Term 2, Week 2, 9 May 2024
Principal Message
Dear St John's Community,
Welcome to Term 2. This week I had the privilege to attend school camp with stage 2 and stage 3. This is the 15th year in a row that I have been to school camp and I am so proud to stay that our Stage 2 and Stage 3 students truly embraced the spirit of adventure and learning during their time away from the classroom.
Throughout the duration of the camp, our students demonstrated remarkable enthusiasm, resilience, and teamwork, which are all integral qualities we strive to foster in their development. Under the guidance of our dedicated staff and camp instructors, they engaged in a variety of activities that challenged them both mentally and physically.
From navigating obstacle courses to participating in team-building exercises, our students exhibited exemplary behaviour and a willingness to support one another. Moreover, they actively embraced opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery, which are invaluable experiences that will undoubtedly contribute to their holistic development.
I am pleased to inform you that the feedback we received from the camp staff was overwhelmingly positive. They commended our students for their exemplary behaviour, positive attitude, and willingness to participate wholeheartedly in all activities. It is truly heartening to see our students embodying the HIKE values of Have Respect, Inspire Others, and Keep Safe and Effort Always that we strive to instill in them every day.
I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our staff members who accompanied the students on this excursion. Their dedication, supervision, and support were instrumental in ensuring the success and safety of the camp. I would also like to thank you, the parents, for entrusting us with the opportunity to provide your children with such enriching experiences.
As we reflect on the memories created at Camp Goodenough, let us celebrate the achievements and growth of our Stage 2 and Stage 3 students. I have no doubt that they will carry the lessons learned and the friendships forged during this camp with them for years to come.
As we begin another productive term at St. John's Primary School, I'd like to share some important events and dates that you should mark in your calendars. Please note, all of these dates are currently in the School Google Calendar and Compass Calendar for your convenience.
School Photo Day: Smile! School Photo Day is scheduled for Monday, May 27th. It's the perfect opportunity to capture cherished memories of your child's school year. More details will be shared closer to the date.
Pupil Free Day: Please note that Tuesday, May 28th, is designated as a Pupil Free Day. There will be no classes held on this day.
School Athletics Carnival: Get ready for a day of camaraderie at our School Athletics Carnival on Friday, June 7th at the Cavanbah Centre. We encourage all students to participate and showcase their athletic talents.
King's Birthday Public Holiday: A reminder that Monday, June 10th, is a public holiday in honour of the King's Birthday. The school will be closed on this day.
Semester One Report Cards: Semester One Report Cards will be available to parents on Tuesday, July 2nd. Please stay tuned for further instructions on accessing and reviewing your child's progress report.
Last Day of Term 2: Term 2 will conclude on Thursday, July 4th. We look forward to celebrating the achievements and growth of our students throughout the term.
Pupil Free Day: Friday, July 5th, will be observed as another Pupil Free Day. There will be no classes held on this day.
Additionally, please note that assemblies will continue to be held each Monday at 2:20 pm. We encourage parents to join us and witness the accomplishments of our students during these assemblies.
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.
Upcoming Dates
Please view the upcoming dates in this newsletter's left-hand column or via the calendar HERE on the school website, which is also synchronised with the Parent Compass Calendar.
Mother's Day Celebrations
All Mother's and Motherly Figures are invited to join us this Friday 10th May for a Morning Tea, starting at 8am and a Liturgy starting at 9am.
We will also have a Mother's Day Stall on Thursday and Friday, where students are asked to bring in $5 to purchase a gift for their Mother or Motherly Figure.
Tell The From Me Survey 2024
We are currently inviting students, teachers and parents to provide feedback on their experience of our school using an online survey. The surveys are an important part of our whole school evaluation and planning process.
We would like to invite you to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning survey. As we value the role of parents and carers within our school community we would greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and wellbeing at St John's.
The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. You can access the parent survey on your computer or mobile device by using the URL below:
http://tellthemfromme.com/mullum2024
Canteen Update
Thank you for your recent feedback regarding the addition of burgers to our canteen menu.
The option to order Burgers will be available from week 3 and the ordering template is already in Compass. You can jump in and select a future date (from week 3 onwards) to view the menu. Please note that this menu is slightly different to the sushi menu, in that once you have added a burger to your cart, you have to customise your order to add salad, cheese (inc. dairy-free), gluten-free roll and chips on the side (additional 50c). The sauce will be available at school for students to have added. Please see the attached image which shows where to find the customise button. Please also note that the cut-off time to order burgers is 10 am on Thursdays.
