Newsletter - Wednesday 1 Feb

Principals Report

Dear Parents/Carers, 

I would like to extend a welcome to all our families especially those who have joined our school community for the first time. We also welcome Mrs Jacki Taylor, Mrs Erin Bolton and Mrs Tamara Durrington to our staff. They complement the outstanding staff we already have here at St John’s.

This year we have 9 classrooms with a total of 207 students. We are again able to offer a diverse range of Specialist classes to deliver a comprehensive curriculum, and dedicated support staff to help meet individual student needs.

School Start Time and Parking: A reminder that students are not to arrive at school before 8.30am each morning. We have before/after school care (OSHC) available on site for families who need to drop students earlier or collect them later in the afternoons. Please note that the car park on the corner of Salmon and Station Streets is utilised by staff; the school car park behind the Hall building is available for parents and visitors and is opened at 8:30am and again at 3:00pm.

Congratulations to Lucy Banks and Blayde Ord upon receiving a Koo Wee Rup Junior Citizen Award on Australia Day. We are all very proud.

We have our Opening Mass on Thursday 9th February at 9:15am and our first assembly on Monday, 20th at 2:30pm. Both these occasions provide an opportunity to celebrate as part of the St John’s community. The children always look forward to seeing you there.

Friends of St John’s Family Picnic Evening: Families are invited to our Welcome Picnic on Friday 10 February, see further information below. 

5/6 Camp: On Monday 13 February our 5 & 6 students headed off on camp to Forest Lodge Farm. They will spend the 3 days enjoying activities such as bush cooking, archery, bush art, flying fox, giant swing and ropes courses as well as a visit to Wilsons Promontory National Park. I am away on camp with the grade 5/6 students, Mrs Jacki Taylor will be the Acting Principal in my absence

Summer uniform: A reminder that all students are required to wear the correct uniform and must wear a hat when playing or doing activities outdoors.  All hair accessories need to be of the school colours (yellow, navy or white). If your child needs to be out of uniform for any reason, a written note to their teacher is required.

Professional Development and Closure Days: Ongoing Professional Development and Planning is vital for staff as it allows us to improve our knowledge and also reflect on current practice and trends in education. Throughout 2023 we will have a number of professional development days focusing on improving our teaching and learning. Under the new enterprise bargaining agreement for teachers we also have a number of closure days classified as ‘Time in Lieu (TIL)’ for school staff.  Please note the following pupil free days in your calendars.

• Friday 10 March (TIL)
• Mon 24 April (TIL)
• Wed 26 April (Planning) 
• Friday 23 June (Professional Development) 
• Monday 10 July (Professional Development)
• Friday 15 September (Professional Development) 
• Monday 6 November (TIL)
• Tuesday 19 December (Planning)  

Schoolzine App - We are now using the Schoolzine App for our newsletter and other general information. Please download the app - for instructions please follow the link below. We will no longer be using the Skoolbag App, St Johns will be removed from this App in the coming week. 

Regards

Chris Dortmans, Principal

Schoolzine App - Download Instructions

A reminder that we are now using the Schoolzine App, please follow the link below for download instructions: 

Once you've downloaded the App please search for: St John the Baptist Primary School Koo Wee Rup, to subscribe to our school. 

Please delete your Skoolbag App as this is no longer being used. 

PAM (Parent Access Module)

All familes should now have signed up to their new PAM account and created a Medical Profile for their children.

Why should you sign up to PAM:

• Parent Teacher Interviews are in March - all bookings are via your PAM account
• From Term 2 ALL excursion permissions will be via PAM - Parents must have an active PAM account in order to provide permission for excursions, bus information and various other things we usually collect via Operoo
  
• All medical and contact information must be completed via PAM 
  
• Student reports & NAPLAN results are provided via PAM
• ALL Absence reporting and application for Holidays are via PAM - Skoolbag should no longer be used for this
• The school calendar of events can be viewed via PAM
• Message your childs teacher directly via PAM (no need to remember their email address)

How to sign up to PAM:

If you have missed the sign up email please follow the instructiions below:

• Follow this link: https://pam.stjohnskwr.catholic.edu.au/
• Save the sign in screen to the Homepage on your phone
• Select Forgot Password and follow the prompts  (Note: your username is the email address the login email was sent to)
• Once you've signed in you will have a notification (little bell at the top right of the screen) asking you to complete your child's/children's medical profile

You will receive an account per parent unless our records indicate that your family have a shared email account - we ask that families action these requests at your earliest convenience. 

