Principal's Page

A Message from the Principal

Family is everything and sharing the celebration of my son's wedding on the weekend was truly a memorable and precious moment in my life. As our children learn and grow throughout primary school becoming wiser and more resilient with every life lesson, the greatest wish we can have for them in the long run is to find true love, a soulmate and someone who will love them unconditionally for who they are, just as we do as their parents. On the weekend my second child, Hayden, married Rhiarna on a farm in South Australia. We celebrated the reception in Middleton and danced the night away. It was a very special occasion and one to be treasured forever.

Thankyou to Melinda Buscema and all of the staff for keeping the school running so smoothly while I was on leave. There are still many end of year celebrations to share together and lots to look forward in the coming weeks. It will be great to see you all at the Christmas Carols night next week, Thursday 12 December 6pm and at the End of Year Thanksgiving Mass on Monday, 16 December for the whole school at 6pm.

St John's Classes for 2025

I am happy to share our classes for 2025. Our teachers will be:

• Prep: Cara Woolley 
• 1/2A: Clorinda Maio
• 1/2B: Naomi Ryan
• 3/4A: Rebecca Stuart
• 3/4B: Anna Hendy and Nicole Webb
• 5/6A: Tracey Farrar 
• 5/6B: Marisa Box 
• 5/6C: Allison Bayliss 

All students will find out their classes and new teachers on Monday, 16 December, during a special transition session. This will be followed by our whole school picnic at Halliday Park. If you feel that your child will require additional support during this transition phase please let me know or reach out to their class teacher.

Student Reports

In the last week of school, parents will receive an email link to their child's end of year report. All student reports for this year and last year can be accessed on the PAM website.

Swimming Program

P-2 Swimming

Over the last two weeks, the Prep-2 level participated in school swimming lessons. They had lots of fun while learning the fundamentals of swimming. There was lots of splashing, jumping, diving and laughing!

Here are some acrostic poems that the students in Year 1/2 wrote about their experiences.

5/6 Surf Lifesaving

Last week our Year 5 and 6 students went to Aspendale Beach to take part in a Lifesaving Education Program. They had a great time and learnt some valuable life lessons about water safety and survival, including Be Aware and Be Prepared, Rescue Strategies, Safe Body Boarding and Survival Strategies. 

Spread Some Christmas Cheer - Outreach

It's the most wonderful time of the year, but it's also a high-pressured and expensive time for families, particularly for those who are struggling financially. This year we would like to make some festive hampers for families in need to help make their Christmas special.

Please donate the following items to the office. We will create some hampers for our families in need to brighten their Christmas.

Please drop all donations to the office by Monday 9 December.

Some ideas are below:

• Mince Pies
• Long life custard
• Christmas pudding
• Biscuits
• Lollies
• Christmas Bons Bons
• Gingerbread
• Small gifts
• Coles/Woolies vouchers

Thank you, and if you have any further questions please contact Emir (Outreach Coordinator) emirbajcic@gmail.com

 Marathon Club Celebration

Our last Marathon Club for this year will be held on  Thursday, 5 December. All students who have attended Marathon Club this year are very welcome to come and join us for a special celebratory breakfast at Halliday Park. 

Please meet in the school foyer (as usual) at 7.45am. We will make our way to Halliday Park as a group and return to school just after 8.30am. 

We look forward to seeing you there!

PLEASE NOTE THAT There will be no Marathon Club tomorrow, Tuesday, 3 December.

Mini Missions Market, Monday 9 December   

All classes are busily creating sustainable products and activities that will be part of the St John's Christmas Mini Missions market, to be held necxt Monday, 9 December.

There will be no cash used on the day so all parents will need to purchase vouchers for their children to buy items at the stalls. Please look out for more details tomorrow as we will send out a link where parents can buy money vouchers for the Mini Missions Market. 

Library Book Returns

Please return all Library books - from school and home - by Friday, December 6.

As is customary, the class who returns all books first will be rewarded with icy poles during the last week of school! Many thanks, Sue Walmsley & Maria Wallis

Joke of the Week

Have a peaceful and joyous week and please let me know if I can assist you and your family in any way.

With Faith and Love,

Verona Gridley

St John's Primary School Principal

St John’s Parish Community Fete 2024

Everyone came and celebrated!

THANK YOU!

Great occasions like our 70th Fete on Saturday the 16th do not just happen. If you attended and had a great time, if you assisted with setup, were a stallholder or volunteered for any of the great array of stalls including, BBQ, Bookshop, Bric-a-Brac, Cakes, Coffee, Colouring Competition, Crafts, JJ’s Café, Donuts, Drinks, Face Painting, Hot Chips, JJ’s Bar, Lob a Choc, Plants, PluckaDuck, Pop Corn & Fairy Floss, Preloved Clothes, Preloved Toys, Raffle, Ride Sales, Sweets, Snow Cones, Show Bags, Indian food, Silent Auction, assisted with safeguarding, all who contributed to the entertainment from the Mainstage, our Mezzo Soprano, our MC & AV gurus, helped with counting, or assisted with pack up...

THANK YOU!

It couldn’t have been done without you all. See you all in 2025! 

A special mention must be made of the untold contribution made by 15, Year 11 students from Whitefriars College. The parish connection with Whitefriars is a long one but without their tireless assistance on Friday we would not have been ready to celebrate on Saturday...

THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

To the Fete Committee for its months of committed planning and organising a huge...

THANK YOU!

To Fr Dispin for the weather. No pressure for 2025 (but maybe reduce the effort to one knee, as 34C was too hot.)...

THANK YOU!

Brendan Mills - FETE Coordinator and Manager