St John's Primary
School Advisory Council
SAC Meeting Report
Our latest School Advisory Council Meeting took place on Tuesday September 2 in the school staffroom. It was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect as a team, reflect on our shared goals, and reaffirm our commitment to supporting the school’s continued growth. These gatherings are always a valuable chance to align our focus and vision for the remainder of the year. Looking forward to the many initiatives and projects we will work on together, and we appreciate the ongoing dedication of all SAC members in making this year a continued success.
Our SAC Team for 2025
We’re grateful for their leadership and commitment to shaping the direction of our school. Their guidance continues to support our mission and values across all areas of school life.
Verona Gridley – School Principal
Father Dispin John – Parish Priest (Custodian of Mission)
Melinda Buscema – Deputy School Principal/RE Leader (Custodian of Mission)
Angela Maclean – Chairperson, Parent Representative
Samantha Solomons – Secretary, Parent Representative (Parishioner)
Anne Tyedin – Parent Representative
Kate Roberts – Parent Representative
May De Almeida – Parent Representative
Rob Kruisheer – Parent Representative
Key messages and opportunities from our recent meeting include:
We continue to lead the way at St John’s, with exciting developments across leadership, Learning and Teaching, Education in Faith, Wellbeing and Community.
Here’s a look at what’s been happening in and around our vibrant school community:
Leadership and Management
We are excited to welcome Mandy Jin, our new Chinese teacher, who started last week and is already making great strides in getting to know the students. We have our new future leaders of St John who are thriving, and making new suggestions already and it's inspiring to see such engagement in our school community.
The MACSSIS Survey has been launched for families with students in Year 4-6. This survey is a vital tool that helps us determine the direction we need to take in the coming year, especially focusing on areas such as student safety and community concerns.
It provides us with a wealth of data to shape our initiatives and priorities. Links were sent to our Parent community as well so that we can include our community perspective voice when the school creates the 2026 Annual Action Plan.
Whisker Architects have visited again to give us fresh perspectives on the first stages of our masterplan. Exciting things are ahead as we move forward with this vision for the future.
Religious Dimension
Our Year 6 students recently celebrated the sacrament of Confirmation with Bishop Les and Fr. Dispin. It was a truly special occasion for the students and the wider community. In addition, the Confirmation Retreat Day was a great success, offering meaningful learning experiences around the lives of saints and the adults who inspire them. Students had a chance to reflect on the Holy Spirits presence in their lives. Parents are warmly encouraged to participate in Christian meditation in each child’s homeroom at the start of the day. It’s a wonderful way to start the day with intention and connection. In Term 4, our focus will shift to Social Justice, with a theme of Light of the World/Salt of the Earth. We are also excited that Cara and Melinda are participating in a trial of a new Religious Education curriculum in Prep classrooms. The feedback and strategies gathered will play an important role in shaping future teaching practices. Our school is proud to be part of this initiative. Next term our students in Year 3 will be preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Learning and Teaching
Our Physical Education lessons are off to a strong start, with a golf instructor working alongside Michael. The students are learning new skills and enjoying the challenges. The District Athletics competition is going well, with St John’s showing great representation across all track and field events. A big congratulations to all our athletes! The Newspaper Club continues to thrive, and the Book Week Parade was a delightful event, attended by both students and parents. A special thank you to Nicole, who has taken the reins of Book Club, bringing a fresh focus on Buddy Activities. One highlight was the campfire in the Mary McKillop Space, creating a truly special atmosphere for all involved.
The Extension Program will soon present their research and learning outcomes. These students haveworked incredibly hard, and we look forward to showcasing their achievements.
Anna and Nicole have been diving deep into Professional Learning around cognitive theory. They’ve attended two days of intensive training, and their enthusiasm for new strategies is palpable. The team is eager to incorporate these ideas into their practice, and we’re excited to see the positive impact. The Sovereign Hill Camp is just around the corner, taking place this Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Student Wellbeing
We are thrilled to announce that St John’s won the R U OK? award in the education sector, with Verona and Tracey flying to Sydney to receive the prestigious prize. This recognition show cases our commitment to student wellbeing.
As part of this continued focus, we will receive funding from MACS next year to support initiatives in the area of wellbeing. This will enable us to further strengthen our support systems for students. Seasons continues to run this term with Amanda Hill for students in Years 3-6, providing valuablesupport and guidance in emotional learning.
School Community
This year’s Father’s Day Breakfast was once again a success, thanks to the support of a wonderful groupof mums. It was a heartwarming way to celebrate the fathers and father figures in our community. Our Major Fundraiser was a huge success, with 50-60 parents attending. The event raised between $4000 and $5000, which will go towards new play equipment for the school. A big thank you to all who contributed to the event’s success!
This term’s Parent Evenings included the Inform and Empower sessions, which provided valuable information and insight for our families.
We are also proud to have two school leaders involved in the Whitehorse Council Voice-O-Meter, an initiative that allows students to have a voice in local decision-making.
With Hope and Gratitude Column
Aligned with our school theme of “HOPE” for the year, the SAC explored the idea of introducing a parent page in the newsletter called “With Hope and Gratitude Column” to express or show courage for things felt or observed in our community and invite your submissions to principal@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au
With heartfelt thanks and deep gratitude, we would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Nick and Joelle McKay for their incredible dedication and hard work in organising our school’s major social event-our Games Night. Their tireless efforts, attention to detail, and unwavering commitment to creating a memorable experience for our community were truly remarkable. From coordinating the logistics to fostering a sense of unity and fun, Nick and Joelle made this event a resounding success. We are so fortunate to have them as part of our school community, and we thank them for their time, energy, and passion in bringing our families together. Your contribution has made a lasting impact, and we are deeply grateful for everything you’ve done.
Along with Nick and Joelle Mackay, we would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our Parent Association (PA) for their outstanding efforts in making this event such a success. These events don’t run themselves, and the support we received from our PA was invaluable. From behind-the-scenes organisation to ensuring everything ran smoothly on the night, their teamwork and dedication were evident in every detail. It truly was a collective effort, and we are incredibly grateful for the time, energy, and enthusiasm they poured into making this event memorable for our entire school community. Thank you for your continued support and for helping to create such a wonderful experience for everyone involved!
Angela Maclean
Chairperson and Parent Representative
Cultivating Faith Leaders in Catholic Schools' MACS event summary - Samantha Solomon
I recently attended the MACS Catholic Imagination Faith Formation series with guest speaker Very Rev Friedrich Bechina F.S.O., former Vatican undersecretary for Catholic Education. The event gathered principals, RE teachers, SAC Chairs, and faith leaders across Melbourne. Fr Bechina highlighted Catholic education as both historic and continually renewed, recognised globally and in Australia as a “jewel in the crown” of the Church. With over220,000 schools and 70 million students worldwide, Catholic education is marked by diversity, resilience, and complexity in governance. He stressed that leadership in Catholic education is a ministry of evangelisation, not through forceful preaching but through acts of service and kindness. Leaders should build on tradition while addressing new challenges creatively, drawing inspiration from Jesus as role model, and recognising multiple leadership styles (teacher, shepherd, prophet).Key challenges include: complex governance, balancing State and Church expectations, secular and multicultural pressures, resource and staffing shortages, long-term nature of educational outcomes, and the digital/AI revolution. Fr Bechina encouraged an action-oriented spirit inspired by St Mary MacKillop’s ethos, and emphasised Synodality—education as a shared mission of the entire community. Here minded participants that challenges often lead to renewal and that individuals can make a profound difference. Finally, he stressed that “time is more important than space”—education is about starting processes, not immediate solutions. Drawing on Luke 24:13–35, he invited reflection on sharing life’s journeys with Jesus, reinterpreting challenges through the Gospel, and empowering others, especially young people, through faith and lived experience.
