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Dear St John the Apostle Primary School Community,
We've had a beautiful start to the term. It has been full of fun and positive energy.
Our new chromebooks in Year 4 have been set up and are ready to be used from next week.
With NAIDOC Week in the school holidays our students have
celebrated NAIDOC this week with a liturgy on Tuesday and a day of activities yesterday. The activities included Yulunga games, dreaming storytelling, visual design and cooking using bush foods. I would like to thank Ms Ellen Fletcher for her outstanding coordination and organisation of the day.
Positive Behaviour For Learning Policy
After 18 months of research, reflection and development with staff and students I am pleased to inform you that our new Positive Behaviour For Learning Policy has been launched.
The Policy articulates our:
- beliefs about how children learn positive behaviour
- our shared expectations for how students are to behave at school as members of our community
- practices for teaching, encouraging and acknowledging positive behaviour, and
- practices for discouraging negative behaviour.
You can find a copy of the policy on our school website as well as on our SZapp in the Forms and Documents section.
Thank you to the Community Council who have reviewed the policy and provided valuable feedback. Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions or concerns regarding the policy.
We look forward to continuing to grow a positive school culture here at St John the Apostle, where every student can learn, be happy and feel safe.
Term 3 Learning Overviews
You'll find a Term 3 Learning Overview for each class on our school website in the 'Teaching & Learning' Section and on the SZ app. I encourage you to have a look and see what your child will be learning about this term.
Learning Journeys
Parents were able to meet with their child's teacher after their Semester 1 Report was distributed last term.
In Week 3 parents will have the opportunity to undertake a Learning Journey with their child. A Learning Journey is a short visit with your child to the classroom so they can proudly show and tell you about some work they've selected.
There is no need to book in. Your child's classroom will be open for a visit on Wednesday 7 August from 3.00pm to 5.00pm and Thursday 8 August from 8.20am to 8.50am. The teacher will be in the room should you have any questions, however, this will be time just with your child.
Annual Parent Survey
An annual satisfaction survey of parents, students and staff will be conducted on behalf of all Catholic schools in the Archdiocese this term. The surveys are designed to gather feedback from parents, staff and students about our school and will be used to inform school improvement. Responses are confidential and individuals can not be identified.
Past feedback from surveys of parents, staff and students has led to prioritising the implementation of a number of school improvements, including:
- increased student access to ICTs for learning,
- development of the outdoor learning masterplan,
- development of professional learning teams for staff,
- exploration and implementation of more streamlined communication systems, and the
- development of a rich and consistent curriculum map from Kindergarten to Year 6.
The surveys will be launched via email on 29 July and close on 9 August 2019 using the email addresses supplied to the school. If you do not receive an email with a link to the survey, you can access and complete the survey at the following link. https://www.research.net/r/stjohntheapostleparent2019
Thank you everyone for this positive start to the term.
Kind regards,
Matthew Garton (Principal)
A few months ago I wrote about a school display of crucifixes I had seen. Families from the school, on their travels, bought a crucifix and donated it to the school. I’ve been so thrilled that just in the last few days I have gone from one cross to ten!
I am in the process of labelling each one with the family name and where they purchased them. See below for a tiny glimpse of what the display looks like so far.
So if you are travelling, anywhere (it doesn’t have to be overseas), and see a crucifix that speaks to you, small or large, coloured or plain I would love you to add to our collection.
A big thank to the Love, Sangster, Potts, Olsen and Griffiths families who have generously donated so far.
When we walk without the Cross,
when we build without the cross,
when we profess a Christ without the Cross…we aren’t disciples of the Lord. – Pope Francis
Stephanie Stewart
Religious Education Coordinator
Parish Notices
Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Mass - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday. This Mass will be at St Vincent's Church, Bindel Street, Aranda and it will commence at 10.00am. We will have a shared morning tea after Mass.
FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION
Mass Times
St John’s Kippax
Vigil Mass Wed 14 Aug 6:00pm
Mass of the Day Thurs 15 Aug 9:30am
Mass at St John the Apostle Primary School will be at 12noon at the School.
St Thomas Aquinas Charnwood
Thursday 15 August 9:30am - 7:00pm
St Matthew’s Page
Thursday 15 August 6:00pm
Reconciliation Action Plan [RAP]
The Parish Pastoral Council is developing a Reconciliation Action Plan and is seeking people who may be interested in being part of the development committee. Please contact the parish office if you are interested in being involved in this initiative.
Happy birthday to Cameron M, Riley M, Sophia C, Seth W, Noah W, Finn P, Natalie S, Samuel M, Lorenzo S, Sophia Y, James T, Matilda M, Amelia M, Lidia S, Vincent N, Annaleise S, Leo K and Emily N who all celebrated a birthday over the last three weeks.
Developing leadership skills in your child
by Michael Grose
Your child has the potential to be a leader given the right circumstances and environment. The following five leadership skills have been observed in student leaders in Australian primary schools and can be promoted by parents at home.
Responsibility
Being a leader means that your child is willing to take responsibility and be accountable for their actions. Personal responsibility is shown when your child is accountable for their behaviour, for their belongings and for others. Practical ways to develop responsibility include:
• Giving them responsibility for part of their day
• Encouraging them to restore relationships with others when they mess up
• Taking responsibility for household chores.
Communication
While most leadership positions require your child to speak publicly their communication skills can be developed through regular one-on-one or small group experiences at home and at school. Practical ways to develop your child’s communication skills include:
• One-on-one conversations with adults
• Regular discussions at the meal table
• Encourage your child to participate fully in speaking activities at school.
Organisation
Personal organisational skills and the ability to organise others are important for effective leadership. Practical ways to develop organisational skills include encouraging your child to:
• Keep their personal space tidy and organised
• Use a diary to help manage their time
• Organise a weekly chores roster including all members of the family
Teamwork
Cooperating, encouraging and accepting others are essential qualities of an effective leader. Practical ways to develop a sense of teamwork include:
• Play team games where children work together
• Encourage siblings to cook and do other chores together
• Focusing on your child’s contribution to a team or group rather than individual achievement
Emotional intelligence
An underestimated quality shared by most admired leaders is their ability to remain calm when things don’t go well. This emotional intelligence skill requires self-awareness, an ability to recognise their emotions and respond appropriately to the emotions of others. You can nurture these skills in the following way:
• Help your child recognise their emotions
• Help your child recognise emotions in others
• Teach your child to shift their mood
Leaders are needed in all walks of life – at work, in school, in families, in sport and in the wider community. The skills of leadership are sewn in the first group that they belong to – their family. By encouraging your child to be a contributing member of their family you are also helping to develop leaderships skills they can practise outside their family.
The Cancer Council has recommended that it's hats on from the beginning of August. Please ensure your child has their correct school hat commencing at the start of August. Please make sure the hat is named! It will help it return to your child quickly if it is lost.
Position Vacant MacKillop House- Lyneham
Maintenance Officer / Handy Person
We are seeking a motivated and experienced maintenance person with a commitment to providing a safe and well-presented environment for our residents, staff and clients. In this role you will focus on delivering a wide range of maintenance tasks that ensure the buildings and grounds are attractive, clean, safe and functional. This role is for approximately 20 hours a week, Monday to Friday mornings, and will suit a self-starter with a good knowledge of most trades. This role will initially be for a six month period with possible extension.
For further information about the role please contact Sr Jenny Scally on 02 6249 6182 or via admin@mackillophouse.org.au.
Applications, comprising a cover letter and resume, should be submitted via email to admin@mackillophouse.org.au by COB Monday 5 August 2019.
WODEN VALLEY YOUTH CHOIR
Woden Valley Youth Choir is an exciting and dynamic not-for-profit community choir for young people, with a strong emphasis on Music Education. We don’t just sing – we become musicians.
WVYC will have vacancies in all of its choirs for children entering year 3 next year through to young adults aged up to 25.
Rehearsals are held at Charles Weston School in Coombs on Tuesday evenings but the choir is open to people from all over the Canberra/Queanbeyan area.
AUDITIONS
Auditions for choristers wishing to commence in September 2019 will be held on Saturday 10 August.
For more information about the choir and the audition process and to download an application form go to wvyc.org.au
ROTARY CLUB OF HALL INDIGENOUS SCHOLARSHIP
WVYC welcomes enquiries from indigenous young people for the Rotary Club of Hall Indigenous Scholarship. Applicants should contact the administrator on info.wvyc@gmail.com to request the guidelines for applying for a scholarship.
CENTAURI VOICES
We are keen to grow our choir for young men aged 13 to 18 with changing or changed voices and are happy for interested young men to try out the choir before they commit to joining rather than auditioning. If you are interested in sitting in on a few rehearsals please email us or phone 1300 599 655.
WVYC 50TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT
If you’d like to see the choir in action, come to the Woden Valley Youth Choir 50th Anniversary Concert on 24 August in Llewellyn Hall. Tickets available through Ticketek.