Fifth Sunday of Easter Reading John 15: 1 8 The Evangelist The St John s Primary School Newsletter Wednesday 29 April 2015 Jesus said to His disciples: I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciple. Reflection Jesus compares disciples to branches of the vine that need to be pruned by his Word. The more a vine is pruned, the better its fruit will be. What needs a bit of pruning in you? What should be cut back in order to allow your life to be grafted onto Christ once again? Dear Parents / Carers I hope that all the children had an enjoyable holiday and that you were all able to enjoy some quality time together. It has been a busy and wet start to the term but the children have brought a wonderful attitude to their learning and are working hard to achieve their goals. We look forward to a successful term. Our ANZAC Day liturgy and commemoration service was a very reflective and moving experience. We were all very impressed and proud of the children s excellent behaviour throughout the ceremony. They were respectful and reverent throughout the liturgy and the commemoration service. During our prayers we remembered all those who died defending our country during all the wars Australia has been involved in and we prayed for peace in our world. I thank all of our wonderful teachers for their support in making this a truly memorable occasion for St John s community. I would particularly like to thank Mr Mackey for all his hard work in assisting in the preparation of the service and for the wonderful job he did as MC. I also extend our gratitude to Mrs Tolhurst for supporting Mr Mackey and Mrs Youell for all the work she does behind the scenes. Thank you also to the Sinka Family (Jacob - Early Stage One) for the donation of a beautiful arrangement of native Australian flowers. St John s was strongly represented at the Riverstone ANZAC Day Dawn Service on Saturday. It was a great opportunity for St John s Community to unite with the wider community of Riverstone in honouring our Anzacs. Again, I thank our parents / carers and teachers who attended the dawn service and supported the children. Recently our Stage 3 students participated in the 2015 Greenway Anzac Day Writing Prize Competition. We were advised by Michelle Rowland MP that the entries in the Junior category were of an extremely high quality and the judges were impressed by the depth of talent amongst students. Out of the 156 entries, 14 students were shortlisted, two of them being our students Jessica Couzins and Saxon Peters. The winners were announced at a presentation ceremony held last Thursday and I am very proud to inform our school community that Jessica Couzins was the winner in the Junior category. Congratulations to both Jessica and Saxon for their very poignant reflections on the Spirit of the Anzacs. Ms Rowlands commented, that based on the quality of the entries, she is very confident that the spirit of the Anzac tradition will continue to live on for generations to come. All our students who entered the competition will receive a certificate at Friday s assembly. On Friday the 8th May St John s will be celebrating Mother s Day with a liturgy (starting at 10.00am) and a morning tea provided by the staff. We extend an invitation to our mums, grandmothers and significant women who care for our students to join us in the liturgy and morning tea. I would like to thank Miss Espiritu and Miss Devine for the organisation of our Mother Day celebration. The Mother s Day stall, run by the P & F, will follow the morning tea. We are very grateful to the P & F for providing lovely gifts for the children to purchase. This week the teachers were asked to do a uniform check. I noted last week a number of uniform infringements in the following areas the wearing of nail polish, the wearing of coloured wrist bands, incorrect sport s socks, extreme hair cuts. Please be advised that teachers will send uniform notes home so that parents / carers are made aware that the uniform policy is not being adhered too. I ask parents / carers to refer to the uniform policy for a comprehensive description of the uniform standards. I would also like to remind you that children are to be in winter uniform. God Bless Patricia Charlton Principal
Literacy News This week in Literacy News, we feature our 2 finalists from Stage 3( and ultimately 1 winner) of the Michelle Rowland MP ANZAC writing competition 100 years after the Gallipoli landing, why is ANZAC day still important to us? The first is Jessica Couzins piece, which was judged to be the winning entry for the junior division, and Saxon Peter, who was one of the 12 finalist to make it out of 156 writing pieces that were entered into the competition. Well done to both of you. 100 years after the Gallipoli landing, why is ANZAC Day still important to us? ANZAC Day is important as it gives us the chance to pay respect, for the courage and bravery the soldiers had during times of war. They have sacrificed their lives to give us freedom. Being respectful is not just about being silent for one minute on April 25 th for ANZAC Day. It is about remembering what the soldiers did for us and the bravery they showed. Boys signed up for the army at the age of 14 before they were men. They missed out on their childhood. The soldiers fought to protect Australia. Now it is time we pay respect. Paying respect might be a little thing but for them it means that what they did was appreciated. Lest We Forget, is a big phrase that we must never forget. It means we must show our remembrance for those who fought and for those who have died fighting for our freedom. It means to never forget. That is why we should think about what they have done for us? How they felt? To do this I hope you can participate in the dawn services happening across the country this April to celebrate 100 years. Jessica Couzins St John s Riverstone JUNIOR (Year 5) I know I will be. Australia New Zealand Army Corps We should always celebrate ANZAC day! Imagine it, hundreds of soldiers storming into battle on the frontlines of Gallipoli. Many of them dying, and then finding out 100 years later that they are no longer recognised as the saviours of our beautiful land, Australia. Yet, if the ANZACs had not fought 100 years ago, where would we be? ANZACs may have nearly all died, but their spirit lives on in our great land. It may not be so beautiful though, if the ANZACs didn t want to help Great Britain and fight for our freedom. Their spirits still live on and we need to keep our time-honoured tradition of ANZAC Day, or risk forgetting who made modern Australia. Risk forgetting what made Us. Why still have RSL clubs and Memorial parks if we don t celebrate the most important part of remember the ANZACs, ANZAC Day! You might as well be knocking down the War Museum in Canberra, or the Light Horse Interchange on the M7! We need to keep the respect and reverence of marching down the streets to your local memorial park, and then having that one-minute of silence to remember the fallen. How would you feel, saying goodbye to a family you may never see again, or hi fiving mates that may never come back. You might as well be saying see you on the other side! They gave up all they knew, all they loved, all they held close, to protect our land they love so much. But what if they hadn t gone to war? What if they were selfish and stayed at home? Where would we be today? So, for 100 years of ANZAC, we suddenly stop remembering? We would be in famine, drought, plague, and slavery if those mighty, mighty ANZACs. So, if you would have wanted our country to fall into the hands of evil, stripped of our rights, stripped of our freedom and democracy, stop celebrating ANZAC Day, and let the ANZACs die, their country and spirit with them. Or join me on April 25 th and celebrate ANZAC day with me. Those Mighty, Mighty ANZACs. By Saxon Peter, 20 th of March 2015. Category- Junior (Year 6)
Dear Parents/Carers, In preparation for our Mothers Day Liturgy on Friday 8 th May, we are preparing a slide show of photos of our student s Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunties and any other significant female figure in your child's life. We would appreciate your contribution. We ask you to scan the photos and email them to riverstone@parra.catholic.edu.au before Friday 1 st May. We are sure the children will look forward to seeing their Mum s, Grandmothers, Aunties on the big screen. Thank you, Miss Devine and Miss Espiritu Parents & Friends Association News Keep up to date with what s happening, comment or post photos on our Facebook page St John s Primary School Parents and Friends Association On Monday, 20 th April, the P&F held a general meeting. The main purpose of this meeting was to elect a Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. Although it was a wet and chilly night 8 members of the Committee were able to attend, constituting a quorum and thus the election could be held. I am pleased to announce that Adrienne Reid has agreed to take the position as Treasurer and that Katrina Matta has agreed to take the position of Assistant Treasurer. Please join me in thanking these two ladies for their time and efforts and also in welcoming them to the committee. We look forward to working with you in our future endeavours. ANZAC Day Memorial was simply beautiful. It was heart warming to see so many Parents, students and teachers brave the chill morning to attend. There are a couple of upcoming events that the P&F would like some assistance with; 8 th May is the Mothers day stall and we will require volunteers to help on the day, 16 th May is the Riverstone Festival and we would like to call on the bakers in our community to bake cakes, slices, biscuits, etc to sell on the day. We will also require volunteers to help at the stall on the day. Flyers for these events will be sent home with students in the coming days. It would be appreciated if these could be filled in and returned to the school as soon as possible. Kind Regards Trish Talbot President St. Johns P&F Committee
SNACK SHACK TERM TWO ROSTER 2015 Recess: 11am-11:30am and Lunch: 1:30pm-2pm WEEK AND DATE MONDAY RECESS MONDAY LUNCH Week 1: 20/4 Yukimi Nakata Trish Talbot Week 2: 27/4 Sherie Sciberras Erin McAdam Week 3: 4/5 Yukimi Nakata Trish Talbot Week 4: 11/5 Kerri Miller Erin McAdam Week 5: 18/5 Yukimi Nakata Trish Talbot Week 6: 25/5 Sherie Sciberras Erin McAdam Week 7: 1/6 Yukimi Nakata Trish Talbot Week 8: 8/6 PUBLIC HOLIDAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY Week 9: 15/6 Kerri Miller Trish Talbot Yukimi Nakata Week 10: 22/6 Sherie Sciberras Erin McAdam WEEK AND DATE FRIDAY RECESS FRIDAY LUNCH Week 1: 24/4 Week 2: 1/5 Lyn Amendolia Marianne Finadri Week 3: 8/5 Amanda McIntyre Week 4: 15/5 Lyn Amendolia Marianne Finadri Dianna Peter Week 5: 22/5 Marianne Finadri Week 6: 29/5 Lyn Amendolia Marianne Finadri Week 7: 5/6 Amanda McIntyre Week 8: 12/6 Lyn Amendolia Dianna Peter Marianne Finadri Week 9: 19/6 Marianne Finadri Week 10: 26/6 Lyn Amendolia Marianne Finadri Thank you for volunteering to help in the Snack Shack. Please arrive at the canteen 15-20 minutes prior to opening to prepare and set up. If you are unable to make it to a session, please contact Teresa on 0413536975 or Sue on 0410902452 as soon as possible so a replacement can be found. Your help is greatly appreciated!
NAPLAN 2015 will take place on Tuesday 12, Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 of May for Years 3 & 5 only. The results of the tests will provide important information to our school about what each student can do, and will be used to support teaching and learning programs. Parents will receive a report indicating their child s level of achievement. Each student s level of achievement will be reported against the national minimum standard. TUESDAY 12 MAY WEDNESDAY 13 MAY THURSDAY 14 MAY Language Conventions (Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation) Year 3 40 mins Year 5 40 mins Writing Year 3 40 mins Year 5 40 mins Reading Year 3 45 min Year 5 50min Numeracy Year 3 45min Year 5 50min Additional information about NAPLAN can be found at www.nap.edu.au/naplan/parent_carer_support/ index.html Early Stage One Enrolments for 2016 Our interviews for early stage one 2016 will take place during May. If your child is ready for school in 2016, please collect an enrolment pack from the office, complete and return to the Office by Friday 8 May, we will then allocate you a time to come in for an enrolment interview with Mrs Charlton. Music News The Riverstone Festival is on Saturday 16 May. To continue our tradition we would like as many students to participate in the singing performance we put on in the morning at the festival. Its a lot of fun and no need to be a member of our choir either. Hope your child is able to join in the fun. Thank you Mrs Jan Steed Creative Arts Teacher
WORKING BEE CHANGE of DATE Thank you to all those who responded to our request for help for our Working Bee. Due to the Riverstone Festival on the Saturday and First Reconciliation on the Sunday, we have decided to move the working bee to Saturday 30th May 9am 1pm. We will finish the morning off with a scrumptious lunch. We hope you make it! What s on at St John s in May Friday 1 May School Assembly 2:25pm presentation of SRC badges. Tuesday 5 May Zone Diocese Cross Country Carnival Sydney Motorsports Park (formally Eastern Creek Raceway) Thursday 7 May Stage 3 Girls Soccer Gala Day Jamieson Park South Penrith Friday 8 May Mothers Day Liturgy 10:00am in school hall followed by a special Mothers Day Morning Tea. Mothers Day Stall at 11:30am. - School Assembly 2:25pm Good luck to 29 of our students who qualified to compete in the Diocese Zone Athletics Carnival. The Carnival will take place on Tuesday 5 May at Sydney Motorsport Park Eastern Creek. Our Stage 3 Girls will hopefully (weather permitting) finally be able to participate in the Soccer Gala Day. The new date is Thursday 7 May all details of the day remain the same. Enjoy the day! Tuesday 12 May Thursday 15 May NAPLAN Years 3 & 5 only. Friday 15 May School Assembly 2:25pm Saturday 16 May Riverstone Festival 9am 3pm Friday 22 May School Assembly 2:25pm Tuesday 26 May School Photo Day Friday 29 May School Assembly 2:25pm Saturday 30 May Working Bee at school 9am 1pm including lunch. Everyone at St John s hopes you enjoyed your special day! May Birthdays Amelia Makin ES1 21/05 Jacob Sinka S1 31/05 Riley McHugh S2 03/05 Bronte Peter S2 12/05 Natasha Bracken S3 05/05 Rebecca Uildriks S3 18/05 Jessica Finley-S3 29/05 Dylan Tran S3 19/05 Louisa Mercieca-S3-30/05 We are the next generation Strive to achieve all our goals School PO Box 20, Riverstone, 2765 Tel: 9627 2588 Fax: 9627 2699 Email: riverstone@ parra.catholic.edu.au www.stjohnsriverstone.catholic.edu.au Contact Details Parish 164 Garfield Rd East, Riverstone, 2765 Tel: 9627 1176 Fax: 9627 5363 Email: stjohns10@bigpond.com http://www.stjohnsriverstone.org.au/
Curriculum Corner Science at St John s 2015 is an exciting year for science at St John s. The new NSW Science Syllabus is implemented for the first time. As a staff we have evaluated the teaching and learning of Science over the past year. From this evaluation the draft Science Scope and Sequence for 2015 was developed (as below). The units of work are based on Science units from Primary Connections The Australian Academy of Science supported by the Australian Government Department of Education, Primary Connections focuses on developing students knowledge, understanding and skills in both science and literacy. PrimaryConnections key features: An inquiry and investigative approach A comprehensive professional learning program Award winning curriculum resources linking science with literacy An ongoing research and evaluation program The PrimaryConnections: Linking science with literacy project is supported by the Australian Government. Term One Term Two Term Three Term Four ES1 Weather in My World On the Move Staying Alive What is it made of? STe-7NE STe-6NE STe-8NE STe-9ME observes, using their senses, how daily and seasonal changes in the environment affect them and other living things identifies that the way objects move depends on a variety of factors identifies the basic needs of living things identifies that objects are made of materials that have observable properties Stage 1 Spot the Difference Push-Pull Schoolyard Safari Waterworks ST1-12MW ST1-7PW ST1-10LW ST1-9ES Stage 2 identifies ways that everyday materials can be physically changed and combined for a particular purpose Package It Better Material World describes effects of pushes and pulls on objects they encounter ST2-10LW Plants in Action describes external features, changes in and growth of living things ST1-11LW describes ways that different places in the environment provide for the needs of living things ST2-9ES Night and Day identifies ways that people use science in their daily lives to care for the environment and the Earth s resources ST2-6PW Heating Up Stage 3 ST2-13MW identifies the physical properties of natural and processed materials, and how these properties influence their use Desert Survivors ST3-10LW describes that living things have life cycles, can be distinguished from non-living things and grouped, based on their observable features What s the Matter? ST3-12MW describes how relationships between the sun and the Earth cause regular changes ST3-7PW Light Show identifies ways heat is produced and that heat moves from one object to another Earth s Place in Space ST3-8ES describes how structural features and other adaptations of living things help them to survive in their environment identifies the observable properties of solids, liquids and gases, and that changes made to materials are reversible or irreversible ST3-13MW uses scientific knowledge about the transfer of light to solve problems that directly affect people s lives describes how discoveries by people from different cultures and times have contributed to advancing scientific understanding of the solar system describes how the properties of materials determine their use for specific purposes
ANZAC Liturgy and Commemoration Afternoon Friday 24 April 2015 The ANZAC tradition lives on through our school!. It is with great pride that a former student of St John s (2005) Haitham Daniel Saliba-Haddad (brother of Jemma Saliba-Hay Stage 3) took part in the 100 year commemorations on the Western Front (France) on Anzac Day this year. Daniel had the honour of reading at the ceremony (which was telecast back to Australia). Daniel is the first recipient of the Jonathon Church Ethical Soldier Award (The award is named in honour of Tpr Jonathan Church,an SASR paramedic who helped save children whose parents were massacred in Rwanda in 1995. He was one of the 18 soldiers killed when two Black Hawk helicopters crashed at High Range near Townsville in 1996. ) Thank you to all our servicemen and women who continue to protect our free and magnificent country!