Principal's News

Dear Families

“Share your talents, share your heart.” Carlo Acutis

Last week we celebrated the exciting news that Carlo Acutis has been declared a saint by Pope Leo XIV, becoming the Church’s first millennial saint. Carlo, who was just 15 when he died in 2006, is remembered for his deep faith and his passion for using technology to spread the Good News. He created a website to catalogue Eucharistic miracles from around the world, showing how ordinary gifts and interests can be used in extraordinary ways to serve God and others. Carlo’s life reminds us that holiness is possible at any age and in every generation. Like Carlo, we are all called to use our gifts with joy, kindness, and generosity to make a difference.

This term we have seen our students do just that, applying their talents across a wide range of learning areas. They have developed skills in sport, art, literacy, mathematics, and design and innovation. Through inquiry learning they have explored new ideas, asked thoughtful questions, and developed problem-solving skills. Just as Carlo used his gifts in service of others, our students have shown how their learning can be shared in ways that build community and inspire creativity.

Mathematical Excellence at St John's

We are delighted to share that The Age(17/9/25) has recognised St John’s for its exceptional growth in Mathematics, as highlighted in the latest NAPLAN data. Our success has come from building consistent language, clear expectations and routines, and a strong understanding of how students best learn as mathematicians. In addition, our targeted intervention in response to student learning data has moved our students from strong to exceeding results. This achievement is a testament to the hard work of our teachers, the persistence of our students, and the strong family partnerships. It is wonderful to see St John’s celebrated for the progress we have made together in ensuring every child experiences success in their learning.

Safety at St John's

Today, staff and students participated in an evacuation drill as part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our school community. These drills provide us with the opportunity to practise our emergency procedures, build confidence in responding calmly, and ensure everyone knows the safest and quickest way to exit the school buildings. We were very proud of the way students listened carefully, followed instructions, and moved safely to the designated assembly point.

Meet Johnny our scarecrow

Welcome to our community, Johnny – one of our school scarecrows!

A big thank you to Suze, Sienna’s mum (1D), for helping a group of Year One students learn about how to make a scarecrow and why they are so important in our garden. The students worked in groups to design Johnny’s outfit, carefully considering the impact on the environment. They thoroughly enjoyed this creative lunchtime activity and we are very excited to have Johnny join our garden community!

Special Person /Father's Day Breakfast

Thank you to all those who joined us for the Father's Day Breakfast. Moments like these build lasting memories for you and your children; simple but special times together that also strengthen the heart of our school community.  I heard a student ask their grandfather "Can we do this every year together?" That sums up everyone's feelings for the morning.

We are so grateful to Sara, Megan, Chris, Lisa, Denise, and their team of volunteers for their hard work in planning, preparing, and serving on the day. Your time and generosity created such a warm and welcoming celebration for our community.

First Reconciliation

Another wonderful moment in our community was celebrating with our Year 3 students as they received the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time. This is a significant step in their faith journey. Special thanks go to Fr Vinh, Fr Geo, Fr Dong, Fr Toan, Mrs Connie Bandiera, Mrs Catherine Carrick and Miss Krissy Hales for their prayerful support and guidance in preparing and celebrating this special sacrament with our students and families.

Class Placement 2026

We will begin preparing the 2026 class lists in Term 4. This is a thorough and collaborative process, with staff carefully considering the best balance of students in each class to support their academic, social, and wellbeing needs.

As part of this process, students are invited to nominate peers with whom they feel they work positively. While we make every effort to include at least one of their choices, we also recognise the importance of building resilience. Primary school is a time for students to grow through a variety of experiences, including working with different teachers and classmates.

Class lists are finalised using the professional judgement and deep knowledge staff have of each student, ensuring a thoughtful and rigorous outcome.

Parents are welcome to share any critical information they feel should be considered when class lists are prepared viathis form. 

Please note that this does not include friendship or teacher requests. 

It is imperative that this form is returned by this Monday, 20 October, either in an envelope addressed to Principal Confidential Class Placement 2026 or via email principal@sjheidelberg.catholic.edu.au

At St John's, our staff bring a wealth of experience in supporting students with diverse academic, social, and wellbeing needs. This expertise guides us in creating balanced classes where all children can thrive. Here is the St John's  Class Placement Policy

Flourishing Learners Conference

Recently, members of our School Leadership Team attended the MACS Flourishing Learners Conference, joining colleagues from across the Catholic education system. The event featured internationally renowned educational researchers, including Dylan Wiliam and Tom Sherrington. Their insights into effective teaching and learning closely align with our vision for high-quality instruction and will play an important role in shaping the future direction of learning and teaching at St John’s.

Transition to Summer Uniform

From the beginning of Term Four until Friday, 20 October, students may choose to wear either their Summer or Winter uniform, depending on the weather.  After this date, all students are expected to be in full summer uniform.

Please ensure that all uniform items are clearly labelled with your child’s name to avoid lost property. We also remind families that sports uniforms and runners are to be worn only on designated sports days.

Best Wishes Mr Ben Friggi

We wish Ben and his family all the very best as they await the arrival of their baby. Ben will be taking seven weeks of paternity leave to enjoy this special time with his family. During his absence, Nastasha Bastasin will be taking on Ben’s Sports Program. We look forward to hearing all about Baby Friggi. In the meantime, we keep Ben, his wife Jess, and their growing family in our thoughts and prayers during this joyful time.

Footy Colour Day

This Friday 19 September, St John’s students will be celebrating our ‘Footy Colours Day’.  Students will be involved in an AFL Footy Clinic held at Warringal Park in partnership with staff. Students will walk to and from Warringal Park under the supervision of staff. 

Students are encouraged to wear their favourite ‘Footy Colours’ 

for their teams for the day - AFL, Soccer, NRL, Rugby Union or American Football. ALL students must wear a sunhat for this activity. 

Parents are welcome to attend the clinic. Please see times below:

Footy Clinic Times

Session 1 (9:30-10.40am) - Prep, Grade 1, 2, 3

Session 2 (11:10-12:20pm) - Grade , 4, 5  and 6

Parent Night Out – School Community Event

Who said the kids have all the fun! We are excited to invite all parents/carers to come together for a fun evening of dancing, laughter, and connection! It’s a great opportunity to relax, meet new people, and enjoy a night out with friends from our school community.

📅 Date: Friday, 11 October📍 Venue: Oliva

Don’t worry about the little ones—organise a babysitter and make it your night! Tickets are still available, so be sure to secure yours soon. We look forward to seeing you there for a night full of fun, music, and community spirit. It promises to be a great night; get your tickets before they’re all gone!  https://st-johns-pic.square.site 

Donations needed for a Silent Auction

We are seeking families to assist with donations for the Silent Auction at our upcoming Parents’ Night Out. We would greatly appreciate families who are able to kindly donate any of the following:

• A holiday house for the weekend
• Hampers of meats or fruit
• Beauty products
• Gym memberships
• Sporting memorabilia
• Family portraits/videos
• Services such as hairdressing, nail treatments, or other personal care services
• Vouchers from family members who own a business

Your generosity helps make this event a wonderful success and supports our school community. Thank you for your support!

Please let the office know asap as we only have a couple of weeks to go

St John's Colour Run - Friday 7 November

SAVE THE DATE:

In the next couple of weeks, you will be hearing all about our major fundraiser – the St John’s Colour Run held on 7 November! This will be a vibrant and exciting community event that not only raises important funds for our school but also brings our students, staff, and families together in a fun and active way.  The money raised will go towards much needed new furniture for the students.

Information will be shared with you shortly about how you can get involved, support the fundraising, and help make this event a huge success. We are really looking forward to the Colour Run being a highlight of Term 4!

MACSSIS Survey - PARENT SURVEY

As part of our ongoing improvement process, we invite all parents to complete the MACSSIS (Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys). This is an important opportunity for us to listen to your feedback, which guides our planning for 2026 and beyond.

The survey link will be sent to many families in the coming days, and we kindly ask that it be completed by Friday, September 19. Your feedback is anonymous, and we truly value it and it’s a gift to help us grow as a school community.

School Advisory Council (SAC) Feedback Form 2025

The SAC provides a forum for discussion and discernment, where the parent / guardian voice and perspective inform and support the decisions made by the principal and parish priest for the good of school and parish where the wellbeing and outcomes for students is paramount. The St John's SAC invites parent feedback, suggestions and constructive comments enabling a wide range of perspectives to be shared. Please see below for the link to your level Feedback email. 

As we come to the end of another term, I would like to wish everyone a safe and wonderful holiday. It has truly been a term filled with learning, growth, and many shared achievements. I look forward to seeing you all refreshed and ready for another exciting term ahead on Monday 6 October. 

Alison Dean