Principal's News

Wominjeka everyone!

This week, during our Better Buddy day, our students proudly participated in activities to celebrate National Reconciliation Week. Guided by this year's theme, "All In", students explored the importance of respect, understanding, and belonging as we continue our journey towards reconciliation. 

Through prayer, learning, and reflection, students celebrated the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As a Catholic community, we are committed to creating a school where everyone feels valued, included, and respected.

Loving God,

We pray for our school and parish community.

May we be places where everyone is truly "All In"—embracing culture, fostering understanding, and creating welcoming spaces where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, voices, stories, and identities are honoured, respected, and celebrated.

Guide us to walk together in unity, reconciliation, and hope, building communities where every person feels valued and belongs.

Lord, hear us

As we approach the end of the semester, teachers are busy analysing assessment data and preparing student reports. This process provides an opportunity to celebrate each student's achievements and identify areas for future growth. Regular school attendance plays a vital role in supporting student learning, wellbeing, and long-term success. 

We have noticed an increasing number of students arriving late to school or being collected early, particularly on Fridays. Please be aware that student attendance, including absences, late arrivals, and early departures, is recorded and reflected in your child's report.

 While we understand that family commitments and appointments can sometimes arise during school hours, every minute of learning counts. Missing even small amounts of class time can impact a student's learning and connection to the school community.

When appointments cannot be scheduled outside school hours, we ask families to avoid collecting students during recess or lunch breaks, as it can be difficult for office staff to locate and contact students at these times. 

Thank you to our Education Support and Office Staff

This fortnight, we proudly acknowledge and thank our Learning Support Officers and office staff for the important role they play at St John's.

Each day, our Learning Support Officers work alongside teachers to support students in their learning and wellbeing. Through their patience, encouragement, and care, they help students feel included, confident, and able to achieve their best.

We also thank our office staff, who help ensure the smooth running of our school and warmly support students, families, and staff each day.

We are grateful for the dedication, kindness, and commitment of these valued team members. Their contribution makes a positive difference to our school community every day.

Trading Cards 

A reminder that trading cards are to be kept at home. We appreciate your support in helping students with this expectation.

Gala Dinner Dance

A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful Year 1 parents for organising a table at the St John’s 175th Anniversary Dinner Dance. It was a fantastic evening filled with laughter, friendship, fun, and plenty of dancing. Events such as these are a wonderful reminder of the strong sense of community that has been at the heart of St John’s for 175 years.

The Dinner Dance provided a special opportunity for past and present families, staff, parishioners, and friends of St John’s to come together and celebrate this significant milestone. As we reflected on 175 years of faith, learning, service, and community, we gave thanks for the generations of people who have contributed to the rich history and enduring spirit of St John’s.

School Closure Day tomorrow 

A reminder that tomorrow is a School Closure Day for students as staff participate in professional learning.

Throughout the day, teachers will engage in faith formation focused on the life and legacy of St Francis of Assisi as we celebrate the Year of St Francis. Staff will also work collaboratively on the implementation of our new Religious Education planning units, deepening their understanding of contemporary Religious Education practices and strengthening learning opportunities for our students.

These professional learning experiences support our ongoing commitment to providing a rich, engaging, and faith-filled education that nurtures the spiritual growth and learning of every child.

The King's Birthday is on Monday 8th June so I wish you a lovely extra long weekend.

Confirmation- Year 6 Students

Our Year 6 students have begun their preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Confirmation is offered to children who are in Grade 6. Children need to be baptised in the Catholic Church and have received the Sacrament of First Reconciliation and First  Eucharist before enrolling to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. 

Throughout the coming weeks, they will participate in prayer, reflection and learning experiences that will help them deepen their understanding of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and strengthen their relationship with God. We keep these students and their families in our prayers as they journey towards receiving this important sacrament. 

Year 6 Families a reminder that you have Commitment Parish Masses on the weekend of 13 /14 June @ 6pm, 8:30am or 10:30am. 

School Disco - Friday 12 June 

A reminder that our School Disco will be held on Friday 12 June. Thank you to our Parents in Community (PIC) for organising this exciting event.

Session One Prep - Year 2                 5:00pm - 6.15pm

Session Two Year Three to Year 6   6:45pm - 8:00pm 

If you have not yet purchased your tickets, please do so as we look forward to a fun evening of music and dancing. 

SRC Donut Day - Friday 19 June 

Our SRC Donut Day will be held on Thursday 19 June. Students will have the opportunity to purchase donuts, with proceeds supporting SRC initiatives and student-led projects. Please go to the PIC page for more details.

Catholic School Parents Victoria

Supporting Families in Catholic Education

Catholic School Parents Victoria (CSPV) has been re-established to strengthen the voice of parents and carers in Catholic education across Victoria, recognising parents as the first educators and key partners in their child’s learning, wellbeing and faith journey. CSPV is guided by a Council of parent representatives from across the state, ensuring that the diverse perspectives of families in Catholic schools are reflected in its work and advocacy.

We invite you to explore the CSPV website at www.cspv.catholic.edu.au where you will find a wealth of information and resources to support your parenting journey within Catholic education, including guidance on wellbeing, faith, learning and key issues impacting families. 

PARENT EDUCATION NIGHT-  “How to love your kids without losing your marriage.” 

St John's Parish Heidelberg invites all Parents/carers (and those who work with families)  to a presentation by Matt MacDonald on: “How to love your kids without losing your Marriage.” 

Matt is a Counsellor and Psychotherapist working in private practice in Melbourne. For more than a decade he was Director of the Life, Marriage and Family Office of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. His interest is in helping people find a path forward in the often-messy reality of their lives. 

When: Monday, 15 June, 7:30pm-8:30pm. 

Where: Francis Xavier room at the rear of the parish house.

Hosted by St John’s Parish. Entry by donation. 

New Student Behaviour Support Policy for MACS Schools

At St John’s, we are committed to creating a safe, inclusive and supportive learning environment where every child can thrive. The Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) has recently introduced a new Behaviour Support Policy that strengthens the focus on positive behaviour, student wellbeing and respectful relationships.

The policy emphasises:

• Building positive and supportive learning environments.
• Teaching and reinforcing expected behaviours.
• Supporting students to develop self-regulation and social skills.
• Responding to behaviours in a fair, consistent and restorative manner.

• Working in partnership with families to support student success.

   

At our school, we continue to use our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) framework to explicitly teach expected behaviours and create a positive school culture. When concerns arise, we work in partnership with families to understand student needs and provide appropriate support.

The new policy also highlights the importance of proactive strategies, early intervention and collaborative problem-solving. While we are committed to supporting students who are experiencing behavioural challenges, we also have a responsibility to ensure that all students and staff feel safe, respected and ready to learn. When a student is making unsafe or disruptive choices, our priority is to support that student while also protecting the wellbeing, learning and sense of safety of their peers.

Families play a vital role in supporting children's learning and wellbeing. We thank you for your ongoing partnership as we work together to help every student feel safe, connected and successful at school. If you have any concerns I encourage you to speak to Alison.

Three-Way Conversations- Parent Teacher interviews  

We are looking forward to our Three-Way Conversations on the 23 and 24 June. This is an opportunity for students, parents and teachers to come together to celebrate learning, discuss progress, and identify goals for continued growth. Students play an important role in these conversations by sharing their achievements, reflecting on their learning journey, and discussing areas they would like to further develop.

Three-Way Conversation 

Tuesday 9 June (8:30am - 5:45pm) - Prep M, 1D & 2C

Tuesday 23 June (1:30pm to 5:45pm)  Early dismissal - 1 pm

Wednesday 24 June (3:45- 5:45pm)

Please note that the Three Way Conversations for students in Prep M (Cristina Menegas), 1D (Brooke Davis) and 2C (Laura Ciavarella) will be taking place on Tuesday 9 June as they will be taking leave during this time.  These meetings will occur during the day. 

Bookings are open for Prep M, 1D & 2C: 

https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/7vcjt

 

Bookings all other interviews will open Monday 15 June.

Please see the guidelines for the meetings below.

Each session will run for 10-15 minutes. It is important that all meetings run on time.

Student Role

• Select and share one piece of work they are proud of, explaining why they chose it
• Identify one area for growth, reflecting on what they’re working on to improve
• Listen to valuable feedback from their teacher

Teacher Role:

• Share current assessment data and observations in Mathematics and Literacy, highlighting:
  • Key strengths in the student’s learning
  • Areas for growth and next steps for progress
• Provide context or strategies to support learning at school and home
• Briefly discuss home learning progress

Parent/Carer Role:

• Listen and ask questions to gain a deeper understanding of their child’s progress
• Collaborate with the teacher and child to discuss learning goals and strategies for ongoing growth

• Share these understanding of how their child is going at School

   

Please note: We understand that some families may prefer to attend without their child. In these instances, the conversation will still focus on student growth and achievement. Teachers will ensure the student’s selected work is sent home to include their perspective.  

It is also important to note that these meetings are about your child, not other children in their class.  The teacher will not be discussing any details about another child.

MACSEYE will be available from 1pm on Tuesday, 23 June and Friday 26 June (last day of Term Two).

Feedback - SAC

Feedback about how we do things at St John's is always welcome. We would love some feedback on our House Athletics day. Did your children enjoy it? Were you able to help out and be part of it? How can we improve it?

Please provide feedback to myself - principal@sjheidelberg.catholic.edu.au or email a SAC member.

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

Have a great week

Alison Dean