
WELLBEING
Next week will be an exciting week at St John’s as we are having our annual NAIDOC celebrations. Parents are encouraged to attend the opening ceremony on Tuesday morning at 9.00am. Preparations have been made by Aliya King our Indigenous Education Worker along with the Koorie Kids at St John’s.
NAIDOC Mufti next Thursday 7th of August. Children are invited to wear any of the colours of the Australian Indigenous flag or the Torres Strait Islander flag.
The 2025 theme is The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy. NAIDOC Week 2025 marks a powerful milestone: 50 years of NAIDOC Week, honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture and resilience. The NAIDOC committee chose this theme to celebrate "…not only the achievements of the past but also the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities, and the legacy of our ancestors."
Watch the video linked about Understanding Eldership and the importance of ‘Legacy’ in Indigenous Culture.
Below is an outline of the NAIDOC activities running at school next week.
helpful websites for families;
https://australianstogether.org.au/
Looking forward to seeing lots of parents next Tuesday morning.
Best regards, Greg Flint
MISSION
Upcoming Masses
Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop - Friday 8th August
We invite our school community to join us for a whole school Mass celebrating the feast day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop on Friday, 8th August at 11:30 AM at St John’s Church. Stage 2 students will be leading the readings, and Fr. David Gilbey will be presiding the mass. All families and friends are welcome to attend as we honour Australia's first saint.
Following the Mass, students will join together in their pastoral care groups to enjoy some formation activities. We will also have a special ice cream treat at recess, with dairy-free options available. The school will provide these treats.
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Friday 15th August
Stage 2 and Stage 3 students will attend Mass at St John's Church on Friday, 15th August at 11:30 AM to celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Stage 3 students will be leading this Mass. Fr. David Gilbey will be presiding the mass.
Community Spirit in Action Pyjama Day Success!
Our recent Pyjama Day raised $92 for the St Vincent De Paul winter appeal. Students enjoyed cups of warm Milo with marshmallows while supporting those in need during the winter months. Thank you to all families who contributed.
Sacramental Program Sacrament of Reconciliation
We will celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesday, 11th September at 4:30 PM at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Brunswick Heads. Please keep our candidates in your prayers as they prepare for this sacrament:
- Gemma, Arlo, Ivy, Savannah B, Savannah G
We pray that God will bless these children as they receive this sacrament.
God bless,
Ellie Bailey
SCHOOL INFORMATION
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU"
Our Birthday people
Remy C, Remi H, Ivy, Ainslie, Sarah & Mrs G
How Stage 1 do Religion
