May 19th, 2025: Newsletter #15

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 5: The Season of Easter

The Season of Easter: The 5th Sunday of Easter emphasizes the constant presence of Jesus in our lives and the necessity of deeply rooting our existence in Him for strength and guidance. This day reminds us that following Jesus may lead us into the unknown, requiring reliance on Him as the vine to sustain and nurture us. It acknowledges that suffering can be a part of discipleship, yet encourages looking towards the future with hope. 

As we walk through life, may we always be mindful that Jesus walks with us also. 

From the Principal

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

New arrival: Madddi and Parker are smitten with their new baby sister Armani Grace who was born last week. Congratulations to you all and enjoy the happiness and love that a new baby brings.

School Sores: We have had a few confirmed cases of school sores (impetigo) within the school. School sores are a contagious skin infection commonly affecting young children. To help prevent the spread, we ask that families be vigilant and have children checked by a doctor if they have any symptoms. Children should stay home from school until 24 hours after starting antibiotic treatment or until the sores have completely dried up and are no longer contagious. 

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 26th- Gr 1
• Monday June 2nd- Foundation
• Monday June 16th- Leadership
• Monday June 23rd- Leadership

Enjoy the week ahead, Ben. 

Pope Leo XIV

The first Augustinian Pope, Leo XIV is the second Roman Pontiff - after Pope Francis - from the Americas. Unlike Pope Francis however, the 69-year-old Robert Francis Prevost is from the northern part of the continent, though he spent many years as a missionary in Peru before being elected head of the Augustinian Order of Priests. 

The new Bishop of Rome was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, to Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martínez, of Spanish descent. He has two brothers, Louis Martín and John Joseph.

He spent his childhood and adolescence with his family and studied first at the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers and then at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, where in 1977 he earned a Degree in Mathematics and also studied Philosophy. On September 1 of the same year, Prevost entered the seminary of the Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.) in Saint Louis. On August 29, 1981, he made his solemn vows.

The future Pontiff received his theological education at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. At the age of 27, he was sent by his superiors to Rome to study Canon Law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas. 

In Rome, he was ordained a priest on June 19, 1982, at the Augustinian College of Saint Monica by Archbishop Jean Jadot, then pro-president of the Secretariat for Non-Christians, which later became the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

On September 26, 2015, he was appointed Bishop of Chiclayo by Pope Francis and later Pope Francis created him Cardinal in the Consistory of September 30, 2023, and assigned him the Diaconate of Saint Monica. 

Pope Leo XIV brings decades of missionary, pastoral and curial experience to the papacy. A native of Chicago, he joined the Augustinian Order in 1977 and spent more than 20 years serving in Peru, first as a missionary and later as bishop of Chiclayo. He holds both US and Peruvian citizenship, making him both the first American and first Peruvian pope. 

Farewell Fr Bill Lowry

As many of you will already be aware, Father Bill Lowry recently completed his time as assistant priest at the Star of the Sea parish.  Fr Bill has been appointed as Assistant Priest in the Sunraysia, Robinvale and Ouyen Parishes.

Fr Bill has been a fantastic support to us with masses, liturgies and other special events over the last few years, and always approached each occasion with enthusiasm. He was always able to engage students with anecdotes that were often funny, but also very insightful and thought provoking. With his down to earth nature he was able to form wonderful connections with people of all ages and backgrounds in our community. 

We wish Fr Bill all the very best as he commences this new chapter in his priesthood.  

LSO Appreciation Day

Last Friday we celebrated LSO appreciation day. At St John's we are incredibly fortunate to have a team of dedicated Learning Support Officers (LSOs) who go above and beyond every day to support our students.

Whether it's helping in the classroom, providing one-on-one support or simply being a calm and encouraging presence, our LSOs make a real difference in the lives of students and staff alike. Their patience, care, and commitment help create an inclusive, nurturing learning environment where every student has the opportunity to thrive.

Thank you for the incredible work you do. You are a vital part of our school community, and we appreciate your kindness, dedication, and the positive impact you have on so many lives.

2026 Foundation 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 can be booked via the Event Registration page on our school website.

• 10.00am, Wednesday May 14th - FULLY BOOKED
• 6.00pm, Tuesday May 20th - SPACES AVAILABLE
• 10.00am, Wednesday May 21st - LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE
• 7.30pm, Wednesday May 21st - FULLY BOOKED

Foodbank

At St. John’s, we are proud of our strong tradition of caring for one another. One way we do this is through our Food Bank initiative, where families volunteer to provide meals for others in our school community during times of need—whether it’s  supporting someone through illness or offering comfort during a time of loss.

We’re currently inviting families who are willing to donate a meal—either homemade or store-bought to support this important initiative. These meals make a real difference to those receiving them. If you are able to make a donation please contact our Pastoral care Leader Jasmine - jkoch@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au

If you and your family are experiencing hardship or a difficult time, along with supplying you a meal, there are also other support services available that Jasmine can assist you with. Please do not hesitate to reach out to her. 

Parent Participation Levy

We are very appreciative of the families that volunteer around our school- be it through the Mother's Day stall, with the preparation of meals or Wednesday Treats. 

With this, please remember to log your volunteer hours. When doing so, please either log them through the tile on the schoolzine app OR complete the paper copy at the front office, you do not need to complete both.

School Fees

School fee statements will be emailed to families this week. Discounts have been applied for eligible families and will show on your statement. If you do not recieve your statement by the end of the week and/or have any questions relating to it, please direct them to Sarah Burchell in the office or email - sburchell@sjdennington.catholic.edu

Confirmation Formation Day

Last Monday, St. John’s had the privilege of welcoming students from our surrounding Catholic schools for a special Sacrament of Confirmation Formation Day. It was a wonderful opportunity for young people across our community to come together in faith and fellowship as they prepare for this important step in their spiritual journey.

The day began with a liturgy, setting a reflective and prayerful tone. Students then participated in a series of small group activities and discussions, where they explored the meaning and significance of the Sacrament of Confirmation. These sessions encouraged thoughtful conversations, personal reflection, and a deeper understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

The students will be making their Sacrament of Confirmation at Infant Jesus Koroit on Tuesday the 27th May.

Photographs/Videos- Friendly reminder

As we come together to celebrate and support our children at various school events, we kindly remind all parents and carers of the importance of respecting the privacy of all students in our community.

Please do not take photos or videos of other children and staff during school activities or events without the explicit permission of their parents or guardians or the staff member. Additionally, we ask that you do not share images or videos containing other students on social media or public platforms without consent.

This is in line with our school’s Parent code of conduct and child safeguarding policies and our commitment to providing a safe and respectful environment for all.

Sporting Events

On Friday 16th May 11 St. John's students represented our school at the Division Cross Country at Albert Park in Warrnambool.

Congratulations to the students on their fantastic efforts and in particular, their wonderful attitudes and sportsmanship throughout the day. For some students this was their first time competing at this level and they all certainly did themselves very proud. 

Art

Last Monday local Aboriginal artist, Sherry Johnstone, came into St. John’s to run workshops with our students on Indigenous art. Sherry shared with the students how she became an artist, showed the students many of her artworks and explained the symbols and meanings within her art.

A highlight for all the students was seeing the football guernseys Sherry has designed, two for Scotch College in Melbourne and one for the Geelong Cats AFL team. With Sherry’s support and guidance, the students will continue their exploration of Indigenous art and create some artwork of their own based on indigenous art.

Save the date!

We’re thrilled to announce this year’s school dance performance, and it’s going to be truly magical! The students and maybe some surprise performers are getting ready to light up the stage!

This is a whole-school event where everyone gets involved, and families are warmly invited to come enjoy the show.

More details will be shared soon, including costume information and location- but for now, mark your calendars and get ready for a night of wonder and fun with our school community!

St. John's Helpdesk

Wellbeing

SchoolTV is a wellbeing resource that we have to support you with the challenges relating to modern-day parenting. This award-winning resource helps build relationships, foster connections, enable understanding and break down barriers to navigate a pathway towards better mental health and wellbeing for young people. It can assist in starting conversations on topics that are sometimes awkward or difficult to tackle.

In addition to the weekly topic we publish in our newsletter, all of the School TV topics are always accessible through our school website and schoolzine app. You can also click the link below.

There are videos from experts as well as a huge range of websites, books, apps, fact sheets and podcasts.

If you require any further information about School TV, please contact Mel (mwillis@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au).

Student Awards- Term 2, Week 5, 19th May 2025

Miss Buwalda - Matthew T for his fantastic effort in writing this week, listening carefully to the sounds in words and having a go at writing them.

Miss Dwyer - Jetson F for working hard during dictation and writing words with improved letter formation. Well done, Jetson. 

Mrs Archbold - Danyl S for his quick recall of phonemes and his willingness to have a  go when decoding unfamiliar words. 

Miss Kissick - Luca B for her fantastic determination in her maths. Keep on shining Luca!

Miss Lucas - Jack Y for making noticeable progress across all learning areas and consistently showing respectful behaviours.

Mr Hynes - Abigail B for always trying her best in every learning session. Brilliant!

Miss Ryan - Savannah D for her great efforts with her story writing. Well done! 

Mr Harrington - Ella A for her amazing maturity and resilience being shown each and every day!

Miss Kelly - Raani M for her fantastic efforts in class across all learning areas. Keep up the great work Raani!

Miss Moloney - Scarlett R for demonstrating great leadership and care with the junior students during fitness groups.

Mrs Mugavin -  Hallie W for always being a flexible thinker in Maths and willing to share her ideas with friends. 

Miss P -  Alexis E for her commitment to working through EPIC books each day. Keep up the awesome reading Alexis.

Mr McInerney - Sienna C for her great questions and engagement during Inquiry.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to the following students who celebrate their birthday this week: Evelyn S and Bradly S. Best wishes, we hope you have an amazing day!

Around our School- Week 4

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Parents and Friend's Social Group

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

Dennington Day Out

Join us for dinner at the Cally for our next Dennington Day Out meeting on Tuesday 17th June at 6.30pm.

Do you have a child that might be interested in holding a mini entrepreneurs stall at this years DDO? Make sure your following the Dennington Day Out Facebook page for the expressions of interest google form that will be posted in the coming weeks. 

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

This weeks treat is “Potato Cakes”  - Orders close tomorrow morning, Tuesday 19th May at 8.30am.

Roster: Tuesday 20th - Taliah G, Nick S & Melissa A

Wednesday 21st -Olivia G, Bianca M & Mel B

Next weeks treat (Wednesday 28th May) is Hot Dogs $2.50 each, $2.00 each - Apple Juice, Orange Juice, Chocolate Milk & Strawberry Milk.

Orders for next week will be open on CDF Pay this Wednesday 21st and will close Tuesday 27th at 8:30am

Please remember:  This year there will be no paper order forms going home; orders are required to be placed online via the CDFpay app. Each Wednesday the order for the following week will be uploaded to the app.

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.

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

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 26th May:

Greenwood, Gurry, Gyde, Hadden and Haebich.

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

Monday 26h May - Wednesday 28th May: Grade 5/6 Camp 

Tuesday 27th May: Sacrament of Confirmation

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

Friday 6th June: Merri Hopkens Winter Sports at the Dennington Oval for Grade 5/6 (More details soon)

Monday 9th June: Kings Birthday Public Holiday

Tuesday 17th June: DDO Meeting at The Cally Hotel at 6.30pm