Term 4 Week 2

From the Principal

Staff News

At the beginning of 2025, Mr Chris Sheridan will be retiring from teaching after 13 wonderful years at St John the Baptist and a career that spans over 30 years. We are deeply grateful for the dedication, care, and wisdom Chris has brought to our school, and we all wish him all the very best in his retirement which I am sure will including many adventures with his family.

At the end of 2025, Mr Damian Hartigan will be moving to St Columban's, Mayfield. Although his time with us has been brief, Damian has made a meaningful impact on our students and staff, and we thank him for his contributions this year.

Ms Ellen Morgan, who has spent 2025 teaching in Port Macquarie, has decided to remain there after falling in love with the pace and lifestyle. Ellen will not be returning to her role at SJB, and we wish her continued joy and success in her new chapter.

We are incredibly thankful to each of these educators for the role they’ve played in shaping our school and supporting our students. Their presence will be missed, and we look forward to celebrating their contributions as the year draws to a close.

Class placements for 2026

As we begin planning for class placements in 2026, families are invited to share any educational considerations that may support their child’s learning. This is not an opportunity to request specific teachers or friendship groupings—such requests will not be considered. Our goal is to place each student in a learning environment that best supports their educational growth, within the structure of our two-class model. While we value your input, please understand that final decisions are made by the school and will not be revisited once placements are confirmed. Staffing for 2026 is not yet finalised, so no guarantees can be made at this stage.

If you wish to provide input, please email the front office at admin@maitlandsj.catholic.edu.au ATTN: Stacey Whiting by 3:00pm Friday 7^th November.

Gala Days at SJB

Throughout the year, students in the upper grades are given the opportunity to participate in various sporting Gala Days. As a staff, we have reflected on the purpose of these events and made the decision that moving forward, St John the Baptist will only participate in Gala Days for enjoyment and community building. We will no longer be sending teams to compete in formal competitions.

Students will still have the opportunity to trial for representative sports throughout the year if they wish to pursue competitive pathways outside of Gala Days.

If you are attending a Gala Day as a parent or family member, we kindly remind you to uphold the expectations outlined in our Community Code of Conduct, which can be accessed via the Catholic Schools Website. Your support in modelling respectful and positive behaviour is greatly appreciated.

Fortnightly Frames

Assistant Principal News

Welcome back to Term 4!

It is hard to believe we are already at the end of Week 2. It has been wonderful to see our students return calm, enthusiastic, and ready for an exciting final term of learning, fun, and celebration. The weeks ahead are sure to be busy and enjoyable, and before we know it, we will be celebrating the end of another fantastic school year.

As many of you know, our oval is currently under construction, and we are very grateful to All Saints College for generously allowing us to use the senior campus playground during this time. Students in Years 2–6 are encouraged to head over to St Mary’s during recess and lunch, where there is plenty of space to run, play, and burn off energy.

In addition to using St Mary’s oval, we have a variety of lunch clubs available for students who prefer quieter or more structured activities. This term, our clubs include Lego Club, Board Games, Minecraft, Junior Scratch, and Choir. The library is also open every day for those who enjoy reading or quiet activities.

Please find attached our Lunch Club Roster, which you may like to print and keep handy at home.

Religious Education News

As we begin Term 4, we are reminded of the hope and renewal that comes with each new season. This term offers a special opportunity to reflect on the journey we've been walking together both spiritually, academically, and as a community of faith.

In Religious Education, we’ll continue nurturing our students’ understanding of Gospel values, encouraging them to live with compassion, courage, and kindness. With Confirmation recently celebrated and Advent approaching, it’s a beautiful time to deepen our connection to Christ and prepare our hearts for the joy of Christmas. See below some of the wonderful work Year 3 have produced while learning about symbols and some information about our upcoming Mass which Year 3 and Year 1 will be attending together.

Catholic Social Justice

Catholic Social Justice calls us to recognise the inherent dignity of every person and to work toward a world where all can flourish. Inspired by the teachings of Jesus, it challenges us to care for the poor, protect the vulnerable, and promote the common good. This mission is vital in our modern world, where inequality and injustice persist. By embracing these principles, we strive to create a more compassionate and equitable society, reflecting God’s love in action. At St John the Baptist, we encourage our community to be voices for the voiceless and stewards of peace and justice in their daily lives.

SJB students are invited to bring 1-2 food items to contribute to the Mini Vinnies Christmas Appeal or alternatively you can donate toiletry items. Donations are being gratefully accepted now and through until Wednesday 3 December, 2025. The St Vincent De Paul society will take these donations and make food hampers for local families. This Christmas appeal is a tangible way to share God’s love with the most vulnerable in our community.

Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Education

At St John the Baptist, we are committed to creating a culturally safe and inclusive environment for all students. If your child or family identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, or you have Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage, we warmly invite you to let us know — if and when you feel ready. Sharing this information helps us to walk alongside your child in ways that support their:

• Spiritual wellbeing
• Cultural identity
• Academic growth
• Social and emotional needs

It also allows us to:

• Celebrate identity and story
• Strengthen connections with community
• Offer culturally responsive support

Identifying is always your choice. If you'd like to update your child's enrolment details, please contact the school office at admin@maitlandsj.catholic.edu.au.

Your culture is valued. Your story is honoured. Your child is celebrated.

Sport

NSWPSSA Athletics Carnival

On Thursday Marlowe, Phoebe, Ayla and Hannah competed at the NSWPSSA Athletics carnival for 4x 100 metre Junior girls relay, they came 4th in their heat, 23rd out of 40 overall!

This is a fantastic result, we are very proud of them!

Class Awards

Congratulations to our class award winners for Week 1 & 2!

Kindergarten: Sophie D, Ariella G, Liam M, Boston W, William M, Flynn H

Year 1: Arlo M, Ivy M, Austyn G

Year 2:  Lexi C, Willa T, Chloe N

Year 3: William, Georgie, Lily-Grace, Charlie D, Arlo b, Vincent N

Year 4: Oliver B, Georgia P, Marianne N, Beau G, Lyrah F, Aviella G

Year 5: Allie B, Lachlan C, Annabelle T

Year 6: Zavier N, Ellie P, Lucille F,

Canteen

We’re Always Happy to Have Parent Volunteers in the Canteen!

If you’d like to help fortnightly, monthly, by the term or even just for one day, please email the office with the days you’re available: admin@maitlandsj.catholic.edu.au

The canteen operates from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, but we appreciate any time you can offer!

Important: Catholic Schools require all volunteers to be cleared before participating. If you are not sure if you are cleared please contact our office.

To get started, please complete the volunteer clearance form at the link below:

https://mn.catholic.org.au/about/working-in-the-diocese/volunteer/

Thank-you for your support!