St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully Newsletter

Letter from the Principal

Tuesday October 26th 2021

Dear Families

The past week has been truly life giving as we have heard the sounds of children once more across our classrooms and playgrounds. Our school has been so joyful as children have been reunited once more with their friends. The smiles on their faces have said it all. As people wired for human connection it is wonderful to see our community coming together once more. 

I have included an article today from Penny Van Bergen, Macquarie University and Erin Mackenzie, Western Sydney University with some handy tips on how you can support your child’s return to face to face learning. 

5 ways parents can help children adjust to being at school after months in lockdown

Students are returning to their schools after months in lockdown in Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT.  Many will thrive on the return to school. Others, though, may need extra practical and emotional support to adjust in a healthy way.

Some children may experience separation anxiety from their parents, for example. Others may be worried about catching COVID-19 in the playground or about connecting with their friends again.

Parents and carers might be wondering what they can do to support their child as they return to school. Here are five tips that can help.

1. Renegotiate routines

Like adults, children and teens are likely to have established quite different routines during lockdown. They may have also become accustomed to  more screen time than usual.

To ease the transition to a regular school routine, it is worth making slow adjustments like getting up and going to bed at a more consistent time. Parents can support autonomy by negotiating new routines with their child. While teens may be more resistant to parents placing restrictions on their screen time, this is less likely when parents provide explanations and acknowledge teens’ perspectives.

2. Allow time for adjustment

Returning to school may bring uncertainty, excitement, fatigue or other big emotions. Some children may seem particularly tired after their first few days, while others may be more sensitive or less tolerant than usual.

Don’t despair if your child seems to experience more big emotions at home than at school: this likely means that home is a safe place to return to! Help children to name any negative emotions that arise, such as frustration, and gently coach them to consider other ways of expressing themselves.

Be tolerant yourself, and don’t sweat the small things.

3. Acknowledge children’s worries

Children and teens may have specific worries related to COVID-19, to changing friendships, or to being back at school. Younger children may also experience separation anxiety after extended periods of having their families as their sole source of social connection.

If your child raises concerns about whether they will be safe returning to school, it is useful to provide simple and factual information about COVID-19 while providing gentle reminders that the adults around them are there to help them stay healthy. Adopt a problem-solving approach: helping children to focus on what they can control, rather than worrying about things that are outside our control.

Regardless of the source of their worries, it is important to acknowledge and validate your child’s feelings. You can point out that many children may be feeling the same way, and that their concerns are understandable. At the same time, remaining calm and focusing on the positive aspects of returning to school can help to relieve some of their concerns.

4. Coach empathy

Children and teens have had different experiences during lockdown and may have different feelings about being back at school. Understanding that other children may feel differently can help your child to be a good friend.

Before returning to school, remind children that some of their friends will feel more nervous about returning than others. In primary school, some might also make different decisions about masks .

If your child has been in a “friendship bubble” with only a small number of other friends, encourage them to include those who have not. Being empathetic towards others and acknowledging how they are feeling will not only help your child socially, it is also an important socioemotional skill to master.

5. Be optimistic

Remember that most children adjust well when faced with new challenges. Parents can prompt children and teens to remember what they enjoy most about school to help them look forward to returning. Reminiscing about funny stories or enjoyable school events that children have experienced can help with this process.

It is important to still acknowledge your child’s feelings if they express a preference for learning from home. You may wish to share these concerns with their teacher. However, it is helpful for your own approach to reflect optimism and confidence.  Avoid introducing your own worries if you can:  parent anxiety can be contagious!

If you observe any concerning and sustained changes in your child’s behaviour as they navigate the return to school, their school or GP can help connect them with additional support. Other resources that can help include Kids Helpline,  Beyond Blue, or Headspace.

First Eucharist

We are confident that First Eucharist will be able to go ahead this year. The restrictions currently have density limits of 20 people (fully vaccinated adults) in the church. We are expecting that this number will increase once we reach 80% vaccination rates in the state. Once further restrictions ease we will communicate possible dates.

Prep - Year 2 Swimming

At this stage indoor pools are not permitted in Metropolitan Melbourne. If this restriction does not ease, all families will be rebated their swimming fees. 

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 as assemblies are not permitted with current COVID guidelines).

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 to be confirmed closer to the day as restrictions ease. 

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. 

Term 4 Public Holidays & Staff Professional Development Days

Monday 1st November: Report Writing (no school for students)

Tuesday 2nd November: Melbourne Cup Public Holiday (no school for students or staff)

Wednesday 17th November: Staff Professional Development Day: 2022 Planning (no school for students)

Melbourne Archdiocese School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS)

Thank you to the families who have already completed their survey. For those families who are still to complete the survey, just a reminder that the survey will close this coming Thursday 28th October.

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.  

All adults must be in a face mask both indoors and outdoors according to the current 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)

School Newsletter

Please note there will be no school newsletter next Tuesday 2nd November due to the Melbourne Cup Public Holiday. I hope all families have a great long weekend ahead. 

Canteen News

The Canteen is back open every Wednesday and Friday! Please order via Flexischools.

Canteen Helpers Roster


Wednesday October 27th 


Friday October 29th

Jodie Flynn

Rachael Wool


Wednesday November 3rd

Fleur Dow

Friday November 5th

Lauren Wearne

Belinda Hunt

Shamindri Aponso


Remembrance Day Poppy Appeal 2021

We have the following items for sale in the office for the children to purchase:-

$1.00 pins

$2.00 and $5.00 poppies

$3.00 wrist bands

$4.00 bagtags

$4.00 key rings

$5.00 pens

P&F News

Father's Day Raffle Tickets

With the return of all students to school Wednesday week, could any unsold or sold raffle tickets/money be sent back to school.  We will draw the raffle as soon as possible.  Better late than never!!!!

Community Notices

P&F Sponsors

St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully