Term 4, Week 4 2024

Dear Families

Relaxing Recess
As a chaplaincy initiative, the library has been open for recess on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays. This provides students with the opportunity to enjoy a slower pace and engage in quiet activities such as drawing, puzzles or colouring in.

Fr Denis Visits
Father Denis has been visiting classes throughout this term. Students are having the opportunity to take a deeper dive through his insight on topics within our Catholic faith. They also have the chance to ask him questions they have been curious about.

Buddy Mass
Next week will be the last of our Buddy Masses for the term. We would like to thank our teachers, students and families for participating in the parish Mass throughout this year. It has been wonderful seeing our community come together for Mass.

Remembrance Day
Our school will gather for Remembrance Day on Monday November 11^th at 11am to take a moment and pay our respects to those men and women who bravely went to war for our country.

Amanda Razon
APRIM

Dear St John’s Community,

It has been a busy period for Sport, although in saying that we wouldn’t have it any other way. Recently, we have had a number of very gifted students doing amazing things in the wider community, interstate and even globally.

I wish to start by acknowledging Oscar Klingberg (4P) for being selected in the U10’s Football SA Development Program for the Southern Region which started in November. Oscar was selected from a pool of 44 students and is now training 3 times a week with the squad. Good luck with this great opportunity, I know you will learn a lot from this wonderful experience.

Last week we had 3 of our students compete interstate. Torah Vanstone, Winnie Vanstone & Scarlett Syson represented Plympton Halifax Calisthenics Club Sub-Juniors in Ballarat  at the Royal South Street Calisthenics competition. Their teams became very proud aggregate winners of the Premier NW division. The girls worked really hard all week for their results and I congratulate each of them on their achievements.

  

Now on a global perspective we have had a sporting achievement occur on the other side of the world in New York. As a school we are very proud to report that Thomas McDonald (5F) competed in the Abbott’s Dash to the Finish Line 5km event. This run started at the United Nations building and concluded in Central Park. Approximately 10,000 runners took part in the event, with Thomas recording the 12^th fastest time in the 11-14 Year old boy category. On top of this he was the 2^nd fastest 11 Year old boy and the fastest Australian boy under the age of 20. I know Thomas takes his running very seriously and these results certainly do compliment his motivation and eagerness for fitness.

On Friday 1^st November SJBCS took 48 athletes back to the SA Athletics Stadium to compete in the SACPSSA Athletics Carnival. I must say the weather couldn’t have been any better for the students to compete. I was extremely proud of everyone’s behaviour on the day and student’s positive mindset towards each of their events. Our parent volunteers on the day were a wonderful help assisting the students. At the conclusion of the day SJBCS managed to secure a 3^rd place finish for the girls and a 5^th place finish for the boys out of 9 schools. Further to this we were awarded 3 individual age-group champion awards. Congratulations to Olivia Sadler (Year 3 Girl), Nash Scottney-Turbill (Year 3 Boy) and Xavier Fontanot (Year 4 Boy) on their individual efforts. To close out the presentations the Year 3 girls combined won the pennant for most accumulated points as a team in that particular year level. A very successful day for all of the students that were involved.

 

Finally, just a quick reminder to all that next week (Term 4 – Week 5) our school will be celebrating PE Week as a whole school on Tuesday. Students are to wear Sports Uniform on this day and will be involved in some additional physical activity as well as a classroom quiz.

Yours in sport

Sam Putland
SPORTS COORDINATOR

This event is an opportunity for parents to learn more about our sports program and receive the information needed for the 2025 sporting year. We encourage everyone to attend and take advantage of this chance to engage with our sports community. We look forward to seeing you there!

School fee statements were posted out a fortnight ago to those who have a balance, if you did not receive it please let me know. This is the final statement for the year so please pay the balance showing by Week 6 Friday 22^nd November. If you have a payment plan set up, please check that your payments will cover the balance by the end of November, or contact me if it needs to be adjusted.  If you are unable to complete your payments by the end of the year, please email me so we can discuss options.

As previously communicated via SEQTA our bank account details have changed from NAB to CBA.  Please remember to update any direct to bank details you have saved in your internet banking if you pay your fees this way.  Other payment methods such as Bpay, Qkr! or school direct debit authorities are not affected. The new bank account details are on the current statements for you to see if needed.

Our new bank details are:

St John the Baptist Catholic School

BSB: 066-782

Account Number: 100000331

Online School Card applications for low income families will close soon so if you have not yet applied, you must do so now for it to be approved for the 2024 school fees.  School card needs to be applied for each calendar year.  Please us the link below 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

Playgroup Awards
After just 18 weeks of running our Intergenerational Playgroup Program at the time of our nomination, we were proud to receive an honourable mention at the Playgroup SA Awards of Excellence. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Sarah Harris and Mary Adams from Meals on Wheels for partnering with us to create a welcoming environment where people of all ages can come together and experience the joy of play.  We are excited to continue this partnership in the coming year. We look forward to you seeing you soon. Playgroup runs each Friday of the term, 9am till 11am. 

Karina Overall
Playgroup Coordinator

Lions Christmas Cakes and Puddings are available in the front office until 11th December.

1.5kg Cake - $20.00

1kg Cake - $16.00

Pudding - $16.00

Wine Drive

The Parents & Friends are raising funds through a Wine Drive in conjuction with The Hwy.  Please see flyer and order form below.

Please be reminded to complete the updated RRHAN-EC course in order to keep volunteering in 2025. 

The completion of the online update will need to be completed before 31 December 2024 when your 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.

Overdue Books
Lists of overdue books will be sent home soon.  If you have any please encourage your students to go on a hunt for them.

Maria French

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 4

Friday 8th November - Sushi Day

Monday 11th November - Julie

Tuesday 12th November - Jo

Wednesday 13th November - Julie

Thursday 14th November - Jo

Friday 15th November - Jo & Victoria Thurston

Monday 18th November - Julie

Tuesday 19th November - Jo

Wednesday 20th November - Julie

Thursday 21st November - Jo

Friday 22nd November - Jo & Kelly Martland

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

Moosies & Juicies Iceblocks
Moosies & Juicies are back in stock.  Please order as normal!

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.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Shared Community Dinner last Friday night.

Thank you for the great variety of delicious food from the cultural backgrounds of those who attended. It was wonderful to see so many people come together to share the bond of friendship.  

Thank you to everyone who helped make it such a happy successful evening.

Plympton Parish

Now is the time to get those last-minute enrolments in!

Online enrolments will be closing soon, and we don't want you to miss out on booking your children in for Holiday Swim!

The main aims of the program are 

• Teach children critical life-saving skills
• Teach basic swimming skills
• Equip kids with the knowledge to stay safe in, on and around the water.

The program is AFFORDABLE so that it remains ACCESSIBLE to families and communities that might otherwise miss out on the opportunity to participate in swimming lessons.

Royal Life Saving also offers pathways into the aquatic industry with their ICONIC Bronze Awards.  The Bronze Star, Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross, Award of Merit and Distinction levels are designed for those wanting to further their knowledge and skill set, before moving into the aquatic industry as Lifeguards and Swim Teachers within their local communities.

The program is returning in December 2024 and January 2025 with the Royal Life Saving Swim and Survive program.

PROGRAM FEES
$41.50 per child ( additional pool entry fees may apply) 

Higher awards from $50

LENGTH/DURATION

5 days ( may vary based on location)

5yrs+ 45-minute lessons

Under 5s 30-minute lessons.

If you have any questions, please reach out to us by phoning 08 8210 4500 

or email holidayswim@royallifesavingsa.com.au

More information can be found on our website:  www.holidayswim.com.au

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.