Principal's Page
'A Welcoming Community Leading the Future of Learning with Faith and Love'
Principal's Updates
As we move past the midpoint of the term, I am filled with gratitude for the vibrant, supportive community that defines our school. We have shared several significant milestones recently and there are many exciting events on the horizon.
On Saturday, our community came together for the Sacrament of Confirmation. It was a deeply meaningful and sacred occasion for our candidates, their sponsors and their families. Watching our young people take this important step in their faith journey with such reverence was moving. We pray that the Holy Spirit continues to guide and inspire them. Thank you to our parish, teachers and families for preparing the students so beautifully for this special day.
We look forward to celebrating the important male role models in our lives at our upcoming Father Figures Breakfast. This event is always a wonderful opportunity for dads, grandfathers and father figures to enjoy a morning with their children at school. We cannot wait to see you there for a bright and early start to the day.
Today marked a truly magical kickoff to Book Week across our school community! The rich scent of chocolate drifted through the air as our staff transformed into colorful characters from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, bringing a world of pure imagination straight to life. Students and families gathered in full force to cheer on the parade, which showcased an incredible lineup of beloved literary heroes, villains and adventurers. It was wonderful to see so many parents join in the celebration as our students proudly showed off their creativity and shared their passion for reading.
Unleashing Our Inner Heroes on Superhero Tuesday
As part of our Anti-Bullying Week, we hosted a fantastic Superhero Tuesday last week! Students came to school dressed in their favorite superhero costumes or unique, homemade hero personas. This event was about much more than just capes and costumes; it served as a powerful visual reminder that we all have the power to stand up for others, show kindness and call out bullying behavior. Throughout the day, we focused on how everyday actions—like including someone at recess or speaking up against unkind words—make our students true real-life heroes. It was wonderful to see the incredible creativity on display as our community united to make St John’s a safe, welcoming space for everyone.
Trivia Night Success and Thank You
Finally, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended, organised and supported our recent school Trivia Night. The evening was a fantastic success, filled with healthy competition, laughter and community spirit. Events like this rely heavily on the generosity of volunteers, donors and our Parent's Association. Your efforts help us provide better resources for our students and your presence reminds us of how strong our St John’s community truly is. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making it such a memorable night!
Celebrating Our Tournament of Minds Team
A massive congratulations to our wonderful Tournament of Minds (TOM) team who won the Competition! These students have dedicated weeks of preparation, demonstrating exceptional teamwork, critical thinking and creative problem-solving. Representing St John’s with such energy and focus is a tremendous achievement. We are incredibly proud of how you collaborated and showcased your talents on the day. Thank you also to the staff and parents who supported the team throughout this journey, especially Ange and Mel K. They are off to the State Finals on Sunday, 13 September.
Twilight Working Bee - Friday 28 August
Join us for our upcoming Twilight Working Bee on Friday, 28 August, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM! We invite all families and kids to come along and lend a helping hand to keep our school grounds looking fantastic. Our main tasks for the afternoon will be moving mulch and weeding the garden beds, so please feel free to bring your own gloves, shovels, wheelbarrows, or gardening equipment if you have them, no experience necessary! To thank you for your hard work, a delicious sausage sizzle dinner will be provided for everyone afterwards. Additionally, any families who have not yet attended a working bee this year are eligible for a $50 Maintenance Levy discount.
We look forward to seeing you there for a productive and fun afternoon together. Please email me at principal@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au if you are able to attend.
Tuesday Lunch Order Trial
Great news for busy mornings! Starting next week, our lunch order provider is running a trial for Tuesday lunch orders through to the end of Term, giving you a handy mid-week option alongside our regular Thursdays.
Ordering for next Tuesday is already open in the CDFpay app. To help us make sure every meal finds its way to the right hands (and hungry tummies), please keep the following quick tips in mind before placing your order during this trial:
Update Your Student Profile: Double-check that your child’s current class and room number are correctly listed in their CDFpay profile. This prevents delicious deliveries from taking a detour to the wrong classroom!
Select the Correct Date: Please carefully review and confirm your chosen service date at checkout so your order arrives on the exact day you need it.
Thank you for your support with this trial, and we hope this extra option makes your school weeks just a little bit easier!
School Closure Day - 1 September
A reminder that our next School Closure Day will be held on Tuesday, 1 September. This day will provide our staff with valuable time for professional learning and development in positive behaviour for learning management and data collection. It will also give staff time to review the current Behaviour Expectations Matrix and make some minor changes. Unfortunately due to a lack of bookings MACSEYE will be unable to run a day program on this day.
Father Figure's Breakfast - Friday 4 September
Dear St. John's Father Figures,
You are all invited to join us at school on Friday morning, 4th September, from 7.30am onwards for a delicious breakfast.
We will be serving a buffet style breakfast and a coffee cart for the adults to enjoy barista style hot drinks will also be available.
You are welcome to bring your children along too, tickets are:
Father Figures: $10 each
Children: $5 each
Family: $20 (2 adults, 2+ children; 1 adult, 3+ children)
There will also be a raffle with with some great prizes available!
Please book in and pay via CDFpay by 12pm Wednesday, 2nd Sept, for catering.
We hope that you can join us!
MACSSIS - Parent Feedback Surveys
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 2027 and beyond.
The survey link will be sent to many families next week, and we kindly ask that it be completed by Friday, September 18. Your feedback is anonymous, and we truly value it and it’s a gift to help us grow as a school community.
As a fun incentive, students from families who complete the survey will receive a free icy pole in the last week of term! Please email a screenshot of your submission confirmation to office@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au when you have completed the survey to treat your kids!
Riddle of the Week
Riddle: Pronounced as one letter, And written with three, two letters there are, and two only in me. I’m double, I’m single, I’m black blue and gray, I’m read from both ends, and the same either way. What am I? (You can find the answer on another page)
Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support in your child's education and development. Have a great week and please reach out if I can support you in any way.
Warm regards,
Verona Gridley
St John's Primary School Principal