St John's School Newsletter Term 1, Week 5 St John's is a Child Safe School where all children are respected and are protected from harm. Principal's Message Dear Families, From Monday we can finally reopen the school to families! After what has seemed a very long time you are very welcome to come into the school, see your child’s classroom, say hello to their teacher face to face and enjoy the school community as it is supposed to be. All parents and visitors are required to be double vaccinated and wear their masks. Proof upon entry is required please. We have been very fortunate with the low numbers of Covid in the community and will continue to work to keep it that way. Please be mindful of social distancing and not congregating in large numbers while inside the school. Even though parents have been unable to come into the school over the last months the children have become very independent and responsible when coming in each morning and organising themselves. They are to be congratulated! As we see some easing of restrictions in our communities and also in our schools we need to remember that at the moment the children in Years 3-6 are required to continue to wear their masks unless they have a medical exemption. RATs will continue to play an important role in identifying COVID in our community and we encourage all students and staff to continue the twice weekly tests on a Monday and Thursday morning. The next box of RATs will be handed out at the end of the week and we thank our families for your continued support. As we have watched and listened over the last week to the news, we have seen the horrors happening in Ukraine and the effect it is having on the whole world. Pope Francis has declared this Ash Wednesday as a Day of Prayer for Peace for everyone across the world. With the situation in Ukraine at present, praying for peace is now more needed than ever. This is a time when your children may also have lots of questions and fears about the conflict in Europe. The news is one of the most anxiety causing programs children can watch on TV. It is good to have discussions and reassure the children that they are safe and if at all possible I would recommend they don’t watch the news at all. We pray for those in Ukraine and for peace in Europe and in our world. Lord God, Our Creator, We ask You to grant that all countries may grow in the spirit of unity, and that all hurts, fears and divisions will be overcome. Lord Jesus, You came that the world might know the peace that You have experienced with the Father eternally. Yet, You taught us that in this life there will be division, resentment, anger and wars. Nations will rise against nations as violence works itself out in the world. However, through You, the world may be saved. O Lord, send Your spirit into the hearts of all humanity, that the world might know true peace through Your abundant mercy. We pray for those in positions of power and influence. Let peace be their goal; let forgiveness be given freely; let humility reign. Amen. We are going to Mass together tomorrow for Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent. Lent is the period of 40 days which comes before Easter in the Christian calendar. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter when Jesus died on the cross and rose again. By observing the 40 days of Lent, we replicate Jesus Christ's sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days before his death. Mum and Dads and family members are very welcome to join us at Mass at 10am. Today our Year 6 Leaders have coordinated Pancake Day for Shrove Tuesday. All children had the opportunity to have a Pancake and a Zooper Dooper. The Year 6s counted the money, cooked the pancakes and served them to each child in class groups. They are to be commended for their fine effort and were very excited to be able to contribute nearly $400 to Caritas Project Compassion. Caritas has been raising much needed funds to help those facing poverty and injustice in our world for many years. Our families donations will help vulnerable families to build brighter futures for themselves. Each Year level has a Project Compassion box in their classroom and at the end of Lent we will tally up all of our communities donations and send them to Caritas. We will let you know what a fantastic effort we will have achieved at the end of the term. Until next week Therese Calendar of Events March 2022 1st - Shrove Tuesday 2nd - Regional Swimming 2nd - Ash Wednesday Mass 8th - School Advisory Meeting 6.00pm 11th - Sacrament of Baptism (TBC) 14th - Labour Day Public Holiday 16th - Foundation Students attend Wednesdays 17th - St Patricks's Feast Day 30th - School Photo Day - details will be sent home closer to the date 31st - Sacrament of Reconciliation (TBC) April 2022 8th - Stations of the Cross Liturgy 2.00 pm End of Term 1 25th - ANZAC Day Public Holiday 26th - School Closure Staff Sabbatical 27th - School Closure Staff Sabbatical 28th - Term 2 Begins Religious Education - Week 5 Prayer Prayer for the Victims of Floods. Lord, please protect the lives of all victims of the floods. Provide safe passage out of danger. Guide them to a place of dry and comfortable lodging. Provide them with clean drinking water and nutritious food. Provide a quick reunion of family members who have been separated. Help them communicate with extended family and friends. Let them know that You are ultimate provider and that they are loved by you. Amen.
Click on the Sandpiper Logo to view the latest publication Happy Birthday to the following students! Freddy Hamill, Remy Simmons, Isla Healey, Isla Hahnel, Chelsea Maher & Will Swift. Congratulations - Quentin, Jack, Teddy, Ollie, Jaeger, Willow & Kallin. Accounts - Accounts are sent out each month via email. If you are not receiving them, could you please contact Andrea via phone or email apenman@sjeuroa.catholic.edu.au . Thank you! Uniform Shop - Discontinued stock - Knee-hi single pack socks size 2-8 x 4 packs & 8-11 x 10 $4.00 each. Please send correct cash to the school office with name, size and quantity in an envelope. First in best dressed. Sally will be available on Tuesdays & Fridays this year. Orders must still be paid for and ordered online, however if you would like to try sizes or would like any other inforation please contact Sally Kubeil on 0407 904 335 and book a time to see her on those days. Have your details changed? - Please let the office know if you have changed your phone number or address. It is very important that we have the correct details in case of an emergency. Thanks for your cooperation. An email was sent home this week with information regarding the Victorian Governments CSEF. Thanks to those families who have returned their forms already. If you hold a current government consession card you may be eligible for $125.00 per child to assist in camps, excursions and sports expenses. Conveyance Allowance Students who live 4.8 kilometres from their bus stop or the school (if they are not serviced by a bus and travel by car) may be eligible for conveyance allowance. Forms can be obtained from the Office. Applications for term 1 Conveyance Allowance close 18th March 2022. Please phone Andrea if you need further information. Family Day - 6th March – 10am to 12pm. Kids activities, Challenging games, Food and drinks, Footy boot swap, Meet the coaches. Call Dan for details – 0478 595 250 School Information Bell times 8:55 - 11:00 - Class Time 11:00 - 11:40 - Recess 11:40 - 1:30 - Class Time 1:30 - 2:15 - Lunch 2:15 - 3:15 - Class Time Important Times Before School Supervision: 8:25 - 9:00 am Lunch Orders: Wednesday Uniform Shop: Tuesday & Friday. Absence If your child is unwell or you have an upcoming absence planned, please be sure to contact the school. Tap below to quickly let us know. Wellbeing Support Kids Helpline - Counselling service for people aged 5-25 ph: 1800 55 1800 https://www.kidshelpline.com.au Beyond Blue - Depression and anxiety support 1300 224 636 www.beyondblue.org.au Lifeline - Crisis support, suicide prevention and mental health support services 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au/ DHHS - Corona Virus information https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/victorian-public-coronavirus-disease-covid-19 Parent line VIC - https://www.education.vic.gov.au/parents/services-for-parents/Pages/parentline.aspx 8 am-midnight - 13 22 89 Don't forget to like & follow our Facebook page for regular updates on what's happening at our school. Have you had a look at our School website lately? |