2023: Week 4, Term 4

Principal's Message

REFLECTION - ALL SAINTS - 1ST NOVEMBER                                 ALL SOULS  -  2ND NOVEMBER 

The Feast of All Saints-and the Feast of All Souls.

These indeed will be our Feast Days in the future. In our prayers, we honour the Saints and ask their intercession for us - and we pray for the Holy Souls that they may be received fully into the kingdom of the Father. After our own death, we can hope the Saints will continue to intercede for us. Let us be generous with our prayers now - the prayers we say for others may well be the prayers that win us our eternal salvation.

GROW STRONG IN QUIET TIMES, FOR THE REAL BATTLES ARE FOUND ELSEWHERE.

FORGIVING OTHERS WILL BENEFIT YOU MORE, THAN THOSE YOU FORGIVE.

LOOK WITHIN TO FIND  PEACE. LOOK WITHOUT TO EXPRESS IT.

CLASS PLACEMENTS 2024

A reminder for parents who wish to make requests for class placements for 2024, please submit your request in writing and present to the office NO LATER THAN FRIDAY WEEK 6. 

Not all requests can be accepted. Merit will be provided to genuine concerns from parents in regards to their child's education. Only those who have submitted requests in writing will be considered. Thank you in advance. 

COMBINED CAROLS EVENING - FRIDAY DECEMBER 1!

Our date has been confirmed, and it's now time to prepare! A warm invitation is offered to all of our JB families to the combined John the Baptist Primary, Freeman Catholic College and John the Baptist Parish Carols evening on Friday December 1.

By this time the season of Advent will be upon us and the preparations for the birth of Christ will be with us all. Let's take the opporuntity to gather as a faith community and celebrate. All students K-6 will be involved in singing and performing. Rehearsals have already begun!

This year's Carols will be on the JB Playing Field, not Freeman. There will be no food trucks this year, however the JB Men's Group will still have a BBQ. Coffee vans and ice cream vans will also be onsite. We encourage families to bring their own dinner, a picnic rug, and your best singing voices. 

AMADEUS SHOWCASE PERFORMANCES

We have now almost completed our first year of Amadeus, and what a great journey it has been so far! I have noticed that students are really embracing their inner musician, and the sounds coming fromn our rooms each Monday (Years 3 & 4) and Friday (Years 5 & 6) have been amazing. 

A student showcase will take place in Week 7 of this term. All Year 3 & 4 students will perform on Monday Week 7 between 2pm-3pm. A showcase for Year 5 & 6 will take place on Friday Week 7. Both events will take place in the Church. All parents are welcome to attend. 

COMPLETED WORKS ON PLAYING FIELD

If you enter the school via the Gloucester St gate you will have noticed the fencing around our sandstone steps in front of the sports room. Synthtic grass has been laid, allowing our students greater access to better surfaces when enjoying lunch and playing. We are always looking to improve our school, and this is another small step in doing so. Student will be able to use the new surface from today!

With my best wishes for the week ahead. 

Mr O'Connor  Principal

Assistant Principal News

Dear Parents, 

I hope that you have all settled well into Term 4, the students are all engaging in their learning and enjoying time spent with their friends out on the playground. 

As always, we remind our students that at all times we are three things at John the Baptist, we are Safe, we are Respectful and we are Responsible. Using these keywords at home can help to reinforce expectations and affirm the partnership that we have between home and school. 

Appropriate Haircuts

In order to maintain our high standards here at JB, we require your support in adhering to the school's uniform and grooming rules throughout the year. Hair should be neat and tidy. Extreme hair styles (determined by school leadership) or colours or extremely untidy hair are not permitted. Shaved shapes are not to be worn to school. Boys' hair should be above the collar. We have had to speak to a number of students regarding their haircuts and in some cases the use of hair colour. 

The following hairstyles are not permitted at JB (applying mostly to boys):

• Lines
• Skin fades 
• Undercuts 
• Shaved Sides where the skin is clearly visible
• Foils, streaks or coloured hair

Entering Absences into Compass 

A reminder for all parents to please enter any absence into compass as soon as possible. It is important to maintain accurate and up to date records for our students. 

Facebook & Instagram 

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

https://www.facebook.com/jbbonnyrigg

https://www.instagram.com/johnthebaptistbonnyrigg/ 

Mrs Natali Tomic  Assistant Principal 

Family Educator News

Family Educator  Term 4 Week 4

Remember to keep checking the COMPASS Calendar for Masses and events so you don’t miss out on anything! 

CATCH UP CUPPA!

Mondays- from 8.45 am Coffee, Tea and SPaR (Stop, Pray and Reflect) 

(Please note- THERE IS NO SPaR On Monday 6th November due to Family Educator meeting)

SPaR is a great way to start the week- Monday mornings in the demountable classroom on the top playground. We have a VERY short reflection (under ten minutes) followed by coffee and conversation- we have the coffee machine on and ready to go early!

Come along and bring a friend.

Wednesdays- 9am-10am JB Juniors Playgroup for 0-5 years

Playgroup is on each Wednesday, first thing in the morning after the bell goes! I look forward to seeing you all!. Prayer, Play, Story and Craft! Fun!!

 Open to those children aged 0-6 years. 

Wednesday 8th November- Jonah and the Whale

Wednesday 15th November- Treasure Hunt around the School

Wednesday 22nd November- Christ the King- come and make a crown!

November Remembrance

In November we remember all the faithful departed- this begun with our beautiful All Souls Day Mass on Thursday.

At the front of the church, upon the Altar, you will find a book of Remembrance and a banner of hearts. Please add the name of your loved ones to a heart and pin it onto the banner or place it on the table so that all our prayers and our Masses this month will be offered for those we miss so dearly.

Mass for All Souls on Saturday 4th November at Liverpool Cemetery 10.30am, and also see in this newsletter details for the Heartfelt Mass organised by Bridget Sakr later in the month.

Grief has no timeline  and follows no rules. We all grieve differently.

 Listen, share and be there for each other-

Bless those who mourn, eternal God, with the comfort of your love that they may face each new day with hope and the certainty that nothing can destroy the good that has been given. May their memories become joyful, their days enriched with friendship, and their lives encircled by your love. Amen.

Tina Dunn  Family Educator

Parish Matters- because it does! 

Church Bulletins can be found here

Literacy News

Literacy Corner Week 4 Term 4

Spring Reading Challenge

Spring is definitely in the air here at JB with all the wonderful spring reading challenge entries that have come through in the last few weeks! The many colourful entries made it a large task for a whole team of judges to determine winners! All class winners were presented with book prizes to celebrate their wonderful work. Many of the winning entries are on display in the library now. Keep up the amazing work in reading everybody! Congratulations to the following Infants Winners:

• Adrianna Lalic 1 Gold
• Jessica Pham 1 Silver

A further congratulations to our overall winning class 5 Ruby who returned 28 class entries to the Spring Reading Challenge.  This class will now receive a class reward party afternoon to celebrate all their efforts.

Book Fair

A huge thank you to all the students and families who came along to support our Annual JB Book Fair.  We had a variety of wonderful books for sale and lots of excited children who have already started reading these amazing books.  A special mention to all our teachers and support staff who came along to help with this exciting event.  Every book sold during the Book Fair contributes to a percentage of the sale supporting our school.  This year our annual Book Fair total was $19, 469.39.  We are now busy finalising which amazing resources this will contribute to.  There are still some popular books that are on back order because they have been so popular, however, these will be arriving shortly and delivered straight to classes.  Once again, thank you for all the wonderful support!

Happy reading everyone!

READ! READ! READ!

Teresa Wojtowicz & Francine Bushby  Literacy Coordinators 

Sports News

Sport News

Soccer Gala Day

On Monday 23rd October, our Year 3 and 4 Soccer Gala Day teams represented John The Baptist at the Stage 2 Soccer Gala Day.  We congratulate the students on their exceptional skill and commitment to their teams.  Our Year 4 boys team were awarded third place on the day. Well done!

We thank our coaches for their assistance with training and management on the day.

Primary Swimming Carnival

Our Primary Swimming Carnival will take place on Tuesday 21st November.  

Frances Oliverio  Sports Coordinator

Soccer Gala Day

Canteen News

Please contact the school office 9823 5042 for any communication with the Canteen. 

The canteen are NO LONGER using a mobile telephone number.  Please ONLY contact the school office for contact with the canteen.  Do not contact ANY mobile telephone number previously provided.

Amadeus Reminder

Please remind your children to bring their instruments on their specified day. 

Many children are leaving their instruments at home.

Unfortunately, moving forward we will no longer be able to accept forgotten instruments for students on their Amadeus Day. 

Reminder Amadeus Classes

Mondays: Year 3 & Year 4 
Friday: Year 5 & Year 6

Thank you for your understanding.

Lost Property and School Uniforms

Dear Parents,

We have numerous items of clothing collected everyday, they are placed in our lost property basket in the office.  Each day, all labelled items are returned to the child's classroom.  Items which  which are unlabelled go to the clothing pool.  

Please ensure you re-label any clothing your child is able to remove at school as markings can fade over time.  

Parents, should you wish to make a purchase of good quality second-hand clothing at any time, a reminder you may do so via your Compass Favourites link via the Clothing Pool Order Form.

Alternatively, you can call the office and place an order via telephone, email info@jbbonnyrigg.catholic.edu.au or complete the form below and return it to the office with your child. 

Please ensure ALL of your children's items are labelled including drink bottles, lunch boxes and containers as we have numerous lost property items collected everyday which remain unclaimed and ultimately have to be thrown away. 

Thank you.

The Administration Team

Notes from the Office

APPLICATIONS FOR EXTENDED LEAVE – TRAVEL

Parents, kindly note Sydney Catholic Schools has updated the Application for Extended Leave requirement to now 5 days or more, which supersedes the previous 10 days or more policy. Any families planning or considering family travel for 5 school days or more must apply with an Application for Extended Leave – Travel, 4 weeks in advance of your child/ren’s intended leave wherever possible. This application must also be accompanied by copies of travel documentation, if applicable. 

Application forms are available from the office. For your convenience, please feel free to call or email us on info@jbbonnyrigg.catholic.edu.au and we will be happy to send this home with your eldest child.

We thank you for your co-operation with this process when making travel plans with your child/ren. 

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

Parents, a gentle reminder regarding the importance of informing our school of any changes that may occur to your family’s personal details such as an address, mobile numbers, emails, emergency contacts, etc. For your convenience, these details may be updated via the Personal Details Form available on your Compass Favourites links.

Of equal importance and in the best interests of your child/ren, we ask if there has been a new event or update in relation to your child’s health, once again, we ask this information be provided at the earliest. A Student Health Information Form is also available on your Compass Favourites link, to assist you in this process.

SCHOOL FEES

Your 2023 school fee statements have now 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 CompassPay, BPay, Cash, Eftpos or Centrepay.

Your co-operation is greatly appreciated!

School Student Travel

Please see below information from Transport NSW in relation to school student travel.

Students Commencing Freeman Catholic College Year 7 2024

TO ALL PARENTS/CARERS WHO HAVE A CHILD THAT WILL BE COMMENCING AT FREEMAN CATHOLIC COLLEGE FOR YEAR 7 2024.

There will be an Acceptance Information Evening on Tuesday 14th November, 2023 commencing at 6.30pm in the Michael Addicoat Centre at Freeman Catholic College.  Parents and students are required to attend.

Year 7 2024 Orientation Day (for students only) will be Wednesday 22nd November, 2023. Students will be required to be at Freeman Catholic College all day.

Awards

Congratulations to the following students on achieving their badges:

Dates to Remember