Week 9 Term 3

School Vision Statement: To change the world through our faith in Jesus who is our light.
Phone: 6882 2677 or 6882 2653
Email: stjohnsprimarydubbo@bth.catholic.edu.au                    
Principal: Mr. Anthony O’Leary
School Manager/Priest: Father Greg Kennedy           
P&F Meetings: 2nd & 7th Tuesday each term

Parents/guardians-Please note that photographs of students may be used in publication. Please advise the School Office if you do not approve of your child’s photo being used.

WEEK 9
Monday 16th September - Staff Retreat (Pupil Free Day)                                                                            Tuesday 17th - Thursday 19th September - Life Education Van Visit                                                                Wednesday 18th September  Year 6B Masonic Village Visit                                                                            Thursday 19th - Friday 20th September - Year 4 Zoo Snooze Excursion                                                          Thursday  19th September - Debating Final - St Laurence's   11.30am                                                            Friday 20th September - Year 5 Retreat Day

WEEK 10                                                                                                                          Thursday  26th September - Gerard Yeo Shield  Year 6                                                                                    Friday 27th September - Final Day of Term 3

Term 4 Begins Monday 14th October

• School Start and finishing times - School begins promptly at 8.50am, supervision for students begins at 8.20am. Please ensure children are not dropped off prior to 8.20am to ensure the safety of all students. The last bell of the day is at 3.00pm. Parents are asked to please collect children promptly after school unless they are catching a school bus.
• Morning Drop off - Morning drop off inside the school grounds (drop off /pick up area) is a no parking area and you must not leave your car unattended. If you intend to walk your child into the school grounds you must park off site.
• Afternoon pick up -The parking situation on Sheraton Road is often a problem. The afternoon pick up procedure is a time when patience is required. As cars enter the school grounds it is expected that the cars will move to stop along the posted ‘pick up’ zone. The teacher on duty will be located near the large orange bollards at the pick up shelter. This is the location from which the children are to be collected. Please do not call students over to you if you are parked on the curve area. Pick up signs should be placed on car dash so teachers can identify who is being picked up.
• Staff Car Park - Parents are asked not use the Staff Car Park in the morning or afternoon when dropping off or picking up.
• Change in Daily Arrangements - Parents are asked to please be aware that any change in your child’s arrangements (e.g. pick up or bus) notify the school office, where possible, before 2:00pm. If messages are received after this time, every effort will be made but no guarantee can be given that the message reaches your child by the end of the school day.
• Up to Date Contact Information - Please ensure all of your contact information details are kept up to date. This includes telephone numbers, mobile phone, email addresses, emergency contacts and If you have a change of employment.

Welcome to Week 9

Congratulations to all of our students that travelled to Newcastle for the Polding Athletics carnival. Miss Anderson said that all of the team performed very well and did their best, as well as demonstrating great sportsmanship.

The Junior Girls relay team made up of Abby, Molly, Amahli and Ava should be very impressed with their results - gaining first place in the final and won the gold medal.

Well done to the entire Athletics team.

Thank you                                                                                                                                                      Yesterday our staff had a valuable and rewarding day working with Father Elio Capra for our annual retreat. We were joined by our colleagues from St Michael’s Dunedoo. As a staff we explored the message of Jesus through art. Thank you for your support of the Professional Learning opportunities for our staff.

A reminder that the Accessible Parking Spaces are only for those who have a parking permit for that space.

There have been some parents and carers who have parked in these spaces, particularly during school dismissal. These spots need to be left available for those members of the community who really need them and who have the appropriate permit visible. Please be respectful in the use of these spaces.

We are now in the Season of Creation, a special time in the Church calendar when we are called to reflect on the gift of God's creation and our responsibility to care for the Earth. Running from September 1st, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, to October 4th, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, this season invites us to deepen our appreciation of the natural world, protect it and promote sustainable living in our communities. Let us join in prayer, action and reflection, as we honour our common home and work together for a more just and green future.

Season of Creation 2024 Prayer

Triune God, Creator of all,
We praise you for your goodness, visible in all the diversity that you have created,
making us a cosmic family living in a common home.
Through the Earth you created,
we experience love and nourishment, home and protection.
We confess that we do not relate to the Earth as a Mothering gift from you,
our Creator.
Our selfishness, greed, neglect, and abuse have caused the climate crisis,
loss of biodiversity, human suffering as well as the suffering of all our fellow creatures.
We confess that we have failed to listen to the groans of the Earth,
the groans of all creatures,
and the groans of the Spirit of hope and justice that lives within us.
May your Creator Spirit help us in our weakness,
so that we may know the redeeming power of Christ and the hope found in him.
May the groans of the Spirit birth in us a willingness to serve you faithfully,
so that we may hear and heal Creation, to hope and act together with her,
so that the firstfruits of hope may blossom.
Loving and Creator God,
we pray that you will make us sensitive to these groans
and enable us to have the same compassion as that of Jesus, the redeeming Lord.
Grant us a fresh vision of our relationship with Earth, and with one another,
as creatures that are made in your image.
In the name of the one who came to proclaim the good news to all Creation,
Jesus Christ.
Amen.

ZooSnooz
This Thursday our Year 4 students are heading off to the zoo for the ZooSnooz. I know the Year 4 staff have been planning to ensure the students have a wonderful time. It is quite an adventure to sleep in tents with the sounds of the wild all around. What an adventure. Have fun Year 4!

God Bless and have a wonderful week                                                                                                              Anthony O’Leary

This coming Sunday’s Gospel and Reflection: Mark 9:30-37

Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time
30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” 36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

Family Connection Conversations such as the one described in today’s Gospel are common in family life. Perhaps these examples are familiar: “I should get the first piece of cake because I am the youngest;” “I did the dishes yesterday; someone else should do them today.” How might we respond if Jesus asked about our family arguments? What would Jesus say to us in reply? All of us need the reminder found in today’s Gospel: To be great in God’s Kingdom is to be the servant of all. As you gather as a family, recall a recent family argument about household chores or an example of bickering among family members. Talk about what was at issue in the argument. Together imagine that Jesus entered the room just as the argument ended. What would you tell Jesus your argument was about? What might Jesus say in reply? Read together today's Gospel, Mark 9:30-37. How was your family argument like the argument among Jesus’ disciples? What might your family do to remember that those who are great in God’s kingdom are those who willingly serve others? Pray together that your family life will reflect your commitment to serve one another with love.

Enrolment for the Sacrament of Reconciliation: Parents of Catholic students in Year 2                                                                          Please be aware that enrolment Masses began over the weekend and will continue this coming weekend. Enrolling your child in the Sacrament of Reconciliation is different to registering interest in the sacrament which occurred at the beginning of the year at the Information for Parents session. All children wishing to receive this sacrament must attend an enrolment Mass. If you have not yet received information from Rosie Hosking - St. Brigid’s Sacramental Coordinator, please contact her on sacraments.dubbo@cdob.org.au, so you can receive all of the necessary information for your child to receive this sacrament.

Times for Mass at St. Brigid’s are listed below.

St. Brigid’s Picnic
This coming Sunday 22nd September, St. Brigid’s Parish are holding a family Picnic Day after 9am Mass on the Church grounds between 9-12. Many activities have been planned for the picnic which include, face painting and a jumping castle. We look forward to seeing many families from the SJP community attend the picnic after the 9am Mass. Please see the below for more details.

Masonic Village Visit
This coming Wednesday, 6B will visit the residents of the Masonic Village for a pirate themed day. 6B will share with the residents our Beebot devices that can be programmed to move around a pirate and treasure themed map. No doubt our students will hear many stories of how school used to look without Beebots!

Year 5 Student Grade Retreat
This Friday it will be Year 5’s turn to experience their first grade retreat together. The Year 5 teachers have poured much time and effort into getting the retreat day organised. We trust Year 5 will enjoy spending their day together focusing on the gifts they bring to SJP and how effective they can be when they share their gifts with others and work efficiently as a team. Parents are invited along to join in for a short time so please parents, keep an eye out for communications from your child’s teacher.

Gerard Yeo Shield
Next Thursday 26th September, our Year 6 students will gather with all four Catholic primary schools from Dubbo to compete in the Gerard Yeo Shield. Students will play a range of sports, chess and participate in an academic challenge. Gerard Yeo was an ex-student of St. Mary’s Primary and St. John’s College, who was tragically killed in the 2002 Bali bombings. 

The competition is held to honour Gerard’s memory and to encourage the building of friendships between the students of Dubbo’s four Catholic schools. Year 6 will need to wear sports uniforms including their hat, correct socks, correct footwear and correct hair accessories. As the day will be held at St. John’s College, permission does not need to be given to attend. We know our students will enjoy the sports and games on the day and appreciate the opportunity to mix with other Year 6 students before they move on to high school.

Pictured in the image below, are Gerard’s parents Kier and Pat Yeo holding the shield.

Mass at St. Brigid’s Church
Saturday - 6:00pm, Sunday - 9:00am and Sunday - 6:00pm

Enjoy your week!                                                                                                                                              Paula Clifford                                                                                                                                                  Religious Education Coordinator