Dear St John's families,

This week could be described as the quiet before the storm! We had less on and more opportunity to just be with our students in our classrooms. It was quite peaceful.

Farewell Mrs Milne

Debbie Milne, our Finance Officer, will retire at the end of this year. Debbie has been at our school since her own children went here many years ago. Beginning as an active parent, Debbie went on to play many roles from Canteen Manager, to Front Office Manager and now Finance Officer. Debbie has always been a kind and generous listener to everyone in our community, provided wise advice for parents and staff alike and been thoroughly organised and . Debbie will be sorely missed in our school. Our school is much richer for her having been a member of our community and I know you join me in wishing her every blessing as she spends more time with her family. 

End of Year Behaviour - Finishing Strong

This time of year can be challenging for everyone. As you get closer to the end of the year in your workplace there can be increasing demands to get things done before Christmas. Schools, child care centres, sports teams and friends all want to do end of year activities. Families start thinking about presents, travel, what Christmas Day will look like. The weather gets hotter, daylight savings kicks in, sleep becomes more disrupted. It takes a great deal of teamwork and organisation in the family home to keep up with everything.

Before we know it we are feeling tired, a little overwhelmed and family relationships become a little more frayed. 

This can happen in classrooms as well. It can be particularly challenging with classes full of young children who don't understand why they are feeling tired or emotional.

Over this term we have experienced an increasing amount of relational issues between students, particularly in our older year levels. In the younger year levels there can be less and less resilience and stamina and little disagreements occur. Sometimes the small things that friends don't usually get upset about become bigger than necessary.

We want to ensure that every child finishes the year really positively. We're being very proactive in making sure students:

• have a few extra breaks to maintain their stamina
• drink plenty of water
• are encouraged to seek timely assistance with any friendship issues that need resolving
• are recognised for positive behaviours and contributions to the community
• are encouraged on a daily basis with the expectations for positive behaviour at St John the Apostle

You can help your child finish the school year positively by:

• providing them with some down time (not on a screen, instead just doing simple and quiet activities outside or somewhere quiet at home)
• ensuring they have a good breakfast
• ensuring they experience some very good sleep
• acknowledging how they are feeling and then co-regulating with them, teaching them to recognise and manage their own feelings in a constructive way
• contacting your child's teacher to clarify any interesting stories that your child may come home with

A few important dates are coming up. Please look to our school calendar to know what is happening. 

I look forward to seeing everyone very soon!

Matthew Garton

Principal