So far this term it has been rain, rain and more rain. Despite the challenge that this presents with cancellations and limited playgrounds I commend the students for their very positive engagement and willingness to be flexible.

Our Athletics Carnival is postponed and we are hoping to hold it next term however our students  took on the challenge of the Cross Country carnival and gave it 100% despite the rain and mud. A fun and worthwhile day resulted in all the races being run.

Despite the challenges posed by the inclement weather, extension and engagement opportunities do continue to be available for students. The Year 12 attended a career expo, the mock trial team have net their adversaries and trained hard for their next challenge, the musical in full practice, the dance troupes have taken out three big awards, the marine students went diving, the DaVinci challenge was taken on, the Year 9 camp was held at Bangalee, the choir competed in the eisteddfod and preparation is well underway for next week’s Year 12 retreat. And that is just a snapshot of the last few weeks.

We had a wonderful attendance at the working bee on Wednesday afternoon with about 90 students, parents and staff enhancing our environment. They worked across the school with gardens weeded and mulched, the boys toilets and garden tables painted, music practice rooms were painted and guitars were strung, science labs were cleaned and the library books were covered, the sustainable garden was cleared up and the bushcraft equipment stored.

So much was achieved in just 2 hours. We enjoyed a BBQ together at the completion of our tasks. These community events are essential in building the bonds that make St John’s such a positive place to learn and developing a connection with our environment. Thanks so very much to the parents and carers who joined us, to the students who worked so hard and the teachers who also supported this event. Thanks also to our Parents and Friends team who organise and support these events. They truly value the connection of the wider community and show this with their actions.

We are currently interviewing for the Year 7, 2023 cohort. It is so heartwarming to hear the very positive reports about the school and the fact that parents choose St John’s because of the good reputation it has in the Shoalhaven community. What is most pleasing is the fact that people are coming to understand what a great learning community is available at the school. I encourage them to follow our social media as it is authentic in its presentation of what really happens here. And it is good.

The positive conduct of our Year 12 students displayed at the Shoalhaven & Illawarra Careers expo recently caught the attention of event stall holders. With over 5,500 students across the Shoalhaven and Illawarra taking part in the event, our students were described as;

 ‘a standout, a credit to our community, polite, interested and asked intelligent and insightful questions’.

One stallholder was so impressed she kindly took the time to pen the following letter;

Congratulations to our students and to the parents/carers, families, teachers and staff members who support and encourage students to be the best they can be.

TELL THEM FROM ME PARENT SURVEY