Principal's Page

Principal Updates

As we come to the end of another school year at St John’s, we pause to give thanks for all that we have experienced and achieved together. This year has been filled with incredible learning, joyful celebrations, and countless moments in which we have grown—both as individuals and as a community. We have learnt, worked, played, questioned, created and supported one another, and through it all we have continued to embody the spirit and values that make St John’s such a special place.

Throughout the year, we have been inspired by the growth, resilience, and accomplishments of our students. Their enthusiasm for learning and their willingness to embrace new challenges have been a constant source of pride and motivation. We are equally grateful for the unwavering support and partnership of our families, whose encouragement and involvement strengthen our school in so many ways.

Above all, we feel truly blessed to be part of a dynamic, faith-filled, and caring school community—one that continues to guide, uplift, and inspire us each day. As we look ahead, we do so with gratitude for the year that has passed and with excitement for all that is still to come.

Tonight we will give thanks for this school year, as we celebrating with our whole school community at the Thanksgiving Mass at 6pm. I hope to see you all there.

This special school Mass will be followed by a special celebration, the Graduation of our Year 6 students with their families. It is a significant event in the lives of our students and is organised by the Year 5 families. It will be extra special tonight with some surprises, and I am looking forward to recognising and celebrating the great achievements of our Year 6 students. I am grateful for their leadership and for being exceptional role models for our younger students. They all have a very bright future ahead of them. 

Special thanks to Eileen Dalton for coordinating this event and for the special touches she has arranged. Thankyou to all of the Year 5 parents who are helping to serve, clean-up and provide desserts. We greatly appreciate your support too, as this is a special tradition at St John's.

To all of our families reading the St John's newsletter for the last time, we wish every happiness for you and your family in the future and please know that you will always be part of the St John's Community.

Student Reports

Today you will receive an email link to your child’s end-of-year report. Your child has shown substantial growth this semester and should be congratulated for their efforts.

St John’s Primary School reports student achievement twice a year, providing information about all learning domains. Each report includes an overview of progress against year-level curriculum standards, individual comments on learning growth, and feedback on classroom behaviour and effort. All reports from this year and last year can be accessed on PAM.

Staffing for 2026

Today our students met their new teachers and learning support officers for 2026. I am pleased to share with you our class staffing structure for next year.

Prep A - Cara Woolley, Keyla Gleciano and Mel Kerwin

Prep B - Rebecca Stuart, Julie Carroll and Louise Hadwin

Year 1/2 A - Clorinda Maio, Sarah Gole and Prue Forer

Year 1/2 B - Tom Preston and Amina Zaheer

Year 3/4 A - Sebastian Vandeberg and Lipo Li

Year 3/4 B - Anna Hendy, Nicole Webb and Ruby Schneider

Year 5/6 A - Allison Bayliss and Kim Wilson

Year 5/6 B - Marisa Box and Melissa Dominguez-Gallardo

Farewell to our Learning Support Officers Nicola, Sam and Chris. We have really appreciated the care and compassion you have shown to our students throughout the Year. You have supported our students to be their best and helped them to achieve amazing things. Mrs Deirdre Cosgrave will be taking Long Service Leave for next year and we will welcome back Beth Neason into the Art Teaching role. 

Christmas Concert

We were thrilled to enjoy such a fabulous evening at this year’s Annual Christmas Concert. Our students sang beautifully, showcasing angelic voices and energetic performances that delighted the entire audience. 

The Preps shone as the stars of the night with their charming presentation of the Nativity story, and our new Dance Crew impressed everyone with their talent and choreography. A heartfelt thank you to Joelle for capturing stunning photos of the event, and to Amanda Hill for preparing our students with such care and dedication. Thanks to Deirdre Cosgrave as the students’ Christmas artwork added a colourful and festive touch to the venue, making the spirit of Christmas truly come alive.

Halliday Park Picnic

Today was a day of excitement meeting new teachers and finding out new class groupings which was topped off by the annual whole school picnic at Halliday Park. Rohan Sutton and his crew of helpers started cooking early to ensure the sausages were sizzling as we all arrived at the Park. Thanks to the McKay family for buying all of the food for this special event also. The playground was well used and the icy poles ended the picnic with smiles of gratitude from the school community.

Woollies Mitcham Grand Opening

Thankyou to all of the families who were able to join us at the Opening of the new Woollies in Mitcham. Our students were invited to sing the National Anthem to the huge gathering of local politicians and community members. It was a special experience for our students and they enjoyed their woollies bag of goodies.

2026 Medication Authority

If your child requires medication at school in 2026, we ask that parents complete a new Medication Authority Form. In line with MACS policy, all medication must be supplied in its original packaging with the original label. Ongoing daily medication requires authorisation from an AHPRA-registered health or medical practitioner, supporting documentation such as a Medical Management Plan, or a letter from the treating practitioner.

For short-term or incidental medication (e.g. antihistamines or paracetamol), the form must still be signed by a parent/carer, but a medical practitioner’s authorisation is not required unless the medication relates to a more significant medical condition.

More information can be found in the attached form. Paper copies are available from the office.

Lost Property

We will leave a table of lost property items in the Passive Play area for parents to collect on Tuesday before any uniform items are donated to the second hand uniform shop.

Joke of the Week 

Wishing you all a very Peaceful and Joyous Christmas and a Restful Summer break. I look forward to seeing you all back in the 2026 School Year.

Verona Gridley

St John's Primary School Principal

principal@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au