St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully Newsletter

Tuesday July 21st 2026

Letter from the Principal, Kelli Johnston

Dear Families

It was terrific to welcome our students back for Term 3. The students were outstanding in the manner in which they settled back into their routines and school.  It was wonderful to see the students refreshed and ready for another great term of learning. After a big semester the students were certainly ready for a break and opportunity to rejuvenate and recharge. We look forward to a productive term of learning and working together.

This Friday we look forward to welcoming grandparents to the church for our SJB Grandparents assembly. Grandparents play a wonderful role in the lives of our children. It is terrific to extend our welcome to grandparents in our SJB community to celebrate them and their role in our families and community.

We thank Mrs Marialisa Mandarino and Mrs Franca Paduano for their planning and preparation of such a wonderful community event.

Prayer to Saints Anne and Joachim

Holy Saints Anne and Joachim, grandparents of Jesus,

Come close to our grandparents and the elderly

Guide their hands and hearts to pass on to us, the young generations,

The meaning of the gift of life -

And follow your example they continue to teach us the origin of 

LOVE, HOPE & FAITH

Amen

2027 Prep Enrolments

We thank all families for submitting their enrolment forms for the 2027 school year. This is an exciting time for families as we start preparations for welcoming our new preps throughout Semester Two. 

Letters of acceptance have now been emailed to all families who have enrolled their child for the 2027 school year.  We ask families to return their acceptance offers as soon as possible. This will allow us to start forward planning early in Term 3.

Prep 100 Days of School - Monday July 27th

Exciting times as our Preps look forward to celebrating 100 days of school on Monday 27th July.  This is an exciting milestone for our Preps and we look forward to a day of fun and celebration. 

We ask that the children come dressed up on this day.  They may choose to dress up as a 100 year old or alternatively they could create something/a t-shirt that has the number 100 or 100 things on it!

We invite our Prep students to get creative with their outfit for the day! 

Guinane Family Donation - Thank you

A big thank you to the Guinane Family for the most generous donation of a large checkers and chess sets for students to play chess and checkers during their recess times. We are enormously grateful for such a generous donation. Our students will thoroughly enjoy playing chess and checkers at recess times.  Thank you.  

Photography Community Talent

We are seeking expressions of interest from members of our community who have a photography talent and would be willing to take professional photos at our SJB First Eucharist in September. This year’s First Eucharist will be held on Sunday 13th September @ 3pm.

If this is something you would be able to assist with please contact Mrs Marialisa Mandarino.

mmandarino@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au

Teaching our School Expectations

NCCD

Each year, our school participates in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD), a nationwide process that recognises and supports students receiving adjustments for disability. The collection gathers information already held by schools about the supports provided to students, including the category of disability and level of adjustment. This helps schools and governments better understand and plan for the educational needs of students with disability, while also improving learning programs and support practices. The NCCD does not involve any testing of students and has no direct impact on your child. All information provided is de-identified and protected under strict privacy laws. Further information about the NCCD is available on the NCCD Portal, or families can contact the school with any questions. 

NCCD Parent Fact Sheet


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Father's Day seeking Community Talents

We are reaching out to our amazing community for anyone who may be able to share their talents for this year’s Father’s Day Stall. As per our Mother’s Day Stall we are seeking homemade gifts for our Dads for this year’s stall.  The Father’s Day Stall will be held on Tuesday 1st September.

Gift ideas in the past have consisted of beef jerky/coffee gift pack.  Our Mother’s Day gifts included car diffusers, drink bottles, magnets, cookies and more.

We would love to offer an array of homemade gifts made or shared with love for our Dads/special people.

If you are able to contribute a gift please contact the office in person or via email: office@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au 

Cold & Flu Season

As we return to school for Term 3 we commence in the heart of Cold and Flu season.  We ask families to take time to discuss with students how to cover their nose and mouth when sneezing as well as how to wash their hands.  Preventing the spread of winter illnesses benefits all in the community.

A number of families have contacted the office to inform us of student illness. We thank families for ensuring unwell students are able to recover at home and return to school well. We remind families in the event that your child is unwell please keep them at home to rest and recover.

SJB Blackout Boogie - Mums Evening

Some of our wonderful mums have organised a fun evening of dancing on Friday 24th July.

This is a terrific opportunity for our SJB Mums to get together and enjoy an evening of dancing and community.  Please see the flyer below for details.

Payment can be made via Flexischools.

Congratulations Mrs Emily Capsalis


We are very excited to announce that one of our regular casual relief teachers, Mrs Emily Capsalis and her husband Peter are expecting their first child in November. Emily is very much a part of our SJB community and is well known by all students. We look forward to meeting baby Capsalis later this year. 

Congratulations Emily and Peter 

Are you able to help the animals at the RSPCA?


The Barrett family are asking the school community for donations of  spare towels, pillowcases, sheets, blankets or newspapers that you may have lying around that can be donated to the animals at the RSPCA?  Donations can be dropped at the office and the Barrett family will happily pick them up and deliver to Burwood.

Term 3 Winter School Uniform

The students have been outstanding in the manner in which they are wearing the correct school uniform. We ask that students with the support of their families continue to wear the correct winter school uniform at all times. This includes wearing sports uniform only on sports days and wearing the correct socks and school shoes at all times. Whilst we recognise that Year 6 students can start to outgrow uniform items, correct school uniform is a school expectation at all times. Wearing the correct uniform sends a strong message of school pride.

School Handbook

For all correct uniform requirements, please refer to pages 23-24.
Download

Sacraments 2027

Families wishing for their child to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation in 2027 and children have yet to be Baptised are asked to make contact with the Parish Office to arrange their child’s Baptism this year.  The Parish Office can be contacted on 9758 1029.

Year 6 2027 Commemorative Jackets and Polos

Year 5 families are now able to place orders for Year 6 Commemorative Jackets and Polos through Beleza uniforms. To ensure that students receive their items in February, families are required to place their orders by Sunday August 9th.

Use the link below to access the order form (see document attached below for further information), our school code is C87295CB  -

https://direct.beleza.com.au/order

Information for current Year 5 students regarding bomber jackets for next year


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Scholastic Book Club Orders have arrived!

The latest Scholastic book orders have been delivered.  Please advise if you would like to collect your child's order from the office or, alternatively, we can send to their classroom.

The Village Circle

The Village Circle will once again be running in the hall on Friday mornings after student drop off. The Village Circle is an opportunity for parents to come together for a morning cuppa, bring preschool siblings or purely to catch up with parents from across the school. The title of ‘Village Circle’ comes from the notion that it takes a village to raise a child. Coming together as parents on a Friday morning provides an opportunity for our families to connect with each other as a community.

St John's Netball Club - Spring 2026 Registration

Come join in the fun ...

St John's Netball Club - Pie Fundraiser

St John's Netball Club - Pie Fundraiser

Order form
Download

Snip & Sip - Maths Resources

AUSTRALIAN MATHS COMPETITION - TUESDAY 4TH AUGUST 2026 - Register by this Friday July 24th - Don't miss out!

At St John the Baptist, we are excited to offer students the opportunity to participate in the Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) this year. 

First run in 1978, the Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) is Australia’s longest running, largest and most well-known maths competition for school students.

The AMC is open to all Australian students in years 3 to 12.  It contains unique problems designed each year by leading educators and academics to challenge and extend students’ problem-solving skills.

Primary students have 60 minutes to complete 30 problems (predominantly multiple choice questions) covering Maths topics appropriate to their year level, such as:

  • Basic arithmetic

  • Fractions and ratios

  • Algebra and pre-algebra

  • Geometry

  • Measurement

  • Statistics and probability

  • Problem-solving

If you would like to learn more or if you would like to see some sample problems/questions, please visit the AMC website -https://www.amt.edu.au/amc

The competition will run at St John the Baptist on Tuesday 4th August, and is open to all Year 3, 4, 5 & 6 students.

Participation in the competition is optional, and there is a small entry fee to pay.

If your child would like to participate in the 2026 AMC, please send in payment of $10 in a sealed envelope marked clearly with your child’s name and class, by Friday 24th July.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jill Palermo (jpalermo@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au)

We encourage all students with an interest in maths to consider joining in!

Second Hand Uniform Shop

Wishing everyone a fabulous week ahead and return to school for Term 3.

Kelli Johnston

Term 3 Dates

July

22nd - School Advisory Council Meeting @ 7pm

24th - Grandparents Day Assembly @ 2:30pm in the Church

24th - SJB Mums Dancing in the Dark evening

26th - World Grandparents & Elderly Day

27th - Prep 100 Days of School

28th - Level Newsletters distributed

29th - Emmaus College Production Years 4s & 5s

29th - First Eucharist Family Evening @ 7pm

August

1st - First Eucharist Commitment Mass

2nd - First Eucharist Commitment Mass

3rd - P & F Meeting @ 7pm

4th - AMC Maths Competition

5th - Prep 2027 Interviews

6th - Prep - Year 2 Healesville Sanctuary excursion

6th - St Mary of the Cross Mass @ 9:15am

6th - Prep 2027 Interviews

8th - St Mary of the Cross Feast Day

13th - Feast of the Assumption Mass @ 9:15am

14th - Assembly @ 2:45pm

15th - Feast of the Assumption

17th - School Closure Day

19th - Prep Level Mass

26th - Year 1/2 Level Mass @ 9:15am

28th - Assembly @ 2:45pm

31st - First Eucharist Reflection Day

September

1st - Father's Day Stall

2nd - SAC Meeting @ 7pm

4th - Father's Day breakfast

4th - PSGs

6th - Father's Day

7th - Prep - Year 2 Spelling - daily for the week

7th - PSGs

9th - Swimming - full clothing day

10th - R U OK Day - prayer service

10th - Year 3/4 Camp

11th - Year 3/4 Camp returns

Tuckshop News

Open Wednesdays & Fridays

Orders are to be placed via Flexischools - www.flexischools.com.au

Canteen Roster - Term 3

Friday July 24th

Carrie Canton

Melinda Price

Friday July 31st

Anna Kristof

Belinda Davies

Friday August 7th 

Nelson Serrao

Amy Chan


The Entertainment Book is back! Every membership sold, benefits the school

Grasshopper Soccer - Term 3

Enrolment Forms available from the school office

Parish News

Community News

St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully