Term 4, Week 10, 9 December 2021
Blessings for a Happy and Holy Christmas
Acting Principal Message
Dear Families, Contrary to what most would think, school this week is a hive of activity. Our younger students are busy finishing off various Christmas projects. The year six students are energetically finalising preparations for their graduation events next week. Year five students are supporting them and assisting Mrs Loane who along with Miss Wells, Miss McEvoy and Mrs Bailey are all moving classrooms in the coming days in preparation for next year. When, as you know, the current Kindy and Stage One classrooms will be completely rebuilt. Kindy is preparing a mega assembly item for Friday with Mrs Bailey as they get ready to exit Kindy.
Things are busy on the playground too. Atomic Landscapers are busy replacing the old climbing equipment and playground with a brand new upgraded version. Of course all the children are very excited about this and can’t wait to put the new equipment to the test. We will have the official opening of the play equipment next year- something for everyone to look forward to.
Congratulations to all students for their efforts in the classroom this year. Each and every child has had to overcome the interruptions of the Covid lock-down and find a way to get back into the groove of learning and school life. Right now walking around the playground during breaks and visiting classes during lessons I see children playing and interacting happily with their friends outside and children focussed and engaged in their learning in the classrooms. So much great learning has taken place this year despite the interruptions.
Extra special congratulations to our wonderful year six graduates of 2021. They have had a great year of learning and leading. Academically they've progressed well and grown enormously as learners. I feel they are well prepared to embrace the challenges of high school next year. As a cohort they have really bonded into an impressively coherent group, I saw this first hand at camp this year. They support each other and celebrate one anothers’ diversity, gifts and talents. As leaders I think their greatest legacy will be the respectful way in which they have treated the younger children. This respect that they have extended to all of the younger children is a legacy that will live on in next years’ leaders who will surely follow in their footsteps. We wish each of them our very best wishes for their transition to high school next year.
To our parent community I’d like to say thank you. I know it has not been an easy year. It has been difficult to maintain connectedness in the midst of the Covid restrictions. Your support has been unwavering, in times such as these it is needed more than ever to ensure that the children continue to thrive with their learning of course their social development and well being. To those families who are leaving us this year, thank you for being a part of our beautiful and dynamic little school community here at St John’s. We wish you well in the years ahead.
A big thank you to all of our teachers and ancillary staff. The entire staff team has worked tirelessly with a single goal in mind: that is to place the children, their learning and well being at the centre of all that we do. To this end they have done a great job. From Josef our new groundsman who makes the playground shine to Tundra in the office who mends scuffed knees and fields questions from parents with the same love no matter how busy she is. The teaching staff have worked collectively to deliver engaging learning cycles to ensure that each child makes as much progress as they possibly can. They consistently go above and beyond the call of duty to attain that extra, possibly elusive outcome, for the students in their care.
I wish each and every family a joyous Christmas filled with love and blessings. A safe holiday period with lots of fun family time, recreation and some down time squeezed in there somewhere. I look forward to working alongside you next year supporting our new principal David as he settles into his important new role bringing the very best education possible to your children.
Swimming carnival: our swimming carnival has been held over to 2022 due to Covid restrictions. The carnival is booked in for Tuesday the 15th of February 2022. Those children wishing to compete in the Tweed Zone Swimming next year will receive a note explaining what to do this week.
Reports, please see Mrs O’s article below to learn how to access school reports through Compass.
2022 Maths Assessment Interviews. Information regarding the commencement of the 2022 school year is also found in Mrs O’s section below.
Class teachers for 2022:
Kindy- Mrs Bailey
Stage One: Miss McEvoy and Mrs Loane
Stage Two: Miss Wells
Stage Three: Mrs Bottle (Learner support Mr Flint)
2022 dates: please be sure to check the dates listed beow pertaining to the commencement of school next year.
Warmest wishes, Greg.
Kindy students eager to get into the new playground.
TEACHING AND LEARNING
That's a Wrap! It is hard to believe Christmas is just around the corner and our school year is nearing the end! 2021 has certainly had its ups and downs and presented challenges for all of us. In light of this, I would like to acknowledge the endeavours of the staff to continually seek to engage students in learning. They are very dedicated and hardworking and I wish to thank them for their efforts this year in supporting your child in their school journey. Similarly, we thank and praise our students for their commitment to learning and their involvement in all the extra curricular activities that build a strong school community. We particularly wish our Year 6 students all the best for the next phase of their lives. It has been a pleasure to watch many of you grow from Junior Johnnies to the people you are now. Best of luck for high school, Year 6.
REPORTS Important Information regarding how to access your child’s report is included in this newsletter. Please follow the instructions provided to view reports in COMPASS this year. There are no printed copies. These will be available on Friday 10th December from 3pm.
2022 IMPORTANT DATES and MAI CONFERENCES All students require a Maths Assessment Interview Conference at the start of each year. These will take place on the 1st and 2nd of February, 2022. Parents need to book interviews FOR EACH CHILD with their 2022 classroom teacher. In Stage 1, there are two classroom teachers- you can choose either teacher. If the classroom teacher is fully booked there are some additional time slots with either myself or Greg Flint. Bookings for students in Years 1- 6 are made via COMPASS. Please follow the steps in the information provided. Your child will only attend school for the time of their interview (approximately 30-40mins) These booking slots will also go ‘live’ on Friday afternoon 10th December. Please book your child BEFORE the end of the year. Thank you.
Kindergarten do BEST START interviews and Maths Assessment Conference which requires a longer session. As previously explained to you via email, this needs to be booked through Tundra at the office, please contact Tundra ASAP if you have a child in Kindergarten.
AROUND THE STAGES - Kinder
Kindergarten Mini Graduation
Kindergarten students are nearly ready for Year 1. They want to let their new teachers and their parents know all about how far they have come with their learning and how ready they are for the next year. The students will be reading out their speeches at assembly this Friday. The ceremony will be videoed and uploaded onto Seesaw for the Kinder families to enjoy.
Kindergarten
Kinder letters
Kinder letters continued.....
SCHOOL NEWS
IMPORTANT DATES
Year 6 Last day, Tuesday 14 December
Last day for k-5 Students, Wednesday 15th December
2022
Friday 28th January- Admin day for staff only
Monday 31st January- Staff Development Day- no students
Tuesday 1st February- MAI and BEST Start interviews for individual students at their booked time slot
Wednesday 2nd February- MAI and BEST Start interviews for individual students at their booked time slot
Thursday 3rd February- SCHOOL RESUMES for ALL students K-6
Year 5 and 6 Invitation to Parents
There will be a year 6 Graduation/End of year Liturgy
Date: Tuesday 14th December 2021 at 9am
Place: St John's School Hall
COVID restriction apply; Sign in to school and Services NSW
Masks to be worn
Double Vaccination documentation
SCHOOL FEES
2021 School Fees are now overdue. Please arrange to finalise your account before the end of Term. This can be done via Bpay or Compass pay. Please use your compass app to access balances. If you have any concerns or queries please contact the school direct.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU"
Our birthday people
Harper, Max, Hazel, Charleen, Mrs O and Mrs Bailey
Summer Holiday Birthday Celebrations
Raffaella, Sybella, Tinks, Oscar, Aliza, Joseph & Mia will celebrate their birthdays during the summer holidays.
COMMUNITY NEWS
