2025: Week 8, Term 1

Principal's Message

REFLECTION - THIS WEEKEND'S GOSPEL

Of all the stories told by Jesus is the Parable of the Prodigal Son the greatest of them all? A head strong younger son, determined to lead “his own life”. A hard working son, who cannot accept the return of his wasteful young brother.
A father who has a heart totally filled with love, compassion, and forgiveness. There is something of each these three people in all of us. Think deeply on this Parable. It could bring about deep changes in our lives, and help us commit ourselves more deeply to the Love of God, Our Father.

LENTEN THOUGHTS OF THE WEEK

If we were knives, LENT would be a time to sharpen our cutting edges.

If we were cars, LENT would be a time for an oil change and a tune-up. If we were swimming pools, LENT would be a time to filter the dirt out of our water.

If we were gardens, LENT would be a time to fertilise our soil and dig out our weeds.

If we were carpets, LENT would be a time to get power-cleaned.

If we were highways, LENT would be a time to repair our cracks and fill our potholes.

If we were silverware, LENT would be a time to clean away our tarnish.

If we were batteries, LENT would be a time to get recharged.

If we were seeds, LENT would be a time to germinate and reach for the sun.

BUT WE ARE NONE OF THOSE THINGS. We are people who sometimes do wrong things. We need to atone for them. We are people who sometimes get spiritually lazy. We take this chance to get back into shape. 
We are people who sometimes become selfish. We need to stretch out our narrowness and begin giving again.
We are people who sometimes lose sight of our purpose on earth, and the immense promise within us. We need to regain our vision.
And because we are also people who sometimes tend to put things off. We need a special sort of official time to concentrate on doing them. 
SO WE HAVE LENT. The Easter Chocolate will taste sweeter, the Easter flowers will bloom more brightly, our Easter Sunday will shine more warmly, if we are better people - and all because of how we spend the next three weeks leading up to Easter.

ANTI-BULLYING AT JB

This week's newsletter includes an important update on the practices and procedures that support positive behaviours in our school. Mr Wassef, in his role, has provided an excellent overview that all parents need to read to gain a full appreciation of the steps the school takes to ensure all students are safe and secure. I encourage you to share with everyone in our community. 

With my regards for the week ahead. 

Brendan O'Connor  Principal

Assistant Principal News

Dear Parents,

Responding to issues on the playground

A reminder that students are encouraged to seek the support of a staff member when dealing with issues on the playground. It is important that they report things that happen to an adult as soon as possible. 

Parents are also reminded not to approach any other parents or children in the playground to sort our playground issues. All communication needs to be done via your child’s classroom teacher or grade leader. We thank parents for your cooperation with this. 

Disabled Parking in the Gloucester Street Carpark

Additional ‘disabled’ car spots have now been added to our Gloucester Street Carpark. These spots are reserved for those in our community with a valid disabled parking pass. They should not be used by any parents without this pass clearly displayed in their car window.

Entering Absences on Compass

It is important that parents are entering valid reasons for student absence as soon as possible after the absence date. 

If you require assistance in entering absences via compass, please read the attached instructions. 

If your child brings home an unexplained absence notice from the school you can either:

1. enter the absence details via compass and discard the notice
2. complete the notice, providing reason for absence and return this to your child's classroom teacher

The Resilience Project

‘GEM’ Chats to try at home with your children: 

• Describe one of your happiest memories
• Give each person your with a compliment 

With thanks,

Mrs Natali Tomic  Assistant Principal

Religion News

Religious Education 

Congratulations to Adre, Juwan, Isabel and Marissa for being selected to represent our school as a Religious Education Leader in 2025. 

 These students will: 

• Lead by example in their faith and encourage others to do the same.
• Support and participate in school Masses and liturgies.
• Work collaboratively with peers and teachers to promote the Catholic values of our school.
• Engage in initiatives that support the wider community through acts of service and faith-based activities.

First Reconciliation 

Congratulations to our students who have completed their Sacrament of Penance during this Lenten season! This important step in their faith journey allows them to experience God’s boundless mercy and love, renewing their hearts as they prepare for Easter. Receiving the grace of reconciliation is always a special moment, but even more so in this Year of Jubilee, a time of spiritual renewal and deepened communion with God. May this sacrament strengthen their faith and inspire them to live out Christ’s call to forgiveness and love in their daily lives.

Sacrament of First Holy Communion

26 and 27 April Communion Commitment Mass 

Mass is on Saturday at 5.30pm or Sunday 8am, 10am and 5.30pm 

Week of  28 April Communion Lessons Commence: 

Lesson 1: Week of 28 April

Lesson 2: Week of 5 May

Lesson 3: Week of 12 May

Lesson 4: Week of 19 May

Lesson 5: Week of 26 May

(During the 5th lesson there will also be a Communion Mass Rehearsal with the Children)

 1 June Communion Retreat Day

Communion Masses:

Will commence long weekend in June 7th-8th and weekend following , times TBC

Warm Regards,

Michael Hobson Religious Education Coordinator

Family Educator News

Family Educator Items

Parent Cuppa and Chat too!

We will meet on Monday mornings and follow along the beautiful Lenten programme put together by the Archdiocese of Sydney- “Let Your will be Done, not mine”

This is a great way to start your week (after a hectic weekend) to share with other parents and build connections with your community and your faith. 

No need to attend all sessions- you are welcome to any.

March 31st: Stations of the Cross Parent Excursion  (we will meet at Bringelly)

April 7th: Week 6 Palm Sunday/Easter and beyond.

Last call for MONDAY 31st March- YOU are INVITED!

Bringelly Parent/ParishionerPilgrimage to Stations of the Cross

Please join with fellow parents and Family Educators of the South West Netowrk to walk this beautiful Lenten devotion that is the Stations of the Cross, at Bringelly St Joseph Conference Centre. 

The path is winding but concrete and easy to walk, and the life size statues are beautiful! Pram and wheelchair friendly too! All booklets etc provided on the morning.

We will meet at 10am and gather in the undercover picnic area beside the Stations which will commence at 10.30am.

Tea, coffee and light morning tea will be provided before we walk. The walk should be approximately 45 minutes at most around the Statues. It is hoped we will have a priest or two to offer personal Reconciliation afterwards.

You are then welcome to stay for a BYO picnic lunch with friends (perhaps making some new friends!)

Register HERE and consider carpooling with friends. There is parking available at the Centre and in particular off Carrs Road, past the entrance to the conference centre. This carpark is closer to our undercover picnic area.

PLEASE REGISTER your Interest -

Open to all children 0-5 years old, we meet in the demountable classroom on the top playground on Wednesday Mornings 8.45am-10am

We pray, sing and share a story together before a craft activity. All are welcome to attend and this is a great opportunity for parents to meet each other and the children to make friends before starting school, building friendships and connections with each other in a faith filled space. 

Wednesday 2nd April- NO PLAYGROUP Due to Harmony Day Celebrations 

Wednesday 9th April- Last Supper for preschoolers.

How are your Lenten Promises Going?

A few weeks ago each child was given a Lenten Calendar to mark the countdown to Easter and more importantly to consider  the many suggestions to better themselves in preparation for this most Holy time of the christian Calendar.Over the coming weeks these suggestions include leading their family in prayer, talking about what makes us grateful, doing good deeds for others- to name just a few. Encourage your children in these small tasks and the world will be all the better for it!

Yours in Family and Faith Tina Dunn Family Educator

Parish Matters

40th Anniversary!

DID you KNOW - Our parish and church is celebrating 40 years this year?

There will be some exciting events coming up throughout 2025.

Keep the date : Sunday May 4th Special Anniversary Mass and Family Picnic

More to follow as details, dates and venues are confirmed.

Have you got a special memory of your time here at the parish? SHARE YOUR STORY OR PHOTOS HERE

Or send photos and stories to Father at the parish-

info@johnthebaptist.org.au

Youth Group- a monthly gathering open to Years 5 and 6 will resume on a Saturday afternoon once a month. Look out for dates as they are confirmed in the coming weeks.

This is a great chance to have some fun, for younger people to explore their faith in an informal setting and build connections within their parish. 

Stations of the Cross

Stations of the Cross Stations of the Cross will be held in the Church every Friday during Lent at 7:00pm. On the first Friday of the month 4th April Stations will be held at 6:00pm.

Consider attending the Parent and Parishioner pilgrimage to Bringelly on March 31st.

CHURCH WORKING BEE- Saturday 12th APRIL  10am-1pm

come along for thirty minutes or the whole time- whatever you can spare.

Come and help tidy up around the church and car park garden areas,  and also assist in the decorations for PALM SUNDAY. Helping out in the parish is a very valuable gift to your community, especially during LENT!

TO all those PARENTS gathered outside the church waiting to pick up your children- Father invites you  INTO the church- (you are always welcome for silent prayer)

Benediction & Reconciliation Starting from Thursday 3rd of April, every first Thursday of the month

 Fr Dominic will be offering Benediction and Reconciliation from 2:30pm to 3:15pm. Students from Freeman Catholic College, as well as parents and any parishioners who are available are invited. 

During benediction, people may engage in silent prayer, meditate on the significance of God's presence, or pray for specific intentions such as healing, peace, or guidance. It’s a time for reflection, worship, and a deep sense of reverence for God's love and care.

Beautiful books on sale at Church March 30th- make great gifts for Easter!!

Anthony Salame is a father, husband, comedian, Catholic and has been a member of the St. John the Baptist parish for many years. In recent years, he’s beautifully combined his love for his faith with a passion for storytelling. Creating Catholic children’s books that inspire kids and teach lessons about faith, family, forgiveness and God’s love. Through his books, Anthony hopes to share the joy of faith with young readers, helping them grow in love for God and understanding of the rich traditions of the Catholic Church. Anthony will be selling his books following the 10am Mass on Sunday 30th March

Well Being News

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment for all our students. This week, we focus on anti-bullying initiatives, reinforcing our Schoolwide Positive Behaviour for Learning (SPBL) framework. SPBL emphasises teaching positive behaviours, creating a supportive environment, and intervening effectively when issues arise.

Defining Bullying: What It Is and What It Isn't

Understanding the difference between bullying and other forms of conflict is crucial. To ensure clarity, here’s how we define bullying at John the Baptist:

• Bullying IS:

• Repeated and intentional acts that cause physical, emotional, or social harm.

• An imbalance of power is when the person bullying has more power than the person being bullied.

• Actions that can include physical aggression, verbal abuse, social exclusion, and cyberbullying.

• Actions that are meant to hurt someone's feelings or reputation.

• Bullying IS NOT:

• A single instance of conflict or disagreement between two students.

• Mutual arguments or fights where there is an equal balance of power.

• Accidental or unintentional harm.

• A single mean comment.

We recognise that disagreements and conflicts are a normal part of growing up. However, bullying is a serious issue that requires our collective attention and action.

SPBL and Anti-Bullying Strategies at School

Our SPBL framework supports a positive school climate by teaching and reinforcing expected behaviours. We are Respectful, Responsible, and Safe. These expectations are taught explicitly and reinforced consistently throughout the school day.

With antibullying, we specifically teach the following.

• Recognising Bullying: Students learn to identify the key components of bullying (repeated, intentional, power imbalance).

• Reporting Bullying: We encourage students to report bullying incidents to a trusted adult, such as a teacher, staff member, or parent.

• Respectful Communication: Students practice respectful communication skills to resolve conflicts peacefully.

• Bystander Intervention: We empower students to be upstanders, not bystanders, by safely intervening or reporting bullying when they witness it.

Mirroring SPBL at Home: Strategies for Parents

You play a vital role in reinforcing these strategies at home. Here are some ways you can support our anti-bullying efforts:

• Open Communication: Create a safe space for your child to talk about their experiences at school, both positive and negative.

• Reinforce Respectful Behaviour: Model and reinforce respectful communication and behaviour at home.

• Discuss Online Safety: Talk to your child about online safety and responsible social media use, emphasising the importance of treating others with respect online.

• Problem-Solving Skills: Help your child develop problem-solving skills to resolve conflicts peacefully.

• Reinforce Upstander Behaviour: Discuss the importance of standing up for others and reporting bullying when they see it.

• Reinforce the school SPBL expectations at home: Ask your child about the school expectations and reinforce those behaviours at home. For example, RESPECT and discuss what respect looks like at home.

• Teach the difference between tattling and reporting: Tattling is to get someone in trouble, while reporting is to keep someone safe.

We are committed to working together to create a safe and supportive learning environment for all our students.

Thank you for your partnership in making John the Baptist a place where every child feels safe, valued, and respected.

Peace and Blessings,

Frank Wassef Pastoral Care Coordinator

Harmony Day

Harmony Day 

Wednesday 2nd of April 

 Harmony Day is about inclusiveness, respect 

 and a sense of belonging for everyone.

John the Baptist will be celebrating Harmony Day on Wednesday 2nd of April . Harmony Day is a celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all cultural backgrounds. ​​To celebrate the day students are encouraged to wear a splash of orange along with their sports uniform (hair tie, socks, hat, t-shirt, wrist band etc). In the morning we will begin the day with a whole school assembly featuring a performance by the Infant and Primary JB Choir. The assembly will commence at 8:50am on the Top Playground. Parents are welcome to attend. 

We look forward to celebrating Harmony Day as a school community. 

Warm regards,

EAL/D Team 

Literacy News

Dear Parents and Carers,

Listening to your child read aloud is one of the most valuable gifts you can give your child. It fosters a love of stories, builds vocabulary, and helps children develop important social-emotional skills. Best of all, it’s a special time to connect, relax, and explore new ideas together. Just 10 minutes a day can make a big difference!

Tips for Reading at Home

For Parents of Kindergarten to Year 2 Students:

Use expression and different voices to bring characters to life.

• Pause to talk about the pictures and ask, “What do you think will happen next?”
• Encourage your child to sound out words on their own and time to try before stepping in.

For Parents of Year 3 to Year 6 Students:

• Read chapter books together and take turns reading pages or paragraphs.
• Discuss new words and ideas, connecting them to your child’s experiences.
• Ask open-ended questions like, “Why do you think the character made that choice?”

A big thank you to all the Kindergarten and Year 1 parents who joined our Reading at Home webinar! If you couldn’t attend, please view the recorded webinar here -  watch the recording for great tips on supporting reading in Kindergarten and Year 1. 

Happy reading!

Daniella Kokkinis  Literacy Coordinator

Diverse Learning News

School Photo Day

Amadeus Reminder

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

Many children are leaving their instruments at home.

We are NOT able to accept forgotten instruments for students on their Amadeus Day. 

Thank you for your understanding.

Enrolment Information

Applications are now open in Compass for Kindergarten 2026 and Year 7 2027 enrolments (for current Year 5 students).

To apply, click the cog wheel on the top right-hand side of your existing parent Compass account and then “Family and Enrolments” in the drop-down. If you are applying for your currently enrolled child please click on their name in Student Profile, complete the profile to get to 100% and you will then be able to create an application. For new students (e.g. Kindergarten), please create a new student profile before submitting an application. You must select at least two school preferences to submit. Upon submission, you'll receive a confirmation email, and your Compass account will display the status as “submitted.” Please see below step-by-step guide if you need assistance.

Open days will be held in early Term 1 2025 (Monday 3 March 2025 at 6pm and Thursday 6 March 2025 at 9.15am), and final enrolment applications close on Friday 4 April 2025.  Feel free to share this information with friends, family, and community members who may be interested in enrolment.

Notes from the Office

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

Parents, a gentle reminder regarding the importance of informing our school of any changes that may  occurr during the year 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 2025 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 CompassPay, BPay, Cash, Eftpos or Centrepay.

Your co-operation is greatly appreciated!

CANTEEN

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

LOST PROPERTY

We have numerous items of clothing collected every day, they are placed in our lost property basket in the office.  All labelled items are returned to the child's classroom and 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.

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 every day which remain unclaimed and ultimately have to be thrown away. 

CLOTHING POOL  

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. 

The clothing pool welcomes donations of school uniforms. Please ensure that all items are clean and in good condition (no rips or stains as we have no washing facilities). Only official school uniform items are accepted and please note we cannot accept socks or stockings.

BEFORE/AFTER SCHOOL CARE PROVIDERS

Parents will need to arrange before and after school care providers directly with the provider.  Camp Australia can be contacted on 1300 105 343 to arrange your child's enrolment with this service.  

School student travel information for parents and students

School Travel Passes

Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply or update their details as soon as possible.

In the Opal network, students should travel with a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card. If outside Greater Sydney, parents should contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs.

Students living in rural and regional areas will receive their travel pass from their nominated transport operator. It may be issued via their school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some rural and regional operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.

Terms of Use

Students using School Opal cards must tap on and tap off in line with the Opal terms of use.

This includes travel within the approved times between 6.30am and 7.00pm from Monday to Friday on school days only. Students must use their Child/Youth Opal card for any travel outside these times.

All students are required to comply with the Student code of conduct. The code of conduct aims to ensure the safety and well-being of school children and other passengers. It is important that parents ensure their child is aware of this, as failure to comply with the code of conduct can result in a suspension from travel.

Mail sent from the Stakeholder Liaison Team, Customers Systems and Operations.

Further information can be found at transportnsw.info/school-students

Enquiries can be submitted at transportnsw.info/passes-concessions-feedback

Awards

Congratulations to the following students on achieving their badges:

Dates to Remember