Term 1 Week 3

From the Principal - Welcome to 2025!

I am excited to welcome to St John the Baptist Primary School for 2025! Last week we welcomed all students to school including our new Kindergarten students, the class of 2031!

New staff

This year we also welcome new staff to the school, Mr Conor Murphy - year 5Blue, Ms Georgia Brimble - year 2Blue (Term 1), Mr Damian Hartigan - year 1White, Ms Kate Burgess - Specialist Teacher (Stage 3 - Term 1) and Ms Maddie Webb - specialist teacher (Kindergarten - Term 1). This term we also welcome Ms Sophie Ballinger to the role of School Psychologist. Ms Ballinger will be working with Krystle Perrin over the coming weeks to ensure that there is a thorough handover for our school.  I look forward to introducing these staff members to you at upcoming events and look forward working with them throughout the term. 

Opening Mass

Yesterday Fr Anil led our school community in our opening school Mass, a beautiful and uplifting way to begin the year. Gathered in faith, we reflected on our shared mission and asked for God’s guidance and blessings for the year ahead. Each class prepared a prayer cloth to be blessed in the Mass, which will be used in ecah classroom throughout the year. Our student leaders for 2025 were blessed by Fr Anil and I am confident that they will be fabulous leaders throughout the year for our community.

Before and after school procedures

It has been wonderful to catch up with many families in the morning and afternoon as the year has commenced. Over the weekend a Compass update will be provided for all families inregards to our processes of a morning and afternoon. Can I please ask that you take the time to read through this information and ensure that any family members that may pick up your child are also aware of our expectations. If you require any clarification, please do not hesitate to contact the front office.

Staff Development Days

Our staff kicked off the year with a sense of excitement and anticipation for the learning adventures that lie ahead! I am incredibly grateful to the Catholic Schools Office (CSO) for their ongoing support of both our staff and students. Special thanks to Mr. Marc Hattam from the Digital Team, Narelle Cross, who has been working closely with our beginning teachers, and Ms. Lizzie Watkins, our Family Engagement Officer. We are excited to welcome more CSO representatives throughout the year to further enrich our community.

Before our students arrived, our dedicated staff spent the first two days reflecting on our 2025 Strategic Plan and exploring innovative ways to teach mathematics across the school. This focus will remain a key priority for both our teachers and students throughout the year. I look forward to hearing about your child’s growth in this area and encourage them to share their learning journey with you.

Upcoming Events

Over the coming weeks we have a number of events that offer you an oppurtunity to gather with our school community:

* Our first Parents and Friends meeting for this year will be on Wednesday, 19th February at 9:30am, which I encourage all parents and families to attend.

* Wednesday the 19th February, commencing at 5:30 - 6:15 will be our parent information night, which is an opportunity to meet with your student's teacher and see their learning spaces.

* Our Parent Led Conferences will commence in week 5 (the week commencing 24th February 2025). Booking times for these interviews will be open through Compass on Wednesday 19th February. If you are unable to find a time to meet with your teacher through this booking system, please do not hesitate to contact the school to arrange an alternate time. These conferences allow parents to discuss any concerns or future goals that you may have for your child this year.

* It will be great to gather with all of our school community at the P&F Welcome Disco on Thursday 13th March commencing at 5:00pm at school.

2026 Enrolments - Kindergarten and Year 7

It is hard to believe that we are already starting to prepare for 2026 but please be aware that enrolments for 2026 Kindergarten and Year 7 will officially open on Monday the 17th February. This process occurs online through our school or diocese website, or alternatively, you can follow this link. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our enrolment officer at school.

As we commence a new school year, I am excited about the opportunities ahead for our students, staff, and families. Together, I am look forward to building on our supportive and enriching environment where every child can thrive. Thank you for being part of our wonderful school community—I look forward to a fantastic year ahead!

Kate Ferguson

Principal

Fortnightly Frames

Assistant Principal News

Welcome back to our all students and families. I hope you had a wonderful holiday, are well rested and had plenty of time to recharge. In addition to my role as Assistant Principal, I will continue as Pedagogical Mentor, working alongside teachers in enhancing pedagogical practices to improve student learning outcomes. I look forward to working in collaboration with staff and students throughout the year. I am also privileged to support our EAL/D students. Having been an EAL/D learner myself, I understand both the challenges and the richness of maintaining one’s first language and culture while mastering English. This role is close to my heart, and I am excited to walk alongside our students on their journey.

Safer Internet Day -Learn about online safety this Safer Internet Day 

Safer Internet Day is a Global Day of Action was marked on 11 February 2025. Our students took part in discussions and watching short videos informing them about the tools to stay safe online. Please see the links below as a resource for your family.  Led by the eSafety Commissioner in Australia, Safer Internet Day highlights the importance of online safety issues and aims to foster a safer and more positive digital culture and environment within our communities. It is an important annual reminder to educate ourselves and others on being safe online. Here are 5 tips to help create a safer internet experience: 

1. Be kind: practice respect, empathy and kindness online 
2. Be mindful: balance your time online and consume and share positive and respectful content 
3. Speak up: report online abuse and harmful content 
4. Start the conversation: talk about online safety with your networks and communities, family, friends and colleagues 
5. Share online safety resources: promote online safety tools and tips with your community 

Access additional resources from the eSafety Commissioner below: 

• https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents 
• https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people 
•  https://padlet.com/childprotection/resources-for-primary-school-students-ta8uzzgbz8vlvku0

Catholic Identity News

Welcome back to a new school year! As we begin this journey together, we embrace our theme:

"Walking Together in 2025"

Our image was created by our Aboriginal Education Teacher, Miss McBlane. Here is some information about the symbolism contained within this image:

2025 is a significant year for the Catholic Church and the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle as we join Pope Francis’ invitation to celebrate a Jubilee Year. Pope Francis has designated the 2025 Holy Year as a time to renew ourselves as “Pilgrams of hope”.

The Diocesan invites you to a Sunday morning of family, fun, free food trucks and ice cream, amusements, entertainment, and an obstacle course taking over the Cathedral Precinct on March 2nd. It all begins with a walk from Foreshore Park all the way to Sacred Heart Cathedral (4km) at 8am with Bishop Michael – our chance to be Pilgrims of Hope! Walk side by side with families and staff from our parishes, schools, agencies and ministries and then join us for Mass at 10am before the Festival of Hope kicks off at 11am.

Save the date! Chisholm Pastoral Region Welcome to Kinder Mass has been scheduled for Sunday 9th March at 6pm St Joseph's Church, East Maitland. All our Chisholm Region Kinder students are invited to attend this special Mass.

Sporting News

School Swimming Carnival

Congratulations to the place winners from our school swimming carnival who received ribbons at the assembly on Friday.
A huge congratulations to the following age champions: 

Junior boys: Riley Prescott

Junior girls: Ayla Hansen

11 year boys: Patrick Parish

11 year girls: Grace Larkman

Senior boys: Emmett Rainbow

Senior girls: Ellie Prescott

Tennis Trials

Congratulations to Genevive Threlfo who was successful last week at the Polding trials in Tamworth.

All the best at the state competition later in the year! 

Class Awards

Congratulations to our award winners for Week 2 and 3!

Kindergarten: Hamish T, Luka P, Adalyn L, William M, Odette P, Klaire F

Year 1: Torfvie H, Frankie D, Olive C 

Year 2: Teddy J, Theo P, Elijah W, Mackenzie J, Stella K, Finn V, Charlie D 

Year 3: Peyton F, Will S, Alex B, Parks B, Penny, Grayson 

Year 4: Mila C, Kaiden M, William M, Hugo G, Harper A, Winton P, Theo L, Harlow B 

Year 5: Ethan C, Violet K, Olive P, Hamish M, Isabelle H, Halle C, Beau H

Year 6: William D, Logan H, Lachlan H, Declan B, Cohen B, Tiffany C, Macey S 

ASPIRE 2025

Please find below flyers for ASPIRE in relation to:

2025 ASPIRE Calendar

2025 ASPIRE WOW Gallery

2025 ASPIRE Create Choreographic Dance

2025 ASPIRE Junior Theatre Makers Program

Finance

We understand that navigating school fees can be a bit overwhelming, so we want to provide you with some friendly guidance regarding payments for the upcoming year.

Your child's education is our top priority, and the fees you contribute go towards creating the best possible learning environment for them. We truly appreciate your ongoing support!

You can begin making payments for the 2025 school year now, but please ensure they're underway by March 31st, 2025. Your fees for 2025 should be showing on your Compass account by Thursday 20th February 2025. Keep an eye on your email inbox during the first week of March for statements.

2025 St Johns Primary School Fee breakdown:

· 2025 Primary Tuition Fee $1645.00 This fee is payable for each child. These are set annually by the Diocesan Catholic Schools Board. Families with more than one child attending Catholic School in the Diocese may qualify for a family discount. Additionally, concessions are available for Health Care/Pension cardholders, please contact the office for more information.

· 2025 Diocesan Family Building Levy (DFSBL) $1794.00

This fee is payable once per family - billed against the oldest child attending a Catholic School. This levy goes towards building projects across all schools in the Diocese, ensuring quality facilities for all students.

· 2025 Resource Fee $600.00: This fee is payable for each child. This fee covers various school resources, educational activities, textbooks, day excursions, and more.

We understand that financial circumstances can vary, and we're here to support you. If you're experiencing hardship or need to discuss payment arrangements, please reach out to the School Principal or Finance Officer. These conversations are confidential, and we're committed to finding a solution that works for you.

Statements will now be automatically generated at the beginning of each month, and sent from a no-reply email address. Please ensure you check your email, including junk folders, for these important communications.

Remember, if you're paying in instalments (weekly, fortnightly, or monthly) - payments must be started by March 31st, 2025. We can calculate the amount you need to pay (weekly, fortnightly, or monthly) to have your fees paid in full by the due date of 30 November 2025. We prefer BPAY (Bpay details are on your fee statement) but also accept cash or credit cards in our school office. If you are paying your fees in one payment, this must be finalised by 30 June 2024.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact us. We're here to help!

Kind regards,

Lesley Minter

School Finance Officer