St Johns Newsletter - 18 October 2023

Principals Report

Dear Parents/Carers

2024 Foundation Orientation: Monday was the first of our five orientation sessions.  These visits give the new students and their parents an introduction to school life. It is also a great opportunity for new families to meet existing ones. We have 30 Foundation students starting next year and twelve new families.

SOCKTOBER: Hearts on fire, feet on the move ‘Sock It To Poverty’ : Thank you for your generous support. Our ‘Crazy Sock Day’ was a great success with children really getting into the spirit of the day.  Watching the colourful legs at marching practice was a spectacle. 

Regional Athletics  are being held today  in Cranbourne. We have five students competing, we are very proud of their efforts to reach this level of competition and wish them well today: 

• Bradley Thurling - Long Jump
• Jordan Fraser - Shot-put
• Lily Holdsworth - Hurdles
• Chloe Bertuna - 200m
• Evie Price - Long Jump

Congratulations to Charlotte and Lachie who both continued their winning way by taking out the Lions Club Regional Junior Public Speaking Competition. They will now compete at the South-East Victorian State Level which will be held on the 28th October. 

Friends of St John's Art Show Raffle: Raffle books have gone home today to each family, tickets are $2 each with some fantastic prizes to be won. Extra books are available at the office - just call the office or send us an email if you would like extra books sent home. See prize list below. 

Raffle books are due back by Wednesday 8th November or as you sell the book. 

Grandparents Day will be held on Friday 10 November, this is one of the most enjoyable extra-curricular events on the St John’s calendar. Our students have started marching practice in preparation, families and special friends are welcome to join us for this special occasion. Please see the schedule of events and sausage sizzle ordering information below.  

Class Structure 2024:  9 classes

• 1 x Foundation                       
• 1 x  Foundation/Gr 1   
• 1 x  Gr 1\2                                 
• 1 x Gr 2
• 2 x Gr3\4                                   
• 1 x 4\5
• 2 x Gr 5\6 

Shortly we will begin the process of planning our class lists for the 2024 school year. Whilst this is a difficult and time-consuming task, we are blessed to have such a knowledgeable staff who are aware of student needs and work collaboratively to make professional judgements in relation to class planning and student placement.

When deciding our individual class structures, several factors are considered, which include:

• Student’s social, emotional, academic and physical development
• Student’s cognitive development
• Student relationships
• Smallest class sizes possible
• Family dynamics, eg sibling placement

If your child has a particular need or there is important information that we should be aware of when considering class placement for the 2024 school year, we ask that parents put this information in writing and submit it via email to principal@stjohnskwr.catholic.edu.au by Friday 10th November

It is important that requests be submitted each year as individual circumstances change. We will not be referring to requests made from previous years and we do not accommodate requests for particular teachers.

Please note all requests will be considered on merit but there are no guarantees. Any requests received after the above date will not be taken into consideration and once grades have been set there will be no changes.

Students will find out who their 2024 teacher is on Monday 11th December, during our ‘Meet the Teacher’ session.

Regards

Chris Dortmans, Principal

Religious Education News

On Monday we participated in ‘Crazy Sock Day’ to raise money for Socktober, an initiative of Catholic Mission. It was fantastic to see our whole school come together in support of this fundraiser and we saw some very crazy and creative ways of wearing socks! Thank you to families for your donations and support.

This year, the focus of Socktober's fundraising efforts is on Timor-Leste. Specifically, the proceeds will benefit vulnerable young people attending a medical clinic and a children's home in Venilale. Our contributions can help children who truly need it to access better health, nutritional and educational outcomes, showcasing the spirit of solidarity that defines our school community.

Over the next few weeks, children will continue learning about the Socktober initiative and how we can live out Jesus’ mission through our service to our community and world.

Alycia Matthews, Religious Education Leader

Art Show Raffle

Grandparents Day - Fri 10 November

Upcoming Events

School TV -A Special Report: R U OK?Day

Understanding the growing challenges related to mental health among young people is an important consideration. Anxiety, depression and self-harm - are all causes for concern. Factors like academic pressure, social media, family dynamics, and societal expectations, are contributing to these issues. It's therefore crucial for parents and caregivers to take action early, remove the stigma around discussing mental health, and offer accessible support to address these issues and the wellbeing of their children.

R U OK?Day is an initiative that focuses on preventing suicide by encouraging meaningful personal connections and helping informal support networks to help recognise the signs of distress. We urge all families to take part, emphasising the value of genuine human relationships and reminding everyone to ask the important question, "Are you OK?"

Engaging in R U OK?Day activities goes beyond the classroom; it's a commitment to our students' overall development. By talking openly about mental health, schools create safe spaces where students feel understood, valued, and supported. As parents and caregivers, you can contribute by fostering open conversations, normalising feelings and breaking down mental health stigmas. Participating in R U OK?Day promotes compassion and shows our dedication to the wellbeing of the entire school community, reaffirming that together, we can truly make a difference.

This Special Report provides guidance on how to talk to your child about mental health and engage in meaningful discussions.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report:
https://stjohnskwr.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-r-u-ok-day

Friends of St Johns - Fathers Day Raffle Thank You

Art Show ~ Thursday 9 November

Community Notices

Uniform Shop & Canteen

Canteen

Canteen is open on Mondays and Thursdays for lunch orders all orders must be placed via CDFpay prior to 8:45am on canteen days. Please note: Late orders cannot be accepted. 

If you have any queries in relation to canteen please email canteen@stjohnskwr.catholic.edu.au

Uniform Shop 

A reminder that Term 4 is Summer Uniform & hats must be worn for all outdoor play and sporting activities. 

Uniform orders are processed on Monday & Thursday, orders must be placed by 2pm on these days via CDFpay (uniform shop is online only please follow the link above to access CDFpay). 

For exchanges or general enquiries in regard to sizing, second hand uniform etc please email Belinda:  uniform@stjohnskwr.catholic.edu.au 

Exchanges: After emailing the details of your exchange requirements please drop the item at the office with your name attached, exchanges will be processed on the next uniform shop day. 

Please note: All items being exchanged MUST be unwashed with tags still attached. 

As we are a ‘Sun Smart School’ we also require the children to wear a school hat from September to April with the ‘No Hat-No Play’ policy strictly enforced during 1st and 4th terms. 

School uniform guidelines are in the process of being updated and will be available shortly.

OSHC (Out of School Hours Care)

After School Hours Care operates out of the St Johns hall before and after school.

Please contact OSHC directly for all enquiries:

• 1300 946 337
• EnrolmentsOSHC@windermere.org.au

Alternatively you can visit them in the hall before or after school to enquire. 

Koo Wee Rup Catholic Parishes in Partnership