Term 1, Week 6 2023

Dear Families

The Leadership Team
Todd LaForgia, Jo Livingstone, Amanda Razon & Michael Cimarosti

First Sacramental Information Session
The first information session for the Sacraments was held on Thursday 2 March at 7pm in St John the Baptist Hall. Both parents and children attended this night in preparation for the children’s Reconciliation which will be celebrated in May.

Presentation and Commissioning
On Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 March the children receiving their Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Holy Communion will be presented at both the Parish Masses in St John the Baptist Church. The children will be presented to the community so that the parish can continue to pray for them as they continue their journey to receive their Sacraments.

The staff of St John the Baptist will be commissioned at the 10am Mass on Sunday 19 March. This is held within the Parish Mass as it will allow the opportunity for the community to also pray for the staff as they are sent forth in mission to teach and care for the children and families within the school.

Harmony Day
On Tuesday 21 March, our school community will celebrate Harmony Day as we acknowledge the diversity and richness of cultures within our school. The day will begin with a communal prayer at 9am then followed by small activities held within the classrooms throughout the day.

Project Compassion
As we continue to walk through our Lenten journey, we remember the three important pillars: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. We have met two individuals from Project Compassion, Laxmi from Nepal and Tereesa from Australia. Learn more about their stories and how our donations help support them and their communities.

Amanda Razon
APRIM

Our lost property boxes are overflowing.  If your child may have lost a hat, jumper, plastic container, drink bottle or any item, please remember to check in the office.

Importantly, please ensure that all your child's items are named so that they can be returned!

Do you have a child who is due to start school in Term 3 2023 or in 2024 and have not yet submitted an enrolment form?  If so, enrolments are now over due!

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.

Name:  Eloise Napoli

Role at St John's & Years of Service: Education Support Officer and first year at St John's

Favourite Colour:  Pastel Purple

Favourite Food:  Pasta

Sporting Team:  Adelaide Crows

Hobbies & Interests:  Pilates, hiking, travelling and going to the beach

Primary School:  St Teresa's at Brighton

High School:  St Mary's College

Pets: My family have a turtle, four fish and four chickens

3 Words to describe yourself:  Creative, bubbly and adventurous

Best advice you have been given:  To take a gap year and travel after I finish Year 12

Favourite holiday spot:  Port Lincoln

Favourite season:  Summer

Name:  Josie Maiese

Role at St John's & Years of Service: Education Support Officer and first year at St John's

Favourite Colour:  Green

Favourite Food:  Italian cuisine and enjoy trying different cuisines

Sporting Team:  Grange Angels (my daughters netball team)

Hobbies & Interests:  Baking, going for walks along the beach, getting together with family and friends

Primary School:  Allenby Gardens Primary School

High School:  Siena College

Pets: Dog named Ziggy

3 Words to describe yourself:  Respectful, Friendly and Honest

Best advice you have been given:  Surround yourself with good people

Favourite holiday spot:  Aldinga Beach

Favourite season:  Spring

Statement of Accounts
A statement of accounts was sent out on Friday, 24th February.  Please be reminded that if you wish to obtain the Early Bird discount you will need to pay fees in full by this Friday 10th March (Week 6).  The Early Bird discount is calculated at 5% of $3280 which amounts to $164 discount, balance owing $3,116 for one child.  If you have more than one child at school, the discount is 5% of the balance owing after sibling discount (eg: for 2 children the discount will be $296 and the balance owing will be $5,624).

School Card
Please follow the link below to apply for the 2023 School Card Scheme. Once we have received the eligibility report from School Card the remission will be applied to your account.

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 complete their SAC 

https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/education-and-learning/financial-help-scholarships-and-grants/school-card-scheme 

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries regarding the above.

Qkr! School Sport Payments
Many thanks to those who have promptly finalised their payments for school sport.  A gentle reminder to those with outstanding sport fees to organise payment and complete the permission form as soon as possible.

Change of Circumstance
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 

St John the Baptist Catholic School Hot Weather Policy
The duty of care for our students’ health and safety is of primary importance. Consequently, the following policies will apply to St John the Baptist Catholic School sport. 

All game cancellations are in conjunction with the given sporting association or St John the Baptist Catholic School Extreme Weather Policy.

Please find below the Extreme Weather Policies for each association and the sports St John the Baptist Catholic School participates in.

• Basketball – Basketball SA hot weather policy cut off is 35 degrees as per the Bureau of Meteorology at 8am the day of the match.

• Cricket – St John the Baptist Catholic School Extreme Weather Policy cut off at 36 degrees.

• Volleyball – continues to play as the venue is airconditioned

• Netball – Life. Be In It Netball policy (outdoor) cut off at 34 degrees.

• Tee Ball - St John the Baptist Catholic School Extreme Weather Policy cut off at 36 degrees.

Training sessions - St John the Baptist Catholic School Extreme Weather Policy cut off at 36 degrees.

All students are reminded to wear a hat and sunscreen, especially during Terms 1 and 4.

Dependent on the sport played, the sport will go ahead in wet weather unless there is thunder and lightning storms, or if it is deemed unsafe to play in the wet conditions.

West Adelaide Football Club and SANFL are local football programs in clubs and schools for the upcoming year, including both Auskick and junior football.

The West Adelaide Football Club will be delivering Football Clinics with our junior primary students (R-2) to help promote Auskick and local footy clubs within the zone on Friday 17 March.

SACPSSA
The South Australian Catholic Primary School Sports Association aims to promote the philosophy of good sportsmanship, teach students how to win well and lose graciously, and foster companionship between competitors while promoting a healthy active lifestyle.

SACPSSA offers a wide variety of team and individual sports carnivals, students are encouraged to participate and compete in the carnivals held throughout the calendar year. The primary sports traditionally include Cross Country, Athletics and Swimming, with team based sports such as Netball, Tennis, Lacrosse, Cricket and Touch.

By competing in carnivals throughout the year, students have opportunities to meet and compete against students in their own age group from all areas of the state.

SAPSASA
SAPSASA (South Australian Primary Schools Amateur Sports Association) events provide opportunities for children with specific sporting ability to participate in a variety of sporting activities. SAPSASA works within the Department for Education and Child Development for the delivery of School Sport.

SAPSASA works in consultation with Secondary School Sport SA (SSSSA) to conduct school sport programs from R-12 DECD, Catholic and Independent schools. Primary school children aged 10 years and older are eligible to participate.

St John the Baptist Catholic School has a strong history in participation in the South Australian Primary Schools Amateur Sports Association (SAPSASA) competition. We are proudly part of the Airport District and enter into a wide variety of SAPSASA events throughout the year. SAPSASA runs a series of Knockout Competitions, State Carnivals and State Championships, which the school nominates individuals and teams for competition.

Term 1 Sport Carnivals

The following carnivals / trials will occur this term –

SAPSASA Lacrosse Carnival Years 4 - 6  Thursday 9 March (Week 6)

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected to represent St John the Baptist Catholic School.

SACPSSA Swimming trials Years 3 - 6    Friday 10 March (Week 6)
There are 47 children trying out for a place in the St John the Baptist Catholic School Swimming team that will be competing in the upcoming SACPSSA Swimming Carnival being held at SA Aquatic Centre.

SACPSSA Swimming Carnival Years 3 – 6          Wednesday 29 March (Week 9)

Crows Cup Year 5/6 Girls                                      Friday 31 March (Week 9)

Paul O'Dea
PE & Co-curricular Sport Co-ordinator
podea@stjohnpl.catholic.edu.au

Premiers Reading Challenge
Just a reminder to parents and caregivers that students have until 8^th September to complete the challenge.

It is not a race.

The rules include:

1. This must be the first year that the book has been read.  It cannot be listed on the PRC book form for this year if the student has read it before.
2. Eight of the books chosen must have a PRC sticker on them - red for Rec-2, green for Years 3-5 and yellow for Year 6.
3. Children must be reading at their appropriate level i.e. not too easy, not too hard, but just right - like the beds in the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Also before you initial their form to sign off that they have read a book we ask that you talk to your student about the book and ask some questions e.g.

"Why did you choose this book?  What is it about?  What is your favourite part and why?  How many stars out of 5 would you give it and why?"   

Please enjoy engaging with your student/s about the Premier's Reading Challenge which is now in its 20^th Year.

Happy reading.

Rose & Maria

If you haven't heard of Karen Young, founder of 'Hey Sigmund', do yourself a favour and visit her website. Hey Sigmund is about building courage in children and teens, and provides lots of resources for parents and families requiring support around anxiety and mental health.

Karen says "Every day there are stunning new insights into the human mind and the way we work, love, play, behave, relate, think and feel. We are learning more and more about what it means to be human, and how to master the art. Now more than ever, anybody who is any version of human has something to gain from the science of psychology...."

https://www.heysigmund.com/about/

Sarah Byrnes
CENTACARE SCHOOL COUNSELLOR

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 10th Mar - Lucianna Introna

Monday 13th Mar - Public Holiday

Tuesday 14th Mar - Jo

Wednesday 15th Mar - Julie

Thursday 16th Mar - Davina Cimarosit

Friday 17th Mar - Melisa Gorgone

Monday 20th Mar - Julie

Tuesday 21st Mar - Jo

Wednesday 22nd Mar - Julie

Thursday 23rd Mar - Jo

Friday 24th Mar - Kate Piasente

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

Just a reminder to families who maybe considering enrolment at Cabra Dominica College in Year 7, 2025 of the following key dates:

• Applications for Year 7, 2025 will close on Friday 14 April 2023. 
• Siblings of existing students will need to complete an enrolment application form.
• Applications received after the above closing date will be placed onto a waitlist.

Our final Principal’s tour for Term 1 will be held at the college on:

• Thursday 16 March at 9.15am

If families are interested in attending, please visit the enrolments page on our website at www.cabra.catholic.edu.au to register.

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

A free 3 week after-school Cricket program, each Wednesday beginning Wednesday March 8 at 4:30pm - 5:30pm, at the Western Youth Centre (79 Marion Rd, Cowandilla).

This activity is supported by the City of West Torrens and run by the SA Cricket Association.

There's up to 17 places available (aged 5 - 11) and it's all free, including branded clothes that the participants get to keep.

• Here is the link to register - https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/register/c99caf

Please note:  Do not worry about where it mentions the cost - There's no cost it just defaults to $0.00 for everything. 

*Council may also be able to assist with transport from school if required.

Each student can enter the competition at their Newspower Newsagency. Each participating Newspower store has two Rascal the Rabbit prizes to be won, but it gets even better!

Both store winners will automatically enter the National competition, where they have the chance to win a $100.00 Bunny Bucks voucher*.

Plus if one of your students is the National winner in either the Infants or Primary category, your school will win a Bunny Bucks voucher* to the value of $500.00.

Download the entry form here.

*Bunny Bucks is a voucher to be spent at the Newspower Newsagency where the entry was lodged. 

Soccer clinics available for junior girls of all ages on a Monday and Tuesday night from 6:30pm to 8pm.

There are opportunities for interested players for 1 on 1 Coaching and small group sessions. 

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.