Dear Parents and Carers,

Lord, may men and women from around the world, rise up together and pray for peace everywhere every day. May God give us the wisdom to see past race and creed. May we acknowledge that we are one, that our differences make us stronger. May we welcome our brothers and sisters with an open heart and a caring spirit. May our hearts be filled with love, joy and peace. May we look at each other and see our beauty, our truth and our holiness. May we all show compassion to those who are suffering, sending them love, light and healing. Amen.

Jesus says: ‘Love your enemies’! Is that possible? Love that makes no distinction. The love Jesus speaks of is a love that serves, it is not self-seeking. It is this word that Jesus used when he encourages us to love our enemies. It has nothing to do with emotion or friendship. This love is ready to suffer and turn the other cheek. It prays and blesses. Jesus demands that we drop our antagonisms, our social prejudices, and that we overcome social barriers in our relationships with one another. He wants to end strife and establish peace, to create an atmosphere all around, where it is possible to love the other. May this prevail in our own lives and in the lives of people suffering due to international conflict.

NAPLAN

In May of this year, our Year 3 and Year 5 students completed the NAPLAN tests. These tests have been occurring in Australian schools for more than a decade and they provide a snapshot of student learning in some elements of literacy and numeracy. Parents are provided with a report about their child’s achievement in these tests.

As a school we are provided with a summary of all our students’ achievements and can use this data to investigate trends which may assist in developing plans to support student leaning in a particular aspect of the curriculum. The data for our school has shown a steady improvement across all areas of learning over the last six years to the point in which students are performing above the state average in all of the NAPLAN testing for both Year 3 and Year 5 in most years.

Having analysed recent data from NAPLAN, our school has had a specific focus on the foundational learning in Mathematics during 2022. Our results from this year’s NAPLAN indicate that this will continue into 2023.

Cyclic Review

Earlier this term, our school was prepared for its Cyclic Review that is conducted by the Catholic Education Office. It is a review of the school's strategic planning and to assist in setting future planning goals. These reviews are normally held every five years, however due to the interruption of the pandemic, it has been six years since St John's last review.

As part of this review, a panel was due to visit our  school to engage in conversations with staff about the goals we have been working toward, with a specific focus on Religious Education and faith development, learning, pastoral care and well-being. This visit had to be postponed and will now be held on Tuesday 6 December. The panel would like to engage with a small group of parents between 12.30-1.00pm. Please let the office know if you would like to be a part of this process.

P & F Meeting - CHANGE OF DATE

The next meeting for the P & F will now take place on Monday 5 December at 7.00pm in the Tiered Learning Space. All are welcome.

Wishing you a safe and rewarding week ahead.

Paul Moroney

Principal

TRANSITION TO SCHOOL PLAYGROUP

Over the past four weeks we have had the privilege of having our 2023 Kindergarten students and their families join us for our Transition to School Playgroup.

Thank you to all the children and their families who have taken the opportunity to participate in this program. It was evident that there were some genuine connections made between the children, parents and teachers.

Thanks again to Mrs Sinfeld, Mrs Gilbert, Mrs Gilfeather and the Kindergarten teachers for implementing our playgroup.

Kindergarten Orientation will commence for the children on Monday, 21 November. It is our aim that they become more familiar with our school environment, the teachers and with one another.

REMEMBRANCE DAY

Last Friday, 11 November 2022, we acknowledged Remembrance Day at 11 o’clock. We remembered with thanksgiving those who made the supreme sacrifice for us in time of war. 

Our country had a population of only 5 million in 1918, at the end of World War I. 

60 000 Australians lost their lives in battle defending the freedoms we have today. We remembered these men and women, as well as others who have gone to war to protect our country and allies.

Thank you to Mr Moroney and our Year 6 leaders who led our moving Remembrance Day prayer last week.

Below is some of the artwork created by some of our Primary students with Mrs Small.

THE FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING- SUNDAY, 20 NOVEMBER

The Feast of Christ the King was introduced to the liturgical calendar by Pope Pius XI in 1925. The establishment of the feast took place in a world that had suffered through the First World War and was unknowingly heading towards the Second World War. In this setting, the world was experiencing a dramatic growth in secularism and an even more dramatic growth in dictators who were rising to power in various states. The introduction of the feast was a call back from the secular and a call to remember Christ as having authority above and beyond any earthly leader.

FIRST RECONCILIATION

Many of our Year 2 students will make their First Reconciliation on Wednesday, 30 November. They have been busy participating in the sacramental program on a Monday or Tuesday.

Thank you to many of our staff members and the Parish Sacramental Team for their hard work in preparing the children at the workshops alongside their parents and carers.

Please keep these children and their families in your thoughts and prayers for the remainder of November.

Happy Birthday to the following students and staff who are

celebrating their birthday this week  ,

 13th November - 19th November

Week 5 - Awards: INFANTS

The next P & F meeting is on Monday 5th December at 7pm in the tired learning space. All are welcome.