Week 3 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 3

Monday 5th - Thursday 8th August - Year 6 Canberra Excursion
Thursday 8th August - Mary Mackillop Liturgy - School Hall - All welcome.

WEEK 4

Thursday 15th August - Feast of the Assumption Mass - St Brigid's with St Laurence's and St Pius.
Friday 16th August - Bullying No Way Day - wear a touch of ORANGE with your uniform.

Welcome to Week 3
As you read this our Year 6 students and staff will be well on their way to Canberra for their excursion. The students have been very excited and I know they will have a great time. There are many highlights including visiting the Australian War Memorial, Parliament House, the AIS, Questacon and some time in the snow. I am very grateful to the staff who are so dedicated to the care of the children. I am looking forward to hearing all of the stories on their return.

Director’s visit
This Friday we will be welcoming Mrs Christina Trimble, the Executive Director of Schools for the Diocese of Bathurst. Mrs Trimble's visit will include a performance of our school choir and Indian Cultural Dance group, classroom visits and time with the school executive reviewing school goals and progress. I am sure it is going to be a wonderful day.

Cold and Flu season is now upon us. To assist in preventing the spread of illness, we seek your cooperation in regularly reminding children about basic hygiene practices including:

Hand Hygiene: frequent washing of hands with soap and water. Using hand sanitiser where appropriate.

Coughing/Sneezing Etiquette: covering of the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, disposing of the tissue in the bin and washing hands. Alternatively, coughing into the elbow. We thank you for your cooperation with this important health and safety matter.

If you child is unwell please allow them time at home to recover.

Saint Mary McKillop
This Thursday Year 5 will be leading the Saint Mary MacKillop Liturgy for our school. On the 8th of August we celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Australia's beloved first saint. The Sisters of St Joseph say: ‘When Mary saw families living on the margins without access to education, she set up a school to teach children herself — regardless of their situation. She and the Sisters of St Joseph went wherever the need was greatest. And despite facing enormous challenges, they continued to walk with people every step of the way.                                             

“Let no obstacle deter us from proceeding with courage.”– St Mary MacKillop

This August, let’s walk in Mary’s footsteps. Like Mary, let’s be fierce in the face of adversity. Let’s be fair and act when we see injustice. Let’s give love to those we encounter each day. Together, let’s be Fierce for Fair!

On the Feast of Saint Mary MacKillop, Australia's first canonised saint, we reflect on her incredible legacy of faith, education and compassion. Mary MacKillop, also known as Saint Mary of the Cross, devoted her life to serving the poor and providing quality education to children across Australia.

All of our school community is welcome to attend the liturgy commencing at 1.00pm.

NAPLAN                                                                                                                                                        We have recently received our 2024 Naplan results and I would like to congratulate our Year 3 and Year 5 students on their achievements. The state and national mean scores should be released soon which will enable comparative data to be reviewed.  We will continue to review the Naplan data to inform teaching and learning actions for the remainder of the school year and we will use the data to inform our ongoing school improvement goals. Congratulations Year 3 and Year 5 students. 

Gospel and Reflection: John 6:24-35

24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 

28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

What is the ‘bread of life’ we need today?

There’s an interesting contrast between today’s readings. In the First Reading, the Israelites are starving in the desert, so God sends them bread and water as a test of their faith. In the Gospel, people are asking Jesus to give them bread as a sign that he’s from God, but there’s no mention that they are starving and hungry. Jesus, it seems to me, recognises that it’s not physical bread they need, but something else – what he calls the ‘bread of life’.

Today, it might be good to reflect on what we need from God. There are perhaps things we think we need – food, clothing, shelter – but these are usually things we might earn through our own efforts. What are the things that only God can give us? What is the ‘bread of life’ that we need to sustain us? Pray for that today.

We pray for all families in our school community who are in need of our prayers.
We pray for the needs of our country and our world. 

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, pray for us.
St John the Apostle, pray for us.

God Bless and have a wonderful week

Anthony O’Leary.

Mary MacKillop Liturgy:                                                                         This coming Thursday 8th August, SJP will celebrate the Feast Day of Mary MacKillop - Australia’s first Saint. Year 5 will lead a Liturgy in our school hall at 1.00pm. All parents and friends are welcome to attend to participate in the Liturgical celebration.

Year 3 - Sacrament of First Holy Communion/Eucharist:                                                            It has been great to see many parents attending the Preparation Sessions with their children. Sessions for this sacrament continue this week. Please contact Sacramental Coordinator Rosie Hosking on sacraments.dubbo@cdob.org.au if you require more details about the sessions or if you need assistance in booking your date and time for the Mass where your child will receive their First Holy Communion.

Mass at St. Brigid’s Church: 

Saturday - 5:00pm, Sunday - 9.00am and Sunday - 5.00pm

Parishioners, please note: Weekday Masses have now returned to St. Brigid’s Church at 5.45pm.

Enjoy your week!

Paula Clifford

Religious Education Coordinator

SPB4L

This week we will continue our SPB4L focus is on ‘lining up sensibly and quietly’. During our last assembly, we discussed reasons why it is important to line up sensibly and quietly, these included: 

• To be safe and not get hurt
• To calm our body down so we are ready to learn
• To be able to listen to any teacher instructions

We also discussed what lining up sensibly and quietly would look and sound like: 

Look like: 

• To straight lines
• Students facing to the front of the line
• Hands are by our sides
• All equipment out of hands

Sound like: 

• Voices off
• No bouncing of ball noises

Important Wellbeing Dates for Term 3

• Bullying No Way! Day - Students can wear an orange accessory/ies to raise awareness. This will be held on the 16th August (Friday Week 4). 
• R U Ok Day? - Students can wear a yellow accessory/ies to raise awareness. Families are warmly invited to bring a picnic recess to have with their child on this day. The picnic will be held from 1.30 - 2.00. This will be held on 13th September (Friday Week 8). 
• Life Ed Van (Healthy Harold) will be visiting in Week 9. Students from Kindergarten - Year 4 will be attending at various times on either the Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.