St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully Newsletter

Letter from the Principal

Tuesday July 28th 2020

Dear Families

Being at home has brought innovation from many families as to how they have set up learning for their child. Chase and his Mum Melina had a great idea...even though we can’t be together why don’t we share all our learning spaces through the newsletter. 

Have a look at how fantastic Chase is set up for remote learning. 

Message from Melina…

“I thought that maybe a fun segment for the newsletter would be photos of everyone’s makeshift classrooms at home. Last term, Chase was set up on our dining table for remote learning and I couldn’t wait to have my house back. This time, I decided it had to work in better with our everyday life. We brought a desk up from under our house, made our lounge area a tiny bit smaller by moving the couch forward, and made him a dedicated learning (and jigsaw puzzling) space. He does his jigsaws during recess and lunch.

I would love to have more photos sent through of makeshift learning spaces for us to include in the newsletter. Please send to 
cmason@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au

Staff Fashion Statements

With the new rules around mask wearing our staff has taken fashion to a whole new level. Teachers are exempt from wearing masks whilst in the act of teaching however we are required to wear masks whilst on duty and in the staffroom. We have had quite a few giggles over the past week as we adjust to fogging up glasses and trying to eat maltesers whilst having our faces covered! By the way we did learn that nothing stops Mrs Forbes from eating chocolate...even with a face mask she was quite the expert!

Have a look at our beautiful fabric masks made by Mrs Gellie….

Here are our teaching masks...we look like we are out of a science fiction movie! Thanks to Joseph in Year 2 who told us he liked our plastic teaching masks because he likes still being able to see our smiling faces. 

Well done to everyone who is following the rules and keeping everyone safe and wearing a mask when out in the community. I found this beautiful illustration drawn by May Gibbs in 1919 which was part of a public health campaign in response to the Spanish Flu.

Random Act of Kindness

I have a sister who lives in Queensland. I don’t think either of us would have ever imagined a time where we would be closed off to each other through state border restrictions. Whilst we miss being able to visit each other we spend lots of time sending messages of love and affirmation. This was from my beautiful sister Anne this week. 

Most of us know that sunflowers turn according to the position of the sun.

In other words, they “chase the light.”

Today I learnt that there is another fact that you probably do not know (I know I didn't!).

Have you ever wondered what happens on cloudy and rainy days when the sun is completely covered by clouds?

I would have thought that they wither or turn their heads towards the ground.

Well, that’s incorrect!

So what happens?

They turn towards each other to share their energy.

Nature’s perfection is amazing and has so much to teach us.

Wishing everyone a "Sunflower" trait of turning towards each other on their cloudy and gloomy days!

Family Prayer

Dear Families

Here is the link for this week's activities based on Sunday's Gospel Reading.  I hope you are able to enjoy this prayer experience with your family.

Family Prayer: Week by Week

This resource is designed for families with young children and has been a joint endeavour of Liturgy Brisbane and Evangelisation Brisbane. An extract from the Sunday gospel is provided, along with some reflection questions, family activities and a worksheet for children

Mrs Marialisa Mandarino, Religious Education Leader

Dear Families

Here is the link for this week's activities based on Sunday's Gospel Reading.  I hope you are able to enjoy this prayer experience with your family.

Family Prayer: Week by Week

This resource is designed for families with young children and has been a joint endeavour of Liturgy Brisbane and Evangelisation Brisbane. An extract from the Sunday gospel is provided, along with some reflection questions, family activities and a worksheet for children

Mrs Marialisa Mandarino, Religious Education Leader

Community Notices

P&F Sponsors

St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully