A message from Emily

Dear parents and carers

What a wonderful two weeks it has been at St John's!

Celebrating Our Grandparents

Last Friday we celebrated the special people in our children's lives with Grandparents Day. We were delighted to welcome so many guests into our school to share time in the hubs and honour them with a special Prayer Gathering. The joy on the faces of the children and their guests made for a truly memorable day!

Celebrating Our Wonderful Staff: World Teachers' Day

This Friday, October 31st, communities across the country officially recognise the remarkable difference educators make for World Teachers' Day.

We chose to mark this special occasion yesterday with a celebration of appreciation for all staff at St John's. We shared a morning tea and enjoyed special drawings and comments from the children about each person.

This day is a vital opportunity to recognise and celebrate the professionalism, dedication, and expertise of every staff member at St John's—our educators, co-educators, leaders, and admin staff. Their work profoundly shapes the learning, wellbeing and futures of our young people, thereby strengthening the fabric of our community.

Teaching is a deeply rewarding, yet challenging, profession. Every day, our staff members bring knowledge, compassion and creativity into the hubs and our school community. They continually adapt to changing needs, support your children to thrive, and uphold the highest standards of professional practice.

On this special day, I want to acknowledge the significant contribution each staff member makes to the lives of children at St John's. Thank you for your ongoing commitment and professionalism.

'Zooper Dooper Wednesdays' - A Sweet Hit!

We've introduced 'Zooper Dooper Wednesdays' this term, and they've already proven to be a massive hit! Children can purchase a Zooper Dooper every Wednesday for just $1.

• Where Your Dollar Goes: The money raised is currently going towards purchasing a new mini freezer to keep the Zooper Doopers perfectly chilled. Once this cost is covered and we begin making a profit, these funds will be collected to put back into our school community. We are excited to grow this fund with further fundraising opportunities.
• Getting Involved: I am meeting with a small group of parents next week to get the ball rolling on future fundraising initiatives. We will then extend an invitation to all parents who have expressed interest in being involved.

Staff Professional Learning Day

On Monday, our staff gathered for a fantastic day of learning with Maths Consultant Rob Vingerhoets. This was a fun and enjoyable day where we experienced Rob's humour and expertise in teaching Mathematics. We all took away valuable insights and are excited to implement this new learning with the children across the rest of the term. Our focus was on place value through the Maths curriculum including assessment opportunities. 

Important Information: School Fees and Levies

The School Advisory Council (SAC) met last week for our Term 4 meeting. Key discussions focused on school fees and levies for the coming years.

• 2026 Fees and Levies: All families will soon receive a letter detailing the 2026 school fees and levies, which includes an increase from this year.
• Tiered Fee Proposal for 2027: We also discussed the proposal for a tiered approach to school fees that MACS is asking schools to implement in 2027. Accompanying the letter will be an example illustrating what this new tiered structure will look like.
• What this means:We will ultimately move away from the current family fee structure to a tiered approach based on the number of children you have enrolled at St John's.

• We are here to support you: I encourage any family that might be struggling financially to please contact Melinda in the office to discuss options or to make a time to meet with me personally. We want to work with all our families to ensure these changes and increases do not contribute to financial distress. I also welcome any families who would like to discuss the tiered fee structure with me to make a time to chat.

   

Update Regarding PAM Access Interruption

I wish to sincerely apologise again for the ongoing interruption to your access to PAM (Parent Access Module). Please be assured that Simon has been in constant contact, providing us with regular updates. While we are currently able to access everything on-site at school, they are implementing additional security measures for remote access to the platform.

Key Facts for Parents

• No Data Breach Has Occurred: I would like to reassure you that no data breach has taken place.
• Security Measures Worked: The security protocols currently in place detected suspicious activity, specifically where profiles were being created in an attempt to gain unauthorised access. This attempt was immediately blocked.
• Temporary Remote Lockout: Remote access was subsequently closed off to allow the company to complete a thorough investigation and add further security layers.

It is comforting to know that the security measures they have in place are effectively keeping our data and information secure.

Current Access Status

• Families may be able to access their PAM dashboard using a computer browser.
• The PAM mobile apps have been temporarily disabled.

We will notify you immediately once full, secure access is restored. Until then please continue to report any absences to the office. Thank you for your patience and understanding as the Simon Team continue to work to restore the full service to the Simon platform.

Important: Drop-off and Pick-up 

To ensure the safety of our children and the smooth flow of traffic, we ask all drivers using our designated drop-off and pick-up zones (along Eleanor and Everard Streets) to kindly observe these procedures:

• Remain in Your Vehicle: Drivers must remain in their cars at all times in the designated zones.
• Staff Assistance: Our staff will be supporting children to quickly move to and from cars.
• Keep the Line Moving: To prevent congestion, particularly when cars are banked up, adults should not get out of their cars to help children enter or exit the vehicle.
• Quick Transitions: Please ensure all greetings and goodbyes occur inside the car to support the quick, safe flow of traffic during these busy times.

If Your Child Needs Help:

If your child requires assistance getting in or out of the car:

• Please park legally nearby and walk to Gate 1 or Gate 3 to meet or drop off your child.
• Please ensure that anyone who occasionally picks up or drops off your child is also aware of these essential routines.

Remembering Our Loved Ones: All Souls' Day

This Sunday, November 2nd, we observe the Feast of All Souls' Day. This is a time for us to pause, remember with tenderness and faith, all who have gone before us, and hold in prayer our loved ones who now rest in God’s eternal embrace. We also ask you to keep in mind those among our community who may currently be grieving and to offer them your gentle support and compassion during this time of remembrance.

Prayer

Merciful God, on this day of remembrance, we pray for all our beloved departed, especially those of our family, friends, and community.

Grant them eternal rest in your light, and welcome them into the joy of your everlasting presence.

May our prayers ease their journey, and may the promise of Christ's Resurrection bring comfort and hope to all who grieve.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

Warm regards

Emily

What's coming up:

• 3rd & 4th November : Melbourne Cup Long Weekend (School closed)
• 11th November : Remembrance Day

OUR IMAGE OF THE CHILD

‘At St. John’s, we strongly believe that children are at the centre when given authentic and meaningful experiences. They flourish when their passions and interests are acknowledged and valued. Children are empowered when they take ownership for their learning. They have a right to develop autonomy through discovery.’

(St. John’s Staff, 2018)

We respectfully acknowledge the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation as the owners of the land on which we live, play and learn at St John's Primary School, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

All students attending St. John's Primary School have the right to feel safe. The care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people is a fundamental responsibility of all within our school.