St John's School Newsletter Term 1, Week 1 St John's is a Child Safe School where all children are respected and are protected from harm. Principal's Message Dear Families, What a smooth start to the school year it has been. Yesterday we welcomed all the children back to school with staff returning last Friday. It was a very calm transition especially for our Preps who showed great resilience and independence coming into the school by themselves. There was not one tear shed by the children although a few from parents. You should be very proud of your children from Prep to Year 6 and how responsible and caring towards others they all were. A very big welcome to our new Prep families and the families of our new enrolments through the rest of the school. We also welcome Tamara Potter our new AFL Trainee, Tamara will be with us for 2022 and will be a presence in the classrooms and in the yard. I have been made to feel very welcome and am delighted to have become part of the St John’s community as your new Principal. I am looking forward to getting to know the children and yourselves as the term progresses. I have been part of Catholic Education for the last 36 years as a teacher, school leader and Principal for the last 9 years in the Diocese of Melbourne. My husband and I permanently relocated to Seymour 5 years ago but have had a property there for 20 years. We have two grown up children, a daughter Marni and son Callan. We recently became first time grandparents and like all grandparents have the most beautiful granddaughter, Lennox who is now 4 months old! As a lifelong learner myself I look forward to watching the children grow and learn every day and develop their own love of learning. Covid is still with us and we continue to follow the directions of the Chief Health Officer and Catholic Education, Sandhurst. I have been very impressed with the organisation and level of protocols in place with Covid-19 at St Johns and the emphasis on keeping everyone safe and well. The new air purifiers are now in all classrooms with three more arriving for the admin area, staff room and Mercy Centre. We will continue to keep you informed as we move forward. The school’s supply of Rapid Antigen Tests arrived yesterday afternoon and will be coming home with each child this afternoon. The Department of Health is strongly recommending that students complete a test twice a week to help proactively identify any cases, therefore reducing the risks of an outbreak. We have been supplied with only enough tests for children and staff to be tested twice per week for the next three weeks. Students and staff will do the tests at home; they only need to report their result if it is COVID-positive. If you have a COVID-positive result you will need to:
Please test your children in the morning tomorrow (Wednesday) before school and then each Monday and Thursday in weeks 2 and 3. Parent Teacher Interviews will be held remotely next week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 3:30pm - 5.00pm. Details were sent home yesterday or today for some year levels, to book your appointment time through SIMON. Your child’s teacher will forward you a Google meet link to your email address prior to your interview. Please make sure your details are up to date, if you have a new email address please let Andrea know in the office. Parent Teacher meetings are an opportunity to communicate with your child’s teacher and share any information that you feel is important for them to know. I look forward to the time ahead. Until next week Therese Calendar of Events February 2022 6th - First Sunday in Lent 8th - 10th - Parent Teacher Interviews 3.30pm-5.00pm 9th - Swim Trials Year 3-6 13th - Second Sunday in Lent 20th - Third Sunday in Lent 27th - Fourth Sunday in Lent March 2022 1st - Shrove Tuesday 2nd - Ash Wednesday Mass (TBC) 6th - Fifth Sunday in Lent 11th - Sacrament of Baptism (TBC) 14th - Labour Day Public Holiday 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 End of Term 1 Religious Education - Week 1 Prayer The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” Matthew 13:31. Just like the mustard seed, the seed of faith can be very small. However, if it is nourished in a caring Christian community which lives according to the teachings and example of Jesus, and in an atmosphere permeated by a life of prayer, then the seed will grow and flourish. In such a school community it is not only spirituality which is developed, but also true humanity. Lord, we pray that as we begin this school year our school community will continue always to be a faith sharing community which proclaims and lives the Gospel, transforming people in the Catholic faith. May our staff, students and parents grow closer to you, become ever more comfortable and confident with their own religious identity in this challenging world, and develop both deep spirituality and compassionate humanity as they journey through this year. Amen. Click on the Sandpiper Logo to view the latest publication Happy Birthday to the following students! (from Jan 1st) Isla Walker, Riley Walker, Adelaide Downie, Ollie Rozema, Georgia Harris, Bradley Robinson, Harry Rowan, Poppy Horsburgh, Evie McMartin, Wyatt Simmons, William Bickerton, Clare Bickerton & Matilda Eddy. Congratulations - Accounts - Accounts will be sent out in the next week. Fortnightly Direct Debits will begin next Thursday 10th February. Accounts are then 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 - 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. RCD Foundation Rachel Timperley and Linc McKernan will be rowing for brain cancer research on Saturday 19th February. Join in or make a donation to support this worthy cause! 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? |