Week 9, March 20th, 2023: Newsletter #8

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 9 Prayer

March 16th was National Close the Gap Day, and this week we pray in honour of that day.

Dear Lord,

We thank you for this land of Australia. We thank you for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters who you placed as the original custodians and stewards of this precious land. We pray that as we begin to acknowledge the truth of past hurt it is the start of a deep healing in our nation.

We pray that the gap in health outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Non-Indigenous Australians will be closed. We pray for all health professionals - doctors, nurses, carers, dentists, administration staff in health facilities - may these health professionals be filled with compassion, understanding, and love as they see their frontline role in helping to Close the Gap. We pray Australia will Close The Gap!

We pray for greater cultural understanding and improved access to health services. Show us how we can each, individually, be a part of making this a reality. Teach us how to love each other and journey together in this process of reconciliation and true friendship.

We thank you for each of our Aboriginal Elders who have journeyed with their communities through much sickness, hardship, and grief. Fill them afresh with your strength and wisdom and courage.

As we pray for these Stolen Lives, we pray that we may be the agents of your healing, in Jesus name.

From the Principal

St. John's Staff: Over the next few weeks we will include photos of the various staff members we have at St. John's in the aim that it assists with communication. You will notice that under most photos there is the starting point of that staff members email. The format for staff emails is first inital then surname followed by @sjdennington.catholic.edu.au 

Enjoy your week, Ben.

School Advisory Council

The School Advisory Council (SAC) is the leading advisory group for the Principal, as an active forum for parent and community participation, providing support and advice in strategic planning, school improvement, educational outcomes and stewardship of resources. Our SAC will hold its AGM on Tuesday April 4th and we will be looking to fill a vacancy created by Jen Milne who concludes her tenure. Please read through the information below and feel free to speak with Ben van de Camp or an existing SAC member (highlighted below) if you are interested in joining this parent body. 

Existing SAC Parent Representative Members: Mary-Ellen Hose, Leah Kermeen, Ben Marsden, Jen Milne and Glenn Cuzens. 

Role of the Advisory Council: The School Advisory Council is intended to:

• provide a voice for members of the school community.
• actively support, in collaboration with the local parish, the Vision and Catholic Identity of the School.
• provide input into and support for strategic planning and directions.
• actively support and promote child safety practices including the National Safeguarding Principles for Child Safe Organisations.
• provide input and contribute advice in the processes of school improvement and school review.
• support the Principal in meeting his/her responsibilities and accountabilities for educational outcomes, effective stewardship of resources, and annual reporting.
• actively support the Principal in the encouragement of family engagement.
• support the ongoing sustainability of the SAC and its members in its succession and learning.

Members are guided to:

• ensure they understand and can articulate the school’s vision and mission.
• make decisions that always have the welfare of students as their primary basis.
• be truly representative of what is best for the whole school community.
• be mindful that the implementation of school policies and overall management of the school is the function of the principal and staff of the school.
• be familiar with and understand the school obligations to ensure a Child Safe school.
• give the necessary time, thought and study to the work of the advisory council.
• respect matters of confidentiality and privacy.
• work with fellow advisory council members in a spirit of harmony, co-operation and honesty.
• make decisions on issues based on all available facts and consistent with the school’s stated vision and mission.
• abide by and uphold the final majority recommendations of the advisory council.
• only act on behalf of the advisory council when specifically authorised to do so by the advisory council.
• refer to the appropriate person any issues or concerns that are not the concern of the advisory council.
• take part in the School Advisory Council member induction programme.

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SAC Nomination Form- please return to the office no later than Wednesday March 29th. 

Nam of Nominee: ____________________ Signature: ____________________

Name of Nominator: __________________ Signature: ____________________

2024 Foundation Enrolments

We are now inviting current families only to complete enrolment forms for any 2024 Foundation students. Enrolments for all other Foundation families will open in May, 2023 where we will hold our information sessions.

Online Enrolments: All enrolments are now to be completed online and submitted electronically, we no longer offer hard copy enrolment forms. For this process, go to our school website and select the Enrolment Tab. 

Under the Enrolment Tab you will notice Apply Now - select this and away you go. A tip with this one is do not use a phone or ipad to complete the form, any laptop or desktop computer will work best 

You will also need to make sure you have your child's birth, immunisation, baptism certificates and any specialist reports loaded onto your device, either by taking a photo or scanning and uploading as you will be required to upload this documentation. Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the office. 

School Uniform - SALE

To clear the last of our remaining stock and to finalise our uniform shop here at school we are having a sale on summer school dresses and long sleeve polo tops.  We have dresses size 10 and above for $12 and size 12 and above of long sleeve polo tops size for $5. These items are available to be purchased from the office and both cash and card payments are accepted.

Walk/Ride to School Day - This Friday

This Friday is National walk and ride safely to school day. Staff will be at the Dennington Store in Drummond street from 8.10am to walk students to school. The group will leave at 8.20am sharp. 

Sunsmart

Project Compassion

Last week the Season of Lent began with a key focus for Christians during this time is alsmgiving. A program that we support at St. John’s is the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allows Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to alleviate poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice.

We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through your prayer, fasting and almsgiving by supporting Project Compassion. Project Compassion boxes have been distrubuted to families for their donations, if you did not receive one please feel free to drop some coins off at the office or you can donate online via the Caritas Australia website at: lent.caritas.org.au    

Each week we will feature the story of a person from around the world that is receiving support from Project Compassion. 

Important School reminders

Russell Street Crossing: If parents and children are needing to cross Russell Street then it must be done at the supervised pedestrian crossing. This is the only safe place to do.

Parking: Please refrain from parking in the designated disability car spaces in the carparks if you do not have a sticker displayed on your vehicle. It is important these spaces are reserved for families that need them.

We also ask that if you have to hop out of the car to assist your child into the car that you park your car and collect them rather than hold up the loop. 

Student Messages: Please ensure change of pick up arrangement messages etc are received by the office ideally by 3.00pm and no later than 3.10pm to allow office staff adequate time to pass them on to students.

PAM Accounts: If you are yet to set up your new account and complete your child's medical profile, please do so asap. If you need assistance or the email with the link to create your account resent please contact the office on 5562 5362 or email admin@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au  

Camps Sports and Excursions (CSEF): A reminder to hand in your CSEF application forms with a copy of your concession card. Families that submitted them last year and have no changes (new students starting) are not required to complete a new form. Forms are available to download from the Schoolzine app.

Parent Participation Levy: Please ensure you record the activity and the amount of hours you volunteered your time for on the following form - Parent Participation Levy Activity Record

Sport News

Athletics Carnival - THIS WEDNESDAY

Details and timetable for how the day will run are below:

• The carnival will be held at BrauerAnder Park.
• Students are to be dropped off at BrauerAnder Park by 8:45am ready to assemble in House colours, bus children will be transported from school.
• Children will wear their sports uniform and hat, please plan for wet weather. (If there is a change then we will notify families via Facebook and SZ App) 
• No food will be provided at the venue, so please ensure your child has a fully packed lunch as well as a drink bottle filled with water.  A coffee van will be on site for parents, grandparents and teachers.
• Students will compete in their age groups for the events according to the School Sport Victoria guidelines. Age groups are determined by their age at 31st December eg. if a child is 7 now but turns 8 on December 10th this year, then they compete as an 8 year old.
• 1500m and 800m running events have already been conducted. Times and points will be allocated to the scoring for the day.
• Younger students will be doing some modified events Eg. Vortex instead of shotput.
• Only staff and event helpers will be able to enter the actual athletics field, parents are welcome to view the events from the outside of the fence.

Athletics- District Level

On Monday 27^th March, students who are selected to represent St. Johns will be participating in the DAMSWAK Athletics Carnival at BrauerAnder Park. DAMSWAK is the name of our sport district and includes Allansford PS, Cudgee PS, Kings College, Merri River School, Merrivale PS, Nullawarre PS, and Woodford PS.

As our Athletics Carnival is this Wednesday 22nd March it will be a quick turn around to let students know who has been selected for events. I will aim to inform all students by this Tursday if they have been selected. The event will begin at 10.00am at Brauerander Park and finish around 1.30pm.

 Cross Country

Our School Cross Country carnival will be held on Wednesday May 3rd (Week 2, Term 2)

Students selected to compete at the next level for District to represent St. Johns will compete on Tuesday 9th May at the Warrnambool Speedway. More details to follow or contact bboyd@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au

Brodie Boyd -  Physical Education Teacher

Happy Birthday

A big Happy Birthday to Finley Clark and Cody Walpole who celebrate their birthday this week. Best wishes, we hope you have a terrific day!

Student Awards

Parents and Friends Social Group News

Parents and Friends Social Group Meeting

Last Wednesday the P & F caught up for their 2nd meeting of the year. There was once again a good amount in attendance which makes for great discussion and many hands to get jobs done.

We have made the decision to purchase a second fridge for the canteen as we prepare for Wednesday Treats to begin in Term 2 Week 3. The current fridge is being used by Theircare for their before and after school needs. We are excited for the extra room as our school continues to grow.

A few parents raised concerns about some of the new uniforms available and gave Ben great feedback on some tweaks that may need to be made to the range which Lowes supplies to our school families. Feedback in any form is something that Ben not only takes on, but encourages. Attending meetings is one of the many ways you can do so.

Praise was given to Emily and Vanessa for organising Shrove Tuesday and the Dennington Dash which were both a great success.

We now look forward to the Easter Raffle with flyers and tickets sent home last week to families. We hope to have a special visitor at the final assembly to help draw raffle tickets. This raffle was a big fundraiser last year and we are hopeful for the same success this year. 

Planning for the Mother’s Day Stall is well underway with all items ready and waiting at school to be purchased on the day. More information to come out next term.

We looked into a few ideas of grants we could apply for including Wannon Water and Stephanie Alexander kitchen Garden Foundation. If you know of more grants that you think our P & F could benefit from please email: parents@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au

We also began looking into what our Term 2 fundraiser and event would be. We are excited to once again be hosting a Pie Drive and will give more information next term. Students will be very excited to learn that the Student Disco will be back for 2023. 

Our next meeting will be held Monday May 1st at 7.00pm in the Gathering Space. I encourage you to come along and bring a friend to see how laid back yet informative our meetings can be.

Thanks, Malynda De Bono (President)

Parents & Friends Social Group

Dennington Day Out

The next meeting will be held NEXT Tuesday in the Gathering Space on 28th March at 7.00pm.

Easter Raffle

Each year we hold an Easter Raffle at St John’s. It is a fun and easy fundraiser for the school and the kids get very excited when it is drawn at the final assembly of Term 1.

A book of raffle tickets has been sent home with each family soon, please see the flyer for some more information.

Thank you for your support.

                   Cake Raffle

Each week on a Friday, 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.

If you happen to be rostered on for a school closure day then you are not required to bring a cake in.

All students will have the opportunity 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. 

The following families are rostered on this Friday:

Shepherd, Shanahan, Seymour, Scott and Savage

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/ 

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

A big thank you to Fry Painting and O'Brien Electrical Warrnambool who sponsor our school!

Opening Evenings

Community Notices

Upcoming Events

Wednesday 22nd March: School Athletics Carnival 

Friday 24th March: Walk to school day

Monday 27th March: DAMSWAK Athletics Carnival at BrauerAnder Park.

Tuesday 28th March: DDO Meeting, 7.00pm in the Gathering Space.

Thursday 6th April: End of Term One and Easter Raffle Draw

Monday 24th April: Term 2 Commences

Tuesday 25th April: Anzac Day Public Holiday

Monday 1st May: Parents and Friends Social Group Meeting, 7.00pm in the Gathering Space

Thursday 4th May: May Race Day Public Holiday

Friday 5th May: School Closure Day

Tuesday 9th May: District Cross County at the Warrnambool Speedway

Wednesday 10th May: Mother's Day Stall