Term 2, Week 8

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
Parish 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.

Term 2 Dates
Week 8
Monday 16th June - Eisteddfod (Speech and Drama)
Tuesday 17th June - Eisteddfod (Speech and Drama)
Wednesday 18th June - Eisteddfod (Verse Speaking)
Thursday 19th June - Eisteddfod (Speech and Drama)
Friday 20th June - Eisteddfod (String Ensemble)
Friday 20th June - Kindy 2026 Interviews
Week 9
Wednesday 25th June - Mass at St Brigid's Church with Father Greg, (12:30pm for Grades 3/4)
Week 10
Tuesday 1st July - SJP Athletics Carnival
Wednesday 2nd July - Semester 1 Student Reports - Live on Compass
Friday 4th July - Final Day of Term 2

Change of Details, have any of your details changed??
Please inform the school office if you have changed address, have a new email or phone contact number, changed jobs, or have different emergency contacts for your child/children.

Compass Announcements - Upcoming Events
Permission notes for the events below have been sent out via Compass. Please ensure you confirm your child's attendance to avoid missing out. 

• Wednesday, 18th June - Year 2-5, 2025 Dubbo Eisteddfod Verse Speaking
• Tuesday, 1st July - K-6, Athletics Carnival

Welcome to Week 8 at St John’s Primary School
Dear Parents and Carers,

We enter Week 8 with a great sense of energy, creativity, and reflection as our school continues to engage deeply in both learning and community life.

🕊️ A Moment of Reflection
Last Friday, Mr Foley and I had the honour of attending the funeral of Ty Hawkins, a cherished member of our wider community. It was a privilege to be present and recognise a life that truly reflected generosity, kindness, and service to others. We continue to hold Mrs Hawkins and her children in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. As a faith community, we unite in support and compassion.

🎭 Eisteddfod Week – A Celebration of the Arts
This week places a strong spotlight on the Creative and Performing Arts, with a large number of our students representing the school through Eisteddfod performances, both here on-site and at the Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre.

• Monday: A focus on Speech and Drama, with Year 1 and Year 4 participating in Reading Solos, and our talented Charlie and the Chocolate Factory main cast performing in the Showtime Scenes category.
  
  
• Tuesday: Nursery Rhymes come alive with Kindergarten, and Year 6 showcase their skills in Prose Reading.
  
  
• Wednesday: Students in Years 2, 3, and 5 head into town for Verse Speaking.
  
  
• Friday: We close the week with a beautiful performance from our String Ensemble.

We extend our very best wishes to every student participating. These experiences are invaluable in building confidence, creativity, and a love for performance.

🍭 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical
🎟️ Tickets Now On Sale via 123Tix
Click here to book your seats

We are thrilled to present this year’s major school musical:
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical
Featuring the talents of students from St John’s Primary and supported by the exceptional performers from St John’s College, this production is set to be a highlight of the school year.

📅 Performance Dates – Term 3, Week 2:

• Monday 28 July – Gold Classes Perform
  
  
• Tuesday 29 July – Blue Classes Perform
  
  

Please note: Tickets are sold according to class groupings (Gold or Blue), so be sure to select the correct day when purchasing. We understand some families have children in both – thank you for your support in attending both shows where possible.

This heartwarming production tells the beloved story of Charlie Bucket, who finds a golden ticket to Willy Wonka’s mysterious chocolate factory. Audiences will be transported into a world of wonder, music, and imagination – filled with Oompa Loompas, fizzy lifting drinks, nut-sorting squirrels, and chocolate rivers.

At its core, this story celebrates kindness, honesty, and the magic of dreams – a message we hold close at SJP.

🧒 Kindergarten 2026 Interviews
Interviews for our Kindergarten 2026 intake are continuing this week. It is a true joy to meet so many new families eager to become part of the SJP family, and we are excited to welcome the next generation of learners into our community.

📄 Semester 1 Reports – Coming Soon
Staff and students are currently working with focus and dedication to wrap up Semester 1. Teachers are finalising assessment tasks and preparing formal reports, which will be released to parents via COMPASS on Wednesday 2 July.

We thank all families for supporting students during this time of reflection and goal-setting.

📊 Attendance Focus – Staying Healthy and Engaged
Our overall attendance remains above the usual 90% benchmark, although a few grades have dipped slightly below this level due to seasonal illnesses. This is understandable given the cooler weather, and we encourage families to help students stay warm, wear appropriate winter sports uniform on sports days, and maintain good hygiene practices at home and school.

Let’s continue to strive for excellent attendance as we head into the final weeks of Term 2.

Gospel Reading
John 16:12-15 New International Version
12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

Whatever the Father has is mine. The Spirit of truth will guide us.

Family Connection
Think of the last time you witnessed an act of selfless love in your family. Parents and caregivers of all kinds are called upon to act selflessly every day. Family life calls us to share selfless love with one another.

God is the model for us of selfless love. There was no need for God to create our planet or the creatures that inhabit it; it was an act of selfless love. There was also no need for God to send his only Son to save us. That too was an act of selfless love.

As we draw closer to God and the mystery of the Trinity, we learn about God's love. God has lavished us with love in the persons of the Son and the Spirit, who in turn nurture in us the desire to do the same. When we open ourselves to be filled with an awareness of the divine life within us, we participate in the endless spiral of love that leads to eternal life. Whenever we share selfless love in the family, we are sharing in the life of the Trinity.

As always, thank you for your ongoing partnership, support, and encouragement. Our students are thriving because of the strong sense of community that surrounds them.

God Bless and have a wonderful week

Anthony

Sacrament of First Holy Communion/Eucharist
Parents of Catholic students in Year 3 wishing to receive this sacrament have the opportunity to enrol your child in the sacrament this coming weekend 21st/22nd June. Enrolment Masses will also be held at all Masses, on the following weekend 28th/29th June. 

Students must be enrolled to receive the sacrament. This is a different step to registering your child’s name which was done at the beginning of the year at the Parent Information Session. 

Masses will be held: Saturday - 5:00 pm, Sunday - 9:00 am and Sunday - 5:00 pm.

Parents, if you have not yet received communication from St Brigid’s Sacramental Coordinator Rosie Hosking regarding this sacrament, please contact her asasp on: sacraments.dubbo@cdob.org.au

Year 2 Student Retreat Day
This Thursday 19th June, our Year 2 grade will travel to St. Brigid’s Hall for their grade Retreat. The theme for the day is Friendship and Connection. Many activities have been organised by teachers to ensure students understand the importance of friendship and healthy connections with friends. The day will also give students opportunities to develop stronger connections with God, and with Jesus who is a friend to all. We know Year 2 will thoroughly enjoy their day and look forward to hearing the feedback from them regarding their Retreat Day. While at St. Brigid's, Year 2 will celebrate Mass with Fr Greg. 

All families are invited to attend the Mass which will begin at 10am.

Vinnies Winter Appeal
Over the remaining three weeks of Term 2, we will continue our Vinnies Winter Appeal.This is a great time to donate much needed warm clothing, slippers, blankets etc to Vinnies who will distribute these items to needy people within our community. Donations will be collected here at school and donated to Vinnies on the last day of term. Children can start bringing in clothing/blanket donations to the 6 Blue classroom from now, until Wednesday 2nd July (Week 10).

Please see the next page for more details on our Vinnies Winter Appeal and our Vinnies Appeal Day, called Snug as a Bug in a Rug Day!

The Dubbo Saint Vincent De Paul store is especially in need of good blankets/doonas and are also looking for good furniture. 

If you are able to assist with the furniture, please take a photo of saleable items and forward to Lisa on mobile 0474 382 430. 

Confirmation Preparations Sessions
Sessions for the Sacrament of Confirmation are well underway and will continue this week at St. Brigid’s Hall. 

Session 2: Tuesday 17th June, Wednesday 18th June, Sunday 22nd June
Session 3: Tuesday 24th June, Wednesday 25th June, Sunday 29th June

Tuesday sessions are held at 6:15pm, Wednesday 4:30 pm and Sunday 10am 

Please contact Sacramental Coordinator Rosie Hosking if you have any questions regarding this sacrament: 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

Eisteddfod Performances This Week
Today, we send our best wishes to our Year 4 and Year 1 Reading Solo students and those showcasing their musical talents. We hope they feel proud and confident as they take the stage.

Tomorrow, our Kindergarten students will charm the audience with their Nursery Rhymes, followed by the Year 6 Reading Solos. On Wednesday, our Year 2, 3 and 5 Verse Speaking groups will take to the stage to perform the pieces they’ve worked so hard to prepare.

Reminder: Students involved in Verse Speaking on Wednesday are to wear their full winter uniform. Students may still order a lunch order, they will just have them at 2nd break.

We are so proud of all our performers—good luck and enjoy the experience!

Please take note of the following venue details:

🎭 Events at the Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre do require tickets to be purchased. (Years 2,3 and 5 Verse Speaking, String Ensemble)

🏫 Events held at the St John’s Primary School Hall are free and do not require a ticket. (Kindergarten Nursery Rhymes, Year 1, 4 and 6 Reading Solos, Musical Scenes)

The Programs for the Eisteddfod can be accessed here. You can see the session in which your child will be performing. (Our School information begins on page 10 and ends on page 16): https://www.dubboeisteddfod.org.au/2025-programs

Please note: The Verse Speaking section runs as a single, continuous session, beginning at 10 am. Performances proceed in order of age group: Kindergarten–Year 2, followed by Years 3–4, and then Years 5–6.

For Reading Solos and Nursery Rhymes (held at St John’s Primary), each session has a start time (information found on the St John’s Primary School 2025 Eisteddfod Schedule table or in the program), but we cannot provide exact times for each group or individual performance. This is because the pace of the session can vary depending on how long each item takes.

If you’d like to ensure you see your child perform, please arrive by the session’s advertised start time. Thank you for your understanding and support. This format has been shared in our newsletter since the beginning of term.

Tickets can be purchased from DRTCC Box Office or ordered online – please see details below
Admission: $6 (adults, seniors, pensioners and children 6 years and over) Order your tickets online at:

1. https://drtcc.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/sales
2. Type in Search - Eisteddfod
3. Select which session you wish to attend 
4. Payment of your tickets. (Please note: you will have 20 minutes to complete your transaction)

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Mrs King
k.king1@bth.catholic.edu.au

Chess Club Champions
The following students represented St John’s at the NSW Primary Schools Chess Competition - Dubbo Zone tournament last Thursday:

Taj, Hunter, Aarav, Haniel, Manaia, Jackoby from Year 6
Lewi, Angus, Erin, Claire, Hunter, Hendrix, Elouise from Year 5
Sarah from Year 4 and Hudson, Myah from Year 3.

After six competitive rounds two of our teams ranked 4th and 6th out of 35 teams. Thank you to St Mary’s and Mrs Nuttall for hosting the day, and to Mr Richard Gastineau-Hills, the NSW Junior Chess League Primary Schools Coordinator, for his arbitration on the day.

Wellbeing News
SPB4L Focus: Safe and Respectful Behaviour in the Bus Bay and Pick-Up Zone

This week, we introduced our latest SPB4L (School-wide Positive Behaviour for Learning) focus: safe and respectful behaviour expectations at the bus bay and pick-up zone.

Students have been reminded of the following expectations:
Bus Bay

• Following teacher instructions
  
• Remaining seated while waiting
  
• Sitting in the allocated bus line for the particular bus they catch
  
• Watching carefully for their bus
  
• Placing rubbish in bins
  
• Following the teacher safely to the bus
  

Pick-Up Zone

• Following teacher instructions
  
• Sitting on the pavers or silver seats under the shelter
  
• Watching for their car
  
• Listening attentively for their name to be called
  
• Placing rubbish in bins
  

By reinforcing these behaviours, we ensure everyone’s safety and help maintain a calm and orderly environment during busy pick-up and drop-off times. Thank you for supporting these expectations with your children.

Cross Country
On Wednesday, 11 June 2025, the NSW Combined Primary Schools (NSWCPS) Cross Country Championships were held at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre in Horsley Park. This event brought together talented young runners from across the state to compete in various age divisions.

We would like to congratulate Abby H, who represented our school and diocese with determination. She competed in the 12 years 3km race. Abby completed the challenging course in a commendable time of 15 minutes and 1 second, securing 36th place in a highly competitive field.

Primary Athletics Carnival 2025 – Important Information
Our annual Primary Athletics Carnival is fast approaching, and we are looking forward to an exciting day of sportsmanship, competition, and fun for all students in Years 3–6.

Event Details

• Date: Tuesday, 1st July 2025 (Week 10)
• Venue: Barden Park on Fitzroy Street

As the carnival is part of the PDHPE program, attendance is compulsory for all students in Years 3–6.
Please note that buses will not be running for this event.

• Drop-off: Students are to arrive at Barden Park between 8:20 am and 8:45 am
• Pick-up: Students can be collected from the venue at 2:30pm

Events & Participation
All students will participate in their age group’s 100m race. 
The other running events that students can enter include the 200m, 800m, and 1500m races. These will be grouped as follows:

• Juniors: 8, 9 & 10 years

• 11 Years

• Seniors: 12 & 13 years

Field event eliminations for Shot Put, Discus, Long Jump, and High Jump will be held at school prior to the carnival. The top 7 competitors in each event will go on to compete in the finals on carnival day.

The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in both track and field events will qualify to represent St John’s Primary at the Northern Region Athletics Carnival, also at Barden Park, on Wednesday, 30th July.

Parent Helpers Needed
To ensure the day runs smoothly, we are seeking parent helpers to assist with timekeeping and field events. Lunch and refreshments will be provided for all volunteers.Please email Mrs Emma Mills if you can assist throughout the day e.mills1@bth.catholic.edu.au

K-2 Athletics Carnival
We are excited to announce that the K–2 Athletics Carnival will be held on Tuesday, 1st July 2025 at Barden Park. This fun-filled day will give our youngest students the chance to enjoy a variety of physical activities and showcase their energy and enthusiasm!

Students will travel to Barden Park by bus, departing school at 11:00 am and returning by 2:00pm. 

A special note for Year 2 students turning 8 this year: These students will be participating in their age races and are eligible to try out for field events at school. A Compass post with more information was sent out last Friday. 

 Any year 2’s who have qualified for the field events from the school trials  will need to make their own way to Barden Park and be there after 8:30am. 

We are seeking parent helpers to assist on the day. If you're available and willing to lend a hand, please contact the school office or email Mrs Mills e.mills1@bth.catholic.edu.au.

Beanie for Brain and NRL Jersey Cancer Day

This year, our school is proudly raising funds and awareness for the Mark Hughes Foundation Beanie for Brain Cancer campaign. The date for our Beanie for Brain Cancer Day will be Friday 27th of June - this coincides with the NRL Beanie For Brain Cancer Round.

On this day students can wear a beanie and/or their favourite NRL Jersey to School. Students wearing a beanie or NRL Jersey are asked to make a gold coin donation. This money will then go onto the SJP Dubbo Fundraising page on the Mark Hughes Foundation Website. 

Our school’s goal is to raise $1000 for the Mark Hughes Foundation. This foundation raises money to support critical research through the Mark Hughes Foundation, which is working tirelessly to improve treatment options, fund research, and ultimately, find a cure for brain cancer.

We have set up a ‘SJP Dubbo’  fundraising page where donations can be made. 

https://mark-hughes-foundation.grassrootz.com/beanieforbraincancer2025/sjp-dubbo

The 2025 Mark Hughes Foundation beanies are here! Check them out at the retailers below if you would like to support the cause or simply grab a cozy new beanie!

• IGA South Dubbo has them available to purchase for $29
• Mark Hughes Foundation site to purchase beanies and other items (caps, scarves, socks, hoodies etc) https://shop.markhughesfoundation.com.au/collections/all-products

*note - you do not need to purchase a specific Mark Hughes Foundation beanie to participate in the fundraising day.

 The REZource Force.
On Friday students in Years 1-6 had the pleasure of experiencing a LIVE IN-SCHOOL performance incursion called REZ Energy Agents. It was delivered by professional actors/educators from The National Theatre for Children!

The production was educational and very entertaining with characters such as James Blonde, John Travoltage, Taylor Switch, and Wattson the dog. The show explained what energy is, how it is generated, and what is a Renewable Energy Zone.