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- For the Calendar
- Notes to Parents
- Principal's Message
- A message from the Assistant Principal and Mrs D's "Thought of the Week"
- RE News with Laura Matchett
- Merit Awards
- School Wide Positive Behaviours
- Indigenous Community Garden Opening
- Mother's Day Invitation
- Classroom News
- Library News
- ELC News
- Community Corner
- Tuckshop
- High School Open Days
What's coming up and when:
| Every Monday | Sports Day |
| Every Friday | Sports Day |
| Every Thursday | SJV Parents and Friends Prayer Group. Time: 8:45am Where: Between the hall & canteen. Everyone welcome. |
| Friday 2nd May | ANZAC Day Prayer Celebration presented by Year 4 - 2:40pm School Hall |
| Saturday 3rd May |
9:30am - 12:30pm School has the Open Day for 2026 Enrolments. If you know of any families looking for schools, please let them know we are open for business. 5:00pm Sacramental Gathering Mass - St Judes Church |
| Every Wednesday for the month of May |
Open Day for tours of our school for enrolments |
| Friday 9th May |
SAVE THE DATE - 8am - Mother's Day Celebration hosted by Year 1 followed by Opening of the Indigenous Community Garden 9:15am Tour of the garden |
| Saturday 10th May |
5:00pm Sacramental Gathering Mass - St Judes Church |
| Wednesday 14th May |
9:30am Parish Mass - St John Vianney's Parish Italian Celebration Lunch - Order via QKR flyer to go home next week. |
| Thursday 15th May |
First Eucharist Registrations close |
| Friday 16th May |
9:30am SJV Athletics Carnival - Chapman Oval. |
| Saturday 17th May |
5:00pm Sacramental Gathering Mass St Judes Church |
| Wednesday 21st May |
National Simultaneous Storytime |
| Saturday 24th May |
5:00pm Sacramental Gathering Mass - St Judes Church |
| Monday 26th - Frid 30th May |
. Parent Teacher Interviews. Make your Appointmentfor your child's teacher/s on the Compass App. We will advise when this is live. . BOOK FAIR will be set up during this week for you and your children to choose books from. |
| Friday 30th May |
2:40pm Reconciliation Prayer Celebration presented by Year 2 |
| Saturday 31st May |
5:00pm Sacramental Gathering Mass - St Judes Church |
Dear SJV Families
Welcome to the beginning of Term 2. I hope everyone enjoyed some type of break.
Autumn Months
Remind us that it is you who give us the breath of life. May the harvest from the fields remind us of the abundance we have been given and bounty we are to share with others. May the dying of summer's spirit remind us of your great promise that death is temporary and life is eternal.
Merit Award Assembly - Adjusted times and X-Country Ribbons
Due to Mother's Day and our Garden Opening (see newsletter items below) we will not hold our Merit Awards Assembly next week. The following week is when Wk 1 and Wk 2 Merit awards will be handed out to students.
During our Wk 4 Merit Awards ceremony, we will hand out our Cross Country ribbons to students as well as scheduled Merit Awards.
Open Days – Every Wednesday in May 10:30am-5pm and Saturday 3rd May 9:30am-12:30pm
Enrolment month has started for SJV. I would encourage anyone from our community to tell friends and family that we are now enrolling new students. The best way to bring great new families into our community is by word of mouth. We have a fabulous parent body and dedicated teachers, all who work hard to support a beautiful student group.
You will have noticed signs for SJV and St Judes advertising both school Open Days and enrolment periods. This is great messaging for both our catholic schools. Hopefully our signs will not be taken or pushed over which has sometimes occurred in previous years.
If you do see anyone taking either school's signs, can you please report it to me, or directly to the police. These signs are not cheap and are the private property of both schools. This message has gone out to both of our school communities. Thanks for your help with this matter.
Athletics Carnival 16th May - Chapman Oval
A compass note will go out to advertise this event, but no permission is needed as it is a walking event in the local area. The emphasis will be on fun and participation. It will also give our serious athletes an opportunity to progress to the next level. If you come and cheer on the day, we would love to see you there.
Mother’s Day Morning Tea and Indigenous Garden Opening - 9th May 8am and 9:15am
Our Mother’s Day event begins at 8am next Friday morning for mums, grandmothers and carers. Immediately after the Morning Tea at 9:15am, we will be opening our new Indigenous Garden. All are welcome. Please see the flyer attached to this newsletter. Saint_John_Vianneys_School_Indigenous_Garden_Opening_.pdf
Prayer Celebrations - ANZAC DAY 2:40pm - Year 4
Tomorrow in the school hall, we will visit the importance of ANZAC Day through a Prayer Celebration being hosted by Year 4. All parents/carers are more than welcome to attend.
Winter Uniform - Terms Two and Three
Children are now meant to be wearing winter uniform. As always there is a grace period of two weeks so parents can grab what they need from the Uniform Shop. A reminder that our shop is open on Tuesdays from 8:50am-9:20am and you can order new clothes on-line. If you would like to order quality second-hand items, you will need to come into the shop to check availability.
Before and After-school Pick-Up
A reminder that students should not arrive to school before 8:30am unless supervised by their parents. Pick-up is from 3:10pm-3:30pm and parents are reminded to drive slowly through the car park as we have very small children in and around this area. Another gentle reminder is not to park on any curb that has a red painted line, these areas need to be kept open for traffic.
God Bless
Peter Rodda
Principal
Let's approach this term with eagerness and curiosity, ready to explore new subjects and deepen our understanding. Remember, every day is a chance to grow, to ask questions, and to discover something new. This is a time for fresh beginnings, new opportunities, and exciting adventures in learning.
Monday (Pupil Free Day), all staff participated in a Spiritual Retreat, lead prayerfully and purposely by Laura Matchett. The program provided an opportunity to reflect on the Spirit of Hope. We gained a deeper understanding of pilgrimage and hope. We discovered new ways to incorporate hope into our daily lives and community engagement. Most importantly we reflected on ways we can identify and celebrate instances of hope and create a culture of hope that extends beyond the day and into our wider community.
A large majority of the day focussed on the messages and teachings of our late Pope Francis. He was not afraid to challenge comfort or complacency, reminding us always that Christianity is a movement, not a monument.
A Prayer for Pope Francis
Loving God, We give you thanks for the life and leadership of Pope Francis — for his humility, his courage, and his heart for the poor. For the way he called us back to the Gospel — to mercy, to justice, and to joy.
Bless his soul with eternal peace and rest in your loving presence. Strengthen your Church, O Lord, to continue walking in the light he helped us see. Raise up shepherds after your own heart, That our Church may be ever faithful, ever hopeful, and ever loving.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
NAIDOC Week art competition
The Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn is holding a competition for students to design artwork celebrating NAIDOC Week 2025.
The winner will have their art made into an acrylic block and will be featured on the NAIDOC Mass booklets.
Entries must include the NAIDOC Week theme, The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy and the Jubilee 2025 theme: Pilgrims of Hope..
Submissions close Friday 30 May June.
Mrs D’s ‘Thought of the Week….’
Nina De Rosa
Assistant Principal
RE News with Laura Matchett
Prayer for Pope Francis
Heavenly Father,
You entrusted the care of Your Church on earth to Pope Francis,
and now You have called him to Yourself.
We entrust his soul to Your boundless mercy.
For his lifelong service, we thank You.
For his care for the poor and marginalised, we thank You.
For his witness to simplicity, we thank You.
In Your mercy, cleanse him of all sin.
Purify him and draw him into the light of Your presence.
Grant him the vision of Your Eternal Essence,
into which we all long to be drawn.
Protect Your Church in this time of transition.
Guide the Cardinals in their sacred duty.
Grant them Wisdom and Courage,
Hope and Charity,
and the Faith they need to discern Your Holy Will.
Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Source:https:/mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/prayer-for-the-pope/
Prayer Celebrations Term 2
We warmly welcome parents and friends of SJV to join us for our ANZAC Day and Reconciliation Week Prayer Celebrations which are happening this term. Both prayer celebrations will start at 2:40pm in the school hall.
| Friday 2nd May | ANZAC DAY CELEBRATION | Presented by Year 4 |
| Friday 30th May | Reconciliation Week Prayer Celebration | Presented by Year 2 |
School Masses
As a school, we regularly attend the Wednesday morning 9:30 am Mass at St John Vianney’s Church. The choir sings at this Mass and sometimes our students have a role in other parts of the celebration. Parents and friends of our school are welcome to join us alongside parishioners at this Mass. Dates the school will be attending Mass this term are as follows:
Wednesday 14th May - led by 5/6J
Wednesday 11th June - led by Year 4
Wednesday 25th June - led by Year 3
Project Compassion
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed so generously to our Project Compassion appeal during Lent.
Special thanks to our amazing youth ministry team for planning and running such fun and meaningful fundraising events.
Together, our school raised over $400—an incredible effort from our small but mighty community!
St Vincent de Paul
This term, our social justice and fundraising efforts are focused on supporting the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. We’re collecting donations for our hygiene station, located in the school foyer, and would greatly appreciate contributions of new, sealed hygiene items such as:
- Oral hygiene products (toothpaste, toothbrushes)
- Deodorant, body spray, and perfume
- Body wash and soap
- Hair care items (shampoo, conditioner)
- Face wash and skincare products
- Moisturiser and hand sanitiser
- Sanitary products
- Toiletries bags
Your generosity helps bring comfort and dignity to those doing it tough during the colder months. Donations are made into small bags which will be distributed by the Saint Vincent de Paul Society of Canberra Goulburn, ensuring they reach those in our local community most in need.
If you’re wondering how you can contribute, here are a few simple ideas:
- Planning a holiday? If you visit a hotel and don’t need the complimentary toiletries, consider bringing them home to donate to our hygiene station. Please ensure they are sealed.
- Shopping for yourself? Next time you’re buying a new toothbrush or bottle of shampoo, why not pick up an extra one to help someone in need?
We thank you for your generous support of this initiative.
SPAR - Parents and Friends Prayer Group
Our SPAR Parents and Friends Prayer Group will be held regularly on Thursday mornings at 8:45am in the space between the canteen and the hall, and will run for 10 minutes. A reminder that the group is open to everyone regardless of faith background, practising or non-practising Catholics, those who pray regularly, those who haven’t prayed in a while, anyone considering becoming Catholic, anyone curious about how we pray here at school, or anyone who would like 10 minutes of peace and calm in their week! You don’t need to attend each week, it will always be open to anyone who wants to come along.
Parents and friends with younger children are welcome to bring them along where they will be watched by Year 6 students in the hall. The prayer group will focus on reflections on the forthcoming Sunday’s Gospel, Christian meditation, significant events and feast days central to the Catholic faith or current community, national or global events. No one will be asked to share or verbally participate unless they feel comfortable to do so. I’d encourage you to consider whether this might be something you give a try this year. Please feel free to contact me: laura.matchett@cg.catholic.edu.au with any questions or feedback (particularly regarding the timing, if this is a barrier for you to attend). I hope to see you there.
Sacraments 2025
Registrations for First Eucharist and Confirmation are currently open. First Eucharist registrations will close on May 15th 2025. Families of students who are eligible to make one of the Sacraments (Reconciliation, First Eucharist or Confirmation) this year are encouraged to visit the Parish website: https:/stjvwestoncreekblogspot.com/ for information and registration details for each of the Sacraments.
Eligibility for each Sacrament is as follows:
Reconciliation - open to students who have been baptised Catholic and who are in Year 3 or above.
First Eucharist - open to baptised Catholic students who have made their Reconciliation and are in Year 4 or above.
Confirmation - open to baptised Catholic students who have received their First Eucharist and who are in Year 6 or above.
It is possible to receive more than one Sacrament in the same year, however, the Sacraments usually need to made in order (i.e. Reconciliation, followed by First Eucharist, then Confirmation). These questions and other general enquiries about the Sacramental program are best directed to the Parish Office via email: SacramentalOLA@cg.org.au
Key dates for this term are as follows:
First Eucharist Registration cut off: Thursday 15th May
Gathering Mass (for First Eucharist and Confirmation candidates): Saturday 14th June/Sunday 15th June (any of the weekend Masses)
Reflection Evening for First Eucharist: Tuesday 24th June, 5:30pm at St John Vianney’s Church
Sacrament of First Eucharist: Saturday 28th June, 5:30pm at St Jude’s Church and Sunday 29th June, 9am at St John Vianney’s Church.
Please note - Merit Awards will be handed out at NEXT Friday's morning assembly.
|
KA |
Noa Jiminez Preston |
|
1 B |
Zayn Walker |
|
2 J |
Luca Firat |
|
3 |
Delilah Bah |
|
4 |
Samuel Ayers |
|
5/6 J |
Hugo Lucas |
|
5/6 P |
Harry Doszpot |
|
Science |
Jonathan Riding All of Year 2!!! |
Over the past year, we have all witnessed the 'carpark' garden grow into an amazing feature of our school grounds. The creation of the new community garden was made by possible a Community Engagement Grant from the ACT Government, secured by the Council, along with many hours of hard work by Janice Spackman, leading a team of volunteers and community experts to bring this project to life.
We are excited to invite you to the formal opening of St John Vianney's Primary School Indigenous Community Garden.
Please RSVP by Wednesday 7th May. For more details, please refer to the flyer.
Classroom Highlights
Kindergarten
Our Kindergarten students have been getting creative, making beautiful Australian collages using natural materials.
Year 1
In Year 1, students explored the meaning of Easter through a creative project using shadows to tell the story.
Year 2
Year 2 had fun sharing the adventures of Willy the Wimp, bringing his story to life through engaging class discussions and activities.
Ciao from the Italian Room!
Ciao dalla classe di Italiano!
Buongiorno Parents and Carers,
Buongiorno Genitori e Tutori,
This term, students are diving into the delicious world of Italian food as part of their Italian lessons—so what better way to celebrate than with a special Italian Lunch!
Questo trimestre, gli studenti esploreranno il delizioso mondo della cucina italiana durante le lezioni di Italiano—e quale modo migliore di festeggiare se non con un Pranzo Italiano Speciale?
Join us on Wednesday, 7th May, for a tasty celebration of Italian culture.
Vi invitiamo a partecipare Mercoledì 7 Maggio a questa gustosa celebrazione della cultura italiana.
The menu will be available on Qkr, where you can order your child’s meal.
Il menù sarà disponibile su Qkr, dove potrete ordinare il pasto per vostro/a figlio/a.
Buon Appetito!
Signora Monagle
Book club Issue 3 - Book Club Issue 3 2025 went home yesterday and orders are now open. To order the books and find out more about Scholastic, please follow the link below.
Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge 
All SJV students have been registered to participate in the 2024 Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge. At school, and at home, students are encouraged to read 30 books by the end of June (this includes books that are read to them/ shared).
Each student from Year 2 to Year 6 has a recording sheet in the library that they are encouraged to fill in to show the 30 books they have read. I will keep a note of the books we read in the library from Kinder to Year 2.
ELC NEWS
Happy Birthday to Aiden B
ELC Open Day – Thursday 1 May
We had a wonderful Open Day this morning with many families enjoying a tour of our ELC. There will be another session this afternoon at 4pm - 6pm. We will also hold tours on Tuesdays in May from 9:30 – 11am. Please contact the ELC if you would like to book a Tuesday tour. If you know any families with children approaching preschool age, invite them along to have a look at our amazing ELC. Online enrolments are open via the ELC page of the school website.
St John Vianney’s Open Days
St John Vianney’s will have an Open Day every Wednesday in May from 10:30am to 5pm and this Saturday 9:30am – 12:30pm.
Gymnastics -Term 2
The ELC children had a wonderful first week of gymnastics at Woden Valley Gymnastics next door. A fee of $90 will be added to your next account for the 10 week program. The Turtles and Stingrays will attend gym on Tuesdays this term and the Lobsters will attend on Thursdays. Children will need to remove their shoes and put them back on after the session so please provide shoes they can manage independently.
ELC Mothers Day Breakfast and Open Classrooms
We invite all ELC Mothers, Step-Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunties and special friends to attend our ELC Mother's Day Breakfast on Thursday 8 May 2025, beginning at 8.15am. You are then welcome to visit your child/children’s classroom/s, from 8.50am – 10.00am. There is no requirement to stay for the whole time. For catering purposes, RSVP is required by COB Monday 5 May. Click the link to RSVP for the breakfast.
ELC Mothers Day Stall (Tuesday 6 - Wednesday 7 May)
Children are invited to bring $2-$10 (in a labelled envelope) to the ELC next week to purchase a small mothers day gift. The Stingrays and Turtles will shop on Tuesday 6 May and the Lobsters on Wednesday (Shhhh, don’t tell mum!).
SJV Athletics Carnival
The ELC will be joining St John Vianney’s for their athletics carnival on Friday 16 May at Chapman Oval. Thank you to SJV for providing a bus so that our ELC children can join in the fun. Please check your note pockets for permission notes. Please ensure the children are wearing appropriate running shoes with their ELC uniforms on that day. The ELC will provide a fruit snack for each child during the carnival.
Message from Carla Drayton
Thank you for making me feel so welcome and I am truly blessed to be working with such an amazing group of people. I look forward to meeting more of you over the Term. I have an open door policy so please let me know if I can help in any way.
Carla Drayton - St Jude's ELC
Phone: 6287 5520
Email: elc.stjudes@cg.catholic.edu.au
SJV Tuckshop is open Wednesday & Friday. Orders can be made online via Qkr! A copy of the Menu and Qkr! instructions can be found on the Tuckshop Webpage.
TUCKSHOP ROSTER
Friday 2nd May
Warm up with our Winter Canteen Menu!
Get ready for some tasty new treats - our Winter Menu is now live on QKR for Terms 2 & 3! There are some delicious new options to try, including Mac and Cheese and Butter Chicken with Rice.
Please remember to bring your WWVP - (Working with Vulnerable People) card with you. Roster to follow ... if you are interested to volunteer,
You can apply for the card via Access Canberra: https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/s/article/working-with-vulnerable-people-wwvp-registration-tab-how-to-apply
Please contact the Front Office or Mel or simply fill in the Canteen Volunteer Note to let us know you are able to help and when.
Mel Harding
Canteen Manager
melanie.harding@cg.catholic.edu.au