Principal's Page

A Message from the Principal

It is important to take time in our busy lives to stop and just be present. It is especially important for our children to give them time to just be in nature and outdoors, to stop, to breathe and to notice what is around them. At St John's we teach our students about being Stewards of Creation, to appreciate nature, to look after nature and to sit in wonder and awe at the beauty of the natural world around them. 

As a Catholic school we are called to model our Faith in God and the reality that God is love, giving us Hope to fill our lives with positivity and love for one another. God's love sustains and strengthens our existence with every breath we take, reminding us that this choice is continually present in our lives. We need to minimise the distractions around us to be more aware of God's presence in our everyday lives. As we recognise the reality of God's love that fills our lives, we come to know how transformative it can be. We are already in the presence of God but what is absent sometimes is our ability to recognise it. 

I hope that the long weekend was an opportunity for your family to take some time in nature or outdoors and to absorb yourselves in wonder and awe. 

This week we are excited to welcome our 24 new Prep students for 2025, on Friday, for their first Transition day. It will be a special time for them to work in the classroom and get to know their new prep friends.

On Wednesday a videographer will visit the school to update the media on our website and our social media. Thank-you to all of our followers on social media who help to promote the great things happening at St John's.

Over the past two weeks we have taken part in the Walk to School initiative. Thank-you to all of the families who took part in this and joined us on Wednesday for our fruit snack in the morning. It is a great way to start the day and we hope that many families will continue to walk, ride or skate to school over the rest of the term.

Class Groupings for 2025

Last week the staff and I commenced the process of grouping students into their 2025 classes. This is a challenging process which takes into consideration many social, academic and personal needs of every student. Any requests that I have received, to support students in their social/emotional developmental needs, have been taken into consideration. All students have been given the opportunity to request 2-4 friends to be in their class next year. Final class groupings and teachers will be shared in December.

Year 3 and 4 Swimming Program

Our Year 3/4  students Swimming and Water Safety Program will commence on Wednesday, 6 November. All details regarding the two week swimming program are on PAM. If you have any questions, please feel free to email your child's classroom teacher or the office. 

St John's Parish Community Fete and Raffle

Thank you to the families who have already returned their raffle books. We appreciate your support. Please sell and return your tickets ASAP. We will have a few spare books for families who wish to sell more than one book.

As a new 2025 Initiative, Year Level Stalls to volunteer for, are listed below, unless you have already committed to another stall. Please sign up to volunteer an hour or two of your time on the day. The live links are in the attachment pdf below. 

• Prep - Popcorn/Fairyfloss
• Year 1 - Snowcones
• Year 2 - Lolly Stall
• Year 3 - Donuts
• Year 4 - Cakes
• Year 5 - Coffee
• Year 6 - JJ's Cafe 

This year the St John's Staff will again be running the Lob-o-Choc Stall at the Fete. We are requesting that every family donates at least one block of chocolate for the stall. 

We also support the St James Staff who run the Lolly Stall so we would appreciate any bags of lollies also.

Any toy donations for the second hand Toy Stall can be left in the boxes in the school foyer.

Joke of the Week

May your blessings be plentiful this week and please let me know if I can assist you and your family in any way.

With Faith and Love,

Verona Gridley

St John's Primary School Principal