Dear Parents, Carers, Students and Staff,

This week we gave Caritas Australia over $700 to assist the children of Myanmar. Thank you for supporting this cause. Thank you to Year 6 for organising the Mini-Missions day.

Many of our students are attending their final excursions for the year. Year 3 recently went to the War Memorial. This was particularly important in preparing them for the Remembrance Day Assembly they will lead us in on Monday afternoon. Year 1 visited the Arboretum and Year 4 visited the Waste Management and Recycling Centre. Photos from some of these excursions are available in a gallery further along in this Newsletter.

Thank you to the parents who were able to attend these excursions and help make them an enjoyable learning experience.

Plenary Council 2020

The Plenary Council 2020 is an opportunity to reflect on the work and role of the Catholic Church in Australia and develop a clear vision for the future.

The question being examined is 'What do you think God is asking of us in Australia at this time?' 

The Parish held the first of two listening sessions last night and the next is this Sunday at 3.00pm at the church in Kippax. If you would like to participate in the Parish reflection on this question I encourage you to join us on Sunday to contribute to the discussion and future of our Church.

Sickness

Yesterday I was home sick after suddenly becoming ill overnight. I needed to stay home because I knew that I wouldn't be at all helpful to my staff, families and students and I didn't want to spread it. It was a tough decision to make because I knew that the first Kindergarten Orientation was happening. In the end, I am back today bright and recovered because I took the time to allow myself to recover.

It is the same with students. When they are sick they really do just need a day at home to recover rather than come to school. When they come to school sick they tend to just stay sick for longer. Their attention and capacity to do their work also declines rapidly.

We've had a lot of children come to school sick and have to be sent home over the past three weeks. Please do keep children at home when they are sick. It means that they recover quicker and are at their best when at school. They also don't spread any illness to others. Thank you.

The following section is a repeat from last week:

Classes for 2019

As there are two streams of classes at St John the Apostle there are different combinations of children in classes each year. When forming the class lists the following factors are taken into consideration: gender, learning needs, work habits, friendships, behaviour, health considerations, social-emotional well-being, religion (to assist in achieving a balance between classes, especially in Sacramental years) and common names. Ideally, we aim for an equal spread of both positive and challenging characteristics.

Where practical, parental requests based on educational concerns will be considered. At St John the Apostle, the staff and parents will follow these principles and guidelines when considering placement of students each year:

• Every care will be taken to ensure that each child is placed in the best situation to enhance learning and social development;
• Parents who wish to discuss particular concerns regarding the placement of their children in particular classes should put the concern in writing (email is preferred) and addressed to the Principal only by Friday of Week 5 (Friday 16 November);
• Parent concerns will be seriously considered during the process. It must be clearly understood, however, that no definite guarantees can be given regarding parent’s requests;
• Please be aware that requests for particular teachers or for a particular gender of teacher will not be considered. Which year level each teacher will be teaching is still yet to be determined as staffing recruitment processes are still underway;
• Where appropriate, advice will be sought from the Classroom Support Teacher, School Counsellor, etc. during this process.

Taking into account all of the factors listed above, the current class teachers compile class lists during the first week of December and hand to the Principal for confirmation. Children will be informed of their class placement for the following school year in December (usually the last week of school) and the opportunity will be provided for them to spend some time with their new class teacher. No changes are made after this time; and throughout this process the Principal, after appropriate consultation, reserves the right to make final professional decisions regarding the placement of children.

PLEASE SUBMIT ALL EMAILS BY FRIDAY 16 NOVEMBER.