St John's School Advisory Council
15 October, Meeting Report
The School Advisory Committee (SAC) continues its important work, with the latest meeting held on October 15th. This dedicated forum fosters essential connections among parents, teachers and community members, reinforcing our shared commitment to support St John’s Primary School and enhance the educational experience for all our students.
Key messages and opportunities from our recent meeting
We kicked off our meeting with an insightful presentation from Ange Crowe, our Learning Diversity Leader. She provided an in-depth overview of our school’s approach to Learning and Diversity, focusing on Neurodiversity. Ange highlighted the initiatives and resources available to support all students, ensuring that everyone’s unique learning needs are recognised and addressed. It was an informative session that set a positive tone for our discussions ahead.
Ange’s role includes managing students with additional needs, leading Program Support Group (PSG) meetings, developing Personalised Learning Plans (PLPs), and overseeing Learning Support Officers (LSOs). She also collaborates with external providers to ensure compliance with school policies and implements intervention programs, running positive behaviour initiatives, and delivering professional development for LSOs and teachers. Ange also runs the extension program to further challenge our students.
Ange's presentation underscored the importance of early intervention and tailored support, ensuring every student can thrive at St John’s Primary School. Thank you to Ange for her dedication and the valuable insights she shared!
We received an update from Melinda, our Acting Principal, and here are a few key points:
Leadership and Management Updates
The Staff Consultative Committee has met several times to review class sizes, and specialist classes for 2025.
We are excited to report that we have 23 confirmed Prep students for next year, with three more possible enrolments following this week’s tours. To establish two prep classes, we need around 30 students.
Next week, we will host a new families information evening to welcome our incoming prep families. Additionally, Sheree is now in her fourth week as Bursar and is transitioning smoothly into her role. We continue to focus on opening the school gate for the safety and benefit of our students and community after school. We would like to extend our gratitude to Melinda for stepping in as Acting Principal during Verona's absence. Verona returns this week, and Melinda will cover her leave later this term for her son’s wedding. Transition meetings for our Year 6 students with secondary schools have commenced, along with preparations for graduation. The students are creating memory books as a cherished keepsake.
Religious Dimension
Our Year 3 students are preparing for their Reconciliation, and the Social justice leaders are focusing on the Vinnies Christmas Appeal this term. The upcoming Christmas market will involve all classes from Prep to Year 6. The preparation for the market ties into this term’s inquiry unit, incorporating Catholic Social Teaching and linking Economics and Business for our Year 5/6 classes. Years P-4 will also explore Design Technology, integrating financial literacy. To allow more time for the graduation presentation, the Year 6 Graduationand Thanksgiving Mass has been rescheduled to 6pm.
Learning and Teaching
Our recent Art Show saw impressive attendance from families, allowing us to keep displays up for longer. Book Week was celebrated separately from Numeracy Week, with Allison and Anna organizing engaging activities for our students.
On November 15, our staff will attend a professional learning day at the NGV focused on Spiritual Encounter through ART, aiming to deepen our faith and enhance planning for students. All classes from Prep to Year 6 have undergone professional learning in Maths, utilising the TIMS approach and OCHRE resources to enhance long-term memory through repetition and interleaving concepts. Ange and Mel have continued professional learning on Gifted Education, with Ange applying for graduate certification in this area. Students are currently completing end-of-year assessments to inform their reports, and we wish them all the best in their efforts. Program Support Group (PSG) meetings for students with Personalized Learning Programs will begin next week. These meetings will focus on setting Term 4 goals and planning for their transition into 2025. We are pleased with our NAPLAN results, which have been analysed with staff this week. Parents will soon be able to view this information on PAM, and comparative data will be available once new testing is completed for our Year 3 and 5 cohorts.
Student Wellbeing
Amanda has completed her Seasons Program training and is now available to support students through this bereavement Program. Our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) framework will guide our approach to managing major and minor behaviour. Last term, Tracey organised a staff wellbeing week, providing much-deserved affirmation for the hard work and dedication of our staff at St John’s.
School Community News
Congratulations to the Yellow House (Coghlan) for winning the Dojo points in Term 3! They will enjoy a free dress day on Friday, 25 October. We are looking forward to the St John’s Community Fete on 16 November. Fete raffle tickets will also be distributed to families, with raffle proceeds going back to the school. The mango drive is set up—please place your orders by 29 October. A huge thank you to the 20 families who attended the recent twilight working bee! Together, we accomplished mulching, sandpit work, and weeding.
Finally, we are in the process of organizing a school disco this term. We will send messaging to parents soon, and we’ll need 4-5 volunteers per year level to ensure its success. We will also discuss behaviour expectations prior to the event and consider song choices to ensure appropriateness.
Child Safety Report
Ensuring the safety of our students is a top priority at St John’s. We are continuously reviewing and updating our child safety standards and risk assessment procedures to maintain a secure environment for all children.
First Aid Process: Each teacher is equipped with a bag containing essential first aid supplies and a communication card. In case of an injury, teachers will escort students to the first aid room, where they will receive care. For serious situations, a red card is used to alert the office for immediate assistance.
All teachers are trained in first aid and life support, ensuring they are prepared for various situations.
Courage Corner
Aligned with our school theme of “Courage” for the year, the SAC highlights acts of courage in the newsletter called “Courage Corner” to express our thanks for things felt or observed in our community and invite your submissions to principal@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au
We are delighted to kick off this edition of Courage Corner by extending our deepest gratitude to the families who attended the recent twilight working bee on 11 October. What an outstanding effort by everyone who came along!
Thanks to all the hard work, we accomplished a great deal with mulching, weeding, and various other tasks.
A special shout-out to the following families for their dedication and teamwork:
Bajcic Family, Robins Family, Sutton Whelan Family, Aile/Dang Family, Verey Family, Wright Mendis Family, Facey Family, Natoli Family, Carnovale Family, Patone Family, Jensen Family, Ballestrin Family, Feng Family, Stutchbury Family, Fox Family, Cabret Harvey Family, Foster Family, Holder Family, Pan Family, Boyd Family, Abeysiriwardana Family and Abeysekara Family.
Your contributions truly make a difference in our School. We look forward to everyone coming along to the next one on 17 November, the day after the Fete.
Angela Maclean
Chairperson and Parent Representative