Phone: 6882 2677

Fax: 6884 4500

Email: stjohnsprimarydubbo@bth.catholic.edu.au

Fees Enquiries: 6884 8504

Email: dubsjpfees@bth.catholic.edu.au

Term 3 Week 6 August 21, 2017

ST JOHNS PRIMARY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

www.stjohnsprimarydubbo.catholic.edu.au

138 Sheraton Road

P.O. Box 4914

S C H O O L M A N A G E R F a t h e r G r eg Ken n ed y

S C H O O L C H A P L A I N F a t h e r G r eg Ken n ed y

P R I N C I P A L M r A n t h o n y O ’ L e a r y

A S S I S T A N T P R I N C I P A L M r A d am F o l e y

R E C M r D a v i d S c h w ag e r

PRIMARY COORDINATOR

Mrs Angela Benton TEACHING STAFF:

KINDERGARTEN Mrs Maria Brice Mrs Teagan Hoper

YEAR 1 Mrs Paula Clifford / Ms Kara Mawbey

Miss Cassandra Hawke

YEAR 2

Miss Madeleine Redden Mrs Laura Emery Mrs Angela Benton/ Mrs Sarah Davis

YEAR 3 Ms Anna Veech

Mrs Kim English/Mrs Erin Carney

YEAR 4

Mrs Judith Gibson/Mrs Aimee Rose Mrs Shannon Lea .

YEAR 5 Miss Emma Bolton/Mrs Karyn Kind Mr George Sayers

YEAR 6 Mrs Mickaela Wright/Mrs Karyn King

Mr David Schwager/ Mrs Gabrielle Jones

SPECIAL EDUCATION: Mrs Patricia Toohey, Mr Adam Foley Mrs Amanda Shields

TEACHER’S AIDES: Mrs Deanna Swanson, Mrs Bronwyn

Harper, Mrs Tracey Duncan Mrs Maricon Suckling, Mr Trevor

Thomas, Mrs Belinda Montague, Mrs Paula Campbell, Mrs Kristie Scott, Mrs Megan Jones, Mrs Jacquie Clark

LIBRARIAN: Mrs Maree Williams

ABORIGINAL EDUCATION WORKER: Ms Tiffany Lucas

CREATIVE ARTS: Ms Louise Lindsay

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION: Mrs Margo Green, Mrs Karen Meredith

CANTEEN MANAGER: Mrs Cathy Dries

GENERAL HAND : Mr Mark Bradford

CLEANER: Mrs Kerry Iverach

P&F MEETINGS: 2nd & 7th Tuesday each Term PARENTS/GUARDIANS Please note that photographs of students may be used in this publication. Please advise the School Office if you do not approve of your child’s photo being used.

From the Principal’s desk…. Welcome to Week 6.

Dear Parents and Friends,

I hope and pray that as you read this week’s newsletter that the first item I am writing is no long-

er needed. As I write to you on Sunday evening Julian Cadman is still missing. I am sure I am like

you and very desperately sad over all of these attacks effecting our world. Over the past weeks

we have seen so much hate on our news feeds. The car attacks in Spain recently, London, Nice

and the anger in the Southern States of America. We can all try and change our world through

simple acts of kindness. We are not a single drop in the ocean if we stay committed to being a

community of love, compassion and honesty. My heart breaks for the family of

Julian, he is the same age as my own son, and I can’t comprehend this happen-

ing to my own family. Pope Francis condemned the “blind violence” manifested

in the attack, saying it is “a grave offense to the Creator”. He prayed for those

who “lost their lives to such an inhuman act”.

“In these moments of sorrow and pain,” the Pope “wishes also to offer his support and closeness

to the many injured, to their families, and to all Catalan and Spanish society,” he said.

The following message comes from our colleague Diocese of Parramatta.

Your special prayers are needed for 7 year-old little Julian Cadman, currently missing following

the deadly terrorist attack in Barcelona. Julian attends one of our Catholic primary schools and

was in Barcelona with his mother to be at a wedding. Mrs Cadman sustained serious injuries and

is currently in a stable condition in a Barcelona Hospital. Julian has been missing since the attack.

The whole Catholic Diocese of Parramatta family stand with the Cadman's as the search for Julian

goes on and his mother continues to receive medical treatment. Our hearts also go out to the

many other victims of this horrible act of terrorism.

This morning we were met with the sad news that young Julian Cadman is another victim of the

violence that has struck Barcelona. Last night I wrote the newsletter in the hope that, he would

be found. I have decided to keep that part of the newsletter below. I think as parents we all

need to hug our children a bit tighter tonight, tell them we love them and cherish each day.

VISION STATEMENT

To change the world through our faith in Jesus who is our light and hope.

Our Year 3 and Year 5 families received their child’s NAPLAN results last week. The children did very well overall with our Year 5

showing strong growth in Reading and in other areas. Our Year 3 did particularly well across the areas.

Some of the highlights include:

36.5% of our Year 3 students gained a Band 6 in Reading, 7% higher than the State.

62% of our Year 3 students gained a score in the 2 top bands in Writing. 10% higher than the state.

65% of our Year 3 students gained a score in the top 2 bands in Grammar and Punctuation.

Our Year 5 students had higher average growth that the state in Reading and Spelling.

Parents are invited to talk to their child’s classroom teacher if they need any explanation of the results or in relation to their

child’s result over the coming weeks. NAPLAN is one test among many. This assessment was

carried out in May 2017, so there has been a considerable length of time lapse since sitting the

test and a lot of learning covered in class since May. The NSW Education Standards Authority

(NESA) is moving toward online testing for NAPLAN with transition taking place from 2018. St

John’s Year 3 and Year 5 students will sit for a School Readiness Test (SRT) in September. The

purpose of the SRT is to assess the effectiveness of each school environment for online testing in

NAPLAN and to collect information about implementation. This is not intended as an aca-

demic assessment but more of a trial of the delivery systems.

Gospel and Reflection: Matthew 15:21-28

Jesus left Gennesaret and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Then out came a Canaanite woman from that district and

started shouting, ‘Sir, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.’ But he answered her not a word. And

his disciples went and pleaded with him. ‘Give her what she wants,’ they said ‘because she is shouting after us.’ He said in reply,

‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.’ But the woman had come up and was kneeling at his feet. ‘Lord,’ she

said ‘help me.’ He replied, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs.’ She retorted, ‘Ah yes, sir; but

even house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, you have great faith.

Let your wish be granted.’ And from that moment her daughter was well again.

Reflection

When Jesus engages with someone in need, he draws out of them a revelation of some aspect of their

personality and evidence of their need. In this way every encounter becomes a teaching situation for the

disciples as well as the person involved.

Jesus’ first response to the Canaanite woman appeared to be a refusal of her request, but she demon-

strated an assertive persistence which would have been hard for any woman to do publicly in those

times. Her persistence and desperation were evidence of her deep love for her daughter, as was the risk

she took in engaging in dialogue with Jesus on equal terms.

In effect the Canaanite woman said to Jesus: “What I am asking is nothing to you but everything to me”. Jesus could have

stayed with his position that he was “sent only to the lost sheep of Israel” but her need and her desperation gave him the op-

portunity to transcend the ethnic barriers of his time (a lesson in itself) and to respond with generosity.

We are sometimes exhorted to “give until it hurts” to help those in need. In this episode the Canaanite woman provides a

different perspective on generosity. We have so many things that we can give others which cost us almost nothing, and yet may

be everything to them - praise for person anxious about their work; a hug for a scared child; our presence at an event; support

for a grieving person; engaging in conversation with a newly arrived migrant; even the purchase of a chocolate bar from a child

who is fundraising.

Who are the Canaanite women in our lives?

Last Friday the Diocesan Athletics Carnival was held. A huge note of congratulations to all of the stu-

dents who participated and did their best. Special mentions go to Amara Low who was named Joint

11yr Girls Age Champion, as well as Grace Peters who was named Reserve Junior Girls Age Champion

and Nick Peters for attaining Reserve Junior Boys Age Champion.

Just a little reminder that the Staff Retreat / Pupil Free Day is coming up soon. Monday, 4th of Septem-

ber. This is a very important day for our school as a Catholic community and faith formation.

God bless and have a wonderful week

Anthony O’Leary

Important Dates to Remember Aug 22 Year 4 Excursion to the Japanese Gardens

Aug 23 Newcastle Permanent Primary Maths Competition (Years 5 & 6)

Aug 30 Year 4 at St Laurence’s for Mass

Aug 30 Placement Testing SJC Year 7 2018

Aug 30 Parent Reconciliation Information Evening St Brigid’s Church 6pm Please note change of date

& time

Sept 4 PUPIL FREE DAY

Sept 8 NAIDOC Day

Sept 11-15 RSL Learn to Swim (Years 1 & 3)

Sept 18-22 RSL Learn to Swim (Kinder & Year 2)

Sept 22 Term 3 concludes

Successful Artists!

Congratulations to the following Year 6 students who were finalists in the recent Dubbo

Young Archies Competition: Jack Walsh, Malindi Samarakoon, Amoya Quigley, Georgia

Brydon, Kenneth Crisp, Eva Osborne and Jorja Edwards.

All artworks are currently on display at the Western Plains Cultural Centre.

Religious Education News Term 3, Week Six 2017

2017 Christmas Art Competition

Good luck to our 6 entrants in this year’s Diocesan Christmas Art Competition: Amara Low, Xanthe Mara,

Lillian Morrison, Kate Foley, Isla Cole and Annabelle Whiteley. Your artworks look terrific!

The wait is finally over!

The CBCA is proud to announce the esteemed 2017 Children’s Book of the Year Awards, recog-nising the incredible depth and scope of talent in Australian children’s literature.

Professor Margot Hillel OAM, Chair of the CBCA National Board says, “Every year we are remind-ed how lucky we are in Australia to have the remarkable range of creativity and talent in our authors and illustrators.”

“The 2017 winning and honour books demonstrate why our creators are so highly regarded around the world, with beautiful prose, delightful illustrations and fascinating topics that are sure to delight generations of readers.”

From entries of over 400 titles and almost 600 creators, the judges had the challenging task of selecting just one winner and two honour books from each of the five categories. Winners in-clude a scientist, a street artist, a radio producer and a seven-time CBCA award winner (and Kate Greenaway award recipient) among others.

The winning books along with the shortlisted books are on display in our library and we will continue to

read these books during Term 3. For more information on the CBCA of Australia and the winning books

please visit their website nsw.cbca.org.au/

The Premier’s Reading Challenge The Premier’s Reading Challenge concludes this week. All participating children need to have all books

read and recorded online by Friday 25th August. Visit the PRC website for all details and updates.

www.schools.nsw.edu.au/premiersreadingchallenge . Congratulations to Orlagh and Amoya Quigley who

have now completed the PRC Challenge. Well Done!

Maree Williams

Librarian

DIOCESAN ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

Last Friday , 19th Aug, Miss Bolton , Mr Foley & Mr Thomas attended the Bathurst Diocesan Athletics Carnival with 35 St

John’s Primary students as part of the Northern Region School’s Athletics Team. At this carnival our athletes were competing

against the placegetters from all of the Primary schools in the Bathurst Diocese.

All of our 35 students did themselves, the Northern Region and St Johns Primary very proud with their great performances

and excellent sportsmanship throughout the day. Placegetters from this carnival will now be included in the Bathurst Dioce-

san Athletics team to compete at the Polding Athletics Carnival in September.

Notable performances on the day included –

Makayla McKeown : 2nd 11yr Girls Long Jump

Aspen Moore: 3rd 11yr Girls 200m run, 1st 11yr Girls Long Jump

Amara Low: 1st 11yr Girls Discus, 1st 11 yr Girls Shot Put. Joint 11yr Girls Age Champion

Grace Peters: 2nd Jun Girls Shot Put, 1st Jun Girls Discus setting a new Diocesan Record of 21.86m. Reserve Jun Girls Age

Champion

Nicholas Peters: Equal 2nd 10y Boys 100m, 2nd Jun Boys 800m, 1st Jun Boys Long Jump. Reserve Jun Boys Age Champion

Byron Bland: 3rd Jun Boys High Jump

Ellla Simic: 3rd Jun Girls High Jump

Angus Boland: 3rd 11 Yr Boys Shot Put

Sen Boys 4 X 100m Relay Team: 2nd place – Reef Martin, Jack Tudor, Ethan Letfallah, Henry Smith

Dubbo Neighbourhood Centre are offering Long Day Care for the St John’s Pupil

Free Day Monday 4th of September from 7.30am-6pm. Drop off in the morning is

located in the Dubbo Neighbourhood Centre building( Central) at 80/1 Gipps street

Dubbo. Due to After School Care being run at Central in the afternoon, St Johns stu-

dents will be bussed to St Laurence’s School Hall for collection after 3pm.

For more information please contact 6882 2100.

CDF BANKING

Our banking volunteer for this week is Lauren Hawkins.

Please remember to bring your bank books in before

Wednesday.

Canteen News

Friday helpers this week are Katie Young & Lisa Butterworth. A current canteen price list is included in the newsletter today. Please check the prices before ordering.

Brooke and Cathy 0458550747

2017 SCHOOL FEES

If you are paying your school fees by the term, Term 3 2017 fees were due last Friday 18 August 2017.

Also, as previously advised, the K-Yr 3 Swimming Program ($80.00) has been added to your school fee account this term. If

you are on an agreed payment plan this may mean that your account will not clear at the end of November as previously ar-

ranged. You may wish to increase your payment plan by a small amount or, depending on the amount of your payment plan,

leave as is until it clears.

Please remember to check your invoice/statement against your bank statement to ensure receipting is correct and let me

know as soon as possible if there are any discrepancies.

If you have any concerns at all please do not hesitate to contact me on 68848504.

Karen Meredith