St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully Newsletter

It has been terrific to see our students and families return to SJB for the 2025 school year.  We thank all families for booking Learning Interview times for our students.  The opportunity to have a 30 minute learning interview allows staff and students to get to know each other on a personal level, as well as gaining an insight into where students will commence the year as learners.

It has been wonderful to see students return to school with smiles on their faces looking forward to their year ahead.  Our students are to be congratulated for the manner in which they have commenced their school year. The students have started the school year with a sense of excitement, anticipation and calm.  All of which sets the scene for a productive and most enjoyable year for all.

It has been great to see staff and students getting to know each other and building positive relationships throughout their first week. We look forward to strengthening these relationships at the upcoming Meet and Greet sessions.

Welcome to the 2025 school year. A wonderful year awaits.

Congratulations to our 31 Preps who commenced on Wednesday.  You were outstanding!!  Starting school is a big step. It was terrific to see our Preps in their uniforms and meeting their teachers and classmates on their first day for 2025. Congratulations to our mums and dads too on continuing to smile as you dropped your precious babies off on their first day of school! Starting school is a big step for all family members!! We wish you all the best for a wonderful start to school at St John’s and look forward to seeing our Preps grow, flourish and shine throughout their seven years at SJB.

Prep rest days: A friendly reminder that the following Wednesdays are ‘Rest Days’ for our Preps. Wednesday 5th February, Wednesday 12th February, Wednesday 19th February and Wednesday 26th February.

Our Preps will commence full time at school from Monday 3rd March.

Support for families experiencing financial hardship is available via the School Fees Concessional Program.

 It is available to families that meet one of the following criteria:-

 ·        Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage

·        Holders of a Department of Human Services Health Care Card

·        Holders of a Department of Veterans Affairs Gold Card

·        Holders of a Department of Home Affairs Proof of Identity Card (ImmiCard)

·        Refugees, where the child has attended a school within Australia for less than five years

·        Experiencing genuine financial hardship

 If you believe you are eligible, please complete the form below or call into the office to obtain a copy.

 Please return the completed form to the school office ASAP.

We look forward to welcoming our community to the annual Twilight on the Green event on the school oval on Friday 7th February commencing from 5:30pm.  Bring along your picnic blankets, chairs, nibbles, dinner and spend a fun evening with our SJB community.  This is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect as a community, as well as, welcome our new families to SJB.

On the night Kelly Sports will be leading a range of activities for students between 6 - 7pm on the oval, a coffee van for parents who may like to purchase a hot drink and icy-poles for the students.

This year we will be operating a cashless system for families to pay via Flexischools.  Families are asked to purchase their $15 family ticket through Flexischools. Families will then have their attendance marked on arrival on the evening by our P & F team. Flexischool payments will be open until 12pm on Friday 7th February.

Families may park in the parking bays on Selman Ave and surrounding streets on the evening.

The evening commences at 5:30pm and concludes at 8:30pm.  This is a family and community event that is strictly alcohol free.

In 2024 the Year 5 students of St John the Baptist were provided with the opportunity to apply for leadership positions.  We congratulate all students who applied for a leadership role as applying for such a position is a significant step that takes great courage. 

We invite families to join us on Friday 7th February at 2:30pm for our Year 6 Leadership Assembly. 

The Year 6 students will be presented with their Year 6 jackets and badges on Friday afternoon.

Swimming squad training is scheduled to commence Wednesday 5th February at St Joseph’s Secondary College.  The dates for swimming squad are Wednesday 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th February from 7:45am - 8:30am. Additional dates may become available should student engagement remain high. Further information about swimming squad will be communicated by our PE teacher Mr John Mitchell in the coming days.

The St John’s teacher Meet and Greet will be held on Tuesday 11th February between 3:30-6:00 and Wednesday 12th February between 3:30-5.30pm.  This is an opportunity for parents to meet with their child’s teacher to share insights into their child and commence our home/school partnership for the year. Each student will bring home a discussion starter sheet for families to complete together and return to school prior to the Meet and Greet session. This will provide teachers with an insight into your child prior to the meeting.  We ask families to please return the Meet & Greet proforma by Thursday 6th February to provide teachers with time to read the forms.

Parents can book their Meet and Greet via School Interviews Link or scan the QR code below.

A warm welcome to the team at Beyond EduCare Out of Hours School Care.  We are most fortunate to have Beyond EduCare commence with us at SJB in 2025. 

To get started in registering your child - Click here

Uniform purchasing can be made at Beleza uniforms in Boronia or through the SJB Second Hand Uniform shop.  Families may inquire at the office in regard to second hand uniform purchases. 

The SJB Second Hand Uniform shop will operate on Wednesdays from 2:45-3:15pm commencing Wednesday 5th February.  The second hand uniform shop will provide the opportunity for families to purchase school uniform items that are in good condition.

It was terrific to see such a great attendance of families at Friday’s morning cuppa. It was wonderful to see families coming together to reconnect after the holiday period and to see new families being welcomed to our St John the Baptist community.  It is always lovely to be able to gather, catch up and share holiday adventures as we return for another year.

A big thank you to our Parents and Friends Committee and Mrs Tracey Walker for extending a warm welcome and preparing the morning cuppa.  

Wishing all our students and families a wonderful week.

Kelli Johnston

February

3rd - P & F Meeting - SJB Staffroom at 7pm

5th - Swimming Squad St Joseph’s Secondary College 7:45am - 8:30am (Year 3-6)

5th - Prep Rest Day - 1 to 1 Learning Interviews

7th - School Assembly Year 6 Leadership presentation - School Hall 2:30pm

7th - Twilight on the Green - 5:30 - 8:30pm

11th - Meet & Greet Meetings - 3:30 - 6:00pm

12th - Prep Rest Day - 1 to 1 Learning Interviews

12th - Meet and Greet - 3:30-5:30pm

12th - Swimming Squad St Joseph’s Secondary College 7:45am - 8:30am (Year 3-6)

13th - Beginning of School Year Mass - 9:15am

17th - Year 5/6 Camp to Campaspe Downs

19th - Year 5/6 Camp returns from Campaspe Downs

19th - Prep Rest Day

19th - Swimming Squad St Joseph’s Secondary College 7:45am - 8:30am

20th - First Reconciliation Family Evening 7:00pm

22nd - First Reconciliation Commitment Mass

23rd - First Reconciliation Commitment Mass

26th - Prep Rest Day

26th - Swimming Squad St Joseph’s Secondary College 7:45am - 8:30am

28th - District Swimming

March

3rd - Halogen Leadership Day - School Captains

4th - Shrove Tuesday

5th - 9 :15am Ash Wednesday Mass - Lent Begins

6th - Open Day No. 1

7th - School Closure Day

10th - Labour Day - School Closed

12th - Open Day No. 2

12th - Tuck shop commences for 2025

12th - NAPLAN commences

15th - Working Bee 1.30-4.00pm - Amended Date

17th - Division Swimming

17th - P & F Meeting -  SJB Staffroom at 7pm

21st - Regional Swimming

21st - St Patrick’s Day  Schools Mass

Thank you to everyone who supported the 2nd Hand Uniform last year, whether by donating items or purchasing.The 2nd Hand Uniform Shop will be open on Wednesdays this year 2:45pm - 3:15pm, starting from 5th February. For new families: the 2nd Hand Uniform Shop is located in the library.

Canteen orders can be placed via http://www.flexischools.com.au

Orders must be placed no later than 7.30am on the Wednesday or Friday.