Lord,

As the school term draws to a close, we thank You for the journey we've shared. We are grateful for the laughter, the lessons, and the friendships that have grown within our school community.

We pray for our children, that they may rest and recharge during their time off, feeling safe and loved in Your care. We also pray for the dedicated teachers and staff, granting them a well-deserved break to find peace and renewal.

May we all return with a renewed spirit, ready for the next adventure You have planned for us.

We ask this through Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

Dear Parents/Carers,

This term has been a busy one with several significant events such as the Genes for Jeans Day (including the school's appearance on the Today Show), Book Week, various excursions and gala days, Confirmation, Grandparent's Day and then we finish off with the Colour Run.

Amidst all of these events, the students have remained committed to their learning, and in building positive relationships with others. Working at St John's is a great joy because of the way the children try each day to make our school as best it can be, and because of the dedicated staff. I wish you and your children a restful two-week break from the normal routines, so that they can begin Term 4 refreshed.

Renewal Leave

Commencing at the end of this week, I will be on a period of Renewal Leave until November 3. My leave will include two pilgrimages: the Camino de Santiago in Spain, and a Benedctine pilgrimage in Italy. I feel blessed to have this opportunity to engage in spiritual reflection, and to tangibly connect with the life of St Benedict, a saint that our school is associated with via the Sisters of the Good Samaritan.

During my Renewal Leave, Mr Kevin Devine will be at St John's as Relieving Principal. Although recently retired, Kevin had been a Principal in our diocese for many years, most recently at St Justin's, Oran Park.

I look forward to seeing you all on my return.

Colour Run

As has been advertised via our Newsletter and Compass, the P & F has organised a Colour Run for Friday 26 September. This is their major fund-raiser and community event for 2026, and it will require a significant number of helpers on the day. It promises to be a fun community event, as well as being an opportunity to raise funds for the P & F as they support the purchase of reading resources and playground equipment.

Please refer to the information about the day that has been provided via Compass. As has been mentioned, all children need to be given permission to attend via the "Event" on the Compass app, regardless of them being registered to fund-raise.

We look forward to a great day.

Wishing you a blessed week,

END OF TERM 3 RECAP!

As Term 3 comes to a close, we look back on a vibrant and eventful term filled with exciting teaching and learning activities, achievements, and community engagement. Our students have embraced every opportunity to learn, grow, and celebrate together, making this term one to remember.

Book Week and Book Fair

Our students participated in Book Week to celebrate books and love of reading. The much-anticipated Book Fair was a fantastic way to get the whole school involved in having a physical book in our children’s hands. The students have also demonstrated a greater love for reading with the majority of students completing the Premier’s Reading Challenge and consistently borrowing from our fabulous library!

Wellbeing Week – RUOK Day

We placed a special focus on mental health and wellbeing during Wellbeing Week, with RUOK Day being a highlight. Students engaged in activities that encouraged open conversations about fostering a culture of care, support, and kindness within our school community.

Incursions and Excursions

This term was filled with exciting learning experiences outside the classroom. From engaging incursions that brought experts to the school to excursions that allowed our students to explore the world beyond the school fence, these hands-on learning opportunities enriched the students’ understanding of various subjects.

Gala Days – Basketball and Soccer

Our students had a ball participating in the Basketball and Soccer Gala Days. Both events showcased our students' athletic talents, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Congratulations to all who represented the school with pride and to the teams that brought home well-deserved wins!

Public Speaking and Art Competitions

We were immensely proud of our students who participated in the Public Speaking Competition and the Christmas Story Art Competition. Their creativity, confidence, and dedication were on full display. A special congratulations to those who were awarded for their outstanding efforts!

Father’s Day & Grandparents Day Celebrations

This term also saw our school celebrate the special bond between fathers and their children with our Father’s Day picnic. It was heartwarming to see so many dads and father figures join us for this occasion. We hope the day was as special for them as it was for us.

ICAS Testing

A big congratulations to the students who participated in the ICAS Testing this term. Their commitment to academic excellence is commendable, and we had some  excellent results, knowing our students have done their best.

Kindergarten – 100 Days of School

Our Kindergarten students reached an exciting milestone as they celebrated their 100 Days of School. The joy and energy they bring to our school is infectious, and we’re so proud of their progress in this early stage of their educational journey.

Mini Vinnies Winter Sleepout

This term, our Mini Vinnies group showed their commitment to social justice by participating in the Winter Sleepout. The event raised awareness about homelessness and allowed our students to reflect on the importance of compassion and helping those in need.

Regional Athletics 

Congratulations to our students who participated in the Regional, Diocese & MacKillop Athletics Carnivals. Your hard work, perseverance, and competitive spirit have made us all proud. It’s always wonderful to see our students shine in the sporting arena!

Parish Confirmation

Finally, we were privileged to witness a spiritual milestone for many of our students through the Parish Confirmation. This sacred ceremony was a beautiful moment for the candidates of our school community to come together in faith and celebration.

As we wrap up Term 3, we extend our heartfelt thanks to our staff, students, and families for their continuous support and engagement. 

A special thanks to our P & F for their hard work behind the scenes in purchasing playground and reading resources for our students. We are also extremely grateful for their organisation of the school disco, colour run, Father’s Day bbq/stall and other events to support our community.

We wish everyone a restful break and look forward to Term 4, where even more exciting opportunities await!

MORNING DROP OFF AND AFTERNOON PICK UP

Next term we will be planning to organise Morning Drop Off and Afternoon Pick Up on the asphalt playground. In early 2026, the Church will be undergoing some renovations that will result in not having access to the Church car park. As a result we will be relocating morning drop off and commencing afternoon pick up by parents/carers on the asphalt playground. 

It is planned to have this in operation by the start of Week 6 next term. Prior to this start time there will need to be a lot of education/information provided for the community about how the new system will operate. This information will commence early next term. We want this new system to be set up successfully so it can remain a permanent option for families when dropping off and picking up their children at St John’s.

 PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION

A huge congratulations to all our Year 5 and 6 students who participated in this year's Public Speaking Competition. We were so impressed by the confidence and clarity each child demonstrated when presenting their speeches. It takes immense courage to speak in front of a large audience, and every participant should be incredibly proud of their efforts. Thank you to Mr Zamroz for coordinating our competition and Mrs Bland for being our independent adjudicator.

A special congratulations goes to our winners, Gabby S (5R) and Kaylee S (6G), for their outstanding performances. Both students were selected to represent our school at the North Western CDF Regional Public Speaking Competition on Friday, 17 October. We wish them the very best of luck and know they will represent us with pride.

 

YEAR 5 SCIENCE EXPO- PLANETS

Year 5 has been working very hard on researching the planets in Science and Technology. The Year 5 students created a range of engaging presentations to demonstrate their learning and teach other students from K-6 about our Solar System. We congratulate them on the success of their Gallery Walk and the Planets Expo they provided!!

 

 

 

 

SCHOOL PRIDE HOUSE COMPETITION

In Week 10, our School Pride House Competition was awarded to the students who had collected the most tokens for their house by consistently wearing the correct uniform and participating in Waste Free Wednesday this term. 

Congratulations to St Joseph House (Red) who collected and averaged the most number of tokens this term. Below are the results:

Happy Birthday to the following students and staff who are celebrating their birthday this week :21st September - 27th September

Week 9 - Awards: INFANTS

Congratulations to our  Junior girls relay team who achieved first place today at the Mackillop trials

Students have received their sponsorship booklet and can now create their profile at www.myprofilepage.com.au.

There are big prizes up for grabs! Simply raise $10 to unlock your first incentive prize. The more you raise, the more prizes you will receive.”

VOLUNTEERING

Join us for a day of colour and fun in the sun! We are looking for volunteers to help with our Monty’s Colour Fun Run event on the 26th of September.
If you would like to help and have some fun, please click the link

https://volunteersignup.org/RYQWL

We can’t wait!

Points from the Monday morning assembly!

Here’s how it works:

• The top fundraising class will win a class party AND a mufti day!

• The runner-up class will be treated to ice blocks for everyone!

But that’s not all…

If YOU raise over $50, students will go into the draw to SLIME A TEACHER! That’s right, very soon we’ll announce which lucky teachers will be getting slimed!

To start fundraising, just go online and create your profile page. Once you raise $10, you’ll already start earning prizes!

Now, for our very first leaderboard update:

• In first place we have K Red!

• In second place is 2 Red!

• And in third place is 1 Red!

And a big shoutout to our top three students so far:

• Anthony P in K Red

• Madeline T in 1 Red

• Sparsh S in 3 Blue

So get fundraising, get excited, and get ready… because the Colour Run is going to be epic!

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This Friday is our COLOUR RUN and we’ve got plenty of tasty treats waiting at the finish line!

After students complete their run, they can swing by the canteen and grab an ice-cold Zooper Dooper for just $1 the perfect way to cool down after all that colour fun.

Parents, we’ve got you covered too – a coffee van will be on site to keep you fuelled and cheering.

Eftpos will be available, but cash is preferred for quick and easy service.

Check out the full price list attached below so the kids can plan their post-run treats.

It’s going to be a day full of colour, fun, and plenty of smiles – we can’t wait!

What's On in Campbelltown for the Spring School Holidays?

Come and join us in the Spring School Holidays for a program filled with fun for all ages. There's plenty to do at Campbelltown Billabong Parklands, and Arts Centre, as well as our libraries.

Check out our full program of workshops and activities on our website. Please note that some of the events require booking tickets, so get in quick before they are booked out. 

Campbelltown Council School Holiday Activities

SUPPORTING FAMILIES: WORKING TOGETHER IN A MODERN WORLD

This special one-day event will bring Catholic school parents together from across NSW to explore how we can support and strengthen families in a rapidly changing world. With thought-provoking keynotes, breakout sessions and opportunities for connection, it’s set to be an amazing day not to be missed, and great value at only $30 per ticket!

Featuring:

Dr Justin Coulson, presenting: Sex, Consent and Staying Safe

Michelle Mitchell, presenting: Resilience - The Power of One Caring Adult

Daniel Principe, presenting: Championing Young People in a Digital World

Find out more about the program, speakers and session details on our website:
ccsp.schoolzineplus.com/2025-conference

Secure your ticket now via Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/supporting-families-working-together-in-a-modern-world-registration-1363786414879?aff=oddtdtcreator

We look forward to welcoming you to this milestone event as we celebrate, reflect and look to the future of Catholic education and school + family partnerships!

When: Saturday 25 October 2025

Where: Novotel Parramatta, Sydney

What time: 8:30am – 3:30pm

Cost: $30