Principal News

We are nearly at the end of the first term of 2025 and what a great term it has been!  So much new learning for all in our community.  For the students and teachers who have embraced Magnify and all that that entails, we can see learning happening in our quiet, calm and reliable classrooms across the school.

As yesterday was a pupil free day, this is a quick newsletter with important events happening at St John's.

School Holidays

Holidays begin on Friday at 2:15. The children have three weeks holiday and return to school on Monday 28th April.  The teachers at St John's and across all Sandhurst Catholic schools are participating in three days of professional learning with internationally renowned Dr Jared Cooney Horvath about the Science of Learning and how this can be translated into exemplary classroom practice and used to maximise learning opportunities for all children in our care.  We are very fortunate to have this opportunity to work with someone so highly regarded.

School Pick Up

We are noticing a big increase in the traffic around the school.  For the children's safety we have made some changes to the pickup routine for students.  The back gate in Binney St will continue to be open each afternoon for pickup.  We encourage you to use it.  All children who ride bikes and need to cross Bury St will now walk their bikes around to cross at the crossing with Mark and then ride down Anderson on the opposite side of the road.  If your child turns left as they come out of the tennis courts gate when riding home, they will continue as they usually do.  Perhaps a chat about safety crossing roads would be timely.  We have had several near misses with buses and children and teachers, as they try to coordinate children on buses, children crossing the road and children being picked up by parents.  If you are picking up or dropping off your children in Bury St, we ask that you do so on the school side on the street.

From the start of next term children who leave through the front office will now do so through the school carpark, walking in a calm and orderly way between the bollards and the school.  The teacher out the front will supervise the children as they walk this way.  The reason for this is the noise and disruption to the office in what is usually the busiest part of the day.  For the children's safety we ask that no parents use the teacher's carpark to park or turn around.

Easter Bonnet Parade

The parade is tomorrow morning at 9am.  Families are very welcome to attend.  This is not a free dress day but a way for children to show their creativity in designing and making an Easter bonnet.  It is entirely voluntary.

Easter Raffle

It is not too late to return your raffle tickets.  The raffle will be drawn after the Easter Bonnet Parade tomorrow morning.

Cake Raffle

The cake raffle will be tomorrow instead of Friday due to the early finish.  It will be drawn at the Easter Bonnet Parade. The Year 6 students will be selling tickets before school.

Teacher's Long Service Leave.

Libby Hamilton is currently on Long Service Leave and returns on Friday 2nd May.  Louise Frewen is Acting Deputy Principal in her absence.

Ayako Mizushima (Japanese) will be on Long Service for the first three weeks of next term and returns in Week 3. 

Linc McKernan (Year 5 and PE) will be on Long Service Leave from Week 4 until the end of term 2.  

Being on Time to School

It is incredibly important that children are at school and ready to learn at the first bell.  Being late interrupts other's learning and has an impact on your child.  Just 10 minutes a day can result in 50 minutes of lost learning a week and a total of 8.5 hours of learning a term.  Please, please help your children to be on time.  Walking into a classroom when everyone else is already learning causes anxiety for children when they are late.

Stations of the Cross  

 Each year our Year 6 students present the Easter Story for our school community.  It is a very moving and solemn gathering and one that our Year 6's look forward to.  Please come and join us if you can.  It takes place in the Mercy Centre at 1:30 on Friday.

I wish all our families a very safe and enjoyable holiday.   Enjoy your Easter celebrations as we remember this important time in our Church year when Jesus died on the cross for us and rose from the dead on Easter Sunday.

Until next term

Therese