Principal's News

Dear Families,

Welcome back to Term 3! 

We hope you all enjoyed a restful and rejuvenating break with your loved ones. 

As we begin this Term 3 together, we look forward to continuing our shared journey toward our vision: An inclusive Catholic community, fostering a commitment to faith and nurturing a love of learning.

Beginning of the Term Prayer

Lord, we pray for students and learners. 

Give them minds that are eager to learn. 

Give them courage to ask good questions, confidence to take risks, and the discipline to focus and study. 

We pray for quality friendships and safety in and out of the classroom. 

We pray for the students; may they feel your perfect love surround them, and give them the courage to excell each day. 

We pray that learning is engaging, valuable, and exciting. Give the students focus and direction as they prepare for what lies ahead.

Amen 

Based on 2 Timothy 1:7

We recently successfully completed the first phase of our school review and now look forward to commencing the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) component shortly. The positive feedback received affirms the strength of our school’s practices and direction. At St John’s, we remain deeply committed to high-quality instruction and meaningful engagement, where each child is known, valued, and supported to thrive in their learning. This term, we continue to strengthen our whole-school instructional practices, with a focus on clarity, consistency, and student growth across all learning areas.

While the 'Three Way Conference' meetings took place last term, please know that our doors are always open. We encourage families to contact their child’s teacher at any time to arrange a conversation. Working in genuine partnership ensures we can best support each learner’s needs and development.

NAIDOC Week

During the holidays, NAIDOC Week was celebrated across Australia. This year's theme, "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy", invites us to recognise and honour the rich history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As a school, we will continue to embed First Nations perspectives into our curriculum and celebrate the voices, stories, and contributions of Indigenous Australians. Please see the Wellbeing section to learn how we celebrated this special week in the classrooms.

Staffing News

We’re pleased to welcome back Olivia Bottomley to her role in 5L as she prepares to step in for Penny Baynes, who will soon begin her maternity leave. Additionally, we welcome Lauren Rowles, who will be teaching in 2O this term. We are delighted to have both Olivia and Lauren as part of our vibrant learning community.

We also extend our warm congratulations to Ms. Elizabeth Whiting, who has been recognised for her strong commitment to Catholic education and leadership. Elizabeth has been selected as one of only three leaders chosen to take part in the Inspired to Lead program, where she will lead a group of Catholic educators on a faith formation pilgrimage to Ireland this September.

This is a wonderful acknowledgment of Elizabeth’s personal faith, dedication and expertise in Leadership. The pilgrimage centres on the formation of Catholic Mission and Identity, offering a foundation for a deepened understanding of Catholic principles within the historical and cultural context of Ireland. A key focus of the journey is an immersion in the spirituality and mission of the Irish saints and religious orders who played a significant role in shaping the foundations of Catholic education in Melbourne. As a community, I ask you to keep Elizabeth in your prayers as she prepares for this wonderful Pilgrimage.

We are very lucky to have Elizabeth in our school community and I am sure those attending will benefit from her leadership and guidance.

New Community Member- Baby Leo

Big sister Sienna (1D) is beaming with pride, and we share in her joy as Mark, Bianca, Emilia and Sienna welcome the arrival of baby Leo. We extend our heartfelt congratulations and warmest wishes to the entire Spolidro family on this wonderful occasion.

Thank you Semester One SRC

On behalf of Marianne DiFabio, Hollie Goad (SRC Teacher Representatives), and myself, I would like to extend our congratulations and heartfelt thanks to our Semester One 2025 SRC students: Sophie, Nikita, Sienna, Charlie, Anna, Ellie, Eliza, Carys, Oscar, Mia, Henry, Abigail, Stella, Anika, Raphael, and Jesse.

We sincerely thank each of these students for their consistent attendance at our fortnightly meetings and for their valuable contributions toward building a safe and respectful St John’s school community. It has been a pleasure working alongside them and supporting student voice in the actions taken across our school.

SRC Nominations

Nominations are open for SRC Student Representative Council Semester 2 2025. Students are invited to fill out the proforma provided by their classroom teacher and present their speech at a time nominated by the classroom teacher. All students who have not been in the position of SRC representative in the last year are welcome to apply. Please speak with your child’s classroom teacher for further information.

Naplan Results

Our 2025 Naplan results will go out to Year 3 and Year 5 families on Monday. We are very proud of our students efforts and results. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions/concerns.

Student Safety and Supervision

A reminder that our students are supervised between the hours of 8:35am - 3:30 pm Monday to Friday. Some students are arriving alone at school prior to 8:30am and this is concerning from a safety point of view. MACSEYE is available from 6:45am and parents are asked to enrol their children into this out of school hours program if students need to be at school prior to the commencement of staff supervision at 8:35am.

We would also like to remind our community that, in accordance with Victorian law, smoking and vaping are strictly prohibited on school grounds and within four metres of any pedestrian entrance.

Improved Security Measures at St John’s

Over the holiday break, new security cameras have been installed around the exterior of the school buildings and at all main entrance points. These upgrades are part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all students, staff, and visitors.

The cameras will assist in monitoring activity around the school, deterring inappropriate behaviour, and supporting a proactive approach to school security. They are also designed to enhance our response in the event of any incidents.

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program Returns

We’re excited to share that the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden (SAKG) program is back for Term 3! This hands-on program continues to provide our students with meaningful experiences in growing, harvesting, preparing, and sharing fresh food together.

Thank you to the parents who have volunteered their time to support the program—your help is invaluable and greatly appreciated. It’s a wonderful experience for the children, fostering teamwork, responsibility, and a deeper connection to healthy eating and sustainability.

If you happen to have any leftover seedlings or winter veggie plants from your own garden, we would gladly welcome any donations to support our garden beds. Every little bit helps our students learn and grow—literally!

Congratulations Spencer- 5 B

We are incredibly proud of Spencer in 5 B, who has received Highly Commendable recognition in the Junior Digital category of the Young Voices Awards 2025 – “Voices of Hope”, presented by Australian Catholics in partnership with Australian Catholic University.

Spencer first heard about this exciting opportunity through Ms Baynes and was immediately inspired. He chose a topic close to his heart, conducted thoughtful research, analysed graphs, created storyboards, and—with the help of his family acting as his film crew—brought his vision to life in a creative and meaningful way.

His work will be published in the Spring edition of Australian Catholics magazine, and he will also attend a special recognition event in August alongside other award recipients. Congratulations, Spencer—we are so proud of you!

100 Days of Prep – A Special Milestone!

On Friday, August 1, we will be celebrating 100 Days of Prep—a significant milestone in our youngest students’ educational journey. This special occasion recognises the growth, learning, and resilience our Prep students have demonstrated in their first 100 days of school. It is also a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the support and partnership of our Prep families, who have played such a vital role in helping their children settle into school life.

We also extend our thanks to our dedicated Prep teachers—Marianne, Lara, and Chantelle—for their passion, care, and commitment to creating a nurturing and engaging learning environment. Their guidance has made these first 100 days such a positive experience for every child.

The day will be filled with fun activities centred around the number 100, including creative classroom projects, dress-ups, and shared celebrations.

We look forward to celebrating this joyful milestone together!

Canberra Camp 2026 Meeting for Year 4 and Year 5 Families

A reminder that we will be holding an important information session about the 2026 Camp on Tuesday, 6 August at 6:15pm. This meeting will be held online via Zoom. Join Zoom Meeting here.

We encourage all families to attend, as key details about the camp experience will be discussed.

St John's FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

We are in the midst of planning our Festival of the Arts, which will be held on Wednesday, 3 September, from 4:00pm to 6:30pm.

We are looking for students and adults who would like to busk by playing an instrument or singing as part of our Festival of the Arts. Each performance will be approximately 15 minutes performed at different locations around the school.

If you or a group (maybe even a family or sibling act!) would like to share your talents, please email Maria Buttifant to express your interest. mbuttifant@sjheidelberg.catholic.edu.au

We look forward to a rewarding and purposeful term filled with growth, collaboration and celebration.

Alison Dean