Welcome to Week 3 Term 2

May of course is the month of Mary, the mother of Jesus.  As such we often use this month to also remind ourselves how important our own mothers are.

Blessing for Mother’s Day

Loving God, as a mother gives life and nourishment to her children, so you give life and care for your Church. Bless these women, as we celebrate this day in their honour.

May they be strengthened as Christian mothers. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth.

Grant that we, their sons and daughters, may honour and appreciate them with a spirit of profound respect.

May the example of Mary, mother of Jesus, inspire them to live their vocation as Christian mothers and call their children to faith.

Guide and protect them in challenging times and help them to continue to trust in you all the days of their life.

Mother's Day Breakfast

Tomorrow we have an 8:15am start for our SJV Mums.  A Danish and a 'cuppa' with the children running off to play, who could ask for more.  A reminder that this is a Covid Safe Event so we need to social distance and use the check in App QR code which will be available at the canteen window.  Just a reminder if you are feeling unwell, please stay home, we will get your Danish to you!

Sport Flourishes at SJV – Netball and Calisthenics

It was wonderful to drop in to the Arawang Netball Courts on Saturday to cheer on our three SJV teams. 

A ‘shout-out’ for our junior team (pictured below) who played an exceptional game and came away with the points, possibly I believe, for the very first time.

All the games however, were hard fought and the resilience shown from our senior team who faced a team that looked twice their size was impressive indeed.

A special mention must also go out to Skye and Beatrix who are pictured below.  The girls went away for the NSW Calisthenics Championship and placed second overall in their duet.  What an amazing effort!

School Car Park

I would like to remind people to drive slowly in our school car park and to make sure that they walk children to the gate or across the bottom school crossing.  The line marking will occur in the next two weeks and a new crossing to an allocated position will be located near our double black gate. 

This extra crossing is to serve as a reminder that we need to drive slowly and drop off students in the correct positions.  Some parents have dropped children off near the basketball rings, obstructing traffic whilst at the same time dropping their child in a position that is unsafe.  If you are unsure of the procedure, please contact me.

Wednesday Math’s Club 

This is now open.  Year 5/6 students who would like some extra practice or children who would like to push themselves further are welcome.  Please meet Mr. Rodda in the Front Office foyer, every Wednesday at 8:30am sharp. 

School Survey – ‘Go Tell Them From Me’

A new school survey will be trialed this year and rolled out by CE.  This strategic move has been motivated by trialling a more targeted survey that will give schools even more information to serve their communities better.  There will be further information closer to the roll-out. 

Playgroup Reminder – Room Open Every Wednesday- Program runs in Odd School Weeks – 9:30-11am

A reminder to all families that our playgroup has begun and the children are having a ball.  I have pasted an email that I received after yesterday’s session.

I just wanted to say how excited and pleased we are to be back at playgroup.
Thank you to Mrs Jelfs-Smith for preparing the program and being so welcoming and to Mr Rodda and Mrs Reed for supporting the group.
My children and I really enjoyed this morning and are looking forward to it for the term ahead.

Semester 2 Reports and Parent Teacher Interviews

St John Vianney’s is scheduled to hold Parent Teacher Interviews in Week 6 of this term.  This is to ensure that all parents are aware of how their children are progressing and to discuss goals that you may have for your son or daughter.  An online booking form will be made available in Week 5 for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday interview sessions.  At this interview your child’s teacher will have a very good idea of your child’s strengths and weaknesses and how these will be reported on 3 weeks later.  It is very important that you take part in this process.

Below you will note a communique from CE informing our community that there has been a system change in the report format for Catholic Schools.  This format will be a grade only format with no comments and I have placed more information below.

Reporting - Semester 1 2021

The schools teaching team has begun the process of creating each child’s Semester 1 2021 report.

In Semester 1:

For Kindergarten students:

• Achievement in each subject will be reported using a four-point scale (Well Above Expectations, Above Expectations, Meeting Expectations and Working Towards Expectations).

For Year 1 to Year 6 students:

• Academic grades for each subject using a five-point scale from A-E will be reported using the Australian Curriculum Achievement Standards.

