2022: Week 4, Term 3

Principal's Message

REFLECTION - FEAST OF THE ASUMPTION

In the fullness of time, God sent His Son, Born of a woman, to be the means of salvation for all mankind. And the Woman’s name was Mary. Through Mary, His Mother, Jesus came to us. Now through Her, is the safest and surest means for us to come to, and remain in union with our God. We believe she was without sin. As such, we also believe that God has taken Her Body and Soul to Heaven, to be with her Son forever. We celebrate the Assumption of Mary. We honour Her. We ask her to intercede for us, and for our World. We ask Her to help us to be Faithful to our God, and His will for us.
We read the Gospels, we see deep Respect and Love that Jesus had for all women. No matter who they were Saint or Sinner Jewess or Gentile. It’s no wonder He had most Honour for His own Mother Mary. His dying request was that She should be our Mother too. So, it is our duty and privilege to Honour and Love her also and may we do on the Feast of the Assumption, which takes place NEXT MONDAY, August 15. And may we, too respect and honour all women in our Society.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Brendan O'Connor  Principal

Assistant Principal News

Dear Parents,

I am sure you are all looking forward to celebrating Book Week next week, a reminder that on this day Year 6 parents will be hosting a fundraiser Cake Stall. This will be available to parents and students at both lunch and recess. Come along and enjoy a sweet treat with us. 

Assembly - every Friday! 

Our Assemblies have returned to face to face in the church each Friday from 2pm. In line with COVID safe measures, we are gathering as K-2 for Assembly in Week A and Year 3-6 in Week B. If your child is due to receive their bronze, silver or gold badge, you will be notified via email. 

Reminder: We are a NUT free school 

A reminder to parents that we are nut free school. This means that any products that are nuts or contain nuts (e.g. sauces, pasta, rice, muesli bars, chocolates, cakes and biscuits etc) are not permitted to be on the school premises at all. 

This is to ensure the safety of all of our students, especially those who have a diagnosed allergy to nuts and nut products. 

Updated Health Information 

At the start of each year we have parents complete an up to date health information sheet. This is important for us so that we are aware of any allergies, illnesses or conditions affecting your child. Throughout the year, things and circumstances may change in regards to your child's medical and health information. We ask that all parents notify us immediately if there is any change to this information by contacting the school office.

Facebook

Be sure to like our school Facebook Page - we will be regularly posting some of the exciting things taking place at JB. 

https://www.facebook.com/jbbonnyrigg

Reminder: Family Support Worker

Lisa (Our Family Support Worker) is able to offer free confidential support for families going through challenging times. She can help you and your family with issues you may be facing, including some of the following:

• Child behaviour concerns
• Domestic and family violence
• Advocacy and referrals
• Financial hardship
• NDIS
• Traumatic events
• Housing stress

Lisa is available every Friday and can be contacted directly on - 0419 223 677 or via email - lisa.harris@catholiccare.org 

Please feel free to contact Lisa directly for further information or to make an appointment. 

Once again, thank you for your continued support and partnership. 

Natali Tomic  Assistant Principal

Family Educator News

Parent SPaR-

Catch up and Cuppa in the Gallery- Monday mornings usually- but

NOTE: Monday 15th August there will be no official SPaR as we will be at the mass for the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

(This is a day of Holy Obligation to attend Mass- Years 3-6 in attendance.)

Coffee and tea (and a chat!)  afterwards.

JB Juniors- FUN FOR PRESCHOOLERS!

Now also on WEDNESDAYS in odd weeks.

Dates for Term 3- Weeks 6,8,10

Tuesdays- 

AUGUST 23 (Father’s Day Craft)

SEPTEMBER 6, 20

Wednesdays-

AUGUST 17, 31 (Father’s Day Craft)

SEPTEMBER 14

This Playtime group begins at 8.50am in the Morning in the demountable classroom on the top playground. We share a prayer, a story/craft and playtime.

It is open to children aged 0-5 years. Parents are responsible for the supervision of their children at all times. We finish approximately 10am and you are welcome to come to either or BOTH days!

Please let gate staff know you are attending this event when entering the grounds.

KEEP THE DATE: 

Friday 2nd September- BBQ Breakfast from 7.30am  

We are inviting our fathers, grandfathers and father figures to come along and share some time with us. It has been several years since we have been able to celebrate fatherhood! This morning is usually attended by hundreds of our dads, grandfathers and special significant men in our lives. You can walk the children to their classroom after the bell and have a look inside and say hello to their teacher!

There will be a sausage sizzle available from 7.30am on the playing field- we simply ask for a $2 donation -  (please bring correct change on the morning!)

 Dads-You can purchase for your children until we run out!

Any profits will be donated to charity.

Thought for the week…

This week we celebrated the Feast of St Mary of the Cross Mackillop- an amazing woman. 

Have you ever wondered why we call her St Mary “OF THE CROSS”?

 I must admit I had never given her title “of the Cross” much reflection until I read some of her personal thoughts on the subject this week.

“My name in religion is Mary of The Cross. No name could be dearer to me, so I must endeavour, not to deserve it- for I cannot-but at least I must try not to disgrace it… I am far happier than one who bears the name of the Cross should be, but then every trouble ceases to be one when I think of that name”

And indeed she did bear many crosses in her life for the love of her God, enduring hardships and persecution, even from within the church she so loved.

I wonder…

How do we cope with the crosses- the trials and sufferings- in our lives? 

Would we have the same grace?  

Should we be more grateful for what we do have and stop worrying about what we do not?

As she goes on to say later-

“How you cope with the cross spells your success or failure as a human being and as a Christian”.

