Welcome to the end of Wk 3

 This term is moving so fast that it is a great time to take some inspiration from the bible.

 “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” (1 Peter 3:8)

 

Welcome BBQ and School Launch

The weather is scheduled to be fine, so I am looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow for a 5pm start in the school hall.  

The first 10 minutes I will be describing some of our broad school goals with our Executive Team informing the community of our CE System Vision as well as some of the important school events that are occurring this year.  We will then have time for everyone to have some sausages, jumping castle play and general fun.

Community Council Representatives

 We are currently seeking new members to join our School Community Council. The Council meets on Monday evenings of school weeks Three and Eight at 6.00pm at school.  Our first meeting is scheduled for this coming Monday.

I have detailed below some of the functions of the Community Council:

• Supporting the development of the Catholic identity, ethos and mission of the school
• Supporting pastoral care strategies in the school community
• Promoting the school in the local community
• Developing, approving and monitoring the annual budget, including school determined levies, loan commitments and the fees collection and remission policy
• Developing capital and maintenance programs
• Developing local strategic plans (finances, buildings, resources) and contributing to Archdiocesan educational strategic planning
• Facilitate local school community debate in response to System leadership by the CEC and the CEO in lobbying governments in school funding campaigns
• Approving school uniform items decided at school level
• Ensuring that expenditure of the Community Council levy aligns with the Strategic directions of the Schools Annual Improvement Plan

If you would like to be considered for membership of the Community Council please email me.

 

Lunchtime Clubs

St John Vianney’s has a variety of lunchtime clubs for our students to participate in.  Currently we have four lunchtime clubs with a fifth club, ‘Games’ starting soon.  Our regular clubs will begin operation next week. 

Tuesday – Library Club

Our librarian, Samantha Heath supervises the library at 1st Break on Tuesday. This is a great opportunity for your child to speak with her about book selections! Ms Heath knows just about everything there is to know about children’s literature, so a great person to help your child choose a great book.

Wednesday - Maths Club Year 5-6, Environment Club and Choir

I will begin Maths Club for senior student’s after I return from the Principal’s Conference.  This is a great opportunity for students to polish and practise their skills or extend their interest in the subject.  This is every Wednesday Morning beginning at 8:30am.

Mrs Leah Malpas hosts the Environment Club at 1^st Break. Students plant vegetables, look after the flower and vegetable beds, and care for our chickens.  They also get to bring home fresh produce.  A win for everyone. 

Mrs Mary Mullamphy hosts a choir every week on Wednesdays at 2^nd Break.  The children (pre-Covid) are usually asked to perform at Semester Awards, Nursing Homes and local shopping centres to polish their skills and maximise their enjoyment. 

Friday

Mr Young will be hosting a games club (board not computer) in his classroom at lunchtime every Friday.  This will be starting very soon. 

 

Chicken Notice

Thank you to our holiday chicken helpers! 

I would like to say a BIG thank you to the Wilson family who fed and looked after our chickens over the Christmas holiday period. The chickens bring so much joy to a number of students in the school and are a valuable addition to our school community. Without help over our holiday periods we would be unable to keep our chicken coop going.

With appreciation for all your help,

Karen Stilling

 

School Fete – Coordinators Needed

Yes, our Fete is back on in 2021! The school is looking for a Coordinator or a team of Coordinators to begin preparations for the Fete.  Primarily,at the moment, we need to book items/stalls for our Fete in November.  There are many people in our community who hold corporate knowledge and are willing to be stallholders, we just need some people to coordinate.  Please contact me directly at peter.rodda@cg.catholic.edu.au to register your willingness to take on a role in this important community event. 

 

Swimming Carnival – Tuck-shop BBQ Sausage Sizzle – Help Needed

Our upcoming carnival will be a fun affair for the children.  For the first time this will be held at the new Stromlo Leisure Centre situated on the corner of Uriarra Road & Dave McInnes Rd, Stromlo on Friday 5th March. The buses will depart from SJV at 9.00am and return around 1.10pm for a BBQ lunch provided by our Canteen. The special BBQ lunch orders will come out soon. Lunch will be free for all Carnival Helpers and if you can help on the BBQ, please contact Karen Wilder, our volunteer Canteen Manager.

Year 5/6 Camp

A big thankyou to Mrs Matchett and Mrs Dunley who placed a lot of time and effort into preparing a brilliant school camp.  The children had enormous fun because they were able to take risks in a nurturing environment using well-planned and safe activities.  Photos are available on our FaceBook page.  

 

 

God bless you and your families

 

Peter Rodda

Principal

MOVE IT!

 

We all know about the true benefits of physical activity and how it plays a significant part in our overall health. Research states that children should be involved in physical activity for at least 60 minutes a day and it doesn’t have to be structured. It can be a run on the oval, a scooter after school, walk/run with the family pet and even a swing on the old hills hoist, anything that makes their breathing deeper and their blood pumping is of a great benefit.

 

At St John Vianney’s, movement and being physically active is an integral part of your child’s day. Our teachers take a strengths-based approach to teaching Physical Education and therefore the students have many opportunities to be engaged, flourish and expand their knowledge about living and being healthy. After eating during each break time, they get a huge amount of choice of how they can be active – this includes, a run on our green oval, climb on either our new play equipment, play a variety of team sports including cricket, soccer, AFL, netball, basketball, handball and touch rugby. There is a lunch club on a Tuesday where students can learn Taekwondo.  Tennis Australia is currently providing clinics for our students in addition to the structured Physical Education lessons from the Australian Curriculum. We also have an excellent Gross Motor Program that the Kinder and Year 1 are involved in each week.

 

The health benefits of exercise include the:

• Development of healthy bones, muscles, joints, heart and lungs.
• Developing and refining of coordination, strength and muscle control
• Maintaining a healthy body weight
• Increase in flexibility
• Brain will develop vital connections leading to improved concentration and thinking skills

 

Having 3 older children, I know too well that it is hard to move them from the couch and into physical activity mode, however, here are a few tips that are known to help.

 

1. Choose or encourage a fun activity
2. Add in lots of variety – kick the footy one day and shoot some hoops the next, totem tennis was a family favourite in our house and great for hand eye coordination
3. Join in if possible and build extra physical activity in the day
4. Reward your child with a visit to a “cool” new park to explore
5. Praise and encourage effort and laugh along the way.

 

Currently, Dr. Michalis Stylianos from the Queensland University is undergoing study into the Health benefits of Physical Activity: Cognitive Performance and School Engagement. I will share his paper and journal articles once they become available.

 

Feel free to send in some of the physical activities that you share as a family and we will place them on display to continue to promote a healthy lifestyle.

 

A big congratulations to our Year 5/6 students and teachers who have been our guiding lights this week with 3 intense days of physical activity whilst on camp. No doubt they will share with all of us the many stories about their personal determination, grit and resilience.

I look forward to meeting all of you tomorrow night at our Welcome BBQ tomorrow  from 5.00pm -7.00pm. 

 

Blessings

Jo Reed

Assistant Principal

Here are some of our gorgeous new Kindies enjoying our Gross Motor Program.

 

Yesterday we celebrated Ash Wednesday, the day that marks the beginning of Lent. This is a period of preparation in the Church’s Liturgical Year that orients the community towards Holy Week and the Season of Easter. It’s a time for Catholics to slow down their lives and focus on prayer, fasting and good works. During Lent, students are invited to give up or take up something that will benefit the lives of others and positively enhance their relationships. We invite students to make age-appropriate decisions; this could be emptying the dishwasher (without complaint or without being asked!) or reducing time spent playing video games.

The Season of Lent also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allows Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to alleviate poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice. Each year we raise student awareness of people around the world who need support and encourage giving to this cause. Every class will soon receive a donation box where they can place a small donation to support this appeal. Further information about what we are raising money for will be shared in future newsletters. 

SACRAMENTS

Tonight between 6-7pm there will be an information evening for parents of children who may wish to receive any of the Sacraments this year. Children in Year 3 participate in Reconciliation, Year 4 receive Eucharist for the first time and our Year 6 students become confirmed. This meeting needs to be attended by 1 parent/carer and is being held in the SJV Church. Children are not required to attend this meeting but if you can't arrange baby sitting, please bring them along. If you cannot attend this meeting, please contact me here at school or via email.

Have a great week!

What's coming up and when:

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