Newsletter

Principal's Report 

Welcome Back 

Dear parents and carers

 

On behalf of our school, I want to say a big thank you to all our students, parents and carers for your continued resilience and support throughout the second year of this Pandemic.  I know remote and flexible learning continues to be a challenge, but through our collective efforts, our students have continued to make valuable progress in their learning.  As students return to school this term, we will again provide support to any student who has fallen behind through our tutoring program which we have been advised will continue through out the whole of 2022.

 

Term 4 is important for every student, and our teachers will strive to deliver high-quality learning for everyone.  Whether we’re teaching remotely or face-to-face, our focus for Term 4 is on making sure that every student is supported in their wellbeing, learning and transition needs.

 

The Victorian Government has outlined the staged return to on-site schooling for all students as part of its gradual road-map towards reopening with all students on the 5th of November.  The details are outlined below, and we will communicate any changes to this timeline as soon as they come to hand:

Staggered Return to Onsite Learning for Students  - Term 4

The return to face-to-face teaching has been confirmed with the following Victorian Government and Health Department Guidance and contains several phases for students at St John’s Regional College. 

 

• 4 October Term 4 Commences. Remote Learning Day for all students.  As per previous arrangements, children who are considered at risk will be able to access the College from Day 1 of Term 4 to continue their remote learning program under supervision.  Students are required to report to administration on arrival. 

 

• Phase A – October 5

 

5 October - Students undertaking a Year 12 subject will return to sit the GAT on 5 October. All other students will continue with their remote learning program. 

6 October - Onsite learning recommences for VCE Unit 3/4.  Detailed information to be provided at an assembly online on Monday 4 October. 

7 October - Onsite learning recommences for final year VCAL students.  This will also include Year 12 students who are Unscored completing an alternative study program (details below).  All other students will continue with their remote learning program for the first three weeks of term including Year 11 students completing Unit 3&4 RAS. 

 

• Phase B - October 26

 

Year 11 Classes will return 5 days per week 

Year 10 Classes will return 2 days per week (Thursday & Friday) 

Year 8 & 9 Classes will return 2 days per week (Tuesday & Wednesday) 

Year 7 Classes will return 5 days per week 

 

• Phase C:  - November 5

 

All students will return to school 5 days per week with additional safety measures in place. 

 

Final Week for Year 12 

Please be advised that Year 12 Classes will formally finish on Thursday 21 October with the final assembly for Year 12 taking place on Friday 22 October prior to lunchtime.  The moving of the original finish date for Year 12 from Monday 18 October is to allow Year 12 teachers and their students additional face to face teaching time as they prepare for the examinations which commence on Wednesday 27 October.

Transitions 

We are working hard to ensure the successful transitions for children moving from Grade 6 into Year 7, and the Year 12s moving into employment or further education and training.

 

We know some families are worried that their child may have to repeat a year due to the disruptions of coronavirus (COVID-19).  There is little evidence to support the benefits of repeating a year to catch up.  Instead, schools will use teaching strategies that draw on the best evidence available to help students meet their learning needs.  At St John’s this will include benchmark testing at the end of the year for our Year 7-9 students to see where they are at in relation to Literacy and Numeracy standards and to help us to highlight the strategies and areas for focus in 2022.

 

Parents, families and carers can be confident that the best option for almost every child is to stay with their peer group, whether that is moving from kindergarten into Prep, moving from Grade 6 into Year 7 at secondary school, or students moving up any year level in between.

 

Being flexible and adaptable has been crucial in responding to the challenges of coronavirus (COVID-19) and will continue to focus on emerging student needs as we look towards the end of the 2021 school year and ahead to 2022.

 

COVID Protocols & Vaccinations 

As we return face to face over the next term, I reemphasise the following protocols that will be in place to keep all members of the St John’s community safe: 

  • Strong encouragement for all members of our community to be vaccinated as soon as possible, noting that all employees and volunteers of schools or education entities that attend a school are mandated to be fully vaccinated by 29 November unless a medical exemption applies.
  • Wearing a mask indoors and outdoors unless an exemption applies.
  • That unwell members of our school community stay away from school and take a precautionary COVID test where appropriate.
  • To undertake regular use of hand sanitiser, particularly on arrival to school, before and after eating, after blowing one’s nose, coughing, sneezing or using the toilet.
  • Physical Distancing
  • Air Purifiers to be supplied by the State Government

Vaccine Information Session - Recordings

I encourage any members of our community who were unable to attend the Vaccine Information Session held last Tuesday to access the recording of this session which is available on the SEQTA home page.  The information was conducted by staff member Mr David Graham who has received training under the Vaccine Champions Program from the Department of Health.  All in attendance that evening appreciated the clarity of information which focused on:

  • The different vaccines available to different people
  • Safety of the available vaccines
  • How to book a vaccine appointment

Staffing

I congratulate Ms Tania Robinson on her appointment to the role of Head of Arts at Emmaus College for 2022.  She will be missed after 23 years of wonderful service to St John’s, and I wish her well on the next stage of her career journey.  I also advise that Food Tech Assistant Ms Sylvia Maira will be retiring from St John’s after 12 years and I thank her for her service to our community over that period. Miss Natahlia Poli will be leaving at the end of the year to take up a role at MacKillop College in Leongatha and Sports Assistant Mr Nathan Gard will be leaving St John’s to take up an electrical apprenticeship.  I wish them both well with these exciting opportunities.

 

Welcome back Ms Judy Bishop from long service leave and I advise that Mr Mario Laing will be on leave for the remainder of Term 4.

Step Up 2022

Our Step-Up Program provides an opportunity for students to begin next year's academic program in the last three weeks of this school year.  Traditionally we have only advanced our Year 10 & Year 11 students into this program but a review of the benefits of the Step-Up Program and consultation with staff and parents last year led to the decision to implement this for all year levels in 2021 beginning on the 16th of November. 

 

To ensure that adequate preparation time is given for both the completion of the 2021 academic school year and the transition into the 2022 academic program a Student Free day has been allocated on Friday 12th of November. No doubt there will be some teething problems in the first year of this program, but we are determined to ensure that the final weeks of the school year provide a strong focus on learning for the benefit of all our students as they look forward to 2022.