Phone: 6882 2677

Fax: 6884 4500

Email: stjohnsprimarydubbo@bth.catholic.edu.au

Fees Enquiries: 6884 8504

Email: dubsjpfees@bth.catholic.edu.au

Term 4 Week 8 November 28th 2016

ST JOHNS PRIMARY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

www.stjohnsprimarydubbo.catholic.edu.au

138 Sheraton Road

P.O. Box 4914

S C H O O L M A N A G E R F a t h e r G r eg Ken n ed y

S C H O O L C H A P L A I N F a t h e r G r eg Ken n ed y

P R I N C I P A L M r A n t h o n y O ’ L e a r y

A S S I S T A N T P R I N C I P A L M r A d am F o l e y

R E C M r D a v i d S c h w ag e r

PRIMARY COORDINATOR

Mrs Angela Benton TEACHING STAFF:

KINDERGARTEN Mrs Maria Brice Mrs Teagan Hoper

YEAR 1 Mrs Kim English/Mrs Erin Carney

Miss Louise Lindsay Mrs Paula Clifford

YEAR 2 Mrs Gabrielle Jones / Mr David Schwager

Ms Cassandra Hawke

YEAR 3

Miss Anna Veech Mrs Angela Benton/Mrs Sarah Davis

YEAR 4 Mrs Judith Gibson/Mrs Aimee Rose Mrs Laura Emery/Mrs Aimee Rose .

YEAR 5 Miss Emma Bolton/Mrs Amanda Shields

Miss Madelyn Colquhoun YEAR 6

Miss Maddie Redden Mrs Mickaela Wright

SPECIAL EDUCATION: Mrs Patricia Toohey, Mr Adam Foley Mrs Amanda Shields

TEACHER’S AIDES: Mrs Deanna Swanson, Mrs Bronwyn

Harper, Mrs Tracey Duncan Mrs Maricon Suckling, Mr Trevor

Thomas, Mrs Belinda Montague LIBRARIAN:

Mrs Maree Williams ABORIGINAL EDUCATION

WORKER: Mrs Kristie Daley

CREATIVE ARTS: Mrs Maggie Dunn

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION: Mrs Margo Green, Mrs Karen Meredith

CANTEEN MANAGER: Mrs Cathy Dries

GENERAL HAND : Mr Mark Bradford

CLEANER: Mrs Kerry Iverach Mrs Cathy Keevers

P&F MEETINGS: 2nd & 7th Tuesday each Term PARENTS/GUARDIANS Please note that photographs of students may be used in this publication. Please advise the School Office if you do not approve of your child’s photo being used.

From the Principal’s desk…. Welcome to Week 8. It is with mixed emotions that I commence my column this week. The com-

mencement of Advent is an amazing and life focused time on our calendar. The focus of this week

is HOPE. Sadly, hope for so many people can feel so far away. As many of you are aware, Dubbo

lost a young man last week, Perry Meredith. I was one of Perry’s teacher for 2 years at Orana

Heights Public School. He was a very talented Rugby League player with a mischievous sense of

humour that didn’t leave him at all into adulthood. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family

and friends. Perry’s funeral is tomorrow at St Brigid’s Church. As a nation, we lose too many of our

young people. For many years discussing depression and other health issues was considered taboo.

We need to break this cycle. I applaud initiatives such as ‘Are you OK?’, The Black Dog institute and

the services of Lifeline. If you or any of your friends / family need to talk to someone, Lifeline’s

contact details are 13 11 14 and there is a great deal of information on the website https://

www.lifeline.org.au/

2017 Planning: After many weeks of careful planning the class teacher allocation for 2017 is nearly

complete. There are 2 classes that are awaiting confirmation of teacher appointment. At this stage

the class teachers for 2017 are:

Kinder Team – Mrs Brice and Mrs Hoper

Year 1 Team – Mrs Clifford and TBA

Year 2 Team – Mrs Redden, Mrs Benton & Mrs Davis and TBA

Year 3 Team – Miss Veech, Mrs English & Mrs Carney

Year 4 Team – Miss Lindsay, Ms Gibson & Mrs Rose

Year 5 Team – Miss Bolton and Miss Colquhoun

Year 6 Team – Mrs Wright & Mrs King, Mr Schwager & Mrs Jones

Parents are invited to submit in writing any educational reasons for the placement of their child in a

class group for next year. Requests will be considered along with teacher feedback in making deci-

sions about placement. Please note that requests in relation to particular teachers will not be con-

sidered. Requests can be addressed to Mr O’Leary via email – a.oleary@bth.catholic.du.au

Requests will be considered until Friday, 2nd of December.

VISION STATEMENT

St John’s Primary School strives to foster a community of faith that is centred on the teachings of Christ, where love and

concern develops the whole child, empowering each individual to realize his/her potential.

In my introduction, I mentioned Advent. Yesterday we began a new Liturgical year with the Season of Advent. Advent is a sea-

son of past, present and future. In terms of the past, it prepares Christians for the commemoration of Christ's historical com-

ing in the feast of Christmas. It reminds us that

Christianity is profoundly historical; religion: just as

God speaks in the words and events of Jesus' human

life, so God speaks in each of our personal histories

and in our communal experience. Advent also looks

to the future, to the second coming of Christ.

The focus here is on hope that gives meaning to all

Christian life and especially to a time when all, especially the poor and hurt will have what they need. Essentially, Christians

are people who have hope and who bring hope to others.

There are so many examples of HOPE at SJP. Some examples include – my HOPE in the future of leadership of our nation after

I listened to the recent speeches of our Year 6 Leadership candidates which were simply outstanding, I see hope in the eyes of

each Kinder student who demonstrates a love of learning and I see hope in each simple act of sharing. We are hope filled peo-

ple.

Here is a prayer for the family to say together:

Dear God, help us to be ready to walk in your light. This first week of Advent, help us prepare our minds and our hearts to fol-

low the teachings of your son, Jesus.

Holy Spirit, guide the choices we make throughout this week so that we choose to do what honours our creator and what

shows our love of others. Father in heaven, we offer thanks to you for the many gifts you have given to our family.

Come, Lord Jesus. Come into our hearts, so that when the time comes, we will be prepared to join you in everlasting joy.

Gospel and Reflection: Matt 24: 37-44

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘As it was in the Noah’s day, so it will be when the Son of Man comes. For in those days before the

Flood people were eating, drinking, taking wives, taking husbands, right up to the day that Noah went into the ark, and they

suspected nothing till the Flood came and swept all away. It will be like this when the Son of Man comes. Then of two men in

the fields one is taken, one left; of two women at the millstone grinding; one is taken, one left.

So stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming. You may be quite sure of this, that if the house-

holder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have al-

lowed anyone to break through the wall of his house. Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming

at an hour you do not expect.’

Reflection

The rather foreboding tone of this passage from Matthew’s gospel is in contrast to the levity

and colour of shopping malls which have begun their Christmas promotions. “Staying awake” is

what children are thinking about doing on Christmas Eve to see if they can get a glimpse of

Santa and his reindeer.

But the passage is somehow very appropriate at the beginning of Advent when the Church begins its watch for the great feast

of the Nativity. It reminds us that the things that can take over our lives during Advent are ephemeral and frivolous compared

to the mystery of the Incarnation and our own death. Jesus came so that we might have eternal life…his coming which we

celebrate at Christmas is inextricably linked with our death and future life with God.

During Advent “standing ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” can provide a theme for pre-

paring spiritually for Christmas. Taking moments to listen for the quiet whisperings of God in our hearts is a version of stand-

ing ready or staying awake.

The times when we encounter God unexpectedly will multiply if we are alert to the possibility that it might happen. Otherwise

those moments will be lost in the noise of the commercial version of Christmas.

Being awake in expectation, and attending to those whisperings when we experience them, allows God to come into our lives

and shape Advent for us.

Swimming: This week our Year 3 and Kindergarten students will be involved in the Learn To Swim program. Don’t forget to

label all clothing and swimming gear.

Kindergarten 2017: There are still limited positions in Kinder for 2017. Please let your friends and family know.

