Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Carers

As we approach the end of a very different year, it is useful to keep the following quote in mind for ourselves and others.

 ‘God wants us to be happy always.  He knows us and loves us.  If we allow the love of Christ to change our heart, then we can change the world.  This is the secret of authentic happiness.   Pope Benedict

Staffing 2021

We have a small amount of staff movement at SJV for next year, that I wanted to keep our community informed about.

I have already mentioned in an earlier newsletter that Mrs Leia Mackenzie has accepted a permanent position at Emmaus College.  I can now inform you that Mrs Katherine Eastick has accepted a transfer position to St Anthony’s Wanniassa with Mrs Janice Spackman coming to St John Vianney’s, teaching with Mrs Malpas.  Katherine has been at SJV for a considerable part of her career and she feels that a change would be beneficial professionally.  Her lovely boy, Lachlan will be going to St Anthony’s ELC next year and so teaching at the same school will have many benefits for Katherine. 

I would also like to announce that Miss Brewer will not be at SJV in 2021. I would like to thank Gabie for all the hard work and dedication that she has given the school and to the students in her care, as well as wishing her all the very best for her ongoing success in education.  We also have a new teacher starting with us for a temporary contract in 2021, Miss Sarah Winnel. I am sure our community will make her feel very welcome next year.   

Finally, Mrs Karen Bruce has decided to complete all her CSA work from one school (St Thomas Kambah) rather than splitting her time between two.  Karen has been here for over 10+ years and is a valuable member of our staff who always arrives with a smile and leaves with one.  Like our whole Learning Support Team, she has the children at the forefront of her mind and how she can make a difference in their lives.  I wish her all the best at Kambah for 2021.

SJV Mega Raffle

Congratulations to Alyssa, Lucy, and Skye who will receive $25 Rebel Sport vouchers and $10 MacDonald's vouchers for selling their raffle books for the school.  As mentioned before, the funds will go towards new reading books, fun events like our end of year BBQ and more mundane items like re-asphalting our carpark.  Please get behind our one fundraiser for the year.

Class Placements 2021

As discussed in our last newsletter the staff has discussed how we place students in grades 3-6.  The school believes that the classroom teachers are best placed to make these decisions based on their time spent with all stakeholders.

If however, you would like to discuss specific needs of your child, please make an appointment with me from now until the end of week eight to discuss these needs.  I will ensure that teachers know any issues raised by you, when they work through class placements. 

Year 5 Parents – Graduation

Thank you to those parents who have already made contact with Karen Wilder.  If you have not done so yet and you are a Year 5 parent, could you please contact Karen to see if you can help in some way or another? 

Karen’s email is s.k.wilder@bigpond.com

Classroom Contacts for 2021 needed.

Please think about becoming involved in our school by being a classroom contact

A Class Contact role can include:

• welcoming new families to our school after being notified of their arrival by the front office.
• organising help for a family in need.
• organising a student event like a hot chocolate get together, an afternoon play or soccer after school for their grade level.
• organise a parent dinner.

Could you please let your current classroom teacher know that you are interested in taking on this role in 2021.  

Working Bee 2021 – Please Come

As a tradition we hold a Working Bee on the last weekend of the holidays, before the children come back to school.  This is generally devoted to weeding and sweeping to make sure that things are spick and span, ready to the students to enjoy their first week of school.  Could you please email the school to let us know if you are available on either the Saturday or Sunday (30th or 31st January) to help.

Office.sjv@cg.catholic.edu.au  - Subject line - January Working Bee

Stay safe and God bless.

Peter Rodda

Principal

With Sharee Thomas

Stay awake! With these words, Jesus cautions his disciples to be constantly vigilant and to be alert to the return of the Lord. It is a very fitting way to begin the season of Advent. Advent has traditionally been observed as a time of preparation and waiting. It culminates in the Christmas season and so the waiting and preparation is related to the celebration of the coming of Christ into the world.

Perhaps the time of preparation this Advent is also a call to stay awake and stay alert in faith. One of the great challenges to faith today is the complacency that has taken hold of many in our society. When life is comfortable, the perceived need for faith appears to diminish. Many young people in our society cannot see the value of religious belief or religious practice. In a world of instant communication and instant ‘satisfaction’, the reflective and slow work of faith can seem too much effort for some people. The gospel call to stay awake in preparation for the coming of the Lord is a call to continue the work of bringing about the Kingdom of God.

Over the last three weeks, the gospel passages from Matthew 25 were reminders about continuing to prepare for the coming of the Kingdom. This week, with the beginning of Advent, it is the Gospel of Mark that also reminds us that we cannot take the Kingdom for granted and must remain vigilant in working to realise the Kingdom. This vigilance needs to be applied to nurturing our own faith life as well as making a difference in the lives of those around us and the needy in society. Rather than ‘Stay awake!’ maybe some of us need to be told, ‘Wake up!’ It is never too late to pay closer attention to faith and perhaps this Advent is an ideal time to do that.

(Gospel Reflection by Greg Sunter)

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Tree

Early next week families will receive a note about our school giving tree and what we can do to support families in need in our community through the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. 

SACRAMENTS 2021 

Most dates for the sacraments have now been set by Fr Michael and both parish schools but we are just waiting on a directive about Confirmation from the Arch Bishops office. When this comes through we will send the dates home ASAP.

We can tell you that Reconciliation (Year 3) will be celebrated in May and Eucharist (Year 4) will be celebrated a little differently next year and will occur in both May and June. Confirmation is being planned for September. 

All questions will be answered with more information over the next few weeks so please be patient and understanding.

Have a great week! 

SJV Tuckshop is open Wednesday & Friday.  Orders can be made online via Qkr!  A copy of the Menu and Qkr! instructions can be found on the Tuckshop Webpage.

Please remember to bring your WWVP card with you.

Tuckshop Volunteers Needed

Happy Birthday Hugh K

This week the ELC hosted four year 10 students from Merici College for their work experience placement. A huge thank you to Imogen, Isabelle, Eve and Sahaja for your eager participation in our preschool programs and for helping both children and staff. On Tuesday afternoon the Seahorse children took the chicks and ducklings outside for some fun in the sun and grass. The ducklings enjoyed their very first swim. We will farewell our hatchlings tomorrow after an exciting fortnight.

Last day of preschool

If your child will not be attending on their last day of preschool please email the ELC office so that their last day can be amended in our booking system. This will prevent you having to pay full fees as you would not be entitled to your usual CCS.

Holiday Program, 21 -22 December

The ELC will be open on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 December from 9am-5pm. We can only accept bookings for 22 children so if you would like to book, email the ELC office ASAP. Bookings cannot be accepted if fees are in arrears.

Library Books

With the end of term fast approaching, please have a look around your house for any library books that need returning.

ELC Final Fees

Final term accounts were emailed this week. Please ensure you cancel your automatic payments now to avoid overpayment. Please check your final account balance (which will take into account CCS rounding and extra term charges) and ensure that you pay the correct amount. As we are approaching the end of the year, we appreciate your efforts to ensure accounts are up to date prior to the due date, Friday 4 December.

Fifth Lane photography

$20 from each photo package purchased by families from our community will go towards ELC resources. If you are due for family photos or looking for a special Christmas gift check out their website and the great deal.

What's coming up and when: