Dear Parents, Dear Parents, Guardians and Carers

The Victorian State Government has announced that Victorian school students will begin a phased return to classroom learning in Term 4, 2020.

This means all students at St John’s will continue with Remote Schooling (current exemptions for on-site remote schooling continue) for the remainder of Term 3, 2020. Please be reminded that Friday 18 September is a School Closure Day.              

Term 4 Arrangements - Decisions relating to the return of face to face classroom learning will be based on the advice of Victoria’s Chief Health Officer and may be subject to change as set out in the Steps for schools in Victoria’s roadmap for reopening – How we work in Metropolitan Melbourne.

·        Grade 3 to 6 Students - From Monday 5 October 2020, Remote Schooling will continue for these students with a potential staged return to on-site schooling from 26 October 2020.

·        Foundation (Prep) to Grade 2 Students - It is anticipated that Remote Schooling will continue during the first week of the Term 4, 2020 (Monday 5 to Friday 9 October 2020). From Monday 12 October 2020 (subject to public health advice) - students in Foundation (Prep) to Grade 2 will return to face to face classroom learning and will be expected to attend school as normal.  

Confirmation of the above will be provided to families as advised by governing bodies.

Health and Safety - The School will continue to ensure that the health and safety of students, staff and the wider school community remains our highest priority with physical distancing measures and hand and respiratory hygiene practises remaining in place for all staff and students. The School will also ensure that increased cleaning remains in place.

In addition, all students will continue to receive a temperature check every morning before attending school, with a non-contact infrared forehead thermometer.

In accordance with requirements from the Victorian Government, primary school students are not required to wear a face covering irrespective of the students age. However, individual families can make their own decisions regarding their children wearing a face covering whilst attending primary school

Class Google Meets - Class Google Meets have been running for a few weeks, enabling teachers and students to interact personally.  We are looking to utilise this live platform more for focused teaching and feedback for students. This can only work effectively if ALL students engage in these meetings.  Please encourage and support your children to access and attend Google Meets.

Please Note: The student’s school email accounts, that have been provided for their use at home to access the class Google Meetings, are specifically for school use only. These email accounts must not be used for any other purpose, for eg: Creating personal accounts for online games, or logging in to online social sites.  The warning that went home earlier this week is a stark reminder of the responsibility we all have for our students’ wellbeing.

School Fees - We realise that many families are severely impacted by the ongoing lockdown and encourage those  experiencing financial difficulties to apply for concession(s) in relation to their Term 2 and/or Term 3 fees.

There is no paperwork involved; those requesting consideration for fee relief should contact either Chris Dortmans or Nancy Rintoule.

Eligible HCC or PCC Holder - A family in which the fee payer holds an eligible, means-tested Health Care Card (HCC) or Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) is automatically eligible for a school fee concession.  Please contact us if you hold or have recently been issued a valid concession card.

Camps – Both camps were deferred until Term 4 however due to ongoing restrictions and border closures our Canberra booking has been cancelled.  We do have a tentative camp booking locally in December and are hopeful of using this for our Grade 5/6 students should the continued easing of restrictions allow. Unfortunately, there will be no Grade 3/4 camp this year. These children will have future camps to look forward to whilst in Primary School. Accordingly, a credit will be issued for Grades 3/4 camp fees; Grade 5/6 fees will be reviewed and adjusted once planning is finalised.

Congratulations to Peta & Callum Barnett on the safe arrival of their son, Brady Liam Barnett on Sunday. Everyone is doing well.

Regards 

Chris Dortmans, Principal

Our last newsletter for Term 3 and the senior teachers would like to congratulate our students on working so hard for an entire term of Remote Learning. We said at the start of the term it would be a marathon and not a sprint and we can confidently say upon reflection that, a marathon it has indeed been! 

It is hard to believe that we are almost at the end of another term! And what a very different term it has been.

We continue to be so proud of our junior students and the outstanding job they have done with remote leaning. I came across this small quote that truly reflects our St John’s students.

‘These little heroes have stayed indoors more than they have ever known. Their worlds have been turned upside down. All these rules they have never known. Not being able to see family or give hugs. Vacations, sports, activities and play dates cancelled.

Every day their resilient little bodies get up and carry on despite all that is going on.

So here is to our little heroes: today, tomorrow and forever!’

Week 9 - To say a big thank you to our amazing and resilient children we have decided to make week 9 a little different. Keep an eye on Seesaw for all of the fun learning and wellbeing activities we have planned.

Spoonville - Just a reminder that we are creating a Spoonville outside the school gate. Please create your own spoon character and add it to our Spoonville St John’s Community when you are out for a walk or you can post then to us. 

If you have a child to enrol at St John's for 2021 please request an enrolment pack from the office, alternatively these can be downloaded from the website. 

Enrolment forms can be completed and returned either by post, dropped in at the office or scanned (as a PDF) and e-mailed to dohehir@stjohnskwr.catholic.edu.au   

Birth Certificate, Immunisation History Statement and identification for fee payers must be submitted with enrolment forms. 

Interviews will be conducted via phone where possible, we will contact you to arrange interviews as we have time slots available. 

Including the communities of:  St Joseph’s Iona,  St James Nar Nar Goon,  Holy Family Maryknoll,  St John’s Koo Wee Rup and St Mary’s, Lang Lang

Administrator:  Fr. Peter Kooloos  Ph: 03 5997 1510   Fax: 03 5997 2220 Mob: 0438 622 766

Baptism Enquiries: Carmelina De Cesari   Mob: 0401 911 092   carmelinadecesari@gmail.com

WEEKEND MASS TIMES:  ALL MASSES CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE