Term 3, Week 2, 28 July 2022
Principal Message
Welcome to term 3 and I hope that eveyone had a relaxing break. This week as a community we celebrated NAIDOC Week. NAIDOC Week is celebrated during the winter holidays, but so that we don’t miss out on this important occasion, we decided to celebrate it this week.
On Monday we had the Launch of the week where we gathered as a school for a Liturgy and reflection time on the 2022 theme - Get Up, Stand Up, Show Up. Our Indigenous Students welcomed everyone to country at the start of the liturgy and presented the students with a NAIDOC wristband and staff with a NAIDOC lanyard at the end. Throughout the week students participated in a range of activities including: delving into indigenous stories on Storybox, class based activities, The First Astronomers; sky country. Yulunga - Koorie Games and tomorrow the students will be doing NAIDOC Drumming with Mr O, eating a bush tucker lunch and wearing Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Flag colours. Thank you to Mr Flint for planning the week and for the teachers for their planning of themed activities. What a great immersion for our students!
Staffing Update
Greg Flint will be on a period of long service leave from 28th July until 19th August, I can announce that Naomi O’Dwyer has officially been appointed as Acting Assistant Principal for this time period.
Naomi will perform the duties of Assistant Principal along with her Additional Needs Teacher (ANT) role.
Courtney Wells will take up the position of Acting Leader of Pedagogy along with her role of Leader of Evangelisation and Classroom Teacher. This will have minimal impact on the Stage 2 students.
I am aware that previously when members of leadership have been on leave, there has been no official appointments and Naomi and Courtney have just assumed the extra duties and responsibilities at these times. So I’m sure that you will join me in congratulating both Naomi and Courtney on these official appointments and we wish Greg all the best on his long service leave.
Looking after belongings
On Tuesday last week at assembly, I reminded all students about how important it is to ensure that their names were on their hats and jumpers. At the start of the holidays we collected close to 20 jumpers that had been left around the school.
Each day we have students who have either lost their jumpers or hats and are looking for them. Can you please have a look at your childs hat and jumper over the weekend and ensure that they have names on them please.
Parish School Forum Meeting
Our Amazing Parish School Forum has already had an amazing impact on our community this year. Some of the events that they have organised are: The School Disco, Sausage sizzle on election day, the executive assisted on the school open day, bake sale at the athletics carnival, just to name a few.
We are always looking for more parent involvement in the forum and any parents are welcome to attend the meetings to discuss future direction and events.
The next meeting is on Tuesday 2nd August at 5:30pm at the RSL club - All are welcome!
Key Dates for Term 3
Please find below key dates for Term 3 at this stage. Any additional dates will be communicated as they arise during the term.
- Friday 29th July - Zone Athletics
- Monday 8th August - St Mary of the Cross MacKillop Feast Day Celebrations
- Monday 15th August - Book Week Fair arrives (wish lists done by the Friday 19th).
- Sunday 21st August - Sacrament of First Holy Communion
- Monday 22nd-26th August -Book Week (Parade date TBA)
- Sunday 4th September - Father's Day (We will celebrate this on Friday 2nd September)
Ongoing items to be conscious of during term 3:
- 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.
Instumental Music Lessons
Guitar lessons facilitated by the Lismore Conservatorium of Music will begin on Thursday 4th August. Thank you to those parents who registered and for their patience. It is great to finally have this program starting!
If you are interested in your child partaking in these lessons, please let me know.
Tell Them From Me Survey
As part of our focus on school effectiveness and ongoing school improvement, St John's will be participating in an online survey for students, parents and staff – Tell Them From Me® (TTFM®) in Term 3. The survey will provide us with valuable feedback on what our students think about school life, how engaged they are with school and the different ways that teachers interact with them. Schools in Australia and around the world have used the Tell Them From Me survey to help them improve.
During the month of August, all students will be given the opportunity and time to participate in this survey during regular school hours. Students who agree to complete the survey will be given a random username and password to access and complete the survey online. Students’ names cannot be linked to their responses which allows it to be completely anonymous. Results will show all student scores combined together – it is not possible to single out individual students in the results.
The survey takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. The survey measures include such topics as emotional and social well-being, physical health, and behaviours and attitudes linked to student success. The survey also allows students to give their thoughts and feedback in open-ended question responses.
For Parents, the 'Partners in Learning' Parent Survey is based on a comprehensive questionnaire covering several aspects of parents' perceptions of their children's experiences at home and school. It is based primarily on Joyce Epstein's framework for fostering positive relations between the school and the community. The survey provides feedback to schools about the extent to which parents feel the school supports learning and positive behaviour and promotes a safe and inclusive environment.
More info to come!
Kind Regards,
Dave Bermingham
Assistant Principal Message
Storytelling is Written into our DNA
Story is fundamental to human development and of course underpins so much learning at school each and every day. We often simply take it for granted.
Storybox is a wonderful online resource that enables us to access a wide range of rich stories read by a range of Australian writers and actors anytime we like.
The school has taken out a Storybox subscription primarily to provide resources for teachers and give our children access to stories at school. The Storybox stories can be accessed and enjoyed at home, a chance to let our imaginations fly and connect through discussions around a shared story experience on Storybox. Please take the opportunity to explore Storybox and give your children a chance to improve their literacy by using this resource at home.
Our school login details for you to use are as follows; Username: stjohnsmullum Password: 66842386
‘Get Up, Stand Up, Show Up’ NAIDOC Challenge 2022
Our NAIDOC week opened on Monday with Ella Browning and Phoenix Turener-Mann doing a splendid job ‘standing up’ and delivering the Welcome to Country. The ceremony included didge music from William Barton, the Aboriginal Our Father and some beautiful insights on this year’s theme from Luke Beaton, Shanti-Rose Smyth and Mr Bermingham. All of the children were excited to receive a NAIDOC wristband during the ceremony. On Wednesday afternoon the children split up into ‘Family Groups’ ( vertically integrated groups) and participated in Koorie games (from the Yulunga website) organised by Luke Beaton and Will Harrington. Once again Phoenix and Ella were involved running one of the Koorie games. During the course of the week teachers have implemented a range of learning related to NAIDOC week themes through stories, discussions and movies.
Everyone is looking forward to the finale of our NAIDOC week celebrations on Friday: the BIG bush tucker lunch. Thanks to Miss Wells for cooking the kangaroo stew and Nicole and parent volunteers for your preparation in the tuckshop.
Happy NAIDOC and don’t forget to take up the 2022 NAIDOC challenge:
‘Get Up, Stand Up and Show Up.’
Best regards, Greg
RE NEWS
Living the Liturgy
Liturgy is the official, communal worship of the Church. It comes from Greek leitourgia = ‘the work of the people’ which is translated into even stronger language: ‘the public work of the people done on behalf of the people’. Liturgy is communal…the assembly is not a collection of people praying singularly in the same place, but a community of people that, by joining in this common prayer, manifest who and whose they are…
From the liturgy…especially the Eucharist, as from a font, grace is poured forth upon us as from a fountain…it is the source for achieving in the most effective way possible human sanctification and God’s glorification, the end to which all the Church’s other activities are directed…CSL #10
Therefore…the liturgy is God at work among us, as the people of God in communion with each other, drawing us into the mystery of God, with Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Whole School Masses Term 3
Please put in your calendar the following dates where we will come together as a whole school to celebrate Mass.
Week 4- 8/8/22 Theme: Feast of St Mary of the Cross McKillop
Time: 9:30 am Responsible: Stage Two
Week 5 - 15/8/22 (Stage Three students only) Theme: Feast of the Assumption of Mary
Time: 12:30 pm Responsible: Stage 3
Week 6- 21/8/22 (All are Welcome!) Theme: Parish School Mass with Sacrament of First Holy Communion
Time: 8 am Responsible: Stage 2
Week 7- 31/8/22 Theme: God is with Us
Time: 9:30 am Responsible: Kindergarten
Sacrament of First Holy Communion
The word 'communion' means to be united with; Catholics believe that in Holy Communion we are united in a special way with Jesus Christ.
At his last supper, Jesus said of the bread that he shared among his followers, "Take and eat, this is my body."
When we receive Holy Communion, Catholics believe that in a mysterious way we are sharing in the body and blood of Christ. Holy Communion and the whole celebration is also known as Eucharist, from a Greek word meaning thanksgiving.
Please keep in your prayers the following students Isaac Armstrong, Ryder Butchers and Jack Heares, who are preparing this Term to receive the Sacrament of First Holy Communion on Sunday the 21st of August.
Pyjama Day Fundraiser
On Friday the 5th of August, students are invited to wear pyjamas to school to raise funds for The Diocese of Lismore 2022 Flood Appeal. Students who wear their pyjamas are asked to bring in a gold coin.
Courtney Wells
School Info
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU"
Our birthday people
Chase, David, Ivy, Ainslie and Felicity
Term 3, School Fees
Term 3 Fees have been processed and sent out. Please contact the school if you have any concerns or queries regarding your account.
FAMILY CONNECT - The Lunch Box:
snack sized tips with Lisa
Are you stressed out about money?
Money Smart can help you. They help Australians take control of their money with free tools, tips and guidance. Go online to moneysmart.gov.au to access:
- tips on managing your money
- accessing financial counselling
- planning for the future
- urgent help if you’re struggling or in a crisis
- understanding options if you’re having trouble paying your bills
- budget planners and calculators
The Family Connect worker Lisa Wood can also connect you with local services to assist.
Lisa is at St John’s each Monday. You can contact Lisa on 0429 441 518 or email her lisa.wood@socialfutures.org.au
Lisa can also give families a helping hand regarding:
- Parenting challenges
- Accessing NDIS
- Linking to housing support
- Help with accessing welfare supports
- Accessing counselling services
- Linking to domestic violence supports
- Finding culturally appropriate support
Book Club
Book club Issue 5 orders need to be returned to school by Friday 29th July.
BOOK FAIR 2022
Our Annual Book Fair will be held in the library in Book Week, from Monday 22rd to Friday 25th August. Save the date. Teachers will take students to the school library during class time early that week so the children can browse and fill in a wish list to take home. If allowed, they can then purchase books with cash or credit card throughout the week. Details must be written on the back of the wish list for a credit card payment. The school receives a commission on all purchases.
School Refusal
School refusal is when children get very upset about going to school, and they won’t or can’t go. Children might refuse to go to school because of worries about leaving home, learning difficulties, social problems or other reasons and the best way to get children back to school is by working as a team with the school.
If school refusal is related to issues like anxiety or depression, children might need mental health support.It’s good to acknowledge children’s feelings about school, but let them know that you expect them to go back to school.
To read more about this, please click on the link below
https://raisingchildren.net.au/school-age/school-learning/school-refusal/school-refusal
Piano Lessons
Piano lessons are available at St John’s, during school hours and after school.
Enquiries please call Daniel Holland 0401 071 667
COMMUNITY NEWS
BASKETBALL CLINIC
Professional WNBL women's basketball team the Sydney Flames are holding a free clinic for primary school aged girls at the Cavanbah Centre in Byron Bay. Two of their professional players will be in attendance, being Shyla Heal and Tiana Mangakahia.
At just 20 years of age, Shyla Heal is already a basketball superstar, having played for the Australian senior national team, the Opals, and professionally in the American WNBA and the Australian WNBL. Participants at the clinic will have an opportunity to meet these professional players and learn some basketball skills in a fun environment.
Primary school girls - Tuesday August 2nd, 4-5:30pm. Free entry. Beginners welcome!
Registration is essential as there are limited places. Register at this link: https://www.eventbrite.
For further information about basketball in Byron, please email info@byronbasketball.com
