St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully Newsletter

Lord Jesus, 

We ask for Your help as we begin this new school term.  

Allow us to experience Your presence in the many blessings You put before us.  

Open our eyes to the new challenges and exciting opportunities that this new school term brings. 

Give us a generous spirit to be enthusiastic with our learning and courage to accept new opportunities.  

Help us to be attentive to our teachers and let us experience Your presence in each other.  

Jesus, inspire us to do our best this term!

Amen 

We look forward to welcoming our 2026 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:

The Prep - Year 2 students will continue their swimming lessons each Monday for the term. We warmly welcome the support of families with walking the students to and from the pool each Monday.  

Please see the timetable for swimming lessons outlined below:

9:30am - 1/2HS, 10am - 1/2B, 10:30am - 1/2JM and Prep - 11am

Our last Working Bee for this year will be held on Saturday 25th October.  Many hands make light work so please consider joining us on this day.  Our working bee is a great way to meet new people and help us keep our school looking great.  Our working bee begins at 1:30 and concludes at 4pm.  A job list will be detailed in the Operoo notice coming out soon.  However we are looking for someone who has a portable welder to fix some railings on our gate.

If you think this is something you could assist us with please contact Ursula via email -  udecorrado@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au

As we move into warmer weather we now transition into summer uniform. Please see the summer uniform outlined below:   

Students are to wear sports uniform only on their designated days.  Please check your child’s level newsletter for clarity of days.  Students are to wear navy socks and black school shoes with their regular uniform. Runners are not to be worn with regular uniform.

We thank all families for ensuring students wear the correct uniform and our students for wearing their uniform with pride.

In the beginning weeks of Term 4 the staff begin the process of putting together class lists for the 2026 school year.  The process will be completed with consideration given to:

• The social and academic distribution of the children within the same level across classes

• A gender balance in each class

• Children’s requests for friendship groupings

• Specific placement of siblings and children with individual needs, inclusive of emotional, learning, physical and behavioural needs

• The social needs of children including the working relationships of all children and the desired separation of children who do not have a positive social or learning influence on each other

• An awareness of teachers from the previous academic year.   

To support the placement of our children we ask each child to name classmates who they work well with.  Children will be reminded to consider children from their current class and from other class settings.  Classes will then be structured with the aim to have each child with at least one nominated friend.  However if the class teacher feels that the choices are not in the best interest of the child then the child will be asked to nominate others.  Parents please note that it is sometimes commented that, ‘My child didn’t get any of their friendship requests’. It is often in this situation that a child’s actual friendship group has slightly or significantly changed from October through to the end of the year and as a result the child feels that their requests weren’t taken into account. 

With approximately 22 children in each class each child is provided with 21 opportunities to either further develop existing friendships or the opportunity to develop new friendships.  To be highly successful participants in our social, school and future working environments it is a most important skill to create new friendships each year, not be reliant on the same close friendships each year.  We make every effort to support our children by providing them with supportive environments but at the same time we wish for some form of challenge so that our children can further develop personal life skills by negotiating new friendships. 

As detailed above, there is a significant level of care and consideration that goes into establishing the best learning environments, along with social interactions, for our children.     

Parent Requests - Meeting with Leadership

We are aware that some parents may have valid reasons to have input into the placement of their children for the forthcoming year. Should there be numerous requests from parents then the ability for staff to make positive and professional judgements for the best learning environments for our classes is compromised.  Given this, if parents have any relevant information that you believe is essential to the grade placement process, I invite you to make contact with myself 

kjohnston@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au or

Ursula DeCorrado (udecorrado@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au) to share your thoughts for the 2026 year.  Should we need to gain greater clarity on the request as made we will make contact with you to make an appointment to share your thoughts or concerns.   We will evaluate all requests and make a professional decision on the placement of the child in question. The final decision rests with the school. 

‘Teacher Shopping’ -  At SJB School we are blessed with a highly skilled and enthusiastic staff team and we are confident that all teachers will meet the needs of your children. Parents making requests simply as ‘Teacher Shopping’, without any foundation, may not necessarily receive their requests for the new year.  The reference to ‘teacher shopping’ means that, for example, parents have heard positive comments about teachers in the school from other parents and think that that teacher may be good for their child.  Likewise a sibling may have had a teacher previously and a parent wishes for their next child to also have that teacher.  We would love to meet all requests but there are other elements around class placements, as detailed previously, which may take priority over a request as such.  As stated above, parents are invited to meet with leadership to discuss thoughts that may be pertinent to 2026 class placements but we ask that you take on board all of the above information before making your request.

