2025: Week 6, Term 2

Principal's Message

THIS WEEKEND'S HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN - PENTECOST SUNDAY

Jesus said to His disciples ‘If you love me you will keep my commandments. I shall ask the Father and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever. 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.’

GOSPEL OF THE LORD

REFLECTION- GOSPEL

This weekend is Pentecost Sunday, our Church’s Birthday. What should be the Hallmark of our Catholic Community? This Feast gives us an opportunity to reflect our sense of Celebration of Feast Days. 
Next week is Trinity Sunday, and the following week is Corpus Christi. They all have one thing in common, in as much as we should not presume that the only time we are influenced by them is on the Titular Feast itself.
Every Mass is a celebration of the Spirit where those who share in the fruits of Christ’s Body and Blood are filled with His Spirit and become one Body, one Spirit in Christ.

Friendships are priceless, time is invaluable. Health is wealth, and love is a treasure. If you invest in your dreams, it is impossible to overpay. Give away smiles, and watch them come back to you a hundred times over.
THE BEST REMEDY FOR THOSE WHO ARE AFRAID, LONELY OR UNHAPPY IS TO GO OUTSIDE, SOMEWHERE, WHERE THEY CAN BE QUIET ALONE WITH HEAVEN, NATURE, AND GOD.

JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH and FREEMAN COLLEGE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

I was fortunate to attend the Freeman College 40th Anniversary Mass, celebrated by our new Bishop, Tony Percy. It was a special gathering and marked a significant achievement for the community. As you are aware, the Primary school is on the same site, however we are not making an anniversary milestone this year. The Parish and College opened for the community in 1985 while the Primary school opened in 1989. Therefore we have a few more years before we reach our anniversary. We look forward in anticipation for this to happen, and in the meantime join in the celebrations for the Parish and College. 

Mr Brendan O'Connor Principal

Assistant Principal's Message

Dear Parents,

TTFM - Tell them from Me Reminder

A reminder that you are invited to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning survey. As we value the role of parents and carers within our school community, we would greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and wellbeing at John the Baptist Primary School. The survey is now open and will close on the 13th June, 2025. 

Parents do not require a username and password to complete the survey.

The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. You are able to access the parent survey on your computer or mobile device by using the URL below:   

https://tellthemfromme.com/survey/splash/jb2025

Parent Teacher Interviews

Bookings for Parent Teacher Interviews will open for parents on Tuesday Week 7. Bookings will be made via Compass. More information will be provided to parents on how to book. 

Interviews will take place in Week 10, Term 2. Reports will be sent home prior to interviews.

SAVE THE DATE - 24th June - John the Baptist Feast Day

9am - Mass

10:15 - Open Classrooms

10:45- Picnic Lunch with Sausage Sizzle Fundraiser

More information to follow 

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. 
• What are you proud of? 

With thanks,

Mrs Natali Tomic Assistant Principal

Writing News

On Monday 26th of May,  Mrs Siciliano and Mrs Chiappazzo accompanied 18 year 5 and year 6 students to the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre for the Sydney Writers Festival. The Sydney Writers Festival is an annual event where students are given the opportunity to hear about famous author’s journeys through their writing careers. The authors share insights into the craft of writing, what inspired their characters and stories and engage students in activities that bring language and stories to life.  Below is a recount of the day from two year 6 students, Liana Vukasin and Britelle Gabriel.

Writers Festival 2025 - Liana Vukasin and Britelle Gabriel

On Monday 26th of May, Year 5 & 6 students were chosen to attend the Sydney Writers Festival 2025. We heard from different authors such as: Jared Thomas, Katrina Nannestad, Joel Mckerrow, and Terri Libenson. We even met Jeff Kinney, author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, as a surprise guest!

We had the opportunity to meet the authors, buy their books, and we got to get bookmarks and have them signed. We heard touching speeches and spectacular tips for being a future writer, as well as what gave them the inspiration for all of their stories and amazing characters. We listened to funny stories, anticipating cliffhangers from their books. All the authors had us on the edge of our seats.

We got to see how the authors draw their characters, write their texts, and techniques on how to write and illustrate our own. It was a great experience, and we really enjoyed it!

Family Educator News

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 11th June- Dear Zoo story and craft

Wednesday  18th June- John the Baptist Craft (It is his Feast day soon!)

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 TO REGISTER

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

Vinnies Winter APPEAL- NOW ON! Send in your donations!

This year we are assisting with the Vinnies Winter Appeal by donating various items which can be given to both families or those living on the streets in our local area.

The list for each grade-

KINDER:   Socks                                                                                                        

YEAR 1:      Gloves                                                       

YEAR 2:      Beanies or scarves                                                        

YEAR 3:      Toothpaste or packaged toothbrushes

YEAR 4:      Deodorant- either roll on or spray

YEAR 5:      Individually wrapped soap or small size of body wash

YEAR 6:     Shampoo or Conditioner

IF you are able to assist with just ONE of these items per family, your generosity will be greatly appreciated.

