Dear parents/carers,

National Child Protection Week is a campaign held annually across Australia to raise awareness of child safety and child abuse prevention. This week is from 1^st – 7^th September. The theme for this year is protecting children is everyone’s business.

We reaffirm our commitment to the protection of the children and young people in our care. We strive also to support all of our students to learn to develop respectful relationships with others.

Child Protection Week is an opportunity to raise awareness about child protection systems and preventative strategies for safeguarding children in our schools.

National Child Protection Week is an opportunity for everyone in the community to think about how we can work together to keep all children safe.

In 2019, the National Child Protection Week focus promotes the following themes -

• We ALL have a part to play in protecting ALL children
• Kids do well when parents are supported
• To raise thriving kids, parents need support to navigate life’s choppy waters

Parent Resources

Online safety [Australian Government Office of the eSafety Commissioner]

• eSafety information - https://www.esafety.gov.au/esafety-information
• eSafety issues - https://www.esafety.gov.au/esafety-information/esafety-issues
• Resources for parents - iParent - https://www.esafety.gov.au/education-resources/iparent

RESOLVING ISSUES

When issues arise between students parents are encouraged to direct these issues towards a teacher in the first instance.

This will enable the teacher to investigate and gain a better understanding of the issues that are occurring.

Parents are advised that it is not acceptable to approach other students about school issues. If parents feel as though issues need further investigation they are encouraged to make contact with Mrs Billett, Mrs Libro or myself. Thank you for your support with this matter.

FATHERS DAY STALL 

Thank you is extended to the members of the P&F Association who last week held the annual Father’s Day stall. We thank the parents for organising the gifts for purchase. 

We hope that all the Father’s and Grandfather’s in our school community had a wonderful day celebrating on Sunday.

Mrs Jane Webb
Acting Principal

Sacramental Program – Confirmation – Very Important Dates

Confirmation preparation continues. Two important upcoming dates are:

Reconciliation Date: Saturday 14 September 2019 at 10.30 to 11.30 am
Rehearsal Date: Thursday 19 September 2019

 6 pm – Rehearsal for 11.00 am Mass
 7 pm – Rehearsal for 2 pm Mass

As a school community, please pray for these young people as they prepare to receive this special Sacrament. 

Grade Mass

Years 3, 5 and Kinder will be celebrating a grade mass on Wednesday 11 September at 9.30 am.  Please come and join us in this Eucharistic Celebration.

Upcoming Whole School Mass – Creation Mass

We are having a whole school Mass to celebrate the wonder of Creation.  It is on our last day of term – Friday 27 September at 12 midday.  We hope you can join us to celebrate our Eucharist to give thanks to God for the beauty of the earth.   

Enjoy your week.

Mrs Kathryn Hampton

Religious Education Coordinator

Thank you to the parents who have been able to attend one of our parent workshops for the new COMPASS system. This management system has been rolled out accross all Wollongong Diocesan Catholic Primary schools and will impact parent communication with the school.

We have 2 more workshops available to parents on Thursday 5th September at 2.30pm and Tuesday 10th September at 6.30pm.

It is most important that all parents have a very good understanding of this system as it will replace the Skoolbag app and will be the primary method of communication with the school. This includes accessing student academic reports next semester and parent vaildation of student absences from school.

Below is some further information about Compass.

What is Compass?

Compass is a student information system that allows you, as a parent, access to your child(ren)'s records.

The Parent Portal allows parents/carers to:

• monitor your child's attendance and enter explanations
• update your family details - mobile and email address
• download and view your child's semester reports
• view 'My News' - a news feed of school announcements, alerts and updates
• view your school calender
• book parent/teacher interviews
• provide consent/payments for events and excursions

What can I get access to?

• student profile page
• attendance pages where notes/approvals can be entered
• full record history of student attendance
• academic reports
• school calender
• parent/student/teacher conference bookings

What is 'My News'?

The 'My News' section displays and applicable reminders or notifications which may include:

• outstanding absences or late arrivals that require a note or approval
• parent/student/teacher conferences that are available for booking
• semseter reports that are available to download
• excursions or events that require consent and/or payment
• news feed items that have been targeted to you as a parent

Attendance

If your child has to be absent from school, it is important to tell the school and provide a reason for your child's absence. To explain an absence, parents and carers can log into the Compass parent portal and enter an explanation. Once you have entered the absence, teachers and office staff have access to this information. Leave of 10 days or greater, requires Principal Approval and these forms can be obtained from the school office.

If your child arrives late to school or will be departing early, they must be accompanied into the office by a parent.

Schools are legally required to keep an accurate record of attendance. The NSW Department of Education and Communities may take further action in cases where children of compulsary school age have recurring numbers of unjustified absences from school.

You can enter notes and approvals in advance if you know your child is going to be absent from school.

How do I get access?

Instructions are on the attached documents, however, if you require any further assistance or you have not received your Compass Portal Login letter please contact the office. Every parent will have a seperate account to log into the Compass Parent Portal. 

On Thursday 29th August, the students in K-2 participated in a music show performed by Rocking Dan Teaching Man. Rocking Dan is a primary school teacher at a Catholic school in Sydney, who writes and performs songs related to the curriculum. He has his own youtube channel called ‘Rocking Dan Teaching Man’. We were fortunate for him to visit St John’s, to share his music with us. The students (and teachers!) in K-2 had a great time singing along to songs such as What makes a good friend, The friends of 10, The vowels song, Be kind to everyone, Counting backwards and many more! 

Thank you Rocking Dan for a great show!

Remember Waste Free Wednesday every week.

Movie Night!

Our school banking day is: Wednesday