Principal's Report 

Welcome to the 2023 School Year 

On behalf of the St John’s Regional College Community, I extend a warm welcome to our new and returning families to the 2023 school year. We hope all families have had a restful break and are ready to take on the exciting challenges of the new school year.  

Our annual theme this year is “KNOWN AND LOVED.”  

As a Catholic School this theme reflects our core purpose to give all our students an opportunity to experience the loving relationship that God offers to all people. To experience Christ's unconditional commitment that in all our doubts and times where we don’t live up to our own expectations that we are known and loved. It is a wonderful message for young people to hear as they make their way in the world and a message that we will remind them of throughout the year. 

Opening School Mass and Welcome Evening 

Over the last few years we have not been able to gather as a community to pray for the success of the school year ahead, so it was wonderful to be able to bring our families together on Thursday evening, particularly those who are new to our community.  I want to thank our celebrant on the night Fr Jude, who was assisted by Deacon Juma, who at short notice, were able to reorganise their commitments to help us celebrate the evening. Our parents have placed enormous trust in St John’s by giving us the opportunity to educate their children.  Our staff look forward to working with our families over the next six years as we impart the important subject knowledge and skills but also the lessons that will develop their children’s integrity and character. 

COVID 

We are confident that the COVID protocols of the last three years are now behind us as we begin Term 1. We still advise, however, that students should not come to school if they are unwell, and we look forward to all the activities that make up a usual school year. 

Opening College Assembly – 7 February. 

Our opening College Assembly was held on Tuesday February 7.  It highlighted the acknowledgement of our High Achievers from the 2022 School Year and the investiture of our 2023 Student Leaders. 

2022 Dux 

Of the 122 Year 12 students in 2022, 19 successfully completed their Victorian Certificate of Applied learning and 103 students were awarded their Victorian Certificate of Education.  I am proud to announce that the Dux of St John’s Regional College for 2022 is Joanna Boak with a score of 96. Joanna is exploring a double degree in Science and Bio Medical Science at Monash University in 2023 . She returned to deliver her address as the Dux of the College at the Opening College Assembly. 

Student Leadership 2023 

On 7 February formally inaugurated the 2023 Student Leaders for St John’s Regional College at the Opening College Assembly. These students were elected on their commitment to all aspects of school life and their ability to be a voice for the 650 students they represent. Our student leaders will work to ensure that the Student Representative Council will become a forum where all students' voices are heard and have an influence on the creation of our school environment. Our senior student leaders set the tone for our school in many ways, and I am looking forward to the contribution they will make in 2023.  

College Captains               Ministry Captains 

Kathy Ann Gugroop            Tameka Haggett 

Gabriel Loos                          Angelo Mijares 

House Captains   

Aquila   Alana Tran and Vaughan Azzopardi Columba Camille Charlot and Soren Adkin Delphinus Caitlin Cross and Anmol Singh  

Leonis Megan Choppy and Tristan Longmuir Monoceros Annabelle Hatton and Dunil  Perera

Phoenix Hannah Fagan and Shanakkian Karan

Staffing 

As we begin the school year, I welcome the following new staff to St John’s Regional College: 

• Ms Kamila Bielinski – Deputy Principal Learning & Teaching  
• Mr Gia Dien Trinh - Maths / Science  - Aquila House  
• Miss Hava Klajn – English/Humanities – Aquila House 
• Ms Emily Dias  - English ( P/T) – Monoceros House 
• Ms Annaliese Leon – English – Delphinus House 
• Miss Gemma Reynolds – Maths – Phoenix House 
• Miss Alice Liu – PE  - Leonis House 
• Mr Sinan Pamut – Physics  - Aquila House 
• Mr Russell Bryant – PE /Science – Delphinus House 
• Ms Subi Kuruppu – Biology /Sci  - Delphinus House 
• Ms Shiny Pereira – Maths/Sci ( Commencing March) – Leonis House 
• Miss Emily Li  - Maths/Sci – Delphinus House 
• Mr Richard Hollowed – Maintenance 
• Mr Bruce Topham – Careers/ Vet 

They come with a variety of different experiences and skills and we look forward to the contribution they will make to student learning and wellbeing in the coming years.  

I also advise that Ms Sheila Malia will not be returning to St John’s in her Tutoring role in 2023 and I thank her for her involvement in this program over the last two years. The following staff members will be participating in the Government funded tutoring program this year: 

• Ms Annalise Leon (Literacy) 
• Ms Ollie Armstrong (Numeracy) 

Enrolments 2023, 2024 and 2025 

Our Open Morning for prospective students and their families take place every Thursday at 9.15 a.m. Parents will have the opportunity to learn about our History, Curriculum programs and future plans for St John’s in a one hour session that incorporates a tour through our facilities. Enrolments for 2023, 2024 and 2025 are invited and parents can book a place for this tour by contacting our College reception on (03) 8793 2000 or through Try Booking via the Enrolment Tab on our school website https://www.sjrc.vic.edu.au

After School Tutoring Program 

St John’s will continue to offer the after school-tutoring program in 2023 for all year levels. There is no fee for the tutoring program which runs each Monday, Tuesday and Thursday in the Contemporary Learning Centre from 3.30 - 5 p.m. The program will commence on Monday 13 February. Any students requiring extra assistance in completing homework tasks or developing their literacy and numeracy skills are encouraged to come along to the CLC. Our experienced tutors, who all hold Working with Children registration, are ex-students of St John’s currently undertaking further studies at University. 

The Eagle  

This week the 2022 edition of the St John’s Regional College school magazine “The Eagle" was distributed to staff and students. My thanks to Mr Aaron Bailey and Mr John Rhynehart for their creative and editorial abilities to capture comprehensively the life of our school in print. Schools are wonderfully chaotic and creative places of learning and I think you will agree that this year's edition of The Eagle has captured the essence, ethos and nature of our school community for the 2022 school year. 

Congratulations  

I congratulate our College Captain Gabriel Loos who, over the summer holidays, represented Victoria in the National Futsal Competition. Gabriel’s team made the finals where they were eventual runners up which is a wonderful achievement for Gabriel. I also commend Mr Boswell who has been running and coaching our school based futsal team for a number of years and who provided the initial training and opportunity for Gabriel. Our 2023 students should look out for the opportunity to be involved in the SJRC Futsal team later in the year.