St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully Newsletter

Tuesday August 2nd 2022

Letter from the Acting Principal

The Victoria’s Child Safe Standards have changed as of Friday 1 July 2022. Ministerial order 870 has been in effect since January 2016 and has now been updated. The new Child Safe Standards as set out in MO 1359 are as follows:

  • Culturally safe environments – Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.
  • Leadership, governance and culture – Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.
  • Child and student empowerment – Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
  • Family engagement – Families and communities are informed, and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
  • Diversity and equity – Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.
  • Suitable staff and volunteers – People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
  • Complaints processes – Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.
  • Child safety knowledge, skills and awareness – Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.
  • Child safety in physical and online environments – Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
  • Review of child safety practices – Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.
  • Implementation of child safety practices – Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.

We have been working to update our policies and review our practices to ensure that we are actively engaged with the Child safe standards. Included below are links to the updated Child Safety and Wellbeing policy and also our new Child Safety Code of Conduct. These new standards are a wonderful opportunity for us to reflect and continually improve what we do.  We are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment where the emotional, social, intellectual, spiritual and physical wellbeing of our students is a priority. We are also committed to listening to, and taking seriously all concerns voiced by students, staff, parents and caregivers, volunteers, contractors and members of the community. 

A printed version of the Code of Conduct will be sent home this week. Parents who wish to volunteer at our school either at school events, in the classroom or on excursions must have a signed, updated Code of Conduct.  We ask that you read the Code of Conduct, sign it and return it to our school office at your earliest convenience.  

Child Safety Code of Conduct

Download

Child Safety & Wellbeing Policy

Download

School Uniform

We receive many compliments as a school from those outside our school community in regards to the behaviour of our students and the obvious pride they take in their appearance.  In an effort to maintain these standards could you please check that your child is in their correct winter uniform, particularly socks and footwear.

Our uniform shop is open Monday before school and Fridays from 2:30pm - 3:10pm if you need to purchase any new items.  

Winter Uniform Girls

Blue Winter tartan tunic or tartan skirt

Navy Trousers

Short or long sleeve sky blue polo top with school logo

Maroon tracksuit top with school logo

Navy tights, navy knee high socks

Black leather school shoes (runners are only to be worn on PE/class sport days)

Winter Uniform Boys

Grey school shorts or long pants

Short or long sleeved sky blue polo top with school logo

Maroon tracksuit top with school logo

Grey ankle or knee high socks

Black leather shoes (runners are only to be worn on PE/class sport days)

New Principal Appointment

Rob Scanlon (MACS Principal Consultant) met with staff last Wednesday for them to have input into the process of appointing our new Principal.  The position will be advertised this Friday with applications closing on the 22nd August.  An interview panel has been formed which includes Father Thomas,  two parents from our school community, a principal of another Catholic school and Rob Scanlon.  I feel very fortunate that Jodi Flynn and Raelene Portbury have accepted their invitation to be members of this panel and I feel very confident in their ability to help guide the selection of our new Principal. 

Thank You!

Thank you to Phil (Olivia’s Dad) who continued the work that was started last week in our portables.  Phil has sanded all the plaster so that it is ready to be painted on the 6th August.  If anybody is able to assist Phil on this day I know he would appreciate the support.  If you have a few hours spare could you please let me know either by phone or email.  The rooms are beginning to come together with quotes being sourced for new carpet this week.

udecorrado@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au

A very big thank you to Michelle (Archer and Georgia’s mum), Andrea (Zahra and Scarlett’s mum) and Fleur (Lenny and Susie’s mum) for all their hard work in organising our whole school disco.  The children had a fabulous time and even requested a few of the songs from our upcoming School Production to sing and dance to!  The opportunity to stay for a cuppa was a wonderful opportunity for parents to connect and socialise and a great addition to our annual event.  Thank you also to those that assisted Michelle, Fleur and Andrea coordinate this great event. 

Working Bee - Saturday August 13th

Our Term 3 Working Bee is on Saturday 13th August.  Some of the jobs on this day include….

Weeding

Raking and removal of leaves

Pressure washing

Cleaning of walls in Classroom block

Clean out of PE storage room

Staining of exterior doors

Hall doors requiring fixing

Cleaning of eaves outside the hall

Patching of holes in plaster in first aid room/staff toilets

Working Bee Reply Slip

Download

School Closure Day

A reminder that next Tuesday August 9th is a School Closure Day, no students at school.  

All staff will be completing their Level 2 First Aid Training as part of the agenda on this day. 

PLEASE NOTE - CAMP AUSTRALIA WILL NOT BE OPEN THIS DAY.

Concert Ticket Information

A flyer will also be sent home tomorrow with your child

Don't forget to order your film too........

Concert Film - Link Below

Production News

If you have not yet returned to below permission slip, please do so ASAP.

St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal

Can you help please....

Student Awards

Prep M

Xander M - for being a great example for his peers and an amazing learner who is always trying to learn new things.

Stefan S - for honouring personal space and always trying his best at all learning tasks.

Neve S - for being a kind friend and an enthusiastic learner who always tries her best.

Prep S

Seamus McD - for always striving to complete your best work and showing kindness to all students in the class. You are a star, Seamus!

Benjamin G - for using whole body listening consistently during learning and for always being a kind member of the class. You are a star, Benjamin!

Willow P - for putting maximum effort into every task, and showing inclusion and kindness to all, every day. You are a star, Willow!

Year 1/2BC

Olivia H - for some great learning in Maths (Data Representation and Interpretation). You represented your findings and explained them to the class. Keep up the great learning in maths! You are a star, Olivia!

Charlie P - for his kindess to others, and his hard-working attitude in every aspect of learning. Thank you for generously carrying out extra responsibilities in the class room.

Ethan N - for having a go at writing and including some known sight words. We are so proud of your writing. Keep up the effort, Ethan. You are a star, Ethan.

Year 1/2BE

Kayden C - for making excellent progress in reading to identify Golden Words and sound out words using initial sounds. Keep up the great work!

Charlize P - for your excellent contributions in class discussions to show connections in texts and in your daily life. Also, for your magnificent drawings in RE lessons. Keep up the great work!

Year 1/2BR

William S - for always pushing yourself to learn more and explore new learning possibilities in your mathematics. I am always proud of your work ethic and your willingness to give everything a go!

Vivian C - for your wonderful ability to follow rules, I can always count on you to be doing the right thing and to be a wonderful leader in our classroom. Well done!

Carter R - for your excellent participation in class discussions and trying your best to be so focused on the floor. Keep up the great work!

Year 3/4KC

Lilly N - for showing great enthusiasm in Writing lessons and expert skill in using CANVA. You are a star, Lilly!

Amelia G - for exceptional spelling skills and consistent, focussed listening. You are a star, Amelia!

Beau S - for putting in a great effort to go out of his comfort zone in giving talks to small groups of his peers. You are a star, Beau!

Sarah G - for using effective strategies in Maths and for being consistently inclusive with her classmates. You are a star, Sarah!

Year 3/4SM

Mason P - for thinking deeply and using a variety of Maths concepts when problem solving. Your initiative and enthusiastic approach to teamwork is contagious! Congratulations, you are amazing!

Susie D - for consistently demonstrating kindness towards others by being inclusive and for being a wonderful friend and role model. Congratulations, you are amazing!

Year 5/6RJ

Josh B - for being very focussed coming into Term 3, showing persistence and effort with all of your learning. Well done Josh.

Logan H - for being focussed and enthusiastic when writing your Upschool picture story book 'The Ending of the World.' As well as adapting and learning new skills on the Canva Pro Program to complete your book successfully.

Samuel O - for being an excellent thinker during Maths sessions by giving great explanations when solving Maths problems. Also, taking great care of our classroom computers in your ICT role

Year 4/5 Excursion to Anastasia

Year 3/4KC - Limericks

Scroll through our limericks....

Father's Day Breakfast

Come and join us for an egg and bacon roll on Thursday September 1st at 7.30am in the School Hall.

An invitation is being sent home tomorrow (also attached below)

For catering purposes, please RSVP by Friday August 19th.

Father's Day Breakfast - RSVP

Download

Running Club

Running Club is back for Term 3 each Wednesday at 8.00am

All students are invited to attend Running Club; however, junior students (P - 2) must be accompanied by a parent. All students (P - 6) must bring a completed permission slip (see the attached document) before being allowed to attend any sessions.

During Running Club, students will use the bike/walk path that leads to Kings Park in Upper Ferntree Gully.  In the case of inclement weather, fitness work and exercises will be held in the school hall.

If you have any questions about Running Club please contact Tess Farry. 

Running Club Permission Form

Download

Parents and Friends of St John the Baptist School

School Disco

What a fabulously funky night was had on Friday at the Disco! We saw some amazing dance moves and beautifully dressed groovers! Thank you to all the folks that helped in the set up and pack down of the fun night. We love creating these events for you and couldn’t do it without some wonderful volunteers, shout out to Andrea Comport for securing DJ Sammy and decorating the event as well as Beth Higgs for filling the drink bottles with popcorn!

Father's Day Stall

Our Father’s Day Stall is being held on Tuesday 30th August. We are trying something different this year with siblings getting the chance to shop together. A token system will also be used on the day with presales happening in the next couple of weeks. Please start collecting a gift bag or shopping bag for the children to bring along on the day, attach a label or mark the bottom of the bag with their name and class.

Bunnings BBQ

Calling all family and friends of SJB to help us at our Bunnings Sausage Sizzle Saturday September 3rd! This is the day after the production and the day before Father’s day! We figured a trip to Bunnings will be the place to be for the gift buyers and sausage lovers alike! Please use the link below to book into the roster so you can choose your slots.

https://signup.com/go/HuOjzPE

Next P&F Meeting

Next P&F Meeting is on Monday 22nd August at 7pm in the staff room. We would really love you to come and bring your fresh ideas and talents to the table.  Our next events on the agenda will be the Dad’s and Kids camping trip, Father’s Day Stall finalising, Bunnings BBQ finalising and Footy Colours Day at end of term.

The Entertainment App

Click here to access our Entertainment App School Link

Canteen News

Canteen Helpers Roster


Wednesday August 3rd

Claire Lewis

Friday August 5th 

Laura Langmead

Alyson Whitnall

Cassandra Croning


Wednesday August 10th 

Nat Conway

Friday August 12th

Jodie Flynn

Rachael Wool

Fleur Dow


Canteen Price List 2022

Download

Uniform Shop News

Community Notices

St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully