Congratulations to all the children who made their First Holy Communion last Saturday and Sunday. One has to prepare carefully for such golden moments, or they glide away before one knows they have arrived.

The children were a credit to their parents; in the way they were prepared and in how they participated in the ceremony.

Thank you to the Liturgy Group and Choir, they used their great skills, and their voices added to the beauty of the ceremony.

Thank you also to Mrs Marion England for the incredible work she does for our parish as Sacramental Coordinator and to Sharon Greaves for her work in the administrative space. The pew signs, certificates, pins added to the beauty of the day.

Our school and parish communities appreciate all of the hard work that was carried out in the preparation for the Sacrament of Eucharist. The goodwill of all our St John the Apostle staff is a massive asset to our school community.

Thank you again and we wish the girls and boys a lifetime full of faith, hope and love.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Thank you to all the parents/carers who made times to see their child’s teacher this week. Teachers very much appreciate meeting parents and sharing your child’s learning and discussing goals at the middle point in the year.  If you have not yet met with the classroom teacher, please ring or email the school as soon as possible to organise a parent/ teacher interview time for early next Term 3.

Semester Reports

Semester 2 Reports will be opened on Thursday 3 July through COMPASS. Thank you to all the teachers that have spent many hours preparing, moderating and ensuring the report reflects your child’s achievements. Our students from Kinder to Year 6  should be commended for their efforts towards learning.

A Healthy Community

A safe and healthy environment for all students, staff, and families requires us to work together to prevent the spread of illness.

• If your child is unwell, please keep them at home to rest and recover. This not only supports their own wellbeing but also helps protect others in our school community from becoming unwell.
• Emergency contacts: Please ensure your child’s emergency contact details are up to date. This allows us to reach you quickly if your child becomes ill or is injured during the school day.
• Medication at school: If your child requires medication during school hours, a “Request to Dispense Medication” form must be completed. This form is available at the Front Office or on the SJA website.

A few important reminders:

• Students are not permitted to self-administer medication.
• Medication must not be kept in school bags.
• All medication must be handed in at the Front Office upon arrival at school.
• All medication must be in original packaging and not outside the expiry date.
• All prescribed medication must be in original packaging and have the pharmaceutical label.
• Our trained staff (Leanne Griffith, Debbie Milne, Roxanne Su) will administer medication and record all details in our medication register.
• Teachers are not responsible for administering or supervising medication.

Thank you for your continued support in keeping our school community healthy and safe. If you have any questions or need assistance with medication procedures, please don’t hesitate to contact the Front Office.

Staff Absences

As winter sets in, we are seeing an increase in seasonal illness across the community, including among our staff. Over the past week, several staff members have been unwell, and like many schools, we are occasionally unable to secure relief teachers due to high demand.

When this happens, we do our utmost to ensure continuity of learning by reallocating available staff. However, there may be times when your child is placed in another class for the day with set work. We appreciate your understanding and support as we navigate these challenges while prioritising student wellbeing and learning.

Term Dates

A reminder that Term Two will conclude for students on Thursday 3 July. Staff will remain on site for a full day of First Aid Training on Friday 4 July.

Looking ahead to Term 3:

• Monday 21 July is a pupil-free day for all Catholic primary schools in Canberra. On this day, our teaching staff will be engaged in professional learning focused on enhancing planning and teaching strategies.
• All students will return to school on Tuesday 22 July to begin Term 3.

Thank you for noting these important dates in your calendars.

We have enjoyed a wonderful Sacred Heart Day today. In our next Newsletter we will feature all of the highlights and photos of this event.

Blessings to all families