St Johns Newsletter - 27 March 2024

Principals Report

Dear Parents/Carers

Last Friday we celebrated Harmony Day with an assembly in the hall led by 5/6S, students also participated in Harmony Day activities in their house groups. Harmony Week celebrates and recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. It celebrates inclusiveness, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone. Students were encouraged to wear a touch of orange or traditional dress to celebrate their family’s cultural heritage.

Our new ‘Buddy Bench’ was introduced at assembly by our school captains, Isla and Hugh explained how the Buddy Bench can be used by students at playtimes and our Social Justice Leaders acted out a few scenarios. The bench will be installed over the Easter break and was kindly donated by the Friends of St Johns. 

We had a very successful Open Day on Monday with our Year 6 leaders conducting school tours highlighting the wonderful learning opportunities and facilities offered at St John’s.  Prospective families congratulated our student leaders on the excellent job they did conducting the tours. If your child will be starting school in 2025 please submit your application as soon as possible as places are filling fast.

This Thursday is the last day of Term One, with school finishing at 2:30pm. We will have a Stations of the Cross service at 11:30am starting on the school asphalt area, processing around the oval and finishing near the Hall, families are invited to attend.  We will then go into the hall for the Easter Raffle draw, tickets were due today, please ensure any remaining tickets are handed via the classroom Thursday morning. 

Caritas Project Compassion boxes are now due, please return these via your child’s classroom by Thursday 28 March. We thank you for your continued support of Project Compassion. 

Term 2 commences on Monday 15 April, a reminder to parents that during Terms 2 and 3 children must wear their winter school uniform, shorts are included in winter uniform. The holiday time is an opportunity to ensure the correct footwear is purchased ready for the start of Term 2 - students must wear black leather school shoes or fully black leather runners, runners of any colour may be worn on sports days only. 

It’s hard to believe that first term has come and gone so quickly. On behalf of all the staff we hope you have a happy and Holy Easter and a safe holiday period with your families.

Regards

Chris Dortmans, Principal

Religious Education News

This week we began Holy Week, which is a significant time on the Christian calendar.

Holy Week, which begins with Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday, commemorates the final days of Jesus Christ's life, his crucifixion, and his resurrection. For children, Holy Week holds valuable lessons in sacrifice, forgiveness, love, and hope.

Through Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, the children have been learning about humility, Jesus' love and sacrifice, the power of faith and hope, and the joy of new beginnings. Through our classroom learning, we encourage the children to reflect on these messages during Holy Week. We practice acts of kindness and service towards others, fostering unity and compassion.

Tomorrow, as a school, we will be performing the events of Holy Week with the ‘Stations of the Cross’. We invite you to come along and join us as we commemorate these events and reflect on its meaning for our lives today.

Alycia Matthews, Religious Education Leader

Upcoming dates

28/3: Whole school Stations of the Cross @11:30am

Pray Together

Easter Mass Times

Friends of St Johns -Wed, 17 April Lunch at Caldermeade Farm

Uniform Shop & Canteen - Please Note Closure Dates

Canteen

Our canteen is open on Mondays and Thursdays, 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

Canteen Closure Dates Term 1  - canteen is closed for the remainder of Term 1 and will re-open Monday 15 April.

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. 

Koo Wee Rup Catholic Parishes in Partnership

Upcoming Events

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