St Johns Newsletter - 17 July 2024

Principals Report

Welcome back, we hope our families had an enjoyable break and managed to stay warm. Term 3 is a busy one with Winter Sport for our Gr 5/6 students, Swimming lessons for Juniors, Gr 5/6 Camp, Athletics for the whole school and various other excursions/events. Please keep an eye on the calendar and permissions via PAM for full details of these events and ensure permissions are actioned in a timely manner. 

The St Johns Book Fair commences on Monday 22 July, parents are welcome to browse and purchase as detailed in the flyer below. Full details of how to purchase will be sent home on Monday 22 July. 

Parent Teacher Interviews take place next Tuesday 23 July for all classes, with interviews for 5/6S split over both Tuesday and Wednesday. Bookings are via PAM and will close on Friday 19 July to allow for organisation. 

Student Free Day: A reminder that Tuesday 23 July is a student free day to accommodate both Staff Professional Development and Parent Teacher Interviews. 

Please be aware that the Canteen & Uniform Shop are closed on Monday 22 July, we apologise for any inconvenience. 

2025 Enrolments are filling fast, a reminder that if you or anyone you know are yet to enrol please contact the office as soon as possible. 

Regards 

Jacki Taylor, Acting Principal

Religious Education News

On Monday our staff had the privilege of visiting the ARK Centre, a Jewish synagogue, and Benevolence, an Islamic community centre. These professional development sessions were a part of our ongoing commitment to interreligious dialogue, which is essential in fostering mutual understanding and respect between different faith traditions. During these visits, our staff engaged in meaningful conversations and observed religious practices, gaining valuable insights into the Jewish and Islamic faiths.

Interreligious dialogue is about open and respectful communication between people of different religions. For our school, it means teaching our students to appreciate and respect the beliefs and practices of others, which aligns with our Catholic values of love and respect for all. By understanding other religions, our students can learn to see the world from various perspectives, fostering a more inclusive and harmonious school environment.

The insights gained from these visits will enrich our Religious Education curriculum, helping students to better understand and appreciate the shared values and distinct traditions of Judaism, Islam, and other faiths. This approach not only enhances their religious knowledge but also cultivates empathy and respect for all people, preparing them to be compassionate and open-minded individuals. This also ties into our Term 3 Religious Education topic, ‘Love One Another’.

Alycia Matthews, Religious Education Leader

Upcoming dates

18/7: Confirmation Workshop @6:00pm 

8/8: Grades 3-6 Class Mass @9:15am

Pray Together

St Johns Book Fair - Mon 22 to Thur 25 July

Our annual St Johns Book Fair is on next week - students will browse the Book Fair on Monday and complete "Wish Lists" to take home. There are a number of ways to purchase - these will be detailed on the reverse of your child's wish list. 

Parents are also invited to attend the Book Fair and purchase in person at the times detailed below. 

Upcoming Events

School Student Broadband Initative

Koo Wee Rup Catholic Parishes in Partnership

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.