Week 9, June 20th, 2022: Newsletter #19
- Acknowledgement of Country
- Week 9 Prayer
- From the Principal
- Annual Report to the School Community
- ReLATE Student Survey
- Sacrament of First Eucharist
- 2023 Enrolments- Applications Due
- Fight MND
- Grade 1/2 Warrnambool Art Gallery Excursion
- Covid 19 Term 2 Updates
- Important School Reminders
- Happy Birthday
- Student Awards
- Parents and Friends Social Group 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 9 Prayer
From the Principal
Greetings everyone,
Academic Reports: Our Semester One reports will be released today at 2.30pm. All our students should be very proud of the efforts they have put into their learning, particularly considering the previous two years of pandemic we have endured and the challenges this year has thrown at us. A huge thank you to our teachers for the hours and hours after school and on weekends they have committed to writing these reports. They very carefully analyse all the data they collect in order to accurately report the standards your children are working at. We are grateful for their dedication.
The documents consist of a summary sheet of students' achievement across each curriculum area for Terms 1 & 2. Also included are summaries of learning in specialist learning areas of Physical Education, STEM, Visual Arts, Performing Art/Music and Japanese. It is important to stress that this document is only the first part of the report process. The second part is the Learning Conversations which have been held over the Term. Learning Conversations are an opportunity for teachers to take parents through the progress made by each child, illustrated by work samples and classroom observations.
Reports have been uploaded to PAM- if you have any trouble logging in or would like a hard copy, please give us a call or send an email.
Feast Day Celebrations: This Wednesday we will take the opportunity to celebrate the life of St. John the Baptist who is our school's patron saint. His feast day is Friday June 24th but we will celebrate it this Wednesday. The celebrations will commence with a whole school Mass at St. Pius X Church at 10.00am (family members welcome) and then students will return to school for some fun activites. All children will be provided Subway subs for lunch and have placed orders already. Normal school uniform should be worn.
2022 School Closure Dates: Please note the following dates in Term 3 that are student free days:
Monday July 11th- Catholic Social Teaching & Thursday September 8th- Prayer & Liturgy
E-Safety Webinar- Safer Online Gaming: Help your kids stay safe by learning about the benefits and risks of online gaming. This webinar run by e Safety is designed for parents and carers of young people aged 8 to 13 years of age. To register follow this link
It will cover:
- the games young people are using and how they are engaging with them
- the benefits of gaming and how to mitigate the risks
- practical strategies to use at home and where to find help and support if things go wrong.
Johnnies News: Below you will see the first of many regular entries into this newsletter by the students- today's piece has been developed by Alice D and Charli F.
Enjoy your holidays, Ben.
Annual Report to the School Community
Each year all schools are required to produce a report that notes its goals from the previous school year and explains the actions undertaken to meet these goals. This report is freely available to our community by clicking on the link below. This document is also available to view on our school website.
ReLATE Student Survey
Our school is currently implementing the ReFraming Learning and Teaching Environments model. This model is being evaluated by Monash University in partnership with its provider - the MacKillop Institute. As part of this process, Monash university is inviting you to complete a survey with your Year 4-6 child(ren). It is completely anonymous and voluntary.
There are 21 questions about safety, school environment and the teaching relationships that your child(ren) experiences. Our school will receive a report based on the findings that will be distributed.
Please use the link below with your child if they fall into the Year 4-6 age range.
Sacrament of First Eucharist
Early next term the opportunity will be open to students who are ready to receive their First Eucharist. For the St. Pius X and St John's community this is usually (but not limited to) Year 4 students who have been Baptised & Confirmed. A family formation evening will be held on the evening of July 20th for all children and parents who will be taking part.
The dates for Eucharist are as follows:
July 20th Formation Meeting 7.00pm
July 25th Family Group Week 1
July 31st Children presented at Mass
August 1st Family Week 2
August 7th Children’s pictures displayed in the Church
August 8th Family Week 3
August 14th Prayer scrolls distributed at Mass
August 15th Family Week 4
August 21st Sacrament of Eucharist as part of mass.