For all students:

• Strand Achievement will be reported in English, Mathematics, Humanities and Social Sciences, Health and Physical Education, and The Arts using a five-point scale (Excellent, High, Sound, Basic, Elementary).
• Engagement with Learning statements, which are taken directly from the Australian Curriculum, will provide specific information about your child’s Critical and Creative Thinking, and Personal and Social Responsibility, using a three-point scale (Beginning, Developing, Consistently).
• Individual student comments will not be used in the Semester 1 Reports.

The new approach to Academic Reporting is a developing process. Further work will be undertaken in the coming months to determine how progress and achievement is best reported based on what we know to be important information about a student’s learning and progress.

God bless you and your families

Peter Rodda

Principal

Gospel Reflection - John 15:9-17

My Parish Priest often poses the question: Are you a fan or a follower of Jesus? It’s always a question that makes me stop and reflect about where I am on my faith journey. This week’s Gospel reminds me of this question, as it talks about God’s greatest commandment: ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’ A straightforward message on the page, but sometimes challenging in our day to day life.  Yet as I read the Gospel this week, it was not the commandment that stood out to me most, but verse 16 which says: ‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.’  A reminder that through Baptism, we were chosen to spread God’s love and to be true followers of Jesus, not just fans.

Heart Space and Youth Ministry

Our 5/6 students play an integral role as faith leaders at SJV through our Heart Space program and Youth Ministry team.  Our Year 5 students had their first opportunity to lead a Heart Space session in classes yesterday. They all did a wonderful job sharing the Gospel and reverently leading the other students in prayer and reflection.  Last Friday, our Youth Ministry team had their first meeting with our CSYMA Youth Minister, Elena. They have some excellent ideas about how to share God’s love throughout our school community and are very much looking forward to putting their plans into action.

Sacraments

Today our first Eucharist Candidates from SJV participated in a Retreat Day at St Jude's as part of their preparation to receive this Sacrament.

The students were led in prayer and reflection by teachers from St Jude's and SJV, our CSYMA Youth Ministers and Father Michael.

We would especially like to thank Father Michael for his support and for taking the time to speak with the candidates this morning.

During May and June we have a number of students from SJV making their first Reconciliation and First Eucharist. I ask that you keep all these students and their families in your prayers as they prepare for this important step in their faith journeys.

What's coming up and when:

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.

Please remember to bring your WWVP card with you.

Tuckshop Volunteers Needed

National Walk Safely to School Day

Now in its 22nd year, National Walk Safely to School Day (WSTSD) is an annual event when all Primary School children will be encouraged to walk and commute safely to school. It is a Community Event seeking to promote Road Safety, Health, Public Transport and the Environment.

All information can found at: walk.com.au

The event will be held throughout Australia on Friday 14 May 2021 and St John Vianney’s will proudly join in.

The objectives of WSTSD are:

• To encourage parents and carers to walk to school with primary school age children and reinforce safe pedestrian behaviour.
• To promote the health benefits of walking and help create regular walking habits at an early age.
• To ensure that children up to 10 years old hold an adult's hand when crossing the road.
• To help children develop the vital road-crossing skills they will need as they become mature pedestrians.
• To reduce the car dependency habits that are being created at an early age and which will be difficult to change as children become adults.
• To promote the use of Public Transport.
• To reduce the level of air pollution created by motor vehicles.
• To reduce the level of traffic congestion.

We will provide all students with a “Walk Safely to School tattoo/sticker” if they walk/ride to school on Friday 14^th, May.

If you live too far away, we suggest to park about 5 - 10 minutes away and walk across the ovals or on the paths to school, with parental supervision.

Each student that is able to walk/ride to school on this day will receive a yellow token.

We look forward to many of our students arriving with rose coloured cheeks and enjoying the crisp morning fresh air as they walk to school!

Blessings

Jo Reed

Assistant Principal

SPOT OUR BUS COMPETITION – Week 1 Winners!

St John Vianney’s have advertised for 6 weeks on ACTION Buses. There is a side and back panel on separate buses floating around Canberra.

We are running a “Spot the SJV Bus” competition over the coming weeks with fabulous weekly prizes. Our bus could be travelling anywhere in Canberra and is not limited to the Woden or Tuggeranong area.

If you spot our SJV Bus, and it is safe to do so – can you please take a snap shot of it.

A big congratulations to the following families for ‘Spotting our Bus!’ in Barton and in Tuggeranong.

* Troy McDonald spotted our bus in Barton

* Rebecca Battaglini spotted our bus in Tuggeranong