Dear St John’s Community,

"I sign thee with the sign of the cross and confirm thee with the chrism of salvation, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost."

Please remember the students who will be completing their Confirmation in a few weeks time in your prayers. They have been working hard to prepare themselves for this blessed Sacrament.

O Lord Jesus Christ,

Grant them the Spirit of Wisdom, that they may aspire for the things in this world that are eternal,

the Spirit of Understanding, to enlighten their minds with the light of Your truth, the Spirit of Right Judgment, (Counsel) that they may always choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining Heaven,

the Spirit of Fortitude, that they may bear their cross with You, and that they can overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose their salvation,

the Spirit of Knowledge, that they may know God and know themselves and grow more perfect in the science of the Saints,

the Spirit of Piety, that they may find peace and fulfilment in the service of God while serving others,

the Spirit of Wonder and Awe, (Fear of the Lord) that they may be filled with a loving reverence towards God.

Teach them, dear Lord, to be your faithful disciples and animate them in all things.

Amen.

Halloween

The word “Halloween” is a traditional Catholic celebration called All Hallows’ Eve. The word “hallow” meaning “holy.” Contrary to popular belief, Halloween does not have any origins in paganism, Satanism, Samhain, Druidic festivals, or the occult.

The Catholic Church refers to this time as The Days of the Dead - Hallowtide (Halloween), Hallowmas (All hallows’ Day or All Saints’ Day or Feast of All Saints) followed by All Hallowtide (All Souls’ Day or Feast of All Souls)

Halloween, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day is what the Church calls a triduum of feast days.

Traditionally, Catholic Halloween was a time to remind us to pray for the souls of those who have passed on. It also served as a reminder that we will die one day, so we should always try to follow Christ’s example and live good, holy lives so we can reach our eternal reward in Heaven!

How can we have a Catholic Halloween?

Before or after a fun night of dress-up, trick-or-treating and lots of lollies, explain Halloween and All Saints’ Day to your children! You could even say the Prayer to St Michael.

Halloween should not be a day when Catholicism retreats into the shadows, but when we fill the darkness with Christ’s light, inviting everyone to celebrate the Feast of All Saints with all the excitement and joy we can muster.

Remember, Halloween is a Catholic holiday. Don’t let secular America steal it from us!

(Some content adapted from reflections by Fr Steve Grunow – Word of Fire Catholic Ministry)

Prayer to St Michael; (children’s version)

St Michael the Archangel,

Defend us in our daily struggles, be our protection against the bad thoughts and actions of others and ourselves. May God drive the darkness away, we humbly pray; and you, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, drive away all the evil thoughts and spirits who prowl about the world seeking to cause chaos, hurt and hatred.

Amen.

World Teacher's Day

Friday 31st October is World Teachers' Day (but just in Victoria)... if you have the inclination, please consider some love for your child's teacher next Friday (maybe some Halloween treats?)

A Gratitude Mindset

I'd like to ask families to commit to a wellbeing focus this week with your children and see where it takes you.

A simple adjustment from “I have to” to “I get to” can help us reframe daily tasks and challenges as opportunities rather than obligations. This mindset encourages gratitude and helps us appreciate the everyday moments we often take for granted.

For example:

I get to finish this assignment (because I’m receiving an education).
I get to train after school (because I’m healthy and part of a team).
I get to help at home (because I’m contributing to my family).

When we focus on what we get to do, we begin to see value and meaning in our responsibilities and routines, even when life feels busy or stressful.

Family Challenge: Try using “I get to” instead of “I have to” this week.

Discuss as a family how it feels to approach your daily routines this way and observe how it changes your mindset.

Celebrating 15 Years Since the Canonisation of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop

The 17th of October marked the 15th anniversary of the canonisation of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop — Australia’s first saint and a woman whose life continues to inspire faith, courage, and compassion. In 2010, before thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square in Rome, Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed Mary MacKillop a saint of the universal Church. It was a moment of great pride and joy for Australians and for all who her story has touched.

Mary MacKillop devoted her life to serving those most in need, particularly in rural and struggling communities. With courage and determination, she founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, establishing schools and places of care throughout Australia and New Zealand so that every child, no matter their circumstances, could receive an education and experience God’s love.

Fifteen years on, her legacy lives strongly in Catholic schools, parishes, and communities that follow her example of faith in action. Her words, “Never see a need without doing something about it,” remain a guiding light for us all. As we celebrate this milestone, may we continue to live with the same spirit of hope, generosity, and trust in God that St Mary of the Cross embodied.

Class Allocations 2026

At this time of the year, we ask families whose children are not intending to return in 2026 (apart from Year 6 students), to notify the school as soon as possible, informing us of the change. We have a number of enrolment inquiries and are preparing for 2026 classes.

As we begin preparations for class placements, parents and carers are invited to share any specific information about their child’s learning or social needs that they believe the school may not already be aware of. This information can assist us in making well-informed decisions to support each child’s wellbeing and learning.

Please note that while we understand families may have preferences regarding particular teachers or class groupings, requests for specific teachers cannot be considered. Our focus is on ensuring balanced and supportive learning environments for all students.

If you have information you believe is important for us to consider, please provide it in writing (letter or email) to the Principal by Friday, Week 4 of Term 4 (31 October 2025). This information will be reviewed carefully alongside other relevant factors during the placement process.

The Leadership Team will work collaboratively with staff to ensure well considered and fair class placements. While we take all information into account, no guarantees can be made regarding specific requests.

Student birthdays

We love that students enjoy celebrating birthdays and sharing special moments with friends. However, handing out birthday cards or party invitations at school can sometimes cause anxiety or disappointment for other children who may not receive them. To help ensure everyone feels included and respected, we kindly ask that any cards or invitations be distributed outside of the classroom and/or school grounds. Thank you for helping us keep our school a caring and inclusive environment for all students.

Staff News

I want to report some very exciting news, though I'm worried there's something in the water now...Miss Salmon is having a baby! Congratulations and best wishes to her and her fiancé, Todd.

And...just to update that Mrs O'Keefe, her husband Dom and little baby Julian are doing well.

Congratulations to Leon and Laurence who were selected to participate in the 2025 Touch Football Championship.

Hello,

On the school holidays my brothers and I went on a trip to Coffs Harbor for a rugby tournament.

We played against some of the best kids in the state. I was chosen to be Captain. It was a lot of fun. At the end of the tournament most of the kids were jersey swapping and talking to each other, it was really cool. This week we are attending another state tournament in Ballarat, we will be versing all the top state teams in Australia. I will be vice captain.

Thank you, Leon R

Cameras

We have just been advised by the Department of Transport and Planning that they will be installing temporary camera’s at the following locations to survey traffic and pedestrian movements and identify any road safety issues. The survey technology detects objects and movement without capturing the identity of pedestrians and vehicles.

Coral Street near Vermay Avenue Frankston
Franciscan Avenue near Chamouni Court Frankston
Heatherhill Road near Robinia Street Frankston
Silver Avenue near Gardenia Crescent Frankston North
Cotoneaster Way near Gum Nut Drive Langwarrin
Warrandyte Road near Lang Road Langwarrin
Gum Nut Drive near Cotoneaster Way Langwarrin

The Colour Run & House Challenge - Nov 27th

Donate through Trybooking

Have a great weekend,

Derek Bruitzman

Principal

School Uniform Reminder

Just to clarify for everyone, we no longer have a Summer and Winter uniform. There is only a School Uniform and a Sport Uniform.

VPASS

We have a new sign in system at the office, so please take a moment to see how to use the system!

Android phone process

Iphone process

Sun Smart - Hats for Term 4

It is a requirement for all students to wear hats in Term 1 and Term 4. Children's skin is more sensitive to UV damage than adults and protecting students from harmful UV rays is a core part of keeping them safe at school.

The school has a No Hat, No Play policy during these terms. If students do not have a hat or lose their hat, they are required to remain in shaded areas.

Canteen

Due to the unavailability of staff the canteen will be closed on Thursday 30th October.

Kelly Sports

Please note that Kelly Sports returns next term. This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in some fun filled outdoor activities for their children one night after school each week next term. This time around they are also offering a Friday lunchtime Dance Class in the hall.

Please see the flyer attached.

Jokes of the week:

Q. What did the frog order from McDonalds?

A. French flies and a diet croak

Q. Where do frogs get their money from?

A. The river bank

Q. What goes dot-dot croak, dot-dash croak?

A. A Morse Toad

Fun facts of the week:

Horses can actually have from 1 to 24 horsepower!

There is no such thing as a straight line. Even laser light beams are slightly curved.

Its not uncommon for deaf people to use sign language in their sleep as they dream!

EXTEND