Week 5, October 31st, 2022: Newsletter #33

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 5 Prayer

From the Principal

Greetings everyone,

School Closure Day: Monday November 7th will see the school closed to allow staff to participate in a day built on scripture and its use. Please note students will not attend on this day.

Attendance Expectations: The last couple of years has seen huge disruptions to school attendance. Fortunately, we are now coming out at the other end. As we are now at the end of Winter, with Covid less prevalent and Winter bugs subsiding, I feel it is a good time to revisit attendance expectations at St. John’s Primary School. 

I recently came across the following quote:

"The relationship between teacher quality and student achievement is mediated by the amount of time students spend in the classroom. Irrespective of the reasons for absences, non-attendance affects student outcomes."   John Hattie

In order to ensure that the children have the best opportunities for success and set good habits for life, please note the following:

• Classes begin at 8.50am
• The school day ends at 3.25pm
• Where possible, please make appointments out of school hours. Of course there will be times when there are exceptions to the rule. However, it is extremely important to remember that it is in the best interests of a child’s success at school for parents to ensure that their child is at school for the allotted time. 
• We are extremely fortunate to have excellent teachers at St. John’s which, as mentioned above, is pivotal to successful outcomes for our students. When children miss classes, teachers have to find a way to catch them up, and this is often quite difficult. We ask that parents support the teachers by ensuring that children attend school within the set hours. 

If we are all on the same page with setting high expectations and demonstrating to our children that we truly value education, it will be the children who benefit.

School Fees and Levies: With only 6 weeks of the 2022 school year remaining it would be greatly appreciated if school fees and levies could be finalised as soon as possible. For families who have committed to regular instalments, please continue with your payment plan as per your arrangements.

Ringing families as a reminder to pay fees is not only embarrassing and uncomfortable to you but also to the admin staff. Please contact the school office to organise a payment plan should you wish to set up a payment plan.  Thank you.

Enjoy your week, Ben. 

All Saints & All Souls Day & Halloween!!!!

Tomorrow and Wednesday, the Catholic Church celebrates All Saints and All Souls day.

All Saints Day is a solemn holy day of the Catholic Church celebrated annually on November 1st. The day is dedicated to the saints of the Church, that is, all those who have attained heaven. It differs from All Souls Day, which is observed on November 2nd, and is dedicated to those who have died and not yet reached heaven.

Although millions, or even billions of people may already be saints, All Saints' Day observances tend to focus on known saints -that is those recognised in the canon of the saints by the Catholic Church. It is important however to celebrate all those who have entered heaven. These celebrations often blur the distinction between All Saints' Day, which is properly dedicated to those who are in heaven, and All Souls' Day, on which prayers are offered for all those who have died, but have not yet reached heaven.

Halloween, which is a contraction of the words All Hallows’ Eve, is observed on October 31 across the world. The celebration marks the day before the Christian feast of All Saints and initiates the season of Allhallowtide, which lasts three days and concludes with All Souls’ Day. In much of Europe and most of North America, observance of Halloween is largely non religious yet its origins are deeply religious. 

Halloween had its origins in the festival of Samhain, celebrated on Nov 1st by the Celts of ancient Britain and Ireland. That date was considered the beginning of the winter period, the date on which the herds were returned from pasture and land tenures were renewed. During the Samhain festival the souls of those who had died were believed to return to visit their homes, and those who had died during the year were believed to journey to the otherworld. People set bonfires on hilltops to frighten away evil spirits, and they sometimes wore masks and other disguises to avoid being recognised by the ghosts thought to be present. In the 7th century CE Pope Boniface IV established All Saints’ Day, originally on May 13th, and in the following century, perhaps in an effort to supplant the pagan holiday with a Christian observance, it was moved to November 1st. The evening before All Saints’ Day became a holy, or hallowed, eve and thus Halloween. By the end of the Middle Ages, the secular and the sacred days had merged. The Reformation essentially put an end to the religious holiday among Protestants, although in Britain especially Halloween continued to be celebrated as a secular holiday. Along with other festivities, the celebration of Halloween was largely forbidden among the early American colonists, although in the 1800s there developed festivals that marked the harvest and incorporated elements of Halloween. When large numbers of immigrants, including the Irish, went to the United States beginning in the mid 19th century, they took their Halloween customs with them, and in the 20th century Halloween became one of the principal U.S. holidays, particularly among children.

Parent Participation Levy

The Parent Participation Levy (PPL) has been in our school for over 5 years now and as a result of parent feedback in 2021, the School Advisory Council decided to put hold on it for 1 year and to see how the school functioned without it; this decision is to be reviewed in term 4 of 2022 which is obviously now. 

The Parent Participation Levy was originally brought in to reverse dwindling parent involvement in our school. The SAC decided to reinvigorate opportunities for parents to get involved and made a big effort to offer a wide variety of activities at different times of the week/year. The PPL was implemented as an incentive for parents to get involved, or a $200 levy would be applied.

Active parent involvement in the school builds connections between staff, parents, families and the wider Dennington community. Our school values the important contribution of our families, who collectively provide more than 800 volunteer hours to enhance the effective running of our school which in turn benefits each and every child at St John's. It is not designed to be a money raising exercise but rather to share the load of volunteer hours provided by families. When parents partner with schools in their child's education, it sends powerful messages to their children about the value of education and the importance of community.

So, we are now looking for parent feedback regarding the levy and any aspects of it. Please feel free to email principal@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au or parents@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au with your feedback. 

We are looking forward to your thoughts.

Covid 19: Term 4 Updated Guidelines

On October 13th, the Victorian Government has announced the end of the pandemic declaration and associated pandemic orders. Requirements for close contacts, like continually testing negative on a rapid antigen test (RAT), will become strong recommendations – joining the strong recommendation to wear a mask indoors, which will remain in place. 

For now, we note the following key changes:

It is strongly recommended that students: 

• Who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home and isolate for five days.
• Should not attend school after five days if still symptomatic.
• Who are symptomatic but have not tested positive should not attend school.

Where students become symptomatic at school, they should: 

• Be collected by their parents/carers.
• Undergo testing for COVID-19. 

It is strongly recommended that staff: 

• Who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home and isolate for five days.
• Should not attend school after five days if still symptomatic.
• Who are symptomatic but have not tested positive should not attend school.

COVID-19 reporting requirements: The Department of Health recommends that a person who tests positive for COVID-19 should inform those with whom they have recently been in contact, including their workplace, school and household. Schools no longer have to alert their school community of positive cases. 

Face masks: Staff and students who wish to wear a face mask should be supported to do so, and schools should continue to make face masks available for staff, students and visitors. The Department of Health recommends that masks should be worn by a person who is a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 when leaving home. Additionally, the department recommends that masks should be worn by a person who has COVID-19 for 10 days after a positive test when they need to leave home. 

Close Contacts: A close contact (a person who has spent more than four hours with someone who has COVID 19 inside a house, accommodation or care facility) is no longer required to quarantine, as long as they follow the additional safety measures:

• Notify the school if returning within the 5 day period.
• Undertake RAT testing on school days within the 5 day period (unless the 4 week exemption applies)
• Wear a mask indoors if an adult or a student (aged 8 years or above).
• Not visit hospitals or care facilities.
• Avoid contact with people at higher risk of infection.

If symptomatic take a RAT or PCR test.

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. A reminder that the loops are to be used for quick drop off and pick up. If your child requires help with their seatbelt etc please use the car parks to keep the loop moving at a steady pace. 

2. 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 why they are absent. This is a government requirement. 

3. Rapid Antigen Testing: RAT's will be provided to students and staff for the remainder of the school year. On a semi regular basis, students will be provided with RAT's but if at any stage you require additional kits, please contact the office.

4.  As part of our SunSmart practices we require that all children and staff wear hats whilst outside this term. Please ensure that your child has a school bucket hat and that it is also clearly named. NO HAT = NO PLAY. Children without hats will have to stay in an undercover area during 1st and 2nd lunch.

Cricket Blasters

This week our Foundations to Year 4 students were lucky enough to have Mick Howley visit and give them a taste of the cricket blasters program!  We thank Mick for his time. For more info see flyer attached. 

Walk to School - This Friday

This Friday, 4th November our school will participate in Walk Safely to School Day which will then be a focus for our school for the month of November. There will be a walking group that leaves the Dennington Store in Drummond street at 8.20am if your child would like to join in.

Poppy Appeal

The 2022 Poppy Appeal is here. For more than 100 years, the Poppy Appeal has raised funds to provide important services for veterans and their families in their time of need.

We have a variety of items for sale at the office ranging from $1 to $5 for any students wishing to make a purchase. 

Help for Communities affected by floods

The recent floods in Northern Victoria have had a devastating impact on the communities. Having grown up in Elmore and Rochester, these floods have affected many family members and friends. My old school of St Joseph's in Rochester is now closed until next year. After speaking to the Principal there about how our community can support them, she has asked for board games for the children to play with once they can get them to a facility for the children to go to. She said they have lost a lot of games in the floods and hope that the children can then play some of these games together to reconnect.  I am also looking for a means of transport to get them either to Bendigo or Elmore as the Rochester post office is closed. If anyone knows of a transport company who would be willing to take these games if they had a truck heading that way, please let the office know. The children have already made some cards as part of Mission Month, for the children of St Joseph's which we will send with any games that we recieve.

