St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully Newsletter

Tuesday June 9th 2026

Letter from the Principal, Kelli Johnston

Dear Families,


On Friday the staff engaged in a closure day focusing on the history of St John the Baptist School and Parish. On our 90th anniversary as a parish school we took time to celebrate the Spirit at Work - Called to be the Light.

Our morning celebrated the people our school was founded upon and who have shaped St John the Baptist School before us. Some of the people and their gifts in which we celebrated included Nano Nagle, St John the Baptist and the Presentation Sisters. We were blessed to hear from guest speakers Anne Margot Boyd and past principal, Sister Una. Margot and Sister Una shared their wonderful life stories and how the Holy Spirit guided them in their life and work. Their stories highlighted the importance of community and connection and these being two of the key aspects of SJB school and parish.  It is truly wonderful to see both community and connection continuing to flourish across our school and parish as we celebrate our 90th anniversary.

After morning tea Chris Daicos led us through a session that provided us with the opportunity to reflect on our own strengths and gifts and how these shape us as people and SJB as a school. We celebrated the gifts that we each bring to SJB and how our unique gifts form SJB as a vibrant faith filled community.

Our afternoon session provided us with the opportunity to reflect on our past, present and future as spirit filled people through prayer and meditation. This was a terrific way to reflect on our SJB School Vision Statement and its enactment throughout time.

SJB VISION STATEMENT

Reflecting on the past

Embracing the present

Growing towards the future

Living in the Spirit 

Responding to God in all

We thank Mrs Marialisa Mandarino for her work in preparing and leading a most engaging day in Faith in Education.

MACS Maths Acceleration Program/Learning Walks

Over the last 12 months SJB has worked in partnership with MACS Mathematics Learning Consultants through the Maths Acceleration Program. The program has provided professional learning opportunities for the staff across all year levels, Mathematics lesson modelling from Brendan Lee Mathematics Consultant, as well as a series of learning walks across the school.

We are incredibly fortunate to have staff open and willing to reflect and refine their teaching and learning to be able to provide our students with the best possible learning opportunities at SJB. The Mathematics Acceleration Program has provided rich learning opportunities, along with a celebration of the excellent learning and teaching being delivered by our teaching staff. 

AUSTRALIAN MATHS COMPETITION - TUESDAY 4TH AUGUST 2026

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!

HAVE YOU ENROLLED YOUR CHILD FOR PREP 2027?


If you have a child ready for Prep 2027, we ask you to please put in an enrolment form as soon as you are able. This will assist us with preparing for Prep 2027. To access an enrolment form:

  • Drop into the school office to collect one

  • Email office@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au and ask for a form to be sent home

  • Visit the enrolment section of our school website and download a form

Division Cross Country

Last Tuesday 2nd June a number of students participated  in the School Sports Victoria Division Cross Country.  We congratulate the following students on participating in SSV Division Cross Country.

Judd P, Flynn B, Ethan N, Xavier M, Ethan M, Mya C, Jade P & Keira M

Congratulations to the students below who progressed through to SSV Regional Cross Country. 

Flynn B, Ethan N, Mya C & Judd P

School Disco - Friday 19th June

It is time for students to start to prepare their disco moves and outfits as we look forward to a fun evening at the annual SJB Disco.

This year’s school disco is booked for Friday 19th June. We look forward to students having an opportunity to dance the afternoon/evening away with their friends.

To streamline this year’s process and maximise student dance time, families can purchase their Disco tickets via Flexischools. Disco tickets are now available for purchasing.

Families are asked to respond to the nForma form outlining Disco attendance expectations.

We are seeking parents from the Year 3-6 levels who would be able to assist with supervision of the middle and senior school disco between 6:45 -8:15pm. If you are able to assist with this please email or contact the office at office@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au

Head Lice - Awareness

We have recently received reports of head lice in the junior and middle school. Families are asked to monitor their children for head lice over the coming weeks.

A friendly reminder that students with shoulder length hair or longer must have their hair tied back at all times as per the SJB school handbook.

St John the Baptist Feast Day - Special Canteen Lunch

On Friday June 26th there will be a special lunch in the canteen for St John the Baptist Feast Day.  There will be a choice of pasta and all orders come with 1 garlic bread and choice of 1 drink.  Cost is $7 per order.

Please note - this is in place of the normal canteen items.

Place you order via Flexischools now.

St Vincent de Paul - Winter Appeal

Our Social Justice Team members have commenced the SVDP Winter Appeal. They are currently collecting pre-loved coats, jackets and blankets! This is one way we can work together to assist the St Vincent de Paul Society make a positive difference in our community and help those less fortunate than ourselves.

Families who would like to contribute to the SVDP Winter Appeal can do so by sending items to their child’s classroom collection box. There is no need to purchase new items but we do appreciate items which are clean and in good condition. 

Marialisa Mandarino

Religious Education Leader

Term 2 Working Bee

Our Term 2 working bee will be on Saturday 13th June from 1:30pm - 4:00pm

Our focus for this day will be weather dependent. If you are available to assist on this day we would greatly appreciate your help.

Below is a list of jobs that we hope to complete on the day.

  • Painting of After School Care decking

  • Staining of After School Care decking

  • Top Asphalt area- Remove leaves around gutters on top playground, sweep mulch back in, clear rubbish, cut back trees/shrubs from parking bays

  • Clean all cobwebs from buildings

  • Bottom Carpark / Oval - clear gutters on carpark area, weed around slides and creek bed, clear rubbish

  • Paint drainpipe outside of B2

  • Sip and Snip in Meeting Room in Admin building

  • Fire extinguishers in OHSC need to be 1200mm from floor

  • Fire blanket in kitchen moved from behind the fridge

    Weeding garden areas in newly landscaped area and across the school.

    • Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews

    Parent/teacher/student interviews will be held on Tuesday 23rd June and Wednesday 24th June.  We encourage all students to attend interviews with their families. The focus of interviews is to celebrate the hard work students have undertaken throughout the semester, as well as the growth they have made as a result of their efforts. Families are able to book their interview times now through the School Interviews site - link below.

    https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/2d3kw

    Interviews will be held on: 

         Tuesday 23rd June 2:30-6:00pm

         Wednesday 24th June 3:30-5:30pm


    QR Code - Parent/Teacher Interviews

    Parent Teacher Interviews Optional Early Finish - Tuesday 23rd June - 1:30pm

    To assist with supervision and the interview schedule with the Parent Teacher Interviews we will have an optional early finish at 1:30pm on Tuesday 23rd June.  To assist with planning and numbers for the afternoon we ask families to outline if they will be picking their child/ren up at 1:30pm through the nForma portal. Students finishing early will move to the administration area at 1:30pm to be collected by their family.

    Second Hand Uniform Shop

    The 2nd Hand Uniform Shop has had some rearranging to make it easier to look through the items. Donations of size 8 and 10 would be greatly appreciated and can be left at the office when convenient for you. The 2nd Hand Uniform Shop is open on Tuesdays 2:45 - 3:15. All items $5.00, cash only. 

    Janice

    Wishing everyone a fabulous week ahead.

    Kelli Johnston

    Victorian Premiers'Reading Challenge 2026

    The Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge is now open and we’re excited to be taking part!

    All children from Prep to Year 6 are welcome to join in.

    This year’s Challenge theme is ‘Stories to discover. Stories to tell’. Stories can inspire and challenge us, and help us grow. They open our eyes to new worlds and new ways of thinking. 

    All children who complete the Challenge will receive a certificate of achievement signed by the Victorian Premier and former premiers.

    If you would like your child to take part please email me

    udecorrado@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au and I will register them.

    Once registered your child will bring home a username and password for you to access the website and record the books they are reading.

    To learn more about the Challenge, visit - 

    https://www.vic.gov.au/premiers-reading-challenge 

    Happy reading!

    Ursula DeCorrado

    Term 2 Dates

    June

    10th - Year 5/6 Level Mass - 9:15am

    11th - Regional Cross Country - Yarra Valley Racecourse

    12th - Village Circle in School Hall at 9.00am - join us for a cuppa

    13th - Term 2 Working Bee

    15th - PSGs

    17th - PSGs

    19th - PSGs

    19th - SJB School Disco

    19th - School Assembly @ 2:45pm

    19th - Semester 1 Reports shared

    23rd - Optional early finish @ 1:30pm

    23rd - Parent/Teacher interviews - 2:30pm - 6pm

    24th - Parent/Teacher interviews - 3:30pm - 5:30pm

    24th - Feast of St John the Baptist

    24th - Feast of St John the Baptist Celebration - Mass @ 11am

    26th -  Term 2 concludes @ 2pm

    Tuckshop News

    OPEN THIS FRIDAY

    Canteen Roster

    Friday June 12th

    Melinda Price

    Carrie Canton

    Raelene Portbury

    Jessica Carmichael

    Community News

    St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully