Principal's News

“Let all that you do be done in love.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14

Dear Families, 

Today we were delighted to welcome our 2026 Prep students to St John’s! It was wonderful to see both new and returning families come together to get to know one another and begin our Steps to Prep program, designed to support a smooth transition into school life.

The morning was a true reflection of our school’s vision — An inclusive Catholic community that fosters faith, belonging, and a lifelong love of learning. We look forward to supporting our newest learners as they take their first exciting steps at St John’s.

Loving God,

We thank you for the gift of new faces in our St John’s community.

Bless our new students, families, and staff as they begin their journey with us.

May they feel welcomed, supported, and valued for who they are.

Help us to show kindness, friendship, and understanding, so that together we may grow in faith, love, and learning.

May our school continue to be a place where everyone belongs, and where Your light shines brightly in all we do.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

St John's Parents' Night Out

A big thank you to Melissa, Genevieve, Sara, and Margaret for organising our wonderful Parents’ Night Out. It was fantastic to see so many people attend and enjoy an evening together as a community.

We also extend our gratitude to Oliva Social for hosting us, the  Grech family for providing security on the night, and Di Maggio family for donating the Carlton jumper and a special thank you to the Hanna family - 'New Signs company' for generously donating all the event signage.

We are very appreciative of the many local businesses that contributed prizes to support the event — please take a moment to view and support these wonderful companies listed on the PIC page.

Congratulations to Andreas 1M for getting the winning bid for the Carlton jumper.

Raffle winners

First prize $1500: Luca- Prep

Second Prize $150: Joshua- Grade 6

Third Prize $50: Leo- Grade 6

Staff Professional Learning

This week, staff participated in professional learning focused on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), with particular attention to Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). We were fortunate to have Lara Beltrame, one of our current Prep teachers and owner of The Learning Brain, share her expertise and insights.

These valuable professional development sessions support teachers in making appropriate adjustments and implementing effective strategies to meet the diverse learning needs of all our students.

Enrolments 2026

We are already at full capacity for Foundation/Prep 2026 and have waiting lists in several other year levels. If your child will not be returning to St John's in 2026, we would appreciate it if you could please notify the school office as soon as possible. This will allow us to offer places to families currently on our waiting list.

Lunchtime Clubs 

We are excited to share that some new lunchtime clubs are starting! Alongside our much-loved Lego Club, we now have a Mobilo Club and a Downball Competition. These clubs provide wonderful opportunities for students to connect, create, and have fun during their break times.

New Social Media Age Restrictions 

The Australian Government has announced new social media age restrictions designed to protect young people during this important stage of their development. 

From 10 December 2025, social media platforms will be required to take reasonable steps to prevent children under 16 from creating or maintaining an account.

These new measures aim to safeguard young Australians from the pressures and risks often linked to social media use, including excessive screen time and exposure to harmful or inappropriate content that may impact health and wellbeing.

While governement assessments are still underway, it is expected that the restrictions will apply to major platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube, among others.

At St John’s, we continue to support safe and responsible online behaviour. The school actively monitors inappropriate ICT use through Linewize, helping to ensure students use technology safely and respectfully. We also encourage families to discuss these changes with their children to help them understand the reasons behind the new laws and the importance of staying safe online. 

Colour Run Fun! Splash out for a Cause!

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve reached the halfway mark in our major fundraising effort for the upcoming Colour Run! 🎉

To celebrate this milestone, on Friday at 3:10 pm, a Mystery Teacher will be splashed and soaked 💦💚 Get in on the fun and come and watch!

Thank you to everyone who has supported our fundraising so far — your enthusiasm and generosity are making a real difference. 

Let’s keep the momentum going as we work towards our final goal!

St John’s Parent Code of Conduct.

As we approach the end of the year, I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the expectations outlined in our St John’s Parent Code of Conduct. Our shared goal is to create a positive, respectful, and safe environment for all children, staff, and families.

A few key reminders:

• Please do not discipline or approach children who are not part of your family. If you have a concern about a student’s behaviour, please speak directly with a teacher or myself so that the matter can be appropriately addressed.
• Respect the privacy and dignity of all students, staff, and families. Avoid discussing other children or families in person or on social media.
• Model respectful communication at all times, both on school grounds and in online forums associated with the school (such as class or year-level WhatsApp groups).
• Follow staff directions when visiting the school or attending events, and support school procedures designed to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all.

• Speak respectfully to staff and other parents, even when concerns arise. We are all partners in supporting your child’s education and wellbeing.

   

Thank you for your ongoing support in maintaining the positive, welcoming culture at St John's.

Happy Diwali!

We wish all those in our St John’s Catholic community who celebrated Diwali -a joyful and blessed festival of lights.

At St John’s, we celebrate the diversity within our community and the many traditions that enrich our shared life.

Have a great weeAlison Dean