June 10th, 2025: Newsletter #18
- Acknowledgement of Country
- Prayer for the Start of Winter
- From the Principal
- 2026 Foundation Enrolments- Close Tomorrow
- Foodbank & Support Options
- Hands on Learning
- Eisteddfod
- Learning Walk
- STEM
- Wellbeing
- Happy Birthday
- Around our School- Week 7
- Parents and Friend's Social Group
- 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 as the traditional custodians of the land on which we learn, pray and grow. 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, working together towards a reconciled Australia.
Prayer for the Start of Winter
From the Principal
Hello everyone, welcome to a new week at St. John's.
3 Way Conversations: In term 2 we offer our formal conversation opportunities for staff to meet with parents and students, these sessions will take place on Monday June 23rd and Tuesday June 24th. Bookings for these conversations opened last Wednesday and instructions on how to book a timeslot were included in the email.
To make a booking, please log into your PAM account, select the appropriate teacher and the appointment time. If you have any issues making your booking, please contact the office.
These conversations are important in building the relationship between home and school and assisting your child with their learning. Where possible, we encourage both parents (where appropriate) to attend these interviews as well as the child who will spend part of the session talking through
To ensure that the 3 Way Conversation process runs smoothly, can I ask that parents take note of the following;
- If you have mutliple children, please do not schedule back to back appointments, if you arrive late at your appointment, the time does not start from when you arrive but when your appointed time started.
- Each appointment is scheduled for a 15 minute window, and the teacher will start to wind it up at around the 12 minute mark. If you feel before hand that you need aditional time please feel free to contact your child's teacher to arrange a separate time.
Annual Report to the School Community: As part of our annual reporting process, a copy of the 2024 Annual is available to read on our schools website.
Term 2 Assembly Roster: Monday June 16th- Leadership and Monday June 23rd- Leadership.
Enjoy the week ahead, Ben.
2026 Foundation Enrolments- Close Tomorrow
Foodbank & Support Options
At St. John’s, we are proud of our strong tradition of caring for one another. One way we do this is through our Food Bank initiative, where families volunteer to provide meals for others in our school community during times of need—whether it’s supporting someone through illness or offering comfort during a time of loss.
We’re currently inviting families who are willing to donate a meal—either homemade or store-bought to support this important initiative. These meals make a real difference to those receiving them. If you are able to make a donation please contact our Pastoral care Leader Jasmine - jkoch@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au
If you and your family are experiencing hardship or a difficult time, along with supplying you a meal, there are also other support services available that Jasmine can assist you with. Please do not hesitate to reach out to her.
We are also aware of two organisations where support can be provided also;
- 'Fitted for Work' is a place in Melbourne that helps people get brand new clothes if they are trying to get a job or struggling.
- Ask Izzy https://askizzy.org.au/ is a website that then links users to many groups that provide support in various manners, including housing and food.
Hands on Learning
We will be taking expressions of interest for students who would like to join Hands on Learning for Semester Two shortly. In the meantime if you have any questions regarding the program please contact Damien Webster: dwebster@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au or Amber Dowd: adowd@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au
Eisteddfod
Learning Walk
We invite parents and carers to a Learning Walk through the Grades 3-6 classrooms to see learning in action on Friday June 20th at 9.00am.
This learning is supported by a range of assistive technologies. During this learning walk you will see students using the Read&Write program to help make learning more accessible and support independence.
You'll have an opportunity to watch how it is used and ask any questions you might have. Please RSVP to Ben if you are interested in attending: principal@sjdennington.
STEM
Wellbeing
This week is international men's health week. As well as thinking broadly about male health - both physical and mental- it is an opportunity for us to reflect on how we support our boys. The School TV topic Raising Boys has a variety of useful resources to support parents. Remember that all of the School TV topics remain accessible to our parent community and can be accessed via our school website.
Raising Boys
Many parents will attest to the fact that most boys are active, loud, rambunctious and prone to rough play, but this should not affect how a parent acts towards their son. Be careful not to pigeon-hole your son into sex-specific behaviours or gender roles. The male brain is distinctly different in its development. A boy’s physical maturity is often at odds with his mental and brain development.
