Dear Parents/guardians,

I write this final Newsletter article of 2023 and am amazed at just how quickly this year has gone by. My first at St John’s.

I am proud to say that the students are achieving good results and have an increased belief in themselves that makes me very proud. St John’s students are as good as any in the state, they just have to believe in that and work hard to achieve it, just as others are working hard around the state. Engagement in the classroom and student behaviour has also improved and is evidenced in our data.

We look to 2024 with two school goals :-

1. Improved student learning outcomes

2. Reviewing our catholicity, charism and foundations.

These will be the focus of the Staff professional development and collegial learning for 2024. 

LEADERS RETREAT

Bishop Brian invited our School Captains and Vice Captains to attend the inaugural Year 12 Student Leaders’ annual retreat. The focus of the retreat was Bearing Christ’s Love through your Leadership. Jaimi, Hugh, Bridget and Jett enjoyed the experience and especially enjoyed meeting the other captains from the Wollongong diocese.

PRESENTATION AWARDS ASSEMBLY

On Thursday 14 December, St John's 2023 Presentation Awards Assembly was held for 7 - 10 in the school hall. The whole school is to be commended on how they conducted themselves in the extremely hot conditions.

Congratulations to all of the students that received awards, both major awards and faculty awards. It was terrific to see so many of our students receiving awards. We would like to thank all of the parents, carers and family members that attended the assembly to see their child recognised for their hard work and dedication. 

SPECIAL AWARDS

Congratulations to our Special Award recipients that also received their awards at the 2023 Presentation Award Assembly. These students are to be commended on for their outstanding achievements.

HSC RESULTS - CLASS OF 2023

STAFF LEAVING ST JOHN'S

As we finish the school year, I also acknowledge the wonderful Staff who will be leaving the school and are moving (or have moved) to new schools or retiring. Their contribution has been greatly appreciated.

Our fulltime teaching who are leaving are :- Mrs Kinna, Mr Leishman, Mrs Fox, Mrs Castles, Mrs Whitehouse, Mrs Hodges and Mrs Sureau. I wish to thank all of these Staff for the dedication and commitment that they have shown to ensuring that your child has a quality education. They will be missed, but as in any school their replacements will be equally as dedicated.

I would like to thank very sincerely the members of the P&F for their work and support this year. These parents care greatly for their children’s education and for St John’s in general. Their advice and counsel had been so important to some of our major decisions. I trust this will continue next year and welcome all parents to consider attending the meetings. One per Term with lots of advertised warning.

I thank all of our sports and debating coaches for their extra investment of time for their teams. We had another successful year with many student excelling and gaining representative honours. An outstanding effort from our students. The co-curricula offerings at St John’s are enormous and the musicals, plays and drama events allow those involved to blossom. I also thank our staff who generously offer to support students on overnight events such as Bushcraft. That doesn’t happen in all schools.

Finally, I thank all of the parents that I have met over the last year. Educating a child is a partnership between the home and the school. You have made a choice to give your child the best chance to have a fulfilling and meaningful adult life. Thank you.

ADVENT 

The candle lit at Church last Sunday, the second Sunday of Advent, was the peace candle. John Lennon became a strong activist for peace in the latter part of his life and his song ‘Imagine’ became a peace anthem the world over. It has been recorded in numerous languages and the focus is not only on peace, but also on reflecting on the difference that you have made to make the world a better place. I ask the students to reflect upon this. How have they improved another’s life this year? Been a difference? A support?

 I wish all a wonderful Christmas break filled with happiness, family, friends and joy. Elsewhere in this Newsletter will be the mass times for the local Parishes. I encourage all to attend in this special time in the Church’s calendar.

God bless

Mr Wayne Marshall