Principal's News

Dear Families, 

As we keep reflecting on Human Dignity at St John’s, may we remember that we are all special and we are all made in God’s love. Let’s encourage our children to show that love in the way they speak, include and care for others each day. 

Loving God, 

Help us to slow down and remember that we are all special, created in Your image and held in Your love. Teach us to treat one another with kindness and dignity as we walk this Lenten journey together. Amen. 

OSHC Update – Uniting Vic.Tas Commencing Term 2 

I am pleased to share with families that Uniting Vic.Tas will be joining St John’s as our new Outside School Hours Care provider from the beginning of Term 2, 2026. We appreciate everyone’s patience during this transition process. We are confident that Uniting will provide a warm, engaging and high-quality program that supports our children to learn, play and grow in a safe and welcoming environment. 

If you have not yet completed the Expression of Interest form, please do so as soon as possible to ensure you receive further communication from Uniting: OSHC- 2026 Expression of interest St John's Primary School. 

School Uniform Expectations at St John’s 

A reminder to families that necklaces and jewellery are not part of the St John’s uniform and must not be worn to school. Please refer to our Uniform Policy on our website: Child Safeguarding | St John's Primary School Euroa. The policy allows a wristwatch, single plain gold or silver stud earrings (one per lobe) and approved hair accessories in school colours (green or yellow). Necklaces and additional jewellery are not permitted, as these items present a safety risk and are not part of our uniform standards. We ask parents and carers to ensure children attend school in full compliance with our Uniform Policy, as student safety and consistency across the school remain a priority. Please ensure your child comes to school without necklaces or additional jewellery. We ask for your full support in keeping student safety at the forefront at all times. 

School Advisory Council 

We are currently seeking expressions of interest for one new member on the School Advisory Council following Jaime Hamill finishing up at St John’s at the end of last year. Members are appointed in line with Diocesan governance guidelines. If you are interested in contributing to the strategic direction of our school community, please email your expression of interest to principal@sjeuroa.catholic.edu.au. Our next School Advisory Council Meeting will be held in the Board Room at St John’s in Week 7 on Tuesday 10th March at 5.30pm. 

2026 Annual Action Plan 

At the beginning of each year we set clear goals for our school through our Annual Action Plan. This helps guide our work and ensures we are always improving in ways that matter most for our students. Our 2026 focus is built around three Catholic Education Sandhurst key guiding lights... 

Last week, we farewelled Father Tony with a beautiful whole-school Mass in the Mercy Centre. It was a special celebration filled with gratitude for his faithful service to our school and parish community. During the Mass, we presented Father Tony with a beautiful painting of St John’s Church as a small token of our appreciation and thanks. Father Tony’s final day with us will be Friday, March 20th. We keep him in our prayers as he begins this retirement. We are fortunate to welcome Fr Joe Taylor, a former priest of St John’s, who will celebrate our Easter Masses with us. Easter Mass times will be included in our final newsletter for the term. 

NAPLAN testing begins next week for our Year 3 and Year 5 students. These assessments provide valuable information about student progress in literacy and numeracy and help inform our teaching and learning programs. The schedule is as follows: 

• Wednesday 11th – Writing 
• Thursday 12th – Reading 
• Monday 16th – Conventions of Language 
• Tuesday 17th – Numeracy 

We encourage students to approach the week with confidence and simply try their best. NAPLAN is just one measure of learning, and we are proud of the effort our students demonstrate every day in their classrooms. To support your child, please ensure they get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive at school on time. 

Our new Indigenous garden is now officially open and looking fantastic. This beautiful space has already become a wonderful addition to our school grounds. We extend thanks to Chris Welsh Landscaping for their work in bringing the garden to life. We are also very proud of our Fire Carriers, who worked alongside Chris and his team to help plant and establish the garden. Their involvement and care have helped create a space that reflects respect for our Indigenous heritage and connection to the land. This lovely new area will be a special place for learning, reflection and enjoyment for our whole school community. 

Take care and have a wonderful week!

Lou Frewen