Week 4 July 31st, 2023: Newsletter #23
- Acknowledgement of Country
- Week 4 Prayer
- From the Principal
- Resilience Rights & Respectful Relationships
- Cyber Safety Presentation- Tomorrow
- Foundations- Inquiry
- Father's Day Breakfast - Friday 1st September
- St. John's Dance Concert
- Walk Safely to School
- Important School reminders
- Around our school- Week 3
- Student Awards- Week 3
- Happy Birthday
- Lowes Uniform Sale
- Parents and Friends Social Group News
- 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 4 Prayer
From the Principal
Happy Monday everyone.
Our school fee statements will be coming home soon via email. At this time of year we are hopeful that all families will be in the position where they are comfortable with the amount they have paid already and all being well, should be able to meet the rest of the requirements in term 4.
As always, if you are experiencing financial hardship then we ask that you approach the office to see what assistance we can provide. We do stress the importance of communication regarding fee payment as it is extremely uncomfortable for Gayle and Julie and embarrassing for you when they have to contact families regarding fee payment.
Enjoy your week, Ben
Resilience Rights & Respectful Relationships
To build on our other Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs RELATE and Zones of Regulation we plan to implement the Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships (RRRR) program across Grades F-6 this term.
The RRRR curriculum is an evidence-based whole school approach to SEL, where it develops students' personal and social capabilities including self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and social management.
RRRR is a wide ranging initiative to help students deal with a range of challenges they may face and covers topics including:
• Emotional Literacy
• Personal Strengths
• Positive Coping
• Problem-Solving
• Stress Management
• Help-seeking
• Gender & Identity
• Positive Gender Relationships
RRRR promotes equality and helps students learn how to build healthy relationships. This initiative prepares students to face challenges by developing problem-solving skills and build empathy, resilience and confidence.
RRRR is a core component of the Victorian Curriculum and was introduced to all schools to increase students' Social Emotional Learning and change attitudes and prevent the prevalence of family violence in future generations.
More information about the RRRR curriculum can be found at:
https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/pages/respectfulrelationships.aspx
Cyber Safety Presentation- Tomorrow
We are hosting a ThinkUKnow cyber safety and security presentation for all parents and carers of the Grade 3-6 classes. ThinkUKnow is an initiative coordinated by the Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police and is specifically targeted at what our young people are seeing, saying and doing online. We really encourage you to attend as this should be an incredibly valuable information session about how we can help our children be safe online.
This parent/carer session will be hosted on Tuesday August 1st at 6.30pm.
Unfortunately due to illness, our presentation for the Grade 3/4 and Gr 5/6 students will take place next week.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Amy Atwell - aatwell@sjdennington.catholic.
Foundations- Inquiry
Our Foundation students inquiry unit this term is 'The changing world'.
They have planted seeds to predict and observe the changes they go through and what influences these changes. They have picked a lovely sunny spot in the front office for their seedlings and each day they take turns in caring for them.
After a slow start the students were thrilled to return today after the weekend to discover they have sprouted.
Father's Day Breakfast - Friday 1st September
Please complete the google form to RSVP to our Father's Day Breakfast. We would love to see as many Dad's and special people as we can! RSVP's close on Friday 25th August, thank you.
St. John's Dance Concert
Walk Safely to School
The Warrnambool City Council have produced the following attachments as a means of highlighting walking paths around Dennington and safe walking routes to St. John's. On Friday September 8th there will be a special Healthy Moves display showcased in our stadium- all community members are welcome and further details will be provided.
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.
Entering the School Buildings: All visitors during the school day must enter via the front office. This includes children late to school.
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.
Student News: If you have some exciting news you would like to share with our school community we would love to hear about it. Please email admin@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au
Parent/School Communication: When contacting school staff please refer to our Communications Guidelines for the appropriate processes, this can be found under the forms and documents tab on our schoolzine app and in the Parent Information tab in PAM.
Parent Participation Levy: Please ensure you record the activity and the amount of hours you volunteered your time for on the following form - Parent Participation Levy Activity Record
Around our school- Week 3
Student Awards- Week 3
Happy Birthday
Best wishes to Harvey T, Ella R, Lennox W and Lawson C who celebrate their birthday this week. Happy Birthday, we hope you have a very special day!
Lowes Uniform Sale
Parents and Friends Social Group News
Meeting
Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday 22nd August in the Gathering Space at 7.00pm.
Dennington's Day Out!
Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday 16th August in the Gathering Space at 7.00pm.
This year’s ‘Dennington’s Day Out’ will be held on Sunday 12th November. For further information, or to discuss the Corporate Sponsorship packages below, please contact ddo@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au
Wednesday Treats
This weeks treats is Potato Cakes.
Tuesday volunteers 9.00am: Emily, Tahlia, Elyse, Laura and Shelley.
Wednesday volunteers 12.00pm: Nicole R, Nicole D and Theresa.
Next weeks treat forms will be sent home tomorrow and are due back by 3.00pm each Monday. No late orders can be accepted.
Barbie Movie Fundraiser
Thank you to our school community for supporting our Barbie Movie Fundraiser yesterday! We had a lot of fun with a terrific turn out.
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.
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 week:
Hampton, Gysen, Gurry, Greene (Sullivan).
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, O'Brien Electrical Warrnambool, Brownies Shed, Tubbie & Rayz Indoor Batting house and Carry On Travel who sponsor our school!
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 1st August: Cyber Safety Presentation at 6.30pm in the Shared Space
Wednesday 16th August: DDO Meeting in the Gathering Space at 7.00pm
Sunday 20th August: Sacrament of First Eucharist
Tuesday 22nd August: Parents and Friends Social Group Meeting at 7.00pm in the Gathering Space
Friday 25th August: Learning Walk at 9.00am
Monday 28th August: School Closure Day
Friday 1st September: Father's Day Breakfast at 7.00am - 8.30am
Wednesday 6th September: St. John's Dance Concert- Dancing through the decades at 6.30pm
Friday 8th September: Healthy Moves Display in the Stadium
Wednesday 11th October: Gradparents & Special Friends Day