Dear St John's families,

Earlier this week our school choir performed at the Cheif Minister's reading challenge awards. Once again they were simply beuatiful as they sang the very appropriate song 'Green eggs and ham'. It was a pleasure to join them for the award ceremony. We also won an award for our K-2 year group. Congratulations to our choir and to Ms Macdonald and Ms Alcock for their support of our students.

Boorowa Carnival

Today many of our Year 5 and 6 student headed to the Boorowa Netball and Touch Football Carnival. They left at 6.30am this morning and return later this afternoon. At the time of writing, reports from the event have been that the students have had a wonderful time...and are quite exhausted, along with the staff who took them.

Thank you to Ms Brown, Mrs Love, Mr Seaman, Ms Edwards, Ms Millband and Mr Biilmann for supporting the students today. Thank you to the parents who helped manage teams and thank you to the students and teachers from SFX who provided excellent support for each team. 

Grandparents Day

Today was the the initial Grandparents Day date and a small group of grandparents who had already organised travel plans visited the school today. Our choir performed for them and children had prepared some activities to do with them in class. Next week we'll post photos from both days. 

I'd like to say a big thank you to the grandparents who came today. They were encouraging, supportive, kind and smiled a lot to every child. We're all obviously very lucky to have them.

Class Allocations for 2024

During this term, we will finalise our staffing arrangements for 2024. When it comes to class placements for students we aim to ensure a fair, considered and just process in allocating students to classes for the next school year.

Teachers are in the best position to decide a child’s placement because they know all the children in their classes and have a view of the ‘big picture’ and what the lerning needs are for each child. However, I invite parents to inform me of any educational concerns that you feel need to be considered, for your own child’s well-being or development.

There are only two classes each year at St John the Apostle Primary School. One of the benefits if this is that every child is known across the school community. Every year we mix the classes to help children spend time with different people as well as reconnect with others they haven't shared a class with for some time. We do keep a history of previous considerations for the arrangements. When forming balanced class lists the following factors are taken into consideration:

• gender;
• diverse needs;
• work habits;
• personal plans;
• intervention needs and supports;
• friendships;
• behaviour;
• health considerations;
• religious identity(to assist in achieving a balance between classes, especially in Sacramental years) and
• common names;
• new students enrolled for the following year.

Ideally, we aim for an equal spread of all characteristics in a class. Where practical, parental requests based on educational concerns may be considered. At St John the Apostle, we will use the following principles and guidelines when considering the 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;
• Teachers will ask students to name three people they would like to be in the same class as next year and teachers will endeavour to make sure that one of those is met;
• Parents who wish to raise particular concerns regarding the placement of their children in particular classes should put the concern in writing and email it to me directly (matthew.garton@cg.catholic.edu.au) by Friday of Week 5 of Term 4 (Friday 10 November);
• Parent concerns regarding educational needs of students will be considered during the process. It must be clearly understood, however, that no definite guarantees can be given regarding parental concerns. No requests for specific teacher will be accepted. All teachers work hard to provide the best possible learning opportunities for their students;
• Where appropriate, advice will be sought from the Inclusion Teacher, School Counsellor and Student Welfare Officer alongside the current class teacher during this process;
• Considering all the factors listed above, the current class teachers compile class lists from mid-term, Term 4. These are then handed to me to confirm;
• Children will be informed of their class placement for the 2024 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;
• Throughout this process, after appropriate consultation, I reserve the right to make final professional decisions regarding the placement of children.

As you can see, these decisions are given very careful consideration and we look to balance the needs of all students. Every school does this. Once class lists are finalised we select the teacher best suited to each group.

Thank you for working together with us to provide the best possible learning opportunities for you child.

Matthew Garton

Principal

I never shy away from the idea that faith is a journey. Sometimes that means the path is really clear and easy to commit to and at other times not so much. Like Belle's father Maurice in Disney’s Beauty and Beast, the choice can be challenging.  See this video clip for context ?

This morning, for reasons unknown, my 20 year old son was up at 6am. He let the dog out, fed him and then sat with a coffee on the back verandah. When he realised we were awake he jumped into our bed with the dog, then the 13 year old joined us.  While they were rough-housing, literally on top of me, I thanked God. An honest and heartfelt prayer within one of those glorious parenting moments when the stars align. I wasn’t just grateful but I offered the moment to God; a thank you for the joys in the tough road that can be parenting.

I often reflect that Mary must have had her moments when Jesus was little; a refugee in an unknown land with a huge responsibility to raise the Son of God with compassion and patience. All I know is that she must have had these moments too, her son playing at her feet, laughing, living his life and her, offering her gratitude to God for the gift of her child.

This parenting gig can be a hard job. Take some joy in the small moments when you can.

What Students are Learning About

Year 4 have been learning about Marian Apparitions (traditional appearances of Mary to people). Today a few of my students came to me with a “blind bag”.  They had made one to test me on different Marian Apparitions. (I did ok, according to them!)

I hadn’t asked them too, but they found the topic fascinating.  It is a wonderful tradition of our Church to honor Mary as we do. 

What Staff are Learning About

This week staff participated in a faith formation staff meeting. We spent time in the outdoors walking with a partner. Staff walked through our new playground space reflecting on the Emmaus story and its connection to the liturgy. Each time we attend Mass, we walk a path of faith, from confusion to hope.

 

 

God bless,

Stephanie Stewart

Happy birthday to Maxwell W, Max M, Natasha S, Sky H, Henry T, Grace W, Chloe H and Duke M who all celebrated a birthday over the last three weeks.

Congratulations to all students who received a Spelling or Maths Mastery Award at this morning's assembly. Well done!

Maths Games Competition Certificates     

Thank you once again to all of the students who participated in the 2023 Maths Games Program. Awards will be handed out on Friday 27^th October at our morning assembly. Parents and carers are most welcome to attend.

Congratulations to the following place winners:

1^st Place - Lorenzo Scarano (year 5)

Equal 2^nd Place - Vincent Nolan (year 4), Ekluvya Gupta (year 5), Jacob Hall (year 5)

Most Improved Award - James Maddox (year 4)

Congratulations to the following students who competed in the games (you will all receive a certificate)

Year 4 - Xavier Gyles, Xavier Bonny, Vincent Nott, Paul Kamara, Aradhana Aravind

Year 5 - Henry Ton That, Olive Glowrey, Abbey Richardson, Leo Jackson, Ky McNamara, Sophia Youseff, Sofia Nott

Year 6 - Josh Watts, Matilda Menzil, Ryan Lowther, Alisha Sehgal, Harry Peyiotou, Miranda Ton-Nu, Kenny Han, Sam Jeffs, Sophie Richardson, Nikhil Sonah, Jesse Akkidasari, Erin Veld, Olivia Thexton

Congratulations everyone!

School fees will be emailed out next week.

These statements will have the new BPAY id in the bottom left and top right corner.

Please use these details to pay your school fees. Direct debits are no longer available for the payment of school fees.

You are able to set up a recurring payment with this BPAY system.

School fees are due Friday 10^th November.

Year 6 Families

As the end of the year approaches and your days at St John’s is coming to a close, would you please ensure your school fees are all up to date by the end of the school year.

Year 6 Chromebook payments are invoiced on your fee statement for this term as QKR is longer available.

Year 5 & Year 4 Families

Chromebooks have been invoiced on your fee statement again for this term.

NOTE: If you have tried to contact Rebekah Brown about the Fete and clicked on the below email link it may not have sent to her. If you have emailed her and haven't heard back, please contact her again. All donations can start to be dropped off in the Front Office from now until the Fete.

Our school Fete will be on Friday 15 March 2024 from 4-8pm (Term 1, Week 7). We are already well on our way with preparations. Please see information below about requesting volunteers in the lead up to the Fete and requests for donations. We really rely on our school community working together to ensure the success of our school Fete. 

Store Convenors 

Before the end of this year, we will send out information regarding volunteers for the Fete Day. We are currently requesting store convenors for the following stores in the preparation and lead up to the Fete. The Fete Coordinators will also support each of the store convenors and provide more details on the roles once allocated. Please contact Rebekah Brown rebekah.brown@cg.catholic.edu.au if you would like to take on one of these roles or if you have any questions. 

Store	Role of the Store Convenor
Hampers	Collect all of the donations on Friday Week 6, Term 1 2024 and pack the hampers.
Plant Store	Start to pot and grow plants in time to sell for the Fete Reach out to organisations (Bunnings, garden centres etc.) for donations of plants.
Book Store	Sort the book donations prior to the day of the Fete Allocate prices.
Fish and Chips Store	Organising a menu for Fish and Chips. Ordering and purchasing of products.
Drinks Store	Gradually purchasing drinks when they are on sale (purchasing to start as soon as possible).
Cake Store	Organisation of plates and instructions to be sent home in the week prior to the Fete. Allocation of prices on the day.
Biscuit Decorating	Purchasing of biscuits (arrowroot biscuits) and items to decorate biscuits. This role will include creating a process around biscuit decorating and different ways children can decorate the biscuits. Available on the day of the Fete to set up.
Badge Making	Organisation of designs/artworks for the badge making. Purchasing of any products required for this. Cutting out the circles for children to decorate.

At times, we may need to ask the store convenor to purchase some of the items required for the store. However, this money will be reimbursed as quickly as possible. 

Donations 

The Fete Committee has decided to send out all of the requests for donations for the 2024 Fete at one time so that families don't feel like there are requests every week or two. We rely on our community to donate a couple of items per child. Please see below a list of the items we are requesting. All of these items can be sent to school with your child or delivered to the front office. Thank you in advance for your donations and support. 

Tombola

For the 2024 Fete, we are doing Tombola a little differently. We are asking that a full jar is donated. In the past, we have asked for empty jars and the Store Convenor has filled the jars. The items also don’t need to be in a jar. They could be in a zip lock bag, a plastic container or anything that is enclosed and we can stick a raffle ticket on. 

Items that can be put in the tombolar jars/containers:

• Lollies and chocolates 
• Jar of trinkets - small toys, erasers, stickers, hair accessories, craft supplies, stationary etc.

Hampers

We are asking that each child in each year group, donates one or more items for the below hampers. Each year level has been allocated a theme. Year 6 has not been allocated a theme, as they will no longer be at St John’s in 2024. If Year 6 students would like to donate an item, they can choose any theme. Please see below images of past hampers. 

Kindergarten - Baby hamper (e.g. wraps, clothes, nappies, rattles, baby toys, wipes etc.)

Year 1 - Pet Hamper (eg. pet toys, treats, feeders, bowls etc.)

Year 2 - Kids Toy hamper (e.g. puzzles, fidget toys, board games, balls etc.)

Year 3 - Pamper hamper (eg. bath salts, candles, body products etc.)

Year 4 - Parents hamper (eg. wine, beer, chocolates, nuts etc.)

Year 5 - Home hamper (eg. tools, cleaning products, Bunnings gift card etc.)

Books

We will be having a book stall. We would love donations of books to sell at the Fete. These can be picture books, children and adult novels, recipe books etc.

Lucky Lock

We will be having a Lucky Lock competition again for the 2024 Fete. An esky is filled with wine and beer and locked with a padlock. We sell keys and one key opens the lock. This lucky person wins the esky and its contents. To run this competition, we would love donations of the following:

• Wine, beer etc.
• Old keys that are no longer useful 

Pre-loved Soft Toys

We are asking for clean and in good condition pre-loved soft toys to be donated. 

Thank you so much for all of your support in making out 2024 Fete a success.

Kind regards,

Fete Committee

The Family Photo Fundraiser is on again on 11 & 12 November and is still only $25!

You only have a few week to secure your place so act fast – if you want to get an A4 sized (10″ x 13″) professional family photo for only $25, then please book ASAP here https://www.fundraisingsjaps.online  You will need to go to the website and click on the photo menu, then scroll down and pick your selected date.

Sessions will be outside at the Lake Ginninderra Western Foreshore to adhere to COVID guidelines unless it is raining and then will be in the school library. We have been doing this fundraiser for a number of years now as it is great value for families to get a professional family photo at such a cheap price. There’s more information available on the website, but if you have any questions please email me at Belinda.duke@hotmail.com.au  

Belinda Duke (Emma’s mum)

Book Club orders are due on Tuesday 24 October. Please order and pay online using LOOP.

The Uniform Shop Opening Hours

Friday 20 October - 8.30-9.30 (School Holidays)

If you have any questions or concerns please email the uniform shop on stjohnsclothingpool@gmail.com