Creating Healthy Minds




Are you eligible for home to school transport ?๐

If your child will be starting post primary school this September, you can check if you are eligible for Home to School transport to the schools you are considering. Visit https://transport.eani.org.uk/EligibilityChecker/
To begin or complete your post primary application, visit https://connect.eani.org.uk/parent #EAadmissions
Parents Focus Group

Parents Focus Group
NICHS are looking for local voices to take part in a parents focus group on the Monday 24th February to help shape the Northern Ireland version of 'You and Me Together Vape Free' Resource. They want to hear from parents who have teenagers and who are concerned about their them vaping.
If you are interested in taking part, please send an email to jperry@nichs.org.uk.
Aware NI are always here to help at no cost ๐ค

AWARE NI are holding FREE Mindfulness courses over the period of 6weeks, online via zoom and in the evenings. Please click on the link below to see more information regarding the course. If you would be interested in signing up there will be another message with the link to register attached.
https://form.jotform.com/243193208751355 โญcourse is FREE โญregister with Zoom to obtain a link โญattend with camera on โญattend all sessions and be punctual โญdo some personal mindfulness practice in your own time
Digital Whizz students this is for you ๐ป

Are you a digital whiz aged 12 – 16 yrs? Do you love to get creative with tech?
Then join us for our Good Relations Digital Arts Programme taking place in locations across the borough on 10, 11 and 12 February 2025 from 10am – 2pm each day. Learn new skills and make new friends as you immerse yourself in the world of animation, photography, Mine Craft, virtual reality, music production and graphic design. Each three-day programme will take place in Brownlow Community Hub, TMAC Keady and Dromore Community Centre, please be aware that commitment to the full programme is required, individual days cannot be booked. Cost for the Good Relations Digital Arts Programme is £10 per participant. Book your place now at:
https://bit.ly/42qrlCw
SRC Applications go live next week - get registering!



Applying for SJBC September 2025





Free food and hygiene courses available

Our Labour Market Partnership team are offering another free programme to help boost your job prospects and CV.
To find out more about the Food and Hygiene training, or any others available, visit: https://bit.ly/40oW8y5
Global Education NI Ltd
#DepartmentForCommunities #SkillsThatWork
Interested in Civil engineering ? - You can earn while you learn!!

Civil Engineering Apprenticeship Programme Online Open Evening Are you interested in Civil Engineering as a career? The Department’s Level 3 Civil Engineering Apprenticeship Programme is a fantastic way to gain qualifications and invaluable industry experience. Earn while you learn! Find out more about our Apprenticeship Programme by registering below for our upcoming online open evening on Monday 3 February. Register Here and find out more: https://forms.office.com/e/9NAY1Q5aSv #niaw2025 #niapprenticeshipweek2025 #allageapprentices #apprenticeships Department for the Economy NI Institution of Civil Engineers Belfast Met South West College Southern Regional College Northern Regional College North West Regional College
NI Water - a fantastic work experience opportunity for our students aged 16.

Please see the engineering Work Experience Programme offered in partnership with leading social mobility charity ‘Speakers for Schools’ Applications are currently open and will close on 31st January 2025. If you have any queries, please reach out to recruitment@niwater.com https://www.speakersforschools.org/results/...
Fantastic opportunity for our students aged 16 ๐ฝ

NI Screen Academies offer young people aged 16-19 the chance to dive into the exciting world of screen industries. Whether you're into film, animation, games, or visual effects, our academies provide free, hands-on training and mentorship to help you kickstart your career.
Expression of interest form - https://form.jotform.com/241513343501342
Grants available for projects within our community !!

Are you involved in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector? Would you like to avail of financial assistance for your group or organisation?
Online applications for Capital Project Grants are now open!
For further information go to: https://bit.ly/3K7YCci
#CommunityABC
A free online lecture to delve into the history of The Great Irish Famine


Communications survey ๐

The EA are developing a new Communications and Engagement Strategy and are very keen to get your valuable insights, experiences and views in relation to how they can improve communications with you.
This is really important for supporting children and young people and their families throughout their educational journey.
You can access the survey at:
https://forms.office.com/e/BQ6XnbrwXt
This will take approximately 15 minutes for parents/carers to complete and will close at 16:00 on Friday 31st January 2025.
Thank you for taking the time to consider this request and for helping to help support this important work.
Help is available for all experiencing cost of living pressure.


SJBC Cash Call ๐ฐ๐

LESS THAN ONE WEEK TO GO
We are launching our Christmas Cash Call again this year, with the intention of trying to raise some much needed funds for the college.
We would ask our entire school community to get behind this fundraising initiative and you never know, you could be a winner with an early cash prize before Christmas
Enter via the paypal link - https://paypal.me/SJBCPortadown?country.x=GB&locale.x=en_GB
Choose friends and family
Ensure you include your name and contact number
Winner will be called on Monday 16th Decembe
Applications for Yr8 to SJBC is now available !!

Admissions criteria for applications to Post Primary Year 8 for September 2025 are now live on our website
It is important that you read the published admissions criteria for each of the schools you wish to list on your application.
Applications open on EA Connect on 28 January 2025, and we recommend you list at least four schools in order of preference, including one non-grammar school.
More information on applying is available at www.eani.org.uk/admissions
Thinking of fostering
Year 10 Parents Info
Gentle Reminder – Year 10 Parents / Guardians should attend a Year 10 Options Talk this Friday 13th December from 9am followed by a face-to-face Parent Teacher Meeting – Year 10 students should attend also. Should you require a translator and have not informed our Newcomer Coordinator as yet, please contact the school office.
Cost of living support available.

FAO Parents / Guardians, the attached document is a very useful resource to assist with the cost of living, particularly in the lead up to Christmas. It details the support available in our local area, including lots of ideas for low cost and free activities. Should you need anything further, please do not hesitate to contact the school office or smurphy821@c2ken.net
๐Document help in link below
Community Training

You will find all details below on the variety of courses on offer, as well as dates and venues.
These courses are for leaders of community groups and each course can accept a maximum of two people per organisation.
This initiative is supported through The Executive Office District Council Good Relations Programme.
PAPYRUS

Safeguarding Information Nov 2024
19th November 2024
Dear Parent/Carer,
SUBJECT: IMPORTANT ONLINE SAFETY INFORMATION – CATFISHING AWARENESS AND SAFER SCHOOLS NI APP
Please click on the below link
Thankyou
School Cloud

Parent Teacher Meetings on School Cloud.
School Cloud Link: https://stjohnsthebaptist.schoolcloud.co.uk/
Academic Year 2024/2025
Monday 4th November – Year 12 PTM (on School Cloud)
Friday 13th December – Year 10 Options Talk beginning at 9am and face-to-face PTM straight after
Thursday 19th December – Year 8 PTM (on School Cloud)
Friday 7th February – Year 11 PTM (on School Cloud)
Monday 28th April - Year 9 PTM (on School Cloud)
School Cloud Help Sheet
Upcoming Events...
Tuesday, 11th February 2025 |
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Half Term |
Wednesday, 12th February 2025 |
Half Term |
Thursday, 13th February 2025 |
Half Term |
Friday, 14th February 2025 |
Half Term |
School auditions 19th February !! Come Join in ๐ต

โโEA Portal is OPEN โโ





Our successful open day 2025 ๐๐

On Saturday morning we welcomed prospective pupils and their families to our annual Open Day. Pupils and parents visited various subject departments and enjoyed the fun, interactive activities in each. Today we received lovely feedback from families including: “Excellent informative morning, students and staff were extremely helpful and welcoming", “The school is warm and welcoming. You can tell how the school community is seen as a family where everyone is valued.” and “my child was welcomed into each room we visited, all staff very engaging and kids very happy” We were delighted to be joined by both Lord Mayor Councillor Sarah Duffy and Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Kyle Savage in the college. We look forward to seeing pupils and families again soon. Parents and pupils who weren't able to attend this morning, can arrange a tour with our Primary School Liaison Officer Miss Seeley, by contacting us on 028 38 334725. Please check out all the latest photos from our successful day on our social media platforms Facebook and Instagram !!
P7 Taster Day here at SJBC ๐๐


















Year 8 Applications 24/25

Our Admissions Criteria is now available to view
This is important information for the parents and carers of Primary 7 pupils who are seeking to apply for a Year 8 place here in SJBC.
Applications will open for Year 8 students in the New Year, please see the poster below for key dates regarding the admission process, including our Taster Day and Open Day. We are looking forward to welcoming the P7 pupils to the College over the coming weeks.
As always if you have any questions regarding applications / transition, please contact our school office on 028 3833 4725
Cashless Cafeteria System Now LIVE

We are delighted to announce the introduction of our new cashless cafeteria system. All parents/carers will receive details about this facility via our gateway app.
Dear Parent/Carer,
We are delighted to announce that we have now installed a new cashless payment system within our canteen facility.
This will mean that pupils will no longer need to bring cash in to upload manually (although this option will still be available).
We believe that the ability for you to upload funds electronically to your child’s account will prove to be very user friendly and will enable you to monitor what your child is buying as well as monitoring how much they are spending/ have left in their account.
The cashless payment system will be accessible through our Gateway app which all parents should already have downloaded to their device by now.
How to register for a School Gateway Account-
- If you haven’t already, you will need to download the School Gateway app via the App Store for Apple devices and Play Store for Android devices.
- On the app welcome page at the bottom of the screen select Sign Up (don’t have an account)
- Enter the email address and mobile number that is registered with the school
(agree to terms and conditions etc by moving toggle across) – select Sign Up
- You will now re-enter your email and phone number and request a pin
- You will then receive a PIN on a text
- Enter the 4-digit PIN number received via text
- Once logged in, the home screen will be displayed.
For further assistance please check out the link
https://parent-support.parentpaygroup.com/hc/en-gb/article_attachments/25105219908625
or contact the school directly
Uploading money to student account for canteen purchases
- Once you have registered you will view the tab lunch money relating to your child and an arrow to the right
- Balance is available with the option at the bottom to Top up students’balances
- Select- Top up Balance
- Again, you will see Dinner Money 2024/2025 and you select this and begin to enter the amount you wish to add and then select “add to basket”- continue with entering card details.
- Please allow time for your payment to synchronise with the school canteen account and the balance will appear in a short space of time.
If the balance falls below or is at the value of £3.00, parents will be notified with a warning to advise that they need to top up the balance. No further purchases can be made once an account is empty.

















