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Recent School Calendar Updates
Please go to our school calendar on the website or COMPASS for more details.
Dear St John the Apostle families,
We've a had a lot of fun this week recording classes performing Christmas songs and Kindergarten acting out a nativity story. We're now putting everything together in a video and looking forward to sending it to families next week. Thank you to Mrs Hudson and Mrs French preparing students for their performances and Mrs Collins and Mrs Watson for preparing Kindergarten.
Classes for 2022
The process for organising classes for 2022 has concluded. The first step involves students' current teachers organising students into two new class groups. They use their current knowledge about students to ensure there is a balance of gender, academic needs and social needs. They take into account student preference about friendships. The program we use to assist us keeps a record of previous decisions and history and this is also part of the process. I then look to accommodate the requests that parents have sent through to me.
After the two classes are formed we then match teachers to each group. Where appropriate, teachers stay on the same year level for several years to build up their expertise in teaching the curriculum for that year level. However, we also support teacher professional learning and growth by supporting them to change year levels. Teachers who change year levels every few years are always excited by the opportunity to teach new curriculum and expand their own professional knowledge. They provide new insight and opportunities for their students. It's always important in a school to strike a balance between elements that remain the same and elements renewing and growing.
I am pleased to let you know the following teachers for each year level in 2022.
- KM: Miss Lily Kennelly
- KB: Mrs Mel Watson
- 1M: Mr James Doepel
- 1B: Ms Charlie McIver
- 2M: Mrs Rebecca Stevenson
- 2B: Mr Sean O'Neill
- 3M: Mr Ryan Spencer
- 3B: Mrs Sarah Collins
- 4M: Mrs Stephanie Stewart (3 days)/ Mrs Lauren Hudson (2 days)
- 4B: Mrs Allison Lock (4 days)/ Mrs Lauren Hudson (1 day)
- 5M: Mrs Serae Love (4 days)/Mrs Kate Macdonald (1 day)
- 5B: Mrs Alison Ewyk
- 6M: Mr Brett Seaman
- 6B: Ms Tabitha Wormald
Mrs Bree Dess, School Coordinator, will be taking leave to have a baby early next year. An opportunity was provided for all staff to express interest in acting as Coordinator during 2022 and Mrs Mel Watson was successfully appointed. Mrs Watson brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this role and will work with all staff to support our continued development of high quality teaching and learning across the school in 2022. Mrs Watson will teach in her Kindergarten class four days each week and Mrs Pearson will teach the fifth day.
This coming Thursday we have a 'one-up afternoon' from 2.00pm to 3.00pm to allow students the opportunity to visit their new classroom and meet their teacher. They will be told their class earlier that day. We are also very aware of the additional transition support some students require and currently have strategies in place to assist them in becoming comfortable with their teachers for 2022. We are also in the process of planning the transition visits for many students prior to the beginning of the school year in 2022.
Vaccination Update
Recent news that a vaccination will soon be available for Primary age children has been welcomed by all. It provides some hope that we will return to more typical school practices for our children in the coming year. I look forward to seeing the details around this and gathering as a community once again.
I hope everyone has a gentle weekend!
Teaching & Learning and Inclusion
Hamper Winners
Thank you to all of the families who donated to the Hamper Raffle and those who purchased tickets.
All of the funds that we have raised will go towards upgrading our outdoor learning environment and playground, starting in 2022.
Thank you to the Community Council and especially Belinda Duke for putting together the hampers.
Congratulations to all of the winners! Please come and collect your hamper by the end of the Term.
Rebekah Brown
Assistant Principal and Inclusion Coordinator
The celebration of Advent is well underway!
Year Two Blue created beautiful advent wreaths using cut up pieces of magazines to create the different colours. They look stunning displayed together with all those smiling faces!
What have we learnt this year?
We have had the focus this year on the Seven Sacred Species. I asked everyone to tell me what they have learnt this year. Two Maroon had lots to say!
2M have learnt:
The Seven Species are sacred fruits and grains grown in the Land of Israel. They are: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates.
Year 2’s sacred species was grapes. Grapes symbolise joy and beauty.
The ancient Israelites were a people of the land, mostly farmers and shepherds. To the ancient Israelites, the Seven Species were not only evidence of the land’s great bounty, but evidence of God’s love toward them.
Tu Bishvat is a Jewish holiday called ‘The Birthday of the Trees’ which marked the emergence of spring. Tu BiShvat became a way to maintain a connection to Israel and the Seven Species were incorporated into the observance of the holiday. During the Tu BiShvat meal, food would include:
- Soft on the inside and hard on the outside,
- Hard on the inside and hard on the outside, and
- Soft and sweet all the way through (like Grandpa).
Thank you,
from 2M
Aren’t they clever?
Catholic Life and Reflection
I really love this time of year. I am a bit of a Christmas nut! Trees, decorations, cinnamon scented candles, the whole shabang. The boys even have Christmas doona covers!
Due to the recent arrival of a very excited chocolate Lab who eats ANYTHING! (two trips to the vet in a week!!!) We have had to scale back our decorations. So a small tree is taking the place of a large one. Decorations will be carefully selected to ensure the really precious ones are not eaten…I mean broken.
While sorting all of this out it made me think of what things really signify Christmas. What I am looking forward to most is the time with my family. It is the time I miss my dad and my Oma the most but it makes me cherish the time with loved ones even more. Also, the slow time that comes with not having to rush about and I sort of forget what day it is …I love that.
I sincerely HOPE that you find some slow time in the next few weeks that brings you some PEACE.
God bless,
Stephanie Stewart
Religious Education Coordinator
Happy birthday to Jordi M, Blake W, Alaina S, Emry W, Toby F, Bailee K, Ngawang C, Hayden S, Kyler A, Ewan G, Matilda M, Claire B and Hayley B who all celebrated a birthday over the last week.
Please note that we ask students to not bring home made cupcakes to share with the class for their birthdays. This is a precautionary measure for health and hygiene. The Canteen offers a number of options to share with the class. Purchases can be made through the QKR app.
The Uniform Shop will be open on Friday 17 December 9-10am. Parents are able to attend in person. Please make sure you check-in using the CBR Check-in QR code, wear a face mask and abide by all social distancing requirements set by ACT Health.
If you have any questions or concerns please email the uniform shop on stjohnsclothingpool@gmail.com.