St John's School Advisory Council

School Advisory Council- SAC Meeting Report

Our latest School Advisory Council - SAC meeting took place on Tuesday 5 May, online. It was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect as a team, reflect on our shared goals and reaffirm our commitment to supporting the school’s continued growth. These gatherings are always a valuable chance to align our focus and vision throughout the year. We are looking forward to the many initiatives and projects we will work on together, and we appreciate the ongoing dedication of all SAC members in making this year a continued success. 

A reminder of our SAC Team for 2026 – we’re grateful for their leadership and commitment to shaping the direction of our school. Their guidance continues to support our mission and values across all areas of school life. Look out for some new faces in 2026!

Verona Gridley - School Principal

Father Dispin John - Parish Priest (Custodian of Mission)

Melinda Buscema - Deputy School Principal/RE Leader (Custodian of Mission)

Angela Maclean – Chairperson, Parent Representative

Samantha Solomons - Secretary, Parent Representative

Anne Tyedin - Parent Representative

Kate Roberts - Parent Representative

May De Almeida - Parent Representative 

Rob Kruisheer - Parent Representative

Key Messages and Opportunities

This month has seen exciting developments across St John’s as we continue strengthening our learning environment, wellbeing supports and school operations.

Leadership & Management

Our new NBN-supported phone system has now been installed across the school. Families may notice that outgoing calls temporarily display a different number, but our main school number remains unchanged. This upgrade—partly funded by MACS—allows us to introduce important safety features, including:

• A duress button in every classroom
• A lockdown communication system
• The ability for teachers to discreetly confirm student safety
• PA announcements from key locations (Melinda, Verona, and the Office)

The system runs through Wi-Fi, ensuring clearer call quality. We are also preparing to extend the Lyons Room, modernising the space and improving wireless capability.

Learning & Teaching

Our Humanities focus this term is Geography, with a strong emphasis on Aboriginal perspectives and understanding the land.

Other curriculum highlights include:

• New sensory and herb gardens created by our Environmental Team in the passive play area
• Decodable readers introduced in Prep
• Spelling Mastery rolling out in Years 3–6
• Acceptance into the Acadience Maths pilot program, supporting universal assessment in computation and number across P–6
• The Year 5/6 team continuing professional learning in explicit instruction in mathematics
• Term 2 excursions:
  • Year 5/6 Museum trip (by train)
  • Prep Aquarium visit
  • Year 3/4 and 5/6 Winter Gala Sports Days

Religious Dimension

This year, our students in Year 4 are preparing for their First Eucharist, with 15 receiving the sacrament. We look forward to welcoming our community for Grandparents and Special Visitors Day which is always a cherished event on our calendar.

Student Wellbeing

Our wellbeing initiatives continue to grow in strength:

• The new Chess Club has been a hit, attracting around 20 enthusiastic players
• The Wellbeing Hub is supporting individuals, small groups and SEL classes
• GEM strategies and journaling remain embedded across all year levels through the Resilience project
• Education and interventions continue to guide our Positive Behaviour for Learning approach
• Lunchtime clubs are thriving, offering inclusive spaces for all students

School Community

Our Parents Association has been wonderfully active:

• Grandparents Day preparations have been led by Year 3 families, with special thanks to Kate (Class Rep) Melinda Bott and Jess Kruisheer, who coordinated food and table setup
• Mother’s Day Breakfast was a great success thanks to Nick McKay, Rob Kruisheer and our dedicated dads
• Trivia Night in Term 3 will feature a 90s theme
• Prep and Year 1/2 families have shown strong volunteer involvement in the classrooms

Partner & Advise – Play Before Eating Initiative

The SAC explored the evidence-based model of “play first, eat later”, which has shown positive outcomes in other schools, including:

• Calmer transitions
• Improved engagement
• Fewer behavioural incidents
• Cleaner playgrounds
• Better learning readiness

• Reduced food waste 

   

The proposed trial at St John’s would see:

• Play beginning at 11:00am
• Students returning to eat at 11:45am
• Fruit break continuing at 10:00am

• Afternoon snack at 2.20pm

   

The SAC is strongly supportive and recommends seeking feedback from student leaders. 

Master Plan Update

Verona shared updated architectural concepts for upcoming works, which include:

• New landscaping and a digital screen
• Replacement of yellow cladding with weather-resistant materials
• Conversion of the Lyons Room into the Wellbeing Hub
• Expansion of the building footprint by approximately one metre
• A redesigned entrance with glass doors
• More carpeted areas
• Removal of the old toilet block
• Extended garden and breakout spaces

Timeline: Town planning → builder appointment → anticipated start Aug/Sep 2026 Estimated duration: 2-3 months with no expected impact on school drop-off or pick-up routines.

Once a builder is appointed, communications will be shared through parish and school newsletters.

A PA/SAC joint parent engagement event—a wine and cheese evening—will be held on Tuesday 2 June, including a presentation of the Master Plan.

You Are All Invited

We invite you to join us at the combined PA/SAC Parent Engagement Event.

This Wine and Cheese evening will be held on Tuesday, 2 June, at 7pm and will be hosted in our New Wellbeing Hub. We will share the great work happening in Wellbeing at St John's and our Vision for our new Student Engagement Space, including a presentation of the Master Plan and future building works.

Please save the date - 2 June at 7pm - and come along to this exciting event.

Strategic Planning & School Review

Preparations for the 2026 School Review are well underway. The SAC reviewed the SIF Rubric – Community, noting strong progress across key areas.

Growth & Enrolments

Early enrolment trends indicate over 20 new Prep students for 2027, maintaining two Prep classes. We also welcomed a new Prep student this term.

Finance

The SAC discussed potential impacts of the State Government’s EBA negotiations. Key points:

• Catholic school teachers cannot strike under their agreements
• While agreements differ from the state system, both sectors aim to maintain comparable conditions
• St John’s staff receive time in lieu, though structured differently from the state system

Policy Review

The 2026 Parent Handbook is now available for review. SAC members will provide feedback at the next meeting. A standing item in the newsletter now highlights policy updates for families.

SHINE Column

Aligned with our school theme of “SHINE ” for the year, the SAC explored the idea of introducing a Parent recognition section in the newsletter called “SHINE Column” to express our gratitude for things felt or observed in our community and invite your submissions to principal@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au

A heartfelt thank you to Jess Kruisheer for her outstanding leadership and coordination of Grandparents Day morning tea and together with Zuleika Wyman, their organisation and coordination of Mothers Day Stall. Their care and energy helped create two truly special events for our community. 

We also extend our gratitude to Rob Kruisheer, Nick McKay, and the dedicated group of dads who came together to prepare a memorable Mother’s Day breakfast; their generosity and teamwork brought so much joy to our families. 

Finally, a big thank you to Allan Wild for his landscaping work, at the front of school, which continues to enhance our school grounds and create a welcoming space for students and visitors alike. 

These parents combined efforts reflect the spirit of our community that makes St John’s such a wonderful place for our children and families to learn and grow.

As always, please feel free to come and say hello if you see us around the school grounds. We value your thoughts, your feedback, and your presence in our community. Whether you have a question, a suggestion, or just want to share a moment—we’re here, and we’re listening.

Angela Maclean

Chairperson and Parent Representative