Term 1 Week 5
From the Principal
The Catholic Church is preparing to celebrate the Jubilee Year in 2025, a time of renewal, pilgrimage, and deepening faith. Pope Francis has declared this a "Jubilee of Hope," inviting all to reflect on God’s mercy and grace. To mark this special occasion, a regional celebration will be held in Newcastle on Sunday, 2nd March, bringing together Catholic communities from across the diocese in prayer and thanksgiving. This gathering will be a wonderful opportunity to share in the joy of our faith and unite in the spirit of the Jubilee.
The morning will start at 8am with a walk from Foreshore Park to Sacred Heart Cathedral (4km) 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.
Afternoon Pick Up Procedures
Thank you for your patience as we begin to embed the after school pick up procudres. After two years, we no longer have building works on site so are reverting to our processes from 2022. I have attached a copy of these processes, which can also find on Compass (in School documentation --> Parent communication --> SJB Pick Up processes).
With the school the largest it has ever been it is important that each student and their family are aware of the school expectations when departing of any afternoon. I can inderstand that at times this may not be the most direct way but these identified exit areas are to ensure the safety of all of our students. I appreciate your assistance in ensuring these processes are adhered to.
Upcoming Parent and Carer Webinars
Please see below a list of parent and carer information webinars, offered by reputable providers over the coming weeks. These webinars are free to attend and may assist you in supporting the learning and wellbeing of your child. For more information relating to these webinars, please click on the host and registration links provided.
In addition, parents and carers can access School TV at any time via our school’s website, by typing ‘School TV’ in the search function (there, you will short videos, fact sheets and special reports on a variety of topics including Cyber Safety, Mental Health, Positive Parenting, School Survival, Diversity and Inclusion and Health Bodies).
Date | Time | Topic | Summary | Webinar hosts | Registration link |
Week 6 | |||||
Wednesday 5 March | 12.30pm-1.00pm | Dream Big- Careers webinar for parents and carers of Primary School children | This webinar helps parents spark early career curiosity in their children by encouraging them to explore a wide range of professions, dream big, and see the world of work as exciting and full of possibilities. Through storytelling, books, role models, and hands-on activities, parents will learn practical ways to nurture their child’s interests and imagination. The session also introduces parents and carers to interactive tools and resources designed for young learners | Catholic Council of School Parents NSW/ACT And | https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OIfrz5HiStiaWfivcPq6ZQ#/registration |
Week 7 | |||||
Wednesday 12 March | 7.30pm-8.45pm | The Big 6 Skills that Create Wellbeing in Children and Teens | Presented by clinical psychologist, author, speaker and creator of Learning Strengths™, Andrew Fuller. Topics covered as part of this session include:
The presentation will be drawn partly from Andrew’s books ‘Tricky Behaviours’ and ‘From Surviving to Thriving promoting mental health in young people’. Following the presentation, parents and carers will be invited to ask questions. | Federation of P&F Associations | https://mncatholic.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ShlyHy1STeum2Nl5gOohfQ |
Fortnightly Frames
Thank you Green Team!! SJB Green team is already hard at work ensuring that our school environment is cared for.
Our Kindergarten students met Bear today, our therapy dog. They can't wait to welcome him into the classroom.
Congratulations to the SJB students preparing to celebrate their Sacraments of Initation. It was wonderful to see them commence this preparation.
It is always a wonderful way to start the day to see our students hard at play before school.
Thank you to all the parents and teachers who have made time to meet this week at Parent Teacher meetings.
On the warm days we are so lucky to have our library open to explore and play in!
Assistant Principal News
Each year, students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 participate in the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). This program assesses key literacy and numeracy skills that are essential for students' academic success and future endeavours. The NAPLAN tests are designed to monitor students' progress in these critical areas, which include reading, writing, conventions of language (spelling, grammar, and punctuation), and numeracy. The results provide valuable data for schools, helping to identify students' strengths and areas for improvement. This information is used to inform teaching practices and guide the development of learning goals for both students and the school.
NAPLAN testing is conducted online, utilising a platform that offers 'tailored testing.' This approach adapts the difficulty of questions to match each student’s ability, ensuring a more accurate and meaningful assessment.
From Wednesday, March 12 to Monday 24 March, students in Years 3 and 5 will participate in NAPLAN Online. The only exception is the Year 3 writing test, which will still be administered on paper.
Prior to the official testing, all students in Years 3 and 5 will log into the NAPLAN browser and complete a set of sample questions. This will allow them to become familiar with the platform, the test format, and the various online tools available to them.
If you have any questions regarding NAPLAN testing, please feel free to contact the school. For further information about NAPLAN, please visit the following link:
Acting Primary Coordinator News
Bus Safety Week
This week, students have been learning about the importance of bus safety for Bus Safety Week. Our Year 6 Leaders did an amazing job leading our school assembly to teach the school about the importance of being safe while we're waiting for the bus, when we're on the bus and when we're getting off the bus. All classes participated in bus safety activities in class and it was great to see everyone sharing their knowledge of bus safety. Please see the brochure in the link below with information to help support your children to understand the importance of bus safety.
https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/system/files/media/documents/2023/bus_safety_for_school_students_0.pdf
PB4L
To start the term, SJB has been focusing on the Dominican Pillar of Study with our PBL Focus, Be a Learner.
Students have been working hard to;
-Try their best and particiapte
-Listen and follow instructions
Our Year 6 Mini-Vinnies leaders have been doing a great job in promoting our focus during morning assemblies and students have been earning lots of gotchas for being great learners.
Religious News
Sporting News
DIO Swimming
Congratulations to Emmett, Ellie, Ayla, Harper, Lainey, Hannah and Harry who competed at the DIO Swimming Carnival on Wednesday. We are excited to announce that Ellie, Ayla and Harry will be heading to Sydney to compete at the Polding Swimming Championships in April.
PSSA Cricket
Congratulations to Max who competed at the NSWPSSA Cricket Championships this week!
P&F News
Class Awards
Congratulations to our class award winners for Week 4 & 5!
Kindergarten: Flynn H, Lucy L, Quinn W, Lola C, Lewis K, Darcy R
Year 1: Allie F, Taya M, Jude S, Alexis B, Jackson M, Daphne H
Year 2: Chayse D, Huxley A, Ella A
Year 3: Lily-Grace M, William F, Eli M
Year 4: Yoannis N, Aviella G, Max L, Alex N, Will S, Marianne N
Year 5: Elle A, Madeline F, Maxwell T
Year 6: Harper B, Henry O, Zali D, Antonio G, River C, Gracie S
Largs Youth Group – Fun, Faith & Friendship!
Every Wednesday | 5:30 PM
Holy Family Largs Hall (11 John St Largs)
Looking for a place to have fun, connect, and grow in your faith? Largs Youth Group is the perfect spot! Each week, we bring you epic games, creative projects, skill-building activities, and awesome friendships—plus a hot meal to enjoy together! It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about the Catholic faith and what it means to live it out.
This week’s challenge: Bible Battle Team Trivia! Test your knowledge, win a prize, and have a blast!
Want to join? Scan the QR code below—we’d love to see you there! 🙌
