Term 2, Week 1 2024

Dear Families

Welcome back to Term 2.  We hope you had a restful and rejuvenating term break, enjoying quality time with loved ones and embracing the beauty of autumn. As we return to school, refreshed and ready for the challenges and opportunities ahead, we look forward to continuing our journey of learning and growth together. The changing seasons remind us of the cyclical nature of life and the importance of embracing new beginnings. Here's to a successful and fulfilling term ahead.

We are also delighted to extend a special welcome to the Little JB Transition families and their children as they take their first steps into our school community, preparing to join us for the start of school in Term 3. Over the next 10 weeks, our Little JB Transition students will have opportunities to settle into the routines and life of the school. Through engaging activities, supportive interactions, and structured learning experiences, they will gradually become familiar with the daily rhythms and expectations of school life.  We hope these next few weeks will lay the foundation for a positive and successful school experience.

We extend a warm welcome back to Adriana Timpano as she returns to Year 2 after her leave. Adriana's presence has been dearly missed, and we are thrilled to have her back within our school community.  Additionally, we are pleased to welcome Gary Pascoe back to our school community following his knee surgery. We are delighted to have him back in Year 6 and in good health and high spirits.

PBIS
This term we are excited to announce the initial launch of Positive Behaviour Interventions and Supports (PBIS) at St. John the Baptist Catholic School, along with a number of Catholic School in South Australia. PBIS is a proactive approach to establishing the behavioural supports and social culture needed for all students in a school to achieve success.

PBIS emphasises teaching positive behaviour expectations, acknowledging students for demonstrating those behaviours, and providing supports to students who may need additional assistance in meeting expectations. This framework fosters a positive and safe school environment where all students feel valued, respected, and engaged in their learning.  Developing a whole school language and shared approach supports students to understand what is expected of them across all settings in the school, including learning areas, gathering spaces and playground.

PBIS encourages schools to use data to assess the effectiveness of their behavioural interventions and make informed decisions about how to best support students. By collecting and analysing data on behaviour incidents and outcomes, we can identify trends, implement targeted interventions, and continually improve our practices.

As we embark on the initial stages of implementing PBIS at St. John the Baptist Catholic School, the PBIS staff team will continue comprehensive training sessions and workshops to deepen their understanding of PBIS principles and practices.  We will regularly share updates and insights in the newsletter about our PBIS learning as we work towards full implementation in 2025.

Please see a link to a short video below about PBIS.

Positive Behavioural Interventions and Support in South Australian Catholic Schools - YouTube

Capital Works
Capital works on the Carpark and Grass Area continued over the holiday break and the final stages of the development will be finished very shortly.  The irrigation system and lawn have been installed this week and the council are in the process of reinstating the driveways and paving on Anzac Highway.  As soon as this is complete the carpark, drop off and pick up zone can be used once again.  Communication regarding this will be provided in due course.

Winter Uniform Years 3-6
This term is change over to formal winter uniform for Years 3-6.  It has been lovely to see the children so well presented in the correct uniforms over the past week.  Thank you to families for supporting the school uniform policy and notifying your child’s class teacher via Seesaw if this is not able to due to unforeseen circumstances.

Best Wishes

The Leadership Team

Ascension
The feast of the Ascension falls forty days after Easter, when we believe Jesus ascended to be with his Father in heaven. This significant feast day typically falls on a Thursday. This year, Ascension Day falls on Thursday 9^th May but is generally celebrated on the following Sunday May to coincide with Sunday Mass observance.

Sacramental Program
Children in the Sacramental Program will have their first Reconciliation in Week 3, on Wednesday 15^th May at 7:00pm in St John the Baptist Catholic Church. 

Mother’s Day
Wishing all mothers and mother figures a Happy Mother’s Day. Classes or year level communities will celebrate this special occasion on Monday 13^th May with a liturgy to thank and recognise the significant role these women have played in our lives. Teachers will send out communication regarding the time their class will be holding their liturgy.

Catholic Education Week
Next week, Week 3 is Catholic Education Week. The theme is Raising Hearts and Minds to the wonder and awe of God’s creation which students will explore throughout the week.

Laudato Si Week
Laudato Si Week is celebrated each year in May and is inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical which encourages us to take care of our Common Home. This year it will be in Week 4 and the students will be encouraged to take on challenges to help take care for the earth.

Regional Assembly
Last Saturday, 4^th May, neighbouring school and parish communities gathered for a Regional Assembly to share the current happenings, projects and success stories of their community. It was a successful event which allowed schools and parishes to appreciate the great work taking place, as well as an opportunity to network.

Marian Procession
May is the month for Mary, mother of Jesus. Each year, the Adelaide Archdiocese holds a procession through the city in honour of Mary. On Sunday 19^th May, the 75th Marian Procession will be taking place, assembling at Victoria Park (Wakefield Road) and processing to Victoria Square.

For more information contact the Archdiocesan Events office on 8210 8220 or E: events@adelaide.catholic.org.au

Amanda Razon
APRIM

If you are due to renew your Working With Children Check and your Catholic Police Clearance this year, please note that there is a high volume of renewals due.  To avoid disappointment it is advisable to do your renewal earlier as there is currently a delay in processing them.

Thank you for your anticipated support.

The updated RRHAN-EC courses were released on plink on Monday 29 April 2024 and, for most of us, completion of the online update will need to be done before 31 December 2024 when our current certificate expires. You need to complete the new RRHAN-EC online update unless you already have a current certificate with an expiry date of 31 December 2027.

To access the online update please use this link to login as ‘Non Department for Education staff login’ OR if you don’t already have a plink login, register here.

If your RRHAN-EC has already expired or you are new to education, please refer to the following guide which will help you to determine which course you need to do.

Which course is right for you?

My certificate expires on 31 December 2024 – do the online update only (takes about 2 hours).

My certificate is expired – start with the fundamentals.  If you also work directly with children and young people, do the masterclass after you’ve finished the fundamentals course.

School fee statements will be posted out in the next week to those who have a balance.  Thank you to the many people who have paid in full, set up regular payment plans or paid the first instalment in Term 1.  If you have not yet made your instalment for Term 1 please do so ASAP, a friendly reminder will be on your statement. If your account is in credit due to the 5% discount or Basketball refund this will be carried forward until next year. I will post out your account this term so you know you have a credit, but will not post them each term as this amount should not change. 

Statements are posted out each term so those with payment plans can see the payments allocated to your account and as a reminder that the current terms instalment is due soon.

Online School Card applications for low income families have now been processed and applied to all approved accounts.  If you still need to apply please do so now via this link or come in and see me as it only takes a few minutes:

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, so please apply and let me know you have done so ASAP. 

As always 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,

Towards the end of last term all students from Years 4-6 attended the Glenelg Lacrosse Carnival. It was a very successful day and great to see so many students out there giving it their best efforts. Congratulations to the Year 6 girls team who made it into the Grand Final and went on to win that match as well.

Often I get asked when SAPSASA events are occurring. If you are interested and would like to see upcoming dates for both State Carnivals and Championships please log on to the following website: https://www.education.sa.gov.au/schools-and-educators/programs-students/school-sport-sa/competitions/state-carnivals-and-state-championships Here you will find all the information you need to know regarding the Sport, Competition, Date and Venue. Event reminders and nominations are now sent directly to my email by the District Co-ordinator. Once I receive these, I will inform the students of upcoming events. If there is a Sport that your child is specifically skilled at and would like to enter, even as an individual please make contact with me via email a number of weeks prior so that I can assist with the process.  

We have another busy term ahead with our SACPSSA Carnivals. In Week 4 the Year 5/6’s will be involved in the Lacrosse Carnival. This event is always an exciting one and the students thoroughly enjoy themselves. St John the Baptist will be involved in this carnival on Monday 20^th May to be played at Barratt Reserve, West Beach. Then later in the Term we will attend the SACPSSA Netball Carnival which will be played at Netball SA Stadium. I can confirm the date for this will be Week 10 – Tuesday the 2^nd of July. We look forward with anticipation to this wonderful carnival as well.

We have recently had students accomplishing excellent achievements in their sporting field. We congratulate the following 4 students on their efforts.

Rocco Giannini from 5F received the Bowlers award for Phantoms U10 Yellow Cricket team with 19 wickets and 110 runs. Hunter Martland from 5F received the batting award in the same team.

Angus Deer from 4W and his team recently won the State Little League Baseball Championships. He will now compete in the National Little League Championships in Sydney in June. Congratulations Angus and we wish you all the best when you compete in Sydney.

Olivia Sadler from 3J recently attended the SA Surf Presentations where she was awarded the U8 Female (SA) Surf Champion. What a fantastic achievement, this is extremely impressive Olivia.

If your child has been exceptional in their chosen Sport, please email me, we love celebrating success.

Yours in Sport,

Sam Putland
SPORT COORDINATOR

We're thrilled to share the joy from our first Friday playgroup session last week! It was wonderful meeting new families and expanding our vibrant playgroup community. This week, we're taking it up a notch by welcoming our new Older Friends. We're excited to embark on this intergenerational journey and encourage you to invite older friends from your family to join us. We look forward to creating cherished memories together.

Karina Overall
Playgroup Coordinator

Scholastic Book Club
The Scholastic Book Club Issue 3 pamphlets were given out to students last week.  

If you haven't seen yours please check your student's school bag.

Ordering from this issue will get you a $5 credit to spend on Issue 4.

Anyone wanting to order, please do so online by this Friday 10^th May.

Maria French
Library Coordinator

SA Uniting Communities has a service called 'Family By Family' - a program designed by families for families. Families who are experiencing hard times are linked up with families who know what it's like and have ideas to share. It is a network of families helping other families of all sizes, shapes and cultures.

If you are a family who has been through some difficult times and come out the other side, you could be an excellent source of information and support to a family who are experiencing challenging circumstances right now. With the support of the Family By Family team, you could be linked up with others to help reduce social isolation, navigating single parenting, setting up life in a new state/country and so many other areas.  

Some of the requests that families seek support for include:

• "We'd like our family to get out more"
• "We'd like to have routines around home"
• "We'd like to have some more friends"
• "We'd like to learn better budgeting"
• "We'd like to improve our kids behaviour"

Family by Family will help link you up with other families. Whether you are seeking support, or if you would like to be a supporting family, you have choices. If you, or someone you know, are looking for a support service please contact Family By Family Home - Family by Family or 0455 963 934 or on Facebook.com/familybyfamily

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 2

Friday 10th May - Jo & Katrina Nagle

Monday 13th May - Julie

Tuesday 14th May - Jo

Wednesday 15th May - Julie

Thursday 16th May - Jo

Friday 17th May - Jo & Emma Vivian

Monday 20th May - Julie

Tuesday 21st May - Jo

Wednesday 22nd May - Julie

Thursday 23rd May - Jo

Friday 24th May - Jo & Jo Rowett

Julie Henschke & Jo Fitzgerald

'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. 

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 .

                                               

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.

We are having a community shared lunch from 11.30am on Sunday 2^nd June in the John the Baptist Centre.

Everyone is invited as we bring together families from the many diverse cultures that make up our parish & school community.    It will be a BYO shared lunch, and we ask you to bring a plate of food to share from your own cultural background or a family favourite.

Tea, coffee, soft drinks, plates, serviettes and cutlery will be provided.

EVERYONE WELCOME!

St Mary’s College invites you to join us at our upcoming event:  STEM Adventures - Family Edition.

This is a FREE public event, and all are welcome.

We look forward to welcoming you and your family!

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.