Thank you for your support, Jan Madden

Student Awards

Happy Birthday

A big Happy Birthday to Kathryn C and Noah S who celebrate their birthday this week. We hope you have a fantastic day!

Parents and Friends Social Group News

Parents and Friends Social Group

The next meeting will be held Monday 21st November at 7.30pm in the Gathering Space.

Carols by the Merri

Planning is underway for this year’s Carol’s by the Merri. Our cake stall will be organised by Sarah Huntly, however since this is her last year as a parent at the school she would love to share her knowledge and    co-plan with some other parents. If you would like to to help her out please email shuntly@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au

This is a great event to get involved in since we will all be there watching our children on the night.

Dennington's Day Out

A yellow envelope was sent home last week with the eldest child in your family. These packs contained a form to pre-purchase unlimited ride passes as well as raffle books. 

Thank you to the families who have already sold all of their raffle tickets. If you would like more they are available at the office.

The next meeting will be held tomorrow, Tuesday 1st November at 7.00pm in the Gathering Space. 

Major Raffle $5,000 draw!

All tickets are now due back at school. They will be drawn at DDO on November 13th at 2.00pm. If you have lost your tickets please let the office know. Any families wanting more tickets can collect them from the office.

Crazy Hair Day

Tomorrow, Tuesday November 1st will be Crazy Hair day. Families are encouraged to dig deep and bring in their coins to help raise funds for the Clarke family. 

Thomas Clarke is currently living in the Royal Children’s Hospital after receiving a bone marrow transplant from his super star sister Amy. We as a school community would love to help the family out financially to assist with travel costs to and from melbourne. 

Students are asked to bring in coins and the class with the most coins will win a prize! The Parents and Friends Social Group will also then be making a donation on top of what is raised.

The school has also started a GoFundMe page which aims to rasie funds for the Clarke family to assist with the costs of accomodation, travel and meals whilst they are in Melbourne with Thomas. If you wish to access this fundraiser, then please click this link; https://gofund.me/360d520a

Dennington Dash

The Dennington Dash is our twilight fun run/walk! Please return registration forms and money to the office.  If you need anymore forms please let me know! Bring along friends, grandparents, cousins, sporting groups & work mates! Whether you’re up for a competitive 3km run or a casual 3km walk, all are welcome!

We have a great range of age category place-getting prizes and heaps of spot prizes! The Dash is open to anyone who wants to participate and registration is also available on the night. A BBQ is also available post race! $2 sausages and $1 drinks!

We would love to see as many families there as we can! We are looking for volunteers to help on the night to help with registrations, cutting fruit, bbq, time keeping & course marshals. Please reach out to me if you can help!

Please mark Friday 25th November in your calendars! Registration open from 5:15pm and race from 6.00pm!

A massive thank you to our sponsors for all the donations for our prizes. 

Crazy Camel Fundraising

After what seems like forever, CRAZY CAMEL is back!

CRAZY CAMEL is a fun and easy way to raise money for our school by celebrating the creativity of our students.

The children have all been busy preparing amazing pieces of art for you to turn into treasured keepsakes. Have a look in the office foyer for examples of what these incredible works of art can be turned into.

They make fabulous Christmas gifts too! Who needs a calendar for next year? Does someone you know need a diary? How about a tote bag to carry it in?

Once the pieces are finished, they will be displayed in the stadium during assembly on Friday 4^th November and Friday 11^th November for you to admire.

Keep an eye out for the note coming home soon.

Ordering will be done online.  You will just need to either log on using the QR code or by jumping onto their website, and quoting you child’s name and class. Ordering will close on the 15^th November.

In order for us to have these pieces back to you for Christmas, the art works will only be viewable at school, with orders and payments online.

So please support our school and your children by ordering their inspired, original masterpieces. 

Cake Raffle

The following families are rostered on this Friday:

Ridley, Romanes, Ruff, Rupanga and Vickery.

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. 

School Sponsorship

A big thank you to Fry Painting, Brownies Shed, South West Pipe Relining and gforce employment & recruitment 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 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

Tuesday November 1st: Crazy Hair Day!

Tuesday November 1st: DDO Meeting at 7.00pm in the Gathering Space

Friday November 4th: Walk to school sday

Monday November 7th: School Closure Day: Scripture

Sunday November 13th: Dennington's Day Out with Major Raffle Drawn at 2.00pm

Monday Novemebr 21st: P & F Meeting in the Gathering Space at 7.30pm

Friday November 25th: Dennington Dash

Friday December 2nd: Carols by the Merri

Wednesday December 7th: P & F Dinner (venue to be confirmed)

Tuesday December 13th: Orientation Day. Family BBQ at 6.00pm

Wednesday December 14th: Mass of Thanksgiving at 10.00am

Wednesday December 14th: Gr 6 Graduation at 6.30pm

Friday December 16th: Students Last day- Assembly at 11.00am