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- Recent Calendar Updates
- School Focus and Positive Behaviour
- Principal's Corner
- Teaching, Learning and Inclusion
- Catholic Life and Reflection
- Happy Birthday
- Awards
- The Uniform Shop
- Happy Families
- Code Camp After School at St John's in Term 3
- OSHCLUB - School Holiday Program
- Community Notices
- Nut Free School
Please go to our school calendar on the website or COMPASS for more details.
Please note that the first day of Term 3 and the last day of Term 4 (22 July, and 17 December) are also pupil free days for professional learning for staff. Students do not attend school on these days. OSHClub will be available.
Term 2 Week 9-10
- Yr 5 Basketball Clinic (weeks 10)
- Semester 1 Reports distributed (week 10)
- End of Term Award Ceremony (week 10)
- Archbishop visit (week 10)
Term 3 Week 1-5
- Pupil Free Day (Monday 22 July)
- NAIDOC Mass (week 1)
- Mitch Tambo - Whole School Performance (week 2)
- Mini Olympics Opening Ceremony (week 2)
- OZ Tag Gala Day (boys and girls) (week 3)
- Author visit - Sue Whiting (week 4)
- Feast of the Assumption (week 4)
- Yr 4 Exercusrion - GEOScience Australia (week 5)
School Focus and Positive Behaviour
The school positive behaviour focus this week was:
Safe hands, safe feet, safe words.
Ngunnawal word of the week:
Gabin (means 'cold')
Dear St John's families,
Thank you everyone for your kind words regarding my appointment as Principal at St Thomas Aquinas Charnwood from next year. I will definitely miss this lovely place and I am squarely focussed on giving everything I have to the last day!
Assistant Principal, Rebekah Brown and I have been teaching 5 Blue for 6 weeks and we have loved it. As you would all be aware, there is quite the teacher shortage at present and obtaining replacements is very, very difficult. We continue to speak to new candidates whenever we can find them. Having been teaching since 1990 (my first 5 years teaching Kindergarten) it's nice to know that teaching is like riding a bike; with enough experience under your belt, you never forget how to do it.
Rebekah and I offered to teach 5 Blue to ensure that the students continue to learn without interruption. It was also to make sure that our teachers receive release time to keep up with their programming, assessment and communication requirements. It has meant that Rebekah and I have been very, very stretched in both teaching a class and undertaking our other full time roles. Thank you everyone for your assistance.
What went well today?
There are five components to our Positive Behaviour for Learning Policy. They include:
- Developing a culture of positive behaviour
- Acknowledging positive behaviours
- Creating a positive environment
- Discouraging and responding to problem behaviours
- Responding to and supporting students with highly complex behaviours
One of the ways we develop a culture of positive behaviour is by naming, noticing and celebrating positive behaviours. We believe that 'you get more of what you focus on'.
So every day, directly after recess and lunch, the students gather in their lines, ready to go inside to learn. We take that moment to ask students, and teachers who were on duty, 'What great play did we experience today?' Students raise their hands to tell us how they played Oztag and sorted out any disagreements calmly or how a group playing basketball invited someone who was wandering past to join them. Teachers talk about imaginative or caring play they saw. We ask all those those students to stand and we all give them a clap.
At the end of the day we all come out to lines and ask 'What went well today?' Many children will raise their hands and five or six will be chosen to share about something they enjoyed learning or feel proud of. It is a fabulous way to focus on positive thoughts from the day before going home.
Our brag tag system is another way that we focus on the positive. Every student has a brag tag on which they collect small stickers that any staff member can hand out. Staff members give these to students when they see students following expectations in the school. Staff will say "I want to give you this brag tag sticker because you.....". They are never used to 'bribe' students (i.e. "If you......you will get a brag tag."). They are used incidentally, after the fact, to help highlight for a student something they were doing was excellent learning, behaving, caring, etc. The feedback always links back to examples when the students 'Respect others, respect themselves or respect the environment'.
Over the next few Newsletters I would like to share a little more about the ways we support positive behaviour for our students. I look forward to sharing this successful approach with you.
Kind regards,
Matthew Garton
Principal
Teaching, Learning and Inclusion
NAIDOC Week
At St John's, we will be celebrating NAIDOC next week. Mrs Tabitha May has organised a number of activities for our students to participate in over the week.
This years NAIDOC Week theme is "Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud."
"This year's theme celebrates the unyielding spirit of our communities and invites all to stand in solidarity, amplifying the voices that have long been silenced.
The fire represents the enduring strength and vitality of Indigenous cultures, passed down through generations despite the challenges faced. It is a symbol of connection to the land, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As we honour this flame, we kindle the sparks of pride and unity, igniting a renewed commitment to acknowledging, preserving, and sharing the cultural heritage that enriches our nation.
"Blak, Loud and Proud" encapsulates the unapologetic celebration of Indigenous identity, empowering us to stand tall in our heritage and assert our place in the modern world. This theme calls for a reclamation of narratives, an amplification of voices, and an unwavering commitment to justice and equality. It invites all Australians to listen, learn, and engage in meaningful dialogue, fostering a society where the wisdom and contributions of Indigenous peoples are fully valued and respected.
Through our collective efforts, we can forge a future where the stories, traditions, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are cherished and celebrated, enriching the fabric of the nation with the oldest living culture in the world." Retrieved from https://www.naidoc.org.au/about/naidoc-theme
Special Canteen Day - Friday 5 July
On the last day of school (Friday 5 July), we will be holding a Special Canteen Day that will take place during lunch time (1.25-2.00pm). On this day, we will have lolly bags and gelato for sale. We have pre-purchases available on Qkr. There may be options to purchase these with cash on the day, however pre-purchases on Qkr will be prioritised. This fundraising is on behalf of the Community Council and will go towards some new sports equipment for the children to play with a Recess and Lunch.
- Lolly Bags - $1
- Gelato - $3
Please note you can only purchase one of each for one child. The pre-purchase is available now on Qkr under the Community Council tab.
Rebekah Brown
Assistant Principal and Inclusion Coordinator
What Staff are Learning About
Each term we celebrate staff mass together. As you can imagine we get very busy and sometimes Mass can feel like "just another thing". The comment that happens the most after staff Mass is that it was so fulfilling to sit together and be at peace. To be still in each others presence and to listen to Father's homily.
What Students are Learning About
Year Six Service Outreach
Our focus for Year Six is 'acts of service'. There's an enthusiastic group of Year 6 girls that love to do crochet and craft, and are keen to volunteer in the community. You may have seen them at the fete where they sold their creations and donated to Save the Children Gaza appeal.
They are hoping to work with elderly people or people who live with disabilities.
If you have any suggestions of where they should go, please contact stephanie.stewart@cg.catholic.edu.au
WE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES FOR TERM 3!
Also if anyone has an old wooden hall table that they would like to donate I am looking for one to use as a display. Please let me know via email on stephanie.stewart@cg.catholic.edu.au
Year Two
Students in Year 2 have been learning about the word 'covenant' and how it is a sacred agreement between God and His people. They have been exploring God’s covenantal relationship with the Jewish people described in the Old Testament stories such as Noah's Ark, the Tower of Babel and Abraham and Sarah.
Year 2 have then been learning about God's relationship with the Jewish people of today. They have explored the foods that some Jewish people choose to eat, in particular the Seven Sacred Species, TuBishvat and the seder meal. Students have learnt about the 'Birthday of the Trees' in a song and dance.
They have looked at some of these scriptures.
The first creation story in Genesis – Genesis 1: 1-2:4a
The second creation story in Genesis - Genesis 2:4b-25
The Covenant between God and Noah - Genesis 9:8-17
God’s Promise to Abraham and Sarah (introduction to Isaac) - Genesis 17:1-8, 15-19, 21-22
Wonderful work Year 2!
Saint of the Week by Liliana Givens
St Catherine of Bologna
By Liliana Givens
St Catherine of Bologna was born 8th of September 1413, in Bologna, Italy. Catherine died on the 9th March 1463 at the age of 49 years, in Bologna, Italy. She was beatified in 1524 and canonised in 1712 by Pope Clement XI.
Catherine grew up in Bologna and loved to paint and write about the dreams she had about Jesus and Mary. St Catherine had great love for Mary and Jesus.
She is credited with creating the first known depiction of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a darker coloured woman, which is now housed in the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna. In addition to her artistic pursuits, Catherine was also known for her charitable work and her efforts to reform the convent. Despite the opportunity to live a noble life at court, St. Catherine eagerly responded to her call to lead the religious life. Her piety, charity, and kindness attracted many to follow her along the road to perfection.
Because St Catherine of Bologna had so much love for Jesus and Mary and liked to paint them she became the patron saint of art and artists. Catherine's three miracles consisted of:
- The sick and suffering were healed
- Catherine's curious fellow nuns exhumed her body 18 days after her initial burial
- Freeing her from the consecrated ground (her body was incorruptible)
In the imagery of the St Catherine, she is portrayed in the Franciscan habit, made up of a grey tunic and cloak. A black veil covers her head, a sign of her role as abbess.
I chose St Catherine of Bologna to be my saint because she loves art and was in a order of nuns called the Poor Clare's. St Catherine was loving and caring. I admire her very much, so this is why I chose her to be my saint.
Catholic Life and Reflection
The parable of the mustard seed was the scripture I chose for staff mass this week. Little did I know how good it would be to listen to a homily about growth and change.
Father Chung talked about how the seed must be broken to grow. A tiny, tiny seed cracks and sprouts and grows into a mighty tree. It must push and force its way to growth and to the ultimate height. Like the breaking of the bread in the Eucharist, we too sometimes must be split and broken to grow. Jesus was broken on the cross, only to rise again fully renewed and fully divine.
It was timely advice, as it often is when you open yourself to scripture and engage in the Eucharist.
Matthew 13:31-32
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
31 He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32 it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’
God bless,
Stephanie Stewart, Religious Education Coordinator
Happy Birthday to Ileana Rozario, Alex Sandrai, Mateo Vallecilla Carbonell, James Thurbon, Magdalena Johnson, Chloe Larkings, Amalie Hanna, Henry Jopling, Austin Patrzalek and Henry Green who all celebrated a birthday over the last week.
This year we will be presenting a number of awards to students. Please see below the scedule for this term. Most awards will be handed out on a Friday morning.
At St John the Apostle we teach a number of programs that focus on mastering particular knowledge and skills in literacy and numeracy. Students are taught based on their individual, current level of mastery. Two of the programs we teach are Spelling Mastery and Rocket Maths. We regularly collect data from students in both of these programs so we can track that they are having continous progress. Students work hard to achieve mastery in these programs, so we celebrate the students who show mastery in these programs by giving them awards.
Students will receive Spelling Mastery Awards once they reach mastery three times at their Spelling Mastery level. For some students this is 10/10 and for others it is 25/25. For Kindergarten students will receive Spelling Mastery Awards when they receive 10/10 for each unit they complete in Sounds~Write.
Students will receive Maths Mastery Awards each time they beat their Rocket Math Two Minute Goal.
This year we will also be presenting Brag Tag Awards. These will be handed out each time a student receives 20 brag tags.
Week |
Award |
Week Nine |
Next week award recipients in Newsletter |
Week Ten |
Spelling Mastery Awards presented Brag Tag Awards presented Rocket Maths Awards presented |
Brag Tag Awards - presented on Friday 5th July, 8.50am (Week 10)
Chloe Han | Tom Anderson | Joseph Hedges |
Kate Riley | Jack Robertson | Penny Osborne-Goldsbrough |
Ethan Balthazar | Ikem Iloelunachi | Adaline Jozwiak |
Jordan Brabec | Alyssa Sammons | Chelsea Badenhorst |
Denzil Whimpress | Henry Larkin | Aria Wood |
Leo Jackson | Mila Dulgerov | Joseph McCabe |
Ivy Juskevics | Jacob Wooden | Henry Ton-That |
Jamyang Gaytsho | Vanessa Onyekaike | Tymon Amrado |
Thomasina Neilsen | Ajak Ajang | Gauri Dwivedi |
Evie Matthews | Xavier Bonny | Pema Tenzin |
Toby Blackford | Solomon Azzam | Valentina Saldias Gomez |
Alisher Mutinhima | Zara Fearne | Grace Garang |
Cooper Dixon | Amalie Hanna | Enrique Paz |
Japji Chohan | Jack Blewitt | Emilio Vinoles |
Bettina Morris | Ashley Clifford | Charles Hudson |
Katie Neiberding | Sophie Peisker | Allegra Cockburn |
CJ Cocker | Sarah Olivares Valdivia | Joseph Garang |
Te-Aroha Baxter | Jayden Pradhananga | Lily Nguyen |
Liam Lester | Ava King | Sophie Clifford |
Sophie Jopling | Riley Terron | Zane Guuidolin |
Hannah White | Jordi Miller | Luca Vuckovic |
Spelling Mastery Awards - presented on Friday 5th July, 8.50am (Week 10)
Kindergarten
Jordan Brabec
Mila Dulgerov
Zara Fearne
Grace Garang
William Huskisson
Adaline Jozwiak
Liam Lester
Brody Loricchiella
Timothy Mastermann
Joseph McCabe
Frederick Miles
Lily Nguyen
Jayden Pradhananga
Diyana Weerarathna
Zachary Williams
Aria Wood
Arlen Cole
Bailey Da Silva
Ariella Grebowski
Zane Guidolin
Samuel Hedges
Joshua Ho
Amber Kaur
Wells Lomax
Ruby Muller
Clelia Nielfi
Harper Ollevou
Oscar Pardy
Grace Sartor
Pearce Takeda
Evelyn Wijnberg
Year 1
Edie Brennan
Daniel Quinn
Henry Bradbury
Tia McNamara
Year 2
Jacob O’Donnell
Beau Carr
Grace Guidolin
Bettina Morris
Rihaan Salhotra
Toby Blackford
Year 3
Mariam Hameed
Chloe Han
Victor Lomax
Nicolas Lester
Spencer Cantwell
Martin Howes
Erick Leiva Lainez
Zak Sutherland
Piper Abbot
Imogen Clark
Ebuka
Year 4
Dhodrul Dolma
Saba Khoram
Lilijana Tundulin
Jenson Chilley
Logan McNamara
April Malcolm
Fiesta Maka
Henry Jopling
Jackson Moulds
Theodore Cockburn
Riley Stokman
Viliami Maka
Jigme Dorji
Rudhra Nair
Katie Wedd
Aluel Ajang
Leo Bronar
Hunter Campbell
Year 5
Jonah Terron
Noah Dixon
Chelsea Badenhorst
Alexander Elston
Evie Matthews
Penelope Posantzis
Lincoln Abbott
Year 6
Pema Tenzin
Sophie Jopling
William Broadhurst
Emma Duke
Joseph Garang
Kelsey Nyinwah
Sarah OV
Maths Mastery Awards - presented on Friday 5th July, 8.50am (Week 10)
Year 1
AJANG, Ajak
MCNAMARA, Tia
QUINN, Daniel
SEHGAL, Zoi
Year 2
COCKBURN, Allegra
HILHORST, Bevan
LORICCHIELLA, Jackson
SINGH, Aarzah
WATMAN, Simon
WHEATLEY, Maxwell
WHITE, Abel
BROADHURST, Cameron
CARR, Beau
COLE, Tommy
DIXON, Ryan
HO, Sky
LARKIN, Henry
MCDONALD, Camille
PURCELL, Nate
SALHOTRA, Rihaan
TERRON, Rylee
WOODEN, Emma
ZARETZKY, Liam
Year 3
CANDY, Lewys
DROLMA, Sonam
FRANKCOM, Lachlan
GALLANA, Pia
GREENHAGH, Alexis
HAMEED, Mariam
HOWES, Martin
LESTER, Nicolas
RILEY, Kate
TILIJA, Anna
TIWARI, Tanish
WANGMO, Jigme
Year 6
BROADHURST, William
DUKE, Emma
GARANG, Joseph
HALL, Jacob
HOWES, Michael
LOWTHER, Alexandra
MCNAMARA, Ky
OV, Sarah
ONYEKAIKE, Vanessa
ROBERTSON, Jack