If you need assistance setting up or using PAM please email office@stjohnskwr.catholic.edu.au or call Di or Nancy on 03 5997 1653.  

Once PAM accounts are active we ask that all absences be submitted via PAM as this information feeds directly to the roll. 

Swimming Trials & Sports - Mon 6 Feb

On Monday 6 Feb we have our Swimming Trials for students in grades 3-6 followed by our House Swimming Sports for grades 1-6, these events will be held at the Koo Wee Rup Swimming Pool. 

Swimming Trials (Gr 3-6) 9:40 - 11:00am 

House Swimming Sports (Gr 1-6) 11:30am - 2:00pm

Children are required to wear their bathers under their uniform, rash vests are also required for all students. Please ensure your child has at least one towel, googles if required and all items of clothing/swim gear are clearly labelled with your child’s name.

School hats MUST be worn by all children.

House colours may be worn in conjunction with sports uniform on this day.

Parents are welcome to attend this event - if taking children home from the pool at conclusion of the event they MUST be signed out with their teacher. 

Please see Operoo for full details. 

Sacramental Program Information Night

Parents of students in grades 3 & 6 wish wishing to undertake the Sacraments of Reconciliation & First Eucharist (Gr3) and Confirmation (Gr 6) are required to attend the information night:

Thursday 9 Feb, 6:30pm - St James Catholic Church, Nar Nar Goon

Our guest speaker will be Fr Elio Capra, please note the information night is for parents only. 

Further details and a Sacramental Enrolment form have been sent home today, additional copies can be obtained from the office. 

Sacramental Co-ordinator: Leonie Hester

Preferred contact:  lhester@bunyip.catholic.edu.au

Mobile: 0417 551 402

School Fees

Fee statements will be produced and sent to all familes by the end of February - these will be sent via email (please check your spam/junk folder). Please see attached copies of correspondence sent to families in relation to 2023 fees. 

If you are yet to complete the Direct Debit form please do so and return to Nancy at the office nrintoule@stjohnskwr.catholic.edu.au - this form is both a direct debit form or provides us advice of how you wish to pay your fees if not via direct debit. 

School Advisory Board

Our School Advisory Board AGM will be held on Tuesday 21st February, 6pm in the staffroom. The Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited charter for school Advisory Boards, allows for a maximum of four parents to represent the parent body of the school. In 2023 we require two parent nominees to join the Advisory Board. If you or someone you know would like to join the school Advisory Board, nomination forms are available to download below or can be collected from the school office. If you would like further information regarding the purpose and responsibilities of the School Advisory Board please contact me. 

Nominations must be received by the school office no later than Wednesday 15th February. 

Raising Kids in a Digital World Webinar - Thurs 23 Feb - 7:30pm

Don't forget to register for the Raising Kids in a Digital World Webinar which has been arranged for our families in conjunction with the Inform & Empower: Digital Safety and Wellbeing sessions being undertaken by students in grades 1 to 6. Details below. 

Welcome Picnic - Friday 10th February

Uniform Shop

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.

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. 

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

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. 

St Francis Xavier College Open Day

Upcoming Events

Mon 6 - Swimming Trials, Gr 3-6 - 9:40 to 11am

Mon 6 - Swimming Sports, Gr 1-6 - 11:30am to 2pm

Tue 7 - Gr 5 & 6 - Inform & Empower Incursion

Wed 8 - Foundation Rest Day

Thu 9 - Whole School Mass, 9:15am (Families Welcome)

Thu 9 - Sacramental Information Night, 6:30 to 7:30pm at St James, Nar Nar Goon

Fri 10 - Family Picnic, 5:00 to 7:00pm

Mon 13 to Thu 16 - Gr 5 & 6 Forest Lodge Camp

Mon 13 - Gr 3 & 4, Inform & Empower Incursion

Wed 15 - Foundation Rest Day

Tue 14 - Gr 1 & 2, Inform & Empower Incursion

Mon 20 – Assembly, 2:30pm (4/5M presenting Assembly item) Families welcome

Tue 21 – Shrove Tuesday (details to come)

Tue 21 – Gr 6 Leadership Speeches (details to come) 

Tue 21 – Board Meeting, 6pm (Staffroom)

Wed 22 – Ash Wednesday, Mass 11:30am (Families welcome)

Koo Wee Rup Catholic Parishes in Partnership