Dear St John the Apostle families,

Our school focus of 'do your best work' was a deliberate choice this week. I have heard about fantastic results for our students in the end of year annual assessments we conduct. One area of particular note is Spelling from Years 3 to 6 where we have implemented the Spelling Mastery program since early this year. While the end of the year feels like it is closing in I am encouraging all of our students to continue to keep up their great learning.

Today we were able to celebrate with the students their achievement at the recent Walkathon. Thank you to Assistant Principal, Rebekah Brown, for organising the Fun Day. Please see Rebekah's section below for more details.

Staffing and Classes for 2023

At this time of year we are organising staffing for 2023. At the end of this year we farewell Mrs Allison Lock and Mr Sean O'Neill.

Allison has taught at St John the Apostle for four years and is known for being an exceptional teacher of writing and passionate about student well-being. She often makes time to open her classroom for groups of students at recess and lunch to have some 'down time' away from the hubbub of the playground. Allison will be moving to the south coast with her family to teach at a local Catholic Primary school.

This year we have been very blessed to have Sean teach his first full-time class at our school. Sean was an Inclusion Assistant at St John the Apostle while completing his teaching degree and became a teacher here immediately after. His Year 2 class simply love being with him. He has a calm, quiet and kind way with all of his students, helping them come to school each day and love their learning. Sean will be trying his hand at teaching in the UK next year.

We will farewell Allison and Sean later this term.

I have already announced that Ms Lilly Kennelly and Ms Mel Watson will both be teaching in Kindergarten next year. These appointments are always made earlier than other year levels in time for our Orientation Program. Other class appointments will be made in the coming weeks and announced in the Newsletter.

Playground Update

Both sections of old equipment have been removed and the sites are now being prepared for the installation of the new equipment. Students have really enjoyed watching the demolition.

I walked around our playground recently and realised just how fortunate we are to have such a large and beautiful outdoor space. Our students rarely have the disagreements and confinement issues that students in other schools do, even when part of the playground is closed off.

Christmas Family Picnic

Our Christmas Family Picnic will be held on Tuesday 6 December at 6.00pm. We will

hold a picnic on the school grounds and students will perform Christmas songs for everyone from. More information will come out prior to the event. Please save the date in your family calendars.

Matthew Garton

Principal

Fun Day

Today we had the most wonderful Fun Day to celebrate raising over $10,000 for the school walkathon. We were very lucky with the weather and it was the most perfect day to hold such a wonderful celebration. The students participated in a range of activities. These included three jumping castles, balloon modelling, glitter tattoos, fairy floss, popcorn, bubble blowing and drawing with chalk on the Rainbow Top and outside brick walls. Thank you to the Community Council who let us trial the new popcorn and fairy floss machine that they purchased.

Each student's behaviour was wonderful and all students were highly engaged and definitely had lots of fun! Thank you to all of our teachers and Inclusion Assistants who helped make the day successful!

High Impact Teaching Practices Perth Immersion

Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting five schools in Perth that have been implementing High Impact Teaching Practices in their schools for up to 10 years. During my time in Perth, I was able to visit over 20 classrooms and watch amazing teachers deliver high quality lessons to both primary and secondary aged students. I engaged with Principals and the Director of Primary Education around the implementation and ongoing evaluation of high quality teaching strategies, school culture and leadership. Most importantly, I was able to have highly impactful conversations with other staff from Catholic Education in the Canberra and Goulburn Archdiocese. This visit to Perth has made me feel extremely positive around the future of teaching and learning in Catholic Education and more specifically St John's.

Transition Survey 2022-2023

Thank you so much to the parents and carers who have already completed the Transition Survey. We would love as many parents as possible to complete this survey before the end of the year.

Included in the survey are three questions to get to know your child's strengths, interests and learning habits and one question for you to express your wishes for your child's education next year. 

Please find the transition survey as a Google Form at the following link:

Christmas Raffle

Each ticket for the Christmas Raffle costs $2. Tickets can be paid with either cash or on the QKR app. If the raffle tickets are purchased on QKR, please ensure that you enter the child's name and the numbers on the raffle ticket booklet. At the end of the year all raffle tickets must be returned to the school so we can account for them. The prizes are below:

1st Prize: $1,000

2nd Prize: $500

3rd Prize: $250 

All funds that we raise will go directly to the upgrade of our outdoor learning space. 

If at any time you would like more raffle tickets to sell, please either email me or come to the front office to collect more. 

Thank you in advance for your continued support. 

Rebekah Brown

What students are learning about

Last week we acknowledged Remembrance Day as a school. Year 6 led us in the minute silence and the reciting of the Ode. The whole school were very reverent and respectful.Mia in 6M read out the John McCrae poem.

In Flanders Fields

BY JOHN MCCRAE

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,    

That mark our place; and in the sky    

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below. 

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,    

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,        

In Flanders fields. 

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw    

The torch; be yours to hold it high.    

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow        

In Flanders fields.

Catholic Life and Reflection

I love this time of year. My class and I are in a 'sweet spot'. We can have times where we laugh and be silly and then get straight back to work. At the moment 4 Maroon’s favourite thing to do, for a quick brain break between learning, is to play a brief game on the oval. First, they lie down in row. Then they begin to roll together. After a few meters the one who is on the end jumps up and runs to the other end. It is like a never ending roll of children!! I love watching them work together. Sure, there are a few students who feel that it is their worst nightmare to roll in the grass, but they stand nearby and coordinate or cheer.  It's times like this you realise that you don’t “get” a class, you create one.

As a Catholic school we also create a community. It is what we are asked to do. It doesn’t mean that it is always smooth sailing but negotiating the tricky parts draws us closer and grows us. Being part of a community means that we are on earth the heart of God.

God bless,

Stephanie Stewart

Religous Education Coordinator

Notices from the Parish

Latest Parish Compact - 20 November

Happy birthday to Roger P, Matthew H, Mau'lupe M, Penelope P, Aluel A, Amelia N, Pia G and Daniel K who all celebrated a birthday over the last week.

Congratulations and thank you to Ms MacDonald and our St Johns Choir who joined their voices on Saturday to raise funds for two charities in Canberra that provide services for the homeless. The charities involved were Toora Women Inc. (for women); and Samaritan House (for men).

Please note that The Uniform Shop will be open on the following day:

Friday 25 November 8:30am-9:30am

Hats can be purchased at the Front Office but must be paid for via QKR or by cash only.

Parents are able to attend in person. 

If you have any questions or concerns please email the uniform shop on stjohnsclothingpool@gmail.com.

Fete - Donations