Year 7 - “Let your Light Shine” 

Year 7 has had an amazing start to life at St John’s. They have settled into the routines and changes that high school brings extremely well and have managed to already make positive connections with each other and their teachers. Students have had a whirlwind of experiences already, with their temporary timetables, PAT, spelling and expressive writing tests along with their laptop bootcamp. As their Year Coordinator I have been so impressed with the adaptability and flexibility I have witnessed in these students over the past week. 

YEAR 7 CAMP 

The shorter version of Year 7 Camp has just concluded. Students have engaged in a range of outdoor experiences and activities both at the campsite and back at school Friday.  A big thank you to all of the staff who attended camp, along with our parent & carer helpers and Year 10 Bushcraft leaders. Congratulations to Year 7 for the resiliency you have all demonstrated on camp, tackling new challenges, adjusting to change and working collaboratively with others. 

A full rundown of the camp with some student reflections will be added to our next Year 7 Newsletter report.  

SWIMMING CARNIVAL 

The whole school swimming carnival will take place on Friday February 17 at Nowra Pools. This is the first whole school swimming carnival that we have been able to hold as a school since 2019 and we are all very excited about the event. All information about the carnival itself can be found on the compass event permission note. A reminder that parent/carer consent for this event is now due.  

CONSENT FORM FOR USE OF STUDENT'S IMAGE 

This form is now found electronically via compass events on the parent portal. Forms are due to be completed by February 17. 

YEAR 7 SPORT

An event can also be found on the compass parent portal for Year 7 Sport. In Terms 1, 2 and 3 students will develop teamwork and group cohesion in a variety of competitive sports at school. In Term 4 students will undertake both summer sports and a compulsory swimming program. Parent consent for Year 7 Sport for the year is now due on compass. 

DIARY USE 

The use of the school diary is an important and compulsory tool to support students in their organisation at St John's. It is also an important communication tool between parents and teachers and for this reason we ask that parents read and sign their child’s diary every week - preferably on Tuesday night, as the PALS teacher will check on Wednesday morning and if the diary is not signed, consequences are put in place by the PALS teacher. This is also where notes should be placed in regards to ongoing illness or injury so that the student has a record of this information with them at all times.

LUNCH ORDERS

The preferred method for ordering lunch is online. This means that your child will receive their lunch more efficiently and allows the canteen staff to plan their day and avoids congestion at the canteen during breaks. The link to order lunch from our school canteen is available on our school website or by clicking here.

CATHOLIC CULTURE IMMERSION

Last Friday Year 7 students experienced a Catholic Culture Immersion. Students gained a greater knowledge and understanding of the school emblem, prayer, motto, song, housing system, Chapel and how Catholicity is expressed at St John's. To conclude the afternoon students participated in a year group liturgy which focused on the theme of welcome.

RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS PROGRAM

On Monday this past week, Year 7 engaged in two periods of the Respectful Relationships Program. The sessions were run by a variety of experiences staff and were guided by the following learning intentions for students:

• Affirm the rules and agreements needed to support a safe, responsible and friendly learning environment at St John’s.

• Identify shared expectations for positive group cohesion.
• Understand how irresponsible behaviour affects individuals and our school environments negatively.
• Acknowledge the values, opinions and attitudes of different groups within society.
• Recognise and describe a range of character strengths that can be useful in different situations.
• Develop strategies for building positive and respectful relationships.
• Identify simple acts of friendship that can be used to intervene to prevent escalation of bullying or to provide positive peer support. 

A third session of the program will take place later in Term 1, with a focus on connection. 

TIMETABLES 

Next week students will be placed in their subject specific classes for the duration of the year. Timetables will be visible on student compass profiles. Timetables will also be issued hard copy during PALS time and students will be required to glue these into the front section of their diary. Year 7 will remain in the same PALS group that they were allocated to at the beginning of term. 

When students have their first PDHPE lesson with their new class and teacher, they will be notified of which days to wear sports or normal uniform for the year.  

TERM 1 IMPORTANT DATES

Week 4

• Friday 17 February: Whole School Swimming Carnival 

Week 5

• Wednesday 22 February: Ash Wednesday 

• Thursday 23 & Friday 24 February: All Schools Triathlon

Week 6

• Friday 3 March: Diocesan Touch Football 

Week 7

• Naplan Practice 

• Wednesday 8 March: Year 7 2024 Open Night 

• Friday 10 March: Diocesan Swimming

Week 8:

• Naplan Week 1

• Tuesday 14 March: Year 7 Immunisation Clinic 

Week 9:

• Naplan Week 2

• Friday 24 March: School Cross Country Carnival 

Week 10:

• Monday 27 March: Naplan Week 3 (catch up)

Week 11:

• Last Week of Term 1

• Holy Week