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Please go to our school calendar on the website or COMPASS for more details.
Please note that the first day of Term 3 (17 July) is a pupil free day for professional learning for staff. Students do not attend school on this day. OSHClub will be available.
Term 3
- 6B Class Mass (week 4)
The school positive behaviour focus this week was:
Walk safely and respectfully.
The school "Yerrabi" fact this week was:
Gawar - means: 'heart'.
Dear St John the Apostle community,
Wow has it been cold this week! We've certainly experienced winter now in the capital.
One of the joys this week was to watch the students play in the mornings with the ice from the creek bed that now runs through our school as a result of our recent playground development. Their excitement and playfulness was infectious and we all had a little fun those mornings.
Keeping Warm
We have lots of school uniform items available at the Uniform Shop to help students stay warm through winter. I encourage everyone to 'layer up' with with their new and pre-loved items.
Our classrooms all have reverse-cycle air conditioning, helping students stay cosy and warm during their learning time. Students can take layers off when they come in from outside as well as layer up before play times.
Sickness
If your child displays any cold or flu like symptoms please do keep them home for the day. They will recover much quicker than if sent to school and there won't be a risk of spreading anything to the other children or the teachers themselves. It will help to keep the classroom a happy and healthy place each day for everyone.
Silent Corridors?
We had an interesting phone call yesterday asking if we had a 'silent corridor policy'? For those who may be wondering....we don't have a policy that outlines 'silent corridors'. If anyone is curious about how we support positive behaviour in our school our Positive Behaviour for Learning Policy is available on our school website. However, I thought it might be a good opportunity to remind parents of our school's approach to supporting positive behaviour.
In our Positive Behaviour For Learning Policy you will notice that we do teach, acknowledge and celebrate simple behaviours that help the school to be a predictable, safe and orderly place so teachers can teach and children can learn. Our focus this week has been 'Walk safely and respectfully through the school'. We've talked about it, practised it and spotted children doing a wonderful job of it.
Walking through the school, either as individuals or in class groups, in a quiet and orderly way is important. This is particularly true during learning time, when classes are trying to learn without the interruption and distraction of a noisy class walking past. It also prevents injuries or accidents in crowded corridors. Families who have come to our various assemblies will have seen how we always move off to class in an orderly way each day. Doing this helps students to settle and transition smoothly into their classroom and to engage quickly in their learning.
Learning how to be respectful in sharing a busy space creates empathy, understanding and awareness; a precursor to adult activities such as working in team environments and driving on roads. Just like all parents want for their child, it's just one way we help our students learn to 'Respect Others, Respect Self and Respect the Environment'.
Semester 1 Reports
Thank you to all of our teachers who provided opportunities for families to have a Parent-teacher Interview during the last two weeks. I know that the conversations will have been fruitful and positive with a focus on what children are doing well and how we can support their development in Semester 2. Students on Personal Plans will have received their child's Personal Plan Report at the interview with an opportunity to revise their individual learning goals.
The Semester 1 Report will be forwarded home via COMPASS on Wednesday next week. The grades will be a confirmation of the conversations held at Parent-Teacher Interviews. Catholic Education have determined that no comments will be provided on this semester's report, however, they will be included in the Semester 2 Student Report. If you have any questions or concerns please do contact your child's teacher.
Have a lovely weekend and I look forward to celebrating everyone's Term 2 achievements next week.
Matthew Garton
Principal
eSafety
The eSafety website is a fantastic resource for parents, children and educators in helping our students and children make safe choices online. eSafety provides a wide range of online safety programs and resources. They can help Australians experiencing online bullying or abuse to take action or make a complaint. eSafety has a range of online safety webinars and face-to face presentations provided free of charge.
The Parent section of the website provides information about understanding online safety challenges (cyberbullying, screen time, gaming etc.), helping your child have positive online experiences (online safety basics, good habits start young, privacy and your child, parental controls etc.) and activities to do with you child.
The Kids section of the website is broken up into two categories, 'be an eSafe kid' and 'I want help'. Being an eSafe kid is about being safe, curious, kind and secure online. The 'I want help with' section has a range of scenarios that can happen online and provides kid friendly answers to challenges kids come across online.
