St John Vianney's Newsletter

 Principal Post

Dear Families,

Welcome  Back to St John Vianney's for Term 4!! I hope that the break from School routines was relaxing for you and despite Lockdown you managed to  enjoy some valuable time as a family!  I hope that the AFL footy supporters enjoyed the Grand Final! Finally the long suffering Melbourne Supporters were able to  celebrate a Premiership and sing their Club Song with gusto!! Most importantly I hope that you are all feeling energised ready for what Term 4 may bring!!

COVID - SCHOOL OPERATIONS UPDATE 

The COVID Pandemic certainly continues to present a range of challenges within Education as you are only too aware. 

 

We begin the term  returning  to  two weeks  of remote learning. Students, families and teachers are now very used to the schedules and expectations.  Students  will receive the weekly information on a Sunday evening. 

 

I remind students and families to continue to communicate with  their class teachers and those leading Interventions in school hours if they need assistance or require clarification.  

Families are welcome to contact me at any time. 

 

We will return to school soon which is exciting as I am sure the students and yourselves are very ready to resume school routines. For our students seeing their friends and teachers and settling to class activities onsite is important.  

There are of course several restrictions which could change.  At this stage, current restrictions do not allow for excursions,  incursions onsite,  interschool sport, outside music groups, liturgies within the church,  assemblies,  or parents / carers coming onsite. 

 

PART TIME RETURN TO SCHOOL 

I  am sure that you are aware that in week 3 (Beginning 18th October) students will begin to return to school onsite on a part time basis. 

Please note the following: 

 

Week beginning Monday  October 18th

Preps are at school Monday Tuesday and Wednesday

Year 1/2 are at school on Thursday and Friday 

Year 3-6 remote learning at home

 

Week beginning Monday October 25th

Preps are at school Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 

Year 1/2 are at school on Thursday and Friday 

Year 3/4 are at school on Tuesday and Wednesday 

Year 5/6 are at school on Thursday and Friday 

 

Week beginning Monday November 1st 

Monday 1st - School Closure Day ( Assessment and Report Preparation)

Tuesday 2nd Nov  - Melbourne Cup Public Holiday

Wednesday 3rd Nov -  Preps and Year 3/4

Thursday 4th Nov -  Year 1/2 and 5/6 

Friday 5th Nov - ALL STUDENTS 

 

 

On Friday 5th November all students will be welcomed onsite to their classrooms!!!!! 

Unfortunately parents / carers are  not able to come onsite, instead dropping off and picking their child up at the gate(s).  Masks must be worn.

 

FOCUS UPON OUR RETURN

Upon the students' return, we aim to have them settle back into their classes with an emphasis upon Literacy and Numeracy learning. 

CHANGES TO EVENTS AND TO  DATES 

We are planning for school events for the term now, based on what the restrictions are  regulations are currently.  With this in mind  we have had to make made some changes to events.

Please note these important changes 

 

 P-2 SWIMMING PROGRAM IS CANCELLED 

 MACS have advised us that Swimming Programs in schools can not go ahead. In line with  current restrictions  we are cancelling the  P-2 Swimming Program that was to begin on Thursday 28th October.  Families that have paid in full will be contacted and a refund organised. All other P-2 families have been rebated  their Swimming Levy.

 

PREP 100 DAYS 

This will go ahead for our Prep students but the date will be WEDNESDAY 20th OCTOBER. All Prep students will be onsite on the Wednesday and we feel that they will be able to enjoy the  celebrations of the day together.  There will be  a range of activities across the day, but we ask that our PREP students dress in the theme '100 Years Old'. Further information will be sent out by class teachers.  Prep 100 Day Home Projects are very welcome.  Unfortunately parents and carers can not attend, but photos will be taken of the day and posted in our Newsletter. 

 

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM

The Sacrament of Confirmation planned for October 11th and 12th has been postponed. The Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation will take place this term.   The dates for these celebrations will be based on when Government Health Authorities and the Archdiocese allow the Church to be opened.   Fr Eric has indicated to the school that these Sacraments will take priority once the Church is opened. First Communion will take place first and then the Confirmations.  For all enquiries please  contact the Parish Office. Ph 9546 3831

 

 HOUSE ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

We are hoping that the House Athletics Carnival will  go ahead. It will now need to be at school.  The  event can not be a whole school event but may be able to be undertaken in smaller groupings.  We are hoping for the 18th and 19th November, subject to Restrictions. Prep -2 Athletics will take place on  the 18th November and Year 3-6 on the 19th November. At this stage no parents / carers are allowed to attend.

 

SCHOOL CONCERT 

As you are aware we are unable to have our Whole School 2021 Concert as planned. Whilst we are hoping to have our students perform  it will be scaled down and different to what was originally planned.  Once our students return to school  the students will  need some time to practise their songs and dances in their classes.  We are hoping the performance will be recorded here at school. We will let you know the  date once it has been confirmed.  

 

YEAR 6 GRADUATION 

As was the case last year, the Graduation will be recorded.  The date will be determined but most likely in early December. Further information will be sent to Year 6 families in due course. The traditional Guard of Honour will take place on the last day of term. December. We will keep you informed as to whether parents / families can be onsite. 

 

PREP 2022  PARENT INFORMATION EVENING / TRANSITION PROCESS

The Prep Parent Information evening planned for Tuesday 26th October will go ahead online. Information about a Google meet will be sent to you closer to the date. 

The Transition/Orientation  Sessions are still in the calendar,  but we will let you know more details closer to the dates.

Closure Days / Public Holidays

Please note the following important changes

As  students will be gradually returning to school from the 18th October we have decided to make  some changes to our Closure Days and to the end of term arrangements.

Please note the following: 

  • We will be postponing our Faith Formation  Closure Day  which was to be held on Friday 29th October.  This will now be a school day. As a staff we are however mandated to have completed a number of hours in Faith Formation Professional Learning so the new date  for our Closure Day is Friday 26 November.
  • We will be postponing our 2022 Planning Day on Monday  6th December. This will now be a school day.

School Closure Days 

  • Monday November 1st (Cup Eve) Staff will be planning and preparing for Semester 2 Reports 
  • Tuesday November 2nd (Public Holiday)
  •  Friday November 26th ( Staff Faith Formation)
  • Term 4 concludes for students on Wednesday 15th December at 2:30pm.
  • Thursday 16th December - (Staff Planning & Handover Day for 2022)

Welcome to our two new Learning Support  Officers

We are delighted to welcome two more Learning Support Officers to support our students learning needs.  Anna Nguyen and Rose Nguyen will work at SJV on a fulltime basis.   The addition of these well qualified staff members will serve to better assist our students who benefit from Intervention. 

The  LSO team at St John Vianney's is growing and proving to be a most dedicated, caring and professional group. 

 

MACS SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT SURVEYS 

The Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) is asking all schools to complete a survey.  The survey is not about COVID but about how community members feel about their  school; its strengths and areas for improvement. The parents, all staff and students from Year 4-6  are able to complete a survey. The surveys are confidential. Our results will be benchmarked against all other primary schools. 

The Survey will be sent out next week.  It will be opened until the 28th October.

 

  FROM THE PARISH.....

Please read our dedicated page form the Parish in regard to the Parish Fundraiser/ Raffle