November 18th 2024: Newsletter #36
- Acknowledgement of Country
- Week 7 Prayer
- From the Principals
- Country Bus Travellers
- Opening the Doors Foundation
- Walk to school
- Carols by the Merri
- Year 1 Excursion
- Wellbeing
- Theircare
- Happy Birthday
- Student Awards
- Student News
- Around our School- Week 6
- Parents & Friend's Social Group
- School Sponsorship
- Our Diocesan Community
- Star of the Sea Bulletin
- Community Notices
- Upcoming Events
Acknowledgement of Country
St. John’s school community respect and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past and present. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on this land and commit to building a brighter future together, working together towards a reconciled Australia.
Week 7 Prayer
Kindness is one of the most powerful ways we show that we love and care for ourselves, others and the natural world. The Gospels show many examples of Jesus showing kindness to all in society. Sometimes a simple act of kindness can be transformational.
From the Principals
Welcome everyone to Week 7.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said "We grow in kindness when our kindness is tested". Last week was World Kindness Day. As we launch into a very busy time of the year, it is helpful to stop and look around us to see who needs kindness. Random acts of kindness can change both the giver and the receiver. Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change. (Bob Kerrey) We spoke about kindness at assembly today and it will be a focus for the children and the whole school community as we move towards Advent. The act of being kind is so simplistic and can be the difference that can change someone's entire day. Our children learn kindness by the people around them. Some of our students worked with Jasmine last week displaying quotes and messages around the school to remind everyone to choose kindness.
This week we have the Year 1 children going on an excursion to Lake Pertobe and The Gruffalo. On Thursday, as part of the camp program, the Year 1 children will stay at school until 7.00pm and the Year 2 children will sleepover at school. These activities are designed to build upon the children's resilience and confidence so that by Year 3 they can go on a school camp which is off-site. Once again we thank the teachers for all the pre-planning, documentation and especially for giving up their free time to be with the children.
Over the last two weeks we have had the Kindergarten children start their transistion program with two 20 minute visits and the next one on the 3rd December will be for 2 hours. Our school wide Orientation Day will be Tuesday 10th December and there will be a Family BBQ that evening organised by the Parents and Friends committee. All families, exisiting and new are invited.
We hope you all have a peaceful and happy week.
Jan and Amy
Country Bus Travellers
Opening the Doors Foundation
The 2025 Student Grant Round opened on 8th November 2024 and closes on 14th March 2025. Please click the link below to read the eligibilty criteria.
Walk to school
November is Walk to school month at St. John's!
We will have staff members waiting at the former Dennington Post Office in Drummond Street each Friday at 8.10am for a 8.20am departure, in November, to walk to school.
If your child hasn't joined in yet, please consider doing so. It is a wonderful way to start the day and the weather this Friday is looking perfect!
Carols by the Merri
The annual Carols by the Merri is being held on Friday 6th December at the G. G. Payne reserve on the Esplanade in Dennington overlooking the Merri. It is a great occasion supported by our school and a wonderful opportunity for us to gather with our community.
Students in Grades F-4 have been rehearsing carols and are invited to sing them on stage with their year levels- please wear something Christmassy! We will have staff members waiting by the stage on the night to assist. We will be performing at 6.30pm. If children could be there by 6.20pm ready to go on stage. We ask that toddlers stay with their families while the children perform.
Year 1 Excursion
Our Year 1 students very excitedly attended the performance of the Gruffalo at the Lighthouse Theatre today. The performance aimed to introduce cultural awareness, promote creativity and imagination, and support language development through exposure to new vocabulary and expressions. The students had a wonderful time and also enjoyed a stop at Lake Pertobe.
Wellbeing
Friendship and Belonging
It is not always easy for children to always know how to manage friendships. Learning how to make new friends and keep them involves a number of skills every young person needs to understand and develop. For some these skills will come very naturally, allowing them to easily move between different friendship groups, sharing their experiences and opening up to new people. For others, this can be much harder to navigate. Belonging to a group that is like-minded with similar interests is highly beneficial to a child's wellbeing. Friendships are full of ups and downs and it is better for kids to learn how to manage and build their own friendships, even though as an adult carer you may be tempted to interfere.
Theircare
All bookings and questions regarding our outside school provider TheirCare, are to be made directly to them on 1300 072 410. Bookings can also be made at https://theircare.com.au/ and selecting St John's Dennington as the booking location.
Theircare also run a number of holiday programs which they are now taking bookings for. Please note these programs are not run here on site at St John's.
Happy Birthday
Best wishes to Thomas C, Louis D, Chad G, Cooper G, Jackson P, Dustin S, Noah C and Chantelle S who celebrate their birthday this week! We hope you have a terrific day celebrating!
Student Awards
Student News
On Saturday night and Sunday afternoon Robins school of dancing held their annual dance concert with many students from St. John’s performing. Judging by these beaming smiles, you all had an amazing time. Well done!
Around our School- Week 6
Parents & Friend's Social Group
Our final meeting for the year will be Thursday 12th December at the Cally Hotel from 6:30pm, all welcome.
Dennington's Day Out
If you would like to jump on board next year please do, we would love to see some new faces on our committee.
Do you have some feedback from this year's DDO? We would love to hear it. Positive or negative feedback can be emailed to ddo@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au so we can take it on board at our next meeting.
Final DDO/breakup meeting for 2024 will be at Logans Restaurant on Wednesday 20th November at 7.00pm.
Carols by the Merri
The annual Carols by the Merri will be held on Friday 6th December. This is our last fundraiser for the year. We are looking for families to donate slices for the night to be sold at our food stall. This is also the last opportunity for anyone needing to tick some participation points off for the year. Please keep an eye out for the flyer below coming home today.
Family BBQ
The P & F committee are supplying a BBQ for all of our school families on Tuesday 10th December from 5.30pm to say thank you for supporting all of the fundraisers throughout the year. BYO drinks. The form below is also being sent home today. Please RSVP your order by Tuesday 3rd December.
Cake Raffle
Each week on a Monday, families are rostered on to bring in a cake which will then be raffled and drawn out at assembly. All funds raised throughout the year will be donated to the Good Friday Appeal the following year.
All students will have the opportunity to buy a raffle ticket for 20c next Wednesday with a limit of five tickets per student. The Johnnies will make a P.A announcement at first lunch, calling all students who wish to purchase a ticket, to the Library.
The following families are rostered on for Monday 25th November.
Toogood (Jack), Toogood (Lincoln), Tuck-Allsopp and Vickery.
Please drop your store purchased cake into the office with your child's name written on top.
School Sponsorship
A big thank you to O'Brien's Electrical, Joinery by Jarrod, Fry Painting and Carry on Travel who sponsor our school!
Would you like to advertise your business in our school newsletter? Businesses can advertise for only $100 a year and will have a business card sized listing in every school newsletter.
Please contact parents@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au for more information.
Our Diocesan Community
Star of the Sea Bulletin
Sunday Mass is held at 9.00am at St. Pius X Church. School families are always welcome.
The Parish office can be contacted on 5562 2231 and this weekends bulletin is featured below. Other information and contact details can be found on the Star of the Sea South West Coast website: https://www.ballarat.catholic.org.au/parish/southwestcoast/
Community Notices
Upcoming Events
Thursday 21st November: Year 1 Extended Play
Thursday 21st November: Year 2 camp experience
Wednesday 4th - Friday 6th December: Grade 5/6 Camp
Friday 6th December: Carols by the Merri
Tuesday 10th December: Orientation Day
Tuesday 10th December: Family BBQ at school from 5.00pm
Thursday 12th December: Parents & Friends Social Group Meeting at 6.30pm at The Cally
Wednesday 18th December: Last day of Term 4 - school concludes at 3.20pm
Wednesday 29th January: Start of Term 1 2025 for all students (no country buses running on this day)
Thursday 30th January: Country buses resume