Principal's Report

Dear St John's Community,

Last week our grades 3 and 5 parents received the NAPLAN results for those students who participated in Term 1. There is a lot of media hype around NAPLAN and today, I'd like to address its role in monitoring your child's academic development.

NAPLAN is simply one tool that allows us to evaluate your child's educational progress in key learning areas. Its primary purpose is to provide insights into their academic skills and abilities, helping us identify areas where they excel and areas that may require additional support and attention. The assessment plays a role in our efforts to tailor our teaching methods and curricula to better meet your child's individual learning needs.

However, It is essential to clarify that NAPLAN is not intended to measure a student's worth or value as a person. At St John's, our educational philosophy centres on a more holistic approach to education – one that is focused on the development of the ‘whole person’, and will help your child succeed and be happy and confident in the world, no matter what path their future may follow.  We celebrate each student's unique qualities and encourage their personal growth across many aspects of life.

I firmly believe that a balanced education is one that not only nurtures academic prowess but also promotes essential life skills, character development, and emotional intelligence. 

NAPLAN provides valuable data on academic performance but it is important for parents to realise it is only one piece of the puzzle in understanding your child's holistic development.

What is important is that we always encourage our children to do their best while maintaining a positive and growth-oriented mindset. And remind them that we, as teachers and parents, are here to support and guide them on their early life journey.

Our beautiful preps celebrate their 100 days of school today. I don't think it was exactly 100 but who's counting? Oh, wait...they should be counting! Well, maybe a few days over but it was all fun and games nonetheless! 

Oddly, Ms Hoysted, Mrs Funtusoff and Mrs Jackson all aged dramatically for the day, as did many of the preps! But they were still sprightly around the school! They have all grown so much! The preps I mean! Congratulations!

Trivia Night

See you all tomorrow night! Just a reminder to bring along your $2 coins to play the games! 

Congratulations to the Grade 3/4s involved in the Hoop Time Challenge last week at Frankston Basketball Stadium. They represented the school admirably and had a great time doing it as well. Thanks to Mr O and Mr Caine for organising the day and to Mrs Cotta and the parents who helped out or supported the kids on the day.

Today was the National Tree Planting Day for schools. To celebrate the council donated a wide variety of native plants and shrubs and trees which Mr LeFebvre and a number of students planted around the school.

We also had a surprise donation from the Federal Member for Dunkley, Ms Peta Murphy MP. Her office dropped in an Acacia melanoxylon (Blackwood) tree similar to the St John's Tree outside the main office.

We have already chosen a location for this and will be planting it as soon as the area is ready.

Here are our School Captains, Georgia and Denzel after accepting the tree on the school's behalf.

Ms Patton has outlined this on the Faith, Community & Culture page but I wanted to give it a spruik as well.

Next Friday morning (4th August - 8.15am) we are inviting our school community to walk with us from Frank Street Reserve/Peninsula Reserve to St John's. This is in recognition of Aboriginal Children's Day. We hope to raise awareness and funds for the 'Opening the Door Foundation' which supports Aboriginal students gain access to what they need for a great education.

Prayer of Acceptance

Dear God,

Who is my neighbour?

Any person of any colour is your neighbour.

Who is my neighbour?

Any person from any country is your neighbour

Who is my neighbour?

Any person from any culture is your neighbour. 

Who is my neighbour?

Every person no matter what language they speak. 

Who is my neighbour?

Every person no matter their gender. 

Who is my neighbour?

Every person, every person is your neighbour. 

Amen

J: Mrs Funtusoff suddenly went into labour and started shouting 'shouldn't, wouldn't, couldn't, didn't."    The doctor said to her "It's okay, they're just contractions!"

Q. Where are average things made?

A. In the satis-factory.

Q. What sits on the bottom of the ocean and twitches?

A. A nervous wreck!

That's it from me this week, stay safe and enjoy the warmer weather as it starts to roll in!

Kind regards,

Derek Bruitzman

Principal

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