A Message from the Principal

Wominjeka!

Welcome back to the new school year for 2022 and a big welcome to our new families who are reading the newsletter for the first time. There was an air of excitiement and anticipation as our students and families ventured back for the start of school on Wednesday. The two days of student assessment at the beginning of the week was very productive, enabling our staff to get to know their students, prepare for their planning and programming, catering for individual needs.

We are blessed with many new students and families at St John's this year across all year levels.

	Welcome to our new students and families across the school!
Year 1 Year 2	Abriel and Jan Zoe, Brody, Emilio and Fengming
Year 3 Year 4	Asees Lilah, Piper, Yasmine, James, Liam, Luciano and Emily
Year 5	Sam
Year 6	Kareem

Renew

This Year we will 'Renew' in 22! We are focusing on the renewal of everything throughout the school. It is a year to review and revitalise as we move from two years of remote learning to now being able to enjoy our new learning spaces both inside and outdoors. Each year we choose a major concept as our focus for the year across the school and RENEW seemed very appropriate for 2022.

District Swimming

The Interschool District Swimming day is on 16 February at the Aquarena Swimming Pool, Doncaster. Events are for 10 year old's, 11 year old's and 12-13 years in freestyle, backstroke, butterfly and breaststroke. If your child is aged 10 - 13 years and is a competent swimmer, please contact Rhett Masters (Year 5/6 B) for a permission form. rmasters@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au

Covid Safety

Thank-you to all families for supporting us with our COVID safe practices. Students are required to bring a mask to school every day, to be worn indoors. It is mandatory for Year 3-6 students and highly recommended in Years P-2. There have been a few families with COVID this term, so please ensure that you notify the school if you or your child has any symptoms or has a positive RAT test.

We are still waiting for the government to supply more RAT tests and apologise to the families that missed out last week. We hope to have a new supply shortly for the next two weeks.

Meet and Greet - Parent/Teacher interviews

Please book in a time to meet your child's new class teacher this Thursday afternoon or evening. Bookings can be made via https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/a96ca

All meetings will be for 10 minutes, online and the class teacher will send you a link for the meeting. This is an opportunity to share any relevant information with the teacher which will help support your child to have a successful year. For more details please see the Learning and Teaching page of this newsletter.

Staffing for 2022

Principal - Verona Gridley

RE Leader/Deputy Principal - Melinda Buscema

Administration - Jenny Macleod

Prep A - Jessica Miller

Prep B - Shannon Wilton (Kearns)

1/2 A - Andrew Brown

1/2 B - Kristina Reid

3/4 A - Clorinda Maio

3/4 B - Carmel Barro and Naomi Ryan (Wednesday)

3/4 C - Marisa Box and Naomi Ryan (Friday)

5/6 A - Emma Pattison

5/6 B - Rhett Masters

Visual Arts/School Councillor - Deirdre Cosgrave

Performing Arts - Louise Devoy

Italian - Rosetta De Amicis

Literacy Leader/Reading - Reading Recovery/Chinese Teacher - Ange Crowe

Literacy Leader/Writing - Kristina Reid

Learning and Teaching/Digital Tehnology Leader - Shannon Wilton (Kearns)

Mathematics Leader - Rhett Masters

Wellbeing Leader - Emma Pattison

Learning Support Officer Prep - Kate Hetherington

Learning Support Officer Year 1/2 - Cheryl Apostolopoulos and Connie Pearse

Learning Support Officer Year 3/4 - Melinda Kerwin, Sherie Roberston and Kim Wilson

Learning Support Officer Year 5/6 - Julie Carroll and Ruby Schneider

Library Technician - Sue Walmsley

Prep and New Families Dinner - 15 February

Thank-you to our Community Association and the Year 1 parents for helping to prepare the 2022 Welcome Dinner for our Prep and New Families. Please join us Tuesday 15 February at 6.00pm in the Passive Play area. Full details on the CA page of this newsletter.

Farewell Cheryl

I would like to say a huge thanks to Cheryl Apostolopoulos for all of the hard work, dedication and support that she has given to our staff and students over the last few years. During remote learning, Cheryl gave so much extra time to students in her care. She will be starting work at Tintern Grammar in 2 weeks and we wish her every success in her future endeavours.

Year 6 Jackets

The Year 6 jackets will be delivered next Monday 14 February when Year 6 students will be able to collect their order. You are welcome to pay any time leading up to next Monday. A reminder that the jackets are $55.00 and they must be paid for prior to collection. Please place the cash in an envelope with your child's name and 'Year 6 Jacket' marked clearly on the front.

Walk Safely to School

Last year we worked in collaboration with the Whitehorse Council to create a Stride and Ride to School Route map. Today each family will receive a copy of the St John's map and we encourage everyone to walk or ride to school on the new safety routes.

Joke of the Week

Why do magicians do so well in school?

They’re good at trick questions.

Please do not hesitate to contact me or the class teachers, if you have any questions or concerns. Have a Wonderful Week!

Verona Gridley

Principal

vgridley@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au