Dear St John’s Families,

Welcome to 2025! It has been lovely to see all the students settle back into the school year.

Thank You

Over the holidays, we had interactive panels installed in every classroom across the school. These panels are recognised as some of the most advanced in the world. St John’s staff received training on the panels during one of our professional learning days, and they all agreed that the panels would enhance student learning wonderfully.

I would like to thank the Community Council for their contribution towards the panels and the Autex installation around each panel.

Catalyst System Day

As part of our professional learning, teachers participated in Catalyst System Day alongside all other teachers across the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn.

We had two keynote speakers:

Natalie Wexler – The Knowledge Gap: What It Is and How to Narrow It

Natalie Wexler, an education writer and advocate, is known for her book The Knowledge Gap, which explores why many children struggle with reading comprehension despite years of instruction.

During our professional learning session, she explained that traditional reading strategies—such as finding the main idea or making predictions—are not enough without a strong foundation of background knowledge. Drawing on cognitive science and classroom research, Wexler emphasized how a content-rich curriculum in subjects like history, science, and the arts helps children develop the knowledge and vocabulary needed for true reading comprehension.

Her presentation sparked important conversations about how we can better support all learners by integrating structured, knowledge-based instruction into our history, geography, and science lessons.

Prof. Daniel Willingham – Developing Independent Learners

Daniel Willingham, a cognitive scientist and education expert, believes that children learn best when they develop strong thinking habits and background knowledge. In his research, he explains that both knowledge and critical thinking skills are essential for students to become independent learners. When children have a solid base of facts and information in their memory, they can think more deeply, solve problems, and make connections—without always relying on a teacher.

Willingham also discussed the impact of distractions on student learning, particularly how technology can divert students’ attention and affect their ability to become independent learners. Many of the strategies he shared for helping students manage distractions also resonated with teachers, highlighting the importance of focus and time management in our own professional practice and personal lives.

If you are interested about Catalsyt, Catholic Education has a website - https://catalyst.cg.catholic.edu.au/ 

Fete – Friday, 14th March (4:00–7:00 PM)

On Wednesday, we sent out important information about our upcoming Fete. Please see some key details below under the Fete heading.

The success of our Fete relies on volunteers. We encourage you to sign up for a 30-minute shift at one of our stalls. Your help makes a huge difference! Sign up below.

Have a wonderful weekend!