God Bless and have a wonderful week

Anthony O’Leary

Important Dates to Remember

Nov 28-Dec 2 Kindy and Year 3 Swimming Program

Dec 7 End of Year Graduation Mass

Dec 7 P&F Christmas Movie Night

Dec 8 Years 5 & 6 Rewards Day

Dec 9 Year 6 Pool Party

Dec 12 Year 6 Graduation Dinner

Dec 16 Term 4 Concludes

Dec 19 Second Orientation Day Yr 7 2017 St John’s College 9:30—11:00am

Jan 30 2017 Classes Year 1—6 resume

Jan 31 2017 Kindergarten commence

SCHOOL FEES

Just a reminder that all school fees should be finalised by the end of this month. If for any reason you

cannot clear your account, please contact me on 6884 8504.

Thank you

Karen Meredith

Religious Education News Term Four, Week Eight 2016

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Hampers

Last week, all students in our school received a note detailing the item they have been

asked to donate to their class hampers. This is a very ‘hands-on 'way for children to see

how they can make a positive difference to those in our community who are in need. Can

I ask that those families choosing not to donate items let their teachers know, so that we

can make alternate arrangements to fill hampers appropriately.

End of Year/ Graduation Mass

On Wednesday 7th December at 10am, we will have our final Mass of 2016 as we cele-

brate our year together and say farewell to our Year 6 students and some families from

our school. Following the Mass there will be a Graduation Ceremony for Year 6 students.

All are welcome to attend.

Christmas Stars Display

Many of you may have already noticed our whole school Christmas Stars display hanging

underneath our Morning Assembly area. The students did a terrific job and the display

certainly adds to a joyous Christmas Season! I would like to thank our groundskeeper,

Mark Bradford, for helping me hang the 420 stars!

Congratulations Year 5

Recently, a number of our Year 5 students presented speeches to the school community

to be considered as School Captains for 2017. I would like to say that all the students

should be very proud of how they represented themselves, and how eloquently and pas-

sionately they spoke. Every one of them would have been excellent in the role, and I

know they will all contribute significantly to the student leadership of our school next

year. I would like to congratulate our leaders for next year, who no doubt, will do a terrific

job:

CAPTAINS: Henry Smith, Milly Williams

VICE-CAPTAINS: Macquarie Williams, Eva Osborne

Christmas Vigil Mass

Any students who would like to be a part of the Parish Christmas Play at the Christmas

Vigil Mass just needs to turn up at St Brigid’s for the first practise at 5pm on Wednesday

7th December. Wishing you a good week, David Schwager (REC)

Canteen News

Week 8 Special: Tropical Yoghurt Paddle Pops $1-50

Don’t forget that as we get towards the end of term, some items from the can-teen will become unavailable.

If your child is ordering a pre-packaged frozen item (e.g. macaroni & cheese), please include a second choice on the lunch bag to avoid disappointment.

Helpers for this week are:

Thursday Michelle Carlon, and

Friday Raelene Hutchison

Have a good week,

Cathy Dries

Canteen Manager

Tecknow Topics

Technology News:

Students have been learning lots of new skills. SJP has wonderful new VC (video conferencing) equip-ment that enables students to interact with high quality education providers who can deliver content we could not possibly access otherwise. Year 4 have enrolled in an INDIGENOUS STUDIES - WIRADYURI LIFESTYLE 3 session course from the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum. Year 1 have enrolled in a Dinosaur experience - Meet Winney the Muttaburrasau-rus virtual excursion from the Australian Museum. All staff have completed an introductory course to using the VC facilities. Technology Safety:

Proactive technologies users plan to update their knowledge and keep up to date with current technology issues. A good place to start is Smartsafe.

Tip:

Does the battery in your device go flat too quickly? You should only recharge your battery when it is flat

or near flat, close all apps and pages that you are not using, shut or delete apps that you don’t need

and regularly review the size of apps you download. Other helpful tips are here.

School Student Transport Scheme (SSTC) - Applications for 2017

Transport for NSW (TfNSW) have advised that any student with an expiring bus pass at the end of 2016

should apply to update their details prior to 31 December 2016. This applies to all students who are:

currently in Year 2 and Year 6

have changed address or school, or

have approval on special circumstances

The link to update student details is: https;//apps.transport.nsw.gov.au/ssts/updateDetails

After 31 December 2016 students must apply for a new pass at: https://apps.transport.nsw.gov.au/ssts/howtoApply

Completed forms must be printed, signed and dated and sent to the school for verification.