Principals Update

Key Events - Term 3

Term 3, Week 7

• Friday 5th of September -Father's Day Breakfast 7.30am - 8.45am

Term 3, Week 8

• Tuesday 9th September - SEDA Footy Inflatables, Footy Dress Up Day (Parade at 9am in the MPR), PSG Meetings & DRI - Selected students
• Wednesday 10th September - Prep Siblings 2026 interviews, PSG Meetings & Hoop Time Basketball - Year 3/4
• Thursday 11th September- Visual Arts Show 6pm - 8pm, PSG Meetings
• Friday 12th September - Archbishop Peter Comensoli Visit @ 10am. Whole School Assembly at 2.45pm

Term 3, Week 9

• Monday 15th September - Year 3/4 Science works excursion
• Tuesday 16th September - Parent Teacher Interviews 3.50pm -5.00pm (Refer to Teaching and Learning Page)
• Wednesday 17th September - Twisted Science excursion Year 1/2
• Thursday 18th September- Parent Teacher Interviews 1.30pm onwards. Students finish @ 1pm.
• Friday 19th September- Fete Lolly Hunt Donations. Students Conclude for Term 3 @ 2pm

Dear SJV Families,

With two weeks to go of Term Three, there is plenty still happening here at SJV. 

Please make sure that you take the time to read the newsletter as there is much happening here at SJV.

Our focus next week will be on SJV’s 2025 Fact to Fiction Art Show 🎭Thursday, September 11th | 6:00 – 8:00 PM @ SJV (Please see Flyer below). We invite all families to come along and celebrate the incredible creativity of our P–6 students and enjoy an evening of:

• Visual Art Displays
• Performing Arts Showcases
• Japanese Songs & Dances
• Live Art Auctions
• “Where’s Wally” Art Hunt
• Sausage Sizzle, Coffee & Sweet Treats (including ice cream and donuts!)

Don’t forget to bring some $$ for food and goodies! It’s going to be a fun-filled night for the whole family and I look forward to seeing you all there!

Special Visit from Archbishop Peter Comensoli

We are delighted to share that Archbishop Peter Comensoli will be visiting our school next Friday at 10am. During his visit, he will spend time speaking with the children in their classrooms — a wonderful opportunity for our students to meet and engage with the Archbishop in a meaningful and personal way. He will then meet with members of staff before joining the parishioners for lunch in the Church at 12pm. We look forward to welcoming him to our school community! 

Please see below information from Fr Justin:

ARCHBISHOP PETER COMENSOLI'S VISITATION TO OUR PARISH

SATURDAY 13th SEPTEMBER10.30 am:  Parish Forum (parish clergy not present) – An opportunity for parishioners from all our churches to speak with the Archbishop about priorities, goals and challenges – St Patrick’s School Hall, 16 Childers St, Mentone.12:00 noon:  Buffet lunch with parishioners from all our churches – St Patrick’s School Hall, 16 Childers St, Mentone. Afternoon:  Visits to homebound parishioners.6.00 pm:  Vigil Mass, St Patrick’s Church.7.15 pm:  Dinner with young people, St Patrick’s Parish Centre. (18-35 y.o). If you are intending to come, it will help for catering if you RSVP by Thursday to the parish email.) 

SUNDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER 8.00 am:  Mass, St Joseph’s Church.10.30 am:  Mass, Stella Maris Church, with morning tea following. 

We look forward to welcoming our Archbishop!

Confirmation

Last Thursday we gathered as a school and parish community to celebrate a very special milestone in the faith journey of our Year 6 students — the Sacrament of Confirmation at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in East Melbourne. This is such a significant occasion in the lives of our young people as they step forward to confirm the promises made for them at Baptism and open their hearts to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We are deeply grateful to Fr. Justin for leading our community in this sacred celebration and for conferring the Sacrament upon our students. His presence and guidance help our children to see the beauty and importance of their faith as they continue to grow as young Catholics.  A special thank you to Kerry Slater, our Religious Education Leader and Elise Fisher the Year 6 teacher, for the many hours of preparation, guidance and support they has given to ensure our students were ready to receive this Sacrament and to the many staff who attended. 

Father's Day Breakfast 

The Father’s Day Breakfast will take place tomorrow Friday the 5th of September 7.30am -8.45am. We look forward to seeing lots of dads and their child/children for a cuppa and bacon and egg roll. 

Footy Day / SEDA Inflatables 

Next Tuesday the 9th of September, students can wear their footy colours to school to celebrate the finals. On this day we will have our footy parade  at 9.00am in the MPR. Parents are welcome to attend.

Building Project Update

Work will commence tomorrow on the installation of a temporary modular building, which will serve as our administration block during the upcoming building works. The modular building is scheduled to be installed on Monday, 8th September, with the aim of it being fully operational by Monday, 22nd September. Once installed, we will begin moving in cabinetry and setting up the space. At this stage, the plan is for the school office to begin operating from the new portable building at the start of Term 4.

Please note: temporary fencing and toilets will also be delivered tomorrow morning as part of this setup.

In the next newsletter, I will announce which building company has been appointed and potentially when works will begin.

We appreciate your patience and support as we work to improve our school facilities!

Japanese Day

2025 School Improvement Surveys

In 2025, our school is participating in Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS). MACSSIS is an annual process whereby schools listen to the thoughts and feelings that students, families and staff have about how their school can improve. These surveys help inform the ongoing improvement of schools across the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

We would appreciate it if families could take the time in the next 2 weeks to complete the survey. Information captured ultimately benefits the school and the community.

The survey which is available online,  needs to be completed by Friday 19 September 2025. This survey may only be completed once. The survey link and the unique family PIN was issued via email today.

Aerobics - Nationals!

Congratulations to Our Aerobics Team!

A huge congratulations to our amazing Aerobics Team, who proudly represented SJV at the National Championships and achieved an outstanding 5th place!

We are so proud of your hard work, dedication, and team spirit — what a fantastic achievement!

SJV Fete

Please make sure that you check out the Fete page in the newsletter for further information on ways we require all parents to assist.

Please note the following dates for donations for the fete:

Term 3

• Lolly Hunt - Friday 19th September

Term 4

• Wine & Chocolate drive - Friday the 17th of October 
• Lucky Jars & Lolly Hunt - Friday the 7th of November

Stall Co-Ordinator's Needed

1. Kids books and toys -  All items for the stall are donated by SJV families. Organisers only need to set up the stall on Thursday/Friday and finds helpers to run the stall at the fete
2. Games/Carnival Co-Ordinator’s (2-3 organisers) – we have received an amazing donation of toys ready for this stall. We just need a few volunteers to work together to come up with some fun carnival games the kids can play to win prizes (We already have a lucky spinning wheel)
3. Flower Stall – previously we worked with a local florist to get a collection of flowers at bulk fair prices. Then on the day of the fete these need to be collected and put into either decorated jars or just wrapped and bundled ready for selling
4. Lolly Hunt – Lollies for this stall are donated by SJV families. You just need to organise bags for the kids to collect lollies, work with the committee to organise a bale of hay and then volunteers to run the stall on the day. The lolly hunt tent is set up by volunteers at the working bee the day before the fete
5. Handball Competition – Kids handball to a target and a score is collated and the winner at the end gets a prize. All participants get a lolly (eg mentos) for completing.

School Closure Dates - Term 3

Term 3 concludes on Friday 19th of September at 2pm (early time due to building works beginning)

Classes for 2026

As we begin the process of planning ahead for 2026 classes, I ask any families who know that they will not be returning to St. John Vianney's in 2025 please inform me as soon as possible. principal@sjvparkdale.catholic.edu.au

School Fees

This is just a reminder that all school fee accounts were due by the 15th of August. If you are experiencing any difficulties with making any of these payments, please make sure that you contact me on principal@sjvparkdale.catholic.edu.au to organise a time to discuss. 

Instagram- We now have an SJV Instagram page on social media. So please make sure you follow and share: @sjv_parkdale

2026  Enrolments 

Our requests for School Tours are continuing with many booking times to come and visit our wonderful school. Enrolments for Prep 2026 are now open and we encourage all families to submit their applications as soon as possible.  If you have a child or you know someone wanting to tour schools for their child, please encourage them to book a school tour by contacting Nicole in our front office (Limited places available).   

Reminders

• Dogs - Please note that for the safety and wellbeing of all members of our community, no dogs are permitted inside the school grounds and they must not be left unattended tied up at the gates. Adult supervision and holding of the leash is so important around vulnerable places such as schools.  We love dogs but we do have to take care of all members of our community.

• Bikes and Scooters - Please walk bikes and scooters when moving through the school grounds.

• Punctuality - It is expected that all students are to be at school by no later than 8.45am and not any time up to 9am. From 8.45am to 9am is crucial for students to get themselves organised, start the day with Meditation, prayer, take the roll and ready to commence their day promptly. Formal lessons begin at 9am. Any child who arrives at or after 9am is to be signed in at the office by a parent/guardian. I ask all parents to make sure that you adhere to these times.

• The next Newsletter will be shared on Thursday 18th of September.

Regards

Mick Schinck

Principal