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- 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
- Community Council
- Library News
- Sport News
- ELC News
- SJV Trivia Night
- SJV Fete
- Tuckshop
- Community Corner
What's coming up and when:
| Every Monday | Sports Day | |
| Every Friday | Sports Day | |
| Term 3, Week 1 | Monday 21st July | Pupil Free Day |
| Tuesday 22nd July | First day of Term 3 | |
| Friday 25th July |
9:30am Naidoc Mass - St Christopher's Cathedral Jersey Day for Carter and Rupert |
|
| Week 2 | ||
| Week 3 | Monday 4th August | 9:30am Feast of St John Vianney Mass everyone welcome. |
| Wednesday 6th August | Author Visit - Sean Avery whole school | |
| Week 4 | Monday 11th August | Feast of St Clare of Assisi |
| Friday 15th August | 9:30am Parish Mass: The Assumption led by Year 1 7:00pm Parent Trivia Night Wild West Theme. Book Tickets via QKR. Hosted by Year 5 & Year 6 |
|
| Week 5 | Mon 18th - Frid 22nd Aug | Book Week - "Book an Adventure" |
| Wednesday 20th August | 9:00am Book Week Parade | |
| Thursday 21st August | Sth Weston Athletics Carnival | |
| Week 6 | ||
| Week 7 | Thursday 4th September | Kenny Koala Visit to SJV - Kiinder, Year 1& Year 2 |
| Friday 5th September | 8am Father's Day Celebration Hosted by Year 2 | |
| Week 8 | ||
| Week 9 | Wednesday 17th September | 9:30am Parish Mass Led by 5/6P Families welcome |
| Friday 19th September | Magic Craig: My amazing Brain Incursion | |
| Week 10 | Wednesday 24th September | KABOOM Incursion (TBC) |
Term 2 Week 10 Notes
2025_Non_government_schools_census_privacy_collection_notice.pdf
SJV_Variety_Show_back_to_back.pdf
Term 3 Week 1 Notes
Dear SJV Families
Welcome to the beginning of Term 3. If you are a skier you are very happy, if not, you are probably jumping on a plane and heading to Bali. I did that in my holidays, but my cautionary tale is - don't get stranded by volcanic eruptions!
Lord:
In the midst of Winter, when the days are cold and wind can pierce remind us of the warmth of your love.
In the midst of Winter, when days are short, dawn comes late, and dusk arrives early remind us that in the darkness your light still shines.
And when in our lives we feel as if we are experiencing a season of winter, reach out to us with the power of your resurrection so that we may feel the warmth of your love and see your light that alone can take away the darkness of our soul.
- Cal Wick
Education Equity Fund in 2025-26 ACT Budget
Following the commitment made through the 2024 ACT Legislative Assembly election, I can inform you that the ACT Government has achieved its commitment to expand the Future of Education Equity Fund.
The Equity Fund supports families with students who are enrolled in preschool through to Year 12 in any ACT school (government and non-government), who are experiencing financial disadvantage.
Payments provide:
- $400 for preschool students
- $500 for primary school students
- $750 for high school and college students
I have placed the link below where you can access all the relevant information.
School Pick Up and Drop Off
Just a reminder that if you are dropping off or picking children up from school, we have a specific drop off and pick up zone outside of our school hall. Please use this area as it keeps our students safe and eliminates congestion and frustration in our car park. Also, a reminder to those parents who are parking their car, to not park beside a curb that is painted red.
Upcoming Grade Organised Events
Below are the two remaining important events that specific parent grade groups are responsible for. Year 2 parents will note that Father's Day is approaching sooner rather than later. Could you please contact your grade representative (Emily Lucas) who could coordinate names. A reminder that Emily is not coordinating the event but only collecting the names. Once you have gathered as a group, I am sure you will work out roles for everyone.
Year 2 - Father's Day - 5th September
Year 3 - Gingerbread Making House - 28th November
Trivia Night - Friday 15th August - REMINDER
The Trivia night is in just over three weeks. It's a busy time of year so I understand that people have not yet organised a table or tickets. We are aiming to have approximately 65+participants. Unfortunately, if we fall short of that number we will need to cancel the event. The cut-off day for decision making will be Wednesday 6th August. Get on Qkr! and reserve your tickets now!
School Uniform - Winter
Please remember to ensure that your child is dressed in full school uniform. This includes the correct shoes. If your child is wearing black runners, these should be all black as opposed to half black, white, green, orange etc. Your help with this would be much appreciated. If you have any problems accessing the correct uniform, please contact the school for assistance.
NAPLAN
NAPLAN hard copy results will be sent home today via student's bags. These results are a snapshot of your child's performance at that time they took the test. When the results are put together with our remaining suite of school assessments, they add valuable information that teachers draw from when planning activities and supports for our students.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Peter Rodda
Principal
Celebrating NAIDOC Week at SJV
What is NAIDOC Week?
NAIDOC Week is celebrated across Australia in July each year to recognise the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This week is a time to embrace the diverse and vibrant cultures of Indigenous Australians, and it serves as an opportunity for everyone to come together and learn more about the First Nations people. This year’s theme is: The Next
Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy and the Jubilee 2025.
A selected number of students will also attend our system Mass with Mrs Kain and Mr Rodda on Friday morning. The school has also been nominated for an award. Which our recipients will receive on Friday at the Mass.
Wonderful News!
A big congratulations to Mrs Emma Donaghue and her husband on the arrival of their beautiful baby girl, Ada, born on Monday 21st July. Both mum and bub are doing well. We send our best wishes to the whole family during this special time.
HATS ON - BEING SUN SMART
In line with our SunSmart policy, children will need to wear their hats again from August which is at the end of next week. Please spend time locating their school hat ready for playtime from next Friday.
Mrs D’s ‘Thought of the Week….’
"Resilience is all about being able to overcome the unexpected. Sustainability is about survival. The goal of resilience is to thrive." - Jamais Cascio
Nina De Rosa
Assistant Principal
RE News with Laura Matchett
Gospel Reflection - Luke 11:1-13
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray, giving them the words of the Our Father. He then encourages them to approach God with persistence and trust, reminding us that God is a loving Father who hears and answers our prayers.
As parents, this passage speaks directly to the heart of our vocation. Just as we want what is best for our children, our Heavenly Father desires what is good for us. Jesus reassures us that when we seek, we will find; when we knock, the door will be opened.
In the busyness of family life, prayer can often feel like something we "fit in" rather than a vital part of our day. But this Gospel reminds us that prayer is not just about asking—it is about relationship. Our children learn to trust and communicate by watching us. When they see us turning to God with faith, even in small moments, they come to know that they, too, can speak to God as a loving Father.
Let us continue to be models of prayerful trust for our children, teaching them that God is always listening—and that His love for us is greater than we can imagine.
St John Vianney Feast Day - Monday 4th August
We are looking forward to celebrating the feast day of our school’s patron saint, St John Vianney, on Monday 4th August (Week 3). Our day will begin with Mass at the Church at 9:30am, followed by activities in classrooms reflecting on St John Vianney’s life and work.
In our middle session, we will be having a GEMathon! As part of our work with The Resilience Project program this year, our students have been learning about the three elements of Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness or GEM! On our feast day, the students will participate in rotation activities with their class, led by our Year 6 students, focusing on GEM. To participate in the GEMathon we are asking for a gold coin donation from each student. All money raised will go to support Global School Partners who fund school projects across many African countries.
Our day will conclude with our SJV Variety Show! We are looking forward to seeing our students showcase their talents on stage. The show begins at 2:10pm in the hall.
Parents and friends are welcome to join us for Mass and the Variety Show. We hope to see you there!
St Vincent De Paul - Hygiene Station
A reminder that we are always looking for donations for our hygiene station which is located in the school’s foyer area. We welcome donations of new and sealed hygiene products 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 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?
Sacraments 2025
Registrations for the Sacrament of Confirmation for 2025 have now closed. Families of students who are eligible to make one of the Sacraments (Reconciliation, First Eucharist or Confirmation) are encouraged to visit the Parish website: https:stjvwestoncreek.blogspottcom/ for information and registration details for each of the Sacraments. Announcements about plans for the 2026 Sacramental program will be made later in the year. All questions about the program are best directed to the Parish Office via email: SacramentalOLA@cg.org.au
We ask that you hold our students who will be making their Confirmation later this term in your prayers. Key dates for Confirmation candidates and their families are as follows:
Tuesday 19th August: Confirmation Reflection evening, 5:30pm at St John Vianney’s Church
Saturday 23rd August/Sunday 24th August: Gathering Mass (any of the weekend Masses)
Wednesday 27th August: Sacrament of Confirmation, 6pm, St John Vianney’s Church, (celebrated by Archbishop Christopher Prowse)
School Masses
As a school, we regularly attend Mass at St John Vianney’s Church. The choir sings at 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 any of these Masses. Dates the school will be attending Mass in term 3 are as follows:
Monday 4th August: St John Vianney’s Feast day, 9:30am (Week 3)
Friday 15th August: Assumption Feast day, 9:30am, led by Year 1 (Week 4)
Wednesday 17th September: Parish Mass, 9:30am, led by 5/6P (Week 9)
Please note - Merit Awards will be handed out at NEXT Friday's morning assembly.
|
KA |
Memphis Borgese |
|
1 B |
Adrijana Prineas |
|
2 J |
Ayusanti Smith |
|
3 |
Maisy Wilson |
|
4 |
Adi Smith |
|
5/6 J |
Fergus Daly |
|
5/6 P |
George So |
|
The Arts |
Grace Spackman |
|
Italian |
Geoffrey So |
Dear Parents and Carers,
We’re excited to share a simple new way you can support our school — just by dining out!
St John Vianney’s School Community Council has joined the Canberra Southern Cross Club’s Community Rewards Program. This means every time you spend on food and drinks at participating venues, the Club will donate 7.5 cents for every dollar to our school — at no extra cost to you.
Here's how to get involved:
- Become a member of the Canberra Southern Cross Club (if you’re not already)
➤ Join or renew here - Nominate St John Vianney Community Council as your Community Rewards partner
➤ Click here to nominate
That’s it! Just eat, drink, and know you’re helping our school every time you visit Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden, Tuggeranong, Jamison, the Yacht Club, or Snapper & Co.
Please share this with grandparents, relatives, and friends — the more people who sign up, the more support we receive.
See the step-by-step guide to help you get started. Nominating_SJV_SCC_as_Community_Rewards_Partner.pdf
Thank you for supporting our wonderful school community!
Warm regards,
School Community Council
Book Club Issue 5 2025 orders are now open. To order the books and find out more about Scholastic, please follow the link below.
BOOK WEEK AND QBD
Book Week is just around the corner, and we’re thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for your school to win a $2500 worth of books for your school!
How does it work?
From NOW to August 23rd, we’re inviting schools to:
- Visit your local QBD between NOW to August 23rd
- Hand the team your school’s flyer - no purchase needed!
(flyer is attached to this email) - 1 Flyer = 1 Entry QBD_Book_Week_2025_Comp_Book_Week_Poster.jpg
- The school with the most entries wins!
Terms and conditions can be found here: www.qbd.com.au/book-week-2025-competition/
Happy reading!
Boorowa is here!!
The Boorowa Touch and Netball Carnival has been running annually for over 25 years. It is the biggest carnival in NSW Primary School Sports with over 4,500 children competing in the event in front of over 7,000 spectators. The Touch and Netball Carnival is about coming together, playing and enjoying sports and meeting children from schools around Canberra and New South Wales.
Boorowa Carnival is a fantastic day out and the students always come back smiling and happy!
The day is a fundraiser for the two Boorowa schools of St Joseph's and Boorowa Public.
Children can nominate to play touch or netball (Mrs Malpas will ask students) for the day.
Teams will be made up of straight grades or mixed with a grade higher or lower depending on student numbers.
The final payment amount will be calculated at the final cut off time for RSVPing.
If you could please have the conversation with your child/ren to see if they are keen to go, and if so please go onto the Compass Events page and mark against their name attending. This will assist us with putting teams together and organising during lunchtime either Touch or Netball practice.
If you are available to help coach on the day (no experience required) could you please contact Leah Malpas (leah.malpas@cg.catholic.edu.au)
Private transport to the carnival is required.
Thanks,
Leah
ELC NEWS
Exciting news… construction on our sensory garden, in between the ELC and the primary school, has finally begun! The children have been keenly watching the fences go up and the big digging equipment arrive. Some of the ELC carpark will be closed off to allow access for trucks. Please use the carpark in the primary school if spaces are full in the ELC. The project is scheduled to take approximately 4-6 weeks to complete, and we apologise for any inconvenience during this time.
Mura Gadi
This term we begin Mura Gadi, our bush learning program. Mura Gadi means ‘pathways for searching’ in the Ngunnawal language. Each session begins with an Acknowledgement of Country, honouring Ngunnawal land and embedding Indigenous perspectives in a meaningful, child-friendly way. Children will explore and connect with the diverse natural spaces within our local community, deepen their connection to country, and develop an appreciation for the natural world around them. Through these walks, they will also explore our local community—its paths, places, and stories—building a strong sense of belonging and respect for the land we learn and play on. The program will take place every Tuesday for Turtles and Stingrays, and Thursdays for the Lobsters. Children are welcome to bring gumboots.
Resource Fee Term 3 and 4
Following funding from the ACT Government under the Preschool Reform Agreement, we will not be charging the Term Resource Fee ($85) for Terms 3 or 4. The funding aims to support children attending preschool in a variety of ways including fee relief.
School Photos
School photos are on Wednesday 30 July (Lobsters) and Monday 11 August (Turtles and Stingrays)
Sibling photos will be taken on those days also.
Carla Drayton - St Jude's ELC
Phone: 0412023772
Email: carla.drayton@cg.catholic.edu.au
TRIVIA NIGHT
15th AUGUST - 7PM
Yeehaw! Join Us for a Wild West Trivia Night! ?
Howdy, partners! Saddle up and mosey on down to our Wild West themed trivia night on Friday, 15 August at 7pm (Week 4, Term 3). Tickets are just $15 each. This event is strictly adults only (young babies in prams permitted), so gather your posse and create a table of up to 10 people. Don't have a group? No worries! We'll add you to a table where you can make new friends.
Get into the spirit by dressing up in your best Wild West attire and decorating your table, prizes will be awarded for the best dressed individual and group. BYO drinks (alcohol permitted), snacks and snakes in your boots.
Don't miss out on this rootin' tootin' good time, make sure you dosey doe onto QKR! to grab your tickets before the saloon (ticket sales) shuts at 3pm Wednesday 6 August (Week 3, Term 3)! ?
Uniform free day this term
A friendly heads-up, Thursday 25 September 2025 (week 10, last day of term) is SJV's uniform free day to celebrate the upcoming fete.
We're asking for a chocolate block or lolly donation (e.g. 200g Cadbury Dairy Milk, bags/containers of Chupa Chups) to stock the fete stalls! These treats will be a huge hit – for a cheeky hack, grab them while they’re on special at the supermarket!
Fete Donations – Drop-Off Details
Have you been busy spring cleaning these school holidays? If you’ve got items to donate for the fete, we’d love to take them off your hands!
Main Drop-Off Day
Sunday 12 October 2025
2pm – 4pm
SJV Reception (Playroom/Counsellors Room)
Some of our fete team will be there to assist with unloading.
Cleaned out early?
If you're ready to donate before the 12th, you’re welcome to drop items off at school any time during school hours — we’ll look after them for you.
Donations make our fete stalls amazing and we’re still in need of clean and good quality items including:
- Toys
- Books
- Second-hand items for the White Elephant stall
- Plants and seeds
- Supermarket paper bags
We’re so grateful for your generosity! Please note electrical goods, bedding, cots and mattresses can’t be accepted.
Sponsorship and Volunteers
We’re on the hunt for helping hands or businesses to support the SJV fete. If you can lend a few hours or you know a business that might want to get involved, reach out to sjvfete@gmail.com to join the dream team!
Sponsors receive great benefits and exposure in return for their support, including promotional signs, MC mentions on fete day, features in our newsletter and on our fete flyer.
For more info or if you’re interested in volunteering, contact the fete crew at sjvfete@gmail.com
Fete Coordinator
TUCKSHOP ROSTER
Friday 25th July
Karen
Wednesday 30th July
Jen
Aysar 11:30am -12:30pm
HELP NEEDED
Calling All Volunteers!
Helping out in the canteen is truly invaluable. Your time and effort make a huge difference and provide much-needed support to Mel, who works hard to keep everything running smoothly. Plus, your child will love seeing their parent in the canteen, making it a special experience for both of you! Whether it’s serving snacks, preparing food, or tidying up, every bit of help counts. If you have a little time to spare, please consider volunteering – Mel and the whole team would be incredibly grateful!
Term_3_2025_Canteen_Roster_.pdf Please remember to bring your WWVP- (Working with Vulnerable People) card with you.
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
A new WINTER Canteen Menu is available here and on our website. Term 2 & 3 Winter Menu Term 2 and 3
Term 1 & 4 The Summer Tuckshop Menu kicks in. Menu subject to change.
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
