Week 8, Term 1 2021

Happy St Patricks Day!

Today is an exciting milestone for St John Bosco School with Edge Architects spending the day with different groups of our community for Master Planning consultation meetings. Pino and his team from Edge Architects will meet with children, staff, families and parishioners to ensure all members of our community have an opportunity to voice their ideas and vision for our school. I thank the many community members who have already communicated their ideas and vision for our school who are unable to make tonight’s community consultation meeting. Once again I would like to invite all parents, school board members and parishioners to the consultation meeting tonight, 17th March at 6:00pm in our library. Please consider attending the meeting to be part of planning future building projects and grounds upgrades.

This week we celebrate Harmony Week. Harmony Week exemplifies our core beliefs and values at St John Bosco School, embracing and celebrating our diverse multi-cultural and multi-faith community. Harmony Week is about inclusiveness, respect and creating a sense of belonging for everyone. On Friday we invite children and staff to wear an orange t-shirt to demonstrate support for harmony within Australia.

I would like to remind families that we have a Pupil Free Day next week; Friday 26th March. The teachers will be engaging in Professional Learning centred on Inquiry Learning. If you require care for your child please contact our OSHC Director Leanna to make a booking. We look forward to sharing some of our learnings with you after our Professional Learning.

A small group of Parents and Friends gathered last week. The passionate group brainstormed a variety of activities, events and celebrations for the 2021 school year. Already the group have organised Harmony Day doughnuts, an Easter Raffle and a coffee van to be at our upcoming Sports Day. I urge families to support initiatives planned by the Parents and Friends as the funds raised go straight into special projects and resources for your children. Please keep an eye out in the upcoming months when assistance from families is called upon from the Parents and Friends for bigger events such as the Disco.  Without parent assistance events like the School Disco cannot proceed.

If your child turns 5 before October 31st this year they are eligible to begin their schooling journey in our mid-year intake in July. Once again this year we will not be charging all new Reception children for their first six months of school at St John Bosco School, this initiative aligns with CESA’s aspiration to continue to support all families to access a quality education throughout unprecedented times of COVID-19. If you are yet to enrol your child please contact our school office. Our Little Boscos seven week Transition Program for new Receptions will begin early next term. Communication regarding Little Boscos will be sent to families in the coming weeks.

Enjoy the lovely Autumn Sunshine
Kate Turner

We remind families that children are to be in school and ready to enter their classroom to begin learning when the bell rings at 8:45am.  Recently we have had a large number of children who are continually arriving at school late, this is unsettling for their learning and their classmates learning. We understand the odd hiccup occurs during the morning routine we appreciate your cooperation that all of our children have a positive start to the day.

If your child is absent from school please contact the Office by 9:00am.  Parents are able to submit absentees using the School Stream APP or phoning the school Office on 8249 4900.  Please ensure you select 0 for our absentee line and leave a message with your child's name, class and reason for absentee.   There is no need to personally call to check we have the message.

Year 6 Retreat Day 

On Monday 15th March the Year 6 children attended a Student Retreat day at West Beach Surf Club.

Our day focussed on identifying our special and unique qualities that make all of us Leaders.  Through prayer with Fr Peter and further reflection we explored servant leadership and how to positively impact and contribute to school, the community and wider society.

Thank you for the positive feedback we have had from the day.  It was a very special experience and Mrs Sharrad, Mr Zandona, Miss Golic, Miss Rolfe and myself thoroughly enjoyed spending this special day with our senior group.

Some words from the Year 6 Students:

The year 6 retreat was plenty of fun we created sand mandalas at the beach the weather was definitely in our favour that day. The sun was shining and the water was clear I really enjoyed the team activities after reading our Angel Cards. The Angel cards gave us a better understanding of ourselves and how others view us. The retreat on Monday was a huge success and I thoroughly enjoyed it - Tian

The retreat was a very tranquil day it gave the Year 6s a chance to be alone and have an exciting day. This retreat was the best way to talk about our leadership and how to be a role model for the younger kids. When we read out our Angel cards (which we wrote prior to the retreat) it was very joyful to see what other people thought of you. During prayer at a certain point we each got to pick out a wooden heart. Each of these hearts were different, just like each of us. The day was full and relaxing I felt very at peace with the beach - Jonah

I enjoyed the sand mandalas because we had no limits. We could be creative and draw whatever we wanted I liked the group games as well it was great to work with other people - Zoe

I really enjoyed how calm and relaxing the day was. I liked the food we had. I really liked the fun games we played - Sasha

Sara Hart
APRIM 

Last year we learnt about Infographics in Maths. They are a way to record and show data. We had to choose our own topic to research, and because the bushfires were a problem around Australia at the time, we decided to choose this topic and take some action that would hopefully make a difference.

We found out that lots of animals died and their habitat was destroyed. We wondered how we could help.  We discussed it with Mrs Sharrad and together we decided that we should join Trees for Life and grow some trees for South Australian landowners whose trees were destroyed.

In November last year we went to our first workshop at Trees for Life to learn how to propagate native seedlings with Mrs Sharrad and Mr Kos. We learnt that we would be growing River Red Gums for an Adelaide Hills landowner.

In week 2, 2021 we gathered the Year 5/6's together and explained how to fill the tubes with soil.  We had 360 tubes to fill.  It’s been 5 weeks since we planted the trees and we're already seeing a little bit of growth in most of them. Once they’ve grown to a certain height, we will go back to Trees for Life and deliver them to the landowner in the Adelaide hills. The landowner needed Red River Gums. This made us feel happy and joyful because we’re helping the environment and the landowner.

Here are some of the steps that we took: First we put the soil in the pots and pushed it down, so it was nice and tight. Then we sowed the seeds into six equal sections and scattered them into the pots, we put some soil on top of them and topped them with a bit of gravel to stop the weeds and birds getting the seeds. They're starting to grow now, and we must water them every day. It was very exciting seeing the first seedling pop through.

By Elissa, Maria and Serena – Year 6 Senior Students

DONATIONS OF EMPTY, CLEAN CHIP PACKETS

My name is Zoe and I am a Year 6 student.  I want to help homeless people sleeping on the streets, and I need help from our school community.

With winter coming, I would like to make chip packet survival sheets, to keep homeless people warm or their sleeping bags dry. This project will also reduce landfill.

I need over 130 silver-lined chip packets (empty and washed out) for each survival sheet.

Instead of throwing them in the bin, please bring them to school and drop them off in the labelled box outside the front Office.

My goal is to make as many survival sheets as I can and donate them to Vinnies for winter. They will hand them out to people in need from Fred’s Van.

Thank you so much for your help!