Principal's Report
Phantom Galaxy - James Webb Telescope
Dear St John's Community,
Fun fact! Mother's Day started in two different places for two different reasons!
In England during the middle ages, people tended to leave home to find work, even children as young as 9 or 10 would leave home to find jobs to make money for the family. As time passed, the church decided people needed to come back to being a family again and so the fourth Sunday of Lent was designated as the day family members had to return home to the 'mother' church and be reunited as a family. Thus, the day became Mothering Sunday and eventually Mother's Day.
Whereas in America, in 1907 a woman called Anna Jarvis held a memorial service for her deceased mother. The idea of having a memorial service in recognition of mothers soon took off and in 1914 the US president declared the second Sunday of May a national holiday in honour of mothers.
However it came about, we love it and we love them. And, it's important to note in this day and age of welcoming and acceptance, that Motherhood is not defined by biology alone. It extends beyond blood ties to include all those who take on the role of a mother—stepmothers, adoptive mothers, grandmothers, and mother figures. Your love knows no boundaries, and your impact reaches far and wide.
Many thanks to those parents who have helped this week to make this Mother's Day memorable for all our students!
Good to see the guys doing their part too!
And to all the incredible mothers out there, thank you. Thank you for your boundless love, your unwavering strength, and your ceaseless sacrifices. Your role is immeasurable, and we are forever grateful for the impact you have on our lives.
None of us would be here without you!
Lord, we pray for your loving protection to watch over all mothers. Guard them and keep them safe in their days. Watch over their going out and they’re coming in. Give them the physical strength and stamina they need to accomplish what you have purposed for them to do as mothers. Help them weather the storms they will face and may your favour and protection surround them with a shield of love. Amen.
We hope all those parents who were able to attend Marty's wonderful webinar last night on Digital Safety got a lot out of the presentation.
Marty is working with the teachers and students at St John's this year and helping them develop positive skills around being online and engaging with the digital world.
For more resources and support from Marty at home you can follow this link:
Enrolments 2024 - siblings
If you have a child /sibling of a student already at St John's, who will be joining us next year, could you please let the office know? We are already close to filling one class and need to start considering options for places for 2024 as enrolments continue to come in.
Fire Carrier Commissioning Ceremony
(FIRE - Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education)
Our growing number of Fire Carrier students journeyed to St Augustine's this week to meet with other Fire Carriers students across our network of Catholic Schools on the Peninsula. This is a very valuable and important program and I encourage you to read all about it on the Culture and Community page of this newsletter.
One of our mums, trained Clinical Pilates instructor, Francesca, runs the 50-minute classes in the school gym that are focused on core strength, spine mobility and flexibility, and body balance. Kids are welcome.
Each session cost $10 - Parents can sign in with Francesca in the gym. Please bring your own yoga mat.
Camp Surveys
Thanks to everyone who participated in the camp surveys. The results will be discussed by the School Advisory Board and Staff Consultative Committee and the final determinations made known to the community as soon as possible.
Jokes for the weekend!
Q: What do you call a pony with a little cough?
A: A little horse...
Q. What do you call a rooster staring at a piece of lettuce?
A. A chicken sees a salad...
Q. Why won't peanut butter tell you a secret?
A. Because it's afraid you might spread it!
Have a great weekend,
Derek Bruitzman
Principal