MAPLE’S DONATION & PLAYGROUND AWARDS

Maple received a generous donation recently. She would like to thank Bunnings at Hoxton Park for their generosity. One of our parents, Felicia (Julian 3G) and her colleague Amber donated a basket for Maple and a $100 gift card. We thank them greatly for their donation and will certainly purchase items that Maple requires here at school.

Maple has also been very busy providing time for students who have managed to collect three playground awards. Last week she worked with some students in Kindergarten and Year Four, where they got to spend time with her, play fetch and have lots of pats.

CELEBRATING NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK

National Sorry Day 2023 falls this year on Friday, 26 May and is a day when we pause to remember the Stolen Generations of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Today, 24 May, three Year 6 student leaders, Chelsea, Lowana and Payten represented our school at the Sorry Day Service, Minto. Photos below are of the girls with our Aboriginal Education Assistants- Ms Janelle and Andrew. They also had a photo with Sr Kerry who works with the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Minto, to organise the Sorry Day Service.

It leads us into the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation and National Reconciliation Week which is held each year between 27 May and 3 June.

This year's theme 'be a voice for generations' asks each and every one of us to use our words and our actions to create a better, more just, and equitable Australia for all. 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB

Term 2 has seen the establishment of the St John’s Environment Club. The aim of this club is for the students with the support of the teachers, to take a more active role in the awareness and taking action at St Johns in relation to the environment. Our guiding document for this club is Pope Francis’ encyclical (Papal letter) Laudato Si’, which is a letter to everyone in the world to take environmental action to take care of our common home, the earth. 

Already the students have come up with some fantastic ideas and plans for environmental awareness at St Johns. Our major focus for this Term and beyond is Waste Free Wednesday. The students in the Environment Club have been carefully working on a presentation for all grades to explain Waste Free Wednesday. Below are some examples from St Johns of a Waste Free Lunch.

 By Mr Zamroz

PRIME HYDRATION DRINKS

For the health and safety of our children at St John's, we are not allowing students to bring in Prime Hydration Drinks. 

These drinks have an extremely high caffeine content and are labelled NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 15. This message cannot be seen unless you read the back of the bottle.

If a student brings one of these drinks to school, their teacher will hold onto it until their parent/carer can collect it.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

FEAST OF MARY, HELP OF CHRISTIANS- 24 MAY

Today we celebrate the Feast of Mary, Help of Christians. She is the patron saint of our country, Australia. We celebrate the many gifts God has given us here in Australia – one people from many parts of our world, the beauty of our country, the freedom and peace that we are so lucky to enjoy. 

We look to Mary for her help, her protection and her guidance. We try to follow her example of love and strength in everything we do.

Mary, The Mother of God, is given many titles or names such as: 

Mary, first among disciples

Mary, Mother for all people

Mary, woman of faith

Mary, Queen of Peace

These are just some of her titles, but today, we remember her as Mary, Help of Christians.

Almighty God our Father,

You placed the love of Mary Help of Christians 

in the hearts of those who first brought the Catholic faith to Australia. 

We ask, that with Mary’s help,  

our leaders can be wise and that we can all be people of truth and goodness. 

Under Mary’s protection, may Australia be filled with harmony, justice and peace.

Amen.

DIOCESE OF WOLLONGONG- CROSS COUNTRY CARNIVAL

Yesterday, 23 students represented St John’s at the Diocese of Wollongong Cross Country Carnival. The event was held at ‘Willandra’, Nowra. Mrs Skinner went with the majority of students by bus early in the morning. Some of the parents made the journey down with their children to watch them compete.

All the children are to be congratulated on giving it their all on a challenging course. The names of our Cross Country Team are listed below.