St John's Primary School Newsletter

Principal's News

We acknowledge the Taungurung people, the traditional custodians of this land and we pay our respect to their elders past, present and emerging.

Dear Families, 

 

Welcome to my first newsletter as Principal of St John’s! It has been a wonderful start to Term 4, and it has been a joy to see our students settle into their learning with enthusiasm. Thank you to all families for your warm welcome to St John’s. I look forward to meeting each and every one of you as the weeks go on. 

 

New Families to St John’s 

We welcome our new students Flynn and Alli-May and their families to our school this term. We know that they will be welcomed warmly by all students, teachers and families in the St John’s community. 

 

Celebrating Fr Tony Last week we had the privilege of celebrating Fr Tony’s 40th Anniversary of Ordination at our Whole School Mass on Friday and again at the Parish Mass on Saturday evening. It was a beautiful occasion and a wonderful opportunity for students, staff, and families to come together in prayer and gratitude for Fr Tony’s dedication and service. 

 

Sacrament of First Eucharist/Confirmation- Saturday 18th October, 6pm: Our Sacramental children at St John’s have a very important week coming up with the Sacrament of First Eucharist and Confirmation being celebrated on Saturday 18th October at 6pm. It would be lovely to see as many families at St John’s at Mass this Saturday evening to show them their support. Thank you to Mrs Louise Frewen for the wonderful way she has prepared these children and we look forward to this special occasion. Please wish the following students well: Hannah Goodall, Emily Brown, Lenny Moore, Marley French, Lucy Hamill, Chelsea Maher and Jed Enright. 

 

Updated Website Photography On Thursday last week, we welcomed Tserlin and Mark from School Presence to update our school website photography. It was a fantastic day capturing the spirit, joy, and energy of our students and school community. The team did an excellent job showcasing what makes St John’s such a vibrant and welcoming place, and we are excited to share these images on our website soon. Thank you to all staff, students and families for helping make the day run so smoothly. 

 

 

 

Looking Ahead - Key Dates 

  • Foundation 2026 Enrolments: Enrolment interviews for next year’s Foundation students begin this week. Transition mornings are scheduled for: 
  • Tuesday 25th November (9am–11am) 
  • Tuesday 2nd December (9am–11am) 
  • Tuesday 9th December (9am–11am), Whole School / Statewide Transition Day), Year 6 students attending FCJ will be on a different day and are welcome to still come to school on this day. 
  • Regional Athletics Carnival- Friday: We wish our Year 5 and 6 students all the best as they represent St John’s at the Regional Athletics Carnival.  
  • Year 5: Kanika Ahir, Clare Bickerton, Lexi Caneda, Matilda Eddy, Paige Enright, Ava Hamill, Georgia Harris, Eligh McLure  
  • Year 6: Alexander Burton, Logan Schwartzkopff, Carter Simmons 
  • Grandparents Day: 

We look forward to welcoming grandparents on Friday 14th November for a Liturgy in the Mercy Centre at 9:05am, followed by classroom activities until 10:30am. 

  • First School Assembly- Week 3: Our first assembly for this term will be held on Friday of Week 3 in the afternoon. It will be a great opportunity to come together as a school community, celebrate student achievements, and share important announcements. 
  • Pupil Free Day – Week 4: Please note that Friday 31st October (Week 4) will be a pupil-free day for all students. Staff will be participating in professional learning on this day, and students are not required to attend school. 

Melbourne Cup Long Weekend: 

  • Friday 31 October – Pupil-Free Day: Staff will be on site for First Aid training in the morning and planning for the 2026 school year in the afternoon. Students do not attend school on this day. 
  • Monday 3 November – Report Writing / Moderation Day: No school for students. 
  • Tuesday 4 November – Melbourne Cup Public Holiday. 
  • Wednesday 5 November – All staff and students return. 
  •  

School Developments and Projects We are excited to continue enhancing our outdoor spaces. An Indigenous Garden is being designed in consultation with our FIRE Carrier students, staff, and families as part of the Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grant. This project links to our 5-Year Master Plan, which will guide future school improvements, including learning spaces and landscaping enhancements. The 5-year Master Plan will begin in 2026. A family survey will be sent this term to gather your ideas and feedback. 

 

Celebrating Benji Mann – Junior Club Person Award 

We’re proud to share that Benji Mann has received the Junior Club Person Award for his outstanding contribution to his local sports club. Benji was awarded for always being willing to help, for showing great sportsmanship, and for his values of teamwork and community. 

Congratulations, Benji! 

 

 

Other Updates 

Semester 2 reports will be simplified in 2025, with teachers focusing on personal communication through phone calls, face-to-face meetings, and class updates. 

I look forward to continuing to get to know all of our families and to sharing regular updates through this newsletter. Thank you for your support and engagement during the start of the term, it makes a real difference to our students’ learning and happiness. I look forward to a wonderful rest of the term. 

 

Take care,  

Sam Kerlin 

Principal St John’s Primary School, Euroa