ENewsletter

Letter from the Principal

Tuesday October 13th 2020

Dear Families

This week has started in the most fabulous way...we had our children back! Yesterday was an absolute privilege to be greeted by the smiling faces of all our parents and children. Schools thrive when they are full of children. Whilst everyone has done a great job with remote learning we are at our happiest when we are teaching children face to face. Teaching is such a privilege. Teaching at St John the Baptist is an absolute joy. I love our school, my job as the Principal of this amazing community, and most importantly the special people who call St John the Baptist home...our students, staff and families. Thank you for returning your precious children to us and trusting us with their care and education. My prayer and hope for all our families is that you will be able to take some time this week to have a cup of tea and pat yourself on the back for the great job you have done at home for the best part of 6 months. 2020 has been a remarkable year and now with God’s grace we pray that we are able to finish the year onsite and give thanks each day that we belong to our St John the Baptist community.

School Photos

Our school photos have been rescheduled several times over the year. We currently have a date set for Thursday 12th November. At this stage the COVID guidelines state that school photos are not permitted. If these guidelines are lifted our school photos will take place.

We have discussed this as a staff and have come up with an alternative plan just in case. We will take our own photos so that you have a COVID style momento of the 2020 school year. These photos will include an individual photo of your child and a class photo. Your child’s class teacher will let you know the day these photos will be taken so that your children can be looking at their best. I’m sure many children will have longer hair than usual in these photos! Well done to our staff who are now taking on the role of photographer as well as teacher. It certainly is the year for changing roles!

Drop Off & Pick Up Zones

Just a reminder that it will be important that we don’t gather before or after school as per our COVID-safe plan. Thankyou for your patience and support with our interim drop off and pick up procedures. If you wish to change your drop off or pick up zone please let me know via email of the new arrangements.

Pick-Up/Drop Off Zone A:	Pick-Up/Drop Off Zone B:
Bottom Carpark Forest Road Entrance	Bottom Carpark Selman Avenue Entrance
Pick-Up/Drop Off Zone C:	Pick-Up/Drop Off Zone D:
Top Basketball Courts: Drive past staff carpark & park in designated spots outside the classrooms.	Along Selman Avenue. Running the length of the school building.

Uniform Update

All children on their return to school are required to be wearing their correct summer school uniform. If you require summer uniform items you can order them on Flexischools. All items will be sent home with your child. Fleur will continue to run the uniform shop on Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings.

2021 Class Groupings

As a staff we give significant time and consideration to your child’s class placement each year. We look at the academic, social and emotional needs of all the children and work on creating the most positive class groupings to ensure that each child will transition well into their new class and flourish throughout the year. I am very grateful that for the most part our parents trust the staff and the decisions we make for your child’s class placement. In exceptional circumstances we understand that sometimes families may need to make a class placement request for their child. If you have a request for your child's placement next year you will need to place it in writing either via email

cmason@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au

or as a written letter to me by Friday the 16th October. Only requests placed in writing and received by this date will be considered.

Canteen Update

We will be recommencing our canteen services this Wednesday 14th October. We will observe correct social distancing between our parent volunteers and ensure that all helpers sanitise their hands and have their temperature checked on arrival. Tracey has also taken the time to complete a food handlers COVID-safe course. Thanks Tracey for going over and above to keep our student and community safe. All orders (where possible) need to be completed via Flexischools so that Tracey and our parent helpers are not handling money.

(Canteen Helpers roster below)

Setting Up Your Flexischools Account

Term 4 Public Holidays & Staff Professional Development Days

Friday 23rd October: AFL Public Holiday in Victoria (no school for students or staff)

Monday 2nd November: Report Writing (no school for students)

Tuesday 3rd November: Melbourne Cup Public Holiday (no school for students or staff)

Wednesday 18th November: Staff Professional Development Day: 2021 Planning (no school for students)

SSV Virtual Cross Country

All Victorian students are welcome to take part in this great opportunity. The competition is still open, it closes at 11:59pm Friday, 30 October 2020, so still plenty of time to take part.

SSV is not looking for the best performance, but looking for students to give it a try.

By taking part in this great event, you will not only score points for your school, but you will also be improving yourself every time you try. There is nothing better than self-improvement and personal bests.

Please visit Schools Sport Victoria Website, Virtual Track and Field.

https://www.ssv.vic.edu.au/Pages/SSVVirtualTrackandField.aspx

OR click on this link:

Virtual Track and Field

Tracey Ryan, Sports Leader

Well Done!

Congratulations to the following students who have recently participated in the SSV Virtual Track & Field Athletics:

Emily S - 1/2S
Mia P - 3/4SK
Mason P - 1/2S

Camps, Sports, Excursions Fund (CSEF)

The Department of Education has extended the date to be eligible to qualify for the CSEF to the first day of Term 4, October 5th 2020, with the application deadline extended to November 27th 2020.

If you hold a current Health Care Card/Concession Card, and did not apply at the beginning of the year, you may be eligible to receive the payment.

Please complete the application form attached below and forward to the school office for processing and validating.

CSEF Payments for students eligible between Wednesday April 15th and Monday October 5th will be made at 50% of the standard primary rates, being $62.50.

CSEF Application Form

Download

Canteen Helpers Roster

Wednesday October 14th	Friday October 16th
Alan Ong	Michelle Neve Natalie Conway
Wednesday October 21st	Friday October 23rd
Kylie Bakker	Public Holiday

St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully Newsletter