Welcome back everyone to 2020

I would like to begin by thanking all the teachers, many who have been in school two and three weeks before the official start, setting up classrooms and getting things prepared for our students. 

I recently read a wonderful quote that applies for this week – “I've always loved the first day of school better than the last day of school. Firsts are best because they are beginnings.” - Welcome to the beginning of another chapter of your child’s life.  Have fun.

School Drop Off/ Pick up and Sign In/Out Procedures

A reminder to all families that the students are not to arrive to school before the 8:30am morning duty, unless they are waiting with a parent/carer. Supervision is not provided by the school until 8:30am.  Students who are dropped off or picked up between 9:00am-3:10pm need to come through the front office and be signed in/out by their parent/carer. All parents coming to the school during these times should always sign into the front office first and if you are volunteering in the school must have a valid WWVP card. Outside afternoon supervision ends at 3:30pm.  Parents have the option of using Camp Australia's After School service if they believe that they will have a problem picking their child up in the afternoon.  

Medical Plans

If your child is on a medical plan could you please make sure that you have updated their plan and sent it into the front office.  You should receive a reminder email regarding this tomorrow. 

Contact list

You will receive your contact details generated by our school database.  This list needs to be updated and returned to the school.  If you have no amendments could you please write on the front sheet ‘No Changes’ as this will make the Front Office admin much smoother.  If there are changes could you please write ‘Changes’ and circle what needs to be amended. 

Welcome BBQ and School Launch

The 2020 School Launch and social BBQ will be held tomorrow 7^th Feb run by our School Community Council members.  Parents are invited to join staff in the hall at 6pm for a 10 minute talk on our 2020 goals.

The free BBQ will commence at 6:15pm. I am looking forward to seeing everyone there.

If you haven’t done so already please RSVP using the slip sent home. 

Opening School and Staff Commissioning Mass

Our Opening School and Staff Commissioning Mass is on Sunday 16^th February at the SJV church at 9am.  It will be a Parish Mass, so both the staff groups from St Jude’s and SJV will be there.  Father Michael is looking forward to commissioning both staff groups to prepare them for this year’s mission of educating your child.  It would be wonderful to have our families well represented at this Mass to support the staff from both schools.

Smoke Haze/Student Well Being

I would like to assure everyone that the school is monitoring the air quality before school starts and throughout the day.  If the air quality falls into the ‘poor’ category, we are limiting children’s time outside and monitoring students who are sensitive to air pollutants and respiratory issues.  If the quality of the air is deemed ‘very poor’ or worse, we are keeping all children inside.  This monitoring happens every day and will continue to do so until Canberra air quality has returned to normal, probably after the fires have been extinguished by heavy rain. 

Welcome New Families and Kinder

I would like to welcome everyone back from the holidays but especially our 12 new families.

Of course, greetings would not be complete without a special welcome to Kinder! I was in the Kinder classroom this week and they seem to have adapted very well to the rigors of bells, uniforms and ‘jobs’ that their teacher asks them to do.  It has been wonderful that parents have already organised a time for their child to complete vital testing during their Wednesday ‘break’.

Uniform Shop

The Uniform Shop will be open once per week on Wednesday mornings between 8:30-9:30am.  Mrs. So, one of our Kinder mums has kindly volunteered to run the Uniform Shop.  The school would appreciate anyone else who has mentioned an interest to put their name forward as an extra support person. 

Welcome New Staff

Welcome to Mrs. Leia Mackenzie (3/4CA), Mr. Wayne Young (Yr. 1JB), Mrs. Laura Matchett (Yr. 5/6J) and Mrs. Cathy Shepherd (Learning Support).  If you see any of these staff members or of course our existing staff members, say hello to make them feel welcome for the new school year. 

Meet and Greets

‘Meet and Greets’ will occur on Monday to Friday afternoon next week depending on teacher’s availability.  These sessions only go for 10 minutes and are an ideal time for you to touch base with the teachers and raise any concerns or set goals that you have for your child/ren.   Booking information has been sent out via hard copy and email.  This information contains everything needed to register your appointment.  

Staff Professional Development

Staff returned to work last week to complete three days of professional learning. Of course, I saw many members of staff working at school through the holiday period, ensuring that all was in readiness for the students’ first day on Monday.

The major focus for our Professional Learning was unpacking the Australian Curriculum and developing teachers as writers and the subsequent impact that this can have on our students.  There was also a focus on our personal faith and how this relates to the staff as educators as well as a mandatory Senior First Aid course. This study will be used as a focus to develop the talents and skills of the SJV students throughout 2020.

School Counsellor

I would like to welcome our new counselor Ms. Mercedes Pasco.  Mercedes brings a wealth experience to the role and is very much looking forward to meeting all our children.  Our school is fortunate enough to have extra counselling hours this year and as such, we are hoping for Mercedes to spend time with the Year 3-6 cohort discussing relationships and resilience. 

If you feel that your child needs someone to talk to regarding anything from friendship issues to anxiety, please do not hesitate to contact the front office for a referral form to see Mercedes. 

Claim the Date – Term 1 Working Bee – March 7^th 9am-12noon

Please make yourself available for the first of our two working bees this year.  The focus of this Bee will be our environment.  I have listed the jobs below which will be all completed if we have plenty of people to help out

• Completion of new chicken run
• Completion of screening in the Environment Centre
• Emptying of rubbish into skip
• Assembly of scrap metal for pick up
• Emptying of shipping container
• Pruning of trees
• Extra soft fall for our playground

God bless you and your families

Peter Rodda

Principal

With Sharee Thomas

Dear Parents,

Welcome to 2020! For those of you who don't know me, I am the REC here at SJV. I will soon be sending lots of information out to the parents of children in Years 3,4 and 6 about the Sacrament program this year, so keep a look out for that early next week. 

Over the holidays there was a lot of tragedy and unrest with the devastating bushfires and then decimating hail storms and I know, like some of you, I was feeling anxious about sending my little person back to school with a new teacher. I then came across this poem that describes exactly what I want as a parent and how I feel as a teacher so I thought I would share it with you... 

We love them too.

We know it’s taken you mountains of strength to lift your heavy feet to walk away from your baby while you leave them in our classroom. To thrust them into this new world of cohorts and competition, a world you feel they will have to navigate themselves without you beside them. But, please know, they won’t be alone, they are with us.

Have a great week!

LENTEN CONCERT - 'ASHES TO EASTER' with Peter Kearney. 
Sunday 15th March, 2.00-3.15pm in St. John Vianney Church, 87 Namatjira Drive, Waramanga.
Peter Kearney is an Australian Catholic songwriter/singer and guitarist whose hymns and songs include ‘Fill My House’ and ‘The Beatitudes’. His ‘Ashes to Easter’ concert weaves songs and stories and reflections on Lenten themes and looks ahead to Holy Week and Easter.  Mainly for adults though upper-primary and older students could also enjoy. Donations welcome.  
Comment: “A beautiful Lenten reflection … prayerful and spiritual   a worthwhile part of our Lenten journey”.

What is Prayer?: Fr Michael is proposing to hold a series of talks on prayer. 
Beginning on Sunday 16 February 2020 after the 9.00am Mass at St John Vianney Church. It will run every week until 5 April and the topics will be:

16 February—What is prayer;
23 February—How to pray with the bible “Lectio Divina”;
1 March—Ignatian Contemplation;
8 March—How to pray the Rosary;
15 March—What is Sacrament?;
22 March—What is Eucharist?
29 March—What is Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick?;
 5 April—What is Liturgy?
Everyone is  invited to attend. Tea & coffee available.

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
Commences on Tuesday 28 January 2020 @ 7.00pm in  St John Vianney Church Meeting Room. Those who are keen to further their knowledge of the faith or are enquiring about becoming a Catholic are welcome to join this weekly journey until the end of May 2020. Please contact the parish office to register your interest. Late comers are welcome.

Cathy Schneider & Marianne Forshaw
Parish secretaries
Our Lady of the Annunciation Parish
Weston Creek/South Molongo
87 Namatjira Drive
Waramanga ACT 2611
Phone: (02) 8331 7611
Email: westoncreek@cg.org.au

Weblog: https://stjjvwestoncreek.blogspot.com

Thank you

We acknowledge Penny Scholtens for doing an outstanding job organising the Year Six Graduation Dinner.  Thank you Penny for all the preperations that made the event special for our graduates and their families.

A very warm welcome to all of our new and returning ELC families.  The first week of Preschool is an exciting time for children, families and staff.  All of the children have been exploring their new environment whilst getting to know one another and their teachers.  Thank you for having your children so well prepared for Preschool and for a positive first week.  We look forward to the year ahead. 

The ELC classes had a visit from Will who read them a book about the importance of difference in our lives.  The story generated discussion about things that make us look different, the different things we like, and how our families are different. On Thursday Ms Tee decorated they foyer to help celebrate Chinese New Year and is going to tell us more about this celebration throughout the week.

St Jude’s Welcome Picnic - ELC families are invited to the St Jude’s Welcome picnic which will be held on the school oval tomorrow evening from 6pm.  Chairs with sea creature pictures will be placed as a possible gathering point for ELC families.  BYO picnic and chairs or rugs.

Emails: If you have not received an email for your child’s teacher, please notify your child’s teacher ASAP.

ELC Parent Information Night – will held on Tuesday 11 Feb from 6pm.  All ELC parents and carers are encouraged to attend.

Parent Sharing Meetings - will be held at the ELC in weeks 3 and 4. Booking sheets will be available from your child’s teacher next week (Week Two).

ELC Accounts – ELC accounts for weeks 3 and 4 were emailed this today.  If you did not receive your account, please contact the ELC as soon as possible.  If the Child Care Subsidy does not appear on your statement you may need to confirm your enrolment on My Gov and then let the ELC know.  If you have any questions regarding fees, please do not hesitate to contact the ELC office.

Lunch Boxes- Please be mindful that your child will require a healthy lunch and a fruit or Vegetable snack.  Due to a child having an allergy to fish, please do not include fish in your child’s lunch.

Dates for Term 4