Term 1, Week 2 2022

Welcome 

Welcome to the 2022 school year. A special welcome to our new students, their families and to the new staff who are joining us at St John the Baptist Catholic School. 

Whilst it is not the start to the school year that so many of us envisioned, I would like to acknowledge the staff for their hard work in ensuring the teaching and learning, whether it be online or face to face has been well planned and engaging. I would also like to thank the students, whether at school or involved in their learning from home for their flexibility, adaptability and positive mindset. 

Holiday Works 

I know from talking to many of you over the past week, the positive visual impact the school has made upon you all. The major building works that commenced over twelve months ago are complete and the school is looking great! Over the summer break, the green play space has been resurfaced, as have the basketball and handball courts. The ‘older’ part of the school also received an external paint to connect the previous colour palette to the new. The internal area of the administration building also received a paint. This work, along with the regular scheduled maintenance works created a busy holiday period to ensure the school was ready for the students return. 

School Communication 

If you are reading this newsletter, you will have received an email asking you to click on a link to access this communication. This year, we have changed the format of our newsletter so that the current and previous newsletter issues will be accessible at all times via the news and events tab on the school website. 

We are also streamlining the avenues of communication to families. All administration communication will come to you via an email through our Learner Management System, SEQTA. Classroom learning and information will continue to be communicated through the Seesaw app. 

Please ensure your email address is up to date so that you receive current communication from the school. 

Parent Information Evening- Meet and Greet 

The Parent Information Evening- Meet and Greet was originally scheduled to occur for all year levels this week. However, due to the current impact of COVID, each year level team will now send home an Information Booklet to all families. Contained within each booklet will be information that will give you an insight into some of the classroom routines as our staff, in partnership with you, strive to create an environment where your child feels safe, challenged and inspired. Please share the routines and information contained within each booklet with your child/ren. 

2023 Reception Enrolments (Siblings) 

If you have not yet enrolled a sibling into the school who is due to begin Reception in 2023, please contact the school as soon as possible. 

School Counsellor 

I am pleased to announce that we have again engaged the services of a Centacare Children’s Counsellor who will work at the school one day per week during 2022. Sarah Byrnes who commenced at the school in the latter stages of 2021 will continue in this role. Sarah will work with students, teachers and parents to enhance the students’ social and emotional wellbeing and ensure our Circle of Care is wrapped around every student. 

I wish all students, their families and the school staff the very best for the 2022 school year. 

Todd La Forgia
Principal 

What an interesting start to 2022! Despite a different beginning to the school year, it has been lovely to see and hear of how the students have taken things in their stride and beginning to make those connections with their class. I believe a big thank you should be extended to all parents and families for the support of your child during this time. On another note, in my role as REC this term I look forward to seeing and getting to know more faces and families over the coming weeks. 

School Theme 

We have decided to introduce a theme for St. John the Baptist named, ‘A Call to Care’. As the title implies, we hope it invigorates our call to the responsibility of caring for ourselves, each other and our environment, in both the small ways and on a larger scale.  

‘A Call to Care’ will serve a twofold purpose, as a focus for our community, but also to explore and be reminded of how important it is to show care in all the things that we do. Having St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop’s words as an inspiration and at the forefront of our minds we are reminded to, “never see a need without doing something about it”.  

We look forward to how our theme will be explored and allow us to celebrate our ‘call to care’ throughout the year. 

Sacraments 2022 

A reminder regarding Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Communion, the Parish is now accepting Sacramental enrolments for this year. 

If you have a child aged 8 years or older wishing to receive The Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation or First Communion in 2022, please fill out the enrolment form which was handed to your child in class at the end of last year.  

Please return documents to the school or parish office, together with a copy of your child's Baptism Certificate by Wednesday 16th February. 

The First Parent Information Session and Reconciliation Session has been combined and will be held on Wednesday 9th March from 7-8pm in the SJB Hall.  

Amanda Razon
REC

Statement of Accounts 

Please note billing for the 2022 School Year will occur in Week 4 2022.  

Whether payment is by Direct Debit, Scheduled Transfer etc, could you please ensure that instalments made will result in your account being at a zero balance by the end of Term 3 2022.  

If your address or any other details have changed, please notify the front office as soon as possible.   

Fee Remission 

Families who have previously received fee remission will be required to complete a new fee remission form with the following documentation attached: 

• Your most recent tax return(s) – private and/or business as applicable 
• Your most recent pay advice(s) and /or other form of income if applicable 
• Your Centrelink statement receiving Centrelink or other special benefits 
• School Card approval (if applicable) 

Please contact Pam Marks Bursar/Finance Officer, for the above form or arrange a time to meet. 

School Card 

Please follow the link to apply for the 2022 School Card Scheme. 

The School Card Scheme provides low income families attending a non-government school with financial assistance for school fees (materials and services charges). 

Eligibility 

School Card is available to: 

• Families with children aged four years and over who attend a school full-time 
• Independent full-time students studying Year 10,11 or 12 
• Adult re-entry students undertaking subjects to completed their SACE 

School Card families please note that fee remission will be applied once School Card has been approved. 

Fee Paying Options 

The following options are available for payment of fees: 

1. Cash or cheque 
2. Credit Card  
3. Direct Debit (forms available from the front office) 
4. QKR! 
5. Online Banking 

If you wish to pay using online banking, please see the school bank details below 

BSB: 085 005
Account No: 45632 2374
Account Name: St John the Baptist School
Reference Field: Please use the biller code as per the box on the bottom of your statement. Your reference needs to be set out the same as per the box (See example below). 

For those families currently using online banking as this option, could you please change your reference to the reference number that appears on your statement and then space and student surname.

Fee Payment 

Term 1:  1/3 of the annual school fees are payable by Friday 11th March 2022 (End of week 6)   

Early Fee Payment – a 5% Early Bird discount will only apply if your annual schools’ fees are paid in full by Friday 11th March 2022. 

We ask those families whose circumstances may have changed or are experiencing difficulties to please contact Todd LaForgia or myself at your earliest convenience via email: pmarks@stjohnpl.catholic.edu.au

Pam Marks 
Bursar/Finance Officer 

Welcome back to 2022. I thought it would be useful to let you know what is happening with School Sport this term.

Sports Day

St John the Baptist Catholic School Sports Day will be held in Term 1 this year. Due to maintenance work being conducted at the SA Athletics Stadium we have had to move our Sports Day.

St John the Baptist Catholic School Sports Day will now be held at Sacred Heart Senior School on Friday 11^th March (Week 6). The day will follow a similar format to previous sports days.

School Sports Teams

COVID19 has had an impact on School Sports teams

• All after hours School Sports have been delayed and will not start until Week 5 at the earliest.
• I am still looking for players in the following sports
  • Basketball
    • Year 5 / 6 Girls (Wednesday)
  • Cricket
    • MasterBlaster (Friday)
    • C Grade              (Year 3 / 4)
    • B Grade             (Year 4 / 5)
    • A Grade              (Year 5 / 6)
  • Netball
    • Year 2 / 3
    • Year 3 / 4
    • Year 5 / 6
  • Volleyball
    • Year 5 / 6

• Coaches are urgently required for the following teams
  • Basketball
    • 1 x Year 3 / 4 Boys (Monday)
    • 1 x Year 5 / 6 Boys (Tuesday)
    • 1 x Year 5 / 6 Girls (Wednesday)
    • 1 x year 3 / 4 Girls (Wednesday)
    • 1 x Year 2 / 3 Mixed (Thursday)
  • Cricket
    • 3 x Cricket teams
  • Netball
    • 2 x Netball (Year 3 / 4  & 5 / 6)

Player Registration

Please use this link to register https://forms.office.com/r/BjaXkAsJB2 ​Please find further information regarding the sports offered in our St John the Baptist Catholic School SPORTS HANDBOOK. Please use the following link -https://www.stjohnpl.catholic.edu.au/__files/d/12154/Sports_Handbook.pdf.

Coaches – please remember that you need to have completed

The Volunteer Package that includes

• Catholic Police Check 
• Copy of COVID status

• New updated version of Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse & Neglect - Education and Care (RRHAN – EDC) 

• Badge

• Card

Please note – to be able to coach / manage a school team this ALL must be completed. Otherwise, the children will NOT be able to compete.

If you have any queries please contact Francis Schulz -

fschulz@stjohnpl.catholic.edu.au

Carnivals

At this stage (COVID19 permitting) the following carnivals / trials will occur this term –

• Sports Day trials Yr. 3 - 6                                      Wednesday 23^rd February (Week 4)
• SACPSSA Swimming trials Yr. 3 - 6                      Friday 4^th March (Week 5)
• SACPSSA Cricket Carnival Yr. 3 - 6                      Wednesday 9^th March (Week 6)
• SACPSSA Swimming Carnival Yr. 3 - 6                 Wednesday 23^rd March (Week 8)
• SAPSASA Lacrosse Carnival Yr. 4 - 6                   Tuesday 29^th March (Week 9)

Paul O'Dea
PE & Co-curricular Sport Co-ordinator

Welcome back for the 2022 school year!

Please be reminded to update your Qkr! app in order to update your child's class.

Currently due to COVID restrictions no cash will be taken over the counter at the canteen for iceblocks.  Iceblocks can still be ordered via our Qkr! app.   

Canteen orders close each canteen day (Monday, Wednesday & Friday) at 9.00am.

Healthy Canteen (Tuesday & Thursday) orders close on Mondays at 12pm.

Julie Henschke & Jo Fitzgerald

NAME:  Lauren Copeland  

ROLE AT ST JOHNS & YEARS OF SERVICE: 
Year 5 classroom teacher - First year at St Johns (teaching for 12 years)  

FAVOURITE COLOUR: Purple  

FAVOURITE FOOD: Too hard to choose one…spaghetti or pizza!  

SPORTING TEAM YOU SUPPORT: Brisbane Lions & Queensland Maroons  

HOBBIES & INTERESTS: Travelling, reading, going to the zoo, spending time at the beach  

PRIMARY SCHOOL I WENT TO:  St Martin de Porres, Sheidow Park  

HIGH SCHOOL I WENT TO: St Mary’s College, Adelaide   

PETS: No ☹  

3 WORDS TO DESCRIBE ME: Loyal, friendly, helpful  

BEST ADVICE I’VE BEEN GIVEN: Every thing will be ok, even if it takes time.  

FAVOURITE HOLIDAY SPOT: 
Within Australia; Noosa, Queensland - Outside Australia; Da Nang, Vietnam  

FAVOURITE SEASON: Autumn (just because my birthday is in that season!)  

We are looking for students to participate in the Catholic Schools Music Festival Choir (CSMF).  If your child is in Years 5 or 6 and would like to participate please contact Antonietta Caruana on acaruana@stjohnpl.catholic.edu.au for further information.

Antonietta Caruana
CSMF Choir Trainer 

Playgroup will return from Week 3, Wednesday 16th February, from 9am-10.30am.

Please be reminded that all parents will be required to wear a mask.

St John the Baptist School provides a safe environment for all while valuing the partnership between school and home.

As a Catholic community, we welcome and value volunteers. To be able to volunteer, and/or attend at other times throughout the school year, we ask that you hold a current Catholic Police Check (parents/caregivers attending excursions, reading in class, helping in class, attending community events), a current Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect in Education and Care for Volunteers certificate, have completed the volunteers application package and your COVID vaccination certificate.

A Catholic Police Check for volunteers is free for our current parents and caregivers. Application Forms are available in our school office.

This process ensures we maintain a child safe environment. To avoid disappointment, we encourage you to apply for a Catholic Police Check through the school office as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at the school office on 8218 3300.

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