Principal's Report
Dear Parents and Carers,
Last Sunday 1 December, we entered the season of Advent, a time of expectation and preparation. Advent also allows us the opportunity to reflect as we await the joy that Christmas brings. As the year comes to an end we look back with gratitude on the lives that we lead. Gratitude is the virtue of being able to receive and give thanks.
Gratitude is something that helps to define goodness. It also helps us to develop in maturity of our faith. We are mature to the degree that we are grateful. Theologian, Ron Rolheiser, writes about gratitude. He describes gratitude as an element that leads us to mature discipleship. He goes on to describe the essential components that we should be recognising as we are mature in our discipleship.
The first of these is Forgiveness. Sometimes the greatest struggle that we can have as mature people is to forgive. To forgive those who have hurt us, forgive ourselves for our own shortcomings, and forgive God for seemingly hanging us out to dry in this world. The greatest gift we can give ourselves is to not allow ourselves to die with a bitter, unforgiving heart.
Secondly, we need to Live in Gratitude. To be a saint is to be powered by gratitude. We need to be gracious always. By being at peace with God, by praying and by recognising the holiness in others we live in gratitude.
Next we need to Become ever-wider in our embrace. We grow in maturity when we are able to define and recognise those whom we may have previously discriminated against, have been less compassionate towards, as people who are warmed by the same sun as us and who God loves just as much.
Finally, we need to Stand where we stand and let God protect us. In the end, we are all vulnerable, contingent, and helpless both to protect our loved ones and ourselves. We cannot guarantee life, safety, salvation, or forgiveness for ourselves or for those we love. Maturity depends upon accepting this with trust rather than anxiety. We can only do our best, whatever our place in life, wherever we stand, whatever our limits, whatever our shortcomings and trust that this is enough, that if we die at our post honest, doing our duty, God will do the rest.
As we approach the end of the school year, we need to take time to reflect on the goodness that the year has brought to our school community. We look back with much gratitude and look forward to 2020 with much hope.
Organising School Uniforms for 2020
The wearing of the school uniform is an outward sign of the respect that a student has for themselves and the St John’s school community. The St John’s school uniform serves as an outward sign of what the school stands for, and the correct wearing of uniform is an indication of students’ pride in being members of the school community. At St John’s, we believe that the wearing of a school uniform reduces the social inequities that may be evident in a community that does not enforce a standard uniform. This assists in respecting the dignity of each individual by reducing social class barriers. It helps to unite the students and create a sense of pride.
Joggers that are predominantly white are to be worn for sport and fitness. They must be predominantly white and may be lace up or velcro. No slip on ‘Raben’ type shoes, indoor soccer boots or coloured joggers are to be worn. Pictorial examples of appropriate joggers are shown here.
What is an appropriate haircut for school?
Recently, I have noticed several students who have haircuts that are not appropriate for school. I have been revising the Parent Handbook and within the uniform section of the handbook, I bring to your attention the following regarding haircuts for both boys and girls. Parents are required to support the expectation as we head into the new school year.
HAIR -
- The emphasis is on ‘neat and tidy’
- Shoulder length or longer hair for girls is to be tied back with school coloured ribbons
- No bleached / dyed hair
- Extremes of haircuts are not permitted, e.g., undercuts, long fringes with short on top, tracks, shaved, words, lines etc., are unsuitable
- The emphasis is on evenly cut hair. Hair must be neatly groomed (combed or brushed) away from the student’s face. To reduce the transfer of head lice, hair that is collar length or longer is to be plaited, braided or tied back with hair accessories. Long hair not tied up could be ‘unsafe for the student and likely to result in a risk to health and safety of students and others’.
Hair should not be dyed un-natural colours during the school term. Inappropriate hairstyles (e.g. inappropriate words, shapes, stripes cut into the hair could ‘negatively influence the normal school operations’ and are therefore not permitted.
Staffing - 2020
The staffing process is currently continuing and we are hoping to have this lengthy process completed by next week. Following this I will be able to communicate staff and class allocations with parents. A full staff list for 2020 will be published in the Week 10 newsletter.
Semester 2 Reports
Beginning this semester all reports will be issued via Compass. Semester 2 reports will be available to parents starting from Monday 9th December.
There will no longer be hard copies of reports distributed to parents.
Next Monday 9 December reports will be released to Kindergarten, Year One and Year Two via the COMPASS app at 10am
On Tuesday 10 December reports will be released to Year Three and Year Four via the COMPASS app at 10am.
On Wednesday 11 December reports will be released to Year Five and Year Six via the COMPASS app at 10am.
Last week, Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong recognised those members of staff across the Diocese who have given a significant time of service to Catholic Education with the Lighting the Way Awards ceremony. A number of St John’s staff were recognised for their length of service. We congratulate the following staff -
- Mrs Vicki Stolzenhein
- Mrs Manuela Brticevich
Congratulations also to Mrs Michelle Korny and Mrs Sharon Burnett who were nominated for a Teaching Practice Award and an Outstanding School Support Officer Award respectively. We are so proud of the high quality of staff who support student learning and wellbeing at St John’s.
Swimming Carnival 2019
Thank you for your support in needing to reschedule the 2019 St John’s Swimming Carnival to next Monday 9 December 2019. This decision was made due to the amount of smoke in the air and poor air quality.
A decision will be made next Monday morning as to whether the carnival is able to go ahead. If the carnival needs to be cancelled then a notification on COMPASS will be sent out to all families.
If the carnival is not able to go ahead, we will not be able to reschedule it again. Unfortunately, the carnival will be cancelled and only the 100m and 50m competative swimmers will be going at another pre-arranged time. If this is the case, these students will be notified individually with the details.
Many thanks to Mrs Jillian Crescini and Mrs Angela Marshall who have put in many hours to the planning and organisation of the carnival.
Thanks for your ongoing support with these arrangements.
Welcome Morning Tea – Mr Paul Moroney
We would like to warmly invite all parents to a Morning Tea to welcome Mr Moroney to St John’s as Principal from 2020. We look forward to welcoming Mr Moroney as Principal next year.
Morning tea will be held this Friday, 6 December at 10:30am in the school hall.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Mrs Jane Webb
Acting Principal