Term 4 Week 1

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 4
Week 1
Monday 13th October - First Day of Term 4
Friday 17th October - St John's Celebration Day Liturgy at 1pm in the Hall
Week 2
Wednesday 22nd October - 2026 Kindy Parent Information Night
Thursday 23th October - Stephanie Disco in the Hall
Friday 24th October - Grandparents Day Liturgy at 1 pm in the St Johns College Hall
Week 5
Tuesday 11th November - Rememberance Day Liturgy at 10:20am

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. 

🌼 Welcome Back to Term 4!
A warm welcome to all our students, staff, and families as we begin Term 4 — always one of the most exciting and memorable terms of the school year!

This term is filled with wonderful opportunities for learning, celebration, and community connection. Some of the highlights include:

• 🏆 Charism Cup for our Year 5 and 6 students – always a spirited celebration of teamwork, sportsmanship, and school pride.
  
  
• 🚌 Year 5 Excursion to Sydney – an adventure that combines fun, friendship, and hands-on learning experiences.
  
  
• 🎓 Year 6 Graduation later in the term – a special moment to honour our senior students as they prepare for the next step in their educational journey.
  
  
• 🏃‍♂️ Polding Athletics Carnival in Week 2 – we wish all our athletes the very best as they represent our school with enthusiasm and determination.

Throughout Term 4, we will continue to focus on strong attendance. Our school has made tremendous progress in this area, thanks to the wonderful partnership between school and home. Consistent attendance makes a real difference in learning, and we sincerely thank our families for their ongoing support and commitment.

🙏 Grandparents’ Day Liturgy – Friday 24 October, 1:00pm
Next Friday, 24 October, we will gather as a community for our Grandparents’ Day Liturgy, commencing at 1:00pm.
This is always a special celebration where we give thanks for the love, wisdom, and guidance of our grandparents and special older friends. We warmly invite all grandparents and family members to join us for this beautiful event.

We look forward to seeing you there and sharing this joyful afternoon together!

👨‍👩‍👧 2026 Kindergarten Parent Information Night – Wednesday 22 October
We are excited to welcome our 2026 Kindergarten families next Wednesday, 22 October, for our Parent Information Night.
This evening marks the beginning of an important new chapter for our youngest learners and their families. It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet our staff, learn about the Kindergarten program, and begin the journey of belonging to our school community.

We especially welcome our new families joining us for the first time, as well as those who are already part of our school family. We look forward to walking with you as your child takes their first steps in formal education within our caring, faith-filled environment.

St Johns College - Community Service Volunteers
Last term, 14 students from St Johns College volunteered in the classrooms supporting students with literacy, numeracy and reading as part of their Community Service initiative. 

Thank you to these students for their commitment to their community and for inspiring our students to give back to their community through volunteering. 

Gospel and Reflection:

Jesus Heals Ten Men With Leprosy
11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a] met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Family Connection
Children fluctuate between moments of deep, heartfelt gratitude and an attitude of entitlement. These fluctuations are normal. Among our tasks as parents is to help foster the gift of gratitude, particularly gratitude to God for all God's goodness to us.

Let’s make Term 4 a time of joy, growth, and gratitude as we work together to celebrate another successful year of learning and community at our school.

Anthony O’Leary

Welcome Back!
SJP community, welcome back to Term 4. Hopefully you were able to find some sunshine and enjoyed the slower pace that comes with the school term break and are ready to tackle all that comes with Term 4. It no doubt will be a busy one!  

St. John’s Celebration Day
This coming Friday, students and staff will come together to celebrate our Patron Saint, St. John the Apostle. We will learn of the loyalty John had towards Jesus and his dedication towards being a disciple of God. St. John’s Feast Day actually falls on the 27th December when we are all on school holidays, however as he is our Patron Saint, we ensure we put aside a date to celebrate St. John. Parents are more than welcome to join us in our hall at 1pm for a Liturgy.  

SJP’s Sponsor Child Stephanie Nnamele
Next Thursday 23rd October, SJP will hold a School Disco for our Sponsor child Stephanie from Nigeria. All students are encouraged to attend the Disco (which will be held after school) and wear their favourite sport themed clothes, as Stephanie applies herself particularly well in areas of sport while at school.

The cost of the disco will be $5 per student. Students will receive a popper and a lolly bag at the disco. Please see the attached page for more details and times for each grade to attend.

Enrolment for the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Next week will see the beginning of the Preparation Sessions for this sacrament for our Year 2 Catholic students. Students making this sacrament are required to attend one session each week for the next 3 weeks.

The sessions will be offered at St. Brigid’s Hall at the times listed below. If you are yet to receive communication from Rosie Hosking (St. Brigid’s Sacramental Coordinator, please contact her asap on: sacraments.dubbo@cdob.org.au

Save the date!
One of the most exciting days on our school calendar is when we celebrate Grandparents Day. Parents and grandparents, please save the date and time as we would love to see you there! Friday 24th October (Week 2) @1pm at St. John’s College Hall.

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 Focus – Moving Sensibly and Safely Around the Gardens
This week we continue focusing on moving sensibly and safely around the gardens. Students are reminded to:

• Stay on the paths at all times.
  
• Respect the plants, animals, and other living things in our gardens.
  
• Keep out of garden beds and avoid damaging plants.
  

By following these expectations, we continue to care for our school environment and help keep our gardens a safe, clean, and beautiful place for everyone to enjoy.