Week 6, February 27th, 2023: Newsletter #5

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 6 Prayer

From the Principal

School Uniform Expectations: With Lowes possessing nearly all aspects of the school uniform we would like to take the chance to restate expectations regarding our uniform and its wearing.

• Students are to wear their summer uniform for Term 1.
• Hats MUST be worn during this term at recess, lunchtime and other outdoor events. For students who don’t have their hat, they will need to sit in the Passive Play area. Please ensure that your children have their name on their hat and all items of their uniform.
• On Sports day the children wear their sports top, school sport shorts (these feature our logo) and white socks with sneakers. They can choose to wear a jumper, either the windcheater or the polar fleece top.
• All other days they choose the following options;
  • school dress with black shoes and white socks, either the windcheater or the polar fleece jumper.
  • Boys: grey shorts/pants with the school polo, grey socks, black shoes and either the windcheater or the polar fleece jumper. 
  • Girls: blue shorts/pants with the school polo, white socks, black shoes and either the windcheater or the polar fleece jumper.
  • On all school days except (Physical Education Day) students are required to wear ALL BLACK SHOES. These can be leather style school shoes or all black runners. 
• Any students that have hair longer than shoulder length are required to tie it up.
• No jewellery is to be worn to school, except for earrings- studs/sleepers only.

Enjoy your week, Ben.

Project Compassion

Last week the Season of lent began with a key focus for Christians during this time bing giving. A program that we support at St. John’s is the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allows Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to alleviate poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice.

We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through your prayer, fasting and almsgiving by supporting Project Compassion. Project Compassion boxes were distrubuted to families last week for their donations, if you did not receive one please feel free to drop some coins off at the office or you can donate online via the Caritas Australia website at: lent.caritas.org.au    

Each week we will feature the story of a person from around the world that is receiving support from Project Compassion. 

Important School reminders

Russell Street Crossing: If parents and children are needing to cross Russell Street then it must be done at the supervised pedestrian crossing. This is the only safe place to do.

Parking: Please refrain from parking in the designated disability car spaces in the carparks if you do not have a sticker displayed on your vehicle. It is important these spaces are reserved for families that need them.

We also ask that if you have to hop out of the car to assist your child into the car that you park your car and collect them rather than hold up the loop. 

Student Messages: Please ensure change of pick up arrangement messages etc are received by the office ideally by 3.00pm and no later than 3.10pm to allow office staff adequate time to pass them on to students.

Foundation Students: Will commence full time (No Wednesdays off) on the week beginning Monday March 6th.

Hats: We do not sell or keep spare hats at school, they are available to purchase from Lowes at Gateway Plaza. Students without hats will play in the Passive Play area. Please ensure that your children have their name on their hat and all items of their uniform.

PAM Accounts: If you are yet to set up your new account and complete your child's medical profile, please do so asap. If you need assistance or the email with the link to create your account resent please contact the office on 5562 5362 or email admin@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au  

Camps Sports and Excursions (CSEF): A reminder to hand in your CSEF application forms with a copy of your concession card. Families that submitted them last year and have no changes (new students starting) are not required to complete a new form. Forms are available to download from the Schoolzine app.

Junior Literacy Information Session

On Wednesday 8th March at 2.30pm we are holding a Literacy Information Session in the Foundation classrooms for parents of students in F-2. Please enter the school office to sign in prior to the session.

The purpose of this session is to show parents how we teach reading and writing at the school, how writing has changed at school and ideas to use at home to support your child.

The ReLATE Model

In conjunction with MacKillop Family Services, St. John's participates in the ReLATE program across all grades. 

ReLATE combines educational research, social science, behavioural theory and neuroscience and applies a trauma informed lens, to bring practical strategies to schools to embed in their daily practice. ReLATE positions schools and systems, to create safe, supportive and predictable environments, enhance teachers’ understanding and responses to behaviour and improve student learning and wellbeing outcomes.

ReLATE was developed in Australia by MacKillop Family Services, drawing on the practice model implemented in our schools and delivered by The MacKillop Institute. At its core, ReLATE promotes transformational relationships, not only for students, but also for school leaders, teachers and other staff working with children, young people and families.

The ReLATE model is a commitment, as a school community or system, to sustainable and positive cultural change. Within ReLATE, wellbeing is understood as an essential precondition for quality teaching and learning. Safe, predictable and supportive learning environments are created and maintained in classrooms where students are not just known, but deeply understood. School leaders and staff are supported both on their professional learning and development journey and in their wellbeing.

On Friday 5th May, we have a school closure day scheduled where all staff will be participating in training in ReLATE.

Pokemon Cards

A number of children have been bringing Pokeman Cards to school and swapping them. We appreciate that a number of children really enjoy this activity so we are trying to prevent any potential issues.  It would be helpful if parents could please discuss this with their child and communicate the following rules. 

• Only swap cards that you are happy to give up. 
• Only swap with friends.
• Don't bring anything precious to school. 

These rules will also be communicated to children at school. Hopefully we can prevent any tears before they happen. 

Student Allergies and Food items

We have students within our school with a range of allergies from nuts to dairy.  While we do not ban specific foods entering the school we do try and minimise the risks such as discouraging the sharing of food.

Please note we are not a nut free school we are a nut aware school.

From time to time students bring in treats such as cupcakes and chocolates to celebrate their birthday to share with their peers. If your child is gluten free or dairy free etc feel free to drop in some labelled food items we can keep at school and hand out to them on these occasions.

We hope this reiterates the importanance of medical profiles being completed and the need for them to be regularly updated if there is a change in situation.

Interschool Tennis

This morning St. John's competed in the inter-school tennis down at the Warrnambool Lawn Tennis Club.  The team consisted of Aiden, Layne, Hugh and Sasha from Grade 6.  The four students competed in a round robin competition.  All of the students should be congratulated on their efforts on the court and their sportsmanship shown to their competitors.  Congratulations to Sasha, who won the girls section and will now proceed through to the next round.  Thanks to Belinda, Sasha's Mum and Mrs Milroy for umpiring on the day.   

School Athletics Carnival - Change of Date

Due to a clash with NAPLAN, our School Athletics Carnival has been rescheduled to Wednesday 22nd March. 

Details and timetable for how the day will run are below:

• The carnival will be held at BrauerAnder Park.
• Students are to be dropped off by 8:45am ready to assemble in House colours, bus children will be transported from school.
• Children will wear their sports uniform and hat, please plan for wet weather. (If there is a change then we will notify families via Facebook and SZ App) 
• No food will be provided at the venue, so please ensure your child has a fully packed lunch as well as a drink bottle filled with water.  A coffee van will be on site for parents, grandparents and teachers.
• Students will compete in their age groups for the events according to the School Sport Victoria guidelines. Age groups are determined by their age at 31st December eg. if a child is 7 now but turns 8 on December 10th this year, then they compete as an 8 year old.
• 1500m and 800m running events will be ran during PE sessions with Mrs Boyd. Times and points will be allocated to the scoring for the day.
• Younger students will be doing some modified events Eg. Vortex instead of shotput.
• Only staff and event helpers will be able to enter the actual athletics field, parents are welcome to view the events from the outside of the fence.

2023 Sacramental Program

The Star of the Sea Parish, South West Coast in partnership with our school and all catholic schools in our parish, is about to begin our Sacramental Program for 2023.

This year all schools will complete sacraments in the following grade levels;

• Grade 3- Confirmation
• Grade 4- Eucharist
• Grade 6- Reconciliation

These specified Grades represent a change for our school as previously Gr 2 children had received the Sacrament of Confirmation, therefore this means that many of our current Gr 3 children will have already received the Sacrament of Confirmation and will not need to participate in the Sacrament this year. Sacramental program dates are as follows;

Sacrament of Reconciliation- Gr 6

• Parent Information Night- Wednesday March 1st at 7:00pm, please register for this event here.
• Reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation- Wednesday March 29th at 6.00pm 

Sacrament of Eucharist- Gr 4

• Parent Information Night- Wednesday July 19th at 7:00pm (time tbc)
• Reception of the Sacrament of Eucharist- Sunday August 20th at 10.00am Mass

Covid-19 Updates

The current recommendation regarding COVID positive people is for them to isolate as soon as you test positive for at least 5 days and until you don't have symptoms. We are asking families to please be vigilant and test your child if they are unwell or displaying any flu like symptoms.  If your child tests positive please let the office know asap, siblings are still able to attend school however we recommend they wear a mask if over 8 years old. 

It is recommended that rapid antigen tests (RATs) are used by students and staff if they:

• have symptoms of COVID-19 infection, no matter how mild
• are a household or close contact of someone who has COVID-19
• are a social contact of someone who has COVID-19.

The Department of Health recommends that all Victorians report their positive RAT result via the online form or by calling 1800 675 398. Principals are no longer required to inform their school community of a positive case associated with the school, however if we have large numbers in specific areas then we will. 

In addition to our school, RATs are available for all Victorians from council sites. Individuals can obtain two free packs (10 tests) for themselves and two free packs (10 tests) for each household member. People with disability and their carers can get up to four free packs (20 tests) in line with existing RAT distribution for people with disability.

School Photos- Next Week!

Annual school photos including sibling photos will be taken by Arthur Reed Photos on Tuesday 7th March 2023. Students are to come to school dressed in their sport uniforms.

There is no need to return any forms or money to school. Unique image codes will be issued to all students on/after photo day so families can register online to view images when they become available in the webshop.

Registration is simple, just follow the 3 simple steps on your child’s personalised flyer once you receive it and remember to add the codes for all your children attending this school.

Even if you registered last year, it’s important that you do again this year using your child’s 2023 image code to link their images for the current year with your contact details.

When images are ready to view and in the webshop, all parents who have registered will be notified by SMS and email.

Once registered, please wait for notification that 2023 images are online to view before making your purchase.

Happy Birthday

Best wishes to Taylor M, Zach R, Hary M, Carter A, Sienna C, Billy F and Luke R who celebrate their birthday this week. Happy Birthday, we hope you have a wonderful day with family and friends!

Student Awards

Parents and Friends Social Group News

Dennington DASH

THIS FRIDAY the DASH is back for 2023. This is a great night to bring along teammates for the 3k run or have a fun stroll in the 3k walk. Lots of spot prizes to be won on the night.

Raffle books are due back to the office by this Thursday! If you would like more raffle tickets they can be collected from the office and will be for sale on the night. 

Online registrations are now open. Please click the link below to sign up prior to the night. Clicking this link helps organisers make sure they have enough supplies for the night.

Dennington Dash online entry form

We are in need of at least 8 more volunteers for the night especially to help cook and serve the BBQ. This is a great event to volunteer at as you can be cooking the BBQ whilst your children are out walking the course with their friends. To volunteer click on the link below.

Volunteer Form

Dennington Day Out

The Dennington Day Out is St. John’s major fundraiser for the year and is held in November of each year. Planning for the event is carried out throughout the year beginning with their first meeting tomorrow night. This is a very laid back committee who always welcome new parents to come along and share their ideas.

The meeting will be at Raffery's Tavern with dinner from 7.00pm and a brief meeting following from 8.00pm. Please RSVP via the post in the School Community Facebook group.

                   Cake Raffle

Each week on a Friday, 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.

If you happen to be rostered on for a school closure day then you are not required to bring a cake in.

All students will have the opportunity 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. 

The following families are rostered on this Friday:

Sweeney, Stuart (Sam), Stuart (Lottie), Storer and Stonehouse.

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/ 

School Sponsorship

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.

A big thank you to Fry Painting who has jumped onbaord to sponsor our school!

Emmanuel College Opening Evening

Community Notices

Upcoming Events

Tuesday 28th February: DDO Dinner catch up- Rafferty's Tavern at 7.00pm 

Wednesday 1st March: Sacrament of Reconciliation- Gr 6

Friday 3rd March: Dennington Dash

Tuesday 7th March: School Photos

Wednesday 8th March: Foundation students at school full time

Wednesday 8th March: Junior Parents  F-2 Literacy Information Session at 2.30pm 

Wednesday 22nd March: School Athletics Carnival (New date)

Thursday 6th April: End of Term One and Easter Raffle Draw

Monday 24th April: Term 2 Commences

Friday 5th May: School Closure Day