Week 2 Term 2 - 2024

WEEK 2

Monday 6th - Friday 10th May - Catholic Schools Week ( see Religion News for what is happening)

Tuesday 7th May - P & F Meeting 6.00pm for tea then at 6.30pm meeting, South Dubbo Tavern

Tuesday 7th May - Coolah Cross Country

Tuesday 7th May - Year 3 & 4 Boys Russell Richardson/David Peachey Gala Day

Tuesday 7th May - Kindy gymnastics program

Thursday 9th May - Catholic Schools Week Mass 10am (new time)

Friday 10th May - Mother's Day Liturgy 1pm, St John's College Hall, afternoon tea at St John's Primary afterwards

Friday 10th May - Catholic Schools Week Open Classrooms 2.00 - 3.00pm

WEEK 3

Tuesday 14th May - Pre Confirmation Retreat St John's College

Welcome to Week 2 and Catholic Schools Week

This is a special time of the year when we celebrate the many blessings of Catholic education and the unique role that Catholic schools play in the formation of our children, and SJP is very proud to be part of the Catholic Education tradition.

SJP and all Catholic schools are committed to providing an education that integrates faith, academic excellence, and service. Our schools are not just places of learning, but also communities of faith where students can grow in their relationship with God and each other.

During Catholic Schools Week, we celebrate the many accomplishments of our students, teachers and staff; and we give thanks for the gift of Catholic education. We also invite families to join us in learning more about our school and the benefits of Catholic education. Mrs Clifford has been instrumental in planning events for the entire school and all of these details are in the newsletter and school website.

I hope that this week will be a time of joy and celebration for all of us as we come together to recognise the many ways that Catholic education shapes the hearts and minds of our students and prepares them for a life of service and leadership in the world.

SPORT  - We wish all of our Cross Country athletes all the best for the Cross Country races tomorrow in Coolah and also the Junior (Year 3 and 4) Rugby League players participating in the Peachey Cup Gala Day.

P & F - Tomorrow evening is the next P&F meeting. As always everyone is very welcome to attend. The meetings are family friendly and welcoming. The meeting will be held at the South Dubbo Tavern commencing at 6.00pm.

School Uniform - For the beginning of Term 2 children will have the option of wearing either the sports uniform or the formal winter uniform on Tuesdays and Thursday. From the start of Week 6, Monday 3rd June, all children are to be wearing the full winter school uniform on the nominated days.

From Week 6 the uniform days are:

Sports Uniform = Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Formal Winter Uniform = Tuesday and Thursday

Mothers Day and Liturgy:

This week we will be remembering and celebrating the Mothers and mother figures in our lives. This Thursday we will be celebrating our Mothers’ Day Liturgy in the new performance hall at the College, and we thank the college for this. Kindergarten always prepares a moving Liturgy and I am sure this week will be no different.

Loving God, 

We thank you for the gift of motherhood, For the women who have mothered us, For the women who have shown us motherly love, For the women who have sacrificed so much for us.

We pray for all mothers today, Especially those who face challenges and difficulties, Those who struggle to provide for their children, Those who are raising children on their own, And those who have lost children.

Bless all mothers with your love and strength, And may they know how much they are loved and appreciated, Not just today, but every day.

We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Family Connection

In family life, we have many opportunities to show love in action. Each time we postpone a task to tend to the needs of another, we show ourselves to be on the path to following the example of love shown to us by Jesus. Sometimes the sacrifices we are called upon to make for others are small. But these small choices to love and to serve others prepare us for the larger choices and sacrifices that we may be called upon to make. If we are people who have practiced showing our love for others with generosity, we will also be people who are willing to lay down our lives for those we love.

As you gather as a family, talk about the meaning of the word generosity. Ask each family member to describe an action that shows generosity. To be generous is to give freely to others without counting the cost. Recall that generosity is one of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. Introduce today’s Gospel reading by saying that Jesus taught us to be generous in showing our love for one another. Read together today’s Gospel, John 15:9-17. What examples did Jesus give to us that show this kind of love? (washing his disciples’ feet; accepting death on the cross) Jesus helps us to show this kind of love to others. In today’s Gospel, Jesus promised that God will give us whatever we ask for. One of the things we can ask for from God is a generous spirit so that we can love others as Jesus did. Conclude in prayer together by praying Saint Ignatius of Loyola’s Prayer for Generosity.

God Bless and have a wonderful week

Anthony O’Leary

Welcome to Catholic Schools Week! CSW provides us with a great opportunity to connect with our wider school community and to celebrate the special ethos of our Catholic School. The theme for this year’s week of celebrations is: ‘Experience the Spirit of Community’. SJP have planned a number of activities throughout the week - led by our Year 6 Ministry Leaders. See pages below. On Thursday, all parents are invited to attend our CSW Mass beginning at 10am in our school hall. This will be a lovely opportunity for us to gather together with parents to celebrate what makes our school a Catholic school. Our biggest day of celebrations will be held on Friday, when we welcome all parents to school for Open Classrooms. Please see more details below.

Mother’s Day Liturgy: Just a reminder - our Mother’s Day Liturgy will be held at St. John’s COLLEGE this coming Friday at 1pm. Once again we are expecting some beautiful emotions to be on display as Kindergarten lead us in the Liturgy. All members of our school community are invited, however a particular invitation is extended to all mums, nans, grandmas, grannies, mas etc. All parents will be invited to then return to SJP for an afternoon tea hosted by the P&F. We look forward to seeing many of you there!

Open Classrooms on Friday: This Friday, we extend an invitation to all families to stay after the Mother’s Day Liturgy and afternoon tea, to visit their children's classrooms. This is a great opportunity to see your child in action in their classroom and have a look at some of the work they have around the room. We understand that many parents may wish to take their children home after the visit - in this instance, please be aware that you must sign your child out so we are aware that they have left the school grounds, (the sign-out page will be with your child’s class teacher). We trust you will enjoy this visit to your child's classroom.

Mother’s Day Prayer:  As we approach Mother's Day this coming Sunday, I wish all mothers and mother-figures a beautiful day surrounded by love. Often, mothers’ make sacrifices for others they are close to. These sacrifices give us a glimpse of the love that God also has for us. A huge thankyou to all of the mums, nans, grannies and mas who are part of our school community and provide that selfless love and care for the students of our school. Happy Mother’s Day!

Year 6 Pre-Confirmation Retreat Day : Next Tuesday, 14th May our Year 6 grade will experience the opportunity to work with Leader of Faith Elissa Burden from St. John’s College in preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. This will be a day of learning, group work, singing, interacting with others (St. Laurence’s will be joining with us) and growing in our faith journeys. I have no doubt, Year 6 will enjoy their day spent at SJC.

Year 6 will need to bring normal recess, lunch and a water bottle on the day and wear their normal sports uniform including their school hat.

Confirmation Preparation Sessions: Yesterday, preparation sessions for this sacrament began at St. Brigid’s Hall. This is just a reminder to attend each of the three sessions that will be held over the next 3 weeks.

Sessions will be offered: 

SESSION 1: SUNDAY 5th May = 10AM/TUESDAY 7th May = 6:15PM/WEDNESDAY 8th May = 4:30PM

SESSION 2: SUNDAY 12th May = 10AM/TUESDAY 14th May = 6:15PM/WEDNESDAY 15th May = 4:30PM 

SESSION 3: SUNDAY 19th May = 10AM/TUESDAY 21st May = 6:15PM/WEDNESDAY 22nd May = 4:30PM

If you were not aware that sessions were beginning, as you have not yet received correspondence from Sacramental Coordinator Rosie Hosking, please contact her immediately on: sacraments.dubbo@cdob.org.au

MASS TIMES

St. Brigid’s Church: Saturday - 5:00pm, Sunday - 9:00am and Sunday - 5:00pm               

St. Laurence’s Church: Sunday - 7:30am and Wednesday 9.30am

Enjoy your week!

Paula Clifford

Religious Education Coordinator

Catholic Schools Week 2024 

St. John’s Primary 

Week 2: Monday 6th - Friday 10th May

 “Experience the Spirit of Community”

Catholic Schools Week is a week for SJP to celebrate! It is an opportunity to celebrate our school, celebrate connection with families and also highlight the successes of the teachers and children.St. John’s Primary is very proud to foster the holistic development of its students, promote their wellbeing and encourage them to learn and nurture their talents and skills. Each child has the potential to change the world for the better, making it a kinder, more inclusive and more welcoming place. We therefore wish to demonstrate this and invite you along to witness the great learning and development that takes place at SJP.     

All parents are invited to attend school for:

• CSW Mass on Thursday 9th May at 10am in our school hall. Our Christian Ministry students will assist with the Mass.
• Mother’s Day Liturgy on Friday 10th May at 1pm in St. John’s College Hall. Please come along to our Liturgy, stay for afternoon tea hosted by the P&F and then visit your child/ren in their classroom starting at 2pm.  

SPB4L

This week our SPB4L focus was introduced at our fortnightly assembly. Our SPB4L focus is on ‘safe and respectful behaviour expectations at bus bay, pick up zone and walking/crossing roads’. At the assembly students were reminded of the following;

We've kicked off this term with a whirlwind of creativity and enthusiasm in our CAPA lessons. It's been both enjoyable and busy as we dive into the world of artistic expression.

Looking ahead, our focus in the coming weeks will be on honing our skills for the upcoming Eisteddfod performances. In the table below, you will find a schedule detailing our participation in the 2024 Dubbo City Eisteddfod. Events will take place at both the Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre (DRTCC) and the St John’s Primary School Hall. 

I urge you to mark your calendars for your child's performance and join us in celebrating their hard work and achievements. Your presence and support are invaluable, not only to us but also to our incredibly talented students.

Recognising that performing in front of an audience can be nerve-wracking for some students, I want to assure you that I am here to provide support every step of the way. This week, I'll be sending out emails to each grade with further details about the events and strategies to help ease any nerves our students may be experiencing. My goal is to foster a nurturing and supportive environment where every student feels empowered to showcase their unique talents.

Thank you for your continued support.

Mrs King