Welcome Back

I extend a warm welcome in anticipation of the return of our students from Years 8-10 on Monday. The return to face to face teaching has been a long time coming and it will be wonderful to have a full school once again. I have attached the main elements of our COVID Safe plan which is on our school website and this will be reinforced with our students on their return next Monday the 26th of October. Parents are advised that the remote learning program will not continue from this date. If you are intending to keep your children at home due to COVID concerns then they will be able to access their learning program on SEQTA, however due to face to face teaching commitments, teachers will not be providing regular feedback for students still learning from home.

Scholarship Winners 2020

I announce that the following students have been awarded general excellence scholarships for the 2021 school year. There were many excellent applications, but these students stood out for their academic performance, respectful interactions with staff and students, and engagement with school life. I congratulate them all. These students will be acknowledged formally on the 2020 awards evening in November. The next round of scholarships will be awarded to students in Year 7, 8 & 10 in Term 3 of 2021.

Year 7

Anastasia Tolis - Monoceros

Bass Olsen - Delphinus

Kiara Lay - Delphinus

Jayden Fernandopulle - Phoenix

Year 8

Darren Razu - Monoceros

Jordan Hayward - Phoenix

Shanriana Kasturisinghe – Columba

Sherlyn Antony - Columba

Year 10

Vanessa Suson - Aquila

Kye Duncan - Columba

William Sciberras - Phoenix

Cindy Yang - Monoceros

Book Week 2020

I thank our Communications Leader Ms Lisa Finamore, the Year 12 Communication Leaders, Shenal Amarasekara and Chloe Xu and all the staff who have created the following activities for book week. Book week is a fun week of literacy based activities which help develop our skills in literacy including: communication, building greater vocabulary, speech patterns and enunciation; improved concentration, as well as our lifetime love of books which have got many us through the stages of lockdown this year.

Book Week Activities:

Monday 5pm Book Week Quiz - Book voucher first prize
Book in a Day – Ms Sue Keel will launch to all students, the "Book in a Day" book, created by Tien Nguyen and Tameka Haggett
Storykids podcasts will be emailed to all students.
Invitation for students to create and submit their own podcast to Storykids
Communications Leaders Shenal Amarasekara and Chloe Xu will judge the competition for the Illustration of a book front cover.
A Poetry Workshop with staff member Mr Peter Samuel.
Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Peanuts & Charlie Brown Cartoons through film.

Class of 2020

It has been wonderful to see our senior students back this week and St John’s does feel like a school again, however all too quickly our focus draws to farewelling the class of 2020. It has been a difficult year for everybody in our community and none more so than for our senior students in their final year of secondary schooling and yet despite this they have been exemplary in their behaviour.

The Catholic Education Office and the Department of Education have set in place guidelines that govern our end of year celebrations based on the Health Department protocols which aim to keep everybody safe.

Working within these guidelines we are planning to celebrate their last official day at school on Friday 30 October where all year 12 students will be able to come in their fancy dress costumes. Other activities on this day will include a farewell from their House, presentation of certificates and awards and a picnic lunch on the oval. All activities will be held within the COVID guidelines.

Unfortunately, we will not be able to have adults present due to the restrictions, but activities will be recorded for parent viewing on the 4th of December.

Our Graduation Mass and Dinner will be a virtual event (no cost for parents) that can be viewed from home on Friday the 4th of December from 7pm onwards. This will give the opportunity for families to gather in the numbers allowed, to share a meal and celebrate the class of 2020. The Virtual Graduation will include a service of thanksgiving, Certificate Ceremony and other highlights of the Class of 2020.

I am disappointed like everybody else that we cannot be together at the end of 2020 to celebrate this wonderful group of young people however I am pleased that they will celebrate this night with family and loved ones who have supported and cared on their journey to Graduation.

Staffing

I advise that the following staff members will be leaving St John’s Regional College at the of 2020.

Learning Support Coordinator Ms Trish Maguire will be taking up the position of Learning Diversity Leader at the Academy of Mary Immaculate in Fitzroy. Mr Kuang Choi Noi has moved to Sydney to be closer to family and his finish his studies in Youth Work and Mr Alex Bogoiavlenski will be leaving St John’s after 20 years of service in the IT Department. I thank these staff members for their service to our school and wish them well on the next stage of their career.

Celebrate Worlds Teachers Day with us #sjrc

Australia will celebrate and thank the teaching profession on World Teachers’ Day - Friday 30 October.

Teachers (with support from parents and carers) have ensured education continues across the country this year, despite major challenges. It has reinforced the significant role teachers play in the lives of children and students, their families and communities.

On Friday 30 October, say a big thank you to teachers and celebrate the bright future of teaching. Post a photo in your sunglasses on social media, either on your own or with family or friends.

Use these tags on Facebook or Instagram: #thankteachers #brightfuture @aitsl

If you would like to send your photo of apprecation to teachers for inclusion on our SJRC Facebook and instagram account, please email Ms Kersten Beus kbeus@sjrc.vic.edu.au

Travelling to St John's