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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
- Compass - Parent Information
- Book Fair
- The Uniform Shop
- Happy Families
- Ashley's Help to Global Genetic Research
- Student Achievement
- OSHClub - Circus Skills Workshop
- Community Notices
Please go to our school calendar on the website or COMPASS for more details.
Please note that the first day of Term 3 (Monday 24 April) and the first day of Term 3 (17 July) is a pupil free day for professional learning for staff. Students do not attend school on these days. OSHClub will be available.
Term 2
- Yr 4 Excursion - Nat. Botantical Gardens (week 5)
The school positive behaviour focus this week was:
Cooperate with each other.
The school "Didge ya know?" fact this week was:
Yumalundi - (yoomaloondi) means: hello and welcome.
Dear St John the Apostle community,
Many of you will have heard the news regarding the ACT Government's compulsory acquisition of Calvary Hospital. This requisition has occurred despite the fact that this hospital has provided excellent patient care to the people of Canberra and its surrounds for the last 44 years.
The Catholic Church has a long history of providing community support services, particularly medical care, to all. Often, the medical facilities provided around the world serve communities in greatest need and those who others refuse to treat.
We need look no further than the Sisters of Charity who staffed St Vincent’s hospital in Sydney during the height of the HIV pandemic of the 1980s and 90s. They were called 'saints' by those in their care and lived out theircharismm of ministering to the marginalised, poor and sick in the face of hostility. Colleagues and hospital staff treated them with fear and apprehension and received criticism from the wider society. Yet without the sisters’ witness, thousands of men would have died alone and uncared for, even ostracised by their families. This care and compassion goes beyond just medical treatment and is what we have come to know and expect when entering a Catholic hospital.
Some of you may not hold a particular position about Calvary Hospital. However, when there have been no concerns raised about the management of the hospital by the Little Company of Mary, the process undertaken of course provokes a reasonable level of caution and concern and perhaps questions about the ethics of such an action.
If you have any concerns about the process that has been undertaken you can respond by participating in an online petition at www.savecalvarycom.au before May 31st 2023 when it is intended the legislation for acquisition becomes effective. You can also write to your ACT, NSW and Federal Government representatives to express any concern regarding the requisition.
Walk Safely to School Day
Thank you to our staff who met and accompanied students who gathered at Florey,
Latham and Scullin Shops to walk to school this morning. It was Walk Safely to School Day and a great opportunity to show students how easy it is to walk to school and possibly meet companions that they can walk with in the future. Students who walked to school enjoyed a free breakfast on arrival and were provided with more information on how they can travel safely to and from school each day. If you would like more information on how your child can independently travel to and from school each day then you can visit the following ACT Government website for some excellent information:
Active travel program evaluation
Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS) is undertaking an evaluation of the school active travel programs, including the Ride or Walk to School, Active Streets for Schools and School Crossing Supervisor programs.
As part of the evaluation, TCCS is requesting school communities to complete a short online survey about their travel habits to and from school. The survey can be accessed through this link or via the QR code below.
TCCS has engaged First Person Consulting FPC) – a Melbourne-based evaluation consultancy – to manage the evaluation and the surveys. FPC will not be collecting any identifiable information from anyone completing the survey, and all responses will be kept confidential and anonymous.
TCCS appreciates your support to evaluate these programs to continue to enhance the program offerings to schools.
Matthew Garton
Principal
National Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) on school students with disability
All schools in Australia are required to participate annually in the National Consistent Collection of Data for Students with Disability (NCCD). This allows our Catholic sector to continue to provide and prioritise innovative and high-quality teaching and learning to support all students on their learning journey. Above all though, our Catholic tradition demands that educators see every child as equal, inherently sacred and worthy of dignity and respect. Our Catholic schools support children and young people with disability as an act of love, not merely as a legislative requirement.
What is the National Consistent Collection of Data?
The Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on Student School Students with Disability (NCCD) is a process that all schools must complete on an annual basis. It is designed to count the number of students who receive additional adjustments or “help” at school because of a disability. This national data collection helps federal and state governments plan for the needs of students with disability. It is also the way that schools seek and receive funding to support the learning needs of their students.
Who is included in the data collection?
To include a student in the NCCD collection, schools must consider some key questions:
- Is the student receiving adjustments to assist them with their ability to participate in schooling on the same basis as their peers?
- Does the student meet the NCCD's broad definition of disability?
- Has this school discussed the adjustments(help) with the student and/or parent/carer/ guardian?
- Does the school have documentation (assessments, medical reports or other paperwork) about the student’s functional needs, the adjustments (help) that they provided and how the student progressed overtime?
Where the school decides that the four steps above are in place (i.e. the student meets the NCCD criteria), the school then decides the best disability category and how much help (adjustment level) that the student is provided with.
What is the broad definition of disability?
The NCC definition of disability is based on the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and there are four categories: sensory (e.g., vision / hearing impairment), cognitive, social-emotional and physical.
The definition of disability is very broad and many students that need help at school can be counted in the NCCD. Students with learning disorders e.g., specific learning disability or reading impairment (sometimes referred to as dyslexia), ADHD or auditory processing disorder, chronic health conditions (e.g., epilepsy or diabetes), physical disability (e.g., cerebral palsy), vision/hearing impairment and social emotional disorders (e.g., selective mutism, anxiety disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder) may be included in the data count.
A formal diagnosis by specialist may be very helpful for the school but is not needed in the NCCD. A student’s inclusion in the NCCD collection is based on professional teacher judgement. Schools can consider school based and external documents to decide if a student can be counted.
What are examples of adjustments?
Students need different types of help at school. Some students need a little help sometimes (minor adjustments) but other students need a lot of help nearly all the time (extensive adjustments). The type of help and support that a school provides is also very different depending on the needs of the student. The adjustments can include physical changes to the school buildings or grounds (e.g., ramps or special equipment), extra teacher support in classes, special learning programmes, changes to the way the curriculum is presented and delivered or extra adult assistance.
What information is needed about my child?
Schools work together with parents /guardians/carers to understand the needs of each child. Your knowledge of your child's development and learning is important and valuable in this process. It will be very helpful to provide your child's teacher with a copy of any relevant past reports (e.g., from a psychologist, speech pathologist, doctor, Paediatrician, OT etc). These reports will be used with information from your child's teacher, such as information about your child's reading progress or a Personalised Learning Plan, to build a picture of your child's needs and the help that the school is providing.
How is information collected?
The data collection process involves input from teachers, principals and other school staff working together to consider the data for students with disability in their school, the category of disability and the level of adjustment that best reflects each student’s needs.
As a first step, teachers consult with the student and their parent/guardian/carer, to discuss the student’s strengths in the areas where the student needs extra support. This support could be support for their learning, behaviour support, support for medical needs, participation, or other areas where the student needs extra help. Information collected about the type of adjustments the school is making so that they can participate and learn on the same basis as other students. Documentation, such as diagnostic reports, school reports, parent teacher interviews, Collaborative Planning Meetings and Personalised Learning Plans, will help to provide evidence of the type of support that the school is providing.
What happens to the data? Is it confidential?
All schools must complete the NCCD. Each school principal is required to verify and submit data about students with disabilities in their school during August of each year. The privacy and confidentiality of all students and their families is respected and handled as per the school's Privacy Policy and Collection Notice. Please refer to your schools’ policies for further information.
Do schools require active consent from parents to include students in NCCD?
Amendments were made to the Australian Education Act 2013 and subsequent regulations. As such, schools do not require parents/carers/guardians to provide active consent for students to be included in the NCCD nor is there an option for parents/carers/guardians to request their child not be included (e.g., an opt-out option.)
Where can I access more information?
Please contact your child's school if you have further questions about the NCCD. Additionally, the following link to the national NCCD Portal may be helpful www.nccd.edu.au.
Walk to School Day
Well done to all of the students and teachers who walked to school today!
Rebekah Brown
Assistant Principal and Inclusion Coordinator
Catholic Life and Reflection
Jesus challenged the disciples. With the Emmaus disciples, he gradually initiated a dialogue with them. After scolding them for being ‘slow’, he patiently explained the Scripture and he was recognised when He shared a meal with them, in the breaking of the bread. Jesus never forces people to believe in Him. He evokes deep questions in them and stirs wonder. If we want to be like Jesus, we should walk with others and meet them where they are at. We try to make Jesus known and loved to others by being more of a witness than a teacher. The Saints were great witness of faith. We witness the presence of Christ in their lives by their actions. “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses” (St Paul VI)
What Students Are Learning About
Christian Meditation: Stillness, Silence, Simplicity
Christian Meditation is contemplative prayer. It is easy to learn:
- Be still.
Sit still, back upright. Breathe normally. Close your eyes lightly.
- Be silent.
Silently repeat Ma-ra-na-tha. Focus on this sacred word. Repeat continually.
- Be simple
Let go of all your thoughts. When your mind wanders return to the sacred word. No evaluation required. Be open to the Holy Spirit working in the silence.
Christian Meditation can greatly benefit your personal relationship with God because it allows you to take the time to slow down and truly talk to Him. Some other benefits include reduced feelings of stress, anxiety and depression.
Rebecca Stevenson
Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)
Happy birthday to Evelina N, Te-Aroha B, Hugo M, Jonah T, Sophia W and Siena M who celebrated a birthday over the last week.
The Parent Portal in Compass allows both parents and school to account for students' whereabouts at all times. A reminder that if your child is absent from shool you are required to submit an attendance record through Compass.
For information about the Compass Parent Portal - Mobile App and Parent Portal Desktop functions, please click on the links below. Should you have any questions please contact the school for further assistance.
The Book fair will be held next week. It will be open on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 8.20am-8.50am and 3.00pm-3.30pm. Students have created wish lists in library class, and there is an option to prepay online, or use cash or EPTPOS if you come in person. Please note that if you pay online we do not receive a list of books that you have ordered so your child will have to bring in a list so we can provide them with their books. We look forward to seeing you next week!
The Uniform Shop will open on:
Friday 26 May - 8.30-9.30
If you have any questions or concerns please email the uniform shop on stjohnsclothingpool@gmail.com
Ashley is a student in Year 3 at St Johns. Her family wanted to share her story with the school community.
An opportunity has come up for Ashley to participate in a US based global study to better understand her disability, and help her and a wider range of patients worldwide.
Ashley was four years old before newly developed genetic testing discovered she has a rarely seen genetic mutation. Not much is known about this condition. It is not passed on through genetic genes, but manifested by itself. It has recently been named Beck-Fahrner Syndrome. Ashley’s participation in this study will not only help her family long term but others who are diagnosed in the future. Some of the testing can only be done at the James Hopkins University in Baltimore in the US.
It will cost an a lot for Ashley's family to participate in this greatly important research and her participation can assist many more children and families in the future. If anyone in our community could assist, even in the smallest of ways, with funding this opportunity Ashley's family would be very appreciative.
Below is the link to Ashley’s Go Fund Me page.
Congratulation to Uasi of 6B who has been selected as part of the U12s squad to compete at the end of July in Townsville, QLD.
Uasi was also selected to be part of the U12s ACT Brumbies Junior Rugby Union team playing in the NSW Champs from 10th to 12 June in Camden.
Best of luck Uasi!