All families who intend to participate in this preparation are required to register their child using the enrolment form which can be accessed using this link.
2023 Enrolments- Applications Due
We are inviting families of students who have a Foundation child starting in 2023 to complete an enrolment form as soon as possible and drop it into the office, we currently have a high demand for places this year. Enrolment forms can be collected from the office. Applications are due to be submitted no later than Friday June 24th.
Fight MND
Grade 1/2 Warrnambool Art Gallery Excursion
On Thursday 23rd June, the year one/two students will be traveling by bus to The Warrnambool Art Gallery to partake in a program titled “I am an Artist”, as well as a self-guided exploration of The Family Learning Centre where there is an exhibition by local artist - Annette Iggulden. This excursion aligns with their Inquiry Unit that focuses on Creativity. We look forward to what will be a wonderful learning experience.
Covid 19 Term 2 Updates
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.
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.
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. Assembly will be held at 1.50pm this Friday and school will conclude for Term 2 at 2.30pm. Country Buses will be running at 2.30pm on this day.
2. Breakfast Club runs from 8:15am-8:40am in the Gathering Space. Next Term, Breakfast Club will move to a Tuesday morning. It will commence in week 2.
3. Wednesday Treats will resume in week 2.
4. Student Absences: Can all parents and guardians please remember that if a child is absent then we require you to contact the school via schoolzine, PAM, or phone to notify us as to whay they are absent. This is a government requirement.
4. A reminder that Monday 11th July is a School Closure Day. Term 3 will commence on Tuesday 12th July.
Happy Birthday
A big Happy Birthday to Isabelle C, Mykaeli P and Gypsy M who celebrate their birthday this week. Best wishes, enjoy your special day!
Student Awards
Parents and Friends Social Group News
Parents & Friends Social Group Meeting
The next meeting will be held THIS Wednesday 22nd June 7.00pm at the Cally. Come along for a short meeting and catch up with other parents. To RSVP go to the FaceBook page and comment on the meeting post or email parenets@sjdennington.cathoic.edu.au
Dennington Day Out Meeting
The next meeting will be held the first week of Term 3, July 13th at 7.30pm in the Gathering Space.
Nearing the end of the financial year is the perfect time for a business to become a sponsor of DDO. If you would like to nominate your employer or business then either email ddo@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au or send the DDO facebook page a message. We are gearing towards making this year the biggest yet for our 10th Birthday.
Gold Sponsor $500 Silver Sponsor $250 Bronze Sponsor $100
For details on the packages head to the FaceBook page ‘Dennington’s Day Out’
Wednesday Treats
Wednesday treats have finished for Term 2. A note requesting volunteers for Term 3 Wednesday Treats will be coming home today, you can also download it below. Please complete and return to the office before THIS Wednesday 22nd June.
Pie Drive
Thank you to all of the families who placed orders this year!
Collection will be from the Dennington Bakehouse THIS WEEKEND from 3.00pm Friday 24th June and 8.00pm Sunday 26th June.
Cake Raffle
The following families are rostered on this Friday.
Roney, Hazeldine, Stidolph and Hose.
All students will be able to buy a raffle ticket for 20c each Friday. The Johnnies 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.
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
Sunday Mass are held at 10.30am 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 Noticeboard
Upcoming Events
Today: Academic Reports released on PAM
Wednesday 22nd June: Parents and Friends Social Group 7.00pm- The Cally
Friday 24th June: Term 2 Concludes at 2.30pm
Friday 24th June - Sunday 26th: Pick up pie drive orders from the Dennington Bakehouse
Monday 11th July: School Closure Day
Tuesday 12th July: Term 2 Commences at 8.50am
Wednesday 13th July: Dennington Day Out Meeting at 7.30pm - Gathering Space