Change is our new normal and, as a community, if we support each other and place clear communication at the forefront, we will not only manage this change but it will also provide us with an opportunity to learn and grow.

Our staff, students, parents and carers have met this challenge with a willingness to ‘give it a go’ and the outcome has been admirable.

We will continue on this journey by maintaining our school and community events with a new approach. We are committed to continuing to provide access to information, support and connection and encourage all students and their families to join us on this journey. 

PARENT AND STUDENT INFORMATION AND CONNECTION

We have held a Year 12, HSC and Post-School Options Information session via streaming and will be engaging with the same technology for subject selections for Year 10 over the coming weeks. We will also hold our Parent-Teacher interviews via ZOOM. We will be sending information about these events shortly and encourage you to seek support if you require it to engage with these opportunities.

We will also continue to stream our assemblies, the bonus of this has been the ability to have our parents and carers also attend remotely.

COVID RESPONSE PLAN

I also wish to assure parents and carers that providing a safe environment is a priority for the school. We will continue with our hygiene practices and increased cleaning. We have a comprehensive COVID19 response plan to be implemented should a student or staff member test positive to COVID19. We will use our usual channels for any communication via COMPASS and as such emails will be sent, notes will be placed on the school website to ensure that everyone is up to date with the current information. In case of more urgent messages a SMS may also be sent. If you have any concerns please contact the school.

STUDENTS DROP OFF AND PICK UP

Thanks so much to the student and parent/carer drivers who have assisted in the smooth transition to our new circumstances with traffic, especially in the afternoons. It has helped so much that parents have staggered the collection of students. Year 12 students have moved quickly to their cars and left their car spaces with caution. We are all learning patience during this pandemic and the safe departure from our school grounds is essential. I hope that this approach continues.

A reminder that no one can be dropped off in the bus bay. This is incredibly dangerous as buses swing into the area without expecting parked cars. 

THE SCHOOL DIARY

Many students found the diary to be a very helpful tool whilst remote learning. Other students have fallen out of the habit of using it on a daily basis.  Students are encouraged to list their subjects for each day and then write homework in for each lesson. Students should have their homework and assessments written in their diaries to help them plan for what is due. An idea for parents might be to go through the diary with your child and help them plan for the week ahead.  

YEAR 10 - 12

As we return from remote learning I would like to remind students to follow the St John’s absence, illness and misadventure process. 

ABSENCE FROM/NON COMPLETION OF AN ASSESSMENT TASK

If a student is absent on the day a common task is due or an examination is to be held, the student will make sure that the office is notified by 8.30am by a parent/caregiver clearly on or before the due date. The following information should be provided:

• student's name,
• the name(s) of the task or tasks that will be missed because of the absence. This message will be given to the relevant KLA Coordinator.

Each task must be completed, and to support this, a student who fails to submit or submits a task late will be placed on Lunchtime Learning to complete the task.

The student must complete an ‘Application for Illness/Misadventure Form’ on their return.

APPLICATION FOR ILLNESS/MISADVENTURE

Students must have ALL sections of the Application for Illness/Misadventure Form completed before it will be considered by the Assessment Committee. No class teacher or KLA Coordinator can approve an Application for Illness/Misadventure. This responsibility lies with the Assessment Committee who will inform the relevant student and teacher once a decision has been reached. 

• The student must fill out Section 1 indicating why they are applying for Illness/Misadventure and how it has affected their ability to complete a task. 
• A parent/guardian must sign the form.
• The student must get their class teacher to complete and sign Section 2.
• Documentation must be provided.
•     Once Sections 1-3 have been completed and documentation attached, the student is to submit the form to the Curriculum Office for consideration by the Assessment Committee. 

DO NOT ASSUME ILLNESS/MISADVENTURE FORMS WILL BE APPROVED

YEAR 11 2021 SUBJECT SELECTION

Over the last few weeks Year 10 have engaged with the SJE Careers Google Classroom and they have been exploring career options under the guidance of Mrs Hill. As we begin the subject selection process I encourage parents and carers to start careers and futures conversations with your child. 

During Week 7 Mrs Murphy will be presenting the curriculum information to students and this will also be available in an online format. Students will receive their subject selection booklet and a website which outlines information about individual subjects on offer at St John’s will be accessible. Over the following weeks students will watch all the clips for all subjects and they will then have the opportunity to ask questions. 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE OOAAA NOMINATIONS

NEWS FROM THE FINANCE OFFICE

OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS FEE CONCESSIONS FOR FAMILIES IMPACTED FINANCIALLY BY COVID-19

On Monday 1 June, families were sent via e-mail correspondence from the Director of Schools Mr Peter Hill regarding an opportunity to access fee concessions for families impacted financially by Covid-19. This letter may be accessed from our webpage or by clicking here.

FEE STATEMENTS

Fee Statements were emailed and posted out on Wednesday 3 June 2020 to all families. Please contact the finance office if you did not receive your statement.

Mrs Connie Crawford

Finance Office

If you are considering buying a laptop click here to download some helpful information put together by our I.T Department.

It is great to have students back at school and Year 9 have embraced their learning and commitment to the St John’s community with open arms. I encourage all students to continue to look for ways they can demonstrate their gifts either in the classroom or in the wider school community. 

During our time of remote learning Year 9 worked hard to ensure that they lived out our year group motto;

“God has no hands but yours”.

Long PALS activities were designed so that students were able to engage in ways to stay connected to family and friends and to reach out to those in need, as well as reflect on what they are grateful for during this time of uncertainty. 

 

YEAR 9 PDHPE

Click here or on the image below to view some outstanding efforts by Year 9 & Year 11 students engaging in fitness testing in the gym on a rainy day!

 ST JOHN'S DANCE TROUPE

Selected as one of only 20 schools to showcase in the upcoming Australian Dance Festival in Sydney in September our Dance Troupe are working hard, attending early morning rehearsals before school to learn and perfect their routine. We are extremely proud of the commitment and hard work shown by these students.

Click here to view a snippet of the troupes second rehearsal. They are looking fabulous!

Click here for further details

Click here to register (enter code: SJEC)

Mrs Kate Davis