St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully Newsletter

Congratulations to Max, Riley and Lorelei who competed on the weekend at the Eastern Metropolitan Region Little Athletics meet.

Riley won a silver medal in high jump and a bronze medal in the 100m and Max won a silver medal in the 400m.  Lorelei placed 4th in the 800m, 400m, 200m, 100m and the  high jump. 

We wish them all the very best as they wait to hear if they have qualified to go to the state championships.  What a fabulous effort! 

Our Year 5/6 students are looking forward to their camp at Campaspe Downs where their days will be filled with great activities such as canoeing, abseiling, archery and bush craft.  The camp is for two nights, three days leaving on the 28th February and returning on the 2nd March.

If your child returns a positive result, your child has COVID-19. 

You must:

·         quarantine your child for seven days

·         advise the school about the positive result

·         Your child must stay home until their symptoms have resolved and they are well

·         Everyone in your household is a close contact and must isolate  for 7 days.

Reporting your child’s positive test

If your child was at school when they were infectious you need to report the positive case through the Student COVID-19 Test Portal or you can notify the school in writing or by phone.

You must also report your child’s positive test to the Department of Health via the COVID-19 Positive Rapid Antigen Test Self Reporting Form or call centre on 1800 675 398.

This year our Year 5/6 students will have the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.  The date has  been confirmed for the 14th July.  Our Confirmation Family Night will be the 2nd June and the Reflection Day for students will be  on 21st June. 

This year we are introducing a concessional school fee policy to assist school families experiencing financial hardship in accessing a Catholic primary education for their child/children. It is our hope that we remain an inclusive school accessible to all. At all times, the dignity and privacy of those seeking a fee concession will be respected.

Level of concession

School office staff can advise applicants of the concessional fee to be charged. This concessional fee is fixed annually by Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS). Approved applicants will be charged only the annual concessional fee, which will cover all standard school fees and levies. If the applicant has become eligible under one of the eligibility criteria throughout the year, a pro-rata concession will be granted. In this instance, standard school fees and levies will be incurred for the portion of the year whereby the applicant was not eligible. To be eligible for the concession, the family must agree to either a direct debit or Centrepay deduction arrangement.

Eligible concession cards

Centrelink issues a number of concession cards for a variety of reasons. Some cards have a generous or no income test and therefore holders of these cards are ineligible for a fee concession under this program. Only Health Care Cards that are eligible for the CSEF are eligible for the School Fees Concession Program.

The card must be issued in the name of the fee payer and list the students for whom the concession is to be applied.

The expiry date of the card must be after 1 January of the year for which the concession is to be applied. If an eligible concession card expires after the start of the year, the concessional fee rate will still be applied for the entire year. If a family becomes eligible during the course of the school year, then a pro‐rata concession will be granted.

Lodgment of application

An application should be lodged at the commencement of the school year so that it can be assessed and direct debit deduction arrangements can be initiated for the year. Please follow the steps below:

1.       Complete the school’s application form, Direct Debit deduction authority.

2.       Submit the completed forms along with a copy of a valid card.

3.       Complete and return the CSEF application form (where applicable).

Application forms

The following forms can be obtained from the school office:

1.       School’s application form.

2.       School’s Direct Debit deduction authority.

3.       CSEF application form.

Notification

Approved applicants will receive written notification of the outcome of their application for concessional fees from the school. Declined applicants will be contacted promptly to allow sufficient time to arrange a meeting with the Principal to discuss the fee structure.

Important notes

1. The concession is automatic for a parent/guardian/carer responsible for the school fees who holds the eligible card.

2.       A CSEF application must be submitted for a concession to be granted.

3.   Where the fee account is split, the concession applies to only that portion payable by the eligible card holder.

4.   All families receiving or requesting a fee concession must notify the school should their financial circumstances change sufficiently to affect the level of concession offered.

5.   Any offer of a concession is subject to the applicant entering into a Direct Debit agreement. Any default in payment may result in the concession being withdrawn.

6.   Should an application be considered ineligible, the applicant will be notified that the application has been declined. If the applicant is experiencing genuine financial hardship, they are encouraged to arrange to meet with the Principal.

 Please contact the office ASAP to apply or for any queries regarding accessing the fee concessions program.

Our Term 1 Working Bee is on 2nd April from 1:30 - 4:00pm. If you are able to come and support us on this day it would be very much appreciated.  

Please come along to our first P&F meeting if you would like to be part of the awesome team that aim to create this wonderful school community vibe we have.  Monday 21st February 7pm in the Staff room.