A Message from the Principal

There is a great deal of action in our middle area of the playground as our new Solar Panels are being installed. We have been planning this for a couple of years and it is exciting that it is finally happening. It will have a big impact on our power bills and will be a great part of our action plan to be more sustainable.

Our beautiful Prep students celebrated their 100 Days at School last week, dressing up as 100 year olds. They collected things in groups of 100, counted collections to 100, wrote stories about 100 and celebrated throughout the day. Miss Woolley and Lipo enjoyed dressing up too and we are all very proud of the amazing growth and learning that our Foundation students have achieved.

Pilgrimages and Prayers

Later this term, Melinda and I will each be undertaking a special pilgrimage to sacred sites in two countries in Europe. Mrs. Buscema will be travelling to Ireland, while I will be journeying to Italy. Although our trips will take place at different times, both journeys offer a profound opportunity for spiritual reflection, renewal of faith and personal growth.

We would also like to extend an invitation to you, if you or someone you love is in need of prayer—whether for healing, strength, guidance, or peace—we would be honoured to carry your intentions with us and bring your prayers to these sacred places on your behalf.

To participate, simply write your prayer or intention on a piece of paper, place it in a sealed envelope, and drop it off at either the school office or the parish office. A dedicated box will be available in both locations. All collected prayers will be respectfully taken with us to holy sites in Italy and Ireland, where they will be left in churches and sacred spaces for prayer and intercession. Prayer boxes will be available from Tuesday, August 12, through to the end of Term 3

As this is a Jubilee Year, it feels especially meaningful to bring our community’s prayers to these places of grace and healing. We hope this act of spiritual connection offers you a sense of calm, hope and renewed faith. Jesus reminds us in the Gospel of Matthew: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7)

Cyber Safety 'Inform and Empower'-Thurs 7 August

As part of our commitment to Digital Wellbeing and Cyber Safety we organised for a Psychologist and Digital Technology Educator to join us here at St John's this Thursday night to keep Parents and Carers well informed around latest research and the impacts of Digital technology on our children.

We encourage all parents to come along for this very important Information session to learn more about:

Social media impacts
Online Gaming
Cyberbullying
Explicit content
AI - Artificial Intelligence

Please register online and join us in the STEM room this Thursday night. Don't Miss out!

bit.ly/StJohnsMitcham25

Friday Snack Bar

A huge Thank-you to Eileen Dalton for organising our Friday Snack Bar last Friday, 1 August. This ongoing fundraiser for Term 3 & 4, will support our Year 6 end of year Graduation. Every Friday the students can purchase a snack for $1. Term 3 will be Cinnamon Donuts, Term 4 will be Icy Poles. PLEASE Send in $1.00 again this Wednesday to place an order for your child.

Donations and Sponsors for Games Night

How can you help?

If you or someone you know is able to donate goods or services as prizes for our Games Night we would be very grateful. Sponsorship, Vouchers, Services, Products, Wine, Chocolate or Hampers, would be fantastic. Please drop them off at the School Office. Any donations for the St John's Games Night - Our Social Event of the Year, would be greatly appreciated. It's a great way to promote your own Business!

St John's Parents Games Night

You don't want to miss out on the Biggest Social Event of the Year at St John's Mitcham. The Parent's Games Night has been organised by our Parents Association to engage and entertain you all. I hope that you will support the hard work and preparation that our PA have put in to making this an event not to be missed.

BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW - https://user.cdfpay.flexischools.com.au/home

School Closure Day

A reminder that next Tuesday, 12 August will be a School Closure Day. This is a Professional Learning Day for all staff. Our focus will be on learning more around latest research in neurodiversity. We have a guest presenter for the day and we are grateful to Ange Crowe, our Learning Diversity Leader, for organising this professional development day for us all.

RUOK Day Awards

As you may have seen on our Social media posts we are very excited to be a Finalist in the Barbara Hocking RUOK? day Awards. Tracey Farrar and I will be travelling to Sydney in 2 weeks, to attend this National Awards ceremony as St John’s has been selected as one of three national finalists in the Education Category. I am proud of all of the great work that we do here at St John's to support mental health and wellbeing and I look forward to sharing more with you all, about this wonderful recognition for our programs.

Scholastic Book Club

The latest Issue of the Scholastic Book Club catalogue is out now!

Each order will help earn books and teaching materials for our classrooms at St John's.

CLOSING DATE: please place your orders at scholastic.com.au/LOOP by Monday, 11 August 2025.

Unfortunately no cash or late orders can be processed.

For queries: Cynthia Timoti - 0421 835 778 (Jasper 5/6A).

Thank you for supporting our school!

Joke of the Week

Q: Why did the car get a puncture?

A: Because there was a fork in the road!

I hope that you enjoy the beautiful winter sunshine this week and please reach out if I can support you or your family in any way.

Verona Gridley

St John's Primary School Principal

principal@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au

St John's Community Fete