May 13th, 2024: Newsletter #13
- Acknowledgement of Country
- 150th Anniversary Celebrations
- Week 5 Prayer
- 2025 Enrolment Tours
- From the Principal
- State Government Budget Issues
- 2025 Foundation Students- Sibling Enrolments Required ASAP!
- National Walk Safely to School Day
- Wellbeing
- Mother's Day Breakfast
- Around our School- Week 4
- Student News
- Student Awards
- Happy Birthday
- Parents & Friends Social Group
- Lowes SALE
- School Sponsorship
- Star of the Sea Bulletin
- Community Notices
- Upcoming Events
Acknowledgement of Country
St. John’s school community respect and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on this land and commit to building a brighter future together, working together towards a reconciled Australia.
150th Anniversary Celebrations
Week 5 Prayer
2025 Enrolment Tours
From the Principal
Welcome everyone to the new week.
3 Way Conversations: In term 2 we offer our formal conversation opportunities for staff to meet with parents and students, these sessions will take place on Monday May 27th and Monday June 3rd. Bookings for these Conversations will open Tuesday 14th May at 9.00am. To make a booking, please log into your PAM account, select the appropriate teacher and the appointment time.
If you have any issues making your booking, please contact the office.
These conversations are important in building the relationship between home and school and assisting your child with their learning. Where possible, we encourage both parents (where appropriate) to attend these interviews as well as the child who will spend part of the session talking through
To ensure that the 3 Way Conversation process runs smoothly, can I ask that parents take note of the following;
- If you have mutliple children, please do not schedule back to back appointments, if you arrive late at your appointment, the time does not start from when you arrive but when your appointed time started.
- Each appointment is scheduled for a 15 minutes window, and the teacher will start to wind it up at around the 12 minutes mark. If you feel before hand that you need aditional time please feel free to contact your child's teacher to arrange a separate time.
Mobile Phones: Our school understands that some families require their child to have a mobile phone for communication and safety needs before and after school. If your child is bringing a mobile phone to school it must be checked in at the office as soon as they arrive at school and it can be collected as they exit school in the afternoon. Families in this situation, can you please remind your child of this important school procedure.
We look forward to the week ahead, Ben.
State Government Budget Issues
Last week the Allan Labor Government announced a $400 School Saving Bonus for all school students in government schools regardless of income, but only for Health Care Card holders in Catholic schools.
This is deeply unfair.
We believe the payment should be means tested for all students or apply to all students.
It should not be based on which school you attend.
This policy punishes families for choosing to send their children to a Catholic school.
Our school, DOBCEL and the peak body, the Victorian Catholic Education Authority, are working hard to oppose this policy and we need your help.
We need to show the Victorian Government that punishing families who choose a Catholic school is unacceptable. Please consider contacting your local Member of Parliament to express your concern.
Thank you for your time in reading this and for advocating for your family and our school.
2025 Foundation Students- Sibling Enrolments Required ASAP!
If you are yet to complete your 2025 Foundation enrolment- please do so now. This enables us to determine how many spaces we have to offer to new families.
If you require any assistance please contact the office.
National Walk Safely to School Day
This Friday 17th May, is National Walk Safely to school day.
We will have staff at the Dennington Store in Drummond Street from 8.10am, leaving at 8.20am sharp to make their way to school if you would like to join in. We would love to see you there!
Wellbeing
Last Tuesday, as a part of our commitment to Wellbeing practices for our school community, staff worked with Mel Frost from DOBCEL to help establish a positive behaviour framework. Staff worked on defining values that are most important for our school community. We identified 4 overarching concepts that we hope every child and adult within the St John's community can learn and strive to be. This led us into designing our social and emotional scope and sequence across the school.
A reminder that SchoolTV is available to our school community. It is an excellent resource that covers a wide range of topics on Wellbeing. If you haven't looked at it yet, we strongly encourage you to do so. It is available on the link below or you can access it on our school website.
Below is a snapshot of some of the topics available.
Mother's Day Breakfast
We had an amazing turn out last Friday for our annual Mother's Day/Special persons breakfast- thank you all for the important role you play in your childs lives.
We asked around for some of the things that are on the Mother's Day wish list!
- Sleeping in
- Breakfast in bed
- Catching up on Netflix
- Take away!
- Some me time
- A long bath
- No household jobs!
Whatever it is that you like to do, we hope you enjoyed your special day yesterday. You are all worth your weight in gold.
Around our School- Week 4
Student News
Ida competed in her first ever aerobics competition with her club Action Sports Aerobics and Fitness over the weekend. It was the FISAF Super Series for Victoria. She competed in the under 9's division and came in at 2nd place. She did an amazing job!
Student Awards
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday to Skylar D, Pippa C, Stella C, Tannah K, Logan V, Nikson S, Lennox S, Jagger C, Lexie M, Bridget T, Evelyn Z who celebrate their birthday this week. We hope you have a terrific day!
Parents & Friends Social Group
Our next general meeting will be held on Tuesday 21st May at 7.00pm in the Gathering Space. We welcome all current and new members.
We are looking for a couple of helpers to help organise for our movie fundraiser. The movie “IF” will be released in may with our movie date to be finalised this week. More information to come
Dennington's Day Out
Planning is well underway for this year’s Dennington’s Day Out. Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday 29th May at 7:15pm in the gathering space.
There is still time to sponsor, If you or know someone that might be interested please email ddo@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au to enquire about the packages or check out the DDO facebook page.
Movie Fundraiser
Join us on Sunday 19th May at 1:30pm for our movie fundraiser “IF” Get your ticket online now via the link below.
$26 for movie ticket, popcorn/drink combo and complimentary bag of lollies
$20 for movie ticket and complimentary bag of lollies
Your ticket will have a QR code that we will scan on the day from your phone.
If you prefer to pay CASH an order form will be coming home today. You can also pay cash on the day however tickets are limited and will not be reserved.
Don't forget to bring some coins for the raffle, any questions please ask Hayley Black or Sarah Howley.
Wednesday Treats
Roster for this week:
Tuesday 14th May 9.00am - Emily, Theresa, Jo C, Jess S & Kate C
Wednesday 15th May 11:45am - Julia T, Nicole D & Jacinta B
Hot Chip order forms for next week will be going home tomorrow. All orders need to be in by 3pm on a Monday. No late orders will be accepted. If you are paying via EFT please make sure that’s processed by 3pm on Sunday with your child's name and class as reference.
Should you have any questions please feel free to contact Taliah Gleeson or Emily McGennan.
Cake Raffle
Each week on a Monday, families are rostered on to bring in a cake which will then be raffled and drawn out at assembly. All funds raised throughout the year will be donated to the Good Friday Appeal the following year.
All students will have the opportunity to buy a raffle ticket for 20c each Monday with a limit of five tickets per student. The Johnnies will make a P.A announcement at first lunch, calling all students who wish to purchase a ticket, to the Library.
The following families are rostered on next week, Monday 20th May:
Faulkner, Fedley, Finch-Uren, Finnigan and Fish.
Please drop your (store purchased) cake into the front office with your child's name written on top.
Lowes SALE
School Sponsorship
A big thank you to O'Brien's Electrical, Joinery by Jarrod, Fry Painting and Carry on Travel who sponsor our school!
Would you like to advertise your business in our school newsletter? Businesses can advertise for only $100 a year and will have a business card sized listing in every school newsletter.
Please contact parents@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au for more information.
Star of the Sea Bulletin
Sunday Mass is held at 10.00am at St. Pius X Church. School families are always welcome.
The Parish office can be contacted on 5562 2231 and this weekends bulletin is featured below. Other information and contact details can be found on the Star of the Sea South West Coast website: https://www.ballarat.catholic.org.au/parish/southwestcoast/
Community Notices
Upcoming Events
Friday 17th May: Walk to school day.
Tuesday 21st May: Parents and Friends general meeting at 7.00pm in the Gathering Space
Wednesday 29th May: DDO Meeting at 7:15pm in the Gathering Space