Term 2 Week 10

From the Principal

NAIDOC Week Celebration

This week, we proudly celebrated NAIDOC Week at St John the Baptist, embracing the 2025 theme: “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.”

Although we were unable to attend the whole-school celebration at All Saints College due to the wet weather, a group of our students represented SJB with pride at a special community NAIDOC event.

At school, we marked the week through prayer, reflection and music, honouring the rich cultures, histories and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. A highlight was a powerful performance of "Our Voice”, led by Emma, a guest singer from All Saints College, who also wrote and composed the song. As a community we sang ‘You’re the Voice’ which was a meaningful way to celebrate the enduring strength of First Nations voices and the role our students play in carrying forward a legacy of respect, unity and truth.

Think Tank Time

We’re excited to introduce Think Tank Time – a new learning initiative launching in Term 3 at SJB. A small group of students from across year levels have been invited to take part in this creative, multi-age program designed to extend critical thinking, collaboration and problem-solving skills.

Led by Mrs Whiting, Mrs Lindus, Mrs MacFadyen and myself, students will work together on a meaningful project, with the exciting opportunity to collaborate with a published author and create a final product ready for publication.

We can’t wait to see what our young thinkers produce as they explore big ideas and work together in new and creative ways.

Term 2

As we reach the end of Term 2, I want to take a moment to thank our students, staff and families for another fantastic term at St John the Baptist. It has been a joy to watch our students grow in confidence, resilience and curiosity, and to witness the warmth and strength of our school community each day.

This term has been full of special moments – from the introduction of our Golden Gotcha awards, to the celebration of Catholic Schools Week and St John the Baptist’s Feast Day. Our students represented SJB with pride at our School Athletics Carnival, Regional Athletics and Celebrate! choir performance, and our Year 6 students enjoyed a memorable and educational trip to Canberra. Despite the many wet weather days, our students showed incredible adaptability and a positive attitude throughout.

A sincere thank you to our amazing staff for their continued commitment, care and energy. Your dedication to each child’s learning and wellbeing is what makes our school so special.

Wishing all our families a safe, restful and joy-filled holiday break. We look forward to seeing you back in Term 3, refreshed and ready for more exciting learning and connection.

Fortnightly Frames

Assistant Principal News

Semester 1 Student Reports

Semester 1 student reports will be available from Friday 4 July on Compass. These formal reports provide an overview of your child’s progress across Terms 1 and 2, reflecting their achievements in relation to the curriculum outcomes taught during this period. The report is informed by a range of assessment methods, including formative and summative tasks, bookwork, classroom observations, work samples, and teacher reflections.

Student-Led Conferences

A reminder student-led conferences will take place during Weeks 1 and 2 of Term 3. This is an opportunity for students to take ownership of their learning by discussing their progress, sharing examples of their work, and setting goals for the semester ahead. These conferences promote student voice and build confidence as learners reflect on their growth and next steps. Bookings are now open and have been extended until Friday 11 July.

Class Showcases

In addition to student-led conferences, parents and carers will also be invited to attend class showcases from next term. Showcases provide a snapshot into the learning environment and classroom experiences. Students will proudly present a variety of work samples across key learning areas—this may include writing samples, artwork, inquiry projects, digital media, or performances. Class showcases are an informal and celebratory way for families to engage with their child’s learning and connect with the school community. Dates for showcases will be confirmed early next term. 

Refugee Week Reflection

In recognition of Refugee Week, students had the opportunity to hear Mrs Whiting’s powerful and personal recount of her family’s journey as refugees from war-torn Vietnam. Her heartfelt story gave students a deeper, and especially meaningful, understanding of the refugee experience.

Primary Coordinator News

My Underpants Rule!

All classes have been reading My Underpants Rule!

This engaging, colourful and age-appropriate book is shared with students’ multiple times throughout their primary school years to reinforce a vital message.

The story addresses protective behaviours in a child-friendly way. It clearly defines appropriate and inappropriate behaviours relating to our private parts (using correct anatomical terms), teaches safe and unsafe touch, and helps children understand what to do if they ever feel unsafe.

If your child comes home talking about the book, ask if they remember the catchy rhyme—it’s a great way to open a conversation about body safety.

Teaching protective behaviours helps children feel empowered, confident, and prepared to respond if they’re ever faced with an uncomfortable or unsafe situation.

