Principal's Page
'A Welcoming Community Leading the Future of Learning with Faith and Love'
Principal's Updates
This week, our school community will come together to celebrate two very special occasions, both of which will highlight the importance of family connections and the strong sense of belonging within our school.
On Wednesday, we will be delighted to host our Grandparents and Special Visitors Day. We look forward to welcoming grandparents, relatives and special friends into our classrooms. Students will have the opportunity to share their learning spaces, showcase their work, and engage in classroom activities alongside their visitors. The day will provide a wonderful chance to connect, share experiences, and recognise the important role that extended family and special people play in our students’ lives.
On Friday, we will continue the celebrations with our Mother’s Day Breakfast and Stall. The morning will begin with a warm and welcoming breakfast, offering families the opportunity to spend quality time together before the school day. Following this, our Mother’s Day stall will give students the chance to thoughtfully select gifts for their mothers and special carers. We anticipate that the excitement and care shown by students will make the event truly memorable.
We extend our sincere thanks in advance to all families and visitors who will attend these events, as well as to the staff and volunteers who are helping to organise and run them smoothly. These occasions are a valued part of our school culture, and we greatly appreciate the continued support of our community.
ANZAC Day
On Friday, 24 April we came together to commemorate ANZAC Day with all of the staff and students. It was a lovely ceremony where we raised the flags and held a minute silence, after listening to poems and stories of past wars, and expressing our gratitude for Peace in Australia.
On Saturday, 25 April, our choir and many members of the school community joined the Mitcham RSL at the Dawn Service for ANZAC day. Our choir sang "Here we lie" with great compassion and reverance, and our school leaders laid a wreath on our behalf. We are proud of our students and how respectfully they participated on both occasions.
School Review and Closure Days
This term, our staff will begin the four-year School Improvement Review process. This involves gathering data and evidence across five key spheres within the School Improvement Framework (SIF), which support student growth and continuous improvement.
Using evidence-based indicators, staff will analyse our current practices to identify areas for development, celebrate progress, and set future goals.
To support this work, staff will collaborate across two School Closure days on 18–19 May, facilitated by MACS. Families requiring care on these days are asked to register with Camp Australia. Register your child - https://pp.campaustralia.com.au/
Winter Uniform
All students should now be wearing their Winter Uniform.
They have the option of the tunic and light blue polo, or the pants and navy blue, long sleeved polo. Black shoes and navy blue socks or tights are also to be worn.
Mother's Day Breakfast and Stall
All Mothers and Special Ladies are invited to our St John's Mother's Day Breakfast on Friday 8 May. It will be held in the Coghlan Centre at 7.30am. Children are welcome to attend also. Please register via CDFpay app - $10 per adult, $5 per child or $20 for a Family (Mother and 2+ children). Orders close 8pm Tuesday 5 May.
A wonderful raffle prize will also be drawn at the breakfast, if you would like the chance to win some prizes then please return any sold raffle tickets to the office by Thursday 7 May.
The Mother's Day Stall will also be held during the school day for students on Friday, 8 May. No cash will be accepted on the day and all students will need to have tokens, which may be purchased for $5 on CDFpay app. All gifts will be priced at $5 or $10. We recommend that students have around $10 in tokens and a maximum of $20 in tokens to ensure everyone has an opportunity to pick something special. Orders close 8pm Wednesday 5 May.
Grandparents and Special Visitors Day
All Grandparents and Special Visitors are invited to our school on Wednesday, 6 May at 9am-11am. The day will commence with a special Mass in the Church.
After the Mass we will move to 4 areas across the School in House Colours, to ensure that siblings are together with their Grandparents and Special Visitors.
GOLD TEAM - PREP Rooms
GREEN TEAM - Year 1/2 Classrooms
BLUE TEAM - Year 3/4 Classrooms
RED TEAM - Year 5/6 Classrooms
We hope that every student can invite a Special Visitor to join them on this day. Parents or Aunties and Uncles are very welcome as Special Visitors also.
Scholastic Book Club
The latest issue of the Scholastic Book Club catalogue is out now!
Each order will help earn books and learning materials for our classrooms at St John's.
CLOSING DATE: please place your orders at scholastic.com.au/LOOP by 10 May, 2026.
Unfortunately no cash or late orders can be processed.
For queries: Jessica Kruisheer - 0407 837 924
Thank you for supporting our school!
Term 2 Snack Bar Underway
The students were very excited to have Donuts at the Snack Bar on Friday. Thanks to the Parents Association for organising this for us again this term, we are grateful to have such eager volunteers to ensure these events can continue.
MACS Family Survey
MACS Family Survey, https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MACSFAMILY
The survey takes 10–15 minutes, is anonymous, and completely voluntary.
It would be greatly appreciated if you could complete the survey by Wednesday, 6th May.
Student Challenge
This weeks challenge is to find the answer to this RIDDLE on another page of the newsletter.
I have a sail but no captain or crew. I fly in the sky, and kids love me too. What am I?
Can you find it? When you do, let me know where you spotted it and collect your reward.
Good luck and happy searching!
Joke of the Week
What has hands but can't clap?
A clock
Thank you for your continued support of our school community and I hope to see you this week at one of our special events. Please let me know if there is anything that I can do to further support you and your family.
Verona Gridley
St John's Primary School Principal