Week 11 December 11th 2023: Newsletter #40

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 11 Prayer

From the Principal

Greetings and welcome to the final newsletter for 2023!

Gratitude! As we look back on 2023 I am filled with such grattiude for all the experiences we had this year. Whilst not all have been filled with happiness, or instant success, each and every experience has helped to shape us individually and as a community. 

I wish all community members a very holy and peaceful Christmas. Please take the time to enjoy being in each other’s presence; it is a time of year that brings us new strength and hope in ourselves, each other and all that we hold close – especially our faith. This year more than ever, take the time at Christmas to reflect on the story of Jesus’ birth and the gift that His life and teachings provide for us.

Have a most wonderful holiday, shared with those you love. Take care and we look forward to 2024 with great hope.

Transition & Orientation Days: Our Transition Day for the whole school will be held tomorrow, Tuesday 12th December.  Foundation students for 2024 will attend St. John’s until 2:30pm whilst all other students will spend a full day with their 2024 teacher and class. On arrival on Tuesday morning, all children will head straight to their 2024 classroom.  

Our current Gr 6 students will spend this day at their secondary school of choice.

2024 Class Lists: Our 2024 classes have been published today and sent to you via email. These lists represent hours of consideration by teachers to place children in a class that support their learning needs and their wellbeing. It is not an easy task and I thank all teachers for the work they have put into their creation. 

2023 Mass of Thanksgiving- Wednesday December 13th @ 10.00am: Our opportunity to gather and give thanks for all that we have received this year will be held this Wednesday at St. Pius X Church beginning at 10.00am. This mass will be open to parents and family members. 

2023 Final Assembly- Friday December 15th @ 1.00pm: This is open to parents and family members. 

Student Leadership Positions: Our current Grade 5 students have today delivered their leadership speeches and as always, I was super impressed by the manner in which our students are able to speak publicly and articulate their thoughts so well.  As implemented this year based on feedback from the SAC, staff and P&F Social Group, there is no set gender breakdown for any of the leadership roles. 

Our 2024 Leaders will be announced at our Mass of Thanksgiving this Wednesday at St. Pius X Church at 10.00am, their formal presentation will take place next year. 

Enjoy your week, Ben.

Departing Staff

There is always sadness as we bid farewell to staff at the end of a school year. We will acknowledge our departing staff; Emily Brough, Jessie Mellblom and Janice Lee. We thank these people for the way in which they have enriched our community and our lives, be it for 1 year or 30. They have all left an indelible mark on our lives, our community and our school and we are eternally grateful to them for their dedication and friendship. 

Departing Students

This Friday we farewell Isla & Priya Stacey and their family as they relocate to Horsham- we wish them well and thank them for enriching our school community. 

Graduates of 2023

Congratulations to all of our Year 6 students who will formally graduate this Thursday; it will be a fantastic celebration. Graduations are a time for looking forward and for looking back.  We hope that all of these children can look back at their time here with joy and are proud of their achievements.  As we look forward we are heartened that our world, with all its challenges, will be in the safe hands of these intelligent, loving people.  Thanks to all of you for your unique contribution to our school.  May your next chapter be challenging, fun and rewarding.

This year are also farewelling a number of families whose partnership with St. John’s is coming to an end. Thank you for your contributions to our school community. Our graduating students are listed below. 

Jackson Ball, Lexi Boyle, Ryan Brown, Flynn Collins, Mitchell Crothers, Alice Daffy, Jarwyn Dawson, James Doyle, Leo Eccles, Kade Faulkner, Otto Gass, Layne Godfrey, Sasha Hartwich, Cohen Howlett, Chloe Kermeen, Sapphire King, Izaak Martin, Hugh Matthews, Aiden McLennan, Oliver McMahon, Dane McNaughton, Gypsy Miller, Indi Moloney, Elly-May O'Grady, Brooklyn Purcell, Alice Reid, Luke Roney, Ali Savage, Kitana Seymour, Lara Stewart, Indianna Stonehouse, Dakota Symons, Lily Vickery and Cody Walpole.

Academic Reports

Reports are now available via PAM as an electronic copy. Please note that paper copies will not be sent home. If you have difficulties accessing the report on your phone, please use an alternate device ie. laptop.

Learning Conversations do not take place in term 4 but if you wish to discuss your child's report with their teacher, please contact them to arrange a time that is covenient.

2024 Important Updates

Bell Times 2024: Our bell times for 2024 will stay the same as they were in 2023. In 2024 the following timetable will operate;

• 8.40am: Doors Open
• 8.55am: Children head to classrooms
• 9.00am: Homeroom
• 9.10am: Learning Block 1
• 10.00am: Learning Block 2
• 10:50am: 1st Lunch (30 minutes of play, 10 minutes of eating)
• 11.30am: Learning Block 3
• 12.20pm: Learning Block 4
• 1.10pm: 2nd Lunch (10 minutes of eating, 30 minutes of play)
• 1.50pm: Learning Block 5
• 2.40pm: Learning Block 6
• 3.00pm Fitness groups
• 3.10pm: Homerooms
• 3.20pm: End of school day dismissal

Assembly 2024: Due to our Specialist classes running for the full day on Thursday & Friday in 2024, we have had to shift our weekly assembly- in 2024 our assemblies will be held each Monday at 2.30pm with the 1st assembly occuring on Monday February 5th. 

Learning Support Staff 2024

In response to increased need and funding, I am pleased to announce our support staff for 2024.  
Andrea Pettit, Sarah Huntly, Coralie Hiscock, Declan Gleeson, Matt Sell, Jen Milne, Ally Mellblom, Maleiah Mugavin, Meg Hamilton, Kaitlyn Lane, Chelsea Quinn, Elise Hirst and Sally O'Keefe will continue on staff in various roles.  
Amber Dowd, Amity Brookes and Kirsten Thwaites will transition from Trainees to LSO's with us in 2024 whilst we will welcome Remy Hirst and Ash Stephen onto our staff in addition to our Trainees, Eden, Harry, Ruby & Jaxon. We look forward to all these wonderful staff members playing an important role in the daily lives of our students. 

2024 School Fee Structure

At our recent School Advisory Council meeting we settled  on the following fee structure for 2024. The increases are in line with actual costs of events such as camps and swimming programs etc. The Diocese of Ballarat also provides recommended fee bands which we currently sit just within. This to ensure we are working towards having fees which are in line with DOBCEL expectations but doing it in a way that doesn’t place undue financial burden on our parents.  

• Student Levy-         $150
• Family fee-             $1075
• Building Levy-         $175
• Gr 5/6 Camp-          $350
• Gr 3/4 Camp-          $200
• Gr F-4 Swimming-    $100
• Gr 5/6 Surf Awareness- $100

Please note that our fees only make up the difference between the Government (Federal and State) funding we receive and the amount the Government determines as the cost of educating a Primary student. Fees do not mean that we have extra money in our budget to expend on additional resources.

The Family Fee Assistance scheme will be available again in 2024. Families who qualify for the scheme will pay $520 per annum for primary school tuition fees. The discounted fee covers tuition and capital fees only. It does not cover additional charges such as camps, student fees, and excursions.

If you have any queries regarding school fees or funding please do not hesitate to contact Gayle or Ben.

Opening The Doors Foundation

Opening The Doors Foundation provides grants to families to assist with the extra costs of schooling of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.  If this is your child’s first application with Opening The Doors Foundation you will need to provide/submit a Confirmation of Aboriginality Certificate with your application.  If this is not able to be obtained the school can provide a phone number to call.  We are more than happy to assist families with this process should you qualify.

Rates are Foundation - $750 and Yr. 1-6 $600, Year 7 $1,200 and Yr. 8 - 12 $1,000.  All applicants must be enrolled in a Catholic or Independent educational institution located within the State boundaries of Victoria.  Please contact Gayle McPherson on 5562 5362 for further information.

Hands on Learning

Our Diocesan Community - November 2023

Please find attached a link to the November Issue of the "Our Diocesan Community" Newsletter.

This newsletter features an article on our very own 'Dance throught the Decades' concert!

One final check!

Library Books and Classroom readers - We ask that all families please return any library books or readers you still may have at home.

School Sporting Team Uniforms- With all sporting representative teams now concluded for 2023, we ask that all families who have had children represent the school, please return sports uniforms asap.

Diocese of Ballarat 150th Anniversary

On March 30th next year, the Diocese of Ballarat will turn 150. It will be exactly 150 years since Pope Pius the Ninth issued a decree that the then Diocese of Melbourne be divided into three to form the Archdiocese of Melbourne, the Diocese of Sandhurst (Bendigo) and the Diocese of Ballarat. 

The 150th anniversary next year will be an opportunity for each community throughout our diocese to remember those who have gone before us, those who have laid the foundations of our parishes and schools and the social services and health care in our diocese today. The anniversary will also be an opportunity to review our history, acknowledging both strengths and weaknesses, celebrating the achievements and recognising the failures to live our Christian faith to the full. It will be a chance to take stock of where we are now and look ahead to how we can live as a truly Christian community, sharing the good news of Christ, in the years to come.

Below is an invite to a key event that the Diocese will celebrate in 2024 to commemorate this magnificent anniversary. 

The week that was...

Week 10 was certainly super busy but it was also super fun!  Our Foundations visited the Cudgee Wildlife Park and the Botanical gardens for their end of year fun day. Grades 1/2 were lucky enough to go to the movies and Lake Pertobe early on the in the week, followed up with their camp experience on Thursday night. The 5/6 crew spent the week participating in surf awareness, they were treated to some beautiful sunny days. It is a busy time year but we love it, the smiles on the students faces say it all.

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Student Awards- Week 10

Happy Birthday

Special wishes to Jensen L, Luca G, Ava M, Bella J and Brooklyn P who celebrate their birthday this week or in the remainder of December! We hope you have a fantastic day.

Parents and Friends Social Group News

Meeting

The Parents and Friends will be presenting a cheque to the school at this week's final assembly.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our school families for their fundraising efforts throughout the year! Everyone of you has helped contribute to our amazing achievement.

See you all next year on Tuesday 30th January outside the stadium for some coffee and slices as the kids settle in on their first day of school.

Malynda De Bono - President

Family BBQ

To thank all of our school families for all of their fundraising throughout the year the Parents & Friends will be providing a family BBQ on December 12th.

See you all at 5.30pm!

Christmas Raffle

All tickets are due back to the office today. You are welcome to transfer your money into the P & F bank account. Just be sure to have the description as Raffle and your child's name. Don’t forget to take your tickets to the office so they can be added to the barrel.

We will be accepting donations of Christmas themed items until Wednesday.

Raffle will be drawn at our final assembly this Friday at 1.00pm!

                 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:

Atkins, Arnold, Anderson and Ahearn.

School Sponsorship

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!

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/ 

Community Notices

Upcoming Events

Tuesday 12th December:  Orientation Day & Family BBQ Night

Wednesday 13th December: Mass of Thanksgiving at 10.00am

Thursday 14th December: Gr 6 Graduation Ceremony

Friday 15th December: Final assembly at 1.00pm (Christmas Raffle drawn) and Term 4 concludes at 3.20pm

Tuesday 30th January 2024: F-6 Classes Commence