Principal's News

Dear Families

This week I have had the privilege of attending the 2025 Australian Catholic Education Conference. This year’s theme, “Hope, Anchored in Faith”, guided reflections and discussions on faith formation, educational leadership, and innovative practices that strengthen our Catholic school communities. It has been a wonderful opportunity to connect with leaders from across the Catholic education network and to engage in learning that will enrich our school. I have especially valued listening to keynote speakers from around the world, which has confirmed the importance of our evidence-based explicit learning practices. I look forward to sharing the ideas and insights with our staff and families, ensuring that our community at St John’s continues to grow and flourish.

"Hope is like peace. It is not a gift from God. It is a gift only we can give one another." – Elie Wiesel

Book Week Parade - Grandparent and Special Person Day and Morning Tea

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this wonderful day. I am very disappointed to have missed it but from all accounts it was a wonderful community event.  The students and families went to so much effort with their costumes - well done to the staff as well!

A big thank you to PIC for organising another wonderful Grandparent/Special Person Morning Tea. The students absolutely loved sharing their learning with their special family members, showcasing their school and celebrating Book Week.

The students are lucky to have such wonderful role models in their lives. We also acknowledge all those Grandparents who couldn't be with us this week but are close to our hearts.

Year 1 /2 Learning Expo

Thank you to all the families who came along to support their child’s learning by attending the Year 1 & 2 Expo. Your presence and engagement make a real difference, encouraging students to share their work with pride and confidence. It was wonderful to see the children excited to showcase their learning, explain their ideas, and celebrate their achievements. Your support helps strengthen the home–school partnership and fosters a love of learning in our students.

Year 3 Reconciliation  Faith Formation night

Many of the Year 3 students will receive their First Reconciliation  at St John’s Church on Thursday 11 September at 7:00 pm. As part of their preparation, a Family Faith Formation Evening will be held on Tuesday 26 August at 6:30 pm. Please keep these children in your prayers as they prepare to receive this important Sacrament and support them on their faith journey.

Good Luck – Mrs Penny Baynes

We wish Penny Baynes all the very best as she prepares to welcome her new baby! Penny has finished at St John's this week, and while we will miss her greatly, we are excited for this wonderful new chapter in her life.

Penny has been a valued member of our St John’s community, contributing her skills, dedication, and warmth to our school. Her positive spirit and commitment to our students and staff have made a lasting impact, and she will be fondly remembered.

Please join us in sending Penny our heartfelt thanks and best wishes for a joyful and healthy start to this next chapter of her life. We look forward to meeting Baby Baynes soon.

Disabled Parking / Staff Car Park

We kindly remind all parents and carers that the Staff Car Park is not for general parent use. This area is reserved strictly for staff, and we ask that families please make use of the surrounding streets and public carparks when dropping off or collecting children.

Additionally, please note:

• Disabled parking bays are not to be used unless you have a valid permit. These spaces must remain accessible at all times for those who need them.
• Access to the carpark must be kept clear at all times. Please do not block driveways, park outside of marked bays, or stop in thoroughfares.

Your cooperation helps us maintain a safe and accessible environment for everyone in our school community. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Respecting Privacy: No Photos or Social Media Posts Without Permission

We remind all parents and carers that at St John’s, protecting the privacy and safety of our students is a top priority.

When attending any school events, including incursions, excursions, sports events, or celebrations, please be aware of the following:

• Photos or videos of students must not be taken of other students.

• No photos or videos from school events are to be posted on social media under any circumstances.

   

These guidelines apply at all school-related activities. They are in place to ensure the dignity, privacy, and safety of all students and their families.

We appreciate your ongoing support in maintaining a respectful and secure environment for our school community.

A Special Gift for a Music Lover in the St John’s Community

A St John’s community member is generously offering a Yamaha baby grand piano as a gift to someone who will truly appreciate, care for, and continue to make music with it. The piano belonged to her late husband and holds great sentimental value. She hopes it will find a new home where it will be cherished and played for years to come.

If you or someone you know is a passionate musician and part of the St John’s community, and would be interested in giving this beautiful instrument a meaningful new chapter, please contact Alison Dean, Principal. adean@sjheidelberg.catholic.edu.au 

School Assemblies 

This term, our Whole School Assemblies will continue to provide opportunities for communication, celebration, belonging, and connection across our school community. Parents are warmly invited to attend and share in these gatherings.

We look forward to seeing 5M lead the assembly on 1 September 2025 and our Prep students present a special assembly on 15 September 2025.

Assemblies will take place on Monday afternoons at 2:40pm in the hall during Weeks 7, 9, and 11.

MACSSIS Survey - PARENT SURVEY

Feedback is an important part of growth in any organisation. At St John’s, we highly value the voices of our parents and carers and strongly encourage you to share your thoughts with us.

MACSSIS is an annual process whereby schools listen to the thoughts and feelings that students, families and staff have about how the school can improve. These surveys help inform the ongoing improvement of schools across the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

In the next week or two, families will receive a family code from Orima Research inviting you to complete a survey about St John’s. These surveys are completely anonymous, and your responses play a vital role in helping us forward plan and continue to strengthen our school community.

Festival of the Arts 

Our students have been working incredibly hard in preparation for this year’s Festival of the Arts: Wednesday 3 September 4:00pm - 6:30pm. 

Congratulations to Isla V who won the St John's Festival of The Arts poster competition. Isla's artwork will be used to promote this wonderful school event.

Festival of the Arts  - Silent Auction

Each class has collaborated to create a special piece of artwork that reflects their creativity and teamwork.

These class artworks will be displayed around the school for all families to enjoy in the lead-up to the Festival. The week of the Festival, families will also have the opportunity to bid on each canvas in a silent auction, with the highest bidder taking home a  unique keepsake—a wonderful memory of your child’s school year.

Alongside the visual art displays, students will also share their talents throughSTEM projects, music, dance, and drama performances. If any children would like to perform a solo, with friends, or with their family, please let us know—we would love to include them in the celebration.

It promises to be a joyful evening filled with creativity, performance, and community spirit. We are so proud of the effort and imagination our students have shown, and we look forward to celebrating their talents together at this special event.

Professional Learning – School Closure Day, Monday 25 August

As part of our ongoing commitment to the St John’s improvement agenda, staff have engaged in a wide range of professional learning opportunities throughout the year. These opportunities align with our strategic intent of using evidence-informed pedagogical practices to optimise student outcomes, strengthen school–community partnerships, and reflect our Catholic Identity.

On Monday 25 August, staff will continue this journey by focusing on the new English Victorian Curriculum 2.0, with particular attention given to reading comprehension. This work will support us in further developing high-quality teaching and learning practices that nurture every student’s growth. Students will not be attending school on this day.

SRC Nomination Process review

We are always looking for ways to give more students the chance to shine as leaders at St John’s. After receiving thoughtful feedback from families, we are proposing a small change to our SRC selection process to allow even more children the opportunity to represent their class.

Previously, students could not be re-elected for the following semester. Moving forward, if a child has been an SRC, they will have a “rest year” before they can apply again.

For example, if a student is elected as SRC in Year 1, they will sit out in Year 2 but can apply again in Year 3.

This proposal was presented to the SAC and was unanimously supported but I would also like to hear from you if you have strong thoughts about it. We are excited about this positive change, which will open the door for more students to experience the joy and responsibility of being an SRC while encouraging a wider range of leadership across the school.

Planning for 2026

Believe it or not, planning for 2026 has already begun. If your child is currently in Prep to Year 5 and you know they will not be returning to St. John’s in 2026, please email Alison at principal@sjheidelberg.catholic.edu.au. Even if you're unsure, letting us know that you may not be returning helps us manage potential vacancies and inform prospective families.

As many of you have noticed, there has been a steady stream of enrolments across all year levels over the past 12 months. This growth reflects the positive sentiment among our current families and reinforces that St. John’s Parish School is becoming the school of choice in the Heidelberg area.

Prep enrolments for 2027 have opened.

Prep enrolments for 2027 have opened. If you have a child currently in 3 year old kinder you are welcome to submit your application via the school website.  

Staff Professional Learning - School Closure reminders 

Term 3

Monday 25 August - Staff Professional Development Day

Friday 19 September - End of Term 3 -  Students Dismissed 1:00pm

Term 4 

Monday, 3 November -   School Closure Day

Tuesday, 4 November - Melbourne Cup

Wednesday, 1  December – Planning Day

Tuesday 16 December - End of Term 4 - Students Dismissed 1:00pm

School Advisory Council (SAC) Feedback Form 2025

The SAC provides a forum for discussion and discernment, where the parent / guardian voice and perspective inform and support the decisions made by the principal and parish priest for the good of school and parish where the wellbeing and outcomes for students is paramount. The St John's SAC invites parent feedback, suggestions and constructive comments enabling a wide range of perspectives to be shared. Please see below for the link to your level Feedback email. 

Have a great week. I look forward to seeing you all next week.

God Bless 

Alison Dean