Principal's News

Dear Families,

Labora et Ora - We work and Pray.

Thank you to all the families who attended our 175th Anniversary celebrations on Sunday with Archbishop Peter Comensoli. It was a wonderful occasion and a meaningful way to come together as a community to mark this significant milestone in our school’s history.

Our students represented the school beautifully, singing our school song Labora et Ora with pride and reverence. Their enthusiasm was evident throughout the celebration, and they should be very proud of the way they conducted themselves.

We extend our sincere thanks to the staff who worked behind the scenes to prepare the students and organise the event, as well as to our parish community for their ongoing support. It was a joyful and memorable celebration that truly reflected the spirit and traditions of our school.

Congratulations to two of our staff- Mrs Connie Bandiera and Mrs Marguerite Ryan for being acknowledged with the Living Legend Award in recognition of their dedication and service. Their ongoing commitment to sharing the Church’s mission, and the vital role they play in maintaining a strong and meaningful connection between the parish and our school, is deeply valued. We are truly grateful for the time, care, and faith they continue to bring to our community.

175 years Anniversary Gala Dinner Dance

The celebration will take place on Friday, 29 May 2026 from 7:00pm – 10:30pm in the Great Hall at The Centre Ivanhoe (275 Upper Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe). This special evening will be a wonderful opportunity for parishioners, school families and friends of the parish to gather together, celebrate our shared history and give thanks for the vibrant faith community that has grown over the past 175 years.

Guests will enjoy a three-course meal with drinks. The dress code is Gala Dinner attire, making it a festive and elegant evening for all who attend.

Tickets are $150 per person and bookings can be made via TryBooking.

Wendy Hernandez, one of our parents, has kindly offered to help organise school tables. Please see the office for more details or phone her on 0423 153 310.

AUCTION ITEMS WANTED for Dinner Dance

 We would appreciate any auction items you would like to donate with all funds raised going towards our church restoration fund.

We will have a few major items that will be Auctioned and other items will be listed for silent auction (written bidding on a list) on the night. We have Fr Geo donating dinner for four - a homecooked meal by him in the new parish kitchen! Perhaps you have a holiday house and you can giveus a weekend at your holiday house to auction.

Auction items must be new and of good value e.g. - a signed footy jumper or signed memorabilia that is valuable, vouchers for services or goods, new boxed wine glasses, wine, spirits, luxury goods, pamper packages, golf voucher, movie tickets, designer apparel etc.

Please drop your auction item/donation at the parish house or ring Wendy (school parent) 0423 153 310. We can also arrange pick up if required.

Mother’s and Special Person’s Day Yoga and Breakfast

Tomorrow, we will be hosting our Mother’s and Special Person’s Day Yoga and Breakfast in the hall. Thank you to everyone who has purchased a ticket. Ticket sales have now closed, to ensure we could organise catering in time.  

Our yoga and mindfulness session begins at 7:30am. Please remember to bring a mat or towel. 

Breakfast will be from 8am-8:35 in the hall. 

Thank you to all who are helping with the set up and serving tomorrow. We hope all the mums and other special people enjoy your morning!

These things don't just happen without help. Thank you to PIC for again putting on a wonderful event for our community.

If you would like to join the PIC team our next meeting is on 20 May at 6:30pm.

A huge thank you to the volunteers at our Mother's /Special person stall.

St John’s Cross Country - Heidelberg Park

The sun was shining and the runners were ready—our Year 3–6 Cross Country was a fantastic day for all involved. The energy, enthusiasm, and sportsmanship on display made it an enjoyable event.

Our student sport leaders did a wonderful job leading their house teams through warm-ups and enthusiastically cheering on their fellow team members throughout the day. Their leadership and encouragement helped create a positive and inclusive atmosphere for everyone.

Congratulations to all our runners for their effort, determination, and resilience. It was wonderful to see so many students challenging themselves, supporting one another, and showing great pride in representing their house teams.

Those students who are selected from this event to compete in the IDSSA District Cross Country will be required to attend on Friday 15 May. Families will need to make their own arrangements to transport their child to and from this event

House Athletics Day 

Thank you to everyone who helped make our House Athletics Day such an enjoyable and successful event. From Mr Friggi, the Marcellin students, Chris, our local nurse, and all our staff—your support, organisation, and enthusiasm were greatly appreciated.

Congratulations to our Year 6 leaders, especially the House Captains on their leadership and enthusiasm throughout the day. You represented your houses with pride and supported your peers brilliantly—well done!

Three Way conversations - Term 2 

As part of our reporting procedures the Three-Way Conversations will be held on 23 and 24 June (Week 10). Please note that school will finish at 1:00pm on Tuesday 23 June to allow teachers to meet with individual students and families.

Classes  Prep M,1D and 2C will hold their Three-Way Conversations  on Tuesday 9 June as their teachers will be away during the scheduled Week 10 times. Booking details will be provided closer to the date.

Following feedback from parents last year, many families expressed a preference for the opportunity to speak with teachers about their child’s progress, with the option of not having their child present. In response, we will again prepare students to share a piece of their learning with you. However, if you choose to attend an adult-only meeting, your child will bring their work home to discuss with you afterwards.

Canberra Camp - 12-14 May

We wish all our Year 5 and Year 6 students all the best for their Canberra camp next week. We hope they have a wonderful time exploring, learning and building great memories together.  I am looking forward to attending camp next week. Elizabeth Whiting will be available to assist with any questions or concerns during this time.

Please note that the accommodation has changed due to the original venue being unable to accommodate our group numbers during meal times. Unfortunately, our camp schedule does not allow for multiple meal sittings.

All dietary requirements have been provided to the new accommodation venue to ensure students’ needs continue to be supported throughout camp.

A reminder that all medication needs to be dropped off on Monday in a clearly labelled zip-locked bag, with medication in its original packaging.

School Performance - 13/14 August - important information

We’re excited to let you know that auditions for our upcoming school performance will begin in the next couple of weeks. 

This is always a special time for our students to explore their creativity and build confidence, and we encourage everyone who is interested to get involved. To help make the experience as positive and successful as possible for all students, we kindly ask families to consider any planned travel. 

If your child will be away on a family holiday between Week 6 of Term 2 and Week 5 of Term 3, they won’t be able to audition for a main role. As you would understand, lead roles require consistent attendance at rehearsals during this time, as students work closely together to learn lines, develop scenes, and build the performance as a team. Missing these key rehearsals can be challenging for both the individual student and the group. 

We completely understand that family time is important, and there will still be opportunities for students to be involved in other ways. Thank you for your support and understanding as we work together to create a rewarding experience for everyone.

 House Athletics Day Feedback - SAC

Feedback  about how we do things at St John's is always welcome. We would love some feedback on our House Athletics day. Did your children enjoy it? Were you able to help out and be part of it? How can we improve it?

Please  provide feedback to myself - principal@sjheidelberg.catholic.edu.au or email a SAC member.

Prep - Leon Stavrou - prepsac@sjheidelberg.catholic.edu.au

Junior - Aidan Depetro - year12sac@sjheidelberg.catholic.edu.au

Middle - Mel Mahady - year34sac@sjheidelberg.catholic.edu.au

Senior - Mary Molloy - year56sac@sjheidelberg.catholic.edu.au

Additional Parish School members - parishrepsac@sjheidelberg.catholic.edu.au

Laurette Kairouz, Wendy Hernandez

Our next SAC meeting is on 20 May.

Library closed for the next two weeks

Due to renovations happening, our Library will be closed for the next couple of weeks to ensure the safety of all.

Have a wonderful week ahead. We would also like to wish all the mums, aunties, grandmothers, and special women in our community a very happy Mother’s Day on Sunday. Thank you for the love, care, and support you show to our children and families each and every day.

Alison