St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully Newsletter

Letter from the Principal

Tuesday June 22nd 2021

Dear Families

It is hard to believe that we are coming to the end of Term 2. So much has happened this term with our school review, two week lockdown, reports, parent teacher interviews, incursions with kitchen garden cooking, the royal flying doctor service, being read to from the space station and so the list of wonderful learning opportunities goes on. Our staff and students have certainly earnt a well deserved rest over the holidays. Hopefully it is an exciting holiday ahead with the easing of restrictions. I hope families get to be with the people they care about whether that is on a holiday or even through the simple pleasure of having visitors in your homes. Take time to replenish and reflect on all that has been. Thankyou to everyone in our community for making our school the wonderful place it is.

An Offer of Kindness

We have had some families impacted by the recent storms. Our wonderful P&F led by Ange & Fleur have kindly offered to help out with a hot meal or to do a load of washing. They are happy to help out in any way. Please reach out if there is anything we can do as a community to help. 

COVID Updates

We are delighted to be able to welcome parents back into our school building once more!

QR codes and record keeping 

The use of Service Victoria QR codes for electronic record keeping is now mandatory in all schools to enable the effective contact tracing of any COVID-19 cases. QR code check ins are required to be used by:

 • all visitors on school site 

 • all parents who enter school buildings 

QR code check ins are not required to be used by:

 • staff 

• students 

• parents who come onto school grounds for drop off or pick up, but do not enter buildings. 

Face Masks in Schools

School staff must carry a face mask at all times and wear a face mask indoors when at school (except when in the act of teaching), unless a lawful exception applies. Face masks are recommended to be worn outdoors where physical distancing of 1.5m cannot be maintained.

Visitors and parents must wear a face mask when entering school buildings. Face masks are recommended to be worn outdoors where physical distancing of 1.5m cannot be maintained.

St John the Baptist Day

St John the Baptist Day is this Thursday the  24th June. We were planning to also make this day Grandparents Day. With the current restrictions we are not able to go as a whole school to Mass. At this stage we will postpone our Grandparents Day and whole school Mass.  Our Fun Run that is scheduled for the afternoon of St John the Baptist Day will still go ahead as planned. The Fun Run will now be able to go ahead with spectators. 

Parent/Teacher Interviews

Thank you to all families who attended our Parent Teacher Interviews. Communication between home and school is essential in supporting the very best education for your child. We value the strong partnership we have with our families. We are always available to our families via emails or appointments whenever you wish to discuss how your child is going. Thanks so much for your positive feedback to our teaching team. I am very grateful that our families acknowledge the wonderful work that our staff do with your children. 

Some Jokes from our Preps to keep you laughing through the holidays

Stay home when unwell

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.

End of Term 2

Term 2 concludes on Friday 25th June at 2.30pm. School will resume for Term 3 on Monday 12th July at 8.50am. 

Victorian Premiers' Reading Challenge

The Victorian Premiers' Reading Challenge is now open to all students.  All the details of how to participate are contained in the document below.

Download

Canteen News

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.

Canteen Helpers Roster


Wednesday June 23rd

Ange MacKinnon

Friday June 25th

Jacinta O'Dowd

Taryn Hughes

Rients Huitema


Uniform Shop Hours

Parents & Friends News

Fun Run Update

ONLY TWO MORE SLEEPS until the SJB Fun Run     AND   ALMOST $20,000 in sponsorships – WOW!!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE who has donated (from ALL over Australia, and even as far as Italy & London!!) AND to all the children who have been so active in getting sponsored.

We are going to have THE BEST sustainability gardens in the South Eastern Suburbs!!

PRIZES

Tenner Tuesday - CONGRATULATIONS to Stella P in Prep who won the ‘Tenner Tuesday’ competition last Friday. Thanks to Metroflow Plumbing Stella and her family are off to the movies!!!

There are still LOTS of prizes to win – AS WELL AS the prizes the children order online via their sponsorship pages.

Junior school run - The 2 highest fundraisers get to run wearing CAPES (to make them go faster!)

TOP fundraiser wins a Bowling Family Fun Pass, kindly donated by Zone Bowling Boronia! The next 3 highest fundraisers win ‘Chase’ spotty cat Fun Run plush toys.

Senior school run- The 2 highest fundraisers get to run wearing CAPES (to make them go faster!)

TOP fundraiser wins a Bowling Family Fun Pass, kindly donated by Zone Bowling Boronia! The next 3 highest fundraisers win a Fun Run key ring, bouncy ball or USB.

And, most importantly, THE SJB FUN RUN TROPHY!!!!

  • Which house will take home the coveted Fun Run trophy???
  • GREEN are still in the lead, BUT RED house are catching them!
  • YELLOW have a bit of work to do, if they want to catch up, but it’s not impossible.
  • OR will BLUE house defy all odds, and make a late dash from last position??!

ALL WILL BE REVEALED, POST RUN, ON THURSDAY!

***BREAKING NEWS - FINAL COMPETITION***The class that raises the most $ BETWEEN Friday 25 June & Tuesday 13 July gets a FREE DRESS DAY AND PIZZA PARTY LUNCH in Term 3! Yes, you read that right. We are resetting the clock at midnight on Thursday 24th and ALL last minute donations raised from then until midnight Tuesday 13th July count. Come on 5/6’s – you are now in with a shot of nabbing a cool prize. This is your chance to show the Junior school what you are made of, and go out with a BANG!

Bunnings BBQ - School Holidays

Thursday July 8th

Thank you to everyone who has already returned volunteer slips to help at our BBQ during the school holidays. As always, many hands make light work. If you can spare any time at all on Thursday 8th July, please return the slip or drop us a note - 

parentsandfriends@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au

Dates for the Diary


Thurs June 24-Tues July 13FREE DRESS and PIZZA PARTY competition
Thurs July 8Head on down to Bunnings Scoresby and grab a sausage from our sausage sizzle
Wed July 14Pizza party winners announced! (Date for free dress and pizza party TBC)
Wed July 14 - July 21Individual Fun Run prizes can be ordered via children's sponsorship pages
Mon July 19P&F Meeting (7.00pm in staffroom)
Fri July 30School Disco (Junior 5.30-6.30/Senior 6.45-8.15pm)
Mon August 23P&F Meeting (7.00pm in staffroom)
August (Date TBC)Individual Fun Run prizes delivered to school
Thurs Sept 2Father's Day Stall
Fri Sept 17Dress down day (gold coin donation) Footy colours!


Please join the SJB Parents & Friends Facebook page -

SJB P&F Facebook Link

or search 'SJB Parish Primary School'

Community Notices

P&F Sponsors

St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully