St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully Newsletter

Tuesday August 27th 2024

Letter from the Principal, Kelli Johnston

Dear Families

Our Year 5/6 students are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on Thursday 29th August. We look forward to celebrating with our students and families as they take this next step in their faith journey. May we keep our Confirmation candidates in our thoughts and prayers throughout the week ahead. 

We request that families commence taking their seats in the church from 5:45pm on Thursday to ensure a 6:00pm start. Thank you.

SJB Production - Pirates of the Curry Bean

After many weeks and months of planning, preparation and rehearsals on Friday evening the SJB community were treated to a wonderful performance by our students. We are incredibly proud of all our students for the courage and joy they demonstrated in the SJB Production - Pirates of the Curry Bean. A school production is an opportunity to try something new and perform in front of hundreds of people.  We cannot underestimate how much courage it takes for young primary school students to step out onto stage and perform.  

Congratulations to all of our amazing students on presenting such a wonderful school production.  You were all truly magnificent.

We thank our SJB community for making the night such a great success and for your support of our wonderful students.

Last chance to order a DVD of the fantastic Concert

Direct Link Below

Father's Day Stall

A big thank you to our amazing P and F and SJB helpers for leading a terrific Father’s Day Stall. The students excitedly purchased gifts for their dads and special people in preparation for Father’s Day on Sunday. The students had a terrific range of gifts to choose from. Thank you to our dedicated parents for a wonderful display of teamwork and sense of community.

Thank you to Janelle Trimble, Lauren Wearne, Sheree Ulrich-Field, Jenny Fernandes, Felicity Hatter, Fleur Dow, Courtney Reardon, Jacinta O’Dowd, Siobhan van Bergeijk, Janice Stiglich, Rebecca Bennett, Cassie Croning & Andrew Davies. 

We still have some gifts remaining if anyone would like to purchase more.  Please pop into the office.

Father's Day Breakfast - Friday August 30th

We look forward to celebrating the special men in our children’s lives.  On Friday 30th August we invite our special men to join their child/ren for breakfast in our school hall.  Breakfast will be available from 7:30am and then classrooms will be open for you to join in for our morning prayer and activity.  We look forward to seeing our dads and special friends on Friday.

We thank families for their interest in the Bunnings Father’s Day Cake Stall. Due to a number of constraints on this occasion we will not proceed with the Cake Stall. We will reconsider this as an option in 2025.

Confirmation Reflection Day - Monday August 26th

Our Year 5/6 Confirmation candidates came together with the Parish  candidates on Monday 26th August for a day of reflection as they  prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Students participated in a variety of activities to further enhance their faith development and understanding of the Sacrament.    

We look forward to a wonderful evening as our Year 5/6 Confirmation candidates take the next step in their faith journey and receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.         

Term 3 Optional Parent/Teacher Interviews

At St John the Baptist we strongly value our partnerships with our families and the importance of open communication.  To continue our strong partnerships we have introduced an Optional Parent Teacher Interview in Term 3 on Wednesday September 18th. The Optional Parent Teacher Interviews may be booked by families or requested by your child’s class teacher, should they feel that it is important to meet with you.

Interviews will be able to be booked through our new booking system - School Interviews site. A link will be included in the newsletter next Tuesday when the bookings will open.

Families are reminded that should you have a PSG for your child that this takes the place of the Parent/Teacher Interview.

Parish Cleaner Required - Casual Cleaning Position from mid September

We are seeking to employ a part-time cleaner here at St John the Baptist. The successful applicant must be well motivated to work for the Church and ideally possess a strong commitment to its practices and values.

 Tasks and Responsibility

·         Perform routine cleaning tasks: Clean Parish Church, office and Parish Community Centre by performing duties such as dusting and vacuuming, cleaning toilet facilities.

·         Work within the Australian hygiene standards and Guidelines

·         Maintain professional & respectful working relationship with Parish Priest and Staff

·         Communicate well with Parish Priest and Staff

·         Working with Children Check – Mandatory, Police Check (new Check required) Valid Driver License

Please send your expression of interest to the attention of  Fr Thomas - 

office@stjohnthebaptist.net.au

District Athletics

Exciting times ahead as our Year 3-6 students prepare to participate in the District Athletics Carnival at AC Robertson Athletics Track, Ringwood on Wednesday 4th September. Families are requested to respond to the Operoo form to assist with confirmation of numbers on the day.

A number of additional practice sessions have been scheduled by Mr Mitchell.  Students wishing to attend these are most welcome. We ask that you confirm your attendance through Operoo.

We look forward to a fun day of athletics competition. We know that our students will represent themselves and SJB school in an exemplary manner.  Good luck everyone!!

Long Service Leave

Over the coming weeks and into Term 4 we have a number of SJB staff taking Long Service Leave.  Long Service Leave is an opportunity for staff to relax, reflect and rejuvenate after significant periods of service to education. We wish our staff wonderful times as they take their periods of LSL.  Additionally we are extremely fortunate to have a group of strong CRTs supporting SJB with filling the positions of LSL during staff periods of leave.

Over the coming weeks the following staff will be taking LSL. We wish them great times ahead.

Mrs Susan Smith - 29th August - 20th September. Returning to SJB 9th October

Mrs Renee Armstrong - 18th September - 18th October. Returning to SJB 21st October

MACSSIS Surveys

A significant and formal way in which we engage and gather data is through MACSSIS, the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys.

MACSSIS is a set of surveys that have been built specifically for Catholic schools in Melbourne by the Learning Services team at MACS, in partnership with researchers at Learning First and in wide consultation with principals in our schools.

MACSSIS surveys will be emailed home this week to 70 randomly selected families.  We ask that you look out for an email from ORIMA research which will contain the link to access the survey.  Your login details will be sent in a separate email from our school.

Our community’s opinions are critical to understanding how our school is performing – MACSSIS is a key data source so please take the time to complete the survey so that the thoughts and opinions of our whole school community can be used in guiding the ongoing work to improve our school.

If you would like more information, please contact the school.

Footy Day - Last day of Term 3

To celebrate the end of another terrific term of learning and work we have scheduled Friday 20th September as Footy Day. The children will be able to wear their footy colours to school as part of the day of celebration, as long as they wear Yellow and Black!!  The students can come in their footy colours for the day and we look forward to a fun day of activities, as well as a special Footy Day lunch.  Further information will be shared in the near future.

Year 3/4 Camp

This October our Year 3/4 students will attend an overnight camp at Phillip Island. The camp will be held early in Term 4 with the students departing on Thursday 24th October and returning on Friday 25th October. 

This is an exciting time for our students as they prepare for camp.

Families will soon receive an Operoo form to complete in preparation for camp.

Gilwell Park Dad's and Kid's Camping Weekend - November 2024

We have made inquiries with Gilwell Park in regard to booking this year’s SJB Dads and Kids camping weekend.  At this stage we are proposing the weekend after the Melbourne Cup weekend - Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th November. We would love to have a few dads who would be happy to collaborate to co-ordinate the event for this year. It would be great to have some existing SJB Dads along with new SJB Dads to co-ordinate the event.

If you would be interested in assisting in the co-ordination of this year’s SJB Dad’s & Kids camping weekend please email either Ursula DeCorrado or myself at udecorrado@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au or kjohnston@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au 

Unclaimed Plastic Containers

Do any of these containers belong to you?  If so, please collect from the school office.

Wishing everyone a fabulous week ahead. All the best to the AFL finalist teams

Kelli Johnston

Australian Girls Choir

If your daughter is singing around the house following Friday’s performance, you may be interested to hear that the AGC is coming to SJB to hold a trial choir workshop session for any interested girls from P-6 on Tuesday 3rd September at 11am (during 1st recess). 

I will be there to supervise and ask that you complete the form your daughter brought home and return it to me, or alternatively you may register online at ausgirlschoir.com.au/schoolworkshop if your daughter is keen to participate.

Following  the 30 minute workshop, each girl will be given an encouraging written report and you can then decide if you wish to pursue the choir as a future activity for your daughter. 

Please see me if you would like further information.

Sue Cahill

Performing Arts Teacher

Australian Girls Choir Registration Form
Download

Term 3 Dates

August

29th - Sacrament of Confirmation

30th - Father's Day Breakfast at 7.30am

September

1st - Father’s Day

2nd - MACSSIS Surveys Open

2nd - Prep visit to Ferntree Gully Library

4th-  District Athletics

4th - School Advisory Council

5th - Level Mass - Year 1/2

6th - Assembly 3/4HM

12th - R U OK Day?

13th - Division Athletics

13th - Assembly 1/2D

20th - Footy Day

20th - Term 3 Concludes @ 2pm

Uniform Shop News

Thank you to families who have donated to the 2nd hand uniform shop recently. Donations can be left at the office at a time that suits you. Please find the most recent stock list attached.

Canteen News

Open on Wednesdays & Fridays


Canteen orders can be placed via http://www.flexischools.com.au

Orders must be placed no later than 7.30am on the Wednesday or Friday.


Canteen Roster Term 3, 2024


Friday August 30th

Leanne Gaunt

Claire Lewis

Emma Jenkins


Friday September 6th 

Lauren Wearne

Shamindri Aponso

Adriana Ambler


Friday September 13th

Nelson Serrao

Cassie Croning

Leanne Nugent


Camp Australia News

Rocketeers Information

Spring Program Highlights

From Anxious to Resilient

Register via this link - Register

Community News

St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully