Term 3, Week 4

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 3 Dates
Week 4
Monday 11th August - Book Week 2025 competitions launch! 
Monday 11th August - Bulling No Way Week!
Friday 15th August - Feast of the Assumption Mass, 10am at St Brigid's
Week 5
Monday 18th August - Book Week, Book an Adventure
Thursday 21st August - Book Week Parade - time to be confirmed.
Friday 22nd August - Bathurst Primary Diocese Athletics Carnival

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. 

Welcome to Week 4
Last Friday was a very special day not only for Catholics, but for our nation as a whole, as we paused and gave thanks for the life of Saint Mary MacKillop, Australia’s Saint. Today, Monday we had a special Liturgy for Saint Mary MacKillop

“Never see a need without doing something about it.”
– St Mary MacKillop

Sisters of St Joseph
Year 5, as part of their Sydney excursion, visit Mary MacKillop place, and here is some information from the Sisters of St Joseph. ‘This feast day we give thanks for Mary MacKillop’s ongoing commitment to the ongoing spiritual and faith development of children and their families. Mary MacKillop’s faith in and service of God were unceasing. Her deep faith in her good God enabled Mary to walk in and through the many obstacles she faced with confidence, hope and perseverance. Mary acknowledged that the presence of God seemed to follow her everywhere and made everything she did and said a prayer. She had that wonderful capacity to find God in both the messiness of life as well as in moments of joy.

From the earliest days of the Congregation, the Sisters of Saint Joseph have always attended to the spiritual needs of the people with whom they lived and served. In her letter to Monsignor Kirby in 1873, Mary MacKillop writes of the necessity for the Institute (Congregation) in Australia. In this letter she identifies the specific need to nurture the faith of the children and their families in an Australian context. In particular, she notes that in many places the Sisters were to be the face of the church providing spiritual opportunities for the people especially when there was little access to the Eucharist and the sacraments. On these occasions, she notes that the Sisters gathered the people to pray the rosary and share a reflection appointed by the Pastor. In other places, they instructed people in the faith when requested to do so and at other times accompanied people as they were dying.

Bullying No Way!
This week SJP will also be recognising Bullying No Way Week. Mrs Kenny has provided resources in her role as Well Being coordinator. Next week, we’re proud to participate in "Bullying. No Way!" Week—a national initiative that reminds every student, teacher, and parent that we all have a role to play in creating safe, respectful, and inclusive schools.

At St John’s, our commitment to kindness and respect is not just for one week—it’s part of our everyday culture. But this week provides a special opportunity to celebrate what we do well and reflect on how we can continue to support every child to feel safe, valued, and included.

What Is Bullying?
Bullying is more than just conflict or a disagreement. It’s repeated and targeted behaviour that can hurt
someone physically, socially, or emotionally. This week, students will explore what bullying is, what it isn’t, and most importantly—what to do if they see it happening.

What’s Happening During the Week?

• Classroom Discussions: Each class will explore real-world scenarios and talk about how to be an upstander, not a bystander.
  
• Respect and Kindness Lessons: Our lessons will focus on empathy, inclusion, and using respectful language.
  

Our School Values in Action
Our Mercy values call us to treat others with compassion, justice, and dignity. When we stand up to bullying and make room for everyone to belong, we live these values in real ways.

Outstanding NAPLAN Results in 2025 – A Celebration of Learning Growth at St John’s!
We are proud to share with our school community the outstanding results achieved by the students of St John’s in the 2025 NAPLAN assessments. The results across Year 3 and Year 5 demonstrate significant growth and achievement, reflecting the impact of high-quality teaching, targeted professional learning, and a strong commitment to every child’s success.

Year 3 Highlights:

• Above National Average in all five domains: Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar & Punctuation, and Numeracy.
  
• Reading Excellence: The majority of students achieved at or above expected proficiency levels, with particularly strong comprehension and inferencing skills.
  
• Spelling Success: Our early implementation of Spelling Mastery from Year 1 has shown impact, with notable improvements in phonemic awareness and accurate word construction.
  
• Grammar Strengths: Strong performance in identifying sentence types and understanding sentence structure – closely linked to our Grammar Project work.
  
• Numeracy Growth: Above both state and national benchmarks, with improved results in number patterns, basic operations and measurement.
  

Year 5 Growth and Achievement:
The standout story of 2025 is the exceptional student growth from Year 3 to Year 5, especially when compared with over 50,000+ students in the CEnet national cohort:

• Reading:
  Growth of +94.4 points (above the expected 92.1)
  Demonstrates consistent development in comprehension, vocabulary, and interpreting complex texts.
  
• Writing:
  Growth of +94.2 points, exceeding the national average growth expectation by +21.6 points
  Reflects the impact of structured genre teaching and rich text engagement across the curriculum.
  
• Grammar & Punctuation:
  Growth of +103.8 points (expected growth: 95.2)
  A testament to our focused Grammar Project in partnership with Kristi Ryan (CEDB Consultant) and embedded explicit teaching strategies.
  
• Spelling:
  Growth of +85.4 points, slightly above the national expectation
  Reinforces the long-term benefits of our structured spelling programs.
  
• Numeracy:
  Growth of +90.7 points, again above the expected benchmark
  Indicates strong gains in place value, number facts, and multi-step problem-solving.

These results belong to our students, our teachers, and our families. The commitment, collaboration, and belief in every child’s potential is what drives learning forward at St John’s.

Our Focus on Attendance – Celebrating Progress and Staying Strong in Term 3
At St John’s, we know that regular school attendance is vital for student success. We’re proud to share that our whole-school attendance rate currently sits at 91% – an encouraging result that aligns with national and diocesan expectations.

Across the grades, Years 1 and 2 lead with a strong 93%, while Pre-Year 1 and Year 5 are right behind at 92%. We also acknowledge Year 6’s temporary dip to 89%, which is understandable following their wonderful Canberra excursion and the seasonal colds and flu that naturally affect this time of year.

Despite these challenges, we saw a fantastic Term 3 start with a peak attendance rate of 94.6% in Week 1, a reflection of our community’s shared commitment to learning. While we noted a small drop in Week 3 (88.4%), we’re confident this is a short-term dip.

Why Attendance Matters
Every day counts! Regular attendance ensures students:

• Build strong friendships and routines
  
• Stay on track with learning goals
  
• Develop lifelong habits of responsibility and engagement
  

Looking Ahead
As we move further into Term 3:

• Let’s maintain our strong health routines (good handwashing, rest, and staying home when unwell).
  
• And equally, let’s support our students to return as soon as they’re healthy, to keep learning momentum going.
  

We're grateful for your ongoing support and teamwork in making sure every child is present, engaged, and thriving. Thank you for partnering with us in making every day of learning count at St John’s.

Gospel and Reflection
Gospel Reading
Luke 12:32-48
You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.

Family Connection
Years ago, most families had only one or two clocks in their home. Today, we have clocks everywhere—on our walls, on our microwave ovens, on our DVD players, on our cell phones, and so on. As a family, go through the house and count how many clocks (time-telling devices) your family has. Talk about important events for which family members need to be on time. Recall experiences of being late for something, either as individuals or as a family. Explain that in this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus talks about how important it is for us to be aware and alert, otherwise, we will miss something.

Read aloud Luke 12:32-48. Talk about the parable that Jesus told and discuss how the master will feel if he arrives to find his servant doing his job. Discuss what our job is as disciples of Jesus. Explain that, just as we need to be aware of the time so that we don't miss anything important, we also need to be alert and focused on our jobs, our responsibilities as followers of Jesus.

God Bless and have a wonderful week
Mr. O’Leary

Feast of the Assumption of Mary
This Friday 15th August, Catholics around the world celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. This special day honours the belief that the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the end of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into Heaven. It reminds us of Mary’s unique role in God’s plan and her unwavering faith and devotion. We invite all community members to join with us on this Holy Day of Obligation to celebrate Mary at St. Brigid’s Church at 10am.

Christmas Art
Every year, the CEDB coordinate a Christmas Story Art Competition and Exhibition for Stage 3 students to participate in. The competition was established to encourage students to recall their knowledge of Christmas and to create art works and written reflections on the season of Advent and the meaning of Christmas for them. Year 5 have been working very hard on their artworks and are currently adding the finishing touches to the written scripts that describe the meaning of the artwork. We look forward to seeing who the lucky winners will be that will enter the Diocesan wide competition.

Sacrament of First Holy Communion/Eucharist
This week is the final week for preparation sessions.

Session 3: Tuesday 12th August, Wednesday 13th August, Sunday 17th August

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

Well done to all of the families who have ensured their child has attended the sessions and are carrying out the small tasks each week assigned by Mrs Hosking.

Parents, please don’t forget to click on the SOBS link in the information pack to book your child into a Mass, where they will receive the sacrament for the very first time.

Meeting 4 Mass Date
This term our Meeting 4 Mass date is the 24th August. At this Mass, our school coordinate most of the roles that are carried out within the Mass. Class teachers will be sending a Meeting 4 Mass invite to each child, with the opportunity for some students to be part of the Offertory Procession or read a Prayer of Intercession/Prayer of the Faithful. This is a lovely way for your child to be involved in the Mass and make it more meaningful for them. Please ensure you return the RSVP slip asap if your child would like to carry out one of these roles. 

MASS TIMES
St. Brigid’s Church: Saturday - 5:00pm, Sunday - 9:00am and Sunday- 5:00pm.a
St. Laurence’s Church: Sunday -7:30am and Wednesday 9.30am

Enjoy your week.

Paula Clifford
Religious Education Coordinator 

SPB4L Focus – Joining In Respectfully
This week our SPB4L focus is on joining in respectfully in all school activities. This includes classroom learning, liturgies, Masses, games, and playing on the playground.

Joining in respectfully means being present, giving your whole attention, being calm, and listening to others. It helps everyone to feel valued and creates a positive and safe environment for learning, playing, and worship.

Students can show joining in respectfully by:

• Being present – focusing on the activity and the people involved
• Giving whole attention – putting away distractions and looking at the speaker or leader
• Being calm – using quiet, respectful voices and still bodies when required
• Listening carefully – showing you value what others are saying or sharing
• Including others – making sure everyone feels welcome and able to participate

When we join in respectfully, we not only show respect for others, but also for ourselves, our learning, and our school community.

Bullying No Way Week — 11–15 August 2025
Theme: Be Bold. Be Kind. Speak Up.

This week, our school is taking part in Bullying No Way Week. This national initiative reminds us that bullying is never OK and that everyone has the right to feel safe, respected, and included at school.

Bullying No Way Week encourages students to stand together against bullying by showing kindness, supporting others, and speaking up when something is not right. The 2025 theme — Be Bold. Be Kind. Speak Up. — is a call to action for us all to be courageous, caring, and to use our voices to make a positive difference.

Kindness Challenge – Spreading Kindness Every Day
This week we are excited to launch our Kindness Challenge, which will run over the next few weeks. The challenge is a simple but powerful way for our school community to show care and respect for one another. Small acts of kindness can make a big difference — they help create a safe, welcoming and positive environment for everyone.

Kindness also plays an important role in standing up against bullying. As part of our focus on Bullying. No Way!, we want to encourage all students to look for opportunities to be kind in their daily interactions, both in and out of the classroom. By choosing kindness, we help ensure our school is a place where everyone feels included and valued.

Kindness Challenges for this week:

• Smile at someone you don’t usually talk to
• Say “good morning” to your teacher or a classmate
• Offer to help someone without being asked
• Include someone new in your game or group
• Thank someone who has helped you

Let’s see how many acts of kindness we can spread this week!

Soccer Gala Day
Last Friday, many of our students from Years 2 to 6 had the exciting opportunity to participate in a Soccer Gala Day. The students played several matches, with everyone showing enthusiasm, teamwork and sportsmanship. It was pleasing to see students who had never played soccer before; learn the basics, improve their skills, and grow more confident on the field. 

A big thank-you to all staff and parent helpers who managed teams.

Jump Rope For Heart
Many of our students are keeping themselves active and healthy by skipping in the playground and at home. St John's Heart Heroes are showing awesome results in the Jump Rope for Heart Program with over 25 students registered and 4 hours of skipping being logged.

When students participate in Jump Rope for Heart, they become Heart Heroes – everyday superheroes who are leading the way in the fight against heart disease. Keep up the great skipping, St John’s Primary!

I have included another skipping skill to learn this week at home:

Dubbo Stampede
2025 brings with it the 12th running of the Dubbo Stampede, one of the largest running festivals in Regional NSW. With events from 2km to a full 42km Marathon, there is sure to be something for every fitness level to get out there and be active. This year sees a relocation of our event village and start/finish area from Dubbo Zoo to Ollie Robins Oval. This new direction enables us to expand the size and scope of our event village, and new creativity in regards to course design. The events confirmed to be on offer are as follows:

1.6k Meerkat Mile (5-12 yr olds)
5k Dingo Dash
10k Cheetah Chase
21.1k Zebra Zoom (16+)
42.2k Rhino Ramble (18+)

When you register for the Dubbo Stampede, you can select your school and earn them points to win money for the Regional Australia Bank Schools Challenge.
Schools in the Regional Australia Bank Schools Challenge that have the highest participation rates win $500, a trophy and bragging rights. This year, participants can help their schools further by completing the longer events for more points. The challenge is open to all students, parents, staff and/or alumni of any eligible school, who enters in any Dubbo Stampede event. Upon nominating an eligible school at registration, finishers can earn the following points for their school upon completing the following events:

If you are wishing any further information about the 2025 Dubbo Stampede please
get in contact with Dubbo Stampede Committee Member Richard Eggleston on
r.eggleston@bth.catholic.edu.au, or visit the event website www.dubbostampede.com.au