Dear Parents/Carers,

It is with a great sense of sadness that I wanted to let you know that Mrs Stolzenhein's daughter, Peta Willard passed away this morning after a brave battle with cancer.

We keep Mrs Stolzenhein, our Canteen Manager in our thoughts and prayers at this sad time.

Peta taught for many years at Mount Carmel Catholic College.

May she rest in peace.

During the Gospel reading last weekend from John, we hear an interesting exchange between Simon Peter, one of the disciples and Jesus. During this conversation Jesus asks Simon Peter, ‘Do you love me?’. He asks him this simple question, not once, not twice but three times.
Today, in our own lives, Jesus asks this same simple question of us – ‘Do you love me?

What is our response?

Each day, we are called to demonstrate our love for Jesus through our love for others. These small acts of love support, serve and nourish others. It is often through these acts of love that we answer the question that Jesus asks each one of us, ‘Yes Lord, you know that I love you’.

The special love that only a mother can give is always appreciated, but not always acknowledged. To all our mothers, please be sure to relax on Sunday and allow your family to show their love and appreciation of the invaluable role you play in their lives.

Our students, will have the opportunity to purchase fabulous gifts for mum at our annual Mothers’ Day Stall on Thursday and Friday. Gratitude is extended to all the parents who were able to help to wrap the gifts and also those who will assist in selling them.

A PRAYER FOR OUR MOTHERS

Lord, thank you for all mothers. 
For the new ones, who endure sleepless nights with infants in their arms.
For the busy ones, who juggle the pressures of home and family life.
For the steadfast ones, who nurture and care for our special vulnerable children.
For the patient ones, who always seek to forgive and engage with their pre-teens.
For the persistent ones, who cleverly find new ways to connect with their mini-adults.
For the mother aunts, who step in to cradle and care for nieces and nephews.
For all grandmas, who love and support their precious grandchildren.
For the foster mums that are called to gather and cover the fragile ones.
For the Sunday mums who care for our children and lead them in faith.
For the mums who give far beyond their own resources, who overcome disability to cherish and love.

Thank you Lord for all our beautiful mothers. We remember in a special way those mothers who are no longer with us, but had such an impact on our lives. May you bless them now on this their special day.

Amen.

Jane Webb
Acting Principal

Diocesan Cross Country Carnival

On Tuesday 7th of May, St John’s was represented by 20 students at the Diocesan Cross Country Carnival at Nowra. These students were a credit to themselves and our school in the way they conducted themselves. Their behaviour, sportsmanship and effort was outstanding.

All students ran to the best of their ability and we recognise in particular the achievements of Isla Clarke (3rd in 11 years girls) who will be progressing to the next level of competition which will be held at Eastern Creek in June.

Students were supported and encouraged by a group of parents and friends and we would like to thank them for joining us. In particular, we would like to thank Melissa Crowe and Teone Axougas for the time they spent on the course as marshals.

Mrs Skinner

     

Athletics NSWPSSA Selection Trials

Athletics Carnival - Friday 17th May

• Arrive at school for normal bell time. Students will be transported to the carnival by bus after class rolls have been marked
• Sunscreen
• School hat
• Water bottle
• Food for the day
• Wear a coloured t-shirt of your house colour

NAPLAN 2019

Next week the children in Years 3 and 5 will all sit the National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). NAPLAN is the measure through which governments, education authorities, schools, teachers and parents can determine whether or not young Australians are meeting important educational outcomes in literacy and numeracy. The assessments provide parents and schools with an understanding of how individual students are performing at the time of the tests. They also provide schools, states and territories with information about how education programs are working and which areas need to be prioritized for improvement.

Although it is an important testing period and provides both the school and parents with a snapshot of achievement, it must be kept in mind that the NAPLAN assessments are just one aspect of the school’s assessment and reporting process, and do not replace the extensive, ongoing assessments undertaken by teachers about each student’s performance.

Along with other valuable information gathered on a regular basis teachers are able to formulate and communicate to parents a more rounded view of the holistic development of each student.

The teachers have assisted the students to prepare for the NAPLAN testing by familiarizing them with the format of the tests and the structure of the week. Parents are able to assist their child/ren during the testing time, as they do every day, by ensuring that your child/ren have plenty of sleep during the week, providing a hearty breakfast of ‘brainfood’ and ensuring students arrive at school before the morning bell. This will give them the best possible conditions in which to sit the assessments.

It is also important to ensure that iPads are fully charged as the assessment will be in an online format this year.

It is important to remember that NAPLAN is one day in the life of these students and is not the complete measure of their worth or that of our schools. The input of schools into a student's life cannot be measured as a result of a short test on one day of the year. Much of what schools do on a daily basis - pastoral care, the extension of life opportunities through co-curricular, sporting and creative programs, the formation of values and the creation of community - cannot be quantified.

Please see the timetable below of scheduled NAPLAN Assessments over the coming two weeks -

We have started collection the Woolworths Earn & Learn stickers. The students have been very enthusiastic and sticking these on our posters. We have boxes located outside Woolworths stores at Campbelltown Mall, Macaurthur Square, Market Place and the school office.
Spare sticker sheets are available in the office foyer. Please only place your stickers in the allocated spots on the sheets. We count full sheets, not individual stickers. If you have incomplete sheets or seperate stickers, please send them to school and ask your child to place them in their class office bag.

Stickers can be collected until 25 June 2019.

Thank you for your support.

The Mother's Day Stall will be held on Thursday 9th May and Friday 10th May for additional gifts. All gifts are $5 each, please send your child/ren to school with their money, to be collected by the classroom teacher.

Well Done!

Remember Waste Free Wednesday every week.

Our school banking day is: Wednesday