St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully Newsletter

Yesterday the staff engaged in a day of Professional Learning with a focus on School Improvement.  As a team we were led through an analysis of this year’s St John the Baptist MACSSIS data with Rob Scanlon our MACS Lead Manager.  Rob led us through an analysis of what the data informed us of, the school’s current strengths and opportunities for growth.

We then took a deep look and reflection into the SJB School Improvement spheres of Faith in Education, Learning and Teaching, Student Wellbeing and School Community. Reflecting on our School Improvement and areas for future growth are important as we prepare to enter into School Review in 2025.

The final session of the day focused on the newly released MACS Code of Conduct.  As a staff we unpacked the professional expectations and requirements of all as employees of MACS. Families will see posters of the new Code of Conduct placed around the school in the near future.

We thank all staff for their engagement in the day of Professional Learning, as well as their dedication and commitment to ongoing school improvement at St John the Baptist School.

As a staff we would also like to take the opportunity to thank our wonderful Parents and Friends Committee for preparing a delicious lunch.  We greatly appreciate the efforts and kindness of all.

We would like to thank the dedicated group of parents who supported our Term 4 Working Bee. After rescheduling this term’s working bee due to wet weather we opted to soldier on in the heat.  

We would like to take the opportunity to thank the following families for all of their work in Saturday’s heat.  Thank you to the: Burns, Croning, Mahady, Nunis, Heywood & Armstrong families for all of their work in the heat.

We were able to fill a skip bin with rubble from around the school and distribute a significant amount of mulch.  

Our sincere thanks to all for their community support and all the work carried out.

Unfortunately Sue was unwell on Friday and therefore unable to attend her session.  We have rescheduled this session for Wednesday 27th November. 

The students will participate in their second session with Sue.  We thank Sue for the most professional manner in which she delivers such a sensitive topic in such a safe and secure environment for all students.

We are most excited to be able to share with the SJB community our team of Prep teachers for 2025. 

The Prep team for 2025 will consist of:

Miss Laura Bulmer (Prep BA) - Monday - Thursday & Mrs Renee Armstrong - Fridays

Mrs Brylie Johnson - Monday - Wednesday & Mr Christian der Kinderen - Thursday - Friday (Prep JD)

We are excited to have Laura, Brylie, Christian and Renee work collaboratively as a team to welcome our 2025 Preps.  Laura, Brylie, Christian and Renee are all current members of our SJB team who bring a wealth of expertise and passion to SJB. We look forward to our Prep team delivering a most engaging and informed curriculum in 2025.

Laura, Brylie, Christian and Renee will all be present to meet their classes this Thursday at the final transition session.

The SJB Christmas Carols evening will be held on Thursday 5th December. We look forward to a great evening and seeing our students shine.   

Our terrific P & F will be preparing a BBQ for families to order sausages in bread and drinks between 5:30 - 6:30pm prior to Carols commencing. 

This year families will pre-order their sausage and drinks through Flexischool between the 18th - 29th November. Families will place their entire order via Flexischool (using their eldest child for placing their entire family's order) and then simply collect their order on the evening.  This will streamline the process and remove payment on the night.

Please see flyer below for more information.

On the 10th of December the Yr 5/6 students will be running a market day stall in the hall at 2.15pm - 3.15pm. Each class will have the opportunity to attend during this time but we warmly invite families if they would like to attend our stall with their children. 

Prices start at $1 - approx $8 for certain items. We will be accepting CASH ONLY.

The following stalls will be available 

Second hand books 

Second hand toys 

MIC Essentials 

Second hand sporting goods - The Sporting Specacular

Soccer Game 

Bizzare

ATM Keychains

Bracelets

CAF - Lemonade and snacks stall

Slime stall 

Crafty Three

Fairy Floss in the cone

Throughout Term 4, as part of our Inquiry Unit, the year 5/6 students have been learning about developing a business plan & structure to develop products to be sold at a Market Day event in the last weeks of the term, with all money donated to a charity. 

The criteria has included: a produce /stall proposal, a letter explaining their chosen product/stall, an advertising strategy, and refinements to their design.

 We need your help though …

We are seeking donations for the following items for our stalls

• Plastic bottle caps

• Second hand books appropriate to be sold at school

• Second hand toys/stuffed toys 

• Donations of clothes, shoes and other accessories. 

Wishing everyone a terrific week ahead.  It is difficult to believe that we are in Week 7 of Term 4.

Kelli Johnston

November

20th - School Advisory Council & P&F End of Year Dinner - 7.00pm

21st - Prep Transition Session #3

22nd - About Real Life Session - Years 5-6

25th - Prep-2 Swimming continues 🏊‍♀️

29th - Assembly Prep LC

December

1st - First Sunday of Advent - Hope

2nd - P-2 Swimming continues 🏊‍♀️

3rd - Carols performance @ FTG Library Yrs 3-6

5th - Carols evening BBQ 🌭

5th - Carols evening - 7pm 🎄

8th - Second Sunday of Advent - Peace

9th - P-2 Swimming continues 🏊‍♀️

9th - Semester 2 Reports emailed to families 📃

9th - Move up session No. 1

12th - Graduation Mass - 6pm 👨‍🎓

12th - Move up session No. 2

15th - Third Sunday of Advent - Joy

16th - Year 6 Fun day 🤸‍♂️

17th - End of Year assembly - 2:45pm

17th - Last Day of SJB School Year - 3:15pm

17th - SJB Family Gathering on SJB oval - 3:15pm

22nd - Fourth Sunday of Advent - Love

25th - Christmas Day - Merry Christmas to all

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.