St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully Newsletter

Letter from the Principal

Tuesday November 16th 2021

Dear Families

Last Saturday marked World Kindness Day. This event is a global day that promotes the importance of being kind to each other, to yourself, and to the world. The purpose of this day, celebrated on November 13 of each year, is to help everyone understand that compassion for others is what binds us all together. This understanding has the power to bridge the gap between nations. 

World Kindness Day was first introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement. This organisation was formed at a Tokyo conference in 1997 when Japan brought kindness organisations of multiple nations together and emphasised the necessity of a global kindness movement. The World Kindness Movement launched in Singapore in November 2000. Currently, over 28 countries are a part of the World Kindness Movement group.

 The purpose of World Kindness Day is to highlight and encourage good deeds in your community. It also serves as a reminder to all that simple acts of kindness have power and that together, we can all work to create a kinder world. You may wonder how compassion from one person can make a difference. It isn't easy to comprehend, but every kind act, even the smallest one, creates a ripple effect you can’t begin to imagine. The World Kindness Movement and World Kindness Day are meant to inspire you to believe that we can make a global difference one act at a time.

This day is also meant to celebrate and encourage the good deeds that others already do. In honour of World Kindness Day, be sure to let others around you know how much you appreciate their kindness and generosity. Sometimes saying, “thank you,” is one of the kindest things you can do and probably isn’t heard as often as you’d think! 

Rapid Antigen Testing

The Victorian Government is implementing a rapid antigen testing program for students who are identified as close contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case from Monday 15 November.

It will be available to students who have been identified as a close contact because of community contact, but not to those identified because of household contact.

This program will help unvaccinated or partially vaccinated students to safely return to school as quickly as possible after being identified as a primary close contact (PCC), reducing their isolation period to seven days instead of 14.

To support the roll-out of this program, resources to support parents and carers can be found at coronavirus.vic.gov.au. This information will be added to over the coming weeks.

How the rapid antigen testing program will work

The at-home rapid antigen testing program is an opt-in program for unvaccinated, or partially vaccinated, students. Parents and carers can choose if their child will participate. Our school will provide you with rapid antigen test kits if you opt in. You do not need to buy these test kits.

Following an exposure at our school, you will be notified that your child has been identified as a primary close contact (PCC) of a confirmed COVID-19 case.

If your child is eligible (meaning they are unvaccinated, or partially vaccinated and not a household PCC) and you want to take part in the at-home rapid antigen testing program, your child must first quarantine at home for seven days.

On day six of quarantine, your child must get a standard (PCR) test at your local COVID-19 testing site. If the test is negative, you must bring evidence of the negative test to the front office.

We will then provide you with a supply of rapid antigen tests which come with instructions.

Your child will then be required to complete a rapid antigen test at home before they come to school on any day between days eight to 14. 

Before coming to school each day, you must report the result of each test using a web page (we will provide you with the link). If the test is negative, your child can come to school. If the test did not work for some reason, your child cannot attend school. And if the result is positive, you must take your child for a PCR test as soon as possible. Your child does not need to complete the tests on weekends.

Parents should continue to follow current school policy and public health advice. If your child is unwell, even with the mildest of symptoms, they must stay at home and get tested for COVID-19 with a standard (PCR) test, regardless of a negative rapid antigen test result. Rapid antigen tests do not replace PCR tests for the diagnosis of COVID-19.

If we do have a confirmed COVID-19 case in our school, we will communicate with you as soon as we can, including with instructions on how to access the tests, conduct them, how to report the results, and support available if needed.

The statewide roll-out of rapid antigen testing is one of many strategies currently in place to support schools during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure we are doing everything we can to keep students and staff safe. 

School Advisory Council Annual General Meeting

Our School Advisory Council Annual General Meeting will take place tonight, Tuesday 16th November in our staffroom. The meeting will commence at 7.30pm and all members of our community are welcome. 

Parents & Friends Annual General Meeting

Our Parents and Friends AGM will be held on Monday 22nd November at 7.00pm in our staffroom. All are welcome!

First Eucharist

Our children in Year 3/4 will receive Eucharist for the first time on Tuesday 23rd November, Wednesday 24th November and Thursday 25th November. Please keep these children in your prayers as they take this next step in their faith journey.

Prep - Year 2 Swimming

Today was an exciting day for our P-2 children as they commenced their school swimming program. There was so much excitement with the walk down to the pool and the joy of swimming with friends. Thanks to our wonderful parent helpers who helped walk the children to and from the pool and the big task of helping in the changerooms!

Year 6 Graduation

Tuesday the 14th of December will be a significant day at St John the Baptist as we farewell our Year 6 students. The order of events will be as follows:

Last day of school (Year 6) -  1.00pm finish

12.30pm: Whole school Year 6 assembly (delivered virtually at this stage).

12.45pm: Guard of honour (whole school socially distanced in class groupings); Year 6 parents wait under the sheltered area outside the main administration building. The guard of honour will conclude with the children coming through to their families.

5.00pm: Year 6 Graduation Mass. Neat casual dress - Families welcome. Density limits apply. 

6.00pm-8.00pm: Year 6 ‘Night Under the Stars’ Graduation Party - Students only - Outside gathering; games, dancing & dinner (all provided by the school/no cost to families.

8.00pm: Parents collect their children from the top carpark. 

Sunsmart Policy

As part of our Sunsmart Policy all children and staff are required to wear a hat during playtime. To keep our children and staff safe from the damage of the sun our no hat no play policy will be in place for all of Term 4. 

Staff Professional Development Day

Just a reminder that there will be no school for the children this Wednesday 17th November as the staff will be planning for the 2022 school year. 

QR Code Check-In and Face Masks

The government has updated their health guidelines regarding face masks for Victorian students. Face masks  are required for students in Year 3 to Year 6, only when indoors on school premises, unless an exception applies.  

Masks are no longer a requirement when outside for adults.  All adults entering school buildings are currently required to be in a mask according to the health guidelines.

If you are entering any school buildings it is a Victorian Government mandate that you check in via our QR code. We are limiting access to buildings for our families until we have further easing of restrictions. We are also asking families not to gather before or after school. Whilst this is hard as we enjoy being together hopefully our caution will keep everyone in our community safe and hopefully able to gather once more in the not too distant future. Thankyou for supporting us to implement our COVID safe plan by observing these protocols. 

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 School Year Dates

Tuesday 14th December: Last day for Year 6 students (1.00pm finish)

Wednesday 15th December: Last day P-5 (3.10pm finish)

Year 6 2022 Bomber Jackets

It is time to order the bomber jackets for our 2022 Year 6 students.  Forms have been sent home today.  Payment is requested via direct deposit into the P&F account.  Please return completed form ASAP.

Composite Levies 2022

Details regarding our Composite Levies for the 2022 school year are being sent home today. The information sheet is also attached below. Levies need to be paid no later than Friday December 10th 2021.  If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the office.

Composite Levies 2022

Download

School Fees 2022

School Fees for next year will be issued in February 2022.  Please see below details:-

School Fees - $1,430 per family

Maintenance Levy - $100 per family

Capital Fee - $80 per family

Total - $1,610 per family for the 2022 school year

Book Lists Years 3 - 6 2022

Book lists for Years 3 - 6 in 2022 have been sent home today. They are also attached below for your reference.

Year 3 2022 Book List

Download

Year 4 2022 Book List

Download

Year 5 2022 Book List

Download

Year 6 2022 Book List

Download

Kitchen to Garden Classes are Back!!

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal

Canteen News

Last day for Canteen orders this year is Friday December 10th

Canteen will NOT be open on the last day of term (Wednesday December 15th)

Canteen Helpers Roster


Wednesday November 17th

SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY

Friday November 19th

Jacinta O'Dowd

Taryn Hughes

Rients Huitema


P&F News

FATHER'S DAY RAFFLE TO BE DRAWN THIS FRIDAY!!!!!

Please return any unsold or sold raffle tickets/money be sent back to school.  We will draw the raffle this Friday November 19th. Bunnings vouchers to be won.

Camp Australia News

Community Notices

P&F Sponsors

St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully