Gospel: John 16: 12-15

I have yet many things to say to you: but you cannot bear them now.

But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will teach you all truth.

For he shall not speak of himself; but what things soever he shall hear, he shall speak; and the things that are to come, he shall shew you.

He shall glorify me; because he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it to you.

All things whatsoever the Father hath, are mine. Therefore I said, that he shall receive of mine, and shew it to you.

Amen.

Dear Parents and Carers,

Enrolments for 2026

The Resilience Project webinar – Thursday 25 June

Parents are invited to attend a ‘Discovering Resilience’ live webinar with Martin Heppell on 25 June from 6.30pm-7.30pm. Martin, who is also a parent of young children, will share engaging stories and practical strategies to support the mental wellbeing of the entire family. If you are unable to attend, a recorded version will be available. Further information about The Resilience Project can be found at https://theresilienceproject.com.au/about/.  REGISTER HERE for the webinar.

Child Safety Advocate

On Wednesday I attended the Child Safety Advocate meeting, held at CE. At the meeting we were given updates in relation to Child Safety legislation. There was also significant discussion about online safety for children. A reminder that there are several resources are available for parents, these are listed on the e-safety commissioner website. Messenger Junior was also discussed as a safer option for online chat between primary school aged children. Possibly the greatest recommendation is to continue to supervise and monitor your child’s online activity and to use recommended age ratings as your guide, what can sometimes appear harmless, can have long term effects.    

Parent Teacher Interviews

On Monday you will receive the schedule for parent teacher meetings. They are being held in Week 9. At these meetings, teachers will outline your child’s report, highlighting areas of growth as well as developing goals for Semester 2 aligned with areas for development. These are very important conversations for both the teacher and the parents, please make them a priority.

Sacrament of Confirmation

A big congratulations to our Year 6 students who received the Sacrament of Confirmation. It was lovely to see His Grace, Archbishop Christopher Prowse move amongst the candidates when receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Confirmation A Students Reflection

Last friday, on the 6th of June myself and a few other children received Confirmation everyone had to choose a Saint. I chose Saint Laura Montoya. The reasons I chose her are that she was the favourite saint of my late grandma, she is also a saint from my family's country Colombia. Saint Laura will forever change my life by the way she helped others and I want to do that in my life .Personally, I was very excited to be confirmed into the kingdom of God when I met  Archbishop Christopher. When I shook his hand all I saw was how he was so peaceful ,his presence was so holy. I loved the experience of meeting the Archbishop and being confirmed.

By Mateo Vallecilla Carbonell

Catholic Life and Reflection

It was my mother-in laws 80th birthday last weekend so we went to Mass together at St Matthews in Page, which is her parish.  I was struck by how similar the mass is yet how different it felt. It was warm and welcoming, lovely music and a moving homily.  Yet something was missing for me.  I missed my community.

This has kind of snuck up on me.  The familiarity I feel when I enter the church, not just the baptismal font, or the way the lights form a heart behind the altar but the faces.  I don’t know everyone by name but I do recognise people.  I feel like I belong in the parish.  Not just because I am the REC or I am a member of the Parish Pastoral Council.  

Like everyone, faith has been a journey for me, at times strong and at times ..well not.  I am now at the point in my life where I am drawn to the liturgy.  If I travel, I find a church. I wait for the “snap” of the host, the most powerful part of the mass for me, that reminds me of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. I breathe out and feel ready to receive the Eucharist as a beloved child of God.

I will continue to seek out the Eucharist wherever I go but the MSC charism will always feel like home. 

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be everywhere loved…forever.

Parish Compact

Happy Birthday to Liam Pham, Harvey Irvine, Kelly Hwang, Brody Loricchiella, Harper Ollevou, Jackson Moulds, Allira Richardson, Alyssa Sammons, James Maddox, Rosie Tran, Rubi Shean, Evagelia Butler-Tomkins, Ryan Dixon, Xavier Bonny, William Miles, Sawyer Del Villar, Emmanuel Amrado, Kelden Tshering, Oskar El-Geddes, Sian Kim, Solomon Azzam, Ileana Rozario, Alex Sandrai, James Thurbon, Mateo Vallecilla Carbonell, Chloe Larkings, Amalie Hanna, Henry Jopling, Austin Patrzalek, Henry Larkin, Zara Fearne, Amara Byrne, Imogen Clark, Heidi Pearson and Katie Wedd who all celebrate a Birthday in June.

Opening Hours

Scholastic book club orders are due on Wednesday 18^th June. Please order and pay online.

Thank you so much for supporting our school, especially through fundraising. This term, we are running a Billy G’s Gourmet Cookie Dough fundraiser.

Billy G’s Gourmet Cookie Dough is an exciting fundraiser, made by an Australian, family owned and operated business. There are ten (10) dough-licious flavours to choose from, including the most popular Choc Chunk and the new Cinnamon Donut Cookie Dough!  You can also create your own cookie magic at home with our Golden Classic flavour by adding your own mix ins to your cookies when you bake them! There is even something for your special furry friends, with a cheese flavoured Doggie Dough!  Billy G’s Gourmet Cookie Dough is exclusive to fundraising – so stock up!

Get started! Cookie dough orders must be placed online using the online platform. Create your child’s profile by clicking on the link below. Go to the Register Button and follow the Prompts. Orders are open from 6 June 2025 until the last day of term 2, Thursday 3 July 2025, so make sure you get rolling and create your online fundraising page today! Tubs will be available for pickup form the school on the 25 July 2025.

How do prizes work? Every student who sells two or more tubs will receive an incentive prize for their efforts! But why not aim higher? The more tubs you sell the more prizes you will receive! There are 11 prizes up for grabs, so why not set your own fundraising goal and aim for them all? Prizes are automatically ordered at the end of our fundraiser based on the number of tubs you have sold.

Family and friends are your greatest supporters, so make sure you ask them for support. You will reach your fundraising goal in no time!

You can Win Big!  Our highest tub seller will go into a draw to win a PlayStation 5 Gaming Bundle. For every tub you sell or buy, you will also receive one entry into the draw to win $20,000 Cash. Plus, every student that achieves all online virtual badges will win an additional Gold Dig Out prize. 

Don’t forget to refer to your Order Form for all the information. Happy fundraising!

SJAPS Community Council

Protecting Childhood

Born in the 1970s, I enjoyed a carefree childhood in a lower-to-middle-class suburb. My parents worked long hours, leaving me free to explore the neighbourhood with my best mate, Andy. We rode bikes, played marbles or footy, hung out at the local arcade shop, and climbed trees until dark—all this and more from around the age of seven or eight! If you’re even close to my age, you probably enjoyed similar freedoms and opportunities. I want the same for my children, but it is increasingly unusual and unattainable for many.

Questions about safety abound. Children have ever-increasing academic loads. Schedules for both children and their parents are busier than ever. Extra-curricular activities are more popular than ever. Screens have proliferated. And downtime is harder to find than ever before.

What has happened to our children’s childhoods?

Play: The Work of Childhood

Play is integral to building successful, resilient children, and its importance starts in infancy. For infants, play involves touch, sounds, peek-a-boo, and interactive floor time. By preschool age, children delight in messy play with water, sand, and crafts, and their physical activity and social interactions increase. Early primary school children still enjoy creative play but begin to focus on games with rules and outdoor activities, emphasising social interaction.

The Benefits of Unstructured Play

Play fosters essential skills, including setting boundaries, understanding social norms, negotiating, and creativity. Unstructured play before age ten is particularly beneficial.

Rough-and-tumble play with parents is especially fun and educational in terms of teaching limits, communication, and physical coordination. The best part about these play activities is that they are easy, healthy, educational, and low-cost. Ultimately, play is the work of childhood, laying the foundation for resilient lives.

Are We Doing Too Much?

Helping children enjoy childhood includes managing extracurricular activities. The rise in sports and other pursuits at younger ages has sparked debate about whether kids are overscheduled. Critics argue that excessive activities may rob children of their childhood, creating unnecessary stress and competition among parents.

Free play and unstructured time are crucial for children’s well-being, allowing them to explore, be curious, and develop creativity. However, structured activities can also provide safety and development in a modern, less child-friendly world. These activities help manage screen time, offer developmental benefits, and give parents peace of mind.

How to Find the Right Balance

Finding the right balance between structured activities and free play is challenging. There is a line that balances the competing demands of structure, growth, and enrichment with stress, financial costs, and protecting childhood. The problem is that none of us really knows where that line is until we’ve crossed it. It’s different for each child, and it changes as they mature and develop.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Rather than me telling you where to draw that line, here are some questions to ask yourself to get the balance right for your children.

• Am I anxious about my child’s success in life, or am I trying to improve my child’s wellbeing?
• Does your child feel like you care about the outcomes more than they do?
• Are your kids excited to participate?
• Does your child have time to play with friends?
• Are they getting enough sleep?
• Does your child get free play time?
• Do you make time to do nothing alone or together?

Letting Children Just Be

Childhood is shrinking. Those years of carefree innocence are being crowded out. Yet play, curiosity, slow and agenda-free development, and the chance to pursue interests that align with personal strengths are some of the most important gifts we can give a child to truly experience childhood. They get to make their own decisions, write their own rules, and have their own experiences. There’s a strong connection between feeling in control of our lives and being happy. When our children see us, they do not need to be burdened with more work and study. They need us to fall on the floor, tickle, wrestle, and laugh. They need opportunities to learn and create; to sit quietly on the grass under a tree and stare at clouds; to experience the simplicity of childhood; and to simply be.

Written by Dr Justin Coulson

A friendly reminder that St Johns is a nut free school. Thank you.