Week 2, May 2nd, 2022: Newsletter #12
- Acknowledgement of Country
- Week 2 Prayer
- From the Principal
- 2023 Enrolments
- Uniform
- Covid 19 Term 2 Updates
- Important School Reminders
- Jump Rope for Heart
- School Photos
- Sports News
- Happy Birthday
- Student Awards
- Parents and Friends News
- Cake Raffle
- School Sponsorship
- Our Diocesan Community
- Star of the Sea Bulletin
- Community Noticeboard
- Upcoming Events
Acknowledgement of Country
St. John’s school community respect and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and future. 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.
Week 2 Prayer
From the Principal
Greetings everyone,
An exciting week ahead as we celebrate the special ladies in our lives; let's hope they all get pampered on Sunday! And if you're are heading to the races, then I hope you manage to stay dry!
New Enrolment: This week we welcome Charlee Hampton into our school community, Charlee will start in Grade 2 and will join Ms Dwyer's class.
Parent Teacher Interviews and 3 Way Conversations: Throughout this term, all homeroom teachers will have conversations with parents regarding their child’s learning. Rather than conduct these all on specific dates, parents will receive an email this week via PAM outlining available dates for you to meet with your child’s teacher. These conversations are important in building the relationship between home and school and assisting your child with their learning. If you have any questions regarding these interviews then I encourage you to speak with your child’s teacher.
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN): This program assesses literacy and numeracy skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life. Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in the annual NAPLAN tests in reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. The assessment provides parents and schools with an understanding of how individual students are performing at the time of the tests. NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process – it does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance. NAPLAN also provides schools, education authorities and governments with information about how education programs are working and whether young Australians are achieving important educational outcomes in literacy and numeracy. Our Gr 3 & 5 children will participate in these assessments next week on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for around 1 hour each day.
New Child Safety Standards: The new standards come into effect on 1 July 2022. Schools must update their child safety strategies, policies, and practices by 1 July to comply with the new standards. Ministerial Order 1359 provides the framework for child safety in schools. It replaces Ministerial Order 870.
All policy and guidance materials are currently under review and final versions will be rolled out systematically from 19 May.
St John's Community Facebook Group: Please note that this group is designed to be only for parents/guardians of our currently enrolled students as its purpose is primarily regarding operational matters. We have received several requests from grandparents but these requests have been declined.
Enjoy your week, Ben.
2023 Enrolments
Today we have commenced advertising our 2023 Foundation Information Sessions which will take place on May 17th and May 24th. We are also now inviting families of our current students who have a Foundation child starting in 2023 to commence the enrolment process now, we anticipate a demand for places this year so we encourage you to complete this process as soon as possible. Enrolment forms can be collected from the office.
Existing school families are welcome to attend the Information Sessions.
Uniform
There has been a delay in the delivery of girl winter tunics. Parents will be notified when they are ready to be collected. There is a transition period from summer to winter uniform, students that normally wear summer dresses can continue to do so with tights on cooler days; this will occur for the first 2 weeks of term.
All uniform orders must be emailed to: uniform@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au
Covid 19 Term 2 Updates
Face masks: From 11:59 pm Friday 22 April, facemasks, while recommended, are not required in any school setting. This means students in Grades 3 to 6, staff and visitors in primary schools are no longer required to wear facemasks. Any student or staff member who wishes to wear a mask may do so, including those who are medically at-risk.
Rapid antigen test screening requirements: Students who have tested positive for COVID-19, and have completed their 7-day isolation period, now do not need to undertake rapid antigen test (RAT) screening for 12 weeks after their release from isolation. This was previously 8 weeks.
Household contacts: Students who are household contacts of a COVID-19 case are not required to quarantine. They may return to school as long as they undertake rapid antigen tests (RAT) 5 times during their 7-day period. They are required to notify the school that they are a household contact. Students aged 8 years and above who are household contacts are required to wear face masks when indoors at school unless they have a valid exemption. If a student household contact returns a positive RAT result, they must isolate for 7 days.
Vaccination requirements for visitors to schools: Parents, carers and other adult visitors (not performing work) are no longer required to show evidence of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
RAT screening program reminder: RATs will continue to be supplied for the first 4 weeks of Term 2 to support the early detection of COVID-19 in our school.The testing recommendations will remain the same this Term for students and staff recommended to test at home twice a week
Continuity of Learning: Our school community has been fortunate that we have not had significant staff numbers impacted by COVID such that we have continued to provide quality learning and teaching and student care. I remind families that this could change quickly and the school may be required to ask some classes or year levels to stay home if we do not have adequate staff numbers onsite. We hope that this is not the case, but if it does become a necessity, we will work hard to minimise any disruption.
Important School Reminders
1. Lunch order days are now TUESDAY and FRIDAY. Families can send their orders into school or take directly to the Dennington Store by 11.00am on a MONDAY for delivery TUESDAY and by 11.00am on THURSDAY for delivery FRIDAY.
2. Every Thursday Breakfast Club runs from 8:15am-8:40am in the Gathering Space. If anyone has connections to businesses that may support us by donating grocery items such as cereals we would love to hear from you. You can email Jasmine- jkoch@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au or make contact with her at school on Wednesdays or Thursdays.
3. Wednesday Treats resume next week. Order forms will be sent home this week.
Jump Rope for Heart
School Photos
New date- Wednesday 18th May
Annual School Photos will be taken by Arthur Reed on Wednesday 18th May. ALL students are to come to school dressed in their sports uniforms. Individual, class and sibling photos for all students will be taken.
There is no need to return any forms or money to school.
A flyer containing a unique image code will be issued to all students on photo day so families can register online to view images when they become available in the webshop. When images are ready to view and in the webshop, all parents who have registered will be notified by SMS and email.
Sports News
Cross Country Carnival
This Wednesday all children will participate in our schools cross country carnival. The event will be held at the Dennington Rec Reserve and we ask that parents do not park on the oval or on the track around the oval as these areas form part of the track. All Grade 3/6 children will head over for a 1.30pm start whilst the F-2 children will come over closer to their race start time.
The timeline for the day is as follows, please note that these times are approximate;
1.30pm- 12/13 year olds
1.50pm- 11 year olds
2.10pm- 10 year olds
2.25pm- 9 year olds
2.40pm- 8 year olds
2.50pm- 7 year olds
3.00pm- 5/6 year olds
Warrnambool Portland Hamilton Division Athletics Carnival
This Friday we have a number of students competing at this carnival which is a great achievement on their behalf. We wish our athletes well and hope they have a great day. Congrats to Brax C, Brooklyn P, Charlotte S, Chloe K, Damon W, Greta G, Elsie F, Kade F, Kayla F, Fletcher G, Flynn C, Hayley G, Hugh M, Lexi B, Lily H, Lily V, Michael D, Noah P, Sophie R and Zariyah Q.
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday to Noah P, Lexi B and Kiara D who celebrate their birthdays this week! We hope you have a really special day.
Student Awards
Parents and Friends News
Parents and Friends Social Group
Our next meeting will be held Monday 23rd May at 7.30pm in the Gathering space. Come along and have your say of fundraising ideas and upcoming events.
If you would like to attend but can’t be there in person please email parents@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au and we can send you a link to join us via google meet. We welcome you to join and listen in on upcoming dates even if you think you may not have anything to contribute.
Dennington Day Out
The next meeting will be held Wednesday 1st May at 7.30pm in the Gathering Space. If you know of a business that would love to make donations toward the day please contact ddo@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au
We encourage all parents to LIKE our facebook page ‘Dennington Day Out’ and when you see a new post share it to your page so that the wider community can hear of our upcoming celebrations.
Bunnings BBQ
Our Bunnings BBQ was held yesterday. Thank you to all those who donated their time or other items required to help the day run smoothly.
We were able to raise just over $1,000.00
Wednesday Treats are back!
Keep your eye out for Wednesday Treat notes coming home this week. Notes are due back Monday.
Wednesday 11th May: Pizza
Tuesday 10th May 9.00am Volunteers: Lacey B, Emily Mc, Nicole R and Tess M.
Wednesday 11th May 12noon Volunteers: Olivia G, Kelly S and Abby E.
Mother's Day Stall
Our Mother’s Day stall will be held this Wednesday 4th May. Please send money along with your children in a bag with their name on it. We ask that you limit the money sent in to no more than $20.00 and in smaller notes as change is limited.
If you can volunteer your time to help out with the stall on the day please message Regina Laird on 0419 115 108.
Disco
The Parents and Friends Social Group is hoping to host a Student Disco on Friday June 3rd. This event will be run entirely by Parent volunteers. In order to begin planning this exciting event for our children we must first make sure we will have enough parent volunteers for the night.
Please click the link below to register your interest in volunteering on the night. Once results have been collected we will be able to make a decision on whether or not this event can go ahead.
Cake Raffle
The following families are rostered on this Friday.
Demartin, Drew, Oakley and Dwyer.
All students will be able to buy a raffle ticket for 20c each Friday. Grade 5/6 students will come around to the classrooms during the day to write out tickets and collect money.
All funds raised throughout the year will be donated to the Good Friday Appeal the following year. If assembly is cancelled on your rostered week you will not be required to bring in a cake/slice.
School Sponsorship
A big thank you to Fry Painting, Brownies Shed and South West Pipe Relining who support 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
Please click here to read the April 2022 edition of “Our Diocesan Community”
Star of the Sea Bulletin
Community Noticeboard
Upcoming Events
Wednesday 4th May: Mother's Day stall - 9.00am
Wednesday 4th May: School Cross Country Carnival - 1.30pm
Thursday 5th May: Warrnambool Cup Public Holiday
Friday 6th May: WPH Division Athletics Carnival
Wednesday 18th May: School Photos
Monday 23rd May: P & F Social Group Meeting- 7.30pm in the Gathering Space
Wednesday 1st June: Dennington Day Out Meeting- 7.30pm in the Gathering Space