2025: Week 4, Term 2

Principal's Message

THIS WEEKEND'S HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN

Jesus said to his disciples: “If anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him and make our home with him. Those who do not love me do not keep my words. And my word is not my own; it is the word of the one who sent me. I have said these things to you while still with you; but the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you.
Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, or afraid. You heard me say: I am going away, and shall return. If you loved me you would have been glad to know that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you this now before it happens,so that when it does happen you may believe.”

GOSPEL OF THE LORD

REFLECTION - GOSPEL

The last gift that Jesus gave His Disciples before His Ascension, was the GIFT OF PEACE. “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.Peace I give to you, a Peace the world cannot give, this my gift to you.” We have all met people at some time who are deeply at Peace, no matter what is happening in their life. Invariably, such people are closer to their God. The measure of Peace in our heart may well be the measure of Peace of how close we are to Jesus.
Isn’t it worth the effort to give a little more time toprayer and good works - come closer to Jesus - receive His Peace as His special gift to us.

 CARPARK REMINDERS

Once again, we were saddened this week to hear the news of a parent who used their 4WD this week to drive over a kerb seperating the car park bays on the Gloucester St carpark to jump the queue and get to the exit gate faster. This is extremely deangerous behaviour with students and families all at risk. We strongly urge you to follow the rules and be mindful of safety at all times. Thank you for your support. 

IMPORTANT STUDENT APPLE ID UPDATE

This message is to inform you of an important update concerning student technology use at Sydney Catholic Schools.  As part of our ongoing commitment to child safety and effective learning, SCS are introducing Managed Apple IDs for all students. 

For students currently using their school email address as the primary email for a personal Apple ID, Apple will soon send them a notification prompting them to update their account. They will have 30 days to change the email address associated with their personal Apple ID and just be aware that there is an age restriction on the Apple ID, further for further information referred to the following link. https://support.apple.com/en-au/102617

'Transfer to Work' Option

Some students may see an option labelled “Transfer to Work.” This is a default Apple setting and is not controlled by Sydney Catholic Schools. Please ensure the student does not select this option, as it would transfer their personal data into the school system and remove their personal access to it. There will be no access to any data, application, or messages if this happens.

Thank you for your continued support in helping us create a safe and focused learning environment for all students.

Mr Brendan O'Connor Principal

Religion News

Mary Help of Christians 

This week we celebrate Mary Help of Christians, the patron saint of Australia. Early Catholics in Australia turned to her in difficult times, and we continue to do the same today. She became a special protector for our country.

Mary leads us to Jesus and cares for us like a loving mother. We ask her to watch over our families, our school, and all of Australia.

                      The 2025 Vinnies Winter Appeal

This year, we are focusing on addressing homelessness, highlighting the factors

                                that lead to homelessness and the support needed to recover and rebuild over the long-term. 

                                    Information will be coming home in the coming weeks as to how our school will be supporting this appeal.

Sacrament of First Holy Communion

We pray for the students completing their First Holy Communion, that they may grow in faith and

experience the love of Christ in a special way.

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 

Literacy

Just a friendly reminder to our Kindergarten to Year 3 families regarding Home Readers.

Key Reminders for Home Readers:

• Return to Classroom: Please help your child remember to return their borrowed home reader to their own classroom after reading. This ensures our classroom libraries stay organised and well resourced for everyone.
• Timely Returns: Your support in ensuring books are returned promptly helps us keep a good flow of resources for all students in the grade to share.
• Two Book at a Time: As a reminder, students can borrow two new books once their previous ones have been returned.

Here are a few helpful tips you can use when reading with your child at home:

• Encourage your child to sound out any unfamiliar words.
• Ask them to tell you what happened in the story, in order.
• Chat about the story together: Who were the main characters? What was the problem? How was it solved? You could also discuss the main idea or ask simple questions about what you've just read.

Premier's Reading Challenge is Here!

The Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC) has officially begun! We encourage all our young readers to dive into this exciting opportunity. How to add books to your (PRC) reading log . 

To get started, you can explore the suggested book lists here:

           K-2 book list: K-2 

           3-4 book list: 3-4

           5-6 book list: 5-6

We will be sharing individual student logins very soon. Once your child has their login, you can then access the PRC website to record their reading and track their progress. It's a great idea to familiarise yourselves with the login process and the extensive range of books available on the challenge list.

You can find the official PRC website here: https://online.uat.det.nsw.edu.au/prc/studentExperience.html#/

Happy Reading!

Family Educator News

YOU are INVITED to a NIGHT OUT!

FREE PARENT EVENING EVENT- WEDNESDAY 4th JUNE- from Sydney Catholic Schools. Supper and refreshments provided 6.30pm

Catholic Answers to Life’s Toughest Questions!

We often get asked some tricky questions- come along and hear the “Catholic” answers you have been searching for. Why do we suffer? Why does the church not allow female priests? And MORE! REGISTER HERE

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 28th May- Craft and Story

Wednesday 4th June- Pentecost Craft

FAITH AND FUN for FATHERS, FATHER FIGURES  AND THEIR CHILDREN Wednesday 11th June

SCS presents The JOSEPH FATHERHOOD INITIATIVE- FREE EVENT HERE AT JB

We are pleased to invite our fathers and father figures, along with all their children, to a fun night being presented by Sydney Catholic Schools Family Wellbeing and Education Team. 

The night includes games and dinner and will begin at 6pm (please arrive from 5.45pm for games) and conclude at 7.30pm. A presentation will be held in our library but we will also move outside at times to the newly refurbished undercover area- so bring a jacket, brush up on your handball skills,  and prepare for some fun! Father Dominic will be popping in too.

Dinner and drinks will be provided- just fill out the form with dietary requirements when you register HERE

SPaR- Parent Cuppa and Chat-MONDAY MORNINGS!

Come along to our SPaR (Stop Pray and Reflect session) as we meet over coffee and share a short reflection. Coffee and a chat are on offer from approximately 8.30 in the demountable classroom beside the Church on the top playground. This is not formal AT ALL but an opportunity to come together as parents and share some time together. ALL are welcome. BRING A FRIEND!

Last Chance Parent Sacramental Craft- First Holy Communion

Many parents will have received an email to register for a session to make the Rosary beads for their child. If you would like to do this craft please register as soon as possible to ensure  I have enough kits made and available for the last sessions in the coming week. Thank you.

LINK to register

Yours in Family and Faith Tina Dunn Family Educator

Parish Matters

JORDAN YOUTH GROUP is on again on Saturday 31st May at 3pm!!

An opportunity for our young students in grades 5,6,7 to gather in the Parish hall and share in some fun activities with some faith formation too! Fully supervised by parents, but you will need to sign in your children on the afternoon.

 Food, fun and faith at JB!

Well Being News

Supporting Our Children's Self-Regulation: Strategies for Home

Dear Parents and Carers,

At John the Baptist, we are deeply committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where all students can learn and thrive. A key aspect of this is helping children develop self-regulation skills: understanding and managing their emotions, behaviour, and attention. This newsletter aims to share practical strategies you can use at home to reinforce these important skills.

Understanding Self-Regulation at School:

Children can sometimes experience periods of dysregulation, where they may struggle to manage their emotions or behaviours in a way that is appropriate for the school environment. This can show itself in various ways, such as difficulty focusing, impulsive actions, heightened emotional responses, or challenges following instructions. Our staff are trained to respond to these situations with empathy and understanding, focusing on de-escalation and teaching self-regulation strategies rather than solely on consequences through processes consistent with SPBL (Schoolwide Positive Behaviour in Learning) and the Resilient Project.

• http://thebehaviorhub.com/

Extending Self-Regulation Skills at Home:

The strategies we use at school can be powerfully reinforced at home. Consistency between home and school helps children internalise these skills more effectively. Here are some strategies you might find helpful:

• 

  Establish Predictable Routines: Like at school, a consistent daily schedule at home can provide a sense of security and predictability, reducing anxiety and potential triggers for dysregulation.

• 

  Model Self-Regulation: Children learn by observing. Talk about your feelings and how you manage them in a healthy way. For example, "I'm feeling a bit frustrated right now, so I'm going to take a few deep breaths."

• 

  Help Your Child Identify Their Emotions: Encourage them to name their feelings. Simply ask, "How are you feeling right now?" This is the first step in managing those emotions.

• 

  Teach Calming Strategies: Introduce and practice simple calming techniques together, such as deep breathing exercises, counting to ten, squeezing a stress ball, or taking a quiet break in a designated calm space.

• 

  Problem-Solving Together: When your child is upset or has a conflict, guide them through problem-solving steps. Ask, "What happened? How did that make you feel? What could you do differently next time?"

• 

  Use Visual Supports: Visual timers ( include countdown clocks, time-out timers, sand timers, liquid timers, and digital timers) can help with transitions and managing screen time (use of technology). Visual schedules (such as daily charts, daily timetables, daily agendas, visual aids, picture schedules, and place these in a central area) can outline the steps in a task, making it less overwhelming.

• 

  Provide Opportunities for Choice: Offering choices within limits can give children a sense of control and reduce power struggles. For example, "Would you like to do your reading before or after your drawing?"

• 

  Practice Emotional Literacy Through Play, Stories and Sport: Use books, games, and role-play to explore different emotions and how characters manage them.

• 

  Offer Positive Reinforcement: Acknowledge and praise your child's efforts to manage their emotions and behaviours, even small steps.

By working together, we can equip our children with essential self-regulation skills that will not only benefit them in their school years but also lay a strong foundation for their future. If you have any concerns about your child's self-regulation or would like to discuss individual strategies, please do not hesitate to contact your child's teacher or our learning support team.

Peace and Blessings, 

Frank Wassef Pastoral Care Coordinator

Sports News

On Friday 16th May, our JB football teams participated in the Conference 4 Football Knockout Championship.  Our sensational girls and boys teams were successful and will now represent JB at the upcoming Conference 3 / 4 Football Knockout Championships.  Good luck, Lucas Abdal, Patrick Brcic, Emilia Bruzzese, Andrea Carnovale, Luca Corvelo, Milania D’Amico, Chloe Davino, Luca De Boucherville, Aimee Gatt, Mira Hanako, Ariella Kanoon, Oliver Komadina, Hailey Mekha, Noah Naamo, Fiorella Nemet, Mateo Odak, Rosario Patronaggio, Severio Rofael, Liana Romeo, Mateo Sculli, Gabriel Sulfaro and Alexander Zamprogno.

Frances Oliverio  Sports Coordinator

Notes from the Office

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

Parents, a gentle reminder regarding the importance of informing our school of any changes that may  occur 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.  

Awards

Congratulations to the following students on achieving their badges:

Dates to Remember