Week 8, November 21st, 2022: Newsletter #36
- Acknowledgement of Country
- Week 8 Prayer
- From the Principal
- Opening the Doors Foundation Grant 2023
- Covid 19: Term 4 Updated Guidelines
- Swimming
- Important School Reminders
- Their Care
- Student Awards
- Happy Birthday
- Parents and Friend's Social Group News
- Cake Raffle
- 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 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 8 Prayer
From the Principal
Greetings everyone,
School Fee Statements: All families with an outstanding balance on their 2022 school fees will have received an updated statement via email last week. We ask that these oustanding balances are paid as soon as convenient. As always, anyone experiencing financial difficulty is encouraged to speak with Gayle McPherson or Ben van de Camp.
F-4 Swimming Program: We are looking forward to our swimming program continuing this week. As previously advised, there will be some initial grading performed by Splash Factory staff and there may be some changes to your child's group over the course of the 2 week program.
Swimming lessons will take place on the following days;
Monday Nov 21st, Tuesday Nov 22nd, Wednesday Nov 23rd, Thursday Nov 24th.
Can all families please ensure that children in Grade F-4 come with their swimming clothes on these days.
Grandparents Day: On the afternoon of Friday November 25th we will welcome grandparents and special friends to our school to join with our students. Keep an eye our on our social pages to details.
Enjoy your week, Ben.
Opening the Doors Foundation Grant 2023
Opening The Doors Foundation provides grants to families to assist with the extra costs of schooling of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. If this is your child’s first application with Opening The Doors Foundation you will need to provide/submit a Confirmation of Aboriginality Certificate with your application. If this is not able to be obtained the school can provide a phone number to call. We are more than happy to assist families with this process should you qualify.
Rates are Foundation - $750 and Yr. 1-6 $600, Year 7 $1,200 and Yr. 8 - 12 $1,000. All applicants must be enrolled in a Catholic or Independent educational institution located within the State boundaries of Victoria. Please contact Gayle McPherson on 5562 5362 for further information.
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.
Swimming
Our swimming program for Grades F - 4 has entered its second and final week with lessons taking place today, Tuesday Nov 22nd, Wednesday Nov 23rd and concluding on Thursday Nov 24th. We thank families for being organised and ensuring students are sent to school with their swimming gear each day.
Important School Reminders
1. 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.
2. Sign in and out: Parents collecting their children throughout the day for appointments must come into the office and sign them in and out via the ipad. This also applies to students arriving late and leaving early from school. Please ensure you allow enough time to come in and complete this process. It is a requirement that parents complete this task, not office staff. However if you require assistance, we are more than happy to help!
3. 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. Please note we do not keep spare hats at school.
4. Our school uniform provider is now Lowes at Gateway Plaza. A number of items are now available to purchase from the store including hats and polar fleece jumpers. We have been informed the entire range will be available by January.
Their Care
Student Awards
Happy Birthday
Best wishes to Jackson P, Noah C, Chantelle S, Leo R, Macy M, Jackson J and Elijah S who celebrate their birthday this week. Happy Birthday, we hope you have a great day!
Parents and Friend's Social Group News
Parents and Friend's Social Group
It has been great to see families jumping onboard with all of our fundraisers throughout the year. It's often at this time of year that we put forward suggestions to the school regarding potential projects which could be funded from funds raised; this will be discussed at our next meeting.
The next meeting will now be held THIS Wednesday 23rd November at 7.30pm in the Gathering Space.
Dennington Day Out
The committee are meeting for dinner TONIGHT Monday 21st November 6.30pm at The Cally to celebrate their efforts and debrief on the event. If you have any feeback on the day that you wish to share please email Ben van de Camp by 7.00pm tonight - principal@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au
Dennington Dash
The annual Dennington Dash is THIS FRIDAY night. We would love to see as many families there as we can! Bring your prams and go for a casual 3k walk or invite your teammates or workmates and see who can last in the 3k run. Registration forms are due back TOMORROW.
We have some great prizes are up for grabs! Registration open from 5.15pm on the night and the race will begin at 6.00pm. Post race BBQ sausages are $2 and drinks are $1. These events can’t run without volunteers. If you are available to help cook the BBQ, cut up fruit or timekeep on the night please contact Vanessa on 0409220386.
A massive thank you to all our sponsors who make the event possible! This event would not go ahead without the dedicated planning from Vanessa Vickery. Thank you for the countless hours you have put into making the event a success!
Carols by the Merri- December 2nd
There are less than two weeks to go until the Carols and we would love some baked goods for our stall and some volunteers to help out on the day. Please fill in the flyer (below and being sent home today) or the Google form. Click here for the link.
Thank you for your help!
Cake Raffle
The following families are rostered on this Friday:
Seymour, Shiell, Smith, Staaks, and Toogood (Lincoln).
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
Monday November 21st: 2022 DDO Debrief Meeting- Cally Hotel at 6.30pm
Wednesday November 23rd: P&F Social Group meeting
Friday November 25th: Grandparents day
Friday November 25th: Dennington Dash
Monday November 28th: Thier Care Parent Information Session in the Gathering Space at 5.30pm
Friday December 2nd: Carols by the Merri
Tuesday December 6th: SAC Meeting
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