Principal's Report

International Women's Day

International Women’s Day is a United Nations led celebration, which takes place on 8 March each year. The theme for International Women’s Day 2018 is “Leave no woman behind”, in recognition of the vital role women play in humanitarian and disaster planning and response.

In many ways, this was the motto for our Patron the Venerable Nano Nagle whose birth 300 years ago we celebrate this year. Despite the enormous obstacles she faced in working with the poor and uneducated women of Ireland, she gave herself totally to God trusting that this was God’s work. On this International Women’s Day and inspired by the Venerable Nano Nagle we pray :

Loving God, we celebrate your faithfulness and love. On this day, we commit ourselves to the promotion of the full humanity of all women everywhere. We know that whatever denies, diminishes or distorts the full humanity of women is not God.

Help us to be faithful to your call to love.

Amen

Association of Canonical Administrators and St John's College Advisory Board

As we begin the School Year, I advise our community of the following changes to our Association of Canonical Administrators and to our College Board.

The Association, which is the Governing Authority of St John’s, consists of the Parish Priests of the five member parishes of the Dandenong Region:

St Mary’s Dandenong                               Fr Brendan Lane

Holy Family Doveton                                Fr Michael Shadbolt

St Paul Apostle Endeavour Hills          Fr Kevin Dance

St Kevin’s Hampton Park                        Fr Desmond Moloney

St Anthony’s Noble Park                         Fr Brian Collins

Our College Board, which advises our Canonical Administrators about Policy and Financial Management, includes the following members of our community:   

College Board Members

Chairperson                                                  Ms Kellie Walden

Deputy Chair                                                 Mrs Michelle De Koning

Principal                                                         Mr Tim Hogan

Honorary Financial Adviser                    Mr Andrew Schoemaekers

College Staff Representative                  Mrs Maria Nasioulas

Parent and Friends Representative     Ms Cathy Pascal

Parent Representative                              Mrs Danai Cerra

Parent Representative                              Mr Chris Sikora

SJOC Representative                                Mr Peter Kelly        

Board Executive                                       

Fr Michael Shadbolt, Tim Hogan, Kellie Walden, Ms Michelle De Koning

Finance Committee

Andrew Schoenmaekers (Chair), Tim Hogan, Nic Salvatore, Kellie Walden and John Loizou (Ex-officio)

I welcome new members to the St John’s College Advisory Board, P and F representative Ms Cathy Pascal and ex-student Mr John Loizou as an Ex-offico member of the Finance Committee.

St John's Festival of The Arts

The celebration of the Arts will take place in the second last week of term with a variety of activities highlighting both the Performing and Visual Arts. The week will culminate in a Movie Night shown in the De La Salle Courtyard to which all students and families are welcome. Food can be purchased on the night from the Parents and Friends Association with all proceeds going to Caritas.

I would like to thank Mrs Tania Robinson, Arts and Engagement Leader and the Creativity Captains Rochelle Peters and Oswald D’Silva for their preparation of this wonderful celebration of the Arts at St John’s.

Breakfast Club

Breakfast club is in full swing at St John’s with a number of students now dropping in to the St Paul the Apostle Centre to have something to eat, play table tennis or get some help with homework.

Breakfast club runs Monday to Thursday at  8.15am and all students are welcome. I thank staff members Mrs Julie Millar, Mrs Sandra Griffiths and all the volunteer staff who assist in supervising this activity.

House Aquatics Carnival

Last week our students travelled to Doveton Swimming Pool to conduct our 2018 House Aquatics Carnival. Our students participated with great enthusiasm and a keen competitive spirit in a variety of race and novelty events.

I congratulate Delphinus on taking out the House Swimming Shield, narrowly defeating a fast finishing Aquila House with Monoceros coming in third. I extend my appreciation to our students for their participation and attendance on the day and thank Sports Co-ordinator Mr Alexander, the PE staff and all staff on a very professionally run carnival.

Tim Hogan, Principal