Week 6 November 6th 2023: Newsletter #35

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 6 Prayer

From the Principal

Doshisha Elementary School Partnership

In 2017 St Joseph’s Primary school began a partnership with Doshisha Elementary School with its aims to:

• Develop mutual understanding and friendship,
• Promote better understanding of our nations, culture, economy, history, customs and environment
• Encourage engagement in each country's language, written and spoken.

Prior to the Covid Pandemic, Doshisha students and teachers and students and staff from Warrnambool & District Catholic Schools have been visiting each other, these trips have been extremely beneficial for all involved. 

It is exciting that these visits will commence again in 2024. Students from Doshisa will be visiting St Joseph’s next March and will be billeted with school families and in Sep 2024, the Warrnambool and District Catholic Schools Network will be sending a group of Year 6 students to Kyoto, Japan in September next year.

Both of these opportunities provide children with real cultural insights through building relationships. 

2024 Japan Trip Information Session

To gather more information about the trip please attend the following session. 

4:00pm - 5:00pm, Wednesday 22nd November 

St. Joseph's Primary School, 70 Botanic Road, Warrnambool.

The aim of this meeting is to present information regarding the proposed Japan Trip for students in September 2024. (Year 6 students, and the possibility of Year 5 students which is to be confirmed) 

We are currently gathering details about pricing, and will have more information regarding this at the meeting. 

Covid-19 Cases

We are experiencing several cases of Covid-19 in our community at the moment so we ask all parents to be vigilant when managing suspected cases. Isolation periods are still 5 days or until they have no symptoms and test negative. We no longer have any RAT tests so you will need to purchase these from a Chemist.

Enjoy your week, Ben 

Family Food Bank

Many families in our community are struggling at the moment for a variety of reasons. We are hoping that there may be some families in our community who are able to provide them support in the form of a cooked meal that can be frozen eg. lasagne, casserole, pasta bake or the like.

If you think you can provide assistance please speak with Ben. 

Little Angler Kits for Gr 5 Students

Victorians love fish and fishing. Recreational fishing offers terrific opportunities for people of all ages, skills, abilities and backgrounds to enjoy a fun and healthy activity and build social connections. Our aboriginal heritage is also deeply linked to fishing, with thousands of years of indigenous fishing history in Victoria.

The Victorian Government is committed to increasing the number and diversity of people fishing and enjoying Victoria’s local seafood, growing healthy and sustainable fisheries sectors and contributing to Victoria’s social and economic prosperity. Every Victorian should
have the opportunity to fish.

The Victorian Government committed $1.5 million over four years at the 2022 State election to provide 60,000 primary school aged children with Little Angler Kits that will include a fishing rod, tackle tray, some tackle and a kids guide to fishing. The aim of this commitment is to continue to grow recreational fishing participation in Victoria by actively encouraging primary school aged children to learn more about the art of fishing, marine life and the natural environment.

Each Grade 5 student is receiving a kit today to take home. Please read through the material provided, if you do not wish for your child to keep the kit, simply return it to school. 

Working Bee: Wednesday

This Wednesday from 5:30pm - 7:30pm we will be holding a Working Bee to conduct a tidy up around the school before DDO this weekend. 

All parents who assist can credit their time against their PPL points.

We simply ask adults attending to bring along gardening items such as rakes, cutters, showels, brooms, barrows etc. 

2023 Poppy Appeal

We have items available to purcahse at the front office ranging from $2 to $10.

We will remember them! 

Wellbeing

World Kindness Day is celebrated on Monday 13th November, in the lead up we invite you to look for ways to make kindness the norm in your daily life. World Kindness Day is a great day to begin building a new routine which means including intentional moments of kindness, laughter and delight. It also means taking a moment to enjoy and recognise when those things are happening. 

Kindness starts with one. One smile. One compliment. One conversation. Always choose kindness!

Walk to School

We are encouraging students to walk, ride, scoot or skate to school for the entire month of November.

Every Friday in November, we will have staff at the Dennington Store in Drummond street at 8.10am for a 8.20am departure to walk to school with the students. 

We had great numbers last Friday, lets go bigger this week!!

Emmanuel College

Last week our Grade 5 students experienced a full day at Emmanuel College.  This was an excellent opportunity for them to experience life at a secondary school, complete with broader facilities and a wider curriculum. Our students took the day in their stride and were terrific ambassadors for our school.

Foundation - Gr 4 Swimming Program

Our Foundation-Gr 4 Swimming Program is well underway with the first week down. It continues today, Tuesday, Wednesday and concludes on Thursday. Please ensure your child brings their swimming clothes and towel on each of these days.

All lessons are being taught by staff at Jayson Lamb's Splash Factory at the Warrnambool College indoor pool.

Please remember to label all items of your children's clothing/gear. While every effort is made for the correct clothing to go home with students, we have had a few pieces of clothing disappear. If your child has brought home something that doesn't belong to them please return it to the office. Thank you!

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 10

Next

Student News

Warrnambool Calisthenics club held their presentations yesterday, which a number of our students are a part of.  Isla and Zoe won the coaches award for their groups! Congratulations to you all.

Around our School- Week 5

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 16

Next

Student Awards- Week 5

Happy Birthday

A huge Happy Birthday to Noah S, Kyla P, Esther T, Lyra E, Beatrix F, Oscar E and Maleah C who celebrate their special day this week! We hope you have a magnificent day.

Parents and Friends Social Group News

Meeting

Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday 21st November at 7.00pm in the Gathering Space. Everybody welcome!

Bunnings BBQ 

We are on the hunt for a Parent or Parents to organise this year's Bunnings BBQ which will be on Saturday 2nd December. With most supplies already sourced this is an easy way to tick off all of your participation points.

If you are interested please email parents@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au

Food Safety Supervisor

Do you hold a certificate in Food Safety Supervision? 

We are on the lookout for a parent who is available 1st December to man our ‘Carols By The Merri’ stall. If you are available please email parents@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au

Dennington's Day Out!

The countdown is on! Only 6 days until our biggest fundraising event on the calendar!! 

Packs were sent home with each family last Friday, please check your child's school bags. Inside you will find order forms for your pre-purchase unlimited ride passes and raffle tickets to sell prior to the day. These are all due back THIS Wednesday 8th November. Additional tickets are available at the office. 

We are looking for volunteers to help fold raffle tickets and collate wristband orders once they have been returned. Please rsvp to the facebook post if you are able to help.

We also require volunteers for Saturday 11th November to help move furniture around the school and to help set up Sunday morning. More details will come out on facebook.

If you are unsure of how many volunteer hours you still need to complete please call the office. Remember to record your hours using the tile on our Schoolzine App or book at the front office.

Please make the effort this week to like and share our posts which are on the Facebook page ‘Dennington’s Day Out’. Extra publicity this week will help our event be the biggest it can be.

Our next meeting will be held THIS WEDNESDAY 8th November 7.00pm in the Gathering Space.

                 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.

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 week:

Cain, Cahill, Burchell and Brunton. 

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, O'Brien Electrical Warrnambool, Brownies Shed, Tubbie & Rayz Indoor Batting house and Carry On Travel who sponsor our school!

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/ 

Community Notices

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. 

Entering the School Buildings: All visitors during the school day must enter via the front office. This includes children late to school.

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.

Student News: If you have some exciting news you would like to share with our school community we would love to hear about it. Please email admin@sjdennington.catholic.edu.au

Parent/School Communication: When contacting school staff please refer to our Communications Guidelines for the appropriate processes, this can be found under the forms and documents tab on our schoolzine app and in the Parent Information tab in PAM. 

TheirCare: To make a booking with TheirCare, our outside school hours care provider please click on the following link and select St. John's Dennington as the booking location https://theircare.com.au/  

Upcoming Events

Wednesday 8th November: DDO Meeting at 7.00pm in the Gathering Space

Sunday 12th November: DDO (10am-3pm)

Monday 13th/Tuesday 14th/Wednesday 15th November: Gr 5/6 Camp

Thursday 30th November: Foundation Extended Stay program

Friday 1st December: Carols by the Merri @ 6.30pm (Our children are performing at this)

Saturday 2nd December: Bunnings BBQ

Monday 4th/Tuesday 5th/Wednesday 6th/Friday 8th December: Gr 5/6 Surf Awareness program

Thursday 7th December: Gr 1/2 Extended Stay program

Tuesday 12th December:  Orientation Day

Wednesday 13th December: Mass of Thanksgiving at 10.00am

Thursday 14th December: Gr 6 Graduation Ceremony

Friday 15th December: Term 4 concludes at 3.20pm

Tuesday 30th January 2024: F-6 Classes Commence