St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully Newsletter

Letter from the Principal

Tuesday March 9th 2021

Dear Families

The safety of the children is of our highest priority. As part of maintaining our safe practices it is essential that parents and guardians follow our car parking guidelines. The top carpark and parking around the church is for staff members and Parishioners attending Mass and other Parish events. It is not to be used as a drop off zone for children. The only time parents and guardians would park in the car parks where the staff park would be if your child is sick during the day or has an appointment. Parents and guardians are also free to park in the car parks behind the school hall.

Our bottom carpark has the facility for two options for school drop off and pick up:

  1. Drop off and pick up zone
  2. Parking in designated parking spaces and walking to drop off or collect your children.

The bottom carpark is not used for parking during the school day as it is a play area for the children.

We are very fortunate as a school to have onsite parking. It is important for the safety of the children that we follow the correct procedures. If the drop-off pick up zone is full you will need to park in the designated spots to ensure the ease of the flow of traffic. Alternatively if all the parking bays are full you will need to show patience as cars from the drop-off/pick-up space exit the carpark. Thankyou for your cooperation in moving safely in our school carpark. 

Swimming Champions

Congratulations to our wonderful swim team who competed so competitively in the Division Swimming Championships. See later in our sport report for the children who will now be competing at a Regional level. Go team St John the Baptist!

Wedding Congratulations!

Look at our blushing bride! Congratulations to Mr & Mrs May (formally Miss Gorman) who were married last Saturday.

Bunnings Thank You

Thank you to the Brightwell family and their band of volunteers who helped out on Monday at our Bunnings BBQ. It was wonderful to see our parent volunteers in action as they greeted the wider community with warm smiles and deliciously cooked sausages. We have such generous  families in our community who give so willingly of their time. It was a great SJB team effort once more. 

School Open Day and 2022 Prep Enrolment

Our School Open Day will take place tomorrow. We look forward to welcoming prospective families to our wonderful school. Thank you to our generous parent helpers who have volunteered their time to help with tours.

School Closure Day

Our Term 1 school closure day will be Tuesday 16th March. The staff will be involved in a Professional Development Day in the area of Mathematics. There will be no school for the children on this day. 

Casual Dress Day

On Wednesday 17th March the children are invited to wear casual clothes (with a touch of green) for a gold coin donation. All money raised will go to a charity nominated by the student body under the guidance of our Year 6 Social Justice Leaders Sienna, Siara & Bella and our Religious Education Leader Marialisa Mandarino. 

Working Bee - Saturday March 20th

We are looking forward to welcoming families to our first working bee for the school year on Saturday March 20th from 1.30-4.30pm.

On the day we will be placing mulch under our climbing equipment,  general gardening and cleaning of drinking troughs etc. 

Just a reminder that after attendance at two working bees during the year the maintenance levy ($100) will be rebated.

Thanks in anticipation of your support of our school.

Running Club

It's back, but on a different day!

Running Club will be commencing on Friday March 19th.

Students from Years 3-6 are able to attend running club as long as a permission form is completed (see below).  Junior students can also join in but must be accompanied by a parent and also have a signed permission form.

The students will use the bike/walk path that leads to Kings Park in Upper Ferntree Gully.  In the case of inclement weather, fitness work and exercises will be held in the school hall.

Running Club Permission Form
Download

Diary Dates



Week 7March
Wed 10th School Open Day - 9.00am - 5.00pm
Week 8

Catholic Education Week - 

Theme 'Faith in the Future'

Mon 15th Assembly - Year 3/4FM
Tues 16th 

Staff Professional Day -

No school for students today

Wed 17th

Casual Dress Day - Wear a touch of green

for St Patrick's Day - gold coin donation


Swimming Champions

Congratulations to the following students who have made it through to the Regions in SSV Swimming:-

Lorelei C - 50m Freestyle Relay, 50m Breaststroke

Ruby L - 50m Freestyle Relay

Jillian R - 50m Freestyle Relay

Mia P - 50m Freestyle Relay

Samuel O - 50m Freestyle Relay

Heath T - 50m Freestyle Relay

Logan H - 50m Freestyle Relay, 50m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke

Daniel S - 50m Freestyle Relay, 50m Backstroke, 50m Breaststroke

Well done to everyone who participated

Canteen News

Canteen Helpers Roster


Wednesday March 10th

Natalie Conway 

Friday March 12th

Nicole Kyriazis

Katrina Horne

Francesca Theodore


Wednesday March 17th

Alan Ong

Friday March 19th

Belinda Hunt

Leanne Nugent


Parents & Friends News

Bunnings BBQ

Thank You!

A HUGE thank you to Veronica and Phil Brightwell who coordinated our Bunnings BBQ yesterday, and MANY thanks to all who volunteered their time to help.  We raised over $1,200k - woohoo! Not bad for a drizzly Monday public holiday!

P & F Social - Saturday March 13th

In lieu of the 'big day out' we have reserved space at Project Brewery on Saturday March 13th, 12.00-5.00pm, 3/12 Laser Drive Rowville.  Pop along and say hi! The more the merrier.

P & F Meetings

Our meetings will now be held on Wednesday evenings.  We are moving our next meeting to Term 2, date TBC. There will NOT be a meeting on Wednesday March 31st, as previously advised.

Dress Down Day for the Children - Wednesday March 17th

Wear green for St Patricks Day. Gold Coin donation – ALL proceeds given to charity.  The charitable donation initiative started in Term 4 2019 with ‘Five for the Fires’. As a school community we managed to raise a whopping $850 for the Red Cross Fire appeal. In 2021 we will work with the grade 6 leaders to determine where the money will be donated each term.

Entertainment Membership is Back!

Entertainment Membership – not sure you’ll get your money’s worth? Even if we aren’t able to travel more than 5km from home we don’t have to!

Takeaway - Rapture, Mad Patties, Cheesecake Shop, Forage, KFC, McDonalds, Subway, Sushi Hub, Pancake Parlour…over $100 in savings here

Activities - Knox Leisureworks, Zone Bowling, Bayswater Roller City, Goodlife Health Clubs, Curves, Genesis Health Clubs, Kreationz Cheer and Dance, Cameo Cinemas, Tunzafun, Timezone…over $150 in savings

Something for you - Salts of the Earth, Strike A Pose Photography, Urban Float, Big W, Cellarmasters, Woolworths, Dan Murphy’s, The Iconic, Country Road and JB HiFi…unlimited savings here!

Every membership sold contributes to our School’s fundraising. It’s a WIN WIN!

Entertainment Link

And from Tuesday 16 February until Monday 15 April you will receive a $10 or $20 Woolworths or JB HiFi eGift voucher.

Camp Australia News

P&F Sponsors

St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully