Week 4 Term 2

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 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

WEEK 5

Wednesday 21st August - Year 7 2025 1st Orientation day - St John's College
Wednesday 21st August -  Year 1Blue visit to Masonic Village
Thursday 22nd August - NAIDOC DAY
Friday 23rd August - Dio Athletics Carnival - Barden Park

Welcome to Week 4

Last Friday we were able to perform for CEDB Executive Director of Schools Mrs Christina Trimble, to showcase the skills and talents of our choir (thankyou again Mrs King) and of our Cultural Dance Group, led by Mrs Soniya Lakhani. The dance group provided colour, energy and a great passion for sharing Indian Culture. Well done Mrs Lakhani and thank you for enabling our students to shine on stage today. It was absolutely beautiful to watch.

Welcome back Year 6

Last Friday we welcomed back our Year 6 students and teachers after their excursion to Canberra. It certainly was a great excursion. From talking to the students it certainly appears that the snow and the Australian Institute of Sport were highlights. A special note of thanks to our teachers who accompanied and planned the excursion. Mrs Clifford, Miss Veech, Mr Foley, Miss Foley and Mrs English - thank you for your care of our students.

PACER GOVERNMENT REBATE

Students from St John’s Primary School Dubbo have recently undertaken an educational tour of the national capital. Students were given the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programmes with a focus on Australia’s history, culture, heritage and democracy.

The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian government is contributing funding to our school in the amount of $30 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon the completion of the excursion.

Thank you Year 5 for leading our Mary McKillop Liturgy - it was a wonderful Liturgy celebrating a great Australian. Feast of St Mary MacKillop.

St Mary MacKillop is Australia’s own saint, the first Australian to be named as a saint. Her feast day is this coming Thursday, 8th August. St Mary MacKillop is loved and known for her passion in working with the poor, and in establishing schools across Australia and New Zealand. St Mary MacKillop teaches us to have everlasting faith in God and to share his love with everyone.

School Uniform

As we progress through the school year, I want to remind everyone of the importance of supporting our school uniform policy. Being part of SJP means wearing the correct uniform on the correct days, at SJP this means the formal Winter uniform must be worn each Tuesday and Thursday.

It makes it very difficult on staff when students continually (and often deliberately) do not follow the uniform policy at school. 

Recently, we have observed some issues with adherence to the uniform guidelines, including hair not being tied up, wearing non-uniform shoes instead of black school shoes, using nail polish and mascara, and wearing earrings that do not conform to our policy.

We kindly ask all parents and students to review and comply with the school uniform requirements. Of course, if you have any concerns with adhering to our policy, please don’t hesitate to contact me so I can support you.

Special Mass

This week we come together with St Pius X Primary School to attend Mass at St Brigid’s for the Feast of the Assumption on Thursday with Mass commencing at 10.00 am. The Church teaches, ‘15 August the Church celebrates the Feast Day of the Assumption of Our Lady when according to our faith, the Holy Mother, “having completed her course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory”.

Although defined as an article of faith by Pope Pius XII just over half a century ago, the Assumption of Our Lady into heaven has been accepted from back to the earliest of Christian times.

The Assumption signals the end of Mary’s earthly life and marks her return to heaven to be reunited with Jesus. While the bodies of both Jesus and Mary are now in heaven, there is a difference between the Assumption and the Resurrection. Where Jesus arose from the tomb and ascended into heaven by his own power, Mary’s body was taken up to heaven by the power of her Son.

Parents are welcome to join us for this Mass on Thursday.

Bullying No Way!

This Friday, all of our students are encouraged to add a touch of orange to their uniform in recognition of Bullying No Way! Mrs Kenny in her role as Well Being Coordinator has been planning a range of activities for the day.

The theme for 2024 is 'Everyone belongs'.

When we all feel like we belong, bullying struggles to find a place. It's about embracing who we are, respecting everyone's differences and standing up together against unkindness.

Belonging means we all have a role in preventing bullying. We're encouraged to speak up and create a safe place where everyone feels supported and respected, and our voices are heard and valued.

Gospel and Reflection: John 6:41-51

41 At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’[a] Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. 46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

The sustenance of Jesus

There is a theme of sustenance, food and life in the readings today. We need physical food and water for our bodies to function. Elijah experienced this when he was ready to give up. God got him going again and he was able to continue his journey of 40 days to Horeb. As we know, Jesus had his own journey in the wilderness of 40 days – there is solace in this link between the Old Testament and the New, in the knowledge that God provides sustenance across the eons. The sustenance Jesus provides in being the ‘bread of life’ is how he settles in our own hearts and encourages us to be kind, compassionate and forgiving; to let go of bitterness, fury, anger, shouting and malice in the knowledge that harbouring these feelings harms us. May we find what sustains our hearts, looking to Jesus as our example.

God Bless and have a wonderful week                                                                                                  Anthony O’Leary

The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mass

This coming Thursday 15th August, we celebrate this special Mass at St. Brigid’s Church. The Feast of the Assumption of Mary is a Holy Day of obligation - a day in which all Catholics are expected to attend Mass and celebrate the life of Mary, followed by her Assumption into heaven. SJP will combine with other Catholic primary schools to celebrate this Mass at 10am. All parents and friends are warmly invited to attend.

Year 3 - Sacrament of First Holy Communion/Eucharist

This will be the final week for preparation sessions for this sacrament. Thankyou to all of the parents and children who have attended the sessions. Please be aware that you are required to book in a date/time that you would like your child to receive their First Holy Communion. You may also be interested in knowing that on Sunday 8th September at 9am Mass, SJP will be invited to attend Meeting 4 Mass AND the Teacher’s Choir will also be singing. This may be a nice date/time to choose as there will be many students and teachers in the congregation supporting our Year 3’s at this Mass.

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

Term 3 Fees were posted on Friday, 26th July 2024 and DUE on Friday, 16th August 2024.

If you'd like to start up a Payment Plan to manage your school fees, please phone the school office.     Thank you.

Wellbeing News SPB4L                                                                                                    This Week 4 SPB4L focus was introduced at our fortnightly assembly. Our SPB4L focus is on ‘respect’.  During our assembly, we discussed ways we can show respect: 

• Towards our friends
• Listen
• Use kind words
• Include others in games
• Towards our school
• Picking up rubbish
• Caring for the gardens
• Towards teachers
• Listening
• Following instructions
• Displaying positive behaviour

Breakfast Club
Breakfast Club is now available at school between 8.20am - 8.40am Monday - Friday. Breakfast club will offer the following:

• A slice of toast with either vegemite or jam and a hot milo for $1
• Extra slice of toast is 50c

As this is a wellbeing initiative there is no provision for the use of Flexischools to order. This is a cash only purchase. 

Bullying, No Way! Day and National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence This week is Bullying, No way! Day/National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA). The colour orange is a symbol of bullying awareness. To bring awareness to bullying, on Friday the 17th August children are able to wear an accessory that is orange. This may include headband, hair bows, socks, sweat bands, bracelets, necklaces, ribbons, etc. Children are still required to wear their normal school uniform for this day.

To support this day the e-Safety Commissioner has produced resources that are aimed to help people to have safer and more positive experiences online. Below is a link to the e-Safety Commissioner website, there are some great fact sheets, webinars and interactive components for children/young people.  https://www.esafety.gov.au/ 

Further details about Bullying. No Way! can be found at https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/ 

Important Wellbeing Dates for Term 3

• 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 1.30pm - 2.00pm. 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.