Dear Parents/Carers, 

Is love the first word your family members use to describe their interactions? Love is sometimes difficult. Jesus' sacrifice for us is an example of this. Yet because of this love, the glory of God is fully revealed in Jesus. God's glory is revealed in us when we act as the Body of Christ, as individuals and as a community.

In the love we have for one another—difficult, challenging, sacrificial love—we find Jesus.

Choose one or two occasions when your family was together during the week. Describe the family's interactions from an outsider's perspective. When is it less difficult to show love to family members? When is it more difficult? When love is difficult, what do we do?

Jesus didn't just tell us to love one another. He showed us how to love one another. In what ways did Jesus show us how to love? (in his acts of healing and forgiving; at the Last Supper as he washed his disciples' feet; in the gift of the Eucharist; through his death on the Cross)

When we show love for others, we are showing love for Jesus.

Love can be expressed through a thoughtful word, a kind gesture, an offer of help or simply just being there to listen. In our school community we see evidence of this love on a daily basis through our positive interactions, responding to those in a time of need and taking time to connect with others.

In this way, we are demonstrating our love for Jesus, through our love for others and also building the Kingdom of God here at St John’s.

Enjoy the coming week.

Jane Webb
Acting Principal

ATHLETICS CARNIVAL THANKS 

Thanks is extended to the many parents who helped to make the Athletics Carnival last Friday such a success for without the support of parents we would not be able to convene such an event.

Thank you also to the fantastic hospitality provided by our volunteers in the Canteen. Of course, a day like Friday would not be possible without the collective efforts of all members of our wonderful staff. Thank you to Mrs Marshall and Mrs Crescini who assumed leadership for the organisation and preparation of the day.

Through the efforts of all, we continue to strive to provide opportunities for the most important people in our school, our students.

Congratulations is extended to the students in Years 3 and 5 who have participated in the National Assessment Program Literacy And Numeracy (NAPLAN) over the past two weeks. This is the first year that the NAPLAN Assessments have been completed in an online format.

NAPLAN Online is a tailored test that adapts to student responses, presenting students with questions that may be more or less difficult – resulting in better assessment and more precise results. Watch the Tailored Testing video.

Thank you to the Year 3 and 5 classroom teachers for the preparation with the students prior and support during the NAPLAN Assessments.

Thanks also to Mrs Libro and Mr Borg for the coordination and planning that has ensured that NAPLAN online has been a positive experience.

Students were able to complete the assessments with limited disruptions with the technology.

Athletics Carnival Presentations

House colour and Age Champions will be presented at the morning assembly next Wednesday 29th May 2019.

Athletics NSWPSSA Selection Trials

Maths Olympiad and Maths Games 2019

This year our school is participating in the Australasian Problem Solving Maths Olympiad contests.

This is a new opportunity for identified students from mainly Year 5 and 6 to participate in problem solving tasks as individuals and as part of a school team. They will compete against each other and against other schools through Australasia. Students in both levels participate in 5 contests held approximately once a month between May and September.  Contest dates are 22 May, 19 June, 31 July, 21 August, 11 September.

We wish all those students who are participating in the APSMO in 2019 the best of luck, as their problem solving skills and knowledge are put to the test.

SPLICED (Stretching Potential through Learning in Interactive Challenging Environments)

We also have students selected to participate in the SPLICED program for 2019. This year the theme is “The Good, the Beautiful, the True.”  Students decide on an area of interest that reflects this theme and present it in a number of different ways. This program is facilitated by the Catholic Education Office and is a way to extend students in Year 4- 6 who have been identified as gifted in different areas. Students selected showed task perseverance, creativity, ingenuity and original thought. We look forward to those students sharing what is ‘good, beautiful and true’  to them in the coming terms.

Mr Astill
Gifted Education Coordinator

Remember Waste Free Wednesday every week.

Our school banking day is: Wednesday

Free Cricket Clinics

Starting Friday 31^st May we are able to offer FREE Cricket Coaching clinics for boys and girls in the local area. (please see the attached flyer for dates and sessions times)

Our aim is to help kids become active and are offering the coaching for free so we are involved with the local community as we are a new centre.

If the children are interested, please advise them to arrive 15 mins before their advertised session to sign up.

What to bring:

• Cricket Bat (we will keep some to borrow if children don’t have any)
• Gloves
• Hector (protector)

Free Furniture!

As the building project has now been completed, we have some excess classroom furniture that we are giving away to interested parents. These desks would be most suitable for a desk to complete home learning or for a special project such as Lego or puzzles.

This furniture is available for collection tomorrow (Thursday 23^rd May) from 8:45am and again from 3:30pm in the afternoon. Chairs are also available for collection from the Community Room.

This furniture is free of charge.