Week 3, October 17th, 2022: Newsletter #31

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 3 Prayer

From the Principal

Greetings everyone,

School Closure Day: Monday November 7th will see the school closed to allow staff to participate in a day built on scripture and its use. Please note students will not attend on this day.

Class Groupings 2023: In 2023 we will again be operating 10 classes within the following structure;

Foundation x 2 

Grade 1/2 x 3

Grade 3/4 x 2

Grade 5/6 x 3

In the coming weeks our staff will be drafting class lists for the 2023 school year. If parents have information that relates to their child’s learning needs and will assist in the placement of their child, they are encouraged to forward this information as soon as possible. Please ensure your requests are supported by reason. 

All submissions must be in writing, via either email to principal@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au or address a letter marked confidential to ‘The Principal’. Parents are asked to submit this information before October 21st. 

Enjoy your week, Ben. 

Victorian State Election

As the 2022 State Election approaches, the Catholic Education Commission Victoria have produced some information which helps to outline requests that they have put to both the Labour and Liberal parties. Please take the time to read the attached documents which explain these requests. 

Covid 19: Term 4 Updated Guidelines

Please note as of 12.00am, October 13th, the following guidelines now exist. 

The Victorian Government has announced the end of the pandemic declaration and associated pandemic orders. Requirements for close contacts, like continually testing negative on a rapid antigen test (RAT), will become strong recommendations – joining the strong recommendation to wear a mask indoors, which will remain in place. 

For now, we note the following key changes:

It is strongly recommended that students: 

• Who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home and isolate for five days.
• Should not attend school after five days if still symptomatic.
• Who are symptomatic but have not tested positive should not attend school.

Where students become symptomatic at school, they should: 

• Be collected by their parents/carers.
• Undergo testing for COVID-19. 

It is strongly recommended that staff: 

• Who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home and isolate for five days.
• Should not attend school after five days if still symptomatic.
• Who are symptomatic but have not tested positive should not attend school.

COVID-19 reporting requirements: The Department of Health recommends that a person who tests positive for COVID-19 should inform those with whom they have recently been in contact, including their workplace, school and household. Schools no longer have to alert their school community of positive cases. 

Face masks: Staff and students who wish to wear a face mask should be supported to do so, and schools should continue to make face masks available for staff, students and visitors. The Department of Health recommends that masks should be worn by a person who is a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 when leaving home. Additionally, the department recommends that masks should be worn by a person who has COVID-19 for 10 days after a positive test when they need to leave home. 

Close Contacts: A close contact (a person who has spent more than four hours with someone who has COVID 19 inside a house, accommodation or care facility) is no longer required to quarantine, as long as they follow the additional safety measures:

• Notify the school if returning within the 5 day period.
• Undertake RAT testing on school days within the 5 day period (unless the 4 week exemption applies)
• Wear a mask indoors if an adult or a student (aged 8 years or above).
• Not visit hospitals or care facilities.
• Avoid contact with people at higher risk of infection.

If symptomatic take a RAT or PCR test.

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. A reminder that the loops are to be used for quick drop off and pick up. If your child requires help with their seatbelt etc please use the car parks to keep the loop moving at a steady pace. 

2. Student Absences: Can all parents and guardians please remember that if a child is absent then we require you to contact the school via schoolzine, PAM, or phone to notify us as to why they are absent. This is a government requirement. 

3. Rapid Antigen Testing: RAT's will be provided to students and staff for the remainder of the school year. On a semi regular basis, students will be provided with RAT's but if at any stage you require additional kits, please contact the office.

4.  As part of our SunSmart practices we require that all children and staff wear hats whilst outside this term. Please ensure that your child has a school bucket hat and that it is also clearly named. NO HAT = NO PLAY. Children without hats will have to stay in an undercover area during 1st and 2nd lunch.

Uniforms

We have the following uniform items left at school and availbale to purchase:

Polar fleece jumpers - 2 x size 4,  1 x size 6 and 1 size 8 - $30 each

Short sleeve polo shirts - 8 x size 4, 2 x size 6, 2 x size 8, 2 size 10 and 1 x size 12 - $28

Library Bags x 9 - $12 each

Buxwear Summer dresses - 1 x size 6, plenty of other sizes available - $26 each

Sports shorts and tops - various sizes available

Summer jumpers - size 8, 10, 12 and 14 are available - $5 each (Please note these jumpers will be discontinued once stock has been sold but students are still able to wear them as part of the school uniform)

Family Maths Night

Student Awards

Happy Birthday

A big Happy Birthday to Alex R, Nikita B, Tyler S, Sapphire K, Amber S and Jyda D who celebrate their birthday this week. We hope you have a fantastic day!

Parents and Friends Social Group News

Parents and Friends Social Group Meeting Summary

The P & F held their meeting last Wednesday and despite having a long agenda the meeting was no longer than usual. It was great to see a good turn out for the meeting. I find the more people present to give their opinions, and a helping hand, the more we can achieve. 

Thanks goes out to Emily McGennan and her team of volunteers for Wednesday treats as they successfully run the first year with eftpos payments available. We look forward to having them back in term 2 next year where we will look at how to streamline the payment process.

Planning has begun for various events throughout this term including the Dennington Dash (25th November), Carols by the Merri (2nd December), and the end of year Family BBQ (13th December). Please keep your eye out in the newsletter and facebook group as we ask for volunteers to assist with running all of these events.

Work has begun on the children’s Crazy Camel artwork and we look forward to viewing this on display in the hall once complete. These artworks can then be purchased as gifts. More details to come!

Clarification is being sought about St. John’s involvement with the Woodford races moving forward. Once this information is received the committee will make a decision.

Discussions were had revolving around the Parent Participation Levy. After a year with no levy it is now up for review at the next SAC meeting. A lot of our discussions centered around the difficulty to find volunteers this year. When the levy was in place it provided the first push into the school where parents then met other parents and became more social throughout the school.

If you have any feedback you would like to give, I encourage you to send an email to principal@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au or parents@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au 

Unfortunately no volunteers could be found to work at next year's folk festival, so  we will revisit the idea mid next year.

The next meeting will be held Monday 21st November at 7.30pm in the Gathering Space.

Malynda De Bono - President

Uniform Shop

With our school making the transition to an external source for our uniforms it is time to take a moment and recognise the work done by all uniform shop volunteers over the years but especially our most recent volunteer Shannon Warburton. 

Shannon has been a parent at the school for over 13 years and has done countless hours of volunteering during this time. She has been involved in the uniform shop for many years meeting with families to help with ordering their uniforms and packing away orders when they arrived at school.

Thank you Shannon for all of the work you put in!

Carols by the Merri

Planning is underway for this year’s Carol’s by the Merri. Our cake stall will be organised by Sarah Huntly, however since this is her last year as a parent at the school she would love to share her knowledge and    co-plan with some other parents. If you would like to to help her out please email shuntly@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au

This is a great event to get involved in since we will all be there watching our children on the night.

Dennington's Day Out

You may have seen posters popping up around town. There are posters available at the office to collect if you are able to display one at your place of work.

The next meeting will be held THIS Tuesday 18th October at 7.00pm in the Gathering Space. 

Major Raffle $5,000 draw!

It’s time to start returning your raffle tickets. Please return tickets once sold with cash money or if paying into the bank account please reference the ticket number.  If you have not sold your tickets there is still time. If you are unable to sell them please return them to the office so that we can hand them out to other families. All tickets are due back at school by October 28th to be drawn at DDO on November 13th. 

Dennington's Day Out Puzzle

Pre-orders are due THIS WEDNESDAY October 19th. Paper order forms are available at the office.

This puzzle has been created by Karen McKenzie Art and features St. John’s Primary School. Samples of the puzzles can be viewed at the school office.

Link to order

Cake Raffle

The following families are rostered on this Friday:

Page, Payne, Phillips, Brooklyn Purcell and Warburton.

All students will be able to buy a raffle ticket for 20c each Friday. The Johnnies 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. 

School Sponsorship

A big thank you to Fry Painting, Brownies Shed, South West Pipe Relining and gforce employment & recruitment 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.

Star of the Sea Bulletin

Sunday Mass is held at 10.00am 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/ 

Upcoming Events

Tuesday October 18th: DDO Meeting in the Gathering Space at 7.00pm

Wednesday October 19th:  Pre order for DDO puzzles are due 

Friday October 28th: $5,000 raffle draw tickets and money due back

Monday November 7th: School Closure Day: Scripture

Sunday November 13th: Dennington's Day Out with Major Raffle Drawn at 2.00pm

Monday Novemebr 21st: P & F Meeting in the Gathering Space at 7.30pm

Friday November 25th: Dennington Dash

Friday December 2nd: Carols by the Merri

Wednesday December 7th: P & F Dinner (venue to be confirmed)

Tuesday December 13th: Orientation Day. Family BBQ at 6.00pm

Wednesday December 14th: Mass of Thanksgiving at 10.00am

Wednesday December 14th: Gr 6 Graduation at 6.30pm

Friday December 16th: Students Last day- Assembly at 11.00am