As we plan ahead for 2026 classes, we ask any families who know that they will not be returning to SJB in 2026 to inform the school as soon as possible.

kjohnston@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au

Here’s a snapshot of what each grade did:

• Prep: With support from the Grade 5/6 students, our youngest learners enjoyed a Nature Scavenger Hunt on the oval, discovering local plants, insects, and birds, and learning how each plays a role in keeping habitats healthy.

• Grade 1/2: Students created Australian animal books and read and discussed The Only One Left, exploring the importance of protecting endangered species and their habitats.

• Grade 3/4: Classes researched ways they can create habitats at home and thought about how small actions can help local wildlife thrive.

• Grade 5/6: Senior students ran an environmental meme competition, using creativity and humour to highlight the importance of caring for the planet. The winning meme will be featured in next week’s school newsletter.

The day concluded with a plant stall by the Knox Environment Society, offering indigenous plants for families to purchase and create wildlife-friendly gardens. All money raised will support their ongoing work in protecting and creating habitats in our local area.

It was wonderful to see students across all grades thinking, creating, and reflecting on the importance of habitats — a true celebration of caring for God’s Creation!

Online Music Solutions will be a new music provider for St John the Baptist Primary School, bringing instrumental lessons.  Instrumental  lessons can be booked directly with Online Music Solutions and lessons are able to be delivered individually or in small groups.

 Online Music Solutions has been providing high-quality music programs in Melbourne schools since 1987. The program at St John the Baptist will be led by Justin Forster and Lynne McKelvie, both highly experienced teachers with over 20 years of working with primary-aged students. Together, they are passionate about making music engaging, fun, and rewarding for every child.

 To celebrate, there will be a music demonstration at a school assembly on Friday, 7 November, followed by an after-school “instrument discovery” session. Families are warmly invited to stay, meet the teachers, ask questions, and even try out a variety of instruments.

 Regular lessons will begin Term 1, 2026, offering keyboard, guitar, ukulele, violin, drums, saxophone, clarinet, flute, and trumpet for students from Prep to Year 6. These lessons will occur on a Tuesday afternoon.  (more details, including cost are outlined below)

 The Online Music Solutions team looks forward to being part of the St John’s community and sharing the joy of music with all students!

Congratulations to students who recently took part in the AGC assessment workshop at school. Everyone is welcome to come along to our Open Days on Saturday November 8 and Saturday November 15, which will give you the opportunity to try a free class and attend an information session. Ph 9859 6499 for more information or visit ausgirlschoir.com.au/joinagc/

The SJB Parish has prepared a recipe book of favourite recipes from members of the parish. The first print of the books sold out quickly. Anyone wishing to purchase a parish recipe book is asked to collect an envelope from the school administration and make payment by Thursday 16th October. With Christmas not far away this could be an ideal gift.

Wishing everyone a fantastic week.

Kelli Johnston

October

15th - Tuckshop closed

15th - Prep Level Mass

17th - Tuckshop closed

20th - Prep - Year 2 Swimming

21st - School Nurse in Prep

22nd - School Nurse in Prep

22nd - SAC Meeting

23rd - Regional Athletics

24th - Assembly - Prep JD presening

27th - Prep - Year 2 Swimming

29th - Prep 2026 Information Evening

30th - All Saints Day Mass - 9.15am

31st - World Teacher's Day

November

3rd - School Closure Day - Assessment & Reporting

4th - Melbourne Cup Day - School Closed

6th - Prep 2026 Transition Session No. 1 - 9am - 10.30am

6th - Year 3/4 Level Mass - 9.15am

7th - Assembly - 2.30pm

10th - Prep - Year 2 Swimming

11th - Remembrance Day (Prayer Service)

13th - Prep - Year 2 Swimming

14th - Assembly Prep BA presenting @ 2.45pm

17th - School Closure Day

20th - Prep 2026 Transition Session No. 3

24th - Prep - Year 2 Swimming

25th - SAC and P and F Thank you evening

26th - Official School Building Opening

28th - Assembly @ 2:45pm 1/2HS presenting

A recent stocklist for the 2nd Hand Uniform Shop is attached below. The 2nd Hand Uniform Shop is open Wednesdays 2:45 - 3:15pm. Cash sales only. Thank you to the families who have recently donated some items. Clean, offical SJB uniform donations are always gratefully received and can be left at the office when convenient to you. 

Janice

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

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

Friday October 17th

CLOSED

Friday October 24th 

Mel Price

Carrie Canton

Friday October 31st

Katrina Horne

Rients Huitema