Newsletter - Wednesday 15 Feb

Principals Report

Dear Parents/Carers, 

Last Friday, the school celebrated Harmony Day, focusing on inclusiveness and respect for everyone's differences with the theme 'Our past: Our future’. Some students chose to do this to show their support of the day, others went the extra mile and chose to wear outfits to represent a particular culture, either one they were familiar with or one that played a role in their own identity and personal story. After recess, students gathered in House Groups to focus on different aspects of our multicultural community. Each House group completed activities which are displayed around the school. 

Reconciliation: Over the past month, 16 students from Grades 3&4 have been preparing for the sacrament of Reconciliation and this Thursday, they will be making their First Reconciliation. We congratulate them and commend them on their efforts.

Project Compassion: Please ensure all Project Compassion donation boxes are returned to your child’s classroom before the end of Term 1. 

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of Ron Payne, from Koo Wee Rup Lions Club.  Over the years, Ron was extremely supportive of the local public speaking contest. On many occasions he would visit the school to help with judging and to offer encouragement and advice to the children. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

Staff Changes: I wish to advise that Mrs Jacqui Dennis has resigned from her position as a classroom teacher effective from the end of Term One. Mrs Dennis commenced with St John’s Primary School in 2007 as a graduate and over the past 16 years has made an enormous contribution to the school as both a classroom teacher and physical education coordinator. The outcomes for her students are reflective of her dedication and passion for teaching.

We are currently advertising for a replacement and will advise you of the outcome in due course.

 On behalf of the St John’s community, I wish to sincerely thank Jacqui for her commitment to the students and staff and offer our best wishes for her future endeavours. 

Last Day Of Term 1:  Next Thursday 6th April, we will have our Easter Passion Play in the church at 9:30am. Parents and parishioners are welcome to join us. The Easter raffle will be drawn in the hall at 1:30pm - please ensure raffle tickets are returned via the classroom at your earliest convenience. There is no Canteen on this day. Please be reminded that school finishes at 2:10pm, an hour earlier than usual. 

Start of Term 2: A reminder that Term 2 starts for all students on Thursday 27th April.

Term 2 Uniform: A reminder that Winter Uniform is to be worn by all students in Terms 2 & 3, the final uniform shop day for this term is Thursday 6 April (Please place orders by 1pm to ensure your order is processed and delivered to your child). Uniform shop Term 2 - the first afternoon orders will be processed for Term 2 is Thursday 27 April. 

Canteen Helper Requests for Term 2: This information will be collected via a survey within your PAM account, a notification will show via the bell in the top right corner once the survey opens at 5pm tonight. Please only complete it only if you wish to assist in the canteen and have the appropriate WWC and volunteer paperwork in place. If you wish to apply for a Working With Children check please see the link below for more information.

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

Regards

Chris Dortmans, Principal

Harmony Day

Religious Education News

It was fantastic to see friends and families join us for our Beginning of Year Mass last week, what
a wonderful way to start the year together. Thank you to Father Avinash for leading us and to the
children who participated so beautifully, particularly our new Foundation students.
This term our theme across the school is ‘Choices’. We have been learning about how Jesus’ choices affected others and how this relates to the choices we make in our lives. In our classrooms we have been focusing on our Walk with St John Expectations and finding out what it looks like, feels like, and sounds like to follow in the footsteps of St John.
Coming up we have our Ash Wednesday Mass on Wednesday 22rd February at 11:30am. All are
welcome to attend.

Alycia Matthews, Religious Education Leader

Pray Together

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. 

Shrove Tuesday - Tue 21 Feb

Next Tuesday is Shrove Tuesday (or Pancake Day as it has come to be known), this day represents the last day of feasting and celebration before the commencement of Lent, a time of fasting and a time of thinking of others.

Pancakes will be provided to all classes during the morning on Tuesday 21 February. 

Dietary requirements will be catered for. 

Crazy Hair Day & Camp Quality Puppet Show - Fri 24 Feb

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. 

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. 

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. 

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

Koo Wee Rup Catholic Parishes in Partnership