As our students become more technology aware, it is important for us to stay up to date with what they are accessing and how they are acessing content online. This website is a great tool, that is regulary updated and can support us to help our students be safe online users.
Rebekah Brown
Assistant Principal and Inclusion Coordinator
What Students are Learning About
A number of Year 3 students are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Eucharist for the first time. The sacrament where Christ gives himself to you as nourishment: you receive the Body of Christ, and you grow to be more and more like Him.
Father Chung visited Year 3 to give them an introduction to their Eucharistic journey. Fr Chung asked the students what the word ‘Amen’ means. Some children answered, ‘it is what we say at the end of a prayer.’ Fr Chung reminded them that Amen means ‘I believe, it is true!’ The students were told that when they eat the bread, the body of Christ, they become one with God. Students had the opportunity of practicing receiving (unconsecrated) Communion. One student asked why the host is tasteless? Fr Chung explained that it is ‘pure’. God does not have a taste.
Fr Chung told the students that after Communion, when they kneel and pray, they should say ‘I love you God!’. Thank him for entering your heart. Talk to him like you talk to your parents who you love. Ask him to help others and yourself. Finally, thank Him for all that is good in your life.
“Communion” is from a Latin word that means “community”. Communion brings about a community between us and Jesus, and between us and all other people who receive him.
“Whoever receives the Holy Eucharist loses himself in God like a drop of water in the ocean. The two can no longer be divided.” St. Jean-Marie Vianney (1786-1859).
Catholic Life and Reflection
Last Friday we celebrated the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The most important part of the day was celebrating mass as a whole school. Throughout the mass we were reminded that Jesus loves us, and His Sacred Heart shows us how we should love. God is love and he calls his people to love him and each other.
As a school we responded to the call to act by fundraising for our partner school, St George’s Academy in Kenya. Simon from Global School Partners visited us today to share the story of St George’s Academy and describe the everyday life and challenges of the students.
Mr. Sam O’Donnell (Acting Principal for the day) from 3B announced that we raised $1700 for St George’s. WOW! $300 from the ‘Assistant Principal For a Day’ raffle, $200 in donations from teachers who wore Jeans for Jesus to work, and $1200 from the Class Coin Lines. This amount will allow Simon to personally arrange the purchase of several computers for St George’s Academy.
Well done to all students for contributing and participating so enthusiastically in the student raffle and class coin lines! Mr. O’Donnell also announced the longest class coin line and the class that raised the most money per student. A fantastic effort was made by 6 Blue who won both these categories with Kinder Blue close behind. 6 Blue will receive their prize of school baked popcorn and fairy floss next week!
Lastly, a huge congratulations to Mr. Sam O’Donnell for being an amazing and very well prepared Assistant Principal. Sam, you are such a positive contribution to our school community. Mr. Garton enjoyed working with you today! We look forward to seeing more great things to come from you in your future years at St John the Apostle Primary School.
Rebecca Stevenson
Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)
Happy birthday to Kelden T, Oskar E, Nikhil S, Ileana R and Alex S who all celebrated a birthday over the last week.
On Wednesday this week we have the Canberra Skipping team, ‘The Jazzy Jumpers’ visit St John the Apostle Primary School. It was absolutely incredible. The team is full of students from ages 6-18 and the team is off to America in a few weeks to represent Australia at the Skipping Worlds. St John's students were absolutely amazed at their skills.
We also held our Jump Rope for Heart, Jump off this day to wrap up our amazing skipping we have been doing this term. We had the whole school out on the Rainbow Top, the sun was shining and we were all skipping together. It was so wonderful to see so many happy and proud faces around. Even a few of our teachers managed to get a few jumps in.
Thank you for all your support this term for Jump Rope for Heart, it was so amazing to see so many happy faces.
Prizes have also arrived for those students who raised money, they will be given out next week.
The Uniform Shop will open on:
Friday 30 June - 8.30-9.30
If you have any questions or concerns please email the uniform shop on stjohnsclothingpool@gmail.com
Please see the below link for kids to sign up and attached images of different dimensions for promotion.
