St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully Newsletter

It was terrific to see our students representing St John the Baptist at District Swimming at Belgrave Outdoor Pool.  The weather was perfect and the students embraced the opportunity to give everything a go. Congratulations to all students for giving their best.  We now look forward to a number of students moving on to Division Swimming on Friday 10th March.

After such a successful day at District Swimming we have been able to secure two additional squad swimming sessions at St Joseph's College on Monday 27th February and Monday 6th March.  The sessions will run from 8:00am - 8:30am.

Students who have participated in the previous sessions this year are able to access the additional two sessions regardless of whether they are progressing further with their swimming.

If your child will be attending the additional sessions we ask that you email Mr Mitchell to confirm your attendance. Mr Mitchell's email address is - 

jmitchell@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au

We thank Mr Mitchell for all of his work and organisation of the swimming program.

Each Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon staff participate in Professional Learning Team (PLT) meetings. PLT meetings are important as they focus on developing teacher knowledge and capacity to ensure the highest possible learning and teaching outcomes.  PLT meetings commence promptly after school and require staff to be ready to commence on time.

We kindly ask that families refrain from meeting with staff on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons to allow staff to commence their meetings promptly.  Families are asked to make time to meet with teachers on non meeting days.

We welcome Ms Karen Jebb, Principal of Emmaus College along with past students of St John the Baptist School on Wednesday morning at 9:30am to meet with our Year 4 and 5 students.  Our students will have the opportunity to gain an insight into secondary school from Karen and past students. Building partnerships with our feeder secondary schools is a great way to support students in their transition to secondary school.

The Term 1 Working Bee is quickly approaching. We welcome families to join us for the first Working Bee of the year on Saturday 4th March from 1:30-4:00pm. Some of the jobs to be completed include: 

• Rubbish clean up along back of classrooms on Selman Avenue side and in playgrounds

• Weed garden beds surrounding top courts

• Clean and stain decking outside 5/6 area

• Sand and restain boxes   (own sanding equipment required)

• Install 5km speed signs in carpark

• Rivet in metal near 1/2 door  (own rivet gun required)

• Clean outside eaves of hall

• Clean air vent outside Hall Toilet

• Gate numbers on entrances

• Install a door stopper on the middle doors in 5/6 portables

• Install slide locks on toilet doors in bottom building

• Welding a join on a portable pin up board

• Clean and Spray paint outside fence Selman Ave  (own spray gun required)

As some of these jobs are dependent on weather and require specific expertise we are very happy if you would like to complete them at a time that is more convenient for you.  Please contact Ursula via email udecorrado@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au if you feel you may be able to assist us this way.

We warmly welcome all Prep families to attend the Prep Family Mass on Sunday 5th March at 11:00am. This is a great opportunity for our Prep families to come together and celebrate their child’s start to their school journey with the Parish community. We look forward to seeing everyone.

Our sustainability leaders have been working hard to consider the different ways in which we can care for our environment.  One way students can care for their environment is by having wrapper free lunches.  Each Tuesday students are encouraged to come to school with wrapper free lunches. Students who come to school with wrapper free lunches have their name go into a raffle to win a wrapper free lunchbox. This is a great way for students to care for their environment.

Operoo is a digital platform that allows families to receive notifications of events and excursions digitally.  In the near future families will be asked to download the Operoo app onto their phones to enable them to provide permission for their child/ren to participate in events such as Shrove Tuesday, Athletics etc digitally.  Operoo stores students medical information and allergy requirements all through one digital platform.  Once Operoo has been implemented at St John’s this will replace paper versions of permission forms.  Operoo is a more effective, efficient and sustainable way for families and staff to manage permission for school events.

Recently Archbishop Peter Comensoli along with other faith leaders signed an Inquiry by the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC). The inquiry proposes significant limits on the ability for religious schools to appoint staff who support their mission other than roles in which ‘the teaching, observance or practice of the religion is a genuine requirement of the role.’ 

Archbishop Comensoli, along with other faith leaders, encourages you, as well as parents and other members of the Catholic community, to complete the following survey with an expression of hope to protect faith-based schools from further obstacles that will impede their ability to express our Catholic faith:

https://www.alrc.gov.au/inquiry/anti-discrimination-laws/submission/survey/

School drop off and pick up points and car parks present challenges for all school communities. At St John the Baptist we are most fortunate to have significant spaces for dropping off and picking up students. At the forefront of school drop off and pick up spaces is always child safety.  We ask families to familiarise themselves with the following expectations when dropping off and picking up students.

• Families can either park or access kiss and drop zones from either Forest Road or Selman Ave

• Families walking to school can access the grounds through the gate on Selman Ave or through the walkway between the Parish House and the Church.

• Families riding to school can access the grounds through the gate on Selman Ave or through the walkway between the Parish House and the Church. All bike riders are required to dismount their bikes once on the school grounds and walk their bikes to the bike area.

• There is strictly no parking in the staff car park or walking students through the staff car park.

• The driveway of the church is not a kiss and drop zone

We ask all families to respect the outlined drop off and pick up requirements as a matter of safety to all.

Please note the updated COVID-19 settings for Term 1, 2023:

It is recommended that rapid antigen tests (RATs) are used by students and staff if they: 

• have symptoms of COVID-19 infection, no matter how mild 

• are a household or close contact of someone who has COVID-19  

• are a social contact of someone who has COVID-19

• The Department of Health recommends that all Victorians report their positive RAT result via the online form or by calling 1800 675 398.

Wishing everyone a wonderful week ahead.  Can you believe that this week sees us half way through Term 1!!

Kelli Johnston

Monday March 20th time and venue to be confirmed. Easter and Mothers Day will be the focus.

March

1st    Emmaus College visit Year 4 & 5 students

1st      First Reconciliation Family Night

2nd     Clean Up Australia Day

3rd     First Friday Mass Yr 3/4  - 11am

4th      Term 1 Working Bee 1:30-4:00pm

5th      Prep Welcome Mass at 11.00am

6th      Assembly - 5/6FJ

8th      School Open Day Tours

10th     Division Swimming

12th     Labour Day School Closed

12th     Catholic Education Week

15th     NAPLAN commences

16th     School Open Day

17th     St Patrick’s Day

17th     St Patrick's Day Cathedral Mass

20th     P & F Meeting 

21st     Harmony Day

22nd     School Advisory Council

25th     Parish Trivia Night

27th     Athletics Day

30th    Sacrament of Reconciliation

April

2nd     Daylight Savings Finishes

3rd    Assembly 3/4G

6th    Term 1 Concludes

Canteen orders can be placed via www.flexischools.com.au

Orders must be placed no later than 7.30am on the Wednesday or Friday.