Term 3 Week 6

From the Principal

Book Week at St John the Baptist this week was a celebration of imagination, creativity, and pure joy! This year’s theme, “Book an Adventure,” invited our students to step into the pages of their favourite stories—and on Wednesday, our school was transformed into a vibrant place of our favourite characters. From wizards and wild things to explorers and everyday heroes, the excitement was contagious. It was a beautiful reminder of the magic books bring into our lives, sparking curiosity, laughter, and connection across every classroom.

Thank you to our families for helping bring Book Week to life. Your support in preparing costumes and nurturing a love of reading at home makes all the difference. Watching our students proudly share their favourite stories and characters was a testament to the reading culture you help foster every day. A special thank you goes to our incredible librarians, Mrs McFadyen and Mrs Murphy, whose thoughtful planning and enthusiasm made the day truly magical.

SchoolTV 

SchoolTV is an excellent online resource available to all our families, offering expert advice and practical strategies on a wide range of topics relevant to parenting and student wellbeing. From managing screen time to supporting mental health, SchoolTV provides trusted information in an accessible format. You can find it through our school website under Parent Information, or access it directly via this link: https://maitlandsj.catholic.schooltv.me/.

Online Information Sessions

As part of our commitment to supporting families in their parenting journey, we encourage you to regularly visit the Catholic Schools Office (CSO) website. It features a variety of online parent information sessions designed to nurture family wellbeing, strengthen school partnerships, and provide valuable insights into raising children in today’s world. These sessions are regularly updated and can be accessed here:  https://www.mn.catholic.edu.au/our-community/supporting-parents-and-carers/upcoming-parent-and-carer-information-sessions/

Fortnightly Frames

From the Assistant Principal

Reminders about Drop Off and Pick up for families

To help us maintain a safe and respectful environment for all students, we kindly ask families to take note of the following procedures:

Morning Arrival:

Students are not actively supervised until 8:30am, when staff go on duty. If your child arrives before this time, they are required to sit quietly outside the front office until supervision begins. We appreciate your support in helping us maintain a calm and orderly start to each school day.

Drop-Off and Pick-Up:

Please ensure the front gate on Victoria Street is closed each morning after dropping children off. This small action helps us keep our school grounds secure.
In the afternoon, if you arrive early for pick-up, we ask that you wait in the tunnel area until students are dismissed, as learning is still taking place in classrooms.

Curriculum Update

This Wednesday, 3 September, Mrs Murdoch, Miss D’Accione and I will be attending a professional learning day at the Catholic Schools Office to explore and unpack the new Science and Technology, HSIE (History and Geography), and PDHPE curriculum. These updated syllabuses are designed to make learning clearer, more engaging, and relevant for our students. They will be introduced at St John the Baptist from 2026.

* Science and Technology will involve hands-on investigations that spark curiosity, problem-solving and creativity.

* HSIE will help students understand people, places and environments, and how these change over time.

* PDHPE will build the skills needed for healthy, safe and active lifestyles, as well as resilience and positive relationships.

To find out more, parents and carers can visit the NSW Curriculum website: curriculum.nsw.edu.au

Crowning of St Dominic

On Tuesday 19 August, I had the privilege of attending the annual Crowning of St Dominic Liturgy at All Saints College, accompanied by our school leaders Genevieve, Lucille, Patrick O, and Patrick R. This beautiful tradition celebrates the life and mission of St Dominic, the founder of the Dominican Order, whose charism continues to inspire our Catholic identity today. It was a special opportunity for our leaders to connect with the wider faith community and to witness how the Dominican spirit is alive in our schools.

Our student leaders represented our school with reverence and pride, joining in prayer as the statue of St Dominic was crowned in honour of his lasting influence.

Religious Education

Year 6 Religious Literacy Assessment

On Monday 1 September Year 6 will be sitting the Religious Literacy Assessment. This is a Diocesan wide assessment which focuses on assessing the knowledge and understanding of the stage 3 Religious Education course. Students will require headphones.

Father’s Day Celebrations

You’re invited to our Father’s Day celebrations. Please see the invite below.

Year 2 Religious Education

Year 2 have been learning about the importance of belonging to a caring community. We have been learning about Jesus’ greatest commandment to love one another and how to apply this in our own lives. Students have also been introduced to what it means to live justly and to care for those who are in need.

Year 5 Religious Education

Year 5 has been studying the history of monotheistic religions and learning about the importance of Abraham to Jewish, Christian and Muslin people.

Diverse Learning Mass - 3rd September 2025

Canteen

We’re Always Happy to Have Parent Volunteers in the Canteen!

If you’d like to help out fortnightly, monthly, by the term or even just for one shift, please email the office with the days you’re available, admin@maitlandsj.catholic.edu.au

The canteen operates from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, but we appreciate any time you can offer!

Important: Catholic Schools require all volunteers to be cleared before participating. If you are not sure if you are cleared please contact our office.

To get started, please complete the volunteer clearance form at the link below:

https://mn.catholic.org.au/about/working-in-the-diocese/volunteer/

Thank-you for your support!

Class Awards

Congratulations to our class award winners for Week 5 & 6!

Kindergarten: Edward B, Millie M, Paige P, Ryder C, Henryk T, Sebastian S.

Year 1: Farrah K, Nate S, Gilbert H, Harley C, Margot D, Olivia L, Harley C, Margot D, Olivia L.   

Year 2:  Chayse D, Charlie. D, Stella K, Arnold B, Violet M, Ellie M, Elena T. 

Year 3: Byron W, Penelope T, Elle W, Thomas O, Halle G, Peyton F.

Year 4: Cooper C, Georgia N, Theo L, Hugo G, Ashton S, Thomas N.

Year 5: Madeline F, Penelope S, Arwen W, Simon L, Charli S, Mia R.

Year 6: Cooper C, River C, Grace L, Patrick R, Jesse J, Edie D, Stevi T.