Term 2, Week 6 2024

Dear Families

Welcome to Week 6. With the cooler weather now seemingly upon us we hope that this newsletter finds you well and warm. We welcome back Todd who has been on Long Service Leave for the past 5 weeks of this term. We know he had a great break but is excited to be back around the school this week. A special thank you to Jo Livingstone and Michael Cimarosti for taking on the Acting Principal and Deputy Principal roles in Todd’s absence and leading the school in a seamless manner.

We are patiently waiting for our new lawn area to be ready for students to access once the grass has established – not long to go now! This development is a fantastic addition to our already outstanding school and community and we look forward to using this space.

Assessment and Reporting
As we move towards the first written report of the year being distributed in Week 10 of this term digitally via SEQTA Engage, we thought that it would be timely to re-share some information about the role Assessment and Reporting plays in our school. Staff spend many hours each week planning and refining teaching and learning programs to provide the best opportunities for each student to learn and showcase their knowledge, understandings and growth and a large part of this is using the information gathered from ongoing assessments to move learning forward.

At St Johns, assessment refers to how information and data are gathered, and the inferences staff make from these about student progress and achievement. Reporting refers to how this progress and achievement is shared with students and their families. It is an ongoing connected process and involves continually sharing this information in a variety of different mediums, not just a written report twice a year. This can be done through providing feedback to students and families, work samples, observations, photos, conferencing, learning conversations and many other ways. Assessments provide opportunity to report and give feedback to students and families about how they are going in their learning, what they have mastered and what they still need to master.

The Australian Curriculum defines the knowledge, understanding and skills that students are directed to learn each year. This information is contained in the achievement standard for each learning area. These standards are underpinned by the content descriptors and general capabilities, which provide the learning intentions and the success criteria that are used to plan with. Other curriculum documents that are used include the Child Protection Curriculum, Crossways Religious Education Curriculum and the MITIOG (Made in the Image of God) framework. If you have any questions about your child’s learning goals, please do not hesitate to speak to their teacher.

School Uniform
Items of the school uniform manufactured by Devon clothing are no longer in line with the current uniform requirements. We ask that you do not give away/sell Devon branded school uniform items to other families. Brandmode is our current uniform supplier and the items of the uniform from Brandmode are in line with our current uniform guidelines. We thank you for your cooperation.

Pupil Free Day
A reminder that Friday 7^th June is a pupil free day. On this day staff will be undertaking professional learning on key areas of literacy and numeracy.

Best Wishes

The Leadership Team

Please be reminded that there will be a Pupil Free Day this Friday 7th June for staff development!

Sacramental Program
The next preparation session for Holy Communion and Confirmation is Wednesday, 12th June, Week 7 from 6.00-7.00pm in the hall.

For those families who have recently gone through the Sacrament of Reconciliation with their child, please remember to complete the feedback form which was sent out last week.

Beanies for Vinnies
This term, our charity focus is on the Vinnies Winter Appeal. Children will be allocated a particular item to donate, this will be depending on their year level.

Students are to bring this item to class on the day and wear a beanie to school.

St John the Baptist Feast Day
Our feast day for St John the Baptist will take place in Week 9 on Monday 24 June. This day is a special celebration as we acknowledge the saint whom our school is named after, St John the Baptist. He was best known as Jesus’ cousin and the person who readied the path for Jesus.

Mass will be held on Monday morning at 9.30am with the parish community in the church. This will be a time that we recognise the years of service from staff at our school. The students will enjoy a sausage sizzle lunch and participate in buddy activities in the afternoon.

2024 Diocesan Assembly
The Adelaide Archdiocese will be holding another Diocesan Assembly. This is to continue the discernment of issues that our Archdiocese is facing and to continue to celebrate all the accomplishments of becoming more synodal. It will be held June 14 and 15 at the Vietnamese Catholic Community in Pooraka.

Caritas Project Compassion
The total funds raised for Project Compassion this year was $917.20, a great effort by our community. A big thank you for your generosity and support.

Amanda Razon
APRIM

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.

School fee instalments are now due for those families who are paying this way.  School fee statements were posted out earlier in the term to those who have a balance.  If you have not received yours, please let me know so I can check the address we have on file and resend one.  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 now along with your Term 2 instalment, a friendly reminder was sent with 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 have posted out your account this term so you know you have a credit, but will not post a credit account 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. 

Please remember School Card needs to be applied for every year as circumstances do change:

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.  If you need help applying please come in and see me as it only takes a few minutes online.

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

Dear St John’s Community,

We have been very fortunate in recent times with beautiful weather. There has been some very fresh starts and some light rain which indicates to me that winter has now arrived. Fingers crossed you are keeping warm whilst supporting your children with their sporting endeavours.

The 2024 SAPSASA Boys Football has now concluded and we are very proud to announce that the Airport District Team placed 3^rd in Division 1. Mason Powell, Ashley Wilson and Will Francis all displayed excellent sportsmanship skills and thoroughly enjoyed their time representing our school and the Airport District. On top of this wonderful achievement, it was very humbling to hear that Mason was named Captain and Ashley named Vice Captain for this carnival. Leadership in sport is another responsibility on top of performing and I would like to congratulate both of these boys for displaying these additional skills.

After School Sport is looking very healthy for our Soccer teams. The students have been extremely excited relaying scores back to us first thing every Monday morning. A very big thank you must go to Edwardstown Primary School for allowing us to use their oval for our home games. A big thank you also to our Team Mentors and Managers that put in an amazing effort to provide such wonderful opportunities for our students. The smile on the students’ faces always makes it worth it. Thank you kindly to our match referee Mark for your input during each and every Saturday. I look forward to hearing more about upcoming games.    

Our school were very happy to secure a Sporting Schools grant for Term 2 with Golf Australia. We have had Lachlan, a golf coach from Golf Australia join us last Wednesday to work with our Year 3-6 students in this field. Lachlan will join us every Wednesday for a 4 week period to deliver exciting and motivating sessions. Golf Australia have been very supportive by lending the school some additional golf equipment and I have been working with other Year 3-6 classes that have sport on a Monday or Tuesday. All students have demonstrated exceptional levels of engagement and have thoroughly enjoyed learning these new skills.     

The 10 week Premier’s Be Active Challenge should now be drawing to a close for the students. Can you please make sure you complete the Registration information on the front of the booklet as well as ticking off the weeks when your child was active. Once these are complete can you please have your child return them to their classroom teacher.

Stay warm and dry in these colder conditions.

Yours in Sport,

Sam Putland
SPORT COORDINATOR

Congratulations to Nimi & Lope and their family who have become Australian citizens!

Scholastic Catalogues
Issue 4 for our Book Club has been distributed to the classes this week.

Enjoy what is available and purchase online if you would like to buy any of the books.

Orders close on Friday, 14th June.

Premier's Reading Challenge
Congratulations to the 63 students who have completed and passed in their forms.

There is a variety of authors being chosen this year which is encouraging to see.

The due date to complete the PRC is early September so there is plenty of time to do it.

Helpers
Thank you to the parents who have offered assistance to our library by covering new books.  

If you are able and would like to assist us please email me at mfrench@stjohnpl.catholic.edu.au   

All materials will be provided and you are welcome to take them home to cover at a time that suits you.

Thank you

Maria French
Library Coordinator

School Disco
The School Disco will be held on Friday 14th June.  

The Parents & Friends require volunteers to help on the evening.  All volunteers are required to hold a Catholic Police Clearance and wear your volunteers badge. If you are able to help, please let your year level class representatives know.

Bunnings BBQ Fundraiser
Save the date for the Bunnings Edwardstown BBQ - Sunday 13th October.

If you are able to donate or source supplies (please see flyer below) or volunteer on the day please contact Karen on 0402 854 846.

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 7th June - Pupil Free Day

Monday 10th June - Kings Birthday Public Holiday

Tuesday 11th June - Jo

Wednesday 12th June - Julie & Julian Thompson

Thursday 13th June - Jo

Friday 14th June - Jo & Cara Finneran

Monday 17th June - Julie

Tuesday 18th June - Jo

Wednesday 19th June - Julie

Thursday 20th June - Jo

Friday 21st June - Jo & Lauren Stopp

Monday 24th June - Julie

Tuesday 25th June - Jo

Wednesday 26th June - Julie

Thursday 27th June - Jo

Friday 28th June - Jo & Nicole Watson

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 you feedback to jfitzgerald@stjohnpl.catholic.edu.au

Julie Henschke & Jo Fitzgerald

🎉 Exciting News for Camp Australia Families! 🎉

Join us from 3 June to 14 June 2024 for our 10 Day Giveaway and stand a chance to win amazing daily prizes! 🌟

🎁 Simply book your child into Before or After School Care to be in the draw for our $100 daily prize! 🎉 PLUS, you'll also be in the chance to WIN a $500 major prize! 🤑

Let's make this a fun and rewarding time for everyone! Ts and Cs apply. For more details, visit www.campaustralia.com.au

               

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 .

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.

                                               

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.

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.