Principal's News

Dear Families and Carers,

Last week, we took several of our school leaders to St Patrick’s Cathedral to celebrate Catholic Education Week.  It was incredibly moving to see so many different Primary and Secondary Catholic schools come together to share in the Eucharist. This gathering was a beautiful reminder that we are part of something much bigger—united in faith, purpose, and community.

During this special Mass, our parish school community was also recognised for reaching the significant milestone of 175 years, a wonderful acknowledgment of the rich history and strong foundations of St John’s.

Our School Captains, Faith and Social Justice and Fire Carrier leaders represented St John’s with reverence, respect, and pride. I was especially proud of Isobel, who proclaimed the First Reading so confidently in front of thousands of people—her courage and composure were outstanding. We also congratulate Miguel, James, and Francesca, who represented our school with pride in the banner parade.

Moments like these highlight the strength of Catholic education and the importance of coming together in faith.

Some families have asked whether the 175-year celebration includes both the school and the parish. It certainly does! We would love for you all to take part in the 175-year Gala Ball.

The celebration will take place on Friday 29 May 2026 from 7:00pm – 10:30pm in the Great Hall at The Centre Ivanhoe (275 Upper Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe). This special evening will be a wonderful opportunity for parishioners, school families and friends of the parish to gather together, celebrate our shared history and give thanks for the vibrant faith community that has grown over the past 175 years.

Guests will enjoy a three-course meal with drinks. The dress code is Gala Dinner attire, making it a festive and elegant evening for all who attend.

Tickets are $150 per person and bookings can be made via TryBooking.

Wendy Hernandez, one of our Parents, has kindly offered to help organise school tables. Please see the office for more details or phone her on 0423153310.

History of St John's gathered by Wendy Hernandez

The History of the Heidelberg Parish

Did you know…?

The land on which our parish and school stand—then part of the Village of Warringal—was first reserved for a Roman Catholic Church and School in 1848 by the Surveyor‑General’s Office in Sydney. This early reservation was later formally confirmed by 1851 by Victoria’s first Surveyor‑General, Robert Hoddle, securing a permanent place for Catholic worship and education in what would become Heidelberg.

Figure 1: 1850 plan of proposed site of current St John’s Parish by surveyor Robert Hoddle

Figure 2: Writings from 1851 by surveyor Robert Hoddle allocating the site where St John’s Parish would be later established.

With money contributed by local families, the Warringal Catholic School opened on 27January 1851 at a cost of £35, and for a short time even served as a chapel. This first building was a humble slab hut, described by a government inspector as “quite unworthy of government aid.” Later that same year, a temporary timber church was erected and dedicated to Saint Monica by Bishop James Alipius Goold, the first Catholic Bishop of Melbourne.

Over the years that followed, the school saw several improvements, including an expansion costing £103, funded partly by parishioners and partly through government assistance( Figure 3 ). 

The current  St Monica’s school building, today home to our school library, was constructed by 1871. After many collections and fundraising efforts, including concerts held at the Old England Hotel, the foundation stone was laid on 23 March, and just over three months later the new school opened its doors. Dedicated once again to Saint Monica, the building cost £600 to complete. 

The temporary St Monica’s church was later replaced by the bluestone church we now know as St John’s, designed in the late 1850s by William Wilkinson Wardell, one of Australia’s most distinguished Gothic Revival architects. Construction began soon after, and by 1861the first portion of the new church was completed and placed under the patronage of Saint John the Evangelist (Figure 4 and Figure 5 ).

Over time, the building continued to grow. The eastward extension, stone porch, and the present façade—with its pinnacles, buttresses, and large wheel window—were added by 1909, giving St John’s much of the form and presence it has today.

References and acknowledgements

Rebecca Lawry, Archives Administration Assistant, Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. 10March 2026.

Public Records Office Victoria

State Library of Victoria

TROVEVaughan, E. 1982. 

St John’s on the hill: A history of St John’s Parish Heidelberg.

175th Anniversary Mass - 3 May

Archbishop Peter will be celebrating Mass with our parish community to mark 175 years on Sunday, May 3 at 10:30am. This is a wonderful milestone in the life of our parish and an opportunity for us to come together in faith, gratitude, and celebration of our rich history.

All families are warmly invited to attend this special Mass as we give thanks for the generations who have contributed to our community and look forward with hope to the future. 

We are also looking for students to sing at the Mass. If your child is interested, please let Alison know.

Ride 2 School event

A big thank you to Brooke Davis, our Wellbeing leader and her team for ensuring the success of the Ride2School event. With perfect weather, wonderful company, and plenty of wheels, everyone enjoyed a fantastic morning. It was wonderful to see so many students embracing healthy, active travel while building a strong sense of community. Events like these not only promote physical wellbeing but also highlight the importance of sustainability and connection within our school. Thank you to all staff, families, and Heidelberg Woolworths, who supported the event and helped make it such an enjoyable and memorable experience for our students.

Welcome

We warmly welcome Florence - 5L and her family to St John's. We are delighted to have you join our St John’s community and hope your time with us is filled with positive experiences, new friendships, and a strong sense of belonging.

Next term we welcome Alexia and Finn and their families and say farewell to Mia (5L) and Aveer (3C) as they take on new adventures. We wish them all the best.

Staffing news

We thank Mrs Lara Beltrame for her support of both Prep last year and Year 1D this year. Lara will be finishing up at the end of this term to pursue her business, The Learning Brain. We are grateful for the care, expertise, and dedication she has shown to our students and staff, and we wish her every success in this next chapter.

Penny Baynes, who currently works in 5L one day a week, will be teaching Year 1D for one day a week from Term 2. We look forward to her continuing to support our students in this new role and know she will be a wonderful addition to the Year 1 team.

Carlton Football Club

On Monday, players from the Carlton Football Club visited the school, much to the excitement of our students. They spent time with several classes, speaking about their journey into professional football and the importance of teamwork.  The visit was a fantastic experience for our students, providing them with the chance to connect with positive role models and gain insight into what it takes to succeed both on and off the field.

A huge thank you to Jonathon (Dante’s dad) for organising this wonderful opportunity and liaising with the Club to make the visit possible.

Guess which teacher enjoyed the visit the most?????

 ICT User Agreement

We have sent home this week the updated version of the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools’ (MACS) ICT User Agreement. The agreement outlines appropriate behaviours when using devices and is important to go through with your child, as their understanding of the topics discussed may need further explanation.

Please note that the care of these devices is the responsibility of your child, particularly for students in Years 5 and 6 who take them home. Any damages are to be covered by families.

Year 4 Eucharist Commitment Masses

Year 4 Eucharist Commitment Masses will be held over the weekend. Candidates and their families are invited to join parishioners at Mass. We wish all of our students every blessing as they journey through their preparation for this special sacrament.

 Class Representatives. 

A huge thank you to those who have volunteered to be the class representative.  Can each Class Representatives please contact the office and collect a class list and contact details form the office.

School Advisory Council Feedback Form 2026

The SAC provides a forum for discussion and discernment, where the parent / guardian voice and perspective inform and support the decisions made by the principal and Parish Priest for the good of school and parish where the wellbeing and outcomes for students is paramount. The St John's SAC invites parent feedback, suggestions and constructive comments enabling a wide range of perspectives to be shared. 

Please see below to email your SAC Parent Representative should you wish to provide feedback in 2026.

Prep - Leon Stavrou -prepsac@sjheidelberg.catholic.edu.au

Junior - Aidan Depetro -year12sac@sjheidelberg.catholic.edu.au

Middle - Mel Mahady - year34sac@sjheidelberg.catholic.edu.au

Senior - Mary Molloy - year56sac@sjheidelberg.catholic.edu.au

Additional Parish School members- parishrepsac@sjheidelberg.catholic.edu.au

Laurette Kairouz  Wendy Hernandez

Parking regulations

Just a reminder that parking inspectors are actively supervising the areas around the school. Please ensure you are following all signage and road rules to help keep everyone safe.

They have noticed an increase in unsafe practices, including double parking and cars remaining in the pick-up and drop-off zone for longer than the permitted two minutes. These behaviours create congestion and put our students and families at risk.

Please be mindful to use the drop-off zone as intended—remain in your vehicle, move through promptly, and avoid leaving your car unattended. If you need more time, we ask that you find a suitable parking space nearby.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping to maintain a safe environment for our whole school community.

Easter Celebrations

This coming week, the students will journey through the Easter season, including 

Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Saturday, and Easter Sunday. These special days invite us to reflect with gratitude on the sacrifices made by others in our lives. Just as Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us, we are reminded of the many acts of selflessness we see each day. 

I warmly invite parents, grandparents and friends to join us for our Holy week paraliturgy on Thursday at 10pm in the hall. A reminder that school will finish on Thursday 2 April, at 1pm. Term 2 - School begins on Monday, April 20. 

Easter Liturgies at St John’s Church

Holy Thursday      Mass of the Lord’s Supper 7:30pm

Good Friday          Stations of the Cross 10:30am

                                   Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion 3:00pm

Easter Saturday  Morning Prayer in the church 9:00 am

                                   Easter Vigil 7:30 pm

Easter Monday         Masses 8:30am and 10:30am

Easter Raffle Drawn 30 March

Easter Raffle – Supporting Our School Community

PIC will be holding our annual Easter Raffle, and we are excited to invite all families to take part! Please read the PIC page of the newsletter for more details.

Thank you for your continued support of our PIC initiatives

Happy Easter

I wish to convey my heartfelt appreciation to all the families who have supported their children and the staff throughout this term. I am particularly impressed by the enthusiasm with which the children have embraced school life, particularly the Prep children, and actively participated in their learning. I eagerly anticipate another wonderful term ahead.

Happy Easter everyone. May it be a time of gratitude and blessing.

Alison Dean