Principal's Report

Welcome to the 2019 School Year

I extend a warm welcome to all of our families and students as we begin the school year particularly the new families to the St John's Regional College Community. 

This year we celebrate the 300th anniversary since the death of our Patron, Saint John Baptiste De la Salle on 7 April 1719. De La Salle dedicated much of his life to the education of poor children in France where he started the first Catholic schools. He was recognised as a Saint of the Church in 1900 and Pope Pius XII proclaimed him the Patron Saint of Teachers on 15 May 1950. 

This year under the theme of One Heart, One Commitment, One Life, we will draw on the inspiration of the person and life of St John Baptiste De La Salle as we strive to carry on his work with the young people in our community. 

To begin this important year of celebration I invite all of our families to join our Welcome Mass on 7 February at 6.45pm, for a 7pm start in the Br Leo Scollen stadium. All families are expected to attend in particular our new Year 7 students and their families who will be acknowledged in the opening Eucharist. 

At the conclusion of the Eucharist, a short introduction session will be held in the De La Salle Building so that each student and family can meet his or her respective House Leader and Learning Mentor. 

2018 Dux of St John’s Regional College

Of our 141 Year 12 students in 2018, 30 successfully completed their Victorian Certificate of Applied learning and 111 students were awarded their Victorian Certificate of Education. Our Dux of the College was Jennifer Yang with an ATAR score of 95.75.  Jennifer will be commencing a Double Degree in Laws (Honours)/Arts (Honours) at Monash University. I  would like to congratulate Jennifer on her wonderful achievement and the superb role model she has been for our students. Jennifer will return to address our students at the Opening College Assembly on 12 February.  

More than 20% of our Year 12 students received an ATAR of 80 or more and 7 students received an ATAR of 90 plus. I congratulate them all on the consistent effort and commitment that they applied throughout the year. 

At our senior assemblies during the week, we have again set explicit academic goals for our year 12 students to work towards during the year. This includes a median study score of 30 and a target that more than 5% of our Year 12 students will achieve a score above 40. Research says that when we set goals, we provide not only a long term vision for where we want to go but also the short term motivation to get things moving in the right direction. The result being that we are more likely to achieve our dreams and aspirations whatever they may be. 

Our VCE teachers will work closely with our Year 12 students throughout the year and provide them with regular feedback.  This will give them the understanding of where they are placed in terms of their academic progress and the next steps they should take to move forward. All we ask from our students is that they place their education as their number 1 priority this year. Also, we ask parents to join with us in providing our students both the support and challenge required for our students to be there best. 

Master Plan Stage 1 for 2019

The refurbishment of our new Administration continues at a good pace and we anticipate that this project will be completed by the end of term.

Works have also commenced over the summer break on our Community garden by our Maintenance team with a likely completion date of mid-term two. The Sports Precinct redevelopment is expected to go out to tender by the end of February and we expect construction to begin at the end of term 1 and completed by the end of the year.

It will be a busy year with building works at St John's but these efforts will provide some first class facilities and curriculum programs for our students in the near future.

Staffing

As we begin the school year I inform you of the staff who are on leave and welcome to St John’s the staff who will be replacing them.

On Leave                                                                       Replaced by :

Mr Clive Moore (Term 1 and 2)                             Mr John Sinclair

Ms Janine Bingham (Term 1 )                               Ms Padma Thalathoti

Ms Tamara Hughes (Term 1 and 2 )                   Mr Shaun McInnes

Ms Bethany Millership (Term 1)                           Miss Catherine Bortolus

Ms Sheila Mallia (Term 1)                                       Mr Patrick O’Connell

Miss Regine Cuceco will be taking up further study this year and I welcome Mr Zane Fernandes who will replace her in her Maths role this year. Ms Borg will be absent for the first two weeks of term as she recovers from a broken collarbone and Ms Aldis will also be absent for the first week as she cares for husband after a recent operation.

We also keep in our thoughts and prayers Mrs Anne Smith as she takes leave to care for her son Mitch as he continues his battle with cancer.

Opening School Assembly – Student Leadership 2019

On the 12 February, we will have the opportunity to formally inaugurate the 2019 Student Leaders for St John ’s at the Opening College Assembly. These students were elected on their commitment to all aspects of school life alongside their love and passion for our College. I have every confidence that they will maintain the high standards we have for Student Leadership at St John’s and continue to provide a strong voice for their fellow students in 2019.

All parents are welcome to attend our Opening College Assembly, which will take place on Tuesday 12 February at 9.30am in the Br Leo Scollen Stadium.

College Captains                                                      

Dylan Morris                                                              

Svetlana Brillantes                                                 

Vice Captains                   

Mikko Manuel

Ishmeet Singh

House Captains and Portfolio Captains 2019

Aquila                                    Shania Donovan and

                                                  Tiamara Aledo                                      

Columba                              Michael Almeida and Lucy Doherty               

Delphinus                            Stephanie Mandalis and

                                                  Miguel Cuevas                                

Leonis                                   Alek Garang and Gianmarco Hernandez       

Monoceros                          Stefanie Pentogenis and Kassandra Verma

Phoenix                                Monica Opiew  and Tahlia Vella

Ministry                                Dilania Benevides                                                    

Communication               Carl-Elizandro Cruz and Anna Ly                    

Creativity                            Neve Biggin and Ace Mehegan                       

Environment                     May Gray and Caitlyn Morros 

Innovation                         Ayush Singh and Vivian Dao

Sport                                     Brandon Denis  and Pearlin Augustin

Enrolments 2019, 2020 and 2021

Our first Open Morning for prospective students and their families will take place on Thursday 21 February at 9.15am.

The morning will include:

• A Welcome from the Principal
• A tour led by our Student Middle Year Leaders
• Morning tea provided by our onsite student-run Graduates Restaurant
• Meet and greet with staff, teachers and student leaders.

Bookings for the Open Morning occur via the College website.

Enrolment Forms for 2019, 2020 and 2021 are available either from the College Reception, from all Feeder Primary Schools and the Parish Offices of St Mary’s (Dandenong), St Kevin’s (Hampton Park), Resurrection (Keysborough),  Holy Family (Doveton) and St Paul the Apostle(Endeavour Hills).

Congratulations

Congratulations to Year 12 Student (2018), Kuang Choi Noi who was a recipient of a 2018 Community Spirit and Leadership Award from the City of Dandenong.

MP Julian Hill presented the award to Kuang Choi for his leadership in raising awareness of the challenges that young Sudanese people are facing in the local community. Kuang Choi is looking to take up a TAFE course in plumbing this year and pursue his keen interest in local community issues.

Bereavement

Over the school holidays, sadly a number of former students passed away so we keep them and their families in our prayers.

Veronica Beirouti, née Gislingham from the class of 2007 passed away on the 18 December. Veronica was married to Justin Beirouti also an ex-student from St John’s.

Russell Sugunasekera from the class of 1995 passed away while on holidays in India and we also keep in our prayers former student Manuia “Manny” Uga who passed away in January.

We pray:         

Eternal Rest grant unto them O Lord and may perpetual light shine on them.  May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.  Master of the Universe, hear our prayers, we make them in confidence forever and ever.

Amen

Tutoring Program

St John’s will continue to offer our after school-tutoring program this year for all year levels at no cost. The tutoring program runs each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in the Contemporary Learning Centre from 3.30pm to 5pm.

The program will commence on Tuesday 12 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 are all ex-students of St John’s who are now at University.