Term 3, Week 4 2023

Dear Families

Please be reminded to return all Continuing Enrolment Forms by August 25th.  These forms allow us to make informed decisions about staff, classes and budgets.  Thank you for your anticipated support.

Enrolments for siblings to start in Term 3, 2024 or 2025 are now urgently overdue.  

Please contact the front office on 8218 3300 or download a copy of the enrolment form here.

Mary MacKillop Feast Day
We had a wonderful celebration of Mary MacKillop’s Feast Day on Tuesday 8^th August. The whole school gathered in the morning for the liturgy which was led by our Year 6 leaders. Some families and friends also joined us in prayer. Buddy classes across the school participated in creating their own Mary MacKillop board game. Students also spent the week learning more about St Mary of the Cross and her example of faith in God.

The Assumption
This week we observed the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God’s Assumption into heaven. The Catholic Church teaches and believes that Mary was assumed into heaven body and soul, which no other human has done. Therefore, this is why it is a significant feast and is a holy day of obligation in the Church calendar. This means that all Catholics are to observe this day and attend Mass. Australia only has two holy days of obligation which are Christmas Day (December 25) and The Assumption.

Confirmation & Holy Communion Candidates
Next week, our candidates who have been preparing to receive their Confirmation and Holy Communion will finally celebrate these Sacraments on Sunday 27^th August. The Archbishop will preside this occasion in St John the Baptist Church at 10am.

A practise will be held on Wednesday 23^rd August, 7pm at St John the Baptist Church. Please keep the following candidates in your prayers as they continue their Sacramental preparation:

Charlotte Abbott

Eva Aoukar

Gideon Canilao

Hayley DeSoyza

Macy Flatman

Violet Harvey

Alen Karuvelil

Ayah Tubilan

Torah Vanstone

Jai Mitchell

Koah Mitchell

Pia Placentino

Ella Speirs

Harry Spokes

Amanda Razon
APRIM

School fees for 2024
We are pleased to inform our school families that there will be no increase in school fees for the 2024 school year.

Catholic Education SA has announced it will freeze tuition fees at its 84 Diocesan schools for the 2024 school year.

“We recognise that cost-of-living increases are putting significant pressure on families,” says Dr Neil McGoran, Executive Director, Catholic Education SA.

“Growth in enrolments across the State in our 101 Catholic Schools, together with prudent financial management, puts us in a position where we are able to hold tuition fees at this year’s level.”

Dr McGoran said the fee-freeze will not impact the quality of education.

“We’re committed to keeping school fees as low as possible and ensuring a Catholic education is affordable and accessible to all.”

Since 2019, Catholic Education SA has been implementing the Making Catholic Education More Affordable Initiative to ensure Catholic schools are accessible to any family who wants their child to have a Catholic education.

In addition to the fee-freeze, further fee remissions are available to any family who is struggling to pay school fees due to financial difficulties. Families should contact Pam Marks, Finance Officer for more information.

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

Statement of Accounts
A statement of accounts will be sent out shortly to all families.  Can you please ensure your current method of payment will see your account paid in full by 24th November, unless previously arranged.  If you have changed your address, please advise the office as soon as possible on info@stjohnpl.catholic.edu.au

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.

Pam Marks 
Bursar/Finance Officer 

SAPSASA Representative - SAPSASA Football (Soccer) - State Carnival / Championship
Congratulations to Alex Thur who has been chosen in the Airport District team to compete in the upcoming SAPSASA Football (soccer) - boys state carnival/championship.

Congratulations to Josephine Palmer Esteban who has been chosen in the Airport District team to compete in the upcoming SAPSASA Football (soccer) - girls state  carnival/championship.

Sport Carnivals
SACPSSA Cross Country - Yrs 3 - 6 Squad held Thursday 10^th August (Week 3)
St John the Baptist Catholic School was represented by 75 students from Years 3 to 6 at the SACPSSA Cross Country Carnival that was held in the East Parklands. The students had to run 2km on grass, dirt paths, across creeks and up and down hills.

We had a successful day with various year level winning banners for the most successful age group.

• Year 3 Boys Division B
• Year 3 Boys Division C
• Year 6 Boys Division B
• Year 6 Girls Division B

Congratulations to the following students who managed to achieve a top 4 place:

• 1^st  Year 3 Boys Division B             Xavier F
• 2^nd Year 3 Boys Division B             Landon S
• 4^th  Year 3 Boys Division C             Oscar K
• 1^st  Year 5 Girls Division B              Eloise S
• 2^nd Year 5 Boys Division B             Mason P
• 4^th  Year 6 Boys Division B             Rowan A

The following carnivals / trials will occur this term –

• Adelaide (Angels) Baseball Carnival -  All Yrs  5 & 6 - Wednesday 30^th August (Week 6)

• SACPSSA Touch Carnival - All Yrs 4 - 6 - Friday 8^th September (Week 7)

• Sports Day time trials  -  All Yrs 3 – 6 - Tuesday 5^th September (Week 7)

• Westies Cup -  Yr 5 & 6 Boys - Tuesday 19^th September (Week 9)

• SACPSSA Cricket Carnival - All Yr  5 & 6 - Thursday 21^st September (Week 9)

Basketball

7 x Basketball teams

Year 3/4 Boys STJB Bulls - Coach – Andi Richardson

Year 3/4 Boys STJB Wizards - Coaches – Jeff Balkwill & Carolyne Ryan

Year 5/6 Girls STJB Clippers - Coaches – Lisa Critchley

        Year 2/3 Open STJB Lakers - Coaches – Grant Evans

Year 2/3 Open STJB Magic - Coach – Michelle Politis

Soccer

6 x Soccer teams

Phoenix (Under 7) - Coaches – Jason Gullickson & Chris Flatman

Jets (Under 8) - Coach - Adam Keegan

United (Under 9) - Coach – Mark Seiffert

Glory (Under 9) - Coach – Peter Parini

Victory (Seniors) - Coach – Save Politis

Wanderers (Seniors) - Coach – Gregor Dingwall

Upcoming Southern Districts Junior Soccer Association Soccer Carnivals      

• August 21^st                           Under 8-night Carnival, Bowker Street
• August 28^th                          Under 7 & 8-night Carnival, Bowker Street

Netball

2 x Netball teams

Year 3/4 STJB Allstars - Coach – Michelle Politis

Year 3/4 STJB Firebirds - Coach – Angela Speirs

A special thank you to all these parents who have given up their time and volunteered to coach a team.

Reminder:

St John the Baptist Catholic School SPORTS DAY

• Friday 20^th October 2023 - SA Athletics Stadium, Mile End

Kind regards,

Paul O'Dea
PE & Co-curricular Sport Co-ordinator

sport@stjohnpl.catholic.edu.au

BOOK WEEK
Book Week is in Week 5.  The theme this year is  READ  GROW  INSPIRE.

The Book Week Parade will be on Friday 25^th August at 9.00am.  It is a time to celebrate books and dress up in a favourite book character if possible.  

However it is not meant to be a costly or stressful exercise for families.  Simple home-made creations are very welcome or you may want to use something from your dress-up box.

The Book Week poster features a seahorse being ridden by three children and we will be decorating the library in a sea theme.  Seahorses symbolize good luck, magic, masculinity, strength, persistence and peace.  They can teach us great life lessons and are significant power and spirit animals in some cultures.

PREMIER'S READING CHALLENGE
Congratulations to the 120 students who have completed the 12 book Premiers Reading Challenge so far this year.  Twenty-one of these students have completed the 20 Book Challenge. 

So keep reading and enjoy books as there is still time to complete the challenge.  The forms are due in on Friday 8^th September in Week 7. If you need help you only have to ask.

Maria French
Library

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 3

Friday 18th August - Jo & Zoe Seiffert

Monday 21st Augst - Julie

Tuesday 22nd August - Jo

Wednesday 23rd August - Julie

Thursday 24th August - Jo

Friday 25th August - Jo & Kate Piasente

Monday 28th August - Julie

Tuesday 29th August - Jo

Wednesday 30th August - Julie

Thursday 31st August - Jo

Friday 1st September - Jo & TBA

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 .

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

Western Little Athletics Club are holding a FREE Come and Try Little Athletics on Friday 15th September at 6pm at the Henley Memorial Oval, Cnr Raymond and White Streets, Henley Beach.

This invitation is open for all children between the ages of 3 and 16 years of age.

Children will learn the fundamental skills of Run, Jump and Throw. With this year being the Olympics year, we hope there are many inspired potential little athletes who would like to give Athletics a go!

Plympton Bulldogs Junior Soccer Club is running a Girls Come and Try on the 18th of August . 

While the excitement of the Women's World Cup is on, and the Matildas' dominating, this is a great opportunity to encourage girls to get involved in women's soccer.

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.