Your children are in safe hands! During our Professional Development Day at the end of last term the Staff all participated in a First Aid Course. After completing the study and online component, we learnt about the latest best practice in all areas when administering First Aid in the Workplace and School setting.

Our Staff all passed with flying colours!

Catalyst

Over the past few years, St John the Apostle staff have been engaged in a professional learning journey aimed at delivering the highest quality explicit teaching—and therefore the best learning—for our students. This journey has been undertaken in partnership with other Catholic Education schools across our Archdiocese.

By focusing on the following 8 Big Ideas, we’ve refined our curriculum and introduced more effective teaching methods:

1. School is where we learn biologically secondary knowledge.
2. Learning is a change in long-term memory.
3. Reading is essential for students to acquire knowledge.
4. Knowledge matters: it's what we think with.
5. The most efficient way to teach knowledge is to teach explicitly.
6. High quality, whole class instruction will help all students learn.
7. Curriculum should be ambitious, coherent, sequential and cumulative.
8. Teaching should be a profession informed by evidence.

If you would like more information about our Catalyst program, please feel free to speak with your child’s teacher, myself, or go to https://catalyst.cg.catholic.edu.au/

Gillian Forrester, our Teaching and Learning Officer-Literacy joined us on our Pupil Free Day earlier this term to revisit one of the CECG BOLD Goals, Every Child is a Competent Reader. Gillian supported us with whole class instruction looking specifically at fidelity when delivering the CECG Curriculum and intervention programs.  We have invested a large number of resources and money into purchasing new decodable readers, sets of reading materials for the upper grades including class sets of novels and setting up student intervention. We are so proud of our students who are continuing to move from learning to read to reading to learn.

Thumbs up to our Community Council!

A big shout out to our Community Council for suppling lunch on our Pupil Free Day as a way of gratitude. Special thank you to Nicole Williams and her little helper for delivering the special treat for the staff. It was very well received on a very cold day. Just a friendly reminder for our Community Council Meeting, 6pm on Wednesday 5^th August. All Welcome!

Dinamo Dean!

Dean our Janitor worked throughout the holidays to make our school glitter and shine. It is just wonderful to see our gardens and lawns looking so neat and tidy!

100 Days of School for our special Kinders!!

On Monday 3^rd August, our littlest learners will reach a huge milestone, celebrating 100 days of kindergarten. 

The students will spend the day reflecting on all that they’ve learned and accomplished so far and be excited to hear about what’s ahead. They have the opportunity to dress appropriately for the occasion, in olden days clothes. We look forward to their special parade from 8.50am On Monday, after whole school prayer. No doubt it will be a joyful celebrate for all!

 

Safe/Unsafe Foods

When sending food to school with your child, please consider the health of others. We have a number of students with serious allergies to nuts. We want to keep all our lovely people safe

Blessings to all families.

Jo Reed

Bullying No Way: National Week of Action

Bullying No Way: National Week of Action (11-15 August) is an Australia-wide bullying prevention initiative.

For Parents and Carers

The Changing Face of Cyberbullying: Protecting Your Child in 2025

Cyberbullying is evolving—with AI-powered tactics, coded emojis, and subtle manipulation. This 45-minute webinar will help you:

• Spot the signs
• Build support at home
• Guide your child to respond safely

Suitable for parents of both primary and secondary school students.

? Monday, 5 August | ? 12:30pm (AEST)

For more information and to register now: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars

As we settle into our Term, it is valuable to pause and consider one of our continuing themes for the Year, and what it might look like to us at this stage. As you likely know, this year has been declared a Jubilee year with the theme of “Pilgrims of Hope”.

A Jubilee Year is a special year in the Catholic Church, celebrated every 25 years (or on special occasions), where the Pope invites all people to renew their faith, seek reconciliation, and focus on God’s mercy and hope.

It is a time for:

• Pilgrimage - both physical and spiritual journeys to draw closer to God. There are a number of sites around our Archdiocese identified as key pilgrimage locations.
  
  
• Prayer and reflection - deepening our relationship with Christ. Prayer is the key to our relationship with God!
  
  
• Reconciliation - experiencing God’s forgiveness and offering it to others, participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation lets us more truly embrace God.
  
  
• Renewed commitment - living our faith with hope and compassion in the world. What are some of the ways that we can live out our faith, as a family, parish and school? If you have thoughts on what the school can do to explore the Jubilee more fully, please do write to me to let me know!
  
  

The Jubilee invites families and communities to walk together in hope, to open their hearts to others, and to live more fully the Gospel message. At school, we are learning about the Jubilee in a number of different ways. I would strongly encourage you to explore the Pilgrimage Map, which has information about the different places and celebrations for the Jubilee this year!

As part of our continued journey forward, you may have seen on Compass an invitation to join in the discussion about the new name to be adopted for our merged parish. I would strongly encourage all families to discuss what names they would like and to put forward their suggestions and reasons behind them on the ‘Naming our new Parish - Nomination Form’.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful week,

Kind regards,

Christopher Evans

Religious Education Coordinator

Happy Birthday to Emmett Byrne, Shanaya Siraj, Kai Knight, William Watman, Allegra Cockburn, Charlotte McCabe, Ava King, Charlie Jopling, Anhad Jodhka, Jordan Brabec, Anna Tilija, Aria Wood, Jacob O'Donnell, Lewis Bevan, Lincoln Abbott, Emily To, Korakot Bowler, Xavier Gyles, Bettina Morris, Iyla Gray, Jacob Wooden, George Gao, Roscoe Moulds, Zara Afridi, Jamyang Gyatsho, Cassius Gorringe, Amber Kaur, Gianna Cyriac, Simon Watman and Cassidy Sowden who all celebrate a Birthday in July.

Congraultations to the following students who will receive a Brag Tag Award - presented on Friday 8th August.

We kindly remind you that school supervision begins at 8:20am, and school starts promptly at 8:50am. Students are not to be on the school grounds before 8:20am. OSHClub is available for students needing before and after school care. Please call 0437 921 666 to arrange for care.

Please ensure your child arrives on time each day. Late arrivals mean students miss out on valuable learning opportunities and cause disruptions to the class. Students who arrive late will need to be signed in by a parent and collect a late slip to take to class and hand to the classroom teacher.

We also ask that you minimise early pick-ups, as these interrupt your child’s learning and can be disruptive to the classroom teacher and the rest of the class.

In the event of rain or inclement weather, students are to go directly to the school hall from 8:20am. Please use the outside hall doors for entry.

Students will be supervised in the hall and then taken to their classrooms to begin the school day as normal.

Thank you for your cooperation and support to ensure every child is able to learn with minimal disruption.

Save the Date!! Trivia Night - Thursday 14 August

The Community Council will be holding a Trivia Night at The Raiders Club in Holt on Thursday 14 August (6.30pm for a 7.00pm start). This is a free event and hot finger food will be provided. Please RSVP by Monday 4 August. 

Please RSVP at the following link: 

There are two options available when you RSVP:

• Option 1 - You would like to be included on a table organised on behalf of the Community Council. 
• Option 2 - You wish to organise a table and nominate 8-10 people to be on the table. Please list the names of all people to be added to the table.

Please note this is an ADULT ONLY event. 

The Community Council would love to see you there. 

Opening Hours

Please remember:

Friday 1st August - School Hats back on.

Unhurrying Childhood: Why Slowing Down is the Best Thing For Our Kids

During COVID lockdowns, despite how hard it was, many of us quietly promised ourselves, “We’re never going back to the rat race”? 

For many of us, we appreciated the slower pace, the extra family time, and the relief from overscheduled calendars. And yet… here we are. Back to full days, packed evenings, and exhausted kids. Somewhere along the way, we broke that promise.

Welcome to the age of the Hurried Child.

What Is Hurried Child Syndrome?

Psychologist Dr David Elkind coined the term “Hurried Child Syndrome” to describe what happens when we push our children to grow up too fast. It looks like:

• Children treated like mini-adults
• Academics pushed too early
• Overscheduled after-school calendars
• Exposure to adult issues and responsibilities

It’s not just that kids are busy. It’s that their childhoods are being compressed—squeezed by performance expectations, screens, and a culture that measures worth by achievement.

The Fallout of a Hurried Childhood

Children living this hurried life experience real consequences:

• Increased anxiety, depression, and stress
• Sleep issues and poor eating habits
• A drop in resilience
• A painful sense of failure and unworthiness when they don’t meet adult-level expectations

One of the most damaging outcomes? Perfectionism. When kids feel they must always get things right to be good enough, they stop taking healthy risks. They stop enjoying learning. They stop feeling safe just being kids.

Why Do We Let This Happen?

Our intentions are good. We want our kids to succeed – to fulfill their potential. We fear they’ll fall behind. And we live in a competitive parenting culture that whispers, “If you’re not doing everything, you’re doing it wrong.”

But what if this constant striving is doing more harm than good?

Childhood isn’t a race. And it’s not our job to hustle our kids into the future. It’s our job to give them a safe, steady present.

Three Ways to Unhurry Your Child’s Life

If we want to change this culture of hurry, we have to get intentional. Here are three powerful ways to start:

1. Prioritise Play

Unstructured, child-led play is the most natural and essential activity for children. It builds:

• Cognitive development (problem solving, creativity)
• Social skills (negotiation, collaboration)
• Emotional intelligence (empathy, coping strategies)

And yes, it takes time. But carving out opportunities for your child to play—especially with other kids, especially outdoors—may be the single best thing you can do for their development and wellbeing.

2. Let Children Set the Pace

It’s tempting to map out our children’s futures for them. But when we pressure them to chase our goals, we rob them of ownership over their own goals. Instead:

• Get curious about what lights them up
• Help them explore their own interests and strengths
• Let them take the long road if that’s what they need

One of Australia’s most decorated Olympians, Emma McKeon, credits her success not to parental pressure but to the freedom her parents gave her to pursue swimming on her own terms. Roger Federer says the same thing, confessing he didn’t even like tennis until his late teens.

3. Create a Balanced Schedule

If your child eats more meals in the car than at the table, it may be time to reassess. A full calendar isn’t always a meaningful one. Instead of cramming in every extracurricular, ask:

• Is my child thriving or just surviving?
• Are we getting enough sleep, downtime, and connection?
• Is there space for boredom, creativity, and rest?

Sometimes less really is more.

The hurried child is not a modern problem we have to accept. It’s a cultural drift we can resist. And it starts with us—the grown-ups. We can choose slow over rushed. We can let our children be children. We can let them breathe. Unhurrying childhood might be the most loving, protective thing we ever do.

Written by Dr Justin Coulson

At OSHClub, play meets potential.
Our before and after school care isn’t just a service — it’s a launchpad for learning, friendships, and fun. Through our industry-leading Adventure Program, kids explore their interests, build social skills, and reach key milestones through play-based learning.

Start the day with Rise then Shine — energising activities and a nutritious breakfast. After school, Stay and Play offers engaging experiences, from Super Sports to Brain Boosters, helping kids unwind and connect.

At OSHClub, imaginations soar, screens are off, and kids are switched on.

Visit our website to learn more.

https://www.oshclub.com.au/before-after-school-care-oshc/?&utm_campaign=102_OSHC_BRA_LEARN_DIGITAL_TOOL_KIT_T3_2025-awareness&utm_source=school-website&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=book-now-term-3

Kind Regards,

Monique Macri | Regional Director - NSW & ACT

  0419 656 026
  junioradventuresgroup.com.au

ACT | 83 Anthony Rolfe Avenue, Gungahlin, ACT, 2912

NSW | Suite E1, 7-9 Underwood Road, Homebush, NSW, 2140

Community Council Corner

A friendly reminder that St John the Apostle is a nut free school. Thank you.