SAWYER, Nate
SCARANO, Lorenzo
TREVASKIS, Anabelle-Louise
VA, Lilly
WHIMPRESS, Denzil
BALTHAZAR, Ethan
GALLAGHER, Angus
HAURELIUK, Oz
JACKSON, Leo
NGUYEN, Kelvin
NYINWAH, Kelsey
PIETERSE, Charlotte
RICHARDSON, Abbey
STANTON, Charlotte
YOUSSEF, Sophia
ZAIRE, Ziva
Second Hand Uniform Donations
The Uniform Shop would love to receive second hand uniform donations. If you have school uniforms at home that you no longer need please send them into school. Thank you.
Opening Hours
The Uniform Shop will be open during the following:
Friday 5 July - 8.30am-9.30am
If you have any questions or concerns please email the uniform shop on stjohnsclothingpool@gmail.com
Resilience
Developing Strength, Calm, & Kindness in our Kids
“How can I help my child be more resilient?” is a question Dr Justin Coulson often hears from worried mums and dads.
In this session, parents will learn the psychological secrets that build their child’s sense of identity, strengths, and growth mindset in order to perform better, be happier, and build resilience.
Based on Dr Justin Coulson’s best-selling book 9 Ways to a Resilient Child, this session shows parents how to help their children cope powerfully and positively with the challenges that life throws at them. This presentation is one of Justin’s most popular ones with powerful stories and illustrations that every parent can relate to. He explains the factors that help and hinder resilience, why common advice such as “toughen up Princess” just doesn’t work, and how competition and praise may undermine resilience.
![](https://schools.happyfamilies.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/DrJustinCoulson_300x300-150x150.jpg)
Dr Justin Coulson
Dr Justin Coulson is a dad to 6 daughters and grandfather to 1 granddaughter. He is the parenting expert and co-host of Channel 9’s Parental Guidance, and he and his wife host Australia’s #1 podcast for parents and family: The Happy Families podcast. He has written 9 books about families and parenting. For further details visit www.happyfamilies.com.au.
The NFSA in Acton is screening a selection of sports classics and well-loved family movies during the July school holidays, including A League of Their Own, Cool Runnings, Bend It Like Beckham, Howl’s Moving Castle and Lilo & Stitch. The NFSA building is open daily to explore before or after the screening, including pop culture curiosities on display in The Library and locally roasted coffee available to enjoy in the onsite cafe or sunny courtyard.
6 pm, Fri 5 Jul
Two sisters join the first female professional baseball league and fight to prove that women have a place in sports in this critically acclaimed hit inspired by true events.
Thu 11 Jul
A feel-good family film about striving to achieve your goals – no matter the odds – loosely based on the true story of the first Jamaican bobsled team to compete at the Olympics.
1 pm, Fri 12 Jul
Sporting talent, family expectations and friendship collide in this heartfelt coming-of-age comedy about two young women who bond over their shared love of football.
1 pm, Thu 18 Jul
The Wizard of Oz meets anime magic in this heartwarming fantasy adventure from Studio Ghibli. Selling fast!
Fri 19 Jul
Extraterrestrial experiment Stitch and young Hawaiian orphan Lilo find unlikely connection (and much chaos) in this treasured Disney animation.