Excitement is Building for "Shrek the Musical"!

With great pride and excitement, I announce the opening of the St John's 2024 school production, "Shrek the Musical," this Thursday night, July 25th. This biennial event is always a highlight, showcasing our performing arts community's incredible talent, passion, and dedication.

St. John's has a long tradition of exceptional musicals, a testament to the hard work of our students and the expertise of our performing arts team: Ms Anne Aldis, Mr Reymond Belano, Miss Perri Espinoza, and Mr Michael Almery. These productions foster teamwork, creativity, and self-confidence among our students, allowing them to develop their talents and display their dedication. They also strengthen community bonds as families, friends, and staff come together to support our performers and celebrate their achievements.

This year, we are delighted to welcome St. Mary's Primary School staff and students, who will join us in this highly entertaining musical. Their participation highlights our strong bonds with our primary feeder schools and our collective commitment to excellence in Catholic education within our local community.

I also want to acknowledge the many hands behind the scenes: our backstage crew, those who have prepared the props and set, and those organising ticket sales and catering. Various helpers' contributions have been vital to this production and an excellent reflection of our community spirit.

We look forward to the joy our performers will share with us over the two-night performance and encourage all our families to come and purchase a ticket for this Thursday or Friday night.

Welcome to our French Exchange Student - Louise Legros

We are delighted to welcome Louise Legros, our exchange student from France, who has joined us for one month as part of the Lasallian Cultural Student Exchange Program.

Louise is a 16-year-old student from Ensemble Scolaire—La Salle in Lille, a city in northern France. She travels from France to immerse herself in Australian culture and improve her English. She is currently studying Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Geopolitics.

Louise is eager to enhance her English skills. She looks forward to attending a language class, gaining insights into student life at our school, and participating in an intercultural exchange with our Young Lasallians.

Bienvenue, Louise! We hope you have an enriching and enjoyable stay with us.

Inspiring Visit from Ex-Olympian Natalie Porter!

Last week, our students enjoyed a visit by Olympian Natalie Porter. Natalie, who played for the Australian national team and won an Olympic Silver Medal in the 2004 Olympic Games, spent time with our students, sharing her incredible journey and valuable insights.

Natalie has played for top-level teams throughout her career, including the Dandenong Rangers, Townsville Fire, Sydney Uni Flames, and Canberra Capitals. Her experience and dedication to the sport have inspired countless young athletes, and her visit to our school was no exception.

During her time with us, Natalie conducted extensive training sessions with our students and spoke about her experiences as an elite athlete and the importance of teamwork, resilience, and dedication. She engaged with our students, offering advice and answering questions, leaving a lasting impression on everyone.

I extend my thanks to Taryn Willder and Mark Alexandar for organising this wonderful opportunity for our students to learn from one of Australia's best.

Futures Expo: Careers Advice and Subject Selection Evening

"The Futures Expo," our Careers Advice and Subject Selection Evening, is taking place on Wednesday, July 24th, in the Br Leo Scollen Stadium. This event is an essential opportunity for families and students to engage with experts from various universities and TAFE institutions and our teaching staff to discuss subject selection and pathways through senior school and beyond.

The Careers Expo is a compulsory event for Years 9, 10, and 11 students, while recommended for year 8 students. It is designed to assist them in making informed decisions about their future, exploring their interests, and setting goals to navigate the transition from school to the workforce.

Choosing a career path can be challenging, often beginning with the fundamental question: "What do I want to do?" The Futures Expo aims to broaden students' horizons by exposing them to diverse fields, emerging industries, and unconventional career paths. This exposure can help them discover new possibilities and consider non-traditional career options.

I extend my thanks to Careers Coordinator Mr Bruce Topham, Deputy Principal Learning & Teaching Kamila Bielinski, VCE Programs Leader Ms Pier Bourne, and all of our Learning Area Coordinators for their efforts in organising what promises to be an incredibly informative event for our students.

July 24th Open Evening – New Enrolments for 2025 and 2026

Alongside the Futures Expo, we will be conducting an Open evening for new enrolments for 2025 and 2026. New and Old families considering enrolment for their children in future years are invited to attend this event, which will begin in the new Administration Centre on Caroline Street at 6 pm. The evening will include a welcome from our Principal and Senior Staff and a tour of student facilities.

Bookings for the Enrolment Evening can be made via the college website, where parents can also find the online enrolment form and a range of other information about St John's, including curriculum, uniform, transport, and school fees.

Year 12 Interviews

I thank our parents and Year 12 staff for attending the Year 12 interviews last Thursday. With just over ten weeks remaining for our senior students, this evening was crucial in providing valuable feedback as they worked to complete their courses and prepare for their final exams. I thank our staff for offering accurate assessments of our students' current performance and outlining the next steps they should be taking to be at their best in November. Additionally, I want to remind our senior students about the free tutoring service available in our CLC every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm. Our tutors are ready to offer excellent advice and tips on exam preparation and revision in the weeks ahead.

College Academic Excellence Assembly – August 1st

On Thursday, August 1st, the College Community will assemble to present the academic Excellence Awards and Stella Awards for semester 1. All parents are welcome to attend this assembly at 9:15 in the Br Leo Scollen stadium at St John's. The following Try booking link has been established for parents/guardians wishing to attend this celebration. Following the assembly, a morning tea will be held for the parents and students receiving awards in the Graduate's restaurant.