Principal's News

Prayer for Advent

Precious Lord, as I embrace this Advent Season,

Please open my eyes to see the great value and blessing of Your Incarnation. 

Help me to discover Your hidden presence in this world and within my own soul. 

I desire to see, understand and experience the profound effects that Your Incarnation has on my life 

and I desire to receive those effects more fully this Advent. 

May I become a sanctuary in which You dwell so that I, like Your dear Mother, 

may bring Your presence into the world.

Dear Families, 

This Sunday 7 December we celebrate the second week of Advent. As the second candle on the Advent wreath is lit, we are reminded of the calming and hope-filled peace that Christ brings into our world. This week’s Scriptures highlight the mission of John the Baptist, who calls us to “prepare the way of the Lord” by reflecting on our lives and removing anything that prevents us from growing closer to God. 

Advent is not only a time of waiting but also a time of active spiritual readiness. The second week encourages us to slow down, seek reconciliation, practice forgiveness, and make room for Christ’s presence within us. 

As we journey through Advent, this week helps us focus on inner renewal so that we can welcome Jesus with peaceful and open hearts when Christmas arrives.

A Night of Christmas Joy!!!

St John’s joyfully celebrated the spirit of community as students, families, and staff gathered for St John's Carols on Tuesday evening. The festivities began with vibrant Christmas stalls proudly led by students and their families, a Christmas photo booth, letters written to Santa, and an opportunity to decorate family baubles that now adorn the school Christmas Tree in our school foyer. 

We thank the PIC for creating such a festive atmosphere to commence the 2025 Christmas Carols. 

As the evening continued, students from Prep to Year Six showcased their talents, delighting everyone with their singing of Christmas songs. Smiles, music, and togetherness filled the school grounds as families enjoyed this special time, reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas. 

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who contributed to making the celebration such a joyful, engaging event that highlighted the strength of our wonderful St John’s community including Maria Buttifant our Performing Arts teacher and our PIC. Your gifts and talents truely shone.

St John’s Prep 2026 meet their Buddies

On Thursday 27 November, our 2026 Preps attended their final transition session at St John’s. This session ended with the 2026 Preps and families meeting their Year 6 buddies. I thank our 2026 Prep teachers, Chantelle Wegner and Cristina Menegas, who worked in partnership with our Year 5 teachers, Sue Lew Kee, Olivia Bottomley and Alexia Marian to bring the students together.  It was wonderful to see the new families welcomed by the Year 5 students (Year 6 2026).

Transition Morning: Preparing for 2026

Next week, on Thursday 11 December, students will participate in their 2025-2026 transition morning. This special session offers an opportunity for students to meet their new teacher and classmates, helping them familiarise themselves with the next year level. Teachers will guide an engaging "Getting to Know You" activity to begin building relationships and a sense of community.

As your child/ren prepare for this transition, I encourage parents and carers to have open conversations about the mix of emotions that can arise during times of change. Students may feel excitement about new beginnings and friendships, but it’s also normal to experience some apprehension. Discussing  the changes that will occur in a positive way can help them approach this milestone with confidence and curiosity.

As you could imagine a huge amount of time and consideration has gone into class groupings. These are now finalised.

Festive High Sugar Foods

It has been heartwarming to see our thoughtful and caring students spreading joy with cards and gifts during this festive season. However, I’d like to take this opportunity to kindly remind everyone to consider healthier options when choosing gifts to share. While candy canes and other sugary treats are popular, many families at St. John’s have expressed concerns about the high sugar content.

As we embrace the spirit of the season, I encourage you to think creatively about ways to share your Christmas wishes without relying on candy canes.

End of the Year Events

The Year 6 Graduation Liturgy and Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, 10 December, at 6:30 pm. This is a very special evening where we celebrate the achievements, growth, and contributions of our Year 6 students as they prepare to move on to the next stage of their education.

We sincerely thank our Year 5 parents for their generous support during the evening, assisting with catering and serving food, and helping to make the event enjoyable for all families.

I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Nadia (mother of Harper, 6G) for coordinating the Year 6 Yearbook. Her dedication and hard work in creating a lasting memory for our students and their families is greatly appreciated. Thanks to her efforts, this yearbook will be a treasured keepsake for years to come.

Finally, we congratulate all our Year 6 students on their achievements and thank the staff and community who have supported them throughout their journey at St John’s. We look forward to celebrating this milestone together and making it a memorable evening for our graduates and their families.

End of year Mass: Our school will join Fr Vinh and Fr Geo for the End of Year Mass on Wednesday, 11 December, at 12:00 pm. Families are invited to attend and celebrate this special occasion with us.

Year 6 Big Day Out: On Friday, 12 December, our Year 6 students will celebrate the end of their primary school journey with a fun-filled day at Funfields. This special outing is a wonderful way for students to enjoy time together, reflect on their achievements, and create lasting memories as they prepare for the next stage of their education.

Our Final School Assembly : On Tuesday, 16 December at 9am, we will celebrate our Final School Assembly in the hall.  As is our tradition at St John’s, we will farewell our Year 6 students with a Whole School Guard of Honour at the end of the day on Tuesday 16, December at approximately 12:50pm. All are welcome but please no poppers or streamers as we want to care for our environment.

Staffing for 2026

After two wonderful years at St John’s, Krissy Hales will be taking on a new position at Our Lady of Lourdes, Prahran. We sincerely thank Krissy for the care, dedication, and excellent teaching she has provided to our Year 3 students. 

We wish Krissy every success and happiness in her new adventures and are grateful for the positive impact she has had on our school community.

Crossing - Report Incidents to the Council

We remind all families to take extra care when using the roads and parking areas surrounding our school, especially during busy drop-off and pick-up times. Please use designated crossings, follow speed limits, and park only in approved areas. Avoid double-parking or stopping in no-standing zones, as this creates hazards for students and other drivers. By modelling safe behaviour, we help our children develop good habits and keep everyone in our community protected.

If you notice unsafe driving, traffic hazards, or ongoing issues near the school, please report these incidents directly to the local council. Your vigilance helps ensure our streets remain safe and supports timely action when needed. Thank you for helping keep our St John's students safe.

Lost Property

As we come to the end of the year we kindly remind all families to encourage their children to take care of their school belongings, especially uniforms, hats, and lunch containers. With many similar items in circulation, it’s easy for things to be misplaced. Please ensure all belongings are clearly labelled with your child’s name to help them be returned quickly.

When visiting the lost property area, we ask that students and parents take only items that belong to them. Taking another student’s belongings by mistake can cause unnecessary confusion and inconvenience.

Thank you for helping us keep lost property manageable and ensuring every student can easily find and care for their own item

Welcome Back Alison

We are delighted to welcome our Principal, Alison Dean, back after her two-week leave this Monday. I extend my thanks to Connie Bandiera (Acting Deputy) and the staff for their support in Alison’s absence.

Have a great week

Elizabeth Whiting (Acting Principal Week 8&9 Term 4 2026)