Staff & School Advisory Council Dinner

On Wednesday, 21 August, our community gathered at the Southern Golf Club for our Annual School Advisory Council and Staff Dinner. This event is a highlight on our school calendar as we celebrate the dedication of our long-serving staff and the enduring legacy of our founders, St. John Baptist de La Salle and Venerable Nano Nagle.

Our special guests included Ms Anne Young (Mission Coordinator, Presentation Sisters Victoria), Sr. Judy Bellisini, Sr Michele Keenan, and Br Tony Cummins, whose presence reminded us of the rich Lasallian and Presentation heritage that continues to inspire our community. Sr Michele Keenan also presented the Sr Margaret Bellesini Award, recognising a staff member who embodies the values of these two charisms.

Our School Advisory Council members were also acknowledged for their invaluable guidance, including Ms Anna Jorisen and departing member Mr Chris Richardson, whose commitment to the school's future has been greatly appreciated.

Long Service Awardees:

A highlight of the evening was celebrating the following long-serving staff:

10 Years of Service: Ms Jo Webb, Mr Paul Colvin, Ms Emily Dias, Mr John Rhynehart, Mr Greg Van Es

20 Years of Service: Ms Vina Pinto, Mr Thiik Giir, Ms Kirsty Hall, Mr Milan Colic

30 Years of Service: Ms Andrea Newman, Ms Marian Saldanha

These milestones reflect the dedication, resilience, and service of staff who have shaped our school’s success over many years.

Sr. Margaret Bellesini Award

This year, the Sr Margaret Bellesini Award was presented to Mr Keith Jenner. Named in honour of the Presentation Sister who led the middle school of St John’s with great devotion in its early years, the award celebrates staff who exemplify the Core Values of the De La Salle Brothers and Presentation Sisters. I congratulate Mr Jenner for his outstanding commitment in his role as Property Manager and for the way he has faithfully lived out these values in service to our community.

I would like to express my thanks to Mr Rhynehart and Ms Chase for organising such a wonderful celebration—an evening thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Staff Spirituality Day

On Friday, our staff gathered at the Catholic Leadership Centre for our annual Staff Spirituality Day, centred on the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.” The day focused on preparing for the introduction of our new House names in 2026, each inspired by remarkable figures of faith and service: St Oscar Romero, St Caroline Chisholm, St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, St Josephine Bakhita, Blessed Carlo Acutis, and St Francis of Assisi.

Through prayer, reflection, and pilgrim walks across the Melbourne CBD, staff explored how these lives of faith can inspire our community to live with hope, purpose, and service to others. The day concluded with a moving liturgy led by Fr Brendan Lane.

I am grateful to Mr John Rhynehart for leading this enriching day of formation, which continues to strengthen the faith and mission of our school community.

Staffing Update – Commencing Leave

I extend the following staff our best wishes as they take some well-earned leave over the following weeks of term:

Ms Vina Pinto: 11 August – 26 September
Ms Emma Bradley: 25 August – 19 September
Ms Maria Nasioulas: 27 August – 5 October

Science Week at St. John's Regional College

Science Week at our College was a vibrant celebration of curiosity, creativity, and collaboration, offering students a wide range of activities designed to spark their interest in science and problem-solving. From the strategic thinking of the Chess Competition to the hands-on teamwork of building Marshmallow Towers, every day brought a new way to learn and engage. Students tested their knowledge with a whole-school STEM Kahoot, experimented with Sherbet Making, and tackled engineering challenges in the Bridge Building Competition. The week concluded with a creative twist—crafting bookmarks using chemistry—showing that science is not only about experiments but also about imagination. A big thank you to Mr George Stoforidis and the Science Team for organising such an inspiring program that truly nurtures a love of learning and highlights the many ways science shapes our world.

Book Week

Book Week was a wonderful celebration of literature and imagination, offering our students a unique range of activities to deepen their love of reading and storytelling. The week began with Year 7 students inspired by renowned author Jackie French as she shared insights from her novel Pharaoh. Tuesday brought colour and creativity with the Book Week Parade, where students came dressed as their favourite book characters, filling the College Green with energy and fun. Midweek, students explored their own voices through Poetry Writing, crafting words that captured their ideas and emotions. The celebrations concluded with Year 8 students meeting acclaimed author Rebecca Lim, who shared her powerful story Tiger Daughter. Alongside these events, the Whole Week Reading Competition kept the excitement alive, offering numerous prizes to encourage every reader. A special thank you to English leader Dr Pieter Bosman, Ms Marina Kintzel, Ms Janine Misso, Ms Vina Pinto, and the English & Languages Team for putting together such an engaging program that continues to foster a love of literature across our community.

School Tour and Sports Academy Information Evening

I extend an invitation to join us at St John's Regional College on Wednesday, 28 August, for our School Tours (6.00 pm), followed by the Sports Academy Information Evening (7.00 pm). It is an opportunity to discover how St John's provides outstanding opportunities in academics, faith, leadership, and sport.

Academic Scholarships and Sports Academy Scholarships are still available for Year 7 Enrolments in 2026. Use the following link to book for this event. https://enrol.sjrc.vic.edu.au/scholarship-application