Term 3 Week 8

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 8
Thursday 11th September - R U OK? Day
Week 10
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 8
Dear Families,

Celebrating Year 5 – Kids in Space
A huge congratulations to our Year 5 students and staff for their incredible efforts with the Kids in Space project. Last Wednesday evening, our students presented their work to a large audience from our school community. I was truly impressed by the depth of their knowledge and the way they explained their design processes—from the initial ideas right through to creating 3D-printed models designed for use in the space industry. It was inspiring to see such creativity and innovation on display.
We are very proud of all our Year 5 students, and we wish the four teams heading to Parkes for the regional finals every success.

Father’s Day
I trust that all of our dads and the significant men in our students’ lives enjoyed a wonderful Father’s Day on Sunday. Thank you to our P&F for their efforts in organising both the Father’s Day Stall and the pizzas and poppers after our very moving liturgy. It was a beautiful celebration of family and community.

Uniform Transition
With the warmer weather of spring now upon us, students may continue to wear either winter or summer uniform for the remainder of this term. From the beginning of Term 4, however, all students will be expected to wear their summer uniform. Please ensure the correct uniform is ready for the changeover.

R U OK? Day – Thursday
This Thursday we will acknowledge R U OK? Day. Mrs Kenny has organised focus lessons for each class.
The heart of the message is simple: if you notice changes in someone you care about—perhaps they seem withdrawn, agitated, or just not themselves—trust your instincts and ask the question: “Are you OK?”
By starting a conversation and showing genuine care, we can make a real difference. If someone shares that they’re not OK, we can listen, support, and help them find strategies. And if they are OK, they’ll know you’re someone who truly cares.

CPS Athletics Carnival – Friday
This Friday, a group of talented SJP athletes will be travelling to Newcastle to compete in the CPS Athletics Carnival. Congratulations to Ava S, Bella M, Hadley H, Harvey E, Iylah, Malakai, Oliver S, Sam N, Savi and Will N we wish them the very best as they represent our school with pride.

Attendance Focus
Well done, SJP! Our attendance rates continue to climb—just like the temperature. Last week our overall school attendance reached 93.6%, with nearly every grade above 90%. This is a wonderful achievement, but let’s keep striving for our school target of 95% every day. Consistent attendance makes such a difference to learning.

Sunday Gospel and Reflection

Luke 14:25–33
Jesus teaches about the demands of discipleship.

Family Connection
Together with your children, create a list of things they are responsible for alongside things they enjoy doing. Examples might include making their bed, taking out the garbage, going to the park, doing homework, watching television, having a snack, or feeding the cat. Then ask: if company were arriving, what should be done first? This activity teaches about setting priorities.

In this week’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that following Him must be our number one priority. Just as responsibilities sometimes need to come before fun, discipleship calls us to make choices that aren’t always easy. But when we put Jesus first, we find true happiness.

Wishing you all a blessed week ahead.

God bless,
Anthony O’Leary

Enrolment for the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Parents of Catholic students in Year 2, as you are aware, enrolment Masses began last weekend and will continue next weekend (my apologies for the error in last week’s newsletter - the next Masses to enrol will be on the 20th and 21st of September, not 13th and 14th). Enrolling your child in the Sacrament of Reconciliation is different to registering interest in the sacrament which occurred at the beginning of the year at the Information for Parents session. All children wishing to receive this sacrament must attend Mass (see times listed below) at St. Brigid’s. 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.

Parish Picnic - Save the Date
St. Brigid’s will hold its annual Parish Picnic Day on Sunday 21st September straight after 9am Mass from 10-12:30 in the Church grounds. The Parish Picnic is always a great opportunity for parents and children to socialise with others, enjoy the lovely spring weather and engage in a relaxed morning of fun. St. Brigid’s is currently seeking people to assist with providing a simple slice etc for morning tea. If you are able to do this, you are encouraged to contact the Parish Office on 68824233 or write your name on the notice board in the foyer of the Church. Please see below for more details.

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
As the weather begins to warm up, our SPB4L focus for the next fortnight is on wearing hats appropriately. This helps ensure students are protected from the sun during outdoor activities.

We encourage families to please check that hats are clearly labelled with your child’s name and are in good condition. By wearing hats correctly, students are looking after themselves and showing respect for our school expectations.

Thank you for supporting this important focus as we work together to keep our students safe in the warmer months ahead.

Kindness Challenge – Final Week 
We are excited to celebrate the final week of our Kindness Challenge! Over the past few weeks, students have been encouraged to show care, respect, and inclusion in their daily lives. Small acts of kindness make a big difference, helping us build a safe, positive, and welcoming school environment for everyone.

This week’s Kindness Challenges:

• Include someone who looks left out.
  
• Say something positive about yourself.
  
• Lend something of yours to a friend.
  
• Hold the door for someone or let them go ahead.
• Tell someone: “I’m glad you’re here today.”

Year 5 Kids in Space Journey 🚀
Over the past 10 weeks, our Year 5 students have been part of the Makers Empire - Kids in Space project. This exciting program challenged them to dive into the world of 3D design and printing while tackling complex, real-world problems.

Students were asked to research and design a solution to one of two challenges:

1. Help astronauts live and work in space, or
   
2. Use space technologies to solve a problem here on Earth.
   

On Wednesday, our young innovators presented their projects, first to the school during the day, and then proudly to families and the wider community in the evening. The level of knowledge, creativity, and the ability to clearly communicate their design thinking processes absolutely amazed everyone.

We are thrilled to share that four teams have been selected to represent our school at the Regional State Final in Parkes on Wednesday, 17 September. This is an outstanding achievement, and we could not be prouder of their efforts.

A huge congratulations to all of our Year 5 students for their hard work, persistence, and creativity. Thank you also to the parents and school community who came along to support the presentations; it made the night even more special

Polding Athletics Carnival
We wish our talented athletes the very best of luck as they represent our school and the Bathurst Diocese at the Polding Athletics Carnival on Friday, 12th September 2025 in Glendale, Newcastle. Our students have been training hard during school sessions, showing great commitment and determination in their preparation. We are so proud of their efforts and know they will give their very best on the day.

The following students will be competing in individual track or field events - Ava S, Oliver S, Harvey E, Sam N, Malakai, Savi

Junior Girls Relay Team - Hadley H, Iylah, Bella M and Ava S

Junior Boys Relay Team - Malakai, Will N, Sam N and Savi