St Johns Newsletter - 28 February 2024

Enhancing Catholic School Identity (ECSI) Survey

Every four years all Catholic primary schools in our diocese complete the Enhancing Catholic School Identity (ECSI) Survey. The Catholic University in Leuven was commissioned by the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria Ltd (CECV) to design a process and tools, based on sound research, to accomplish the goal of understanding our current Catholic identity and where the school community might like to see itself in the future.

The ECSI Survey is a key element of this process and I write to request your participation. The online survey gathers responses from students in Years 5 and 6, all staff and a representative sample of parents. You are asked to complete the survey online in order to give us an accurate picture of how our community sees the school. A letter containing instructions for completion of the survey has been emailed to all families today. 

Please follow the link below to complete the survey: 

Enter the password: Ghj654

Click on NEW USER

Our school Access code is: (case sensitive): qw24j5

Principals Report

Dear Parents/Carers

Congratulations to the students who represented St Johns at the District Swimming Sports last week.  Unfortunately we do not have anyone going onto the division level.

SRC Students. Well done to the following students recently elected as their class SRC Representatives:

3/4B - Olivia Barker and Tyson Fay

3/4G - Scarlett Mackenzie and Dhiel Chol

4/5M - Mason O’Hehir and Evie Mitchell

5/6M - Ranit Timothy and Lexie Wilson

5/6S - Evie Walker and Tony Butera

Swimming Lessons: Our senior students will complete their swimming lessons this week. It has run very smoothly with only the Yr3-6’s attending this time, allowing for longer lessons. The junior swimming program will take place in Term 3. 

KidsROAR Personal Safety Program: Every second year, our school participates in the ‘KidsROAR’ program. This program is committed to the prevention of abuse on children through education on Personal Safety. Their programs are based on the Protective Behaviours Themes:

    ‘We all have the right to feel safe at all times’ and,

    ‘We can talk to someone we trust about anything, no matter what it is’

We are again providing this program for all of our students. Student sessions will be held over 2 days (12th March & 13th March) where we will be discussing body safety with the children and the fact that they have the right to feel safe at all times. This is a very important subject and we want every parent to have the opportunity to be a part of it.

A parent ZOOM information evening session is being offered on Tuesday 5th March at 7:30pm.  Further information and a link to this session is provided below.

Staff will also receive professional development from the KidsROAR team on the school closure day, Friday 8th March.

NAPLAN: The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 students are held in March each year. In 2024, the NAPLAN test window is between Wednesday 13 March and Monday 25 March. Please see the NAPLAN Parent Information brochure below for further information. 

Free Dress Day Friday 15 March: Students may come to school in free dress on this day, we ask for an easter themed donation to go towards our Easter raffle (chocolate eggs, easter themed toys/packs etc). Further information in the next newsletter. 

Enrolments for 2025: Enrolments for 2025 are now open, enrolment packs are available from the office, can be downloaded from our website or emailed upon request. 

For all enrolment enquiries please call the office or email enrolments@stjohnskwr.catholic.edu.au 

We are holding an Open Day for prospective families on Monday 25 March - see flyer below for full details. 

Regards

Chris Dortmans, Principal

NAPLAN Parent Information Brochure

St John's Open Day - Monday 25 March

Families interested in enrolling for the 2025 school year and beyond are invited to attend our Open Day, details below. 

Religious Education News

Across the school, each class has been learning about God’s Creation and the ways in which we can all work together to care for our common home.

In the Junior School, students have been exploring things in our world that are ‘man made’ and things that are ‘God made’. They have also been discovering the many gifts and talents that God has given us, and how we can use our gifts to help others.

In the Senior School, students have been learning about what it means to be ‘Stewards of Creation’ and show an appreciation for our natural world. They have been exploring Scripture accounts of the Creation story and discussing what message is being given to us through these texts. Students are also looking at current threats to our environment, such as climate change, and investigating things we can all do to take care of the earth and animals.

Over the coming weeks leading up to Easter, our students will also be learning more about Lent. We are continuing to raise funds for Project Compassion, which will help provide basic necessities communities around the world that are in need.

Alycia Matthews, Religious Education Leader

Upcoming dates

Wednesday 6th March @6pm: Sacramental Information Night - St James Nar Nar Goon

Thursday 14th March @9.15am: Junior Mass (F-2) - all welcome

Thursday 21st March @9.15am: Senior Mass (3-6) - all welcome

Pray Together

Sacramental Program & Information Evening- Wed 6 March

Parents of students wishing to undertake the Sacraments of Reconciliation (Gr3), First Eucharist (Gr4), and Confirmation (Gr 6) are required to attend the information night:

Wednesday 6th March, 6:00pm 

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 provided to families, additional copies can be obtained from the office. 

Sacramental Co-ordinator: Leonie Hester

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

Mobile: 0417 551 402

Whole School Musical Announcement!!!

The Cheshire Cat is out of the bag!

We are happy to announce that our whole school musical will be:

Save the date:

Wednesday October 30th, Bunjil Place, Narre Warren

Upcoming Events

Uniform Shop & Canteen - Please Note Upcoming Closure Dates

Canteen

Our 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. 

Canteen Closure Dates Term 1 

Thurs 21 March until end of Term 1

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

Uniform Shop 

Please note: The uniform shop will operate in a limited capacity for the last two weeks of Term 1 - orders will be processed on Thursdays only during this period. 

Please ensure the bulk of your winter uniform ordering is processed by mid March.  

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. 

Koo Wee Rup Catholic Parishes in Partnership

Position Available - Maintenance Officer

St John’s is looking for a Midweek Maintenance Officer for one day per week (7.6hrs) 

The maintenance officer assists in the day to day operations of the school and is responsible for maintenance of school facilities, gardens and grounds.  Duties may include:

• Maintenance and repair of school facilities, equipment, gardens and grounds 
• Be proactive in identifying maintenance issues and attend to issues in a practical, timely and cost-effective manner to ensure repairs meet statutory requirements.
• Assist with the physical setup of events, (when required), at the school. (sports day)
• Able to undertake manual handling.
• Able to work at heights.
• Other duties as requested by the Maintenance Manager, Office Staff or Principal.

Applicants must hold a current Drivers Licence, Working with Children Check and National Police Check.

For more information or to apply, contact the school office.

St Francis Xavier College Open Day

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. 

Container Deposit Scheme

St Johns has registered to fundraise through the Victorian Container Deposit Scheme. 

If you wish to donate your refund to the school please either: 

• Search for -St Johns School Koo Wee Rup, or
• Use the code above