St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully Newsletter

I hope you have all enjoyed the start to the Tokyo Olympics. Thanks for all the fantastic pictures you have been sending in of your children recreating Olympic moments. Our Olympic display is looking great. I hope you all can have a bit of family fun with our Tokyo Olympic Family Quiz. 

The most important action our school community can take to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 is to ensure that any unwell staff and students remain at home and get tested, even with the mildest of symptoms. 

Students with underlying conditions (such as hay fever or asthma)

If a student has persistent symptoms due to an underlying condition such as hay fever or asthma, the student should still be tested for COVID-19 if they develop symptoms that are different to or worse than their usual symptoms. Students whose symptoms are clearly typical for their underlying condition can continue to attend school. Parents/carers should also consider getting a medical certificate from the child’s treating GP to confirm that it is safe for them to attend school with persistent symptoms that may overlap with some of the symptoms of COVID-19 such as cough or runny nose. 

Young children with persistent mild symptoms

For younger children (in Prep to Year 2) who have had a negative COVID-19 test that was taken after they developed symptoms, the decision about return to school should be made in conjunction with the child’s treating GP. If the GP is satisfied the child has recovered from their acute illness, is otherwise well and does not need a repeat COVID-19 test, the child can return even if they are not completely free of symptoms. Any worsening of symptoms will require review and repeat COVID-19 testing, if considered appropriate by the doctor. Students with a negative COVID-19 test whose symptoms have completely resolved do not need a medical certificate to return to school.

The School Advisory Committee Meeting (formerly known as Education Board) due to be held this evening has been cancelled.

Dear Parents,

As the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games have now commenced, we would like to invite students to continue to participate in a whole school Olympics Display. Students would 'Have a go' at demonstrating or recreating an Olympic event at home in a safe environment. For example if you have a sand pit you might like to demonstrate the Long Jump event or go to your local park or running track and demonstrate running the 100m event. If you would like to participate you will need to take a photo of your child demonstrating this event and bring a copy into school and give it to your classroom teacher or alternatively email the photo to your class teacher. We will then add the photos to our display board near the Year 3/4 classrooms. It would be wonderful to see as many students participating in and demonstrating any Olympic event.

Mrs Ryan

Thank you to everyone who has already sent in photos of their chosen Olympic event, even the teachers have been participating!

In a word and a time where the internet is essential to 21st century life for education, business and social interaction. As children move up through the school their access to various types of technology increases and it stands to reason that their exploration and curiosity increases too. The positives of the digital world overwhelmingly outweigh the negatives but children, schools and parents all need to be aware of various online risks and as adults it is our responsibility to continue to be informed the best we can about what our children have access to. 

This is why it is so important that adults continue to monitor children's engagement on devices and have open communication around the importance of boundaries when using technology and children feeling safe to ask questions. Here are 5 simple E-safe Rules to you may wish to discuss at home with your child https://youtu.be/X9Htg8V3eik

As our children continue to explore new and popular apps it is important that we adults aim to have a clear understanding of what apps and programs our children are using are all about. It is important to always go on and explore these programs too before giving permission, sometimes it is a good opportunity to explore these apps with your child. E Safety website is always great resource to check in with as they provide up to date information for parents and often hosting Free Webinars. 

Taking a look at TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and Youtube, this free webinar focuses on popular apps used by young people and provides targeted advice so you can support the young people in your life to have safe, enjoyable online experiences.

The Canteen is open every Wednesday and Friday.  Please place all orders via www.flexischools.com.au.  Orders need to be placed by 8.15am.

So that parents can join in the fun at our school disco, we have made the call to postpone from this Friday.  Tentative date is Friday September 10th - but we will confirm in due course.