Term 4, Week 8 2023

Dear Families

End of Year Thanksgiving Mass
Tomorrow we will come together as a community to celebrate another year of celebrations and achievements. Please join us for our End of Year Thanksgiving Mass at 11:45am in St John the Baptist Church.

A Big Thank You
After another big year, I want to give my heartfelt thank you to this wonderful community. I cannot express to you the gratitude I have for each one of you. I have already received such tremendous support and this has given me great comfort, particularly this term.

I wish you all the very best for the remainder of this year. Hope you all have a safe and Merry Christmas as well as a Happy New Year.

Love & prayers,

Amanda Razon
APRIM

The Parish are now accepting enrolments for the 2024 Sacramental program. If your child or children are aged 8 years or over, or will be turning 8 before August next year, and you believe them to be ready to be involved in the program, please complete the registration form here and return to the Parish Office by 5th February 2024, for the attention of Pastoral Associates.

For further information, please see a letter from Fr Denis Ssemuju here.

Statement of Accounts
A statement of accounts has recently been posted to your billing address. 

Term fees are now overdue, unless previously arranged with the Finance Officer.  Please contact the Finance Office should you need to discuss payment of your account further. 

If you have changed your address, please advise the office as soon as possible on info@stjohnpl.catholic.edu.au

School Fees 2024
The School Fee Schedule for 2024 was sent home with forms that were due back on the 1st December.  

If you have changed your bank account details for your direct debit you will need to complete a new direct debit request form.  

If you are eligible for School Card you will need to complete online a new application form - details will be sent home in January 2024.

Should you require Fee Remission please contact the Finance Officer for an application form.

Qkr! After School Sport Payments
All after school sport payments are now overdue.  Please finalise as soon as possible.  

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

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries regarding the above.

Pam Marks 
Bursar/Finance Officer 

2023 Review

Sport Carnivals

It has certainly been a very busy year as far as Sports Carnivals / activities are concerned.

Term 1:

• SAPSASA Lacrosse Carnival                  
• SACPSSA Swimming Carnival
• Crows Cup - Girls Australian Rules Football

Term 2:

• SACPSSA Lacrosse Carnival
• SACPSSA Student Leadership Workshop – Year 6 Sports Leaders
• SACPSSA Netball Carnival
• SAPSASA Cross Country Carnival

Term 3:

• Westies Cup – Boys Australian Rules Football                                                       
• Adelaide (Angels) Baseball Carnival                 
• SACPSSA Cross Country Carnival
• SACPSSA Touch Carnival                        

Term 4:

• St John the Baptist Catholic School SPORTS DAY at SA Athletics Stadium
• SACPSSA Athletics Carnival                                
• ACHPER / SACPSSA Come & Try Day - Year 2                          

2023 After School Sport

A very big thank you to ALL the parents who helped out over the course of 2023.

Below is a list of the various after school sports our children were involved in this year.

• Basketball      
• Tee Ball            
• Volleyball       
• Soccer
• Australian Rules Football
• Netball              
• Cricket

The children from St John the Baptist Catholic School combined to form 39 teams, with 170 children representing the school in 2023.

PE Lessons - Basketball
The Sturt Basketball Club have been conducting Basketball Clinics at St John the Baptist Catholic School this term. The Year 2 – Year 6 classes have had 4 sessions as part of their Physical Education lesson.

A big thank you to Jakob Dorricott from the Sturt Basketball Club. 

Coaches / Managers 2023

Again, a very big thank you to all the Coaches and Managers for all you have done in 2023.

If you have any school equipment, First Aid bags, information folders or sports bags etc. could they please be returned to school.

The STJB Year 5/6 Girls basketball team represented St John the Baptist Catholic School at Wayville on Wednesday afternoons. The girls were coached by Hilary Sadler.

Hilary sent through this photo.

Soccer Tops / Basketball Tops

Reminder: Now that all the After School Sports have finished for the year could all school Basketball tops and any remaining Soccer tops, please be returned ASAP.

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.

SACPSSA offers a wide variety of team and individual sports carnivals, students are encouraged to participate and compete in the carnivals held throughout the calendar year. The primary sports traditionally include Cross Country, Athletics and Swimming, with team-based sports such as Netball, Tennis, Lacrosse, Cricket and Touch.

By competing in carnivals throughout the year, students have opportunities to meet and compete against students in their own age group from all areas of the state.

SAPSASA
SAPSASA (South Australian Primary Schools Amateur Sports Association) events provide opportunities for children with specific sporting ability to participate in a variety of sporting activities. SAPSASA works within the Department for Education and Child Development for the delivery of School Sport.

SAPSASA works in consultation with Secondary School Sport SA (SSSSA) to conduct school sport programs from R-12 DECD, Catholic and Independent schools. Primary school children aged 10 years and older are eligible to participate.

St John the Baptist Catholic School has a strong history of participation in the South Australian Primary Schools Amateur Sports Association (SAPSASA) competition. We are proudly part of the Airport District and enter into a wide variety of SAPSASA events throughout the year. SAPSASA runs a series of Knockout Competitions, State Carnivals and State Championships, which the school nominates individuals and teams for competition.

Kind regards,

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

sport@stjohnpl.catholic.edu.au

“A book can take you around the world and back.  All you have to do is open it.”  
A quote from Fantastic Beasts:  The Secrets of Dumbledore 

Thank you to all the volunteers who have supported the library in 2023.  Your time and efforts are much appreciated. 

To all the families who supported the Scholastic Book Club this year by purchasing books a big thank you.  We were able to buy books to the value of over $300 with the Scholastic Rewards we received. 

Also our Standing Order with the Pegi Williams Bookshop (SA owned) has enabled us to put over 200 new books in the library this year.  We receive 20 new books every month for 10 months of the year including 1 free book.   

Notices will be given to class teachers this week asking for any overdue books to be returned. Please have a look with your child to find and return them to their library home at school. 

Stay safe and happy reading in the holidays. 

Maria French
Library  

Lions Cakes & Puddings are available from the Front Office.

• 1.5kg Cake - $20.00
• 1kg Cake - $16.00
• Pudding - $16.00

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

Thursday 7th December - Jo

Friday 8th December - Jo & Megan S

Monday 11th December - No Canteen

Tuesday 12th December - No Canteen

Wednesday 13th December - No Canteen

Thank you to all volunteers who have helped in the canteen this term.  We wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

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

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 2023 and January 2024 with the Royal Life Saving Swim and Survive program.

PROGRAM FEES
$40 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.