ENewsletter

Tuesday October 27th 2026

Letter from the Principal, Kelli Johnston

Dear Families,

This Friday, as we celebrate our teachers, we pray:

God of Love, Thank you for every teacher who notices a child’s special gift. Thank you for teachers who are listeners and gentle guides. Thank you for teachers who expect much and love enough to demand more. Thank you for the special teacher each one of us remembers.

God of Mercy, Sustain teachers who give everything they have. Strengthen teachers who assume the blame for so many problems beyond their control. Help exhausted teachers rest.

God of Strength, Encourage teachers to care and inspire them to nourish. Motivate teachers to keep on learning for the fun of it and to make learning enjoyable for children.

We wonder at teachers who know how to quiet a class of five year olds or help fourth graders be empathetic. We admire teachers who enjoy middle school writers, or teach science, maths or history. Bless the people who are expected to accomplish these miracles and who know how to comfort children when miracles don’t happen.

God of Justice, help and support teachers in their special calling, wherever they teach and whatever obstacles they must face. We pray these things in the name of our great teacher, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Beyond Educare OSHC - Pupil Free Day Programs Monday November 2nd & Monday November 16th

Monday November 2nd at St Simon's Rowville

Monday November 16th at St John the Baptist

School Concert - Thursday 29th October

Throughout this week the students at SJB are participating in daily lessons to create a concert on Thursday evening to share with their families. Our students are enjoying the opportunity to work with the team from Dance Curriculum and their year levels to learn, perform on stage and present for the school community on Thursday evening. Whilst these achievements may seem small for many students this is a significant step. We look forward to celebrating our students and their achievements in the Arts.

Students are required to wear their school sports uniform for the concert

Families can book their tickets for the evening through Flexischools.

We look forward to celebrating our students performing in front of a live audience and embracing a love of dance.

SJB Fun Run Mental Health Awareness Month

We look forward to participating in our SJB Fun Run to Promote Mental Health Awareness this Friday 30th October. We invite our SJB community to join us as we raise awareness of Mental Health and the benefits of being active on our mental health and wellbeing.

Staffing Update

We are excited to announce the appointment of Miss Emily Aiton to the role of Music teacher for the remainder of the 2026 school year. Emily is returning to Melbourne after teaching in Alice Springs for the last 2-3 years. We look forward to welcoming Emily to SJB on Wednesday 5th November

Prep 2027 Important Dates

We look forward to welcoming our 2027 Prep families and students as they start their journey with us at St John the Baptist. The following dates below are important dates for our Preps and their families:

Parent Information Evening - Wednesday October 28th - 7.00pm

School Advisory Council 2027 Expressions of Interest

The School Advisory Council is a group consisting of the Parish Priest, Principal, Deputy Principal and parents from the school community. School Advisory Council tenure is for a period of three years with the opportunity for further extension.

The School Advisory Council provides a forum for discussion and discernment, where parent voice and community perspective are available to inform and support the decisions made by the Principal and Parish Priest as the custodian of mission for the good of school and parish where students’ wellbeing and outcomes are paramount.

The role of the School Advisory Council is to provide assistance and advice on school matters to support the Principal in their leadership role. School Advisory Councils do not have a legal identity and do not become involved in the day-to-day management of the school. The School Advisory Council must act within the parameters of the MACS Terms of Reference.

The following are some examples of the many ways the School Advisory Council may support the school and the Principal:

· articulating and enacting the school’s vision and mission

· promoting the school’s Catholic ethos and culture

· promoting faith formation and development

· supporting school policies as required

· giving advice to the Principal on issues such as school improvement plans and enrolment trends

We are seeking expressions of interest for members of the SJB community to join our highly effective, well considered and valued School Advisory Council for the period of 2027 - 2029. Should you wish to undertake a role as a member of the SJB School Advisory Council for 2029 please email Kelli Johnston. kjohnston@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au

School Term Dates & Closure Days 2027

As part of the new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement due to be finalised in the near future part of the agreement will include additional student free days to acquit time in lieu for the additional duties undertaken by staff throughout the year, professional learning days and professional practice time. Across a school year this will equate to 13 student free days. The additional student free days will be part of both the Independent and Government sector new agreements. At this time the school has 10 of the dates confirmed as these are set by the Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools and we await confirmation for the additional 3 dates that we have proposed as a school.

To assist families with planning for 2027 please see the confirmed 10 student free dates below. We will confirm the final 3 dates once these are available to us.

As a school we recognise the additional demand that this places on families to arrange child minding. As a result the student learning interviews at the start of the year will no longer continue and all students Prep - Year 6 will commence school on Thursday 28th January. Furthermore, the final day of each term will conclude at 3:15pm.

Please see the term dates for 2027 outlined below:

Term 1: Wednesday 27th January - Thursday 25th March

Term 2: Monday 12th April - Friday 25th June

Term 3: Monday 12th July - Friday 17th September

Term 4: Monday 4th October - Friday 17th December

Working with Children Check - Updates and Changes

This October a new online platform titled Working With Children Connect was created to support organisations to meet their obligations when engaging people in child-related work in Victoria.

Schools are now required to enter WWC Connect to check all workers and volunteers when they start and stop engaging in child related work on their site. This allows schools to keep relevant records up to date and receive notifications should WWC clearance status change.

All families are asked to notify the school office when they renew their WWCC to ensure that their details are updated and listed on the WWC connect platform.

Should you have any questions please feel free to contact the office. office@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au

Remembrance Day - November 11 - Poppy Appeal

The RSL's annual Poppy Appeal raises vital funds to support veterans and their families.

Buy a badge and wear it with pride

Poppies can be purchased at the school office now.

Lost Property

These items have been found in the school grounds.

They are waiting patiently for their owners. They can be collected from the school office.

CAN YOU HELP? SNIP & SIP HAPPENING ANY DAY AND TIME

We’re almost there!!! We still have more resources to prepare, therefore our Snip & Sip sessions are continuing in Term 4.

We understand that parents and carers have busy schedules, therefore next term we will continue to have a box of resources ready to go every day. Just come to the Office, and Cynthia and Andi will get you started.

We mainly have lots of laminating still to do, as well as cutting and labelling.

Any time you can give is greatly appreciated!

Alternatively, if you are unavailable to help out onsite and would still like to help out in some way, please feel free to contact Jill Palermo. (jpalermo@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au)

Sacraments 2027

Families wishing for their child to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation in 2027 are asked to make contact with the Parish Office this term if their child has yet to be baptised.

To ensure there is plenty of time for children to be baptised prior to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, families are requested to contact the Parish Office as soon as possible.

Second Hand Uniform Shop

I will be holding a 2nd Hand Uniform stall at a Prep Transition session in November and it would be great to have a big range of items to offer the new Prep parents. It would also be great to re-stock the cupboard in larger sizes too, so if you have any official SJB uniform items in good condition that your children no longer need, they would be gratefully received at the office at a time convenient to you.

Janice

Student Awards - Friday October 23rd

Term 4 Dates

October

28th - Prep 2027 Information Evening

29th - All Saints Day - 9:15am Mass - Whole School with Parish

29th - SJB 2026 School Concert Evening - Concert A - 5:30pm & Concert B - 6:30pm

30th - SJB Fun Run - Mental Health Awareness

30th - World Teachers' Day

November

2nd - School Closure Day

3rd - Melbourne Cup Day - School Closed

4th - Year 3/4 Level Mass @ 9:15am

6th - Gilwell Park Dads and Kids weekend - Friday & Saturday night

9th - Inform & Empower session - Year Prep

10th - Year 3/4 Incursion Mini Boss

11th - Remembrance Day (Prayer Service)

12th - Prep Transition # 1- 9:00am - 10:30am

13th - Assembly @ 2:45pm

16th - School Closure Day

19th - Prep Transition # 2 - 9:00am - 10:30am

24th - SAC & P&F Thanksgiving evening

26th - Prep Transition #3 - 9:00am - 10:30am

26th - Carley McGauran Psychologist presentation Prep 2027 families 9:00am-10:30am

27th - PSGs

27th - Assembly @ 2:45pm

29th - First Sunday of Advent - Hope

30th - PSGs

December

1st - Online Music School - Concert Performance @ 6:30pm

3rd - SJB Carols

4th - PSGs

6th - Second Sunday of Advent - Peace

8th - Year 3 - 6 Life Ed. Human Development Sessions

8th - Reports live to families

10th - Year 6 Graduation @ 6pm

13th - Third Sunday of Advent - Joy

14th - Year 6 Fun Day

15th - End of year Thanksgiving Mass @ 9:15am

15th - Final Day 2026 School Year - school concludes @ 3:15pm

20th - Fourth Sunday of Advent - Love

25th - Nativity of the Lord - Christmas Day

Tuckshop News

Open Wednesdays & Fridays

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

Canteen Roster - Term 4

Friday October 30th

Katrina Horne

Mel Price

Friday November 6th

Jess Carmichael

Amy Chan

Reeda Raydan

Friday November 13th