Tina Dunn  Family Educator

Find the latest John the Baptist church bulletin  HERE

Literacy News

Literacy Corner Week 4 Term 3

Winter Reading Challenge

Thank you to all our students and parents for their continued support of our JB School Holiday Reading Challenge. On Friday at assembly, we celebrated all our Infants Class Winners.  Congratulations to all the students who entered. The entries were all outstanding! 

Congratulations to our overall Infants Champion : Joshua Pisani 1R

Joshua has won a $50 voucher to spend at a variety of toy and book shops.  Happy shopping Joshua!

Stay tuned in! Our next newsletter will have the announcement of the Primary Class Winners and overall winner.  The winners will be presented with their prizes at our Primary Assembly this Friday and their names will be published after this.

Happy reading everyone!

READ, READ, READ!

Teresa Wojtowicz  Literacy Coordinator

Newman News

UNSW Australian Schools Competition

Thank you to all of you who have registered your students to sit these competitions. Please note the registration for these competitions is now CLOSED.

This week, registered students are sitting the Digital Technologies and Writing competitions.

Please refer to the following table regarding dates of future ICAS assessments. 

Please contact Mrs Bushby if you have any questions.

Mrs Francine Bushby  Newman Facilitator/Gifted Coordinator

Religion News

CONFIRMATION - YEAR 6

Enrolments for Confirmation were completed last weekend.

Classes will run on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, depending on the Confirmation date chosen.

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be held on Tuesday 20th September, Wednesday 21st September and Thursday 22nd September at 7pm in the Church.

Eastern Rite: If your child was Confirmed at Baptism, they are still able to enrol and attend classes. The child will receive a Blessing at the Confirmation Mass.

We look forward to the joy of sharing in the preparation and celebration of this important Sacrament. 

For further enquiries please contact Linda Barilla on 0409 914 083

FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION 15TH AUGUST

This is a Holy day of Obligation. Students from Years 3-6 will be at the 9:00 am parish Mass on Monday 15th August. All parents are warmly invited to join us at Mass and stay behind to enjoy a cup of coffee. 

God Bless,                                                                                                                                                                                     Mrs Jansen  Religious Education Coordinator 

Library News

Book Week at JB

You are invited to celebrate Book Week at JB!

Celebration Day: Monday 22^nd August

Children can come dressed as their favourite book character!

 The day’s events:

11.20 – 12.20: Primary Book Parade (parent audience)

12.20 - 1.20: Infants Book Parade (parent audience)

1.20 – 1.50:  Book Week Picnic with parents

 We hope you can join us on our celebration day!

 The Book Week team

Premier’s Reading Challenge

Year 3-6 students have only 2 weeks left to complete the Premier’s Reading Challenge. The challenge closes on Friday 19^th August. Please see Mrs Fedrigo if your child needs any help completing his/her reading record.

Mrs Fedrigo  Teacher/Librarian

Sport News

Athletics News

We congratulate the following students who represented John The Baptist at the Conference 4 Athletics Championships on Thursday 4th August 2022;

Addisyn Blanda, Martina Brcic, Patrick Brcic, Liam Bushby, Yolanda Butrus, Ava Campolongo, Luca Corvelo, Antoni Curjak, Lukas Curjak, Sofia Dahdah, Lourdes David, Chloe Davino, Joshua Gabriel, Ezel Gorgees, Mira Hanako, Mia Kewilahuo, Phoenix Kljajic, Andre Lalic, Gianluca Liberatore, Sofia Marciano, Ethan Mitri, Giulietta Nemet, Josh Pashley, Mary Poljak, Alessandro Rafoo, Antony Rakvin, Christian Sultana, Siana Tatian, Daine Trajcevski and Alana Tripodina.

Many of our students will now attend the Sydney Athletics Championships on Friday 26th August, 2022. 

A special congratulations to Addisyn Blanda, Liam Bushby, Lukas Curjak, Joshua Gabriel, Ezel Gorgees, Mia Kewilahuo, Andre Lalic, Ethan Mitri, Josh Pashely, Mary Poljak, Antony Rakvin and Daine Trajcevski who will now attend the Sydney Athletics Championships on Friday 26th August, 2022.

We wish them all the very best.

Mrs Frances Oliverio  Sports Coordinator 

Science Week 2022

This year at JB, we will celebrate Science week from the 13th-21th August. The school theme for National Science Week in 2022 is Glass: More than meets the eye. It is based on the UN International Year of Glass. It will celebrate the many roles that glass plays in our lives – from phone screens to optical fibre to glassware in labs – plus investigating glass as a part of our sustainable future. The uses for and interesting nature of glass in science make it a suitable topic for investigation across all strands of science education. This Resource Book of Ideas for National Science Week offers teachers and students an opportunity to explore the properties of glass and how it is used in the world around us.

Competition Details:

Please find attached the information booklet with different experiments that you and your child can try at home. Students are to fill out the table and return this to Miss Buedo by the 22nd of August. Three winners will be selected per grade and a very exciting prize awaits!

Be creative, be inventive and most importantly, be scientific! 

Notes from The Office

SICK CHILDREN 

Wth the resurgence of COVID-19 and the cold & flu season upon us, we ask your assistance to please keep child/ren home if they are showing any signs of illness. It is also important to remind your child/ren to practice good hygiene habits, particularly while at school.

Thank you for your understanding & support in this matter.

2022 SCHOOL FEES

Dear Parents,

As you are aware, your 2022 School Fee Statements have been emailed to you. It would be appreciated if your payments are made by the scheduled dates as listed on your statement.

Payments can be made by BPAY, Compass Parent Portal, Cash, Eftpos or Centrepay.

Please contact the office if you did not receive your statement, or have any queries in relation to your fees.

Your co-operation is greatly appreciated.

Awards

Congratulations to the following students on achieving their badges:

Dates to Remember