Principal's Report 

Farewell Class of 2023!

The class of 2023 celebrated their final school day on Thursday 19 October. Highlights of their final assembly included a welcome to the Alumni Association from Parent Representative on the School Advisory Council, Ms Cathy Pascal, a beautiful performance from our school choir and a guard of honour conducted by our Teaching Staff and Year 7 students to farewell the Class of 2023. Our Year 12 students have been respectful of our values and community standards in all their celebrations, which is reflective of the pride and sense of belonging they have for their school. We extend our best wishes and prayers for all our Year 12 students as they prepare for their final exams and look forward to the Graduation Mass and Dinner on 24 November.

Cambodia Trivia Night

On Friday 13 October the annual trivia night was held to raise funds for the Lasallian run primary school in Phnom Penh Cambodia. Over $2500 was raised by Ms Ash Fraraccio, Mr Rhynehart and their team of helpers, which included a silent auction and raffle. After two years of COVID interruptions the class of 2023 will be the first group of Year 12 students who will re-engage with the Lasallian Primary School in Cambodia as part of a two-week tour incorporating teaching literacy and visits to a number of the cultural sites. The Cambodian immersion will take place after the Year 12 exams this year and will also see some of our ex-students, now at University, also part-taking in this invaluable experience.

Building Links to our Primary Schools.

We continue to build strong relationships with a focus on peer learning with our primary feeder schools through student led events and activities. This week the STEM Team, led by Miss Anna Nguyen, Mr Paul Colvin and Miss Teagan Yates hosted the Grade 4, 5 and 6 students from St Francis De Sales Primary School. Our Year 10 science students, working alongside their young peers helped conduct a range of experiments including the creation of green slime from a number of materials and added chemicals. 

This was a winner amongst the students. The school visits have multiple benefits for our secondary students who can deepen their own understanding of subjects by teaching younger students and our primary friends benefit from seeing older students who they can look up to and will hopefully inspire them to set positive goals for their academic future.

Step Up 2024

On the 21 November all students at St John’s will Step-up to the next Year Level and commence their 2024 curriculum program for the last three weeks of the school year. We are eager to maximise the final weeks of the school year and retain a strong focus on student learning by introducing our students to their new teachers, subjects and classmates and begin the first units of their 2024 programs.

To ensure that adequate preparation time is given for both the completion of the 2023 academic school year and the transition into the 2024 academic program, a Student Free day has been allocated on Monday 20 November.

The Step-up Program requires significant resources in its planning and implementation, and I wish to thank Ms Kamila Bielinski, Ms Maria Nasioulas, Business Manager Ms Shelley Iles, IT Manager Mr. Brian Griffith and all our Learning Area Leaders and teaching staff for their work in developing and implementing this important program for our students.

World Teachers Day

St John’s will celebrate and thank the teaching profession on World Teachers Day on Friday 27 October 2023. On World Teacher Day, it is appropriate to express gratitude to the teachers who make a profound impact on the lives of our young people. Teachers are dedicated professionals who support the learning journey of our students from Year 7 to Year 12 . It is an amazing time of growth for them as they explore and discover new horizons on their way to adulthood, a journey that reflects a teacher's responsibility for today and tomorrow’s generation! If you would like to pass on a message of support or gratitude to the teachers of your children on World Teachers Day, then send me an email on princiapl@sjrc.vic.edu.au