Thank you also for your feedback about what else we should offer as part of a canteen menu. We are looking to have Sausage rolls, pasta, sandwiches/wraps and spring rolls available for order towards the end of the term.
4 week entrepreneurial skills program
As parents, we all want to empower our children with the skills they need to succeed in the ever-changing world. St John's is excited to offer an extracurricular opportunity that will help your child learn essential entrepreneurial skills, while also embracing the values of Pope Francis' Laudato Si encyclical, promoting environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
The program runs for 4-weeks after school on Tuesday afternoons for students in grades 4-6. Start day is the 21st of May (not including 28th May due to pupil free day).
Please register your interest here: https://buy.stripe.com/cN28wA75mgeFci4eVx
Space is limited to 20 students.
Kind Regards,
Dave Bermingham
Teaching & Learning @ St John's
PDHPE and Sport at St John's What is covered in the Personal Development, Health and Physical Education(PDHPE) curriculum? PDHPE teaches students self-care and empathy, including physical education for confident movement. It fosters resilience, respect, and connection, and equips students to analyse health concepts and engage in physical activities. It encourages questioning stereotypes, promoting empathy, inclusivity, and social justice. PDHPE develops vital skills for a healthy lifestyle in a diverse society, giving schools leeway to address sensitive issues. Ultimately, it empowers students to manage themselves, interact responsibly, and promote health and safety in school and community settings.
How much time is allocated to this at St John’s? All classes allocate a minimum of 1.5 hours of the week to this aspect of the curriculum. Sport is in addition to this. We employ a specialist PE teacher, Miss Chloe Quinn who takes every class, every week for a one-hour PE lesson.
The key components of Physical Education (PE) in the NSW PDHPE curriculum are:
- Movement Skills: Developing fundamental and advanced movement skills for various physical activities.
- Physical Fitness: Promoting overall health through exercises and fitness assessments.
- Health Education: Teaching about nutrition, hygiene, and healthy lifestyle choices.
- Safety and Wellbeing: Emphasizing safety practices and injury prevention during physical activities.
- Social and Emotional Learning: Developing teamwork, communication, and resilience.
- Critical Thinking: Encouraging analysis, evaluation, and problem-solving in physical activities.
These components aim to foster lifelong participation in physical activity and promote students' overall health and well-being. Last term, PE lessons had a fitness focus ahead of the cross country, whilst sport had a focus on gymnastics and mindfulness. This term, PE lessons and sport will link to athletics in preparation for our Athletics Carnival later in the term. I thank Miss McEvoy for her organisation of sport and Miss Quinn for her consistent efforts in preparing students for the Cross Country at the end of last term and for teaching the PE curriculum with such passion. We wish the students travelling to the Zone Cross Country all the best for an enjoyable day.
Cross Country
Mission @ St John's
Sacrament of Confirmation
This Term, Students who are in year 3 or students who are older, will prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Please see below the important and compulsory dates.
Twilight Session 1- Tuesday 14th of May 5:00 pm
Twilight Session 2- Tuesday 21st of May 5:00 pm
Twilight Session 3- Tuesday 28th of May 5:00 pm
Twilight Session 4- Tuesday 4th of June 5:00 pm
Sacrament- Thursday 6th of June 2024 5:00 pm
School Annual Improvement Plan
Student Engagement in RE
A 2024 action for our School Annual Improvement Plan (SAIP) is to increase student engagement in Religious Education lessons. Teachers have been working alongside Matthew Ritchie who is the Religious Education Officer with the Catholic Schools Office. Last week in Kindergarten, Matthew modelled a Scripture lesson using hands on objects. He brought in traditional Jewish clothing such as a kippah and tallit as well as food such as flatbread and parsley. Kinder students were able to try on the clothing and eat the food which enabled them to experience and learn about the history and culture behind the Scripture story. They also completed a craft activity where they were learning about what foods Jesus would have shared with his Disciples at the Last Supper.
School Song Another 2024 action is to develop a school song. We have employed Andrew Chin who is a classroom teacher turned full time ministry music composer. He has released 12 albums, 5 DVDs and 6 picture books, which are used widely by teachers and catechists in the faith development of children. Students and Staff will work with Andrew via Zoom on Wednesday the 12th of June to develop a school song. If you would like to have some input into our school song please use the link to fill in the Google form. https://forms.gle/XMoaSY7NAGhNeKkY8
SCHOOL INFORMATION
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU"
Our Birthday people:-
Ollie, Mia, Malakai, Alariah, Samara & Summer
COMMUNITY NOTICES
