Term 1, Week 6 2025

Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday
The students enjoyed the pancakes on Tuesday in celebration before the beginning of Lent. A big thank you to Kylie, Jo L and our Parents and Friends who made the day possible. There were smiling faces after recess after enjoying the sweet treat.

The Year 6 students represented the school at the Ash Wednesday liturgy. We also had Alen Karuvelil in Year 4 altar serve at Mass in the morning. Most classes combined to share an Ash Wednesday liturgy. Students also engaged in the learning about the beginning of Lent.

Parish Quiz Night
The Parish held their first Quiz Night last Friday night. It was a lovely and lively atmosphere where the community gathered for fun and comradery with trivia questions on different Catholic categories such as sports, entertainment and music. It was a successful night for the Plympton Parish.

Sacramental Programme
We held the Presentation Mass of the Sacramental Candidates in February. The children and their families will attend the first session in preparation for their Reconciliation on the 26th of March at 6pm.

We look forward to beginning the program.

Statement of Accounts – Instalments due now
School Fee statements were posted out last month, if you did not receive a copy, please email me and I can check the address we have on file and send you a copy. Thank you to all the families who have set up payment authorities or started making payments via Qkr!, online or at the office.  This is just a friendly reminder that if paying each term that Term 1 instalments are now due and if you wish to obtain the Early Bird discount you will need to pay fees in full minus the discount by this Friday 7th March (Week 6).  The Early Bird discount is calculated at 5% of fees so for 1 child it is $164 discount, amount to pay $3,116.  If you have more than one child at school, the discount is 5% of the balance owing after sibling discount so for 2 children the discount will be $296 and the balance to pay will be $5,624, for 3 children the discount will be $415.75 and the balance to pay will be $7,899.25.  If you have a balance or credit owing from 2024 please allow for this when making your payment.  If you need help to calculate the correct amount for the payment or for a payment plan amount please email me.

Other payment options should have already started and are: weekly x 42 payments, fortnightly x 22 payments, monthly x 10 payments so that fees are completed by early Term 4.  You can divide your balance by the option you wish to choose and pay by Qkr!, Bpay or via the office.  If you wish to set up a direct debit, forms were sent out last year, but it’s not too late so please email me for a new one as soon as possible. 

School Card
This is for families, single parents, or businesses on a low income of around $74,189 last financial year.  Please follow the links below to apply for the 2025 School Card Scheme. 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

Dear St John’s Community,

I hope everyone is enjoying this consistent sunshine that we are currently experiencing. This weather certainly makes playing sport outside and even supporting as a parent from the sidelines a pleasant experience for all.

We have been busy in our office over the past week sorting through all of the SACPSSA Swimming trial times. It was great to have 51 students trial for the squad that will represent our school at the SACPSSA Carnival. After going through and filling all of the events with our stronger swimmers, a squad of 35 swimmers has been selected for this carnival. We thank every student that trialled for this team and to our volunteers on the day, we say a big thank you as well. Those students who were successful in obtaining a spot in the squad have been notified of their events.

Many of our school families recently had very long days on the beach with the Surf Life Saving State Championships taking place down at Seacliff. It was so pleasing to see so many of our students placing in their events, receiving medals and being on podiums. These Championships are so competitive, so to obtain a place and medal it really is quite an achievement for these athletes. We would like to celebrate the following students for their achievements:

Callan Taylor (3J) - U8 Div 2 Beach Relay Bronze

Ethan Taylor (3J) - U8 Div 1 Surf Race Gold / U8 Div 1 Cameron Relay Bronze / U8 Div 2 Flags Silver / U8 Div 2 Beach Relay Bronze 

Olivia Sadler (4G) - U9 Div 1 Distance Run Gold / U9 Div 1 Sprints Gold / U9 Div 1 Wades Gold

Xavier Fontanot (5G) - All Age Junior Taplin Relay Gold / All Age Boys Beach Sprints Bronze

Flynn Beresford (5G) - U10 Div 2 Beach Relay Gold / U10 Div 2 Wades Silver

Ethan Beresford (6M) - U12 Div 1 Swim Team Silver / U12 Div 2 Beach Sprint Gold / U12 Champion Life Saver Silver

Riley Taylor (6M) - U11 Div 2 Iron Gold / U11 Div 2 Board Race Silver

Well done to all of these placegetters and to all of our students that competed in this State Championship.

At SJBCS the sporting opportunities continue as just this week we had 6 students trial for the SAPSASA Swimming Team. We would like to congratulate: Will Keegan, Ollie Wilcox, Flynn Beresford, Xavier Fontanot, Ethan Beresford and Riley Taylor who gave their best efforts at the SAPSASA Trials. We look forward to hearing back from the Airport District Co-Ordinator to see how the boys went with these trials.

To everyone that plays a team sport, your challenge this week is to compliment 3 of your team mates. Tell them why you like having them in your team. Go well everyone!

Yours in sport

Sam Putland
SPORTS COORDINATOR

• Easter Raffle (Drawn Thursday 10th April)
• School Colour Run - 11th April
• Mother's Day Stall - 8th & 9th May
• Father's Day Stall - 3rd & 4th September

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 7th March - Jo & Libby Graham

Monday 10th March - Public Holiday

Tuesday 11th March - Jo

Wednesday 12th March - Julie

Thursday 13th March - Jo

Friday 14th March - Jo & Melisa Gorgone

Monday 17th March - Julie

Tuesday 18th March - Jo

Wednesday 19th March - Julie & Maria Esteban

Thursday 20th March - Jo

Friday 21st March - Jo & Emma Vivian

Canteen Feedback

We would love your feedback regarding the canteen.

Is there anything that you would like to see on the menu that we may be able to consider adding on?

Please send your feedback to jfitzgerald@stjohnpl.catholic.edu.au

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 Julia Roy on jroy@stjohnpl.catholic.edu.au .

                                               

Insights may be discussed at future School Advisory Board meetings or you may be contacted personally for further follow up!

Please find link here for your suggestions.

Cabra are now taking enrolment applications for Year 7, 2028!
Please visit their website to apply
https://www.cabra.catholic.edu.au/enrolment/overview/

For further information, the Registrar would be happy to answer any queries and can be contacted at registrar@cabra.catholic.edu.au

Discover Big Opportunities at Nazareth’s Open Day:

Nazareth Catholic College is a big school - but more than that, it’s a place of big welcomes, big opportunities, big futures, and big hearts. It’s an inclusive community where every student finds their place and every family feels connected. With diverse opportunities, personalised learning pathways, and a strong Catholic faith foundation, Nazareth empowers students to think big!

Families are invited to experience this firsthand at Nazareth’s Open Day. Explore their dynamic learning environment, state-of-the-art facilities, and meet their passionate educators.

Tuesday 11th March

5pm – 7pm

Flinders Park Campus (1 Hartley Road Flinders Park)

Book Online at: https://www.nazareth.org.au/book-a-tour/

Nazareth is currently enrolling for Year 7 in 2028 and beyond. Did you know that St John the Baptist Catholic School is a direct pathway into Nazareth for Years 7-12? If you are considering Nazareth at secondary for your child, we encourage you to complete your enrolment application as early as possible, and prior to any final lodgement closing dates listed on the Nazareth website.

We’re running a variety of fun, creative, therapeutic programs for kids aged 3 - 17.

• On your marks, get set, school! (3-6 years)
• Aqua Skills (3-9 years)
• Lego Club (7-12 years)
• Dungeons and Dragons (8-12 years and 13-17 years)
• Fidget Masterclass (9-12 years)

Go to our website for more information and bookings: School Holiday Programs for Autistic Children | Autism SA

Hawthorn Scout Group has vacancies in their Joey Scout (Age 5-7), Cub Scout (8-11) and Scout (11-14) sections. Scouts develop young people through a range of fun, adventurous, inclusive and challenging youth development activities, building resilience and confidence. 

Come n Try - 3 free sessions!

For more information please visit sa.scouts.com.au or email gl.hawthorn@sa.scouts.com.au. 

Because great teachers change children’s lives – Teaching Awards nominations open from 3 March to 8 April 2025.  

Nominations for the 2025 Schools Plus Teaching Awards supported by Commonwealth Bank are now open! 

Each year, national education non-profit Schools Plus with the support of some of Australia’s leading philanthropists chaired by David Gonski AC, and in partnership with Commonwealth Bank celebrates inspirational teachers who are making a transformative impact on children and school communities around Australia. 

Twelve outstanding teachers or school leaders receive a prestigious $20,000 Teaching Fellowship, including $10,000 for their school and participation in a unique 12-month professional learning program. 

The program features a 1.5-day collaboration workshop, master classes, and networking opportunities to expand their leadership capabilities. They will also attend the 2025 Teaching Awards ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra and join our growing alumni network of over 120 educators driving positive change in schools across Australia. 

From new teachers to experienced educators making a real difference in the lives of our children, we want to recognise and celebrate them. Nominate an outstanding teacher or apply yourself from 3 March to 8 April 2025. Visit schoolsplus.org.au/awards. 

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.