May 5th, 2025: Newsletter #13

Acknowledgement of Country

St. John’s school community respect and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders as the traditional custodians of the land on which we learn, pray and grow. 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 3: The Season of Easter

The Season of Easter: As we continue through the Easter Season, and after experiencing the death and funeral of Pope Francis, the following poem by John O’Donohue, is an extremely powerful piece. This reflection also picks up some of the many messages and themes from Pope Francis. It could also be an invitation that the first Easter Sunday morning is not a one off event, the poem is an invitation for all people to live Easter each and every day of their lives.

EASTER BLESSINGS

On this Easter morning, let us look again at the lives we have been so generously given and let us let fall away the useless baggage that we carry — old pains, old habits, old ways of seeing and feeling — and let us have the courage to begin again. 

Life is very short, and we are no sooner here than it is time to depart again, and we should use to the full, the time that we still have.

We don’t realise all the good we can do. A kind, encouraging word or helping hand can bring many a person through dark valleys in their lives. 

We weren’t put here to make money or to acquire status or reputation. We were sent here to search for the light of Easter in our hearts, and when we find it we are meant to give it away generously.

May the spirit and light of this Easter morning bless us all, watch over us and protect us on our journey, open us from the darkness into the light of peace and hope and transfiguration.

- John O’Donahue

From the Principal

Hello everyone, welcome to a new week at St. John's, 

Seaside Community Kitchen: Each Monday evening from 5.00pm – 6.30pm, individual and family meals are being served from St Joseph’s Hall, Raglan Parade, Warrnambool. Please enter via Raglan Parade and continue to the church car park. (between the hall and the church) 
Presently, the meals are ‘take away’ and are being offered to single people as well as families. Last Monday’ s night included chicken soup, individual homemade pies, mashed potatoes and peas. Meal are packed in ‘take away’ containers for easy transport.
In challenging economic times, you are invited to come along and collect a meal. The Seaside Community Kitchen Group has been supported financially by the Diocese of Ballarat and local trusts along as Rotary. Star of the Sea Parish provided the facilities - St. Joseph’s Hall and kitchen free of costs and the parish covers costs of power, cleaning and provide storage for pantry items.
For further details, please phone Alan 0417 222 221 or Anne 0418 529 990

Term 2 Assembly Roster:

• Monday May 12th- Gr 3
• Monday May 19th- Gr 5/6
• Monday May 26th- Gr 1
• Monday June 2nd- Foundation
• Monday June 16th- Leadership
• Monday June 23rd- Leadership

Papal Conclave: This Wednesday we look with great anticipation and hope to the commencment of the Papal Conclave, the process which the Catholic Church employs to elect a new pope. We pray that this process will be smooth and always focussed on the needs of the church and the people it represents.

Enjoy the week ahead, Ben. 

Remembering Pope Francis

Did you know that this about Pope Francis?

• He was the first Pope from the Americas and the Global South, the first Jesuit, and the first to take the name Francis.
• The Pope who showed, from the very beginning, that he was not afraid to break conventions.
• The Pope who, in his official acceptance of the papacy, expressed first his sinfulness and reliance on God's mercy.
• The Pope who, following his election, shunned his private car and boarded the bus with the cardinals; who refused to move into the Apostolic Palace but remained in the Vatican guesthouse.
• The Pope who was not afraid of dialogue and who welcomed encounters with other people regardless of their race, religion, worldview or status.
• The Pope who paid attention to the protection of the natural environment.
• The Pope who advocated for those on society's margins, and who regularly called into question unequal economic systems.
• The Pope who wished to be buried in a simple coffin wearing his old shoes.

2026 Foundation Enrolments- Now Open!

Enrolments: Applications for our Foundation students for 2026 are now OPEN with the closing date being 4:00pm on Wednesday 11th June, 2025. 

A reminder to all existing school families that if have you siblings who are entering primary school at St. John’s in 2026 please enrol as soon as convenient. As enrolments are now open to the general public, we want to ensure that siblings of existing students are given first priority.

All of our enrolments are completed online, via the Enrolment/Apply now page on our schools website. 

You will need to make sure you have your child's documentation loaded onto your device, either by taking a photo or scanning and uploading.  

• Birth certificate
• Immunisation Statement
• Baptism certificates (if relevant)
• Any specialist reports

Enrolment Tours/Information Sessions: Our session dates have also been set and can be booked via the Event Registration page on our school website.

• 10.00am, Wednesday May 14th
• 6.00pm, Tuesday May 20th - ADDITIONAL SESSION ADDED
• 10.00am, Wednesday May 21st
• 7.30pm, Wednesday May 21st

School Cross Country

We held our whole school Cross Country last Wednesday. It was a great afternoon and we were very proud of all of the students for participating. Thanks to the many family members that came along and supported the children.