Societal beliefs about how to raise boys can sometimes influence their adult carers. Although we are not determined by our biology, it is a factor. It is important to support boys in their natural tendencies and nurture their strengths and abilities. Teach them the skills they need for their future and to develop a healthy identity. It is important for boys to have a role model they can connect with and acknowledge who they are. One of the most important determinants for a boy’s development is how secure they feel growing up.
In this edition of SchoolTV, adult carers will gain a better understanding into some of the more complex issues relating to raising boys.
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday to the following students who celebrate their birthday this week: Jocelyn L, Rhys C and Levi L. We hope you have a terrific day!
Around our School- Week 7
Parents and Friend's Social Group
Our next Parents and Friends meeting will be a dinner at the Cally Hotel from 6:30pm on Tuesday 1st July. We will take RSVP's closer to the date.
Disco
Have you registered your child/ren for the Disco that is being held this Friday night? Please register via CDF Pay. RSVP and payments are due by Thursday 12th June.
We have emailed our volunteers, please check your emails or junk mail if you popped your name down to help.
Juniors (Grades F-2) 6.00pm-7.00pm
Seniors (Grades 3-6) 7:30pm-9.00pm
Dennington Day Out
Join us for dinner at the Cally for our next Dennington Day Out meeting on Tuesday 17th June at 6.30pm.
Do you have a child that might be interested in holding a mini entrepreneurs stall at this years DDO? Make sure your following the Dennington Day Out Facebook page for the expressions of interest google form that will be posted in the coming weeks.
Dennington Day Out Sponsorship Proposal for 2025 is now available if you or someone you know is interested in sponsoring this years event please contact ddo@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au
Wednesday Treats
This weeks treat is “Pizza” - Orders close tomorrow morning, Tuesday 11th June at 8.30am.
Roster:
Wednesday 11th June - Kate C, Mel B and Erin F.
Next weeks treat (Wednesday 18th June) is Dim Sims for $1.00 each
$2.00 each - Apple Juice, Orange Juice, Chocolate Milk & Strawberry Milk.
Orders for next week will be open on CDF Pay this Wednesday 11th and will close Tuesday 17th at 8:30am.
Please remember: This year there will be no paper order forms going home; orders are required to be placed online via the CDFpay app. Each Wednesday the order for the following week will be uploaded to the app.
Orders will close at 8:30am each Tuesday so please make sure you get your orders in on time as we can not accept late orders or cash this year.
Should you have any questions please feel free to contact Taliah Gleeson, Emily McGennan or the front office.
Cake Raffle
Each week at Assembly we draw a cake raffle for students. The money raised goes to various charities like Royal Childrens Hospital in Melbourne.
School families have been assigned a week to bring in a cake. There is no obligation or pressure for you to do so, it is only if you wish to. If you have been assigned a week that is unsuitable and you would like to bring a cake in another week, please contact the office and an alternate date will be arranged.
If you choose to, please drop your store purchased cake into the office with your family name written on top.
All students will have the opportunity to buy a raffle ticket for 20c with a limit of five tickets per student. The Johnnies will make a P.A announcement at first lunch, calling all students who wish to purchase a ticket, to the Library.
The following families are rostered on for Monday 16th June:
Hinkley-Raitt, Howley, Hunt, Hyatt and Hyland.
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.
A big thank you to O'Brien Electrical & Plumbing, Fry Painting, Carry on travel, King Cole Fruit Supply, Total Landscapes and Design and Hiensch Haulage that sponsor our school!
Please contact parents@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au for more information.
Star of the Sea Bulletin
Sunday Mass is held at 9.00am 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
Friday 13th June: School Disco
Tuesday 17th June: DDO Meeting at The Cally Hotel at 6.30pm
Friday 20th June: Learning Walk at 9.00am (RSVP's essential)
Monday 23rd June - Tuesday 24th June: 3 Way conversations Gr F - 4 and 5/6NM
Tuesday 24th June - Wednesday 25th June: 3 Way conversations 5/6KP
Tuesday 1st July: P & F Meeting at The Cally Hotel at 6.30pm
Friday 4th July: Term 2 concludes at 2.20pm
Monday 21st July: Term 3 Commences at 8.50am
Tuesday 22nd July - Wednesday 24th July: Grade 3/4 Camp
Monday 4th August: School Closure Day
