Term 2, Week 2, 5 May 2022

Principal Message

Dear Parents,

Welcome to term 2. I trust that you all had a nice easter surrounded by loved ones. I am hoping that this term won't be full of surprises and disruptions, but will be full of quality learning for our students, community building events for our families and plenty of enjoyment along the way. 

It has been a busy start to the term at St John's. We started off the term with ANZAC Day where we had a number of students march under the school banner. I couldn't be prouder of the children who were able to make it down to represent the school, including Luke Beaton who recited 'In Flanders Fields' beautifully to the Mullumbimby community. We have also had our school Cross Country, which was a magical day and well organised by Miss McEvoy. We hold our cross country on the beach at Brunswick Heads, so it is a favourite carnival amongst the kids... and staff. This week, we celebrated Catholic Schools week with a beautiful liturgy on Monday morning and I also had the very special priviledge of presenting the senior students with their leadership badges. These leaders have already been doing an amazing job leading the community this year and I can't wait to see them continue to florish in their roles as the year continues. 

Mother's Day Morning Tea

We invite all Mothers and female figures to the                                                Mother's Day Morning Tea tomorrow 6th May                                              starting at 7:30am. 

Please come along if you're available!

Key Dates for Term 2

Please find below key dates for the Term 2 at this stage. Any additional dates will be communicated as they arise next term. We welcome parents to attend any highlighted/relevant events!!

• Monday 2nd May - Friday 6th May: Catholic Schools Week
  
• Friday 6th May: Mother's Day Morning Tea 7:30am-9am
• Monday 9th May-Friday 13th May: NAPLAN Testing (yr 3 and 5 parents will be sent more information about this). 
• Monday 16th May: School Photo Day
• Thursday 26th May: National Sorry Day - Start of Reconciliation Week
• Monday 13th June: Queens Birthday Public Holiday

Ongoing items to be conscious of during the term:

• School Assembly is taking place every Monday at 2:15pm. Parents Welcome
• The School newsletter will go out on Thursday in Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10.
• Family Connect Worker Lisa Wood is in every Monday.
• School Tuckshop will be open every Friday.

Music Program at St John's

Thank you for your servey responses last term and during the holidays. We have engaged the Northern Rivers Conservatorium to provide instrumental music lessons which will start at some stage this term. As soon as it's ready, I'll send out the link to register for the lessons. 

Piano Lessons will continue to be offered to our students by our existing Piano Teacher, Daniel. If you need information about enrolling your child in Piano lessons, please speak to Tundra in the office. 

Principal Awards

Kind Regards, 

Dave Bermingham

Assistant Principal

Leading from the Front

On Monday morning our Year Six student leaders were inducted in an official ceremony during our beautiful Catholic Schools Week liturgy.

Our leaders were excited to recieve their badges somewhat belatedly this year due to the interruptions we experienced last term. Mr Bermingham blessed the badges with the help of the entire student body. Our leaders pledged to do their very best this year to be strong leaders setting a strong example for all of the younger children who look up to them. Please see the their pledge below.

Mr B: I would like to invite our School Captains, School Vice Captains and Sports Captains for 2022 to please come forward. You have been chosen by our school community to be school captains, vice captains and sports captains for 2022. Are you willing to accept this responsibility of leadership in the St John’s School family by living out our motto of Servus Christi?

Leaders: We promise to accept the responsibilities of leadership at St John’s School in 2022. We will do our best at all times to give good example to others by our words and actions. We will help and be of service to our teachers and friends to build a happy, co-operative school family.

This year we have three school captains. Kodi, Shanti and Mia. Sports captains Luke and Mirabai and one wonderful Year Six leader in Sienna. Our leaders have made a great start to the year leading by example both in the classroom and on the playground. They are guide by our school code of “ Respect, Self-Responsibility, Effort & Safety” and they teach and guide the younger through their words and actions. We congratulate all of student leaders and look forward to more great leadership from them.

Teaching and Learning

Mathematics
Last term teachers focused on developing effective teaching and learning strategies for Multiplication and Division. This learning is really evident in classrooms and when I plan with teachers. They continue to engage students in rich tasks using concrete materials like bead strings, number lines to show thinking, real world problems and getting students to explain their reasoning. This week I’ve included some photos of students from S1 who have been using lots of equipment to help develop their skip counting in multiples and for grouping and sharing. They’re doing a great job. 

stage 1 counting

RE NEWS

Catholic Schools Week Liturgy 

This week our school joined with more than 620 Catholic schools across NSW and the ACT to celebrate the annual Catholic Schools Week (CSW). 

 This year’s theme “Community, Care, Compassion’’ echoes the broader mission of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Lismore, to provide opportunities for all of our students to experience life to the full as caring and compassionate school communities. It is particularly pertinent at this challenging time for our diocese and the world.

We are immensely proud of the role we play alongside our parish in maintaining the rich heritage that is Catholic Education in our community. This week provides us with the opportunity to showcase and celebrate the quality education we offer to the diverse range of students in our school.

We started the celebration with a whole school liturgy. Our Year 6 leaders were also inducted into their 2022 leadership roles during the celebration 

Sacrament of Confirmation 

On Monday the 23rd of May, students in year 3 will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. This is such a special time in our students' faith life when they prepare to receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Please keep the following students and their families in your prayers.

Ella Browning, Joseph Armstrong, Billy Fetherston, Caleb Mangleson and Rose Beaton. 

Vinnies Winter Appeal Sleep Out 

On Friday the 17th of June, Stage 2 and 3 will be invited to participate in a Vinnies School Sleepout. 

Why? To gain a deeper understanding of homelessness, raise awareness of the realities faced by people experiencing homelessness and raise funds to support Vinnies homeless services in the local community.

More than 17,000 Australian children under the age of 12 have no permanent home.

Help St John’s fight homelessness by donating: https://my.fundraise.vinniesnsw.org.au/vinnies-school-sleepouts/st-john-s-vinnies-sleep-out 

Your donation can help in the following ways: 

$15 pays for a day’s meals for a family struggling to put food on the table

$30 provides someone a bed for the night

$50 provides school supplies and excursion fees for a child experiencing disadvantage

$80 pays for a course in life skills such as cooking, preparing for job interviews or basic computer skills at TAFE.

 To reach my fundraising goal, I need your help. Donations over $2 are tax deductible and can be processed online.

 More information to come…

Mother’s Day 

Happy Mother’s Day to all the St John’s Mothers, Grandmothers and motherly figures. I hope you have a wonderful day spent with family and friends. 

School News

SCHOOL FEES                                                                                                                                                                                Term 2 Fees have been invoiced and will be sent out next week.  Term 2 fees are due 31 May.                Please arrange to pay Term 2 fees and any outstanding monies. If you have any queries please contact the school.

BOOK CLUB                                                                                                                          Book club orders for Issue 3 to be returned to school by Friday 5th May.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU"

Our birthday people

Marlo, Mia,  Malaki &  Alariah

Happy Birthday to those who celebrated during Autumn holidays

Ari, Alexander and Bernie

SCHOOL PHOTO Day

Photo day will be held on Monday 16th May

please make sure that your child is in full school uniform for photo day.

Envelopes have been sent home.

Sibling envelopes are avaialbe from the office. 

Piano Lessons

Piano lessons are available at St John’s, during school hours and after school.
For further enquiries please call Daniel Holland 0401 071 667

COMMUNITY NEWS