Week 1, April 26th, 2022: Newsletter #11
- Acknowledgement of Country
- Week 1 Prayer
- From the Principal
- Confirmation Preparation
- Uniform
- Covid 19 Term 2 Updates
- Important School Reminders
- School Photos; This Friday-29th April
- Project Compassion 2022
- Happy Birthday
- Student Awards
- Parents and Friends News
- Cake Raffle
- School Sponsorship
- Star of the Sea Bulletin
- Community Noticeboard
- Upcoming Events
Acknowledgement of Country
St. John’s school community respect and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and future. 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.
Week 1 Prayer
From the Principal
Greetings everyone,
Welcome to the start of Term 2. There has been a great deal of change over the past two weeks and we ask that families take the time to update their knowledge around new Covid guidelines for schools.
New Enrolments: This week we welcome Sam Gleeson to Gr 4 and also Oliver (Gr 1) and Kiara (Gr 4) White and their families to our school community- we hope they enjoy their new classmates and their new school.
2023 Enrolments: We have started to field queries regarding enrolments for 2023. Whilst yet to be finalised, our enrolments will open late May and close before the end of Term 2. These dates will be advertised widely across the community and across the region.
Welcome Emma: Today we welcome 4th year Deakin University student Emma Hatton into 3/4AM for the next 4 weeks- we look forward to her enjoying this experience and learning a great deal.
Enjoy your week, Ben.
Confirmation Preparation
Uniform
There has been a delay in the delivery of girl winter tunics. Parents will be notified when they are ready to be collected. There is a transition period from summer to winter uniform, students that normally wear summer dresses can continue to do so with tights on cooler days; this will occur for the first 2 weeks of term.
All uniform orders must be emailed to: uniform@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au
We have extended winter uniform orders until this Friday-29th April. Orders MUST be placed by this date.
Covid 19 Term 2 Updates
Face masks: From 11:59 pm Friday 22 April, facemasks, while recommended, are not required in any school setting. This means students in Grades 3 to 6, staff and visitors in primary schools are no longer required to wear facemasks. Any student or staff member who wishes to wear a mask may do so, including those who are medically at-risk.
Rapid antigen test screening requirements: Students who have tested positive for COVID-19, and have completed their 7-day isolation period, now do not need to undertake rapid antigen test (RAT) screening for 12 weeks after their release from isolation. This was previously 8 weeks.
Household contacts: Students who are household contacts of a COVID-19 case are not required to quarantine. They may return to school as long as they undertake rapid antigen tests (RAT) 5 times during their 7-day period. They are required to notify the school that they are a household contact. Students aged 8 years and above who are household contacts are required to wear face masks when indoors at school unless they have a valid exemption. If a student household contact returns a positive RAT result, they must isolate for 7 days.
Vaccination requirements for visitors to schools: Parents, carers and other adult visitors (not performing work) are no longer required to show evidence of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
RAT screening program reminder: RATs will continue to be supplied for the first 4 weeks of Term 2 to support the early detection of COVID-19 in our school.The testing recommendations will remain the same this Term for students and staff recommended to test at home twice a week
Continuity of Learning: Our school community has been fortunate that we have not had significant staff numbers impacted by COVID such that we have continued to provide quality learning and teaching and student care. I remind families that this could change quickly and the school may be required to ask some classes or year levels to stay home if we do not have adequate staff numbers onsite. We hope that this is not the case, but if it does become a necessity, we will work hard to minimise any disruption.
Important School Reminders
1. Lunch order days are now TUESDAY and FRIDAY. Families can send their orders into school or take directly to the Dennington Store by 11.00am on a MONDAY for delivery TUESDAY and by 11.00am on THURSDAY for delivery FRIDAY.
2. Every Thursday Breakfast Club runs from 8:15am-8:40am in the Gathering Space. If anyone has connections to businesses that may support us by donating milk or grocery items such as cereals etc. we would love to hear from you. You can email Jasmine- jkoch@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au or make contact with her at school on Wednesdays or Thursdays.
3. Wednesday Treats resume in Week 3. Order forms will be sent home next week.
School Photos; This Friday-29th April
Annual School Photos will be taken by Arthur Reed on Friday 29th April, being the first week back after the holidays. ALL students are to come to school dressed in their sports uniforms. Individual, class and sibling photos for all students will be taken.
There is no need to return any forms or money to school.
A flyer containing a unique image code will be issued to all students on photo day so families can register online to view images when they become available in the webshop. When images are ready to view and in the webshop, all parents who have registered will be notified by SMS and email.
Project Compassion 2022
A program that we support at St. John’s is the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. This program has now concluded so we encourage all families who collected money to return their project compassion boxes to school. Once received we will forward the funds raised to Caritas Australia.
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday to Lara M, Darcy M, Cohen H, Fletcher G, Niamh C and Raph C who celebrated their birthday during the holidays. We hope you enjoyed your special day!
Best wishes to Arlo G, Archie Mc, Maddison M, Rhy B, Ashah C, who celebrate their birthdays this week!
Student Awards
Parents and Friends News
Parents and Friends Social Group
Our next meeting will be held Today. Meet in the Gathering Space at 3.30pm. Children are welcome! Come along and have your say of fundraising ideas and upcoming events.
If you would like to attend but can’t be there in person please email parents@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au and we can send you a link to join us via google meet. We welcome you to join and listen in on upcoming dates even if you think you may not have anything to contribute.
Dennington Day Out
The next meeting will be held tomorrow, Wednesday 27th April at 7.30pm in the Gathering Space. We welcome all new parents to come along and have an input into the 10 year celebrations.
If you know of a business that would love to make donations toward the day please contact ddo@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au
We encourage all parents to LIKE our facebook page ‘Dennington's Day Out’ and when you see a new post share it to your page so that the wider community can hear of our upcoming celebrations.
Easter Raffle
A huge thank you for all of your donations and for selling so many raffle tickets. We managed to raise over $2,000 which is an amazing effort!
Congratulations to all of the winners!
Bunnings BBQ
Our Bunnings BBQ is this Sunday. Thank you to all those who will be donating their time or other items needed to help the day run smoothly.
We will send you a reminder text message the day before the BBQ. If you have any questions or concerns can you please contact Ali Fechete on 0408987064.
Please remember children are not allowed to come with you to your shift.
We look forward to seeing you all Sunday to purchase a sausage or two. Can all donations please be brought into the office by this Thursday.
Wednesday Treats are back!
Wednesday treats will be returning in week 3. Thank you to everyone who has volunteered their time.
Keep your eye out for the roster in next week's newsletter.
Mother's Day Stall
Our Mother’s Day stall will be held on Wednesday 4th May. Students have the opportunity to purchase gifts ranging from 50c to $5. We will be on the lookout for volunteers to help run the stall on the day.
Cake Raffle
The following families are rostered on this Friday.
Cuzens, Dance, Darmody and Davies.
All students will be able to buy a raffle ticket for 20c each Friday. Grade 5/6 students will come around to the classrooms during the day to write out tickets and collect money.
All funds raised throughout the year will be donated to the Good Friday Appeal the following year. If assembly is cancelled on your rostered week you will not be required to bring in a cake/slice.
We are thrilled to be able to announce that we donated approximately $550 to the Good Friday appeal this year which are funds raised directly from the Cake Raffle- well done St. John's.
School Sponsorship
A big thank you to Fry Painting, Brownies Shed and South West Pipe Relining who support 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
Community Noticeboard
Upcoming Events
Tuesday 26th April: P & F Social Group meeting - 3.30pm in the Gathering Space
Wednesday 27th April: DDO Meeting - 7.30pm in the Gathering Space
Friday 29th April: School Photos- Dress in sports uniform
Sunday 1st May: Bunnings BBQ
Wednesday 4th May: Mother's Day stall @ 9am
Wednesday 4th May: School Cross Country Carnival @ 1.30pm
Thursday 5th May: Warrnambool Cup Public Holiday
Friday 6th May: WPH Division Athletics Carnival