PRINCPALS REPORT
It has been wonderful to welcome students back to John Therry this week after a busy and productive term 1.
The school holiday period was also one that held a number of significant events. Easter is at the heart of our Catholic Faith, where we acknowledge the death, and most importantly resurrection of Jesus. That Jesus died for us and our sins, and opened the gates of heaven for mankind shows God's great love for us. I always find it powerful to reflect on the person of Jesus, how he lived and the messages he taught us, as an example of how we are called to live and serve others.
That Pope Francis also passed away over the Easter break was quite striking to me, as he lived so authentically in the way that Jesus taught us. He was such a wonderful witness and example to us all, genuinely walking with those most in need, stepping aside from many of the riches and luxuries typically afforded to a Pope in such a significant role in the Church and world. He walked with the most disadvantaged and outcast, showing that God's love is for everyone, particularly those most in need. While Pope Francis is a great loss to the Church, he has set a wonderful example, and calls us to action and continue to live out the teachings of Jesus. May he rest in peace.
John Therry participated in the ANZAC Day march on Friday 25 April at Campbelltown. Close to 40 students presented in full winter uniform and gave up their time to commemorate the ANZAC's with our John Therry community. There were a number of students wearing the medals of relatives who have served and it is important that as a community, we acknowledge the sacrifices that have been made for us, and continue to strive for a world that is peaceful.
I also attended the Appin Massacre memorial ceremony on Sunday 13th April. This is a sad part of our history that is important to acknowledge and remember what happened here. In acknowledging this, we seek healing and the ability to walk in reconciliation with our Aboriginal community members for a brighter future. John Therry staff and students are always involved here in a wide range of the activities of the day and the ceremony, and I thank all those who participated once again this year.
Attendance Data
We have seen an improvement in attendance data in 2025 which is very encouraging. The overall average attendance is at 91.1% for Term 1. This is quite a good number, but also sounds a little better than it actually is when we look at how many days off this is over a year. At this rate, a student would miss around 18 days in a year, or almost 4 weeks of learning. Most employers offer far fewer leave days in a year and so our aim is to move this number closer to 95%.
You can check your child's attendance rate in the compass app and we encourage you to talk about this with your children as well and set some goals and targets for them.
Pupil Free Day - Friday 9th May
On Friday 9th May John Therry will hold our staff professional learning day for term 2. We will be working with staff from NESA on the curriculum reforms and how we adjust learning to support all students. We will also be looking at our positive behaviours for learning approach to ensure we have a really consistent and supportive approach to our rules and routines.