From this, we now have 38 students that have qualified to compete in the District Cross Country event which is being held at the Warrnambool Speedway tomorrow. We wish you all the best!

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Our Diocesean Community

St. John's Helpdesk

Wellbeing

Positive Parenting

Despite the best efforts of parents around the world, the reality is, there is no such thing as the ‘perfect parent’. However, arming yourself with the right information is a good start!

Research shows, that one of the most important protective factors in the lives of young people, is a close relationship with a supportive adult. With the mental health of today’s young people being at an all-time low, it is simply not enough to parent effectively. Parents need to familiarise themselves with practical skills, knowledge and strategies when it comes to raising children.

Many parents today are over-protective, resulting in children being less independent, unable to problem-solve or self-regulate. Parents are failing to set clear boundaries, which is unfortunately making kids feeling less secure. There is too much pressure on kids today. Parents fill their days with too many activities in an effort to avoid their child’s boredom.

In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will learn what is the best approach for primary and secondary school aged children.

Meaningful May

The below Action for Happiness Calendar focuses on being more meaningful and incorporating small daily actions that helps us to think about what's important to ourselves and others.

Student Awards

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to the following students who celebrate their birthday this week: Max D, Kiara D, Zeppelin M and Max M. We hope you have an amazing day!

Around our School- Week 2

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Parents and Friend's Social Group

Our next Parents and Friends meeting will be on Wednesday 28th May at 7.00pm in the Gathering Space. All welcome.

A big thank you to everyone that donated slices and biscuits for our voting day stall and to our volunteers who helped on the day. Holding fundraisers like this wouldn’t be possible without our wonderful school families donating the slices and time on the day. We made just under $800 for the school.

Dennington Day Out

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 13th May at 7.00pm in the Gathering Space. Our committee is still looking for new volunteers to join. 

Dennington Day Out Sponsorship Proposal for 2025 is now available if you or someone you know is interested in sponsoring this years event please contact ddo@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au

Wednesday Treats

Wednesday Treats are back! Pizza this week.  Orders close tomorrow at 8.30am.

Roster: 

Tuesday 6th - Taliah, Laura M, Melissa C & Danili 

Wednesday 7th - Kate C, Tess M & Bianca M

Wednesday 14th - Dim Sims 

Orders will open on CDF Pay this Wednesday 7th and will close Tuesday 13th at 8:30am.

Dim Sims $1.00 each  

$2.00 each - Apple Juice, Orange Juice, Chocolate Milk & Strawberry Milk

Please remember: Orders will close at 8:30am each Tuesday so please make sure you get your orders in on time as we can not accept late orders or cash this year.

This year there will be no paper order forms going home; it will all be done online via the CDFpay app. Each Wednesday the order for the following week will be uploaded to the app.

Should you have any questions please feel free to contact Taliah Gleeson, Emily McGennan or the front Office

Mother's Day Stall

Our annual Mothers Day Stall will be held THIS Wednesday 7th May. 

This year it’s a little different as we are now a cashless school. CDF pay closed for payments on Friday, if you missed making a payment for the stall via CDFpay please contact the office. 

Please send a bag in on Wednesday so the children can pop their purchased goods into the separate carry bag.

Cake Raffle

Each week at Assembly we draw a cake raffle for students. The money raised goes to various charities like Royal Childrens Hospital in Melbourne.

School families have been assigned a week to bring in a cake. There is no obligation or pressure for you to do so, it is only if you wish to. If you have been assigned a week that is unsuitable and you would like to bring a cake in another week, please contact the office and an alternate date will be arranged.

If you choose to, please drop your store purchased cake into the office with your family name written on top. 

All students will have the opportunity to buy a raffle ticket for 20c 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 12th May:

Drew, Eccles, Egan, Eversteyn, Fary and Faulkner.

School Sponsorship

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.

A big thank you to O'Brien Electrical & Plumbing, Fry Painting, Carry on travel, King Cole Fruit Supply, Total Landscapes and Design and Hiensch Haulage that sponsor our school!

Please contact parents@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au for more information.

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

Wednesday 7th May: Mother's Day Stall

Wednesday 7th May: Wednesday Treats commences

Friday 9th May: Mother's Day Brekky in the Stadium from 8.00am - 8.45am

Tuesday 13th May: DDO Meeting at 7.00pm in the Gathering Space

Wednesday 28th May: Parents and Friends meeting at 7.00pm Gathering Space