Term 3, Week 8 2022

Dear Families

Learning Intervention, Curriculum Differentiation and Learning Adjustments
Learning intervention, curriculum differentiation and learning adjustments occur within each classroom, often simultaneously, to cater for the varying learning, social and emotional needs of students.  The decision to implement these changes are made to further develop, encourage and stretch each student to reach the next stage of their development.  Teachers collect ongoing data connected to student achievement through a range of methods; Educational assessments, speech pathology reports, occupational therapy reports, paediatric reports, standardised testing, class tests, work samples, observation notes to name a few.  When this data is collated, teachers are able to make informed decisions about how to ensure a student is able to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding.

Learning Adjustments
Adjustments can be made easily and immediately in a classroom, when a teacher identifies a student is finding a task too easy or too difficult.  This may be as simple as providing a repeated instruction, reducing the number of questions to be answered, finding a quiet space to focus, providing extra time to complete a task or taking a short break and then returning to the task.  Teachers often make this decision as the lesson or day unfolds depending on the expected learning outcome and emotional wellbeing of the student.

Curriculum Differentiation
Differentiation is generally planned as part of the unit and explicitly designed prior to the delivery of the curriculum to cater for the needs of students.  Teachers may differentiate the content a student is taught.  Often students will complete the same topic linked to the Australian Curriculum, but the focus of learning may change to meet the individual needs of the student.

Differentiation may also include the way teachers will teach, the type of instructions given and the types of activities the student may complete.  This will also flow on to the assessment task and how the student will demonstrate their learning.  Differentiation may include in class small group support, withdrawn small group support or one on one support with a Teacher or an Educational Support Officer.

Learning Intervention
Learning Intervention uses a specific program or set of steps to target a particular need.  At St John the Baptist Catholic School Learning Intervention is Tiered into 3 levels.  Tier 1 Intervention is a whole school approach to targeting a particular area of need that has been identified by looking at school data and trends.  This year this includes the Synthetic Phonics approach to teaching reading.  All staff have received specific training in this literacy approach and the method of instruction is the same form Reception to Year 6.  The scope and sequence is progressive and responsive to the needs of the year level.

Tier 2 Intervention provides for small group support and practice to re-teach or consolidate the concept taught in the classroom.  Students receiving this support often work in a small group with an Educational Support Officer, over a number of weeks to practice the identified area of need. This occurs in both Literacy and Numeracy blocks throughout a school day.  MiniLit is an example of a program that students in Years 1 & 2 are provided to support Literacy learning.

Tier 3 Intervention is targeted one on one support that is designed to teach a particular concept over a longer period of time.  Tier 3 support is most often provided to students with an identified learning disability that requires explicit and direct teaching over many years.  We are fortunate that we have two staff trained in Playberry, a literacy intervention program designed to support students with dyslexia.  This program is designed to mirror the Tier 1 and Tier 2 literacy support so that students are continually exposed to the concept being taught.

COVID-19
As we continue to manage COVID-19 in school please be reminded that if your child is unwell, please keep them home from school. 

Best wishes for the week ahead, 

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

Season of Creation
We have officially entered Spring and also the ‘Season of Creation’ which is a global ecumenical Christian celebration which calls us to protect our common home. This celebration officially began 1 September and will conclude 4 October, which falls on the feast day of St Francis of Assisi who is the patron saint of ecology. The Season of Creation is a timely reminder that we all are called to actively take part in caring for our earth. You can learn more about Season of Creation here.

2022 Season of Creation Prayer

Creator of All,

From your communion of love your Word went forth to create a symphony of life that sings

your praise.

By your Holy Wisdom you made the Earth to bring forth a diversity of creatures who praise you

in their being. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.

You called human beings to till and keep your garden. You placed us into right relationships

with each creature so that we could listen to their voices, and learn how to safeguard the

conditions for life. But we turn in on ourselves and away from our co-creatures.

We close our ears to the counsel of our fellow creatures. We fail to listen to the cries of the

poor and the needs of the most vulnerable. We silence the voices of those who hold the

traditions that teach us to care for the Earth. We close our ears to your creative, reconciling

and sustaining Word that calls to us through the Scriptures.

We lament the loss of our fellow species and their habitats that will never speak again. We

grieve the loss of human cultures, along with the lives and livelihoods that have been displaced

or perished. Creation cries out as forests crackle, and animals alike flee the fires of injustice

that we have lit by our unwillingness to listen.

In this Season of Creation, we pray that you would call to us, as from the burning bush, with

the sustaining fire of your Spirit. Breathe upon us. Open our ears and move our hearts. Turn us

from our inward gaze. Teach us to contemplate your creation, and listen for the voice of each

creature declaring your glory. For “faith comes from hearing.”

Give us hearts to listen for the good news of your promise to renew the face of the Earth.

Enlighten us with the grace to follow the Way of Christ as we learn to walk lightly upon this

holy ground. Fill us with the hope to quench the fires of injustice with the light of your healing

love that sustains our common home.

In the name of the One who came to proclaim good news to all creation, Jesus Christ. Amen.

ReLAT
Next week the Year 4 students will be undertaking the ReLAT (Religious Education Literacy Assessment Tool). This test will be undertaken by Year 4 students across Catholic schools in South Australia. It will assess their basic understanding of Religious Literacy and inform the religious education for future teaching and learning.

Faith Facts
Have you ever wondered how Parish communities care for the poor and those in need? Click here to find out more.

Amanda Razon
APRIM

Statement of Accounts
A statement of accounts was sent home recently via post.  

Could you please ensure that your current method of payment is sufficient so that your account will be in a zero balance by the final payment date of the 25^th November 2022.

If you have changed your address recently please inform the office as soon as possible.

Online payments
When making payments online could you please ensure you list your reference number from your Statement of Accounts eg 9063…….. followed by your child’s surname.

Fee Remission 
Families who have previously received fee remission will be required to complete a new fee remission form with the following documentation attached: 

• Your most recent tax return(s) – private and/or business as applicable 
• Your most recent pay advice(s) and /or other form of income if applicable 
• Your Centrelink statement receiving Centrelink or other special benefits 
• School Card approval (if applicable) 

Please contact Pam Marks, Finance Officer, for the above form or arrange a time to meet. 

Qkr! Notifications
Please ensure that you have your notifications on for Qkr!  Notifications are sent out when items are closing to ensure you don't miss out.  See instructions below regarding turning on notifications.

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 Sports Teams for Term 3

• Basketball
• Netball
• Soccer has finished for the year.

After a very successful school soccer season it is now time for all School Soccer tops to be returned to school please. Could all tops please be washed.

I would also like to publicly acknowledge all the people who took on the role of coach for the various teams.

Under 7 PHOENIX                         Dan Henwood

Under 8 GLORY                              Ben Klingberg

Under 8 JETS                                  Mark Seiffert

Under 9 UNITED                            Nick Heuzenroeder

Under 10 ROAR                              Save Politis

Senior WANDERERS                     Gregor Dingwall

Senior VICTORY                             Tanya Matic & Peter Parini

School Sports Teams - Term 4

The Term 4 Registration form for School Sports Teams is now available.

We encourage children to take part in out of hours school sport.

You need to reregister your child even if they have played sport throughout 2022.

You only need to register your child once even if they want to play multiple sports, there is an option to choose all the sports.

As always, every team will require an adult coach / manager. You must have completed the appropriate Catholic Police Clearance and Volunteer paperwork. This is available from the school Front Office.

Please note: Volunteer Clearances can take 6 to 8 weeks.

Click here to access the Term 4 Registration form.

Sport Carnivals Term 3, 2022

SAPSASA Airport District Athletics Carnival

Selected team held Thursday 1^st September (Week 6)

18 students represented St John the Baptist Catholic School at the Airport District SAPSASA Athletics Carnival at Henley Oval.

This was the first time that we have entered the SAPSASA Airport District Athletics Carnival and what a first time!

St John’s ended up coming 3rd overall for the day, with Archie A achieving 1st place in the 11 year old Boys Shot Put.
Archie will represent the Airport District in the SAPSASA Track and Field Championships 2022.  Well done Archie.

SACPSSA Touch Carnival     

On Friday 9th September 120 students from Years 4, 5 & 6 represented St John the Baptist Catholic School at the SACPSSA Touch Carnival in the South Parklands. The conditions were wet and slippery but all the teams participated well.

Upcoming Carnival

SAPSASA Tennis Carnival

All Year 3 & 4 on Wednesday 21^st September (Week 9)

Term 4

SPORTS DAY

Sports Day will be held at the following venue:

Coastal Districts Little Athletics Centre - Bowker Street Reserve, North Brighton

• Friday 21^st October (Week 1, Term 4)

Sport Carnivals - Term 4 2022

SACPSSA Come & Try Day

• All Year 2   - Tuesday 15^th November (Week 5)

SACPSSA Athletics Carnival

• Year 3 – 6 Squad    - Wednesday 30^th November (Week 7)

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.”

Please note

Hard copy permission / information notes will no longer go home for Sports Carnivals.

ALL notes will be online via the Qkr! App

In the Qkr! App you will be asked to –

• Give permission for your child to attend
• Volunteer to help at the carnivals (without your help the children would not be able to participate)
• Pay the costs for registration and transport and sign
• This is the only option available 

Kind regards,

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

Loneliness is something all human beings face at times in our lives. The last couple of years have brought loneliness to the forefront for many people, including children. Especially those around tween and teen ages. I have included a short article on what you can do to help your child if you think they may be lonely, or if they have told you they feel that way.

Meaningful connections are such an important aspect for self-confidence, so it's very important to take the time to help children make solid relationships, in a number of places such as school, extended family, sporting or activity groups, local community, and even with pets and animals.

https://childmind.org/article/how-to-help-kids-who-are-lonely/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=pub_ed_nl_2022-09-13&utm_content=how-to-help-kids-who-are-lonely

Sarah Byrnes
School Counsellor

The Catholic Schools Music Festival Choir attended a combined rehearsal at Loreto College, to prepare for the performance in Week 10. They rehearsed with the other schools which they will be performing with on the night.

Well done to all the students for their dedication to the program. 

Antonietta Caruana
Choir Trainer

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 16th September - Dove Lin & Julie

Monday 19th September - Julie

Wednesday 21st September - Julie

Friday - 23rd September - Melissa Gorgone & Julie

Monday 26th Septmber - Julie

Wednesday 28th September - Julie

Friday 30th September - Maria Esteban & Julie

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.

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.