A message from Emily

Dear parents and carers

A big thank you to all the families who supported this term's fundraiser. Together as a community, we managed to sell an incredible 583 tubs of cookie dough, resulting in a $2,332 profit for the school!

I would like to acknowledge and congratulate our top cookie dough sellers:

• Graham Family – 74 tubs
• Dimitrijovska Family – 56 tubs
• McCulloch Family – 32 tubs
• Alhariri Family – 31 tubs

Important Delivery Information: Cookie dough orders will arrive at school on Monday, ready to be sent home with families that afternoon. For families with large orders, we will reach out directly once they arrive to help coordinate collection. The prizes selected by the children based on their sales will also be sent home on Monday.

Recently, our Year 6 children celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation at Our Lady's Church, alongside children from across the Holy Family Parish and schools. Thanks to everyone who attended, it was one of the most reverent celebrations I have ever experienced.

I would also like to extend a sincere thank you to Taryn, Greg, Rosie, Mairead, and the families for preparing and supporting these children as they renewed the baptismal promises originally made by their parents. This beautiful celebration marks their final step of initiation within the Catholic faith.

Nominate for Australia's Best Teacher

As mentioned in our previous newsletter, there is an 'Australia's Best Teachers' campaign that MACS is encouraging our school communities to get behind. I would love if families could take the time to consider the wonderful educators of St John's and enter a nomination or nominations before they close on Friday 26 June - https://www.australiasbestteacher.com.au/ 

The Australia's Best Teachers campaign recognises exceptional educators in our school communities. An expert judging panel will shortlist nominations for recognition as one of Australia’s Top 50 Best Teachers, to be announced in The Herald-Sun and nationally in NewsCorp publications in July.

Our very own Taryn Darlow, is running some women's health workshops at our local Chestnut Tree Bookshop. I have added an information flyer that you can click on to book in for one or all of the workshops on offer. Taryn has spent many years working in the women's health space helping women to better understand their bodies. Please check it out on our Community Connection page.

Your City Your Voice - Maribyrnong Council

Maribyrnong Council is seeking input from children in primary and secondary schools as well as their parents and carers. We have sent home postcards with every child so they have an opportunity to provide this and post it back to the council. These need to be return by Sunday 28 June 2026. You can also provide input and feedback via https://www.yourcityyourvoice.com.au/children 

Parking and Traffic Updates

We have been in communication with the local council regarding traffic around the school. To ensure the safety of our children and help families avoid costly penalties, please take note of the following rules and parking options:

• Parking Fines: Please strictly observe all street signage near St John’s. We have received reports of parents receiving $204 fines for stopping near the hall gate and the pedestrian crossing. This will need to be carefully observed by families accessing MACSEYE. 
• Eleanor Street (Paid Parking): Parking availability has improved since the hospital closed. These spaces require payment via the EasyPark app or ticket machines, but they are an excellent option for parents who want to walk their children to the gate or have children who need physical assistance getting in and out of the car.
• Drop-Off Zones (Quick & Independent): Our 'drop-off' areas are reserved only for children who can independently get in and out of the vehicle. This ensures a fast transition and prevents traffic from backing up. If you are using these zones, please remain in your car at all times.

Have Your Say: Former Footscray Hospital Site

The State Government is currently seeking community feedback regarding the future planning of the former Footscray Hospital site. You can share your input by visiting engage.vic.gov.au/former-footscray-hospital. This is a fantastic opportunity for our community to highlight the traffic and parking challenges we face, and to advocate for St John's to have access to future green spaces, such as an oval or grass sporting area during break times.

Family Holidays during School Terms

With the term coming to an end next week, many families are booking and planning exciting winter escapes. As a reminder, if you are planning a holiday that will result in missed school days, please email both myself and the admin team to let us know the dates. This allows us to formally approve the absence and update our system so you do not receive automated attendance text alerts while you are away. It also ensures our educators can plan any necessary learning or assessments prior to the absence, or upon your child’s return.

Please note that we do not provide schoolwork for children to complete while on extended leave, as we believe so much is learned naturally through traveling and exploring new places. Instead, we highly encourage children to keep a visual or written travel journal to capture their unique experiences and share them with the class when they return.

While I fully support families taking time to travel, explore the world, or visit distant relatives, I do ask that you keep in mind the impact of extended absences—particularly if they happen frequently or on a yearly basis. Every day of school counts, not only for your child's academic growth but also for their sense of connection to their friends, peers, and the wider school community.

Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for June

Between the FIFA World Cup and Refugee Week, this week serves as a timely reminder of what makes living in Australia so wonderful. Refugee Week raises awareness about refugee issues and celebrates the incredible contributions that refugees make to our community. This year’s theme is "A Million Stories," which commemorates a significant national milestone: Australia has officially welcomed more than one million refugees since the end of the Second World War. It is a celebration of the million lives, journeys, and individual stories that have helped shape our nation.

In light of these themes of community and global connection, I have shared Pope Leo XIV's prayer intention for this month below, along with links to an accompanying video and other prayer resources.

Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for June is ‘For the values of sports’:

Let us pray that sports be an instrument of peace, encounter, and dialogue among cultures and nations, and that they promote values such as respect, solidarity, and personal growth.

The Pope Video and the prepared prayer intentions for all of 2026 are available via the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network. Image source: CNS photo/Lola Gomez

As this is our final newsletter for the term, I would like to wish everyone a wonderful and safe break over the school holidays.

Please be advised that I will be on Long Service Leave for the first two weeks of Term 3. During my absence, Karen Dodemaide will be stepping into the Acting Principal role. Please feel free to reach out to Karen or Lauren Davis if you need any assistance during this time. Alternatively, you can contact the school office via phone or email, and our administration team will direct the right person your way to provide any support you need.

Go Socceroos,

Emily

What's coming up:

• Monday 22nd June
  • Cookie Dough Fundraiser Delivery 
  • Student Reports available via PAM
• End of Term 2 - 26 June 1pm finish
• School Closure Day - Monday 13th July 
• Term 3 Begins - Tuesday 14th July 

Coming Soon: School holiday program, 29 June - 10 July

MACSEYE School Holiday Program is coming soon, packed with creative activities, active fun, themed experiences and memorable excursions for primary school-aged children. Be sure to book in, using the QR code on the flyer, to avoid disappointment.

MACSEYE will also be open for our school closure day on Monday 13th July.

Save the Date:

We have a date locked in for a St John's Bunnings BBQ fundraiser. Make sure you put Sunday 13th September into your calendar as a reminder, selling at the West Footscray store! We will be looking for volunteers to help on the day but also plenty of customers to come and buy a sausage to help raise funds for our school.

Reminders:

• Sustainability Initiative: Children are invited to bring their own lunch box for DT Fuzions lunch orders. Lunch boxes must be clearly labelled and an appropriate size to fit the order.

   

OUR IMAGE OF THE CHILD

‘At St. John’s, we strongly believe that children are at the centre when given authentic and meaningful experiences. They flourish when their passions and interests are acknowledged and valued. Children are empowered when they take ownership for their learning. They have a right to develop autonomy through discovery.’

(St. John’s Staff, 2018)

We respectfully acknowledge the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation as the owners of the land on which we live, play and learn at St John's Primary School, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

All students attending St. John's Primary School have the right to feel safe. The care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people is a fundamental responsibility of all within our school.