Newsletter - Wednesday 10 May 23

Principals Report

Dear Parents/Carers, 

As part of our ongoing School Improvement Plan in conjunction with the Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Ltd we are again conducting School Improvement Surveys via Insight SRC. This survey looks at how we can plan programs and activities to improve your child’s experience at school. Surveys will be sent to a random selection of 60 families by the end of this week. We ask that families receiving the survey complete this before Friday 19 May. 

Bunnings Pakenham East have generously donated seedling, seeds, potting mix and pots to kick start our Kitchen Garden for this term. Over the coming months, they will be installing new garden beds in our vegie patch. A huge thank you to Jo and her team at Bunnings. 

Car park gates closing time: A reminder that the car park gates  at the rear of the school close each day at 3:20pm. This allows staff on duty to be available for after school meetings etc.

Cross-country: Congratulations to Wood House (Yellow) for taking out this year’s House Cross-Country.  The weather held and we were able to run through all the age groups.  The effort, resilience, and enthusiasm of all was amazing. We have 42 students going onto the District level to represent St John’s. 

Inform and Empower: This week the Yr 3 - 6 students were involved in their second live stream incursion on digital safety and wellbeing. These sessions will inform and empower students to become more aware, clever, kind and brave online citizens. Information sheets have been sent home after the sessions.

Dogs on School Grounds: For the safety of all, dogs are NOT permitted on the school grounds.  I appreciate that children like to bring pets in for ‘show and share’ however this must be arranged with the classroom teacher so that allergy and hygiene concerns can be addressed.

KWR Regional Health Services Centenary Celebration: Sunday 21st May, 10:30am – 2:30pm. Bring your family to KRHS and celebrate their 100 years with stalls, food trucks, old time games, free entertainment, music, and laughter. See Community News below for further details.  

PAM Excursion Permissions: All excursion permissions are now being completed via PAM; you will receive an email notification when a permission is opened for your child which we require you to action promptly.  If you are not receiving emails from PAM please check that you have verified your email address as part of the sign up process.  Please contact Di on 03 5997 1653 or email office@stjohnskwr.catholic.edu.au if you need assistance.

Regards 

 Chris Dortmans, Principal

School Photos - Wednesday 17 May

Please see attached information in relation to photo day and ordering. 

Personalised order flyers have been sent home with all students last week. 

Mothers Day Reminders

Mothers Day Breakfast: Friday 12 May, 7 - 8:30am: Students are invited to bring Mum along for breakfast cooked by the staff. Please contact the office today if you have forgotten to respond but wish to come. 

Mothers Day Raffle: The Friends of St Johns are running a Mothers Day Raffle with lots of great prizes, tickets available at the Mothers Day Breakfast, prizes drawn at 8:30am.

All proceeds  

Mothers Day Liturgy: Friday 12 May, 9:15am: This is a great opportunity to invite Mum and extended family to celebrate Mothers Day with us, Liturgy will be held in the church. 

Religious Education News

Last week we marked Reconciliation Week with a beautiful Liturgy. We were fortunate to have had the St Francis Xavier College Cantabile play and sing the music, which was very special. We hope to have them back later in the year for more celebrations. Each student in the school contributed to this Liturgy by making a ‘Tracking Foot’ - a cutout of their footprint with a personal message written on it about reconciliation. Each footprint will be displayed in the church until the end of term. Thank you to everyone who was able to join us.

In the classrooms we are continuing our learning on the topic of ‘Celebrations’. In many classes students have been learning about the Sacraments and other special Catholic celebrations. Our Grade 3/4 students had the opportunity to participate in a reenactment of the Last Supper, where Jesus shared his final meal with his Disciples. The students sat in groups of 13 to signify Jesus and his 12 Disciples, and shared a meal together. This was a great way to get students actively involved in their learning in an engaging way, and they had a great time!

Alycia Matthews, Religious Education Leader

Upcoming events

Sunday 18/6: First Communion @9:30am

Thursday 22/6: St John the Baptist Feast Day Liturgy @9:15am

Pray Together

Mothers Day Liturgy

School TV - In this edition of SchoolTV - THE STATE OF YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH

Parents and carers can play a crucial role  in their children's mental health. As a result, staying informed on the current state of youth mental health is vital, as it not only affects individuals, but also families and communities. According to recent research, the frequency of mental health disorders among young people is increasing, with anxiety, depression, and self-harm being among the most common challenges.

One of the reasons being attributed to this rise is the heightened stress and anxiety that many young people face in today's society. Academic success, social media, and family issues are all influencing factors. Many young people are still suffering the long-term consequences of the pandemic, such as social isolation, uncertainty, and loss.

Parents can play an important role in their children's mental health. Creating a safe and open environment for your children to talk about their emotions, thoughts, and feelings is vital. Encouraging healthy habits like regular exercise, a balanced diet, and proper sleep can help reduce their stress levels and boost your child's overall mental health. There are also many resources and services available to children, adolescents, and their families, such as school counsellors, various mental health organisations, support lines, and of course, mental health professionals. It is important to remember that seeking help is a show of strength, not weakness, and that early intervention is critical in addressing young people's mental health difficulties.

This edition of SchoolTV, discusses some of the major mental health issues affecting young people and how to support a child experiencing them. 

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to the The State of Youth Mental Health edition of SchoolTV
https://stjohnskwr.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/state-youth-mental-health

Canteen - Closed from Mon 29 May to Fri 9 June due to Swimming Lessons.

Uniform Shop (Winter Uniform Term 2)

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.

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. 

Koo Wee Rup Catholic Parishes in Partnership

Community News - KRHS 100th Birthday