St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully Newsletter

Letter from the Principal

Tuesday June 2nd 2020

Dear Families

We have had the smoothest transition back to school with our P-2 students. I attribute this to our parents, students and staff. 

Firstly thank you to our parents for how positively you have responded to our call out for a change in drop off and pick up procedures. This feels very different as we usually love to gather as a community. Talking and sharing stories with our families is something we highly value. We hope that we will be able to change back to our usual drop off and pick up procedures next Term. We appreciate you supporting us with our social distancing procedures. Thanks also for how safely and slowly you are driving into our school car parks. The safety and wellbeing of our children is being supported by all. 

Our children have been absolutely sensational. On their first day they needed to talk for about 30 minutes straight before most of them took a breath. Such a lot to say to their friends and teachers after 6 weeks of being apart. As they say, distance makes the heart grow fonder!

As for our staff, they still haven’t wiped the smiles off their faces. To see the staff in action once more has been very special to witness. Members of staff keep walking into the staffroom saying, “I am just so happy to be back!” As a staff we love our school and having children back just makes it feel like coming home!

Parent/Teacher Interviews

As reported in earlier newsletters our Parent/Teacher Interviews will take place in the last week of Term 2 on Tuesday 23rd June and Wednesday 24th June from 3.30pm-6.30pm. These interviews will take place online. Parent Teacher Interviews can be booked via SOBS, our online booking system, from Wednesday June 10th 2020 from 9.00am using the following URL.

https://sobs.com.au/pt3/parent.php?schoolid=655
 
We would appreciate all families booking an interview time. It is vital for positive learning outcomes for your child that we have strong communication between home and school regarding their achievement as learners. It will be a great conversation this year with parents having great insight into their children as learners given the remote learning that has taken place. Reports will come home to families on Friday 19th June. Our mid year reports will be modified this year due to remote learning. A letter explaining the changes will be included with your child’s school report. The end of year report (December) will provide a more comprehensive view of the year’s learning across all usual curriculum areas.


If you are having difficulties booking an interview via the above link, please click below for instructions.

https://sobs.com.au/docs/sobs-pt3-parents.pdf 

Unwell Staff or Students

Our staff are aware that if they are unwell they need to remain at home. We also ask that families keep any children who are feeling unwell or presenting with cold like symptoms at home. Please seek medical advice should you have any concerns for your child’s health.

Drop-Off & Pick-Up Zones

Just a reminder that it will be important that we don’t gather before or after school as is our usual practice. Thankyou for your patience and support with our new drop off and pick up procedures. 

Drop-Off/Pick-Up Zone A:

Bottom Carpark Forest Road Entrance

Drop-Off/Pick-Up Zone B:

Bottom Carpark Selman Avenue Entrance

Drop-Off/Pick-Up Zone C:

Top Basketball Courts: Drive past staff carpark & park in designated spots outside the classrooms.

Drop-Off/Pick-Up Zone D:

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 winter school uniform. If you require winter uniform items you can order them on Flexischools. All items will be sent home with your child (P-2) or can be picked up from the school office (Years 3-6).  Fleur will continue to run the uniform shop on Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings.

Canteen Update

At this stage we have decided not to operate the canteen for the remainder of the Term. The canteen is very ably run by Tracey Walker and relies on parent volunteers. As we are working towards keeping adults in the school to a minimum we believe this is a necessary decision. We will keep you informed when we move to opening our canteen once more. 

Assemblies, Excursions and Camps

Following the guidelines of our State and Federal Governments we will not be gathering for any assemblies or going on any excursions for the remainder of Term 2. The Year 3/4 camp which is scheduled for September has not been cancelled yet. I will let you know closer to the time. If the camp is cancelled we will reimburse families for any camp fees they have paid. 

Important dates for your diary

Monday 8th June:

Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday (no school for children or staff).

Tuesday 9th June:

All students from Prep-Year 6 attending school onsite. 

*** Please note: Once a year level has returned, all students will be expected to attend school as normal. This means if you choose to keep your child/children home after their year level has returned to onsite schooling, we can no longer support their learning from home.

This does not apply to children who need to be absent for health or medical reasons. For those families, please contact me so we can make an appropriate plan.

Friday 19th June:

Mid-Year Student Reports home to Parents and Carers

Tuesday 23rd June & Wednesday 24th June

Online Parent/Teacher Interviews: 3.30pm-6.30pm

*More details to follow with how to book your parent/teacher interviews. Please note that all interviews will be conducted online. There will be no face to face interviews (where possible) to keep us inline with social distancing requirements.

SSV Virtual Cross Country

School Sport Victoria has launched the Virtual Cross Country inviting students from Foundation-Year 12 to participate and keep fit via the SSV website. The EMR Virtual Cross Country will be jumping on board with the SSV initiative to make it easier for families and teachers to get students involved plus enabling students to be part of both the SSV and specific EMR Virtual Cross Country.   

Please check out the link below regarding the EMR Primary Virtual Cross Country for any students interested in taking part and how to join. 

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

Remember: To ensure you select Eastern Metropolitan Primary on the form and that the EMR event will close on Friday 26th June but the SSV Virtual Cross Country may continue after this date.   

Camp Australia

Winter Holiday Club

Newsletter

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St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully