St John's School Newsletter

Term 1, Week 4

Principal's Message

Dear Families,

In the first few weeks of the school year, our teachers have been working hard to establish a connection with your child, to help them feel a sense of belonging in the classroom and school. As teachers, we look forward to partnering with you to ensure a smooth start to the school year. To assist with the transition into school, there are things that you can do to assist:

• Establish a routine for morning and evenings - Children respond well to routine and boundaries. It is important that your child is getting to bed on time and getting plenty of sleep - It is recommended that primary aged children get 9-11 hours of sleep each night. Routines with breakfast, reading and homework in the evening will help your child make a settled start to the year

• Arrive on time - The classrooms are open from 8.30am each morning and the 20 minutes before learning commences is for children to get to know their teacher, spend time with their peers and most importantly, ready themselves for the day ahead. Once the school is open again parents are welcome to come in and say hello - A strong teacher/parent relationship is important for your child's success at school.

• Get lots of rest on the weekends - Settling back into the rigours of school after the holidays can take some time, especially for younger children during the warmer weather. It’s good to give the children some down time on the weekends to recharge.

We have had quite a number of enrolment inquiries for Foundation 2023.  So we know how many spaces we will have available, we are asking current families to complete the enrolment process for any siblings who will join our school in Foundation 2023. Enrolment Forms can be sent home with your child if you let Andrea know in the office.

If your child is going to be absent, please notify the school via email, the school app, or by phoning the office.  If your child is away and the school has not been notified, you will receive a text message notifying you of your child’s unexplained absence.  This is to ensure all children are safe and accounted for.

The first School Advisory Council (SAC) meeting will be held on Tuesday 8th March, commencing at 6pm at the Seven Creeks Hotel. The SAC is an advisory body who supports the Principal on matters relating to the education of the students at St Johns.

SCHOOL CLOSURE DATES FOR 2022.

The following days are pupil free days.

Term One - 

Term Two - 26th & 27th April, Friday 24th June.

Term 3 - 

Term 4 - Monday 31st October, Friday 2nd December

Pupil free days allow staff to be involved in professional learning that enables us to continually update and develop the knowledge, skills and strategies we need when working with the children and staying up to date with current practice.

Over the coming weeks you will see a change in the newsletter format.  The newsletter will now come out each fortnight and on the alternate weeks will contain classroom communication.  It will be a forum for teachers to showcase all the wonderful things your children are doing at school from Foundation to Year 6.  It will also include information from our Specialist Teachers.  It will arrive in your inbox as usual each fortnight but will look a little different.  Stay tuned!!

Congratulations to the Goodall family on the safe arrival of a baby son and brother, Lachlan.  Cooper (Yr 6) and Hannah (Foundation) were very excited to welcome him home and into their family.  Congratulations to Kathryn and Mark.

All the best to the children who have made it to the Division Swimming Trials tomorrow, we know you will do your very best and we are very proud that you have made it to this next level.

As part of our school compliance we schedule regular emergency evacuation and lock in drills.  Next Wednesday at 12.00pm we will be having a lock in drill.  This is to ensure that the children and staff know exactly what to do in the unlikely event that we have to go into lock down.  This one has been scheduled and we will tell the children beforehand so as not to panic them, the next one will be a surprise.

Until next week

Therese

Calendar of Events

February 2022

23rd - Divisional Swimming

March 2022

  1st - Shrove Tuesday (please see letter sent home today with students)

2nd - Regional Swimming

2nd - Ash Wednesday Mass (TBC)

8th - School Advisory Meeting 6.00pm

11th - Sacrament of Baptism (TBC)

14th - Labour Day Public Holiday

16th - Foundation Students attend Wednesday's

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 (TBC)

27th - School Closure Staff Sabbatical (TBC)

28th - Term 2 Begins

Religious Education - Week 4 Prayer

LENT - 2022

Shrove Tuesday - 1st March 2022

Traditionally the day before Ash Wednesday known as Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday was set aside as a preparation day. A day for getting ready and using up all the leftover ‘rich’ foods such as eggs and butter in preparation for the time of Lent.  It is celebrated by Christians all over the world

Ash Wednesday – 2^nd March 2022

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. On Ash Wednesday we receive a cross of ash on our foreheads. The cross is a powerful sign used by God’s people for hundreds of years. By this symbol we know we are not perfect, there are times when we act selfishly. Ash Wednesday is a day when with the help of Jesus use our Lenten journey to become better people. The cross of ashes represents all this. Traditionally the ashes come from the burnt palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday. When we receive the ashes on our foreheads the words ‘turn away from Sin and be faithful to the gospel’ are said.

We pray: 

We pray for the Church. That all God’s people will remember their lonely, poor and forgotten brothers and sisters, by sharing their food, money and time with them this Lent and always.

We pray for the leaders of the Church. May God give them the wisdom to guide all of us in following Jesus.

We pray for world peace. That those who lead our countries may do what is best for all the peoples of the world, especially the poor and needy, when they make important decisions.

We for the poor and suffering in our world. May they find help, hope and comfort in the good works and sharing of God’s people this Lent.

We pray for each other. That God may give us His strength to be kind to pray, to share and to be kind to one another this Lent.

Amen

Click on the Sandpiper Logo to view the latest publication

Happy Birthday to the following students! 

Patrick Murphy, Lily Capstick, Eligh McLure, Freddy Hamill, Remy Simmons & Isla Healey.

Congratulations - 

Mabel, Celine, Carter, Remy & Paige.

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.

School Information

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