Principal's Report
Prayers for our Sri Lankan
Brothers & Sisters
The Easter Sunday Terror attacks in Sri Lanka have affected communities around the world. At St John’s, many members of our community have family or friends who have been caught up in the senseless and brutal attacks on Catholic Churches and Hotels around the country leaving over 300 dead and 500 injured. Our Lasallian Brothers in Sri Lanka are in charge of several schools and communities whose members are coming to terms with this senseless tragedy. We pray for them all in the hope and belief that God does not abandon us in our time of need. In the coming months we will assist both physically and spiritually in any ways we can to support these communities as they rebuild their shattered lives. I have attached an invitation to “Pray for Sri Lanka” from Fr Gerald Loos of St Aidan’s Anglican Church in Nobel Park whose son, Gabriel, attends St John’s. All members of our community are welcome to attend.
We Pray
For the victims of the violent attacks in Colombo, Sri Lanka. For those who lost their lives, may they find eternal peace in the arms of our heavenly Father. For those injured, those who lost their loved ones, or lost their sense of security, may they draw strength and peace from their faith in the Risen Lord as they work to rebuild their lives. Help them to remain faithful, knowing that nothing can separate them from your love. For our world, that people and nations may work toward achieving lasting peace and harmony, and healing divisions caused by religious or ideological beliefs and political differences.
Amen
APLEC Conference
Over the school Holidays staff and students from St John’s Regional College participated in the Asia Pacific Lasallian Educators Conference (APLEC) and the Lasallian Youth Gathering (LYG) held conjointly in Melbourne with over 400 representatives from Asia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia. It was an inspiring conference led by keynote speakers celebrating the breadth of Lasallian Mission work across the Asia Pacific Region. I congratulate our staff members Mr Dion Spoljar and Ms Helen Kelly for their facilitation of a school leadership workshop centred on the role of coaching in leadership. I also thank Mr David Fong and Ms Harmony Miller for their support of our students attending the Lasallian Youth Gathering.
Enrolments
2019, 2020 & 2021
Our first Open Morning of Term 2 for prospective students and their families will take place on Thursday 16th May at 9.15 am. All families are welcome.
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.
You may make a booking for the Open Morning 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).
Please contact our school Registrar Ms Symone Goodwin
P: (03) 9791 3366 E: sgoodwin@sjrc.vic.edu.au for enrolment enquiries.
Staffing
Welcome to staff members Ms Dominika Kapustka, replacing Mr Paul Colvin on Long service leave for term 2 and Mr Daniel Bellis replacing Ms Trish Dounias on Maternity Leave. I also welcome back staff members Ms Bethany Millership returning from maternity leave, Ms Heather Fennel from sick leave and Ms Janine Bingham from Long Service Leave.
We also send our prayers and best wishes for a speedy recovery to staff member Ms Margot James who broke her arm over the school holidays and will return in two weeks’ time.
Venerable Nano Nagle
Memorial Day 26th of April
Today we celebrate the memorial of the founder of the Presentation Order the Venerable Nano Nagle. She continues to be an inspiration in our community and to women and men, young and old throughout the world for her life of service inspired by Jesus Christ. This poem dedicated to the life of Nano Nagle provides challenge and hope to us as a community of faith in troubled times.
ONE PACE BEYOND
Take down your lantern from its niche and go out!
You may not rest in firelight certainties,
Secure from drifting of doubt and fear.
You may not build yourself confining walls
And say: “Thus far, and thus, and thus far shall I walk,
And these things shall I do, and nothing more.”
Go out! For need calls loudly in the winding lanes
And you must seek Christ there.
Your pilgrim heart
Shall urge you still one pace beyond,
And love shall be your lantern flame
M. Raphael Consedine, PBVM
Anzac Day
On Wednesday of this week, our school community stopped on the eve of April 25th to pay our respects and remember all those Australians who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. April 25th historically recognises the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915 where the spirit of the ANZAC was born with its emphasis on the human values of courage, sacrifice and service. Each year ANZAC day grows in significance and meaning for the Australian community in terms of the values at the heart of our society but also as a reminder of the price we have paid for peace.
St. John's Future Directions
School Review
All schools in the Catholic Education System take part in a formal school review every four years. This important review process reflects on the progress that has been made against the current 4-Year strategic plan (2015-2018) and then discerns priorities for and the development of the next 4-year strategic plan (2020-2023). Our strategic plan focuses on the key areas of: Education in Faith, Learning and Teaching, Student Wellbeing, Leadership and Management and School Community.
To develop a Strategic Plan that reflects all members of our community it is important to have input from all key stakeholders including staff, students, parents and our Parish Priests. On May 6th and May 8th at 2.30pm we extend the invitation for our parents to be involved in discussion groups as part of the school review process. If you would like to be involved in these school review discussion groups, which are 40 minutes in duration, please contact Ms Symone Goodwin
P: (03) 9791 3366 E: sgoodwin@sjrc.vic.edu.au. All are welcome.
De La Salle Administration
I thank you for your patience as we await the opening of the new administration facility. The final touches are being added this week and we anticipate that we will have the certificate of Occupancy early next week. This being the case the new administration will be open for business on Monday the 6th May.
Bereavement
We pray for members of our community who lost loved ones over the school holiday period including staff member Aaron Bailey who is mourning the loss of his father and student Godfrey Anthony whose mother sadly passed away on 15th April.
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.