St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully Newsletter

Tuesday August 12th 2025

Letter from the Principal, Kelli Johnston

Dear Families

On Friday 15th August we will join the SJB community for Mass at 11:00am to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption. This feast commemorates two events - the departure of Mary from this life and the assumption of her body into heaven. The Feast of the Assumption recognises that at the end of her life on earth Mary was assumed, body and soul, into heaven.



Father in heaven, 

all creation rightly gives you praise,

for all life and all holiness come from you.

In the plan of your wisdom

she who bore the Christ in her womb

was raised body and soul in glory to be with him in heaven.

May we follow her example in reflecting your holiness

and join in her hymn of endless love and praise.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Good Luck and Thank you Ms Lynch

At the end of this week we will farewell Ms Melissa Lynch. Melissa moves into the role of Educational Consultant with Be You, Headspace. This is a wonderful opportunity for Melissa as she steps into her new role. Melissa will be a wonderful addition to the team at Be You, Headspace.

We thank Melissa for her time at SJB as both a classroom teacher and Mental Health in Primary School Teacher. Best wishes as you step into your new role. We know you will be wonderful.

Building Program Movement Update

This week our Prep - Year 2 students commenced their week in the new building. We are most excited to be able to provide our students with outstanding learning environments across the school. Classroom doors will continue to open at 8:35am for students to unpack and prepare for their day with class commencing at 8:45am. In the afternoons, we ask families to gather and catch up outside the school buildings for Child Safety purposes. Students will be dismissed from their classrooms at 3:15pm each day.

Throughout the weeks ahead we will continue movement of classes located in the portables, Performing Arts, Library and OHSC. We look forward to moving 3/4KS and 3/4RS to the middle/senior building, as well as moving Performing Arts and the Library to the middle/senior building. OHSC will relocate to the portables. As movement occurs we will continue to inform the SJB community of the progress.

Families are asked to return to moving to the oval and playground for after school socialising as the upper area is closed. 

SJB Netball Superstars!!

This Wednesday our Year 5/6 mixed netball team head to the netball centre at Jells Park to participate in regional netball round robin. We wish our SJB netballers all the best for a fabulous day of competition. Congratulations on making it through to regionals. This is an outstanding achievement.

We thank Mr John Mitchell for his coaching and support of our SJB netball team.

Girls Cricket Clinic

We have had a great response to the FREE cricket clinics which will be happening at SJB over the next few weeks. It is not too late to register your daughter. We have 46 responses so it will be a fantastic event.   If you have previously stated your interest in these clinics can you please register using this link. 

https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/register/8c3eab

 Any issues please contact John Mitchell straight away.

jmitchell@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au

School Closure Day - Next Monday 18th August

Please mark in your calendars Monday 18th August for this term’s Closure Day.

Shed Construction

We would like to thank Andrew Davies, Sean Schimizzi, Nelson Serrao and Stuart Mahoney who assisted with constructing the two new sheds on the oval. The sheds will be set up to house sports equipment and sandpit equipment for the students to use at recess times.

We are most fortunate to have wonderful members of our community working together to create improvements at SJB for our students to access enjoyable play spaces. Thank you to all for your ongoing support.

Helpers Needed Please - Library move

We are seeking volunteers that are able to help with the unbolting and reconstruction of the library shelving.  As the shelves are bolted together, a small shifter will be required.  If you are able to help anytime this week between 8.30 and 3.30, please pop into the office.

Ursula DeCorrado

Prep 2026 Meetings

We thoroughly enjoyed meeting our Prep 2026 families and students last week. It was wonderful to meet our families and future students. We look forward to welcoming our new Preps to St John’s later in the year during our transition sessions. This is an exciting time as we prepare for our Preps to join us at SJB.

Inform and Empower Term 3 Sessions

We look forward to this term’s Inform and Empower Digital Safety sessions. Students in Years Prep-6 will participate in their sessions over the coming weeks. We encourage families to discuss the sessions at home.

Prep Celebration - 100 Days of School

It was wonderful to see our Preps dressed up to celebrate their 100 Days of School.  It is hard to believe that our Preps have been at school for 100 days. We loved seeing our Preps dressed up for their day.

We thank the Prep team for preparing a day of celebration and fun all centred around the number 100. Thank you Miss Bulmer, Mr der Kinderen, Mrs Johnson & Mrs Armstrong.

Father's Day

The SJB Father’s Day Stall will be held on Tuesday 2nd September from 9am.  Families will soon be able to purchase tokens for the Father’s Day Stall through Flexischools.

Further information will be shared in the coming weeks as our terrific P & F team plan and prepare for this year’s Father’s Day Stall.

Save the Date: This year’s SJB Father’s Day Brekkie will be held on Friday 5th September from 7:30am.  We look forward to welcoming our Dads and special people to celebrate our Dads and the important role they play in our students’ lives. 

Gilwell Park Dad's and Kids Camping Weekend - November 2025

We are seeking some dads in our SJB community who would be open to organising this year’s Dad’s and Kids Gilwell Park weekend away. We would love to have a few dads who would be happy to collaborate to co-ordinate the event for this year. It would be great to have some existing SJB Dads along with new SJB Dads to co-ordinate the event.

