'A Welcoming Community Leading the Future of Learning with Faith and Love'

A Message from the Principal

What a magnificent year 2023 has been with our St John's school community. We have been able to celebrate, learn, work and play together throughout the year, to inspire and engage the students, families and whole school community. To any families who are reading the school newsletter for the last time - Thank-you. I hope that you will hold many special memories of St John's in your hearts. To any of our new families who are reading the school newsletter for the first time - Welcome. May you and your child experience a very rewarding educational journey in the years ahead.

This year we have built strong partnerships across the school and the wider community, to support your children to achieve their best. I am very grateful for the support of our parent community, the time you give to volunteering and helping in so many ways around the school and at home. We could not offer so many incredible programs and events without your help, for which we are extremely thankful.

There have been so many highlights this year for us all which have included:

Harmony Day celebrated with school community expert presenters, Chinese Dancers and an Indigenous elder
Interactive Stations of the Cross, led by Year 5/6 students for all classes
Introducing PAM - our new online parent portal
Special celebration days - Mothers' day, Grandparents' day, Fathers' Day
School Production - The Amazing Adventures of Superstan
Staff v students netball game
National Day of Action Against bullying
STEM excursions and incursions
Tournament of the Mind presentation
Extension Education Showcase
Changemakers and Mini Market Day
Breadmaking - engaging parents and students in activities
Future Leader Meetings & Class Meetings
Information nights throughout the year
Sacramental Program
The Long Walk Around Mitcham and promoting indigenous persepctives
Halliday Park Picnic
Trivia Night
Carols on the Green

The list could go on, as every week is packed full of exciting and engaging activities and events. Thank-you again for all that you do to contribute to this extraordinary school community.

Our two final celebrations for the year will be -

Our Thanksgiving Mass this Thursday evening, which will be a very special event for our whole school community - 7pm
Our Final Assembly to celebrate a great year, farewell the students and announce our New 2024 School Leaders - 12.15pm

BioEYES

We were very excited to see our story in The Age newspaper this week, about the BioEYES Program that our school has been a part of for many years. The Year 3/4 students have been unlocking the life cycle secrets of the zebrafish which is critical to biomedical research. These fish share at least 70 per cent of the same genes as humans, making them a perfect animal model for use by scientists and students to study.

Our students loved being bio-scientists and watching the fish grow from a tiny egg into a tadpole shaped fish within 5 days. Using the micropscopes and mapping the growth is an important part of the program and one that we will contiue to offer at St John's. It is great collaborating with the scientists from Monash University as they share their knowledge and expertise with our students.

Merry Christmas to All

We would like to say a huge thank-you to all of our school families and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday. We are looking forward to seeing you all safely back for the new school year on 1st February.

It is always sad when we say goodbye to some staff members who will be moving on for various reasons. As I wrote in last week's newsletter Rhett Masters, Sherie Robertson, Lisa Read and Tyler Boyd will finish up at the end of the year. We are also farewelling Rosa, our school counsellor, who is again retiring. Shannon Kearns, who was on maternity leave, has now moved to Warragul, so we wish her well in her new home and community. Shannon worked at St John's for 5 years as an enthusiatic class teacher and a wonderful Learning and Teaching Leader.

We will be looking forward to hearing baby news from Naomi Ryan in the new year and from Rhett with the impending birth of his 2nd daughter.

I would like to say a huge thank-you to Carmel Barro who came out of retirement to take on the Year 5/6 class this year. I would also like to thank Claire Lambert for her support in Year 5/6 and to Luke Gibson for his support in Year 1/2. Thank-you to Emily who has worked as a Learning Support Officer in the Prep room. Good luck as you begin your new teaching career next year.

May you all cherish the memories of your time at St John's and know that your support and many contributions are greatly appreciated.

Senior Parishioners and Preps

Last Wednesday our Prep students visited the senior parishioners at their Christmas Lunch. The students sang a variety of Christmas Carols for them and wished them all a very Merry Christmas. We are lucky that our intergenerational program with the Parish has continued and gives our students different opportunities to interact with them and learn from our Senior Parishioners.

Carols on the Green

Thank-you to all of the families who were able to join us last Thursday night, in the warmth of the late afternoon sun, to enjoy a night of singing and dancing to some of our favourite Christmas Carols. The students love performing for you all and sharing their Christmas songs.

Fete Update

Once again, thank you all for your generous support and commitment to the annual St John’s Parish Community Fete. The 2023 event is being hailed as ‘one of the best community events’. We are yet to reach a final financial result but I am pleased to be able to report an interim surplus of $36,200.

2024 Classes

On Monday we held our "Transition Morning" where students met their new classmates in their new classrooms for 2024. The students completed activities, to share their talents and personal stories with the teachers. All current teachers wil continue to help transition the students into their new year levels until the end of the year.

Student Assessment Days - 30 and 31 January

Over the holidays you will receive an email link to book in your interview and testing time with the teachers for 2024. Next year we will be combining our Term 1 Parent Teacher interviews (Meet and Greets) with the testing time to make the most of these days on 30 and 31 January.

Vinnies Christmas Appeal

We will continue to collect non perishable food items for our Christmas Hampers or Gift Cards for Vinnies. Every year we support the Vinnies Christmas Appeal as a major Social Justice action. We ask that every family contributes either canned food for the Christmas Hampers or a $20 Gift Card to a major retail store. Thank-you for your support.

Lions Cakes

If you would like to order a Lions Christmas Cake please come into the school foyer and use the QR code on the poster to place your order. Alternatively the QR code and list of cakes and prices is under Community News in this newsletter.

Joke of the Week

On Christmas morning Joseph announced that both Mother and baby were doing well and were in a stable condition!

Have a very safe and peaceful holiday and may the joy of Christmas fill your hearts throughout the Summer season. Thank-you all for your support this year. I am extremely grateful to lead this wonderful community.

Verona Gridley

Principal

vgridley@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au