Welcome to Term 4!

I hope you had a refreshing holiday and were able to enjoy some time away from the routines that school brings.

While you are reading this newsletter, I am in my final days of walking the Camino de Santiago with fellow Principals from the Eastern Zone. The Camino de Santiago is truly a magical experience and perhaps the most challenging journey I have ever undertaken (especially when the Hurricane Kirk hit). When I finally entered Obradoiro Square and saw the majestic Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela before me, my emotions were mixed —gratitude, pride, excitement, and deep satisfaction. I had reached one of the most spiritual destinations I’ve ever encountered, following in the footsteps of St John’s brother, St James. James, one of Jesus’ apostles, once completed this journey to spread Christianity throughout Spain.

This pilgrimage has been an incredible testament to faith, perseverance, and inner peace. The journey not only strengthened my personal spirituality but also deepened my understanding of leadership, especially as a Catholic leader. It reinforced that true leadership is about guiding others not just through times of excitement but also through times of growth and moments of challenge. By fostering resilience, faith, and a sense of purpose in every step of the journey, we grow stronger together. I look forward to sharing the spiritual significance of the Camino with our community and how it has enriched my vision for leading with both compassion and strength.

PRAYER FOR THE BEGINNING OF A NEW TERM

Almighty God

We pray our school will continue to be a place of great learning, discovery and creativity.

May it be a place where we love to learn,

to think, to create and to be with one another.

A place where everyone is respected and all are deeply valued.

We ask all this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

School Uniform - Term 4

This week, students have had the flexibility to choose which uniform best suits Melbourne’s ever-changing weather. However, starting from Monday, 14th October, all students will be required to wear their full summer uniform. Please ensure your child is prepared with their sun hat and sunscreen. Thank you for your cooperation in helping them stay SunSmart.

Class Structure 2025

I am pleased to announce our school structure for 2025, where we will be expanding from 14 to 15 classes. The additional class will be introduced in Year 5 to ensure smaller class sizes and provide more targeted, explicit teaching for the Year 5 cohort.

The 2025 class structure will be as follows:

Prep: 2 classes
Year 1: 2 classes
Year 2: 2 classes
Year 3: 2 classes
Year 4: 2 classes
Year 5: 3 classes
Year 6: 2 classes

We are well underway in preparing for this expansion, with a new teacher already hired and additional furniture being arranged to accommodate the extra class.

Class Placement in 2025

This term is a busy time when staffing, teacher / class allocations and structures / student placements are organised. Class teachers, in consultation with myself, have the responsibility to place students in groupings that best meet their academic, social and emotional needs. The class placement process undertaken by teachers and leadership involves many hours of consideration, keeping in mind our goal of creating classroom environments that are conducive to learning, for all our students. To ensure effective class placements, a number of important factors are considered in grouping the students. These include:

· Students’ learning needs

· Friendship and peer relationships

· Learning/Working relationships

· Behaviour

· Balance of abilities, academic performance and social-emotional capabilities

· Consecutive years with one teacher

· Strengths of one particular teacher in supporting particular needs of students

· Leadership qualities

· Family relationships

· Gender balance

· Information from parents

We respect that you know your children in ways we could not possibly know them. We in turn ask that you trust that your child’s teacher/s also has knowledge about your child’s academic, social, emotional and behavioural needs, which may vary significantly from what you may see in the home setting.

If you would like us to consider additional learning needs for your child (other than the ones listed above), when we group students, please complete the Class Placement Form (available from the school office). Please do not request specific teachers.

It is imperative that this form is returned by this Monday, 14 October, either in an envelope addressed to Principal - Confidential Class Placement 2025 or via email principal@sjheidelberg.catholic.edu.au

Please read our Class Placement Policy.

St John's Master Plan

After extensive consultation with MACS, we are pleased to announce that we have partnered with B2 Architecture to guide us through the development of a master plan for St John’s. A master plan is essential for shaping the future of our school, ensuring that our facilities evolve in line with the needs of our students and broader community. It provides a strategic framework that supports educational excellence, well-being, and growth while staying true to our mission and values.

B2 Architecture will present the master plan process to the School Advisory Council (SAC) at the next meeting. Following this, a survey will be distributed to gather feedback from the entire school community, and focus groups will be formed for further consultation. We look forward to involving everyone in shaping a bright future for St John’s.

Ongoing improvements at St John's

A lot has been happening over the holidays! St John’s, with its rich tradition, has accumulated decades' worth of archives that reflect our long and proud history. To ensure greater efficiency, we have modernized our archive system, making it easier to manage and preserve these important records for future generations.

In addition, our sports shed has been upgraded with new roofing and shelving to better store our extensive range of sporting equipment. The playground is also being prepared for an upgrade, with new mulch and sand to ensure a safe and enjoyable space for our students to play.

Exciting news!!

The next project we are looking into is transforming our STEM room into a STEAM room, adding an “A” for Art! This transformation will include installing sinks and vinyl flooring, creating a more versatile and inspiring space for our students to explore their creativity and innovation.

Outstanding School Fees

A reminder that any outstanding school fees are required to be paid in full, no later than Friday 18 October.

I look forward to seeing you all next week.

Warm regards

Alison

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