Religious Education

Celebrating NAIDOC Week

This week, we gathered as a school community to reflect on this year’s NAIDOC theme, The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy. Through prayer, song, and storytelling, we celebrated the deep spiritual connection First Nations Peoples have with the land and acknowledged their enduring contributions to our shared story. All Saints College invited SJB to join with them for a NAIDOC liturgy. Unfortunately, due to the weather, the whole school were not able to attend. Some of our students and staff were able to attend the modified liturgy. It was a meaningful opportunity for us to learn, listen, and walk together.

Year 6 Religious Education

In Religious Education, Year 6 have been working on a unit titled “Beliefs”. They are developing an understanding of the foundations of Catholic belief as expressed in the Creed and the Catechism. They have been exploring the Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene Creed and have enjoyed demonstrating their learning by creating a podcast about this topic.

The K-4 Religious Education curriculum is driven by the Pedagogy of Encounter, it is about encountering the mystery of God through the mystery of everyday life. It encourages, knowledge gathering and deconstruction and reconstruction, as well as a search for personal meaning. Here are some photos of Year 2 demonstrating the Pedagogy of Encounter in action in the playground at lunchtime creating sacred spaces.

NAIDOC Week Diocesan Invitations

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Ministry in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle warmly invites our community to dual events that celebrate the 50th Anniversary of NAIDOC Week.

Sports News

Polding Rugby Union

Congratulations to Zac, Max, Pat and Cooper who represented Maitland Newcastle at the Rugby in Forbes on Monday. Well done to Zac who made possibles and probable's and Max who was selected in the Polding team for the NSWPSSA Rugby Championships next month.

Regional Athletics

Congratulations to the 49 students who were selected to represent St John the Baptist at the Regional Athletics Carnival on Wednesday. The students competed in the wind and rain and showed incredible talent. A big thanks to Pat, Zali, Zac, Lucille, Cohen and GiGi who assisted staff at the carnival. Shout out to the staff who also came along to assist Mrs Murdoch, Miss Foxx, Mrs Summerville, Mrs Murphy, Mrs Ferguson and Mrs Jackson.

 We are so excited to have 12 students heading off to the DIO carnival next month. 

Polding Touch Trials

Well done to Ellie, Cooper and Ethan who attended the Polding Touch selections at Lake Cathie on Thursday.  Congratulations to Ethan who has made the Polding team!

School Athletics Carnival ribbons assembly

We have had many students and parents asking when the ribbon assembly will be held for our school carnival. We are waiting for the champions trophies to arrive and will hold the assembly next term. A notice will go on Compass as soon as a date is set.  

Class Awards

Congratulations to our class award winners for Week 9 & 10!

Kindergarten: Ellis K, Cooper S, Lucy L, James A, Lily M

Year 1: Henley W, Benjamin N, Riley F, Jesse K, Grayson TR 

Year 2: Lincoln W, Lexi C,

Year 3: Victoria P, Reuben R, Dakota R, Hunter T, Liam W

Year 4: Hannah F, Jacob P, Lily C, Beau G, Lainey M

Year 5: James B, Halle c, Elle A, Jack W, Beau h, Jeet S, Elizabeth L, Avielle C

Year 6: Max M, Mason E, Stella L, Matilda F, Toby G, Dylan G, Luke R 

SRC

A big thank you to our Semester 1 SRC representatives for their wonderful efforts. Your thoughtful ideas, commitment to lunchtime meetings, and willingness to speak up on behalf of your peers have been greatly appreciated. You’ve done a fantastic job representing the student body. 

Thank you, Dottie B, Arnold B, Ned A, Isabella T, Oakland C, Isabella N, Parks B, Cleo L, Quinn D, James J, Theo L, Georgia N, Archer D, Maddalyn M, James B, Isabelle H, George A, Caleb C, Luca H and Mason E. 

Finance

A friendly reminder that Annual Fee payments were due in full by 30 June 2025. If you opted to pay in instalments, you should now have paid approximately half of your total fees.

To help you stay on track, suggested weekly, fortnightly, or monthly payment amounts are listed at the bottom of your fee statement. Statements have been emailed from head office, if you have not received a statement please contact our office.

The full balance is due by 30 November 2025.

Payments can be made via BPAY, or you can contact the office if you’d like to request a Direct Debit form.

If you are paying more than the required amount, the extra funds will be held as a credit on your account and applied to next year’s fees.

Please reach out to the office if you need any support or have questions about your fee payments.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need any assistance.