Principal Report

St. John's Regional College Awards Evening & Art and Technology Showcase 

We are excited to remind you that the Annual Awards Evening will take place on Wednesday, 27 November —a highlight of the school calendar! This special event celebrates the achievements of our students across academic, cultural, and sporting pursuits. 

Adding to the evening's excitement, we will also showcase the incredible work of our talented Art and Technology students, including pieces featured in this term's Southern Independent Schools Exhibition. The evening will culminate in the presentation of the prestigious Br. Amedy Molloy Prize for Art, recognizing excellence in this creative field. 

The Art & Technology Showcase will begin at 6:30 PM, followed by the Awards Ceremony at 7:00 PM. 

To book your tickets for this memorable evening, please visit our TryBooking page via the link:  https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1318162

We look forward to celebrating this wonderful occasion with our community! 

Hansard Presentation – Year 8 Great Debate 

This week, we had the honour of welcoming Ms. Gabrielle Williams, Member of Parliament and Member for Dandenong, to St. John's. Ms Williams presented our winning Year 8 Great Debate team with a framed copy of the Hansard, the official record of parliamentary discussions, from the Parliament of Victoria. 

The Hansard entry commemorates Ms Williams' speech in Parliament about our Year 8 students who participated in the Civics and Political Party Debate as part of their English studies program in August this year. 

In her address, Ms Williams highlighted the significance of the debate: 

"I think this exercise, though, highlights the importance of engaging our young people in discussions about the challenges that we face as a community. It is through initiatives like this that we empower the next generation to think critically and build the next generation of leaders, many of whom may one day sit in this very place. Congratulations to the students at St. John's." 

The framed Hansard record, presented to the winning team, will now take pride of place in the school library, serving as a source of inspiration for all students. Congratulations to our Year 8 debaters for their outstanding achievement! 

Exciting News for St. John's Basketball Community 

Congratulations to Nyawichar Macharfor an incredible achievement in winning the National 3x3 Basketball Tournament! 

Nyawichar's leadership and determination were vital to her Dandenong Rangers team's well-deserved victory. As the current captain of the St. John's Intermediate Girls' Team, she shows exceptional leadership both on and off the court. She will join the St John's Sports Academy basketball program in 2025.  

In further exciting news for our basketball program, Rick Vos has been appointed Director of Basketball for the St. John's Sports Academy, commencing in 2025. Rick brings an extraordinary wealth of experience to the role, including: 

• Over 25 years of coaching experience. 
• Multiple National Classic and Victorian Championship gold medals. 
• Coaching and qualifying multiple teams for U14 Club Nationals, with several national titles to his name. 
• Big V Victorian Youth Championship Men's Coach. 
• Current Basketball Victoria Future Development and Senior Development Program Hub Coach. 
• Basketball Victoria Southern Cross Challenge Coach. 
• Assistant Director of Coaching at Nunawading Spectres. 
• Operations Manager and Board Member at Dandenong Basketball. 
• Tournament Director for the prestigious Eltham Dandenong Junior Basketball Tournament. 

Rick's extensive achievements and dedication to basketball development make him an outstanding leader for our basketball program,  and we are thrilled to welcome him to the St. John's community. 

Students interested in joining the St. John's Sports Academy for Basketball in 2025 can express their interest through the online application process on the school website. This is an incredible opportunity to learn from a highly accomplished mentor and become part of a dynamic, elite basketball program. 

We look forward to a bright future for basketball at St. John's! 

Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Pillar of Freedom 

The Remembrance Day ceremony at the Pillar of Freedom yesterday was a moving tribute to those who have sacrificed so much for our freedoms. A highlight of the event was a reading of "Inquisitive Mind of a Child," delivered by 2025 College Captain Kelemen, whose words resonated deeply with all in attendance. 

Students Nate and Naomi, along with Ms. Cardinaletti, represented St. John's with pride and respect, joining the broader community in commemorating this solemn occasion. Attendees were also privileged to hear from John, a former student, parent, and past Mayor of Dandenong, who reflected on his involvement in creating the Pillar of Freedom. 

Lest we forget. 

SIS Art & Technology Exhibition – 11 November  

Congratulations to all our talented students whose artwork was exhibited at the SIS Art & Technology Exhibition held at the Cube Theatre in Frankston on 11 November. A special mention goes to Enrique Kelsall (Year 7) for winning a prize at this prestigious event—an outstanding achievement! 

I extend my gratitude to the Art and Technology team, led by Ms. Anne Aldis and supported by Art Technician Grace Stevenson, for their hard work in setting up the exhibit and showcasing our students' creativity. 

A big thank you to our Hospitality students, who provided exceptional service to guests and patrons throughout the evening. Their efforts were made possible through the guidance and preparation of Mr. Vanderlaan and Ms. Haider.