School Newsletter - Issue 13 - Friday, 25th August 2023
Principal's News
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to Week 6, time certainly flies when you are having fun! I once again want to thank our Science Team led by Miss Wilkinson and Mrs Wallace along with all the teaching staff for the enormous amount of thought and effort that went into the organising and running of Science Week last week. The students were deeply engaged during lunch times, participating in many Scientific experiments. These were led by our Year 6 STEM group.
Yesterday we celebrated Book Week and I want to thank and acknowledge Mrs O’Keeffe for all of her organisation. What a parade…everyone looked amazing and the energy was high. Many thanks to our parents and carers for all you do to make these memories for your children. (See photos below)
Book Week Canteen
Yesterday was massive in the canteen. There were 170 orders as well as all of the specials on offer during the day. A huge thanks to Helen once again who was ably supported by an amazing team of Mum’s (otherwise this could not have happened) 
Golden Ticket Winners
Congratulations to the 5 Golden Ticket winners who were randomly
drawn Chace W, Ella J, Taylor S, Charlotte M & Finn C. They will receive a free lunch order on Wednesday 31st August.
Exiting the School
It’s that time of term where we have to remind parents and carers of a few traffic issues. I have had several neighbours (and they are very good) ask me to remind families that when exiting our school, you have to stop and give way to traffic on Hicks Lane. We do have cars leaving our property without looking either way, PLEASE be mindful of this.
Also, can all families on drive through please make sure that your name sign is displayed in your car so we are able to read them.
Kind regards
Marcel Arendse
Principal
Assistant Principal's News
Science Week
Last week in Week 5 was Science Week at St. John Fisher Catholic School. The theme was “innovation”, and grades took turns to complete activities in the hall during lunch. There were a series of activities like sphero battle bots, scribble bots, sphero races, sphero maze etc. at lunch times, Monday till Friday. Also, the ‘Make your own vehicle competition’ was in the works. Each grade had to be in a group to make a car. We were even challenged to power our cars by air, elastic and string. Cars like ‘The Quackmobile’ were contestants. The two cars from each grade that went the furthest went head-to-head in the finals for the whole school race at the assembly on Friday. The finalist vehicles went down a massive ramp in the middle of the hall. Some of the Year Six students running it said:
“The contestants were very innovative and creative.” The furthest vehicle was not a car, but a device attached to string and had a balloon attached to it for momentum. It was made by three Year Six students. Everyone at SJF had lots of fun all week and we enjoyed helping our peers learn about science.
By the Stem Leaders: Cruz V, Finnian B, Christiano S, Finn C, Jackson F, Archie W and Senan M.
Science Week Awards
These awards are for students who designed and made their own cars and raced them down a ramp.
The winners were:
Kindy - Noah R, Sabre & Ivy F
Year 1 - Grace, M, Mackenzie N, Sophie B, Aria P, Lola D & Maggie Mae G
Year 2 - Hudson W, Aksel N, Emelia S, Ollie N & Rubie B
Stage Race
Year 3 & 4 - Cooper D, Alby B & Oscar T
Year 5 & 6 - Harper S, Hayden Y & Jonah M
CONGRATULATIONS
Uniform
As the weather is beginning to heat up, the children have the option to wear either full winter, or full summer uniform to school. Full summer uniform won’t become compulsory until Term 4, so you have the option to choose between both until then. Please ensure that your child brings home their school jumper as we have lots of them showing up in lost property without names on.
Athletes Foot Rewards Program
At this morning’s assembly, representatives from Athlete’s Foot at Tuggerah came and presented our school with a gift. The Rewards program was organised, so that Athlete’s Foot Tuggerah donate back $5 for every shoe the community buys from the store. (All you have to do is say that you are affiliated with St john Fisher when you buy the shoes). The total for our school this year equalled $365 which will go towards school sporting equipment. 
Stage 2 and Stage 3 Cricket Program
This week the children began the program and had a great time. They also had some players from the NSW Big Bash Women’s and Big Bash Men’s team come and join in. We look forward to seeing the children join in over the next 3 weeks and have fun with their friends learning a new sport.
If your child is interested in playing cricket this year, please see the flyer below for how to join our local club.
Stephen Lynch
Assistant Principal
Class Merit Awards
Growing in Faith and Knowledge Awards
Religious Education Co-ordinator News
As it’s Book Week, this week's prayer is about wisdom and knowledge.
Father’s Day
We give thanks to all those important men in our lives: fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, uncles, and big brothers.
To celebrate them we are holding a Father's Day Gift Stall next Wednesday 30th August with gifts available for just $6 (please bring cash on the day).
On Friday 1st September we will be having a BBQ Breakfast for dads from 7-8.30 am. Following this, at 9.15 am we will have a Liturgy and at 10 am, there will be Open Classrooms for dads to go into and have a look around.
We are making a special photo presentation of all our crazy dads, please send your photos to : ssjtu.events@dbb.catholic.edu.au by Wednesday 30th August so that it can be put together in time.
First Eucharist
We continue to keep in our thoughts and prayers the students in Year 4 who are preparing for the sacrament of First Eucharist. This is a very special sacrament and over the next few weeks we ask that these students come along to the weekend mass on Sunday at 5 pm as part of their preparation.
Behavioural Expectations
As you know, we only have one school rule at St John Fisher and that is:
At SJF We Make Good Choices to be Respectful, Responsible Citizens.
Each fortnight the whole school will then focus on a behaviour that helps the students follow this rule. This fortnight we have been focusing on:
SJF is a Positive Learning Environment for All when:
We listen actively and respond appropriately. 
What does listening look like at your house? If you’re finding it a challenge (which we all do at times) here is a super link with tricks and tips. How to Help a Child Listen | Psych Central
Week 7 is Wellbeing Week
Next week is Wellbeing Week and an important part of our school calendar. We encourage all our families to spend time together. This is a week we encourage our students to use this time to do activities with their families. Plan a picnic, movie night, games evening or just a walk on the beach. Stop, breathe and spend time next week giving thanks for everything special in our lives.
Luisa Lawicki
Religious Education Co-ordinator
Library News
Book Week
Book Week 2023 was a great success with students, parents and staff celebrating literacy and stories. Thank you to all who helped our wonderful parade to take place, the energy was so positive! The Family Story Fruit Break was a lovely time to promote the joy of reading in our community and students scurried around the school completing the Scavenger Hunt. Our Great Book Giveaway meant that many students took home a new or preloved book to enjoy with their families. It’s a joy to be part of this community.
Premier's Reading Challenge
The 2023 Premier’s Reading Challenge is complete. A final report will follow in the next newsletter.
Congratulations to the following students who have recently made it to the halfway mark. What a great effort!
Teresa O'Keefe
Teacher Librarian
Sports News
Broken Bay Athletics Carnival
Good luck to all the students participating in the Broken Bay Athletics Carnival on Wednesday at Narrabeen
Parent Engagement Co-ordinator (PEC)
Father’s Day Stall & Breakfast Parent Helpers
Thank you to the parents who helped prepare our 
Pre School Visitors
We want to thank our little friends at Goodstart Early Learning Centre for joining us yesterday for our book week parade. They were so adorable and we look forward to having some of them join us for Kindy next year!
Family Movie Night
Year 5 & 6 Students are Invited to: “Chosen” Which is a Wyong Parish Youth Group
For any of our Year 5 & 6 students or older siblings our Wyong Parish is having the first “Chosen” youth group tomorrow night. We are so lucky to have this amazing community group starting for our students and we’d love to see you there! See attached flyers for all of the information.
Fear-Less Positive Parenting Program
CCFSS is presenting a free program to parents of children with anxiety on Monday 11th September at OLR Parish Centre. Please see the attached flyer for further information.
Meet the Teacher
Allow me to introduce you to this week’s teacher is Miss Demi Evans!
Kate Benton
Parent Engagement Co-ordinator (PEC)
Meet the Teacher
Book Club
Hello!
The next catalogue has arrived. I will distribute them this week.
Just a reminder that cut off for the next issue is 8th September.Thanks!
Mrs Bookclub
Amy
Upcoming Events
| Term 3 | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| Week 7 | 28th August | 29th August | 30th August Broken Bay Primary Athletics at Narrabeen | 31st August Acadamic Assessment Morning at | 1st September |
| Week 8 | 4th September | 5th September Playgroup | 6th September | 7th September | 8th September |
| Week 9 | 11th September | 12th September | 13th September | 14th September | 15th September |
| Week 10 | 18th September | 19th September | 20th September | 21st September | 22nd September Last day of Term |
Flyers
