Term 3 Week 9

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.

Week 10
Tuesday 23rd September - Debating Grand Final at St John's Primary, time to be confirmed. 
Wednesday 24th September - S for Stephanie Day
Thursday 25th September - Year 4 Lake Burrendong Excursion
Thursday 25th September - Last Day of Term 3
Friday 26th September - PUPIL FREE DAY 

Term 4
Week 1
Monday 13th October - First Day of Term 4
Week 2
Friday 24th October - Grandparents Day Liturgy at 1 pm in the St Johns College Hall 

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 17th September - Selected students for the Kids in Space Excursion
• Thursday 25th September - Year 4, Burrendong Sports & Rec Excursion Please don't forget to register with the NSW Sport & Rec for this Excursion too!

Magpie Season has arrived!
Please inform your child that magpie swooping season has arrived and to be aware, especially if they are walking to/from Bunnings. 

Welcome to Week 9
Dear Parents, Carers and Friends of SJP,

Congratulations to the student who attended the Polding Athletics Carnival in Newcastle last week. We are very proud of the entire team.

Year 6 – Gerard Yeo Shield
We wish our Year 6 students the very best as they prepare to compete in the Gerard Yeo Shield this Thursday. This special event brings together students from all four Catholic primary schools in Dubbo to celebrate friendship, teamwork, and learning.

Students will participate in a variety of activities, including sport, chess, and an academic challenge. The competition honours the memory of Gerard Yeo, a former student of St. Mary’s Primary and St. John’s College, who was tragically killed in the 2002 Bali bombings. It is a wonderful way for our students to connect with their peers before moving into high school.

Students are reminded to wear their full sports uniform, including hat, correct socks, footwear, and hair accessories. As the event is being held at St. John’s College, no additional permission note is required. We are proud of our students and know they will represent SJP with enthusiasm and respect.

Creation Changemakers – School Garden Planting
This Thursday, each class will be contributing to our school gardens as part of the Creation Changemakers Campaign. This initiative empowers Catholic schools to participate in the Season of Creation — a global Christian celebration of prayer and action for our planet.

Together, we are nurturing a generation of changemakers committed to ecological justice, compassion, and hope. Thank you to Mrs Clifford for facilitating this important activity and helping our students grow their awareness of caring for God’s creation.

Staff Spiritual Retreat
On Friday 26th September, our staff will join colleagues from other Catholic schools in Dubbo for our annual Spiritual Retreat. This year, we will be led by Brother Damien Price, focusing on the impact and importance of quality student retreats in Catholic education.

Please note:

• Last day of Term 3 for students will be Thursday 25th September.
  
• Term 4 commences on Monday 13th October.
  

We thank you for your support as staff take this opportunity for spiritual renewal and professional reflection.

Traffic, Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedures
A gentle reminder to all families about the importance of following our school’s traffic and signage procedures. These are in place to ensure the safety of students and staff, and to keep traffic flowing smoothly, especially during the busy morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times.

Please note:

• Areas marked “No Drop Off or Pick Up Permitted at This Point” must not be used (see photo below).
  
• Only use the designated Drop Off/Pick Up Zone during the times indicated (8:00–9:30am and 2:30–3:30pm on school days).
  
• To assist staff on duty, please display your family surname sign on the car visor when entering the pick-up zone. This makes the process safer and quicker for all.
  Your cooperation is greatly appreciated as we work together to keep every child safe.

Attendance Matters – Every Day Counts
It is pleasing to see that our school attendance rates have continued to show strong progress across Term 3. Each week, our percentages have remained consistently high, with the school average sitting at 93.1% in Week 8. This reflects the commitment of our families to ensuring that students are present, engaged, and learning every day.

Well done to Year 2, who are currently leading the way with an excellent 93% attendance rate – a fantastic effort!

A reminder to all families that every school day counts. Students are expected to be at school right up until the final student day of Term 3, Thursday 25th September. Consistent attendance makes a significant difference to learning outcomes and helps students stay connected with their peers and teachers.

Thank you for your continued support in prioritising attendance and helping us to maintain our whole-school target of 95%.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our students and school community. Week 9 promises to be full of learning, growth, and special opportunities for connection.

God Bless,
Anthony

Creation Changemakers
This Wednesday, SJP will participate in a Caritas Program called Season of Creation. The campaign is driven by the global community wanting to care for our common home and closely aligns with Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’. In a nutshell - it is about embracing creation and being grateful for what God has provided us. All classes will be responsible for the planting of a tree/plant within our grounds (with the help of Mr Bradford and our Year 6 Environmental Ministry), caring for it and taking the time to reflect on how fortunate we are to have a beautiful school. Students will write small messages of gratitude, to be placed on our Gratitude Wall. We are hopeful that our new plants will thrive throughout the remainder of the Spring Season!

Gerard Yeo Shield
This Thursday, our Year 6 students will gather with all four Catholic primary schools from Dubbo to compete in the Gerard Yeo Shield. Students will play a range of sports, chess and participate in an academic challenge. Gerard Yeo was an ex-student of St. Mary’s and St. John’s Primary, along with St. John’s College, who was tragically killed in the 2002 Bali bombings. 

The competition is held to honour Gerard’s memory and to encourage the building of friendships between the students of Dubbo’s four Catholic schools. Year 6 will need to wear sports uniforms including their hat, correct socks, correct footwear and correct hair accessories. As the day will be held at St. John’s College, permission does not need to be given to attend. We know our students will enjoy the sports and games on the day and appreciate the opportunity to mix with other Year 6 students before they move on to high school.

Pictured in the image beside, is Gerard’s parents Kier and Pat Yeo holding the shield that is awarded to the winning school on the day.

Year 5 Student Grade Retreat
This Thursday Year 5 will gather at St. Brigid’s Hall for their student retreat. This retreat will encourage our Year 5  students to recognise the unique talents, skills and abilities God has given them and we are hopeful it will foster in them a sense of gratitude and self-confidence. This experience helps them grow spiritually, socially, and emotionally, while deepening their understanding of the importance of sharing their gifts to make a positive impact in our school community as they very soon step up to be leaders of our school.

Parish Picnic - Save the Date
Just a reminder that St. Brigid’s Church will hold its annual Parish Picnic Day this coming Sunday 21st September straight after 9am Mass from 10-12:30 in the Church grounds. Please see below for more details.

Enrolment for the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Parents of Catholic students in Year 2, the final weekend to attend an enrolment Mass for this sacrament is this coming weekend: 20th and 21st of September. Parents, if you have not yet received information from Rosie Hosking - St. Brigid’s Sacramental Coordinator, please contact her asap on sacraments.dubbo@cdob.org.au, so you can receive all of the necessary information for your child to receive this sacrament.

MASS TIMES
St. Brigid’s Church: Saturday - 6:00pm, Sunday - 9:00am and Sunday- 6:00pm.
St. Laurence’s Church: Sunday -7:30am and Wednesday 9.30am

Enjoy your week.
Paula Clifford
Religious Education Coordinator

SPB4L Fortnightly Focus – Wearing Hats Appropriately
This is our second week of focusing on wearing hats appropriately as part of SPB4L. With the weather warming up, it’s important that all students wear their hats during outdoor activities to stay safe in the sun.

We kindly ask families to check that hats are clearly labelled with your child’s name and are in good condition, so they’re easy to find and ready to use each day.

By wearing hats properly, students are not only protecting themselves but also showing respect for our school expectations. Thank you for your ongoing support in helping us keep everyone sun safe as we enjoy the warmer months.

Debating Success!
Our amazing debating teams both went through the Dubbo Catholic Schools Debating Competition undefeated and will now face each other in the grand final! We could not be prouder of our students, both for their outstanding results and for the respectful, confident way they have carried themselves throughout the competition. Their dedication has also inspired our younger grades, who are now more eager than ever to try out for debating in the future.

We also wish to acknowledge the outstanding efforts of the other Catholic primary schools. Their students demonstrated remarkable dedication and courage, reminding us that debating is no easy feat. It takes bravery to stand up, think on your feet and present a case with skill and conviction. Every competitor should be commended for the confidence and perseverance they displayed.

Debating is such a powerful learning experience. It builds confidence, fosters teamwork and develops critical thinking. It teaches students to listen with respect, argue with logic and communicate their ideas clearly and persuasively. This term, Stage 2 and Stage 3 students have shown tremendous growth in CAPA debating lessons and it has been a joy to watch their enthusiasm and ability to “find their voice” grow each week.

This year’s competition holds particular significance as the perpetual trophy is named in honour of the late Fr Brien Murphy. Fr Brien was a devoted supporter of Catholic education and a passionate advocate for debating, recognising its ability to shape and empower young minds. We are proud to acknowledge his legacy and the lasting impact he has had on generations of students.

JUMP ROPE FOR HEART JUMP OFF DAY
Get ready to skip, jump, and have a fantastic time! The Jump Rope For Heart Jump Off Day will be this Friday the 19th of September. This day is all about celebrating our efforts in learning new skipping skills and raising funds for vital heart research and education programs.

What to Wear:
We're asking all students to wear their school sports uniform with a splash of red to show their support for the Heart Foundation.

Activities:
Throughout the day, there will be a variety of exciting skipping events for everyone to take part in e.g. skipping disco, skipping games and rotational skipping activities.

Raising Awareness:
Jump Rope For Heart Jump Off Day is more than just a fun event—it's an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of keeping our hearts healthy. By participating, we are learning about a healthy lifestyle and helping the Heart Foundation continue its vital work.

Family Fun Day | Free Event
Looking for a fun and free school holiday adventure? ​Discover, learn and have fun at NSW Parliament's 15th annual Family Fun Day, with free activities for children aged five to 12 and their families.

When: 9:30am – 3:00pm, Friday 10 October​ 2025
Where: NSW Parliament, 6 Macquarie Street, Sydney​

​Visit Australia's oldest Parliament for a special one-day event ​packed with hands-on activities to entertain and inspire:

• Step inside our Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council Chambers
• Get creative in art and craft workshops
• Play music and draw with artist Blak Douglas
• Come along to interactive historical storytelling
• Have your say in a mock committee role play
• Learn about voting with the NSW Electoral Commission
• Engage with the role of Legal Aid in assisting NSW citizens.

Family Fun Day | Free Event Tickets, Fri 10/10/2025 at 9:30 am | Eventbrite