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- Recent School Calendar Updates
- School Focus & Positive Behaviour
- Principal's Corner
- Teaching & Learning and Inclusion
- Catholic Life & Reflection
- Happy Birthday
- Celebration of Positive Behaviour
- Kinder Health Check
- Clean Up Australia Day - School Day
- School Photo Day - Tuesday 29 March 2022
- The Uniform Shop
- School Sport ACT Sholarship Fund Application
- Entertainment Membership Offer
- St John's Photo Gallery
- Parenting Ideas
- Community Notices
Please go to our school calendar on the website or COMPASS for more details.
Please note that the first day of Terms 2 and 3 (26 April and 18 July) are both pupil free days for professional learning for staff. Students do not attend school on these days. OSHClub will be available.
Dear St John the Apostle families,
On Monday we gathered online to celebrate the start of the school year and to present our Year 6 students with their leadership badges.
Using MS Teams, we streamed the liturgy into each classroom, where various groups shared prayers and actions to songs. It was the closest we could get to celebrating together.
All of our Year 6 students received Student Leader badges recognising the important role they play in supporting the entire student body, modelling respect and giving back to the community.
Our elected Peer Leaders and School Captains received additional badges that recognise the extra responsibility they have to support their own peers in the work of leadership and to be the public face of student leadership in the school.
We're very proud of this group of Year 6 students. They have experienced some significant challenges over the years and have matured to become students who enthusiastically want to serve their school community.
Ash Wednesday
Thank you to Mrs Stewart who provided each of our classes with the resources to
independently celebrate an Ash Wednesday liturgy.
Over the course of the day more and more ash crosses were appearing on the foreheads of staff and students as they walked around the school. These Ash Wednesday crosses are such a public symbol of our Catholic identity. So many times I've walked into shops at the the end of the day and people have kindly pointed out the 'dirt' on my forehead that I've forgotten was there.
Growing up it was more common to see ash on foreheads in public on Ash Wednesday. Now less so. I don't despair of this. I love my faith tradition, and that of our Catholic School, to tangibly symbolise the beginning of Lent.
Lent is a time to recognise the ways we have become out of step with being made in the image and likeness of God, a God of Love, and to return to that way, becoming one again with God, with each other and with creation. While it is not common to celebrate Ash Wednesday and Lent across our society anymore, it is still a type of journey that we all take at different times, seeking out to become more fully ourselves, more connected, more whole.
The benefit of taking this journey as part of our Catholic faith tradition is that we undertake it together, regularly and with the knowledge that we are loved unconditionally by God. With this in mind the journey is not so lonely and we are much kinder on ourselves and others. Lent is a journey worth exploring.
Parent Meet and Greets (Parent/Teacher Interviews)
If you haven't already, I encourage you all to take ten minutes to chat with your child's teacher next week. Just checking in is such an easy way to stay connected to your child's education. Relationships between home and school don't have to be onerous and these opportunities make it easy to remain in contact.
Please follow the link provided in COMPASS to make your booking.
Thank you Rotary Belconnen
I would like to thank Rotary Belconnen for their generous donation of $400 to the
school to support families who may need assistance. Every year Rotary provide this donation to ease the burden for a family or two in relation to educational costs.
We continue to keep all those in crisis in our prayers. Those in the Ukraine and their family members here who worry for them. Those whose possessions and lives have been swept away by flood waters. Those families in our community experiencing seemingly insurmountable challenges. Let us join together to offer support where we can and pray for them when we can't stand beside them.
Kind regards,
Matthew Garton
Week 6 Parent and Teacher Meet and Greet
Please find below the link to book in for a Week 6 Parent Meet and Greet Session:
https://stjohnflorey.schoolzineplus.com/view-session/19
Usually at this point in the term, we have three way conferences with students and their teachers and parents. The purpose of three way conferences is for students to set learning goals with the support of their teacher and parents. As we are still unable to have parents onsite and we thought three way conferences might be a little challenging (especially for our Junior Primary students) online, we have decided an opportunity for parents to meet their children's teachers online and have a more informal conversation would be valuable. These sessions will be 10 minutes long.
Progress reports were sent home today. On the progress reports you will see that the classroom teacher has either requested an interview with you or has stated that an interview is not required. If an interview is not required, you are still very welcome to book in for a meeting with your child's classroom teacher.
If your child is on a Personalised Plan and you have already had a Personalised Plan meeting, you do not have to have a meet and greet session. If you have not had a Personalised Plan meeting with your child's classroom teacher, they will contact you to organise a different time. The 10 minute sessions for the meet and greet will not be adequate time to discuss Personalised Plans.
Bookings will close at 7pm on Sunday night.
Free Parent Webinar - Parent Guide to Digital Technologies and Mental Health
This free webinar, hosted by the Council of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT and delivered by the eSafety Commissioner, is designed for parents and carers of young people aged 10–18. Parents and Carers can register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6726877427764036623
Date of the webinar: Tuesday 8 March 7.30pm – 8.30pm
The webinar will cover:
- What do to about accidental exposure to content about suicide, self-harm or eating disorders
- Using games, apps, and social media to support mental wellbeing
- The pros and cons of digital mental health platforms
- strategies for young people to support friends online
Hearing Awareness Week
Hearing Awareness Week is from March 1 to 7. It is an annual event that highlights the issues affecting Australians living with hearing loss. Did you know 3.5 million Australians aged 15 and over, which represents 22% of our population, have mild to severe hearing issues? An average of one in six Australians has a hearing disability. Hearing Awareness Week aims to spread awareness about the positive impact of looking after our hearing health, which contributes to our quality of life, social engagement, career, confidence, and communication. Hearing awareness week is important because it promotes empathy, pushes for social inclusivity and gathers diverse opinions.
For more information about Hearing Awareness Week and its importance click here.
Rebekah Brown
Assistant Principal and Inclusion Coordinator
What students are learning about
This week we have celebrated the beginning of Lent. All students participated in a liturgy on Ash Wednesday in their classrooms with their teachers.
Year 3B had a wonderful time making pancakes and creating beautiful reflections for their Religion books. These were made on Shrove Tuesday, the day befpre Ash Wednesday, and traditionally a day when everyone used up their richer foods prior to a more leaner approach during Lent. Looks like they had a great time!
Catholic Life and Reflection
Marian is extremely knowledgeable. I often benefit from her reflection questions on a personal level. Having been to 14 years of Catholic School and Catholic University I have heard the Parable of the Lost Son many, many times.
This time, as Marian read it, I was struck by how the father must have felt. Having a child leave home has suddenly changed my perspective.
What I loved most about this experience was being reminded of how scripture speaks to us. How it weaves in and out of our lives. Or do we weave in and out of scripture?
Something to ponder perhaps.
Hebrews 4:12
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition
12 Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
God bless
Stephanie Stewart
Religious Education Coordinator
Notices from the Parish
Happy birthday to Tobias P, Destinee T and Mackenzie K who all celebrated a birthday during the week.
Please note that we ask students to not bring home made cupcakes to share with the class for their birthdays. This is a precautionary measure for health and hygiene. The Canteen offers a number of options to share with the class. Purchases can be made through the QKR app.
Congratulations to the following students who will receive an award for the fortnightly Positive Behaviour Focus.
| Class | ||
| KB | Camille M | Rihaan S |
| KM | Max W | Alessia M |
| 1B | Kyler A | Liam S |
| 1M | Martin H | Rubi S |
| 2B | Isabella S | Logan M |
| 2M | Jenson C | Marian L |
| 3B | Darci D | Ethan Z |
| 3M | ||
| 4B | Brenda G | Awur A |
| 4M | ||
| 5B | Byron H | Miranda T |
| 5M | Jessie A | Olivia T |
| 6B | Lachlan A | Zara M |
| 6M | Max S | Dev R |
| Performing Arts | Matilda M (5B) | Theodore C (2M) |
This year Clean Up Australia Day is on Sunday the 6th of March.
St John’s will be holding their own Clean Up Day at school on Monday the 7th of March. Students will be cleaning up the rubbish within our school grounds and surrounding footpaths.
Students must bring;
- School hat
- water bottle
- sensitive sunscreen if required
In an effort to be more sustainable and reuse items, we would really appreciate if students could bring in;
- plastic bags
- old gardening or rubber gloves
- tongs
- Any other items useful to assist students with safely collecting and picking up the rubbish found around our school
This will help reduce the number of disposable gloves and plastic bags purchased and reuse old items instead.
Students will be washing their hands with soap when returning to the classrooms after the big clean up and there will be sanitiser available.
Let’s keep making St John the Apostle a great place to learn.
The Uniform Shop will be open on the following dates:
Friday 11th March 9:00am-10:00am
Parents are able to attend in person. Please make sure you check-in using the CBR Check-in QR code, wear a face mask and abide by all social distancing requirements set by ACT Health.
If you have any questions or concerns please email the uniform shop on stjohnsclothingpool@gmail.com.
After three long years in the making, School Sport ACT is very pleased to announce the launch of the SSACT Scholarship Fund.
The attached document contains the Application Form and information, including;
- The School Sport ACT Scholarship Fund aims to provide assistance to families that may choose not to have their child trial for selection or accept the selection of their child to an ACT representative team, as they are unable to meet the financial requirements of competing.
- The Scholarship Fund is open to applications from students travelling interstate to attend a School Sport Australia Championship. Students attending an ACT hosted Championship are not eligible.
- To be considered, each application must be endorsed and signed by the student’s Principal. This will include a confirmation of enrolment status, attendance and endorsement for each applicant.
- To be eligible to apply, the applicant must be able to demonstrate financial need by providing evidence, of a minimum of ONE, of the listed items.
- In its inaugural year, the fund will support 25 Scholarships of $500 each.
- Assessment of applications and the allocation of funds are to be spread across the year so students from all 17 sports have fair access to assistance.
MARCH ENTERTAINMENT MEMBERSHIP OFFER
When you purchase a Single or Multi City Membership, you can choose between a BONUS Macpac, BCF or Woolworths eGift Card ($10 for single $30 for multi).
Hurry this promotion ends on the 21st of March.
Don’t forget April school holidays are just around the corner too… an entertainment membership can also save you heaps of money on school holiday activities Use this link to order now https://www.entertainment.com.au/orderbooks/2323z3
Use this link to order
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
St John the Apostle Primary School
Belinda Duke
0402424392
belinda.duke@hotmail.com.au
*BONUS Gift Card and limited-time offers promotional period: 6:00pm 1st March 2022 - 11:59pm 21st March 2022 AEDT. All offers subject to terms and conditions. Click www.entertainment.com.au/promotions for full T&Cs. If you have any questions the Entertainment Customer Service Team are always available to help.
Please call 1300 159 707 or email contact@entertainment.com.au
