School Newsletter - Issue 19 - Friday, 1st December 2023
Principal's News
Dear Parents and Carers
We have reached the end of Week 8! Another action-packed week with a majority of Year 6 attending the St Peter’s Orientation and Testing Day, an Anti-Bullying Show led by students from St Joseph’s presented to our Year 5 & 6 students, Kindy excursion yesterday, our swimming carnival occurring today, and the Gingerbread House making event this evening to look forward to. I’m tired just putting this in writing!
End of Year Mass: Wednesday 6th December 9.15 am
We welcome all families to attend our End of Year Mass on Wednesday 6th December at 9.15 am. At the conclusion of Mass, we will acknowledge all families and staff who are leaving the St John Fisher Community by presenting them with a certificate.
Reports & Step Up Day
The staff have been busily working away completing the students’ Semester 2 reports. These are based on class programs that have been taught during terms 3 and 4. The student reports will be available on Compass on Monday 11 December. They can be found under the pencil icon which signifies the Teaching and Learning tab. In reading through reports, it is wonderful to see the growth in the students and the detailed knowledge the teachers have in regard to each child.
On Monday 11th December, the students will take some time to gather in their classes with their teacher for 2024. As previously stated, we have been through a very detailed process. We have also taken the social and learning needs of the children into consideration, student suggestions as well as parent requests. Due to all these considerations, we are now not in a position to change any class placements.
Passive Play Area – Still Looking For Donations (Games, Puzzles, Lego etc)
Thank you to those families who were able to donate games already. We are in the process of putting together a passive play area for students who might not feel like playing on the field or other activities of the sort. If you have any type of board games, puzzles, lego or items of the sort that you no longer use, we’d love to take them off your hands. We are finding that some students would just prefer to play quietly, especially as the term wears on and they are becoming tired (or hot) Please send them to the office and I’d happily take them off your hands, all for a good cause.
Kind regards
Marcel Arendse
Principal
Assistant Principal's News
Spelling Bee
Last Tuesday, we held our annual St John Fisher Spelling Bee. It was a great day where students from each stage competed against each other in a battle of spelling. It was great to see the complexity of words the children were able to spell, and the sportsmanship in which they participated in the day. A massive thank you to our own Queen Bee Ms Dickson, for organising and running the day. It is a much loved event at our school.
Congratulations to our winners on the day:
Kindergarten:
1st Place: Elijah B
Runner up: Francesca L
Stage 1:
1st Place: Oliver S
Runner Up: Charlie S
Stage 2:
1st Place: Aubree W.B
Runner Up: Oliver H and Caleb N
Stage 3:
1st Place: Shiane G
Runner Up: Olivia S
K-2 Swim Program
It was a busy and tiring two weeks, but our Kindergarten, Year 1, and Year 2 have completed their swimming program at Mingara. During the sessions, the children were able to participate in a variety of water safety activities, swimming stroke instruction, and water play. We know the kids were very tired by the end of it, but it’s great to see how they engaged with their instructors and developed their skills during the day.
Stephen Lynch
Assistant Principal
Office News
Leaving Families
Just a reminder that if you intend to leave SJF for any reason, can you please contact the office as soon as possible via email at sjf@dbb.catholic.edu.au. Please make sure you include the destination school that your child will be attending.
School Fees
If you have any queries regarding school fees please contact the School Fee Liason Team on 7256 2888 or via email schoolfees@dbb.org.au.
School Uniform Donations
If your child/children have outgrown their uniforms and are still in good condition, we would be greatly appreciative of your donations to use in our sick bay. We are looking for summer, winter, and sports uniforms across all sizes. Thank you to those parents who have dropped off uniforms already.
Administration Team
Growing in Faith and Knowledge Awards
Religious Education Co-ordinator News
Children's Liturgy - Weekly Mass
As the season of Advent begins, we are inviting all students and families to attend weekly mass at 5 pm on Sunday evenings. Children’s liturgy will be listening to the scripture and then doing Christmas crafts. We would love to see lots of SJF faces there.
Advent
The first Sunday of Advent in 2023 will be on December 3rd. The theme of Advent's first Sunday is hope in the coming Messiah.
The Advent wreath has four candles - one is lit each Sunday 
Advent is a time for remembering and reflecting on the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Let us not get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season this year and miss the chance to celebrate the gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love, that you sent to us on that first Christmas.
The Christmas story wasn’t the beginning of that message of hope because the Old Testament is full of glimpses of your plan to redeem your people and restore them to a relationship with you, but we can truly begin to see and understand just how great your love for us is when we read the story of Jesus’ birth in scripture.
(CC ibelieve.com)
CC www.spirit1053.com
Advent Liturgies
This Sunday marks the start of Advent. We will gather to celebrate each week of Advent and the following grades will lead us in prayer:
Advent Liturgy Week 1: Years 3 & 4: 4th December 9.15 am
Advent Liturgy Week 2: Years 1 & 2: 11th December 9.15 am
Advent Liturgy Week 3: Kindergarten: 15th December 9.15 am
Behavioural Expectation
We have been focusing on wearing our uniform with pride. As a reminder, this is what is expected:
We wear our uniform with pride
Girls Uniform
- Lemon long or short-sleeved school shirt
- Green checked pinafore/slacks/ school shorts
- Green socks and black leather shoes (No boots)
- Wide-brim school hat and/or cap
- Checked school dress
Boys Uniform
- Lemon long or short-sleeved school shirt
- Dark green tailored pants/ school shorts
- Green socks and black leather shoes (No boots)
- Wide-brim school hat and/or cap
Sports Uniform/ Other Uniform
- Unisex green sports shorts
- School polo shirt with school logo
- Plain white visible socks (no logos or anklets)
- Wet weather jacket
- V-neck school jumper with school logo
- Jacket with school logo
- White, or black sports shoes (muted colours and no multi-colours or fluro)
- Dark green track pants with the school logo may be worn in winter.
- School bag
- Year 6 can wear their Yr 6 school shirt
Jewellery
- 1 pair of small sleepers or studs
- 1 necklace to be worn under the school shirt/ dress
- Watch: no watch is to be connected to a phone during school hours or on school grounds
- 1 signet ring
Hair
- Natural hair colour
- Shoulder-length hair and long should be tied back
- Appropriate haircuts, no mullets or mohawks
When buying new school shoes and sports shoes over the holidays a reminder that students will need black leather shoes (no boots) and white or black sports shoes (no multi colours or fluro)
Seasons for Growth
This week was the last week for ‘Seasons for Growth’. Seasons for Growth strengthens the emotional and mental well-being of children and young people who are adapting to experiences of change, loss, and grief in their lives, such as following death, separation, and divorce.
The program is evidence-based and uses the imagery of the seasons to describe and understand the experience of change, loss, and grief. Participants learned that change and loss are a natural part of life and that they are not alone in dealing with the effects of these experiences. They also learn communication, decision-making, and problem-solving skills to support them in adapting to their new circumstances.
This program will again be offered next year.
Christmas Concert
We are excitedly getting ready for our Christmas Concert Thursday at 6 pm. Students are asked to wear Christmas colours unless grades are requesting particular costumes. The concert starts promptly at 6 pm and will conclude within an hour. We look forward to seeing many families there.
End of Year Mass
We can’t believe that 2023 has nearly finished, it seems like only 
yesterday that we gathered for our Opening School Mass. Next Wednesday at 9.15 am we will gather to celebrate our last whole school mass for the year. It is a time to celebrate our successes and achievements and to say goodbye to our Year 6 leaders and staff or families who will be leaving us.
Kindergarten Excursion
Golden Ridge Farm
Golden Ridge Farm was awesome. It was the best time of my life. I milked a cow named Betty. Her milk accidentally sprayed on me! My favourite part was when I helped baby goats and lambs drink from their bottle. I fed 2 adult goats. I was scared the goats would bite me, but they didn’t. I loved the excursion to Golden Ridge Farm because my dad and my teachers and my friends were there.
Written by Eli B 
Luisa Lawicki
Religious Education Co-ordinator
Library News
Sora App
Thank you to all the families who have ensured the 
safe return of library books this year. It has been wonderful to see the kids' excitement when they return them, describing their favourite part or sharing who they read it with or to. It is so special when reading is valued in a community. Notes have been sent home where students still need to return items.
As there is no further borrowing from our physical library until 2024, it is timely that I can announce that St John Fisher has been allowed to take part in a 6 month trial, giving all our students access to a free digital ebook and audiobook library. To access it, students go to the link https://soraapp.com/library/cenetau
Once there, when prompted for our school, instead select ACEN or the Australian Catholic Education Network. After that, any logins requested are your child’s Broken Bay email and password. E.g. firstname.lastname@dbb.catholic.edu.au. Feel free to explore SORA with your child these holidays and begin reading for the 2024 NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact your child’s classroom teacher for logins or teresa.okeeffe@dbb.catholic.edu.au for access troubleshooting.
Happy reading!
Mrs Teresa O’Keeffe
Teacher Librarian
Canteen News
Those Elves are up to no good
Helen Taufel
Canteen Co-ordinator
Parent Engagement Co-ordinator (PEC)
Little Fishers Playgroup
Thank you to all of our beautiful little fishers and their families for a wonderful year of playgroup! We finished the year with a Christmas-themed session filled with decorations, cupcakes, and treats. I look forward to seeing our families next year and welcoming some new faces!
Parent Volunteers
Thank you once again to those who have shown up and helped in any way they could throughout this year. I will be putting a note out through Compass next week with lots of opportunities for parents to engage throughout next year. Thank you!
Kate Benton
Parent Engagement Co-ordinator
Guitar Lessons
Guitar Lessons 2024 Year 3-6 students
Thank you for your interest in having your child participate in the school guitar program for 2024.
Music is a very rewarding pursuit and has been proven to enhance learning skills in other
areas of schooling and personal development including better concentration, problem-solving
skills, fine motor skills, self-confidence, and teamwork.
The guitar program is run by the Central Coast Conservatorium of Music and for 2024, students
will receive a 20-minute 1-1 lesson with one of our most experienced guitar teachers, Steve Smilie.
We will no longer be running group lessons from next year as we feel that the switch to a 1-1
lesson format will significantly enhance the student’s learning experience.
If you would like your child to participate in the guitar program for 2024, please complete the
enrolment form in the link below or scan the QR code on the flyer as soon as possible. There will be limited spots available in 2024 and these will be allocated on a first in first dressed.
School Music Program at the | Central Coast Conservatorium
SJF Guitar Concert
Vacation Care
School Holidays Vacation Care
Dear Families,Our vacation care program has been sent to all families who attend St. John Fisher OSHC, however, we invite other families in the school as well who might need care for their children in the coming school holidays. Please see the flyers below for holiday activities.Important dates to remember:The deadline for bookings for the December Vacation Care program will be on the 1st of December 2023.The deadline for bookings for the January Vacation Care program will be on the 15th of December 2023.The deadlines are important for us to plan our staffing for the day.
Please complete the booking form. If booking for the first time, you will need to also complete an enrolment form. Please contact the Centre for further clarification. Please be advised of our 2-week fee policy. Any cancellations past these dates will still incur a fee relevant to that day originally booked and the children will be marked as absent. Additional bookings will be accepted if spots are available for more children on particular days.The BOOK ME portal is now open to book your children online. For families looking to book their children for our excursion, you will need to sign two documents related to the excursion: The Non-Routine Excursion Authority Letter and the Waiver from the venue.All documents that need your signature can be scanned and sent to us by email, otherwise, we can have the forms available at the service for signature.Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to send us an email or give us a call on
0481 602 075.Regards,Peter
CSBB
The Safeguarding Office (Chancery & Parishes) Position
The Safeguarding Office (Chancery & Parishes), based in the Chancery at Pennant Hills is seeking someone with a track record of delivering learning and development initiatives, coupled with a passion and drive in child protection, justice, compliance, and community engagement for a permanent full-time role as Safeguarding Training Coordinator.
While the role is noted as full-time, there is flexibility with the working schedule for the right candidate.
The Safeguarding Training Coordinator is responsible for the design, development, creation, and implementation of Safeguarding training programs, ensuring that our programs are current, engaging, and exceed industry, educational, and professional expectations and standards.
This is an exciting role providing a focus on best practices and building awareness and competency across the Diocese of Broken Bay. This role requires strong relationships and connections with clergy, Chancery, and parish staff to ensure Catholic Church values and principles are reflected in a safe environment for children and adults at risk. In this role you will have the opportunity to strengthen a culture of safe practices for children and adults at risk by providing education and training, sharing your expertise and contemporary knowledge of research and best practice principles adhering to compliance requirements relevant to the delivery of training while providing support to parishes with safeguarding education and awareness initiatives and commitment to continuous improvement.
Pivotal to this role is the requirement to assist with preparations for internal and external audits, providing advice on processes and offering recommendations for improvements, educating, and supporting clergy and Chancery employees to develop an understanding of and compliance with NCSS requirements.
If this sounds like you, or someone you know, we invite you to apply for this position by submitting your CV and a brief cover letter addressing the skillsets required via email to recruitment@bbcatholic.org.au. Applications close Friday, 8 December 2023.
There is flexibility on the commencement date - why not interview now and lock in a new role to commence in January 2024!
For more information or to obtain a copy of the position description or for further details, please contact recruitment@bbcatholic.org.au.
Thank you for your assistance.
Regards
Kathryn Pike
Flyers
Upcoming Events
| Term 4 | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| Week 9 | 4th December | 5th December | 6th December Pre School Grad 5:00 pm | 7th December | 8th December |
| Week 10 | 11th December Advent Liturgy 9:15 am | 12th December | 13th December | 14th December | 15th December
|
| Term 1 | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| 202 | 29th January | 30th January Staff Return | 31st January Years 1-6 Kindergarten Best Start Interviews | 1st February Kindergarten Best Start Interviews | Kindergarten Staggered Starts |
