2 June 2023

Principal’s Message – Kate Ferguson

Engagement

Congratulations to Zoe Dean (Class teacher – 4W) and her fiancé, Tom (a fellow primary teacher) on their recent engagement! We are thrilled to celebrate this Zoe and Tom and with the rest of the school community we pass on our well wishes and blessings for the future.

May God grant them love and happiness,
Peace and joy,
And strength in trials,
All the days of their life together.
Amen

Wellbeing Week

This week we have recognised the importance of looking after our own wellbeing at school and at home. Students have explored different ways to look after their own wellbeing including spending time outside, being thankful and engaging in music and dance. The wonderfully whacky hats on Wednesday definitely brought a smile to many!

Reports

On Friday 16^th June our Academic reports will be released to all families through Compass. These reports identify

• Student attendance
• The explanation of the grade scale used
• A report for each key learning area in line with the syllabus requirements using a 5 point scale.

Following this academic report we will be hosting three way conversations, with students, parents and teachers in the last two weeks of school. Bookings for these conversations will open next Friday, 9^th June.

We look forward to talking with you about your students learning and how we can join together in partnership to continue to support the learning and development of your child.

Uniform

As we now are in Winter, students are expected to wear the correct winter uniform. As the uniform has changed a few misunderstandings of the uniform have been noticed. Please be aware of the following:

• Students are expected to wear black leather shoes with their uniform, this does not include boots or black sneakers
• All students are able to wear earrings (one hole with sleepers or studs), a bangle (simple), a simple chain with cross. All other jewellery is not acceptable.
• Hair below shoulder length (girls or boys) is to be pulled back
• Majority white shoes for sport
• Socks are not to have any logos or prints.
• Ties are a part of the school uniform for boys amd shorter ties for girls if they are not wearing the pinafore
• Navy tights for girls wearing the pinafore or skirt.

If students are not wearing the correct uniform the following process will occur inline with our uniform policy:

• If students are unable to wear the correct uniform, parents are asked to 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.

If you require any support in providing the school uniform for your students, please do not hesitate to contact your class teacher or myself.

Assistant Principal’s Message – Stacey Whiting

Well-Being Week!

Our mental health and wellbeing are just as important as our physical health. Positive mental health and wellbeing enables us to function well, have meaningful social connections, positive self-esteem and be able to cope with challenges we may come across.  

 At St John the Baptist, Week 6 of each term is “Wellbeing Week.” It is a week that we focus on slowing down and engaging in activities and practices that promote an awareness of the importance of looking after our mental health and wellbeing. Our staff organised a few fun activities for our students this week to promote a positive wellbeing.

Music Monday-Music was played at lunch time for students to dance and groove to!

Time Outside Tuesday-Students were given the opportunity to have 10 minutes of time outside to draw, read a book, or simply have a quiet chat to a friend.

Wacky Hat Wednesday-Students were invited to wear a crazy hat for a bit of fun!

 Thankful Thursday-Students took time to reflect on a few things that they are thankful for.

 Free Time Friday-Who doesn’t love a half hour of free time with their friends on a Friday afternoon?

 There are many things we can do daily to improve our wellbeing, including: 

• Eating well
• Staying active and exercising
• Connecting with others
• Getting enough sleep
• Taking a break
• Asking for help
   
  We hope that all students, staff and families enjoyed a bit of down time during Wellbeing Week.
  
  For more information on ways to improve your mental health and wellbeing, visit:
  
  https://headspace.org.au/young-people/tips-for-a-healthy-headspace/ 

Catholic Schools Week Mass

Last Monday 22 May, I had the privilege of attending our annual Catholic Schools Week Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral with our School Captains. Not only did our 4 captains look distinguished, but they were also incredibly respectful, well-mannered and polite. They certainly represented our school with pride and I was very proud to be there with them.

School Photo Day

Our school photos will be taken on Friday 16^th of June. Please ensure all children come to school looking their best in correct winter uniform. This year MSP Photography will be taking our school photos and all orders are to be placed online using Compass. Parents and carers should have already received an email to place orders. Individual and sibling photos must be ordered before midnight prior to 16^th of June. There will be a $20 additional fee for any orders placed after 25^th June. If you are unsure of what your Compass login is, please contact the school office. 

If you have any questions about school photos, please contact MSP Photography directly at 4966 8292 or via email orders.hcc@msp.com.au

Religious Education – Chris Sheridan

It was wonderful to have so many parents, grandparents and significant others join us last week to celebrate Catholic Schools Week. Thank you for making your time with us a priority – to pray with us and to share in your child’s achievements thus far.

This was and is, Journeying Together.

     Pentecost Sunday   

The liturgies of the Easter season bring home to us the work of the Holy Spirit in the Saviour’s Paschal Mystery. Our New Testament readings have made frequent mention of the Holy Spirit, looking forward to the coming of the Spirit as its final culmination.

In the Acts of the Apostles Luke tells the story of the Church of the beginnings using a device in use at the time by writers of popular history - taking important events in the history they are presenting, and dramatising them in a way that brings out their far-reaching significance. Thus, in Luke’s account, what begins as an event on one room of the city - ‘a noise that filled the whole house’, ‘something that seemed like tongues of fire’, the apostles ‘speaking in foreign languages’ –suddenly involves the whole crowded city, as faith in the Risen Lord is preached ‘to devout men from every nation under heaven’.

As Luke’s dramatisation continues in the passage that follows our reading, Peter’s preaching leads to the baptising of three thousand people - a number designed to bring out the momentous nature of what is taking place, and the universal mission that will flow from it, rather than giving a precise historical detail. Luke is writing a sequel to his gospel: the story of the Holy Spirit’s life-giving guidance of the early Church.

In later ages, our instinct has been sound, in celebrating Pentecost as the birthday of the Church. 
John Thornhill SM (Society of Marists)

We especially invite the parents and carers of Year 5 to join us for Mass in St Mary’s Chapel on Thursday June 8^th at 10:00am. We’d love to see you there.

Sports Report – Sara Murdoch

Polding Rugby Union

Congratulations to Jack Badior and Ruby Sweeney who are heading to Forbes on the 26^th June to trial for the Polding Team for Rugby. A huge achievement. We wish you both the best of luck!

Ruby is also heading to Sydney on the 2^nd August to trial for the Girls Rugby 7’s. Go Ruby!

Polding Cross Country

Lincoln Greentree and Jake Hansen are heading down to the Sydney Equestrian Centre on Tuesday the 13^th June to participate in Polding Cross Country! Good luck boys!

Athletics Carnival

Our athletics carnival is coming up on the 9^th June at Maitland Athletics track. It’s an all-weather track so the carnival will go ahead, rain, hail or shine!

Don’t forget to fill in your child’s nomination form if you haven’t already done so. Please find the links below!

Please fill this form out if your child is in Years 2 -6. It's a good idea to fill out the form with your child so they can decide if they would like to participate in the optional events.

If your child is in Kindergarten or Year 1, please fill out the permission slip below. Your children will be attending the carnival and participating in novelty events in the centre of the track.

Gymnastics

All classes from Kindergarten to Year 6 will participate in a gymnastics program for an hour a week beginning in Week 7 to Week 10. Please see below the day your child needs to wear their sport uniform. This will be their new sport day until the end of the term.

Tuesday: Kinder, Year 1, Year 2, 4 Blue
Wednesday: Year 3, Year 5,  Year 6, 4 White

High Potential News!

Over the last few weeks, we have had some busy times for students to challenge their problem solving and critical thinking skills in different key learning areas! 

2023 Bebras Australia Computational Thinking Challenge 

At the beginning of the term, selected students competed in the CSIRO ‘Bebras Challenge’ which targets computational thinking aligned with and supports the Australian Digital Technologies Curriculum. This competition was completed online individually or in small groups which was great to allow students to work collaboratively on these challenging questions.

The Bebras challenge has 2 different tests which target Years 3 and 4 as well as Years 5 and 6. A special mention to Dylan Gunasekara, Henry O’Neill, William Donelly and Zavier Nadiotis who achieved full marks which placed them on the Bebras Honour Roll List. Well done boys!  

Thank you to all the students who participated in the first round of 2023. The next round will be held in Term 3. 

St John the Baptist Spelling and Maths Bee

Last Friday, eight students from each stage competed in our school’s very first Spelling and Maths Bee. This was a great event and our audience enjoyed celebrating the achievements of these students. Thank you to everyone who was able to join us.

We were blown away by the enthusiasm and maturity the  competitors brought to the stage.

Congratulations to the following students who were the finalists for the Spelling and Mathematics Bee.

Spelling

Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2) - Jack MacPherson, Marianne Nguyen, Hugo Gray, Vincent Nguyen, Aviella Gbenoba, Will Spruce, Charlotte Banister, Edie Marshall
Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4) – Cohen Brown, Zavier Nadiotis, Harper Brown, Arwen Wilkinson, Max Moran, Violet Kapeller, Jamie Chapman
Stage 3 (Years 5 and 6) - Miranda Stanwell, Jesse Cox, Roxy Dorn, Harvey Dale, Griffin Wilkinson, Riley Weir, Lucinda Lane, Darcy Holdaway

Mathematics

Stage 1 (Year 1 and 2) - Rueben Rampling, Vincent Nguyen, Edie Marshall, Aviella Gbenoba, Kaylani Dean, Harry Broekman, Hugo Gray, James Johnston
Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4) - Billy Dean, Dylan Gunasekara, Jack Wrigley, Mia Ralph, Ethan Berman, Hamish Macklinshaw 
Stage 3 (Years 5 and 6) - Emma Larisch, Jake Hansen, Loagin Collins, Ruby Boland, Griffin Wilkinson, Carter Carmody, James Marjoribanks, Xavier Masi

Congratulations to our winners for the Spelling Bee:

Marianne Nguyen – Stage 1 winner
Jamie Chapman – Stage 2 winner
Darcy Holdaway – Stage 3 winner

Congratulations to our winners for the Mathematics Bee:

Vincent Nguyen – Stage 1 winner
Ethan Berman – Stage 2 winner
Xavier Masi - Stage 3 winner

There was one winner from each stage who now has the opportunity to compete in the All Saints Regional Spelling and Mathematics Bee at Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, Tarro.

Class Merit Awards

Canteen

P & F News

Athletics Carnival Morning Tea

There will be a morning tea bundle available for students at the athletics carnival.

Orders are via Qkr! app.

We are asking for volunteers to help prepare the bundles the day before the carnival. Thursday 8^th June. 9am-approx 1130 in the school hall. If you are available, please email events@pandf-maitlandsj.com

Uniform Shop

Open Monday 8:30-9am in school hall.

We are asking for donations of approved uniform items in good, clean quality condition (no rips, stains etc).

We thank our dedicated uniform shop volunteers for their time and efforts in sorting and washing donations ready to sell.

Contacting the P & F Committee

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need any assistance via executive@pandf-maitlandsj.com

We welcome any suggestions, feedback, offers to volunteer with events or general enquiries

Dates for the Diary

Term 2

Athletics carnival morning tea - Friday 9th June (Week 6)
PJ day- Wednesday 28th June (Week 10)

Term 3

Thompson’s pie drive - TBC (Week 5)
Meeting - Wednesday 9th August @ 9:30am (Week 6)
Father’s Day stall - Wednesday 30th   August (Week 7)
Father’s Day raffle - Friday 1st   September (Week 7)

Term 4

Meeting & 2024 AGM - Wednesday 8 November @ 9:30 am (Week 7)
Christmas Family Night - Tuesday 5th December (Week 9)
Christmas Fun Day - Friday 8th December (Week 9)