Week 7 November 13th 2023: Newsletter #36
- Acknowledgement of Country
- Week 7 Prayer
- From the Principal
- Family Food Bank
- Walk to School
- Student News
- Around our School- Week 6
- Student Awards- Week 6
- Happy Birthday
- Parents and Friends Social Group News
- School Sponsorship
- Star of the Sea Bulletin
- Community Notices
- Important School reminders
- 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 7 Prayer
From the Principal
Doshisha Elementary School Partnership
In 2017 St Joseph’s Primary school began a partnership with Doshisha Elementary School with its aims to:
- Develop mutual understanding and friendship,
- Promote better understanding of our nations, culture, economy, history, customs and environment
- Encourage engagement in each country's language, written and spoken.
Prior to the Covid Pandemic, Doshisha students and teachers and students and staff from Warrnambool & District Catholic Schools have been visiting each other, these trips have been extremely beneficial for all involved.
It is exciting that these visits will commence again in 2024. Students from Doshisa will be visiting St Joseph’s next March and will be billeted with school families and in Sep 2024, the Warrnambool and District Catholic Schools Network will be sending a group of Year 6 students to Kyoto, Japan in September next year.
Both of these opportunities provide children with real cultural insights through building relationships.
2024 Japan Trip Information Session
To gather more information about the trip please attend the following session.
4:00pm - 5:00pm, Wednesday 22nd November
St. Joseph's Primary School, 70 Botanic Road, Warrnambool.
The aim of this meeting is to present information regarding the proposed Japan Trip for students in September 2024. (Year 6 students, and the possibility of Year 5 students which is to be confirmed)
We are currently gathering details about pricing, and will have more information regarding this at the meeting.
Fee Statements: All families with amounts outstanding will have received updated fee statement earlier this month; we kindly ask that outstanding amounts are paid by December 8th.
As always, should you have any difficulty meeting your Fee commitments then please contact Gayle or Ben.
Covid-19 Cases: We are experiencing several cases of Covid-19 in our community at the moment so we ask all parents to be vigilant when managing suspected cases. Isolation periods are still 5 days or until they have no symptoms and test negative. We no longer have any RAT tests so you will need to purchase these from a Chemist.
F-4 Swimming Program: Our program has now concluded and I thank all families and staff for their support in making it another overwhelming success. I'd also like to acknowledge the staff from the Splash Factory for their attention to detail, their professionalism and their friendliness which made the lessons really fun and engaging.
Enjoy your week, Ben
Dennington's Day Out!: What an amazing day we had yesterday at our very own DDO. It was the best yet! It had something for everyone and was a great celebration of all things Dennington.
On behalf of the school community, our thanks to Sarah Howley and her committee of hard workers who spend most of the year planning DDO- it was simply sensational and your hard work does not go unnoticed.
And to everyone who helped in any way- we say thanks!!!
Family Food Bank
Many families in our community are struggling at the moment for a variety of reasons. We are hoping that there may be some families in our community who are able to provide them support in the form of a cooked meal that can be frozen eg. lasagne, casserole, pasta bake or the like.
If you think you can provide assistance please speak with Ben.
Walk to School
We are encouraging students to walk, ride, scoot or skate to school for the entire month of November.
Every Friday in November, we will have staff at the Dennington Store in Drummond street at 8.10am for a 8.20am departure to walk to school with the students.
Thanks to those who walked last Friday! Our numbers are growing each week. Let's keep it up!
Student News
Congratulations to Jax on his adorable new baby sister Ivy! Jax is clearly very smitten, what a little cutie. Enjoy this special time together.
Around our School- Week 6
Student Awards- Week 6
Happy Birthday
A huge Happy Birthday to Ryan B, Lily H, Alexander M, Emillion O, Maggie O and Harvey O who celebrate their special day this week! We hope you have a magnificent day.
Parents and Friends Social Group News
Meeting
Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday 21st November at 7.00pm in the Gathering Space. Everybody welcome!
Bunnings BBQ
We have been lucky enough to secure a date for Bunnings BBQ during the busy season and now need volunteers to man the stall on Saturday 2nd December. This event is for adults only and children are not permitted to help on the day.
Please click the below link if you or a family member are able to assist on the stall during the day. We will have a facebook post closer to the date looking for any final donations needed.
Carols by the Merri
Carols by the Merri will this year be held on Friday 1st December and we need your help!!
Please click on the link below to volunteer your time in our cake stall or to help bake the many slices needed to sell on the night. This is the perfect event to volunteer for as all children perform on the night.
Dennington's Day Out!
Yesterday was our annual Dennington’s Day Out and what a turnout we had! A great big thank you to the committee who work all year round to organise this fantastic event.
Thank you to all of the businesses who sponsored this year's event. These businesses are the building blocks for the incredible event we are able to put on. With their support DDO grows in size each year proving to be bigger and better.
Thank you to all of the parents who volunteered their time in the lead up to Sunday and on the day. Don’t forget to log your participation points via the tile in the schoolzine app.
Our next meeting will be held THIS WEDNESDAY 15th November 7.00pm at Logans Restaurant.
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:
Brown (Ryan), Brown (Louie), Brown (Harvey) and Brooks (Seth).
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
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.
TheirCare: To make a booking with TheirCare, our outside school hours care provider please click on the following link and select St. John's Dennington as the booking location https://theircare.com.au/
Upcoming Events
Monday 13th/Tuesday 14th/Wednesday 15th November: Gr 5/6 Camp
Wednesday 15th November: DDO Dinner Metting at Logans at 7.00pm.
Thursday 30th November: Foundation Extended Stay program
Friday 1st December: Carols by the Merri at 6.00pm (Our children are performing at this)
Saturday 2nd December: Bunnings BBQ
Monday 4th/Tuesday 5th/Wednesday 6th/Friday 8th December: Gr 5/6 Surf Awareness program
Thursday 7th December: Gr 1/2 Extended Stay program
Tuesday 12th December: Orientation Day
Wednesday 13th December: Mass of Thanksgiving at 10.00am
Thursday 14th December: Gr 6 Graduation Ceremony
Friday 15th December: Term 4 concludes at 3.20pm
Tuesday 30th January 2024: F-6 Classes Commence