Principal's Page

A Message from the Acting Principal

Welcome to the first day of Spring! We’re enjoying some much needed sunshine and earlier daylight in the mornings which is a wonderful reminder that warmer weather and BBQ season are just around the corner. Verona recently shared that it's a warm 27°C in Slovenia, and she'll soon be in Rome for the 'Faith Formation Pilgrimage' next week. We miss her here at St. John’s, but the school continues to thrive thanks to the collaborative efforts of our dedicated staff, supportive families, and enthusiastic students.

Games Night Success

Last Tuesday, our Parents’ Association met to reflect on the success of our major fundraiser — the much-enjoyed Games Night! It was a fantastic event filled with fun, laughter, and great prizes. The funds raised will go towards new outdoor furniture for our passive play area. A huge thank you to all the parent volunteers, especially Joelle and Nick MacKay, for their energy, organisation, and communication in making the night such a success.

Teaching and Learning Highlights

Over the past two weeks, staff from MACS visited our school to observe our teaching and learning practices. They were particularly impressed by:

• High levels of student engagement
• Clear learning intentions shared by teachers
• Creative strategies like whiteboard activities to review prior learning in English and Maths
• Teachers’ deep understanding of their students and use of data to plan differentiated lessons

We’re proud of our teaching team for their professional growth and the rich conversations focused on improving student outcomes.

MACSSIS - Parent Feedback Surveys

As part of our ongoing improvement process, we invite all parents to complete the MACSSIS (Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys). This is an important opportunity for us to listen to your feedback, which guides our planning for 2026 and beyond.

The survey link will be sent to many families in the coming days, and we kindly ask that it be completed by Friday, September 19. Your feedback is anonymous, and we truly value it and it’s a gift to help us grow as a school community.

As a fun incentive, students from families who complete the survey will receive a free icy pole! Please email office@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au when you have completed the survey to treat your kids!

History Inquiry Expo

You're Invited!

Please don’t forget our History Expo which is taking place next Wednesday, September 10 from 2:20–3:20pm in classrooms across the school (Prep to Year 6). The Expo will look different in each year level and will be interactive as students showcase their learning and answer their inquiry questions.

Parents and grandparents are warmly invited to attend but please come through the front office. ALL attendees will be required to sign-in. Please bring a mobile device to assist with our QR check-in if possible

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and involvement in our school community.

Father's Day Breakfast - Friday 5 September

This Friday!We’re looking forward to celebrating Father’s Day with a special breakfast this Friday at 7:30am in the Coghlan Centre. Dads, grandfathers, uncles, or any other special role models are warmly invited to join us. Tickets are $10 per adult and can be purchased via the CDFpay app until 8pm this Wednesday.

Thank you to Ange Maclean and the team of parents helping to organise this wonderful event. If you’re able to assist with setup (either this Thursday evening from 6:30pm or Friday morning), please contact Ange at amwood82@hotmail.com.

We look forward to seeing you there — and don’t miss a special performance by our school choir!

Housekeeping - Student Absences

Illness, holidays, late starts, early departures

Please do not email student absences to classroom teachers or the Principal.

It is important that all student absences are entered as soon as possible via the PAM app, and before 10am on the day of absence. If you are having difficulties with the PAM app, please see one of our office team to assist, Sheree or Maria.

For one-off instances, if you are unable to use the PAM app, please phone the school on (03) 9874 1575 or email the absence details to office@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au.

Outreach - Can you help a fellow family?

We are continually inspired by the generosity of our St John’s community. At this time, we are reaching out to ask for donations of non-perishable food items or frozen meals to support fellow families in need. Donations can be brought to the school office. Ideas include boxes of cereal, long-life milk, dried rice and pasta, frozen vegetables, frozen ready-meals, frozen meat products (e.g. schnitzels, fish), canned foods, curry and pasta sauce jars.

If you are able, please consider contributing – every little bit helps to ease the load for someone within our own community.  Thank you for the kindness and care that make St John’s such a special place.

Lost Property

A number of personal items have been lost around the school including lunch boxes and food containers, water bottles, school hats and jumpers, and some personal clothing items. While named items are able to be given back to their owner, many are not identifiable.

Please note that any containers and bottles left at the end of term 3 will be disposed of for sanitary reasons.

Any unclaimed school uniform items will be donated to the second hand uniform shop.

Lost property items can be located outside the staff room, next to the stairs.

Joke of the Week 

Have a lovely week ahead and I look forward to seeing you all at the Fathers Day Breakfast this Friday.

Melinda Buscema

St John's Primary School Acting Principal

principal@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au