Week 6 Term 1 2021
Principal's Message
This week we sent an email to all families alerting to a case of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease along with an attached NSW Health Fact Sheet. It is highly contagious and I ask that you look out for symptoms outlined in the attached fact sheet from NSW Health. Children cannot attend school until blisters have dried up, and any rash (if present) has gone and any fever has settled. Staff are reminding students of required hygiene practices and our additional covid cleaning still remains in place.
Car Pick Up
It is really important that if you use car pick up after school that you do not get out of the car. This slows down the flow of traffic both through our pick up area and on Murwillumbha Rd. We have been asked to remind families not to queue on the crossing as this is illegal. If your child cannot buckle themselves in, it is best to park and walk in to the hall area to collect them. Alternatively, you could arrive at the end of the pick up time and drive thru when there is no queue.
Conference
This week on Wednesday and Thursday, Mr Flint and I are attending the Diocese of Lismore Clergy & Leaders’ Catholic Education Conference 2021. This includes guest speakers Br David Hall, Dr David Paul, Prof Stephen Heppell, and Fr Richard Leonard SJ. We join with Fr David and Leadership from St Finbarr's at Byron Bay. I look forward to bringing back some insights that can be helpful for our School Improvement Plan going forward.
Sacramental Program
Miss Courtney Wells is our Leader of School Evangelisation and she works with staff, students and families. Part of her role is to help support the parish with the running of the Sacramental Program. This week we held our Sacramental Information Night which outlined what the Sacraments are about and how the program runs. Families from both the school and broader parish community were invited. It was a lovely evening and Fr David also spoke inspiringly to the families too. Thanks to Fr David and Courtney for their work on the Parish Sacramental Program. Should you require any further information please contact the school.
School Building Project
As mentioned in the media, we are looking forward to future building works at St John’s once we receive official confirmation. More details to follow as they are finalised. We are looking for 3 parent repesentatives to join us as a representative group to work with the architect. If you would be interested to contribute to this project, I ask that you email the school with an expression of interest.
ONCE Project
Our school s also engaging in a the next phase of primary school rollout to a new management system inclusice of financial and administartive tasks. This is quite exciting as it will streamline our processes but will also enable families to make payments online. This won't go live until later in the year as we prepare for the changes required.
On a personal note, I will be taking leave on Friday as my eldest son has his school formal. As a mum, I am super excited. I think back to my school formal, quite some time ago now but it was definitely one of those fond memories of my schooling years. Can you remember yours? Look up your old photos for a blast from the past.
Blessings for the week ahead,
Renay Condon
Principal Awards Week 4
Principal Awards Week 5
Assitant Principal Message
Restorative Practices at St John’s
The question often arises; ‘With all its conflicting values, confused attitudes and pressure from peers and the media, how do best I equip my daughter/son to cope in the modern world?’ Research has proven what we intuitively know to be true, that is, when individuals have the capacity to form and maintain healthy relationships; they are more likely to mature to become successful and happy people.
Restorative Practices is a process that enables students to grow and develop a strong relational skill set, equipping them well for managing life both at and beyond school.
It is almost two years now since the school adopted a Restorative Practices approach to resolving conflict. The restorative questions are a key component of Restorative Practices:
- What happened?
- What were you thinking?
- Who or what was hurt?
- What are you thinking now?
- How can we fix it?/What do you need to do to make things right?
- What would you do differently next time?
Having used the restorative questions many, many times now with students of all ages for all sorts of different conflict situations I can attest to how effective the process is.
As the children put it so well - everyone involved gets a chance to tell their story, their experience of what happened. This is very powerful as each child then has a real sense of being heard and their experience is valued. Then they are ready to own their behaviour, identify who got hurt and work towards an agreed way forward…
What is Restorative Practice? It is a process that offers teachers, parents and students a way of working together to build and maintain healthy relationships. Important to this process is the understanding that we can come to see incidents of harm as opportunities for learning. This thinking helps us to fix things up when they go wrong. We can do this by making a choice to repair the harm that has resulted from wrong doing instead of focusing attention on punishing wrongdoers. It does not mean we do not have consequences, but it does mean that we try and fix the underlying problems by having the wrong doer listen to the person who has been harmed and begin to assist in repairing that harm. In this way, learning and healing can be an outcome.
SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM
Eligibility for the Sacramental Program
If your child is in Year 3 this year, and is a Baptised Catholic he/she is eligible for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Reconciliation and First Communion will follow in 2020.
If your child received Confirmation in 2019 or earlier he/she is eligible for Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.
If your child is older than Year 3 and has not received any of the sacraments, eligibility for all three Sacraments will be on a case by case basis.
Baptisimal Certificate
Please begin the process of obtaining the Baptismal Certificate if your child was not baptised at St John’s. If your child was baptised at St John’s the certificate or date (or approximate date) of Baptism, please. Baptism must be verified before the training sessions begin and certificates are to be brought to the Information evening, please.
Enrolment Please fill in the enrolment card and return it to the St John’s School Office no later than the following dates
Reconciliation and First Holy Communion Friday 5th of March
Confirmation Thursday 1st of April
All sessions including the reflection day are compulsory. The Reflection Day is considered a school day and your child’s school uniform should be worn. The location for the day is St John’s Hall Mullumbimby.
Please see Schedule below.
STAGE 1 - Investigations
Stage 1 has been investigating the way living things grow and change. Students have incorporated this learning into their writing and are composing various types of informative texts for different purposes.
Stage 1
The Big Bad Wolf visiting Kindergarten
SPORT - Spaghetti Circus
CANTEEN NEWS
Canteen has been busy so far this term, with lots of delicious and healthy food options available.
Our kindys have been enjoying trying new foods from the canteen, and often with the help of their buddies, they are learning what items cost and the exchanging of their money for snacks. It has been wonderful to watch this lovely, supportive introduction to school life!
Thank you to all who have volunteered to help so far this term. I have tried to share out shifts so most of you have a turn.
Any donations of baked goods or fresh produce we can use is greatly appreciated.
Sushi: any regular sushi pre-orders have been noted and will be made ready for students on Fridays for the remainder of term. Please bring payment in a paper bag on Fridays as normal.
See below the option of buying reusable lunch wallets through stickybeaks.com A great alternative to paper bags!
Stay healthy!
Jacki
Our Birthday People
Miss McEvoy, Louis & Ella
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
High School Information
Please see information about the Open nights happening soon.
COMMUNITY INFORMATION
The “Mullumbimby Rockets Miniroos Soccer Team” are looking for players to join Marley (3/4W) on the pitch for some fun this season. Players should be turning 10 this year. Other teams also available for other ages. Training Wednesdays 4.30 - 5.30pm and Saturday mornings games start 1st May. Please call Adri (Marleys Dad) 0408703494 for more info.
Also there will be a Miniroos Muster for players of all ages happening - 10am Saturday 13th March at Pine Avenue Playing Fields. This is a great opportunity for new players seeking a bit of info to come along for a chat and a kick around. Please see attached flyer below.
