Dear St John's families,

At an information evening and orientation morning this week we welcomed almost all of our Kindergarten students and families for 2024.

We have approximately 53 Kindergarten students starting with us next year. Our two Kindergarten classes will be taught by Ms Lily Kennelly and Mr James Doepel.

Wednesday morning was a lot of fun. Our team of teachers and assistants were on hand, actively supporting every new student to feel comfortable as soon as possible. There was a lot of dinosaur and train play, necklace making, playdough, drawing, exploring the playground, listening to stories and dancing (I enjoyed the dancing the most).

Thank you to Belinda Clifford who came to the information evening to speak about the uniform with our new families.

Staffing 2024

I'm pleased to let you know that Ms Sarah Collins and her husband Dayne are expecting a baby girl in early April. They are very excited and we wish them the very best in this exciting time. As Ms Collins will be working for a brief time next year she will not be teaching her own class during this time and have a different role.

We have employed two new teachers for next year and I welcome:

• Lousie Osborne-Goldsbrough who is currently teaching, using similar High Impact Teaching Practices, in another Catholic Primary school. Louise is very well respected with interests in student well-being and religious education and we look forward to her joining our staff.
• Olivia Etzrodt who used to be an inclusion assistant at St John the Apostle and has more recently been teaching her own class in another Catholic School. Olivia is excited to rejoin our community and we're happy she is back with us.

Both of these teachers are very generous and supportive community members and I'm sure you will enjoy getting to know them. Certainly, students will enjoy being in their classes.

We are again looking to recruit a teacher for Spanish, Years 3 to 6. It requires very specialist knowledge and such people are hard to find!

As we begin to formulate classes for next year, please do read the section below and write to me by the end of the coming week with your considerations.

An announcement of the teachers for each year level will be made a few weeks. We are already beginning the transition process for students with more complex needs, preparing them to be ready for the inevitable change.

Thank you for continuously working together with our staff to support your child in their learning.

Matthew Garton

Principal

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 learning 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 (matthewgarton@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.

Colour Run

Please save the date for this year's Colour Run which will be held on Friday 17th November, 2023 from 1.00pm - 2:45pm (Week 6, Term 4). The Colour Run is a great opportunity to support the school by raising money for:

Catholic Missions - depending on how much money we fundraise, we will donate at least $500 to Catholic Missions. 

Kitchen Garden - the rest of the money will go towards re-doing and upgrading our kitchen/garden. 

Relations, friends, neighbours or businesses are all great sources of sponsorship!  Proceeds of past fundraising events have seen major improvements to our school (eg. new school playgrounds, air conditioning, readers, Maths resources etc.) and all of these have been of direct benefit to the students at St John’s.

Prizes

We are offering three prizes for the following:

• The student who raises the most money will receive a Nintendo Switch.
• For every $10 that each child raises, they will get a ticket in a draw to win another Nintendo Switch.
• The class that raises the most money will have a Pizza and Movie afternoon in Week 9 or Week 10.

When children are requesting their sponsorships, we are not asking them to wander around the streets unsupervised or to talk to strangers, but they should ask family members, relatives, friends, friendly neighbours etc.

Sponsorship Card

A hard copy sponsorship card was sent home with all students this week. Spare cards are available from the Front Office. 

Donations can be:

• sent as cash to the office each week. All money should be returned in a plastic zip lock bag, clearly labelled with your child’s name and class. 
• sent as a Qkr payment. Individual sponsorships can be made via Qkr. Families can also collect cash and make the equivalent payment via Qkr. The total amount must match the record on the sponsorship card. You can find the Qkr payment under the Community Council tab. 

We would like the money to be returned before the Colour Run as this allows us to tally final amounts and to present prizes at an afternoon assembly as close to the Colour Run date as possible.  It also enables us to promote the Colour Run more successfully as the sponsorship tally rises each day. 

We would also like to provide the kids with a free special lunch. This will happen prior to the Colour Run, from about 12pm. If you can volunteer with cooking a BBQ, organising the special lunch or helping with the Colour Run, please email Rebekah Brown (rebekah.brown@cg.catholic.edu.au).

Thank you for your support in our fundraising efforts. 

Rebekah Brown

Catholic Life and Reflection

I am trying a new approach to getting to Mass each Sunday.  I am getting up early and going at 8.30. I start my day with Mass, then I meet my husband for breakfast and we grocery shop, it is a lovely way to Sunday.

Last week I was really blessed to have made that decision. The gospel reading was …

The commandments of love

Jesus said, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. Matt 22:34-40

Father Kimi’s homily was simple. He lives his life by this scripture. Love God and love others as you love yourself. Having known him for quiet a few years now, I will agree with that. He, like all of us, is human and therefore makes mistakes and misjudgements but his base is always love.

When the conversation about church and faith becomes complicated because, let’s be realistic, it can be, I am going to remember this. 

Love God, love your neighbour as yourself.

Self-love and care are essential for your capacity to love your neighbour. Love of God is essential for our human existence, for us to be able to have an abundant life (see John10:10)

Love is the basis, the all, the essence of who we are as Catholics and as human beings. Let’s keep it simple and start there.

What Staff are Learning About

A further meeting about the new scope and sequence for Religious Education involved some indepth and interesting conversation.  Our next step as a school is to begin to look at the connections between the Religious Education Curriculum and the religious life of the school. The religious life of the school encompasses such things as the liturgical year and celebrations, sacramental preparation, learning about St John the Apostle and MSC Spirituality. These are all important aspects of learning about our faith and who we are as a community.

What Students are Learning About

Year One led prayer assembly last week. They told us the story of Moses. They were so confident in the story and spoke of how he led his people out of Egypt. Old Testament stories are important for our students to know. It helps them to understand the context of the New Testament. Thank you Year One for sharing your knowledge and leading us so reverently.

God bless,

Stephanie Stewart
Religious Education Coordinator

Happy birthday to Jigme W, Austin M, Penelope A, Pritt B, Naveli S, Liam Z, Ava K, Luca M and Charlie W and Martin H who all celebrated a birthday over the last week.

The Uniform Shop Opening Hours

Friday 3 November - 8.30-9.30am
Wednesday 15 November - 8:30-11:30am

NOTE: 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 Conveners 

Thank you to all of the parents who have contacted me to help out as store conveners. 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. 

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)