Office News

IMPORTANT REMINDER

Families are reminded that students should not be attending school if there are any symptoms of illness. At the first sign of COVID or flu like symptoms please get tested and remain isolated until results are received. If your child comes to school exhibiting symptoms of illness, you will be called and asked to pick them up.

Lost Property

Lost property is now located in the administration building hallway. 

We encourage families to write and label ALL uniform, lunch containers and drink bottles that your child uses for school. Then we can return lost items quickly and with no added expense in having to replace items.

2025 School Fees & Levies

Fee statements were issued on Monday 3 February by email, with the first instalment due on Friday 21 February 2025.

Information in relation to payment plans was also included in the email. Please contact the office if you have any questions (accounts@sjfootscray.catholic.edu.au).

2025 Concessional fees, CSEF & School Saving Bonus

If you hold one of the below valid concession cards, you are entitled to apply for the MACS Fee Concession, CSEF (Camp Sports Excursion Funding) and School Savings Bonus.

The below forms are to be used for Concessional Fee Applications and CSEF (both PDFs you can type in). Please email both forms back to accounts@sjfootscray.catholic.edu.au together with a copy / photo of your concession card.

Application processing has commenced (firstly endorsement of CSEF, then application of fee concession and school saving bonus). At the end of this process, we will be able to let you know what your fees owing will be for 2025.

Thank you

Melinda McNaught

Bursar

accounts@sjfootscray.catholic.edu.au

Swimming Program 2025

It is a government and MACS expectation that we have a swimming program each year. As a school we decided to implement a 2 year cycle with 2024 focusing on water awareness and safety to PE and 2025 intensive swimming program. This meets the requirements of MACS and the Victorian Curriculum. See screenshot below:

The cost we charge parents is to cover the cost of the swim teachers, pool hire and buses. If you wish to withdraw your children from this program we would need to have this in writing along with the understanding that your children would remain at school supervised by either other level hub educators or in the staff room by leaders. This may also impact your child's PE progression point on their report in Semester 2 as they will not be able to report on their achievement for this area. I would be more than happy to discuss this further on the phone if required.

Kind regards

Emily

Absences

Absences and Family Holidays

Please be aware that parents need to contact the school to give a reason for any type of absence or we will have to mark your child unapproved.   Please refer below for ways to communicate absences with the school.

Parents are required to ensure their child attends school and to provide an explanation for their child's absence from school, and the principal must record in writing the reason (if any) given by the parent. The principal must be able to determine from the records if the excuse given was reasonable in terms of the parent meeting their legal obligations.

Parents should promptly inform the school of the reason for their child's absence so that the school can:

• determine if the child's absence needs to be excused by the principal, in line with school policy and these guidelines
• determine the appropriate follow up to ensure the child's education and wellbeing is supported
• record if the parent has a reasonable excuse for not meeting their obligation to ensure their child attends school each day

Where possible, parents should inform the school in advance of upcoming absences to ensure a child's education and wellbeing are supported, parents are encouraged to communicate openly with the school where a child has an ongoing medical condition that may result in extended absences or medical appointments during school hours.

Family holidays will be approved if notification in writing to the Principal has been received in advance.

Parents are requested to log their child's reason for absence using either:

• Via PAM (Parent Access Module) - see the attached "How To" guide
• SIMON Everywhere App
• Email: admin@sjfootscray.catholic.edu.au
• Phone: 9687 3150 - from 8.30am

Medications Reminder

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools Ltd (MACS) have updated their Medical Management Policy to ensure that schools meet their responsibilities and duty of care for managing the medical needs of children with diagnosed medical conditions, health care needs, wellbeing and/or personal care needs, to support students’ equitable access and participation in education.

This means that St. John’s will be implementing required changes to the management of supporting children with medical conditions, including those who require administration of medication during school hours.

What does this mean for families of children with a medical condition?

Please provide the school with the item/s required as soon as possible at the start of the year, as it is of primary importance that we have up to date Action Plans/Medication in case of an emergency.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Leonie in the office on 9687 3150 or admin@sjfootscray.catholic.edu.au

Thank you for your assistance.

Parent Contact Details

Have your contact details changed? 

If so, please log into PAM (Parent Access Module) and update your details or email the office via admin@sjfootscray.catholic.edu.au so we can update our records. This includes changes to emergency contacts, additional numbers to call if needed and any changes to employment details.

Thank you

Melinda and Leonie