Term 4 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 publications. Please advise the School Office if you do not approve of your child’s photo being used.

Term 4
Week 4                                                                                                                                                              Tuesday 4th November - Migrant Jubilee Cross Liturgy 9.15am                                                                    Wednesday 5th November - Year 5 depart on Sydney Excursion                                                                       Wednesday 5th November - Year 4 Retreat Day
Friday 7th November - Year 5 return from Sydney Excursion
Week 5
Tuesday 11th November - Remembrance Day Liturgy at 10:20am                                                                    Wednesday 12th November - Year 7, 2026 Orientation Day at SJC                                                                  Wednesday 12th November - Year 5 Captains Speeches 9.15am -10.50am                                                    Friday 14th November - Colour Explosion Day                                                                 

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. 

Attendance Notes
If your child is absent from school, could you please ensure that attendance notes are submitted through Compass promptly for each day of absence. Please contact the school office on 02 6882 2677 or stjohnsprimarydubbo@bth.catholic.edu.au if you are experiencing difficulties in submitting attendance notes in Compass.

Welcome to Week 4                                                                                                                  As we move into Week 4, there’s a wonderful sense of excitement around the school with a number of special events taking place. Thank you to everyone—students, staff, and families—for the continued positivity and support that make St John’s such a welcoming and faith-filled community.

Year 5 Excursion                                                                                                                                        Best wishes to our Year 5 students as they embark on their much-anticipated excursion this Wednesday. Their adventure will include exploring the beauty of Katoomba, visiting Mary MacKillop Place, discovering the flavours and culture of Chinatown, and finishing with a memorable Sydney Harbour cruise.

A sincere thank you to the dedicated teachers accompanying our students and ensuring this experience is both safe and enriching. Excursions like these provide lifelong memories and extend classroom learning in wonderful ways.

2026 Kindergarten Orientation                                                                                              This Thursday, we are delighted to welcome our 2026 Kindergarten students for their second orientation session. It was such a joy to see their smiling faces and growing confidence during last week’s visit. We look forward to another morning filled with laughter, curiosity, and excitement as they take their next steps on their learning journey at St John’s.

A special thank you to our Kindergarten teachers and support staff for the care and preparation that make these mornings so engaging for our newest learners.

Attendance Reminder                                                                                                          As we approach the end of the school year, we have received a number of requests for extended student leave. We understand that family commitments are important; however, regular school attendance remains vital for each child’s learning continuity and social development.

Families are kindly reminded to plan holidays during official school vacation periods wherever possible. We do recognise that unexpected situations—such as medical needs, bereavements, or significant family celebrations—may arise. In such cases, we appreciate families doing their best to minimise time away from school.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in ensuring that every student continues to benefit fully from their learning time in these final weeks of term.

Social Media and Under-16 Restrictions                                                                              Many of you will be aware that the Federal Government has introduced new legislation aimed at delaying access to social media for children under the age of 16. These changes come into effect on 10 December, just in time for the school holidays.

To support families in navigating these changes, the eSafety Commission has prepared a range of helpful resources and advice. I encourage all parents to visit their website to stay informed and access practical tips on managing online activity and digital wellbeing:
👉 www.esafety.gov.au/parents/social-media-age-restrictions

Planning for 2026                                                                                                                    If your family will be leaving St John’s at the end of this year (other than our graduating Year 6 students), please notify the school office as soon as possible. This helps us with class planning and new enrolments for next year. An exit form will be provided to complete the process.

Class Placements for 2026                                                                                                  Over the next few weeks, our teachers will begin the careful process of planning class groups for 2026. This is always done with a great deal of thought and care, looking closely at each child’s learning needs, friendships, and wellbeing.

We know that some families like to request that their child be placed with a particular friend. While we understand and appreciate these requests, please know that teachers work together closely when forming classes and have a strong understanding of each child’s social and learning connections.

Sometimes, children who get along beautifully in the playground may work best in different classroom settings — and our teachers take this into account when creating the best possible mix for everyone.

We’re very lucky at St John’s to have such outstanding and caring teachers, and I encourage families to trust their professional judgment and the thoughtful process they use. Every decision is made with the goal of helping each child feel happy, supported, and ready to learn in 2026.

Thank you for your understanding and for continuing to partner with us in making St John’s a great place to learn and grow.

Gospel Reading
This reflection is based on John 11:17-27.
Jesus consoles Martha at the death of her brother, Lazarus, and declares that he is the Resurrection and the life.

Family Connection                                                                                                                  In Jesus' conversation with Martha, we learn that we can face death with hope because Jesus promises eternal life for all those who believe in him. In his death and Resurrection, Jesus has conquered death once and for all. In the Communion of the Saints, we continue to share a relationship with all those who have died. The saints in heaven intercede for us before God. We pray for the souls of the faithful departed. Our prayers for them help speed their journey to full communion with the saints in heaven. We praise God for this tremendous gift of our faith.

God Bless and have a wonderful Week

Anthony O’Leary

The Migrant Jubilee Cross                                                                            Tomorrow, St. Brigid’s Parish will have the honour of hosting the Migrant Jubilee Cross. The cross was initiated as part of the Catholic Church’s commitment to honour and support migrants and refugees, reflecting the Gospel call to "welcome the stranger". The Cross serves as a powerful symbol of unity, hope, and faith for migrants, highlighting their invaluable contributions to the Church and our communities. The Cross has travelled across dioceses in Australia, providing an opportunity for the faithful to pray, reflect, and engage in acts of solidarity with those who have journeyed far from their homelands in search of peace, safety, and community. The Migrant Jubilee Cross will visit St. John’s Primary tomorrow and we will celebrate its arrival with a Liturgy in our school hall tomorrow at 915. All our welcome.

Sacrament of Reconciliation                                                                                             This week is the last week of preparation sessions for parents and children. Parents please ensure you have booked in for your child's celebration of this sacrament. For more details on this, please contact Rosalie Hosking on: sacraments.dubbo@cdob.org.au

All Souls Prayer Services                                                                            Today, our school community will commemorate All Souls' Day with a Prayer Service for each grade. This significant day in the Church’s calendar is a time to remember and pray for all those who have passed away, especially our loved ones and members of our community. Through this time of prayer, we will all be reminded of God’s everlasting love and the hope of eternal life, as we support one another in faith and remembering all of those who have died.

Meeting 4 Mass                                                                                                                                            We warmly invite all families to join us for our last  Meeting 4 Mass this year at St Brigid's Parish on Sunday 16th November. Your attendance and support at this Mass really does help to deepen connections our school has within our parish community. We particularly encourage all of our Year 6 student leadership team to attend this Mass - their last community Mass with SJP. Please save the date - we look forward to seeing many families attend our last Meeting 4 Mass for 2025.

MASS TIMES
St. Brigid’s Church: Saturday - 6:00pm, Sunday - 9:00am and Sunday- 6:00pm.

Enjoy your week.
Paula Clifford
Religious Education Coordinator

SPB4L Focus: Safe and Respectful Behaviour in the Bus Bay and Pick-Up Zone

This week, our SPB4L (School-wide Positive Behaviour for Learning) focus is on demonstrating safe and respectful behaviour in the bus bay and pick-up zone. These are busy areas at the end of each day, and it’s important that everyone follows expectations to ensure a calm and safe environment for all.

Bus Bay Expectations:

• Follow teacher instructions at all times.
  
  
• Remain seated while waiting.
  
  
• Sit in the correct line for your bus.
  
  
• Watch carefully for your bus to arrive.
  
  
• Place all rubbish in the bins.
  
  
• Walk safely with the teacher to the bus.
  
  

Pick-Up Zone Expectations:

• Follow teacher instructions promptly.
  
  
• Sit on the pavers or silver seats under the shelter.
  
  
• Watch for your car and listen for your name to be called.
  
  
• Place rubbish in the bins before leaving.
  
  

By practising these behaviours, students help keep our school community safe and respectful during busy transitions. Thank you for continuing to reinforce these positive habits with your children.

ROAD SAFETY INFORMATION                                                                                                              Each week, road safety messages and information will be included in our newsletter. As a school community, we want all of our students and their families safe whey they are using our roads for transport. 

Let’s stay safe on our roads!

Monty’s Colour Fun Run

The countdown is on until our Monty’s Colour Fun Run!

Mr O'Leary has put his hand up to be slimed! Simply raise $20 online to go into the draw to do the sliming! 

So jump online at www.myprofilepage.com.au and create a profile page today!  It will be an event, not to miss!