Term 4 Week 4

From the Principal

All Saints and All Souls Day

As we move through November, we are reminded of the special celebrations that mark the beginning of the month in our Catholic tradition. All Saints' Day on November 1 and All Souls' Day on November 2 are two important days that invite us to pause and remember those who have gone before us.

On All Saints’ Day, we celebrate the lives of all the saints—both known and unknown—who  are powerful examples of faith and virtue. At school, we encourage students to think about how they can follow the example of these saints in small, meaningful ways, from acts of kindness to making positive choices each day.

The following day, on All Souls' Day, we dedicate our thoughts and prayers to all the souls of our loved ones who have passed. This is a time to honour their memory and to pray for their eternal peace. In many classrooms, students have been invited to remember family members, friends, and community members who are no longer with us, allowing them to connect with the Church’s tradition of praying for the dead.

May the example of the saints guide us, and may the memories of those we love bring us comfort and peace.

School Sports Shirt

Last term I asked all families, staff and student to vote on their preference for our students sport shirt. Thank you to all families who completed this survey last term. The votes are in and the results are as follows:

With over 70% of votes, Option 3 emerged as the clear favorite. We’re excited to announce that we’ll proceed with this design, and the new shirt will be available starting in 2026. Students can continue to wear the current white sports shirt until the end of 2028.

Fortnightly Frames - Around St John the Baptist

Assistant Principal News

PB4L Focus: “Community – Be Responsible”
This fortnight, we are focusing on the PB4L pillar of “Community,” specifically on the theme: Be Responsible and Accept Responsibility for Your Actions. Our teachers have been delivering explicit lessons to help students understand what it means to take ownership of their actions and how to demonstrate responsibility both in and outside of the classroom. While accepting responsibility for mistakes can be challenging, it is an essential life skill. It is important that students recognise that mistakes are not failures, but opportunities for growth and learning. A big congratulations to all the students who have received “Gotchas” this week for demonstrating responsibility in their actions! Keep up the great work!

Bus Expectations: Safety and Responsibility on the Bus
We would also like to remind all families of the importance of following our school’s processes and PB4L expectations when traveling to and from school on the bus. While there is no direct adult supervision on the buses, it is crucial that students make safe and respectful choices during their travels. Any incidents involving St John the Baptist students not making good choices on the bus will be addressed using our school policies and processes, in line with our commitment to maintaining a safe and positive environment for all students.

Thank you for your support in reinforcing these expectations with your children.

School Uniform

Thank you to all students who consistently come to school wearing the correct uniform. It is always wonderful to receive compliments from our casual teachers about how lovely and presentable our students look. Your commitment to maintaining our school’s uniform standards is greatly appreciated.We understand that, from time to time, there may be challenges—whether it’s misplaced shoes, missing socks, or the inevitable growth spurts that occur at this time of year. We are very understanding that these things can happen. However, we kindly ask that parents and carers make every effort to ensure that students are in full uniform each day.Taking the necessary steps to replace or resolve any uniform issues helps to reinforce our school’s values of pride, respect, and community. Thank you for your continued support in ensuring that all students are dressed appropriately for school.Please note our uniform expectations as documented in our uniform policy below. 

• If students are unable to wear the correct uniform, please send in a note or email to the class teacher. 
• If students are not wearing the correct uniform, they will be verbally reminded about expectations of uniform. Students will be given a week to ensure that they are able to access the correct uniform. 
• If students continue to wear incorrect uniform, a letter / email through Compass will be sent home to parents by the class teacher identifying the uniform needing to be corrected. 
• Once this letter is sent home and time has been given for the correct uniform to be sought (one week), if the incorrect uniform is still being worn, parents and students will be asked to meet with a member of the Leadership team to discuss school uniform expectations. Class teachers to monitor the length of time from sending email home and uniform not being changed. 
• If you require any support in providing the school uniform for your students, please do not hesitate to contact the school.  

Year 5 Leadership Retreat

Last week, our Year 5 students took part in a special leadership retreat, a formative experience focused on developing the values and skills needed to lead with faith, truth and integrity. Students engaged in activities and reflections centered on the teachings of Jesus and the qualities of servant leadership. Through team-building exercises, prayer sessions, and discussions, the students deepened their understanding of responsibility, empathy, and commitment to their school and community. We are so proud of our Year 5 students for embracing this opportunity, and we look forward to seeing them grow as leaders in the spirit of compassion and service. 

Today was really fun. We worked together in lots of groups. There was a lot of teamwork. We needed each other to complete the activities. It wouldn’t have been as easy to do them by ourselves. We learnt a lot about how to be a true leader even though our teachers already knew we are already leaders.  Macey S 

Leadership retreat was fun. We had to lead each other and learn how to be better leaders. We shared a good lunch and learnt a lot. Cooper C 

A blind fold activity was my favourite because it improved my trust with friends. It was good to spend that time with each other. Siobhan M 

There were lots of fun team work activities which made us think about how we help others. We worked with different people, not just friends, so we got to find out each other’s strengths. Edie D 

2025 Travel Passes - Applications now open

School Travel Passes

Applications are now open for 2025 School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) travel. 

Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their School Opal card at their nominated postal address from mid-January 2025.

Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply or update their details as soon as possible.

In the Opal network, students should travel with a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card. If outside Greater Sydney, parents should contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs.

Students living in rural and regional areas will receive their travel pass from their nominated transport operator. It may be issued via their school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some rural and regional operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.

Class Awards

Congratulations to our class award winners for Week 3 & 4!

Kindergarten - Daphne H, Grayson T-R, Ryker L

Year 1 - Lexi C, Finn V, Dottie B, Arnie B, Harry B, Evie M

Year 2 - Kim B, Lily-Grace M, Hunter T, Lilly B, Charlotte B, Logan L

Year 3 - Harry B, Lyrah F, James J, Mila C

Year 4 - Ethan B, James B, Miranda H, Maddalyn M, Patrick P, Zoe C, Elle A, Ethan M, Olive P

 Year 5 - Ruby A, Edie d, Noah G, Leo P, Cohen B, Billy D, Zac P, Emily T

Year 6 - Owen L, Frankie L, Loagin C, Eadie G, Jake H, Roxy d, Lana M, Nicholas A

Sacraments of Initiation