If you would be interested in assisting in the coordination of this year’s SJB Dad’s & Kids camping weekend please email either Ursula DeCorrado or myself at:-

 udecorrado@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au or kjohnston@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au 

SJB Family Camping Weekend - March 27-29th 2026

Website Testimonials

We are seeking to further enhance the SJB Website for prospective families. Another way to enhance the website is to publish testimonials either in written form or via video recording from any families who would be willing to provide a testimonial.  If your family would be interested in providing a testimonial please feel free to email Ursula DeCorrado or Kelli Johnston.

udecorrado@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au or kjohnston@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au 

Children's Book Week

Book Week Dress-Up Parade Prep-6 will be held at 8.55am on Wednesday the 20th August on the ashphalt area (weather permitting) or in the hall

Whole School Dress Up Day - Wednesday August 20th

School of Rock Production - Mater Christi & St Joseph's

Last week our Year 4 students were lucky enough to attend the School of Rock Production at the Burrinja Cultural Centre.

Caring for Our School Chickens 🐔💛

Our beloved school chickens have become an important part of daily life at SJB. They bring joy to students and staff alike and provide wonderful opportunities for our children to learn about responsibility, empathy, and the basics of animal care.

We’re so proud of the many students who care for the chickens so thoughtfully during their designated duties—refilling water, checking feed, collecting eggs, and making sure our feathered friends are safe and comfortable. These everyday routines help students build a sense of stewardship and respect for living things.

We recently received feedback from our community expressing concern about the way a few children were interacting with the chickens after school hours. While this is a rare occurrence, we’d like to gently remind everyone that our chickens are living creatures who rely on us for their wellbeing. They thrive in a calm, caring environment where they feel safe.

As a school, we take the welfare of our animals seriously and encourage all students (and families!) to treat them with kindness. If you're visiting the chickens after school, please remember our expectations - be kind, be calm, move slowly in your approach. Under no circumstance are children allowed to enter the chicken run without a member of SJB staff.

Thank you for supporting this unique and valuable learning experience for our students. Together, we can make sure our chickens continue to feel safe, loved, and well cared for.

Wishing everyone a fabulous week ahead.

Kelli Johnston

Term 2 Dates

Term 3

August

12th - Prep 100 Days of School

13th - Inform & Empower Year 5/6

13th - Mixed Netball Regional Round Robin

15th - Feast of the Assumption Mass @ 11am

18th - School Closure Day - Team Teach

22nd - Assembly 2:45pm - 3/4RS presenting

25th - Year 1/2 Excursion to Cranbourne Botanical Gardens

26th - Inform and Empower Prep

29th - Assembly 2:45pm - 5/6GM presenting

September

2nd - Father's Day Stall

3rd - 9:15am Year 1/2 Level Mass

3rd - 7:00pm School Advisory Council Meeting

4th - District Athletics - Knox Athletics

5th - Father's Day Breakfast

7th - Father's Day

10th - Brendan Lee - Mathematics Masterclass

11th - Year 3/4 Camp

12th - Year 3/4 Camp

17th - Division Athletics

17th - SJB Art Show

18th - SJB Art Show

18th - Year 5/6 Level Mass

19th - Footy Day

19th - Term 3 Concludes @ 2:00pm

Uniform Shop

Below is a current stock list. We have very few Size 8 and Size 10 items. If you have any official SJB uniform items in clean, good condition that your child/ren no longer wear, donating them to the 2nd Hand Uniform Shop would be much appreciated. Donations can be left at the office, when convenient for you. 

Janice

Canteen News

Open on Wednesdays & Fridays


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.


Canteen Roster - Term 3

Friday August 15th

Katrina Horne

More helpers please

Friday August 22nd

Cassie Croning

Nelson Serrao

Claire Lewis

Friday August 29th

Wade Palmer

Mark Molan

Rients Huitema

Parish News

Altar Server Training


Altar Server Training for youth will take place on Sunday 24th August at 10am at St John the Baptist Church.  Girls and boys are all welcome to attend the training. New altar servers as well as current servers.  Please let me know if you are interested in becoming an Altar Server but cannot attend the scheduled training time. Contact: marymakarucha@stjohnthebaptist.net.au 

Community News

St John's Netball Club - Pie Fundraiser (see printable order form in the attachment below)

Pie Fundraiser Order Form


Download

Live Your Best Life in Love....A Marriage Encounter weekend is for you......

Every married couple deserves this very special weekend.

Time-out to nurture your most precious relationship away from life's distractions.  

The two of you will come away from your weekend feeling more deeply connected and with tools to help keep your renewed intimacy alive.

No group sharing is required.

The weekend is based around Catholic values. Couples of all faiths are very welcome.

Please check our website for details and to book your special weekend:

We have 2 further weekends on offer this year

    October 3-5 at Tooleybuc Sporting Club / Tooleybuc Motor Inn - a great weekend getaway

    October 10-12 at St Paul's Retreat Centre, Wantirna South

Starts Friday evening at 7pm and finishes Sunday afternoon around 4:30pm

Information/Bookings: Phone Mercy & James 0409 183 676 or

Email: vicbookings@wwme.org.au    Websitewwme.org.au

St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully