Principal's News

Dear Families,

Wow what a term we have had! From classrooms to sports fields, our students have continued to shine.

Confident, Responsible and Purposeful Learners

This term has seen students excel in various sporting arenas, representing St John’s with pride, sportsmanship, and skill. This was evident at our finals of the year 5/6 interschool sports last Friday.These achievements reflect not only physical talent but also the learning powers they showed - resilience, collaboration and creativity. In addition, students have embraced a range of leadership opportunities with enthusiasm—from peer mentoring to leading assemblies and engaging in social justice initiatives. Each experience is helping our learners grow in confidence, responsibility, and purpose.

Learning and teaching across all year levels has remained rich, targeted, and responsive. This year's Naplan results have shown growth in both Year 3 and Year 5. Staff have worked with great dedication to ensure each student experiences success and growth, both academically and socially. We are incredibly proud of the progress made this term and thank you for the continued trust you place in us to support your child’s development.

I hope you all found the Three-Way Conversations last week informative and affirming. These conversations are a powerful way to celebrate each child’s progress and learning journey, while also providing space to reflect on their goals and next steps. It was wonderful to see students taking ownership of their learning—articulating their achievements, sharing challenges, and setting clear intentions for future growth. The partnership between student, family, and teacher is at the heart of what we do, and we truly value the opportunity to connect and collaborate in such a meaningful way.

Last week was certainly a highlight! The school came alive during our vibrant Specialist Italian Carnevale Day, where colour, music, food, and culture filled every corner with energy and joy. A heartfelt thank you to all the families who contributed to the success of the day—whether by donating cars, participating in the recode breaking dance, supplying pizzas and gelatos, purchasing donuts, or generously offering your time to help run activities. Your support truly made the day unforgettable.

When I asked one student what the highlight was, they replied enthusiastically, “There were too many to choose from… it was the best day of my life!” It was a truly special way to unite our school community and shine a spotlight on the rich learning experiences offered through our specialist programs.

Parent / Carer Classroom Helper Child Safety Induction Session - Thursday 24th July at 2:30pm

We warmly invite any parents or carers who are interested in volunteering in our classrooms to attend our Parent / Carer Classroom Helper Child Safety Induction Session on Thursday 24th July at 2:30pm. This session is essential for anyone who would like to support learning in the classroom, whether it be listening to students read, assisting with small group activities, or helping with classroom tasks. It will outline the expectations of following the Child Safety Standards, provide practical tips, and ensure all volunteers feel confident and supported in their role. We greatly value the contribution of our parent and carer community and look forward to welcoming more helpers into our learning spaces.

Footy Cards

We’ve noticed a growing buzz around footy cards in the yard, with many students enjoying collecting and sharing their cards. While we love seeing students connect over shared interests, footy cards have been causing some issues during school time . We will revisit this policy at the start of Term 3, Week 1. Should the issues persist, we will request that all footy cards remain at home. We appreciate your understanding and support in helping us maintain a respectful and focused learning environment at St John’s.

Staffing

We warmly welcome Olivia Bottomley back to St John’s. Olivia was an LSO last year while studying to be a teacher and is now a qualified teacher. She will be joining 5B as we prepare for Penny Baynes to begin her maternity leave. We’re excited to have Olivia back and look forward to her teaching 5B.

Save the Date!! 

Parent/Carer Night Out - Saturday, 11 October!

The PIC team is excited to invite all parents and carers to a fun and relaxed Parent/Carer Night Out Saturday 11 October. It will be a fantastic opportunity to dance, share stories, and meet new people within our wonderful school community.

Please mark this date in your calendar and start organising a babysitter!

We are also seeking items for a silent auction to help make the night even more special. Some suggestions include a weekend holiday house stay you’re happy to donate, restaurant vouchers, sporting memorabilia, or any other generous contributions. If you have any contacts or donations to offer, please let us know. You should have received a survey to fill out—thank you in advance for your support.

We look forward to a wonderful night together!

Book Week & Grandparent/Special Person Day at St John’s! Monday, 18 August.

We are excited to celebrate Book Week alongside our special Grandparent/Special Person Day again this year. This year’s theme is Book an Adventure!

Grandparents and special people are warmly invited to join us for morning tea. We kindly ask families to bring a plate of food to share as we come together to celebrate this special day.

The day will begin with a  Costume Parade, followed by an opportunity for our guests to visit classrooms and share in the learning. Morning tea will follow in the hall.

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

Thank you to OSH Club

A big thank you to Linda and her dedicated team at OshClub as they finish up this week. Disshan is staying on with MACSEYE. Your hard work and care have been truly appreciated by our school community.

Important reminder for families: If you wish to have your children attend after school care moving forward, please note that you will now need to register with MACSEYE. All the registration details can be found here: Enrolment Link - St John's Heidelberg  Registration and medical forms from OSH will not  carry over to MACSEYE.

Ivanhoe East OSHCLub will be open over the holidays for those famileis who require care.

MACS new Vison for Engagement

As you are all aware in February 2024  MACS Vision for Instruction was officially launched. This initiative introduced a system-wide approach to teaching and learning excellence within Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS), emphasizing evidence-based practices and explicit instruction methods. 

In June 2025 MACS launched the MACS Vision for Engagement – a faith-inspired and evidence informed system-wide commitment to nurturing calm, respectful, and inclusive learning environments where students are best supported to thrive academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually. This was developed as a companion to MACS’ Vision for Instruction, it represents another leap towards delivering the Flourishing Learners ambition set out in the MACS 2030 strategy. 

Vision for Engagement focuses on upholding the dignity of every child in our care and reflects our enduring dedication to ‘forming lives to enrich the world’. At St John's, this practice is not new, but it reinforces our commitment to the right to be respected and the right to learn.

Term 3 Events Now Available in the School Calendar

Please go to the calendar and note the upcoming Term 3 events. 

Your support and dedication have made this term truly special. We hope you have a relaxing and enjoyable holiday, filled with fun and quality time with family and friends. We look forward to seeing everyone refreshed and ready for an exciting Term 3!

Happy Holidays

Alison Dean