Yours in Family and Faith Tina Dunn Family Educator

Well Being News

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we move into the second half of term 2, it is a great opportunity to revisit some foundational aspects of our school community that are vital to every student's wellbeing and success. In Term 1, we highlighted our commitment to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment through our Schoolwide Positive Behaviour for Learning (SPBL) framework. It's a message worth repeating, because it requires ongoing reinforcement.

Understanding Bullying: A Refresher

Let's take a moment to refresh our understanding of what bullying truly is, and just as importantly, what it isn't. This clarity helps us all respond appropriately and effectively.

Bullying IS:

• Repeated, intentional harm: These are actions that happen more than once and are meant to cause physical, emotional, or social hurt.

• An imbalance of power: The person doing the bullying has some form of advantage over the person being bullied, whether it's physical, social, or even emotional.

• Diverse in its forms: It can manifest as physical aggression, hurtful words, excluding someone from a group, or even online harassment.

• Designed to inflict pain: The underlying intent is always to upset someone or damage their reputation.

Bullying IS NOT:

• A one-off disagreement: A single argument or misunderstanding between students isn't bullying.

• Fair fights or mutual arguments: If both parties are equally involved and have equal power, it's a conflict, not bullying.

• Accidental harm: If someone gets hurt unintentionally, it's an accident, not bullying.

• A single mean comment: While unkind, a sole negative remark doesn't meet the criteria for bullying.

We recognise that learning to navigate disagreements is a crucial part of growing up. However, bullying is a serious issue, and it requires our collective awareness and action.

SPBL and Anti-Bullying: Our School's Approach

Our SPBL framework is designed to empower students with the skills they need to thrive. We explicitly teach and reinforce our core expectations: We are Respectful, We are Responsible, and We are Safe. These aren't just words on a poster; they are active lessons taught daily and reinforced consistently across all aspects of school life.

In the context of anti-bullying, our SPBL approach specifically focuses on:

• Spotting Bullying: We equip students to recognise the key signs of bullying – the repetition, the intent to harm, and the power imbalance.

• Speaking Up: We strongly encourage students to confide in a trusted adult – a teacher, another staff member, or you, their parents – if they experience or witness bullying.

• Communicating with Kindness: Students practice respectful communication skills to help them resolve conflicts peacefully and constructively.

• Becoming Upstanders: We empower our students to be active participants in creating a safe environment by safely intervening or reporting bullying when they see it, rather than being passive bystanders.

Extending SPBL to Your Home: A Powerful Partnership

Just as we reinforce these behaviours at school, your role in mirroring these strategies at home is absolutely vital. Our partnership is the strongest defence against bullying. Here are some simple yet powerful ways you can support our efforts:

• Cultivate Open Conversations: Create a comfortable space where your child feels safe to share their school experiences, both the triumphs and the tribulations.

• Model Respect: Children learn by example. Demonstrate respectful communication and behaviour in your interactions at home and in the community.

• Navigate the Digital World: Talk regularly about online safety and responsible social media use. Emphasise that the same rules of respect apply online as they do in person.

• Build Problem-Solving Skills: Help your child develop strategies for resolving conflicts peacefully and finding constructive solutions.

• Champion Upstander Behaviour: Discuss the importance of standing up for others and reporting bullying when they witness it. This teaches empathy and courage.

• Connect Home and School Expectations: Ask your child about our school's SPBL expectations (Respectful, Responsible, Safe) and discuss what these look like in your home environment. For instance, what does "respect" mean in your family?

• Clarify Tattling vs. Reporting: Help your child understand the crucial difference: tattling is about getting someone in trouble, while reporting is about keeping someone safe.

We are unwavering in our commitment to working together to ensure that John the Baptist is a nurturing and secure learning environment for every child. If you have any concerns or need support, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

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

Peace and Blessings, 

Frank Wassef Pastoral Care Coordinator

CAPA News

Sydney Catholic Schools Dance Ensembles Eisteddfod 

We are thrilled to extend a huge congratulations to our incredible JB Dance teams who recently showcased their talents at the Sydney Catholic Schools Dance Ensembles Eisteddfod!

Our dedicated students from Years K to 6 proudly represented John the Baptist, demonstrating immense hard work, passion, and show-stopping performances. The Eisteddfod was a fantastic opportunity for our dancers to share their skills, learn from other schools, and experience the thrill of performing in a professional setting.

We celebrate every single student involved for their commitment to rehearsals, their courage on stage, and their fantastic achievements. Their dedication truly shone through, making our school community incredibly proud! Well done, dancers!

Jazz - Highly Commended

Hip Hop - Encouragement Award

Infants -  Arts HQ Mentorship Award

Miss Ohanessian, Miss Morabito, Miss Rak & Miss Valdez Dance Facilitators

Notes from the Office

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!

CENSUS DAY  

From time to time, we are required to provide student details and background data to Government agencies, particularly during Census time. Our school will be undertaking these processes during August. For more information regarding this, please refer to the SCS Privacy Policy and Standard Collection Notice.

Kindly note, you are not required to do anything for these collections, however, it is important that your personal records are up to date. For your convenience, the Personal Details Form is available in your Compass Portal - Favourites, anytime changes occur and the school is to be informed. 

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.

Awards

Congratulations to the following students on achieving their badges:

Dates to Remember