Term 1, Week 4 2024

Dear Families

Commissioning Mass
On Sunday 25^th February, the staff will be commissioned for their work with children at St John the Baptist school. They will receive a blessing from Fr Denis to “send them forth on mission” within the 10am Mass at St John the Baptist Church.

Presentation Mass
The children who have enrolled in the Sacramental Program will be presented to the parish community this weekend, on Saturday 24^th at 6pm and Sunday 25^th at 10am Mass. This is an opportunity for the parishioners to see the candidates and pray for them and their families as they embark on their sacramental journey.

Sacramental Program
Our Sacramental Program will have its first preparation session on 13^th March in the hall, at 6pm. Children and their parent(s) are both encouraged to attend to begin their deep dive into the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Ecological Sustainability
This year we are looking to have a closer focus on how we, as a school can be more aware of our consumption and waste. Our school has developed a framework to help guide our decisions when it comes to purchasing, usage and consumption to limit the amount of waste collected. This framework has become a guide to support in looking at the bigger picture of taking care of the world God created and being good stewards of the earth.

In keeping ecological sustainability as a keen focus this year, we are looking to become a more “waste aware” school. Recently our Year 4s have had an incursion with KESAB to look at how much waste our school collects. Soon we will be looking towards reducing the amount of waste collected within our school grounds. We look forward to this positive change and contribution in the care for our environment.

Project Compassion
As we are becoming more “waste aware” we have omitted the small project compassion boxes sent to families. Instead, each classroom has one large box for donations. You will also find an opportunity to donate through QKR. We thank you greatly for your continued generosity.

Amanda Razon
APRIM

'Thrive' on Thursday
"Thrive" offers a safe and welcoming space for families. It is a space for children to enjoy some activities such as tic tac toe where children can play and parents are free to chat with our School Chaplain and connect with each other. 

By now you should all have received your school fees statement in the post with many people already making payments or setting up regular payment options – Thank you!  If you have not received it, please email me today and I will check the details we have on file and send one back to you. 

If you wish pay in full please do so by Friday 8^th March to qualify for the 5% discount and deduct that amount when making the payment.  If you need help to calculate the correct amount for the payment or for a payment plan please email me.

Don’t forget for those families, single parents, or businesses on a low income of around $70,994 last financial year School Card can be applied for via the following links.  These must be completed each school year:

Form A (Income Assessment)

https://online.forms.sa.edu.au/content/forms/af/public/application-for-school-card.html

Form B (hardship, change of circumstances or self-employed)

https://online.forms.sa.edu.au/content/forms/af/public/form-b-hardship-or-circumstance-or-self-employed.html

If accepted, this will allow us to reduce your tuition fees to the lower-income fee, so please apply as soon as possible as it can take 4-6 weeks for approval.

If you have any queries or if you are having trouble making payments please email me on accounts@stjohnpl.catholic.edu.au, phone me on 8218 3304 or come in and see me Monday to Friday 8.00am to 4.00pm.

Jodie Veldhoen
Finance Officer 

Do you have a child who is due to start school in 2026 and have not yet submitted an enrolment form?  

Enrolment Forms can be collected from our school office or downloaded via our website www.stjohnpl.catholic.edu.au

If you have any queries, please contact our office on 8218 3300.

Dear St John’s Community,

Here we are, Week 4 is already upon us and there are many great things happening in our community. I would like to start by thanking all the amazing parents for their prompt responses through our Qkr! App for After-School Sports. Furthermore, a special thank you to all of the amazing Team Mentors (Coaches) and Team Managers who are volunteering their precious time to allow our students a real opportunity outside of normal school hours. It has been very pleasing to hear teams talking positively and sharing victory stories amongst their peers.

On top of this, we have had an amazing response from our Reception - Year 2 cohort for our After-School Sport T-Ball Team. This team of superstars will engage early Saturday mornings in a specialised program that teaches the fundamental skills in a fun team environment.  

The first of our SACPSSA Carnivals is fast approaching and will cater for all of our strong swimmers in Years 3-6. A once off trial will take place during Week 6 (Monday March 4^th) to help select the team. This carnival is set to take place during Week 10 of this term (Tuesday April 2^nd).

All of our Year 4-6 students will be involved in the Glenelg Lacrosse Carnival in Week 10 (Wednesday April 3^rd). We are very fortunate to have been able to secure a Junior Development Coach from the Glenelg Lacrosse Club who is willing to come to our school and provide the students important Lacrosse skills in the lead up to the Carnival. There is a brochure attached to this newsletter that highlights a ‘Come and Try Day’ at the Glenelg Lacrosse Club. If your child is excited about the opportunity to learn new skills in this area, please feel free to take them along.

We have just registered for the ‘Premiers Be Active Challenge’, I have heard wonderful reports on this initiative and look forward to putting this challenge into practice. More information will be posted on this in the coming weeks, stay tuned.  

Sam Putland
SPORT COORDINATOR

The Premier's Reading Challenge is a challenge but not a race.  Students have until early September to read 12 books that are at the appropriate reading level and that they have not read before 2024.

Premier Challenge Reading forms have now been distributed to classes. If they are in your student's homework book please check regularly.

You are encouraged to have a conversation about each book your student is reading and then add your initials to the form when the book has been completed.

Your guidance, interest and encouragement are valuable tools in their reading progress.  

All books should be checked against the website list of PRC books  whether they are from our library or students' personal books. 

To do this follow the link above.

In an effort to encourage students to broaden their choices they can only choose 2 books by the same author this year.

If you have any questions about the Challenge please ask.   

Maria French

Library Coordinator

All orders for both recess and lunch are to 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.

Canteen Roster

Term 1

Friday 23rd Feb - No Canteen 

Monday 26th Feb - Julie

Tuesday 27th Feb - Jo

Wednesday 28th Feb - Julie

Thursday 29th Feb - Jo

Friday 1st Mar - Jo & Karen Drury

Monday 4th Mar - Julie

Tuesday 5th Mar - Jo

Wednesday 6th Mar - Julie

Thursday 7th Mar - Jo

Friday 8th Mar - Jo & Katrina Nagle

Julie Henschke & Jo Fitzgerald

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 and have completed the volunteers application package.

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 or email Francis Schulz on fschulz@stjohnpl.catholic.edu.au .

Year 7, 2026 Intake

For any families that may be considering enrolment at Cabra Dominican College in Year 7, 2026, a reminder that enrolment applications will close on Friday 12 April 2024 (end of Term 1).  Please note that siblings of current students are required to complete an application form.  

Hamra Library currently offer the following drop-in activities:

• A monthly writers' group (4:30-5:30pm every second Wednesday of the month)
• A monthly book club with no set text, just a place to come and talk about books! (4:30-5:30pm last Wednesday of every month)
• Homework club for all-ages study assistance every Monday during term, 4pm-6pm.
• 24/7 access to Studiosity for additional support if they have a West Torrens library card!
• The Australian Refugee Association offers homework support to students from refugee backgrounds who have been in Australia for 5 years or less every Thursday of term - 4pm-6pm
• Lego Club (every 2^nd Monday during term time, 3:30-5pm)
• "Sign Squad" for 12-25 year olds to learn Auslan from a Deaf tutor (Friday 5-6pm in weeks 1, 4, and 8 of each term)

None of these activities require bookings but further information is available via the Hamra Library website on the Activities and Events webpage:

https://www.westtorrens.sa.gov.au/Hamra-Centre-Library/Activities-and-event

The links and information that are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only.  They do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by St John the Baptist Catholic School of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organisation or individual.  St John the Baptist Catholic School bears no responsibility for the accuracy legality or contact of the external site or for that